Phytoplankton growth and potential cyanotoxin production differ in response to nitrogen and phosphorus amendments in late summer communities from Kabetogama Lake (Minnesota, United States).

James H. Larson; Ryan P. Maki; Sean W. Bailey; Victoria G. Christensen; Keith A. Loftin; Erin A. Stelzer; James C. Smith; Seth A. McWhorter

doi:10.1111/jpy.70166

May 2, 2026

Phytoplankton growth and potential cyanotoxin production differ in response to nitrogen and phosphorus amendments in late summer communities from Kabetogama Lake (Minnesota, United States).

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Key Points

The study investigates how nitrogen and phosphorus amendments affect phytoplankton growth and cyanotoxin production in Kabetogama Lake.
Conducted experiments in late summer communities of Kabetogama Lake in 2021 and 2022.
Assessed phytoplankton growth and cyanotoxin production under different nutrient treatments compared to control groups.
Evaluated the correlation between heterocyte abundance and gene expression related to microcystin.
Phytoplankton growth was significantly higher with nutrient treatments than in controls in 2021, but not consistently in 2022.
A positive correlation was found between heterocyte abundance and MC gene expression, indicating nitrogen fixation's role in toxin production.
Variation in taxonomic composition within phytoplankton groups contributed to inconsistent community responses.

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Implication

Examines nutrient effects on phytoplankton growth and toxin production in late summer communities, indicating nutrient management strategies may be essential.

Abstract

treatments than in the control in 2021 but higher than in the control in 2022. The proportion of heterocytes (specialized cells for N fixation) was positively correlated with MC gene expression. These experiments reinforce the strong connection between N physiology and MC gene expression, but variation in taxonomic composition within genera or even species remains a possible cause of inconsistency in whole-community responses.

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Larson et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69f836d93ed186a739980fe2 https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.70166

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Phytoplankton growth and potential cyanotoxin production differ in response to nitrogen and phosphorus amendments in late summer communities from Kabetogama Lake (Minnesota, United States).

Key Points

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Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Phytoplankton growth and potential cyanotoxin production differ in response to nitrogen and phosphorus amendments in late summer communities from Kabetogama Lake (Minnesota, United States).

Key Points

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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