Vertical distribution of cyanobacteria biomass and cyanotoxin production in the polymictic Siemianówka Dam Reservoir (eastern Poland)

The summer-autumn dominance of the toxic cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii was described in the lowland polymictic Siemianowka Dam Reservoir (SDR) in 2010 and 2011. The study was conducted at a station located in the deepest part of the reservoir. The species composition of phytoplankton was very similar at the four depths analyzed. Microcystins were continually present in the cyanobacterial biomass. Demethylated microcystin-RR (dmMC-RR) and microcystin-RR (MC-RR) were identified as the major microcystin variants in most samples, while demethylated microcystin-LR (dmMC-LR) and microcystin-LR (MC-LR) were each recorded only once. The concentration of microcystin-RR correlated strongly with the biomass of P. agardhii. The effect of environmental factors on cyanobacterial biomass the production of microcystins by cyanobacteria was minor, but increased water temperatures and pH favored the production of microcystins. Phytoplankton biomass was also influenced by how water outflow from the reservoir was regulated; the biomas increased with depth when the upper flaps were opened, but it was very similar throughout the water column when they were closed. According to the Polish phytoplankton-based index (IFPL), the ecological potential of the reservoir was determined to be poor.