Pd. Baker et D. Bellifemine, Environmental influences on akinete germination of Anabaena circinalis andimplications for management of cyanobacterial blooms, HYDROBIOL, 427(1-3), 2000, pp. 65-73
Certain cyanobacteria, including the noxious bloom-forming species Anabaena
circinalis Rabenhorst, produce thick-walled reproductive structures (akine
tes) which may serve as a resting stage and ensure survival during adverse
growth conditions. The effect of certain environmental variables (temperatu
re, salinity and desiccation) on akinete germination of A. circinalis was i
nvestigated under laboratory conditions, to determine the conditions under
which germination was inhibited. The overall aims were to provide a broader
understanding of the life history and ecology of this species and to asses
s suppression of akinete germination as a potential management strategy for
control of cyanobacterial blooms in the lower Murray River, Australia. The
results indicated a marked threshold of temperature and salinity tolerance
for germination of A. circinalis, but the latter was not within a range th
at could be successfully manipulated in a natural ecosystem. However, it wa
s found that desiccation of akinetes for moderately short periods can signi
ficantly impair their capacity to germinate. It is, therefore, speculated t
hat allowing periodic drying of shallow wetlands adjacent to the Murray Riv
er and in other areas may reduce the size of the inoculum for population gr
owth by reducing viability of akinetes in surface sediments.