Skip to main content
Article
Microcystin in multiple life stages of Hexagenia limbata, implications for toxin transfer and persistence
Journal of Great Lakes Research (2020)
  • Megan Woller-Skar, Grand Valley State University
  • Amy L. Russell
  • Jacob A. Gaskill
  • Mark R. Luttenton, Grand Valley State University
Abstract
Microcystins are present in some aquatic organisms, but the potential transfer to and accumulation in terrestrial organisms is less understood. We measured microcystin concentrations in multiple terrestrial life stages of Hexagenia limbata to determine whether this cyanotoxin is transferred from one life stage to another and if H. limbata subimagos and imagos transport the algal toxin microcystin into terrestrial systems. Hexagenia limbata (n = 43) were hand collected from the shore of a low-nutrient lake with a history of Microcystis aeruginosa, located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. We quantified microcystin concentrations in H. limbata with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (n = 39), with a subset verified with high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (n = 8, including duplicates). Microcystin ranged from the method limit of detection (MLOD) to 0.64 mg/g dry weight with detectable concentrations in subimagos, imagos, and spent females, indicating a potential for transport of this toxin to terrestrial systems. These data indicate that emerging aquatic insects are a potential vector for the transfer of microcystins from aquatic to terrestrial food webs and may pose a threat in and around systems with both H. limbata and more extensive blooms of M. aeruginosa.
Keywords
  • Hexagenia limbata,
  • life stages,
  • microcystin,
  • terrestrial transfer,
  • aquatic-terrestrial transfer
Publication Date
April 8, 2020
DOI
10.1016/j.glr.2020.03/007
Citation Information
Megan Woller-Skar, Amy L. Russell, Jacob A. Gaskill and Mark R. Luttenton. "Microcystin in multiple life stages of Hexagenia limbata, implications for toxin transfer and persistence" Journal of Great Lakes Research Vol. 46 Iss. 3 (2020) p. 666 - 671
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/amy_russell/34/