Soil Cyanobacteria Diversity and Cyanotoxin Production in Agroecosystems of South-Central Quebec

Session: Poster session

Yanyan Zhang, McGill University, [email protected]
Joann Whalen, McGill University, [email protected]
Barry Husk, BlueLeaf Inc., [email protected]
Juan Sanchez, BlueLeaf Inc., [email protected]

Abstract

Soil is a habitat for cyanobacteria. The abundance and diversity of soil cyanobacteria is often reported in undisturbed arid environments, due to their importance for photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in soil biological crusts. However, there is little published data on the soil cyanobacteria in cultivated agroecosystems in the humid temperate regions. In this environment, soil cyanobacteria have access to ample nutrients from fertilizers, which may stimulate their growth and production of cyanotoxins. In humid environments, soil cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins may be susceptible to transfer from the agroecosystem to adjacent waterways. The purpose of this study was to document the presence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in soil from agroecosystems in the humid temperate region of south-central Quebec, Canada. Soils were collected from agricultural fields and a nearby forest on a working farm in this area. The presence of soil cyanobacteria was determined from metagenomics analysis and cyanotoxin concentrations in soil detected with ELISA kits. The MC-producing cyanobacteria were dominant in soil, however, the concentration of microcystins were different. We will present a conceptual model describing the habitat and environmental conditions that may support the cyanobacteria community and stimulate cyanotoxin production in agroecosystems of south-central Quebec.

1. Keyword
cyanophyta

2. Keyword
water quality

3. Keyword
toxic substances

4. Additional Keyword
cyanotoxins

5. Additional Keyword
agroecosystem