Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii: review of the distribution, phylogeography, and ecophysiology of a global invasive species

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Jorge T Antunes (Author) Other; Pedro N Leao (Author) Other; Vitor M Vasconcelos (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Frontiers in Microbiology

Vol. 6

ISSN: 1664-302X

Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 129 Citations

Scopus - 151 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-BSA

DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00473

Abstract (EN): Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is a cyanobacterial species extensively studied for its toxicity, bloom formation and invasiveness potential, which have consequences to public and environmental health. Its current geographical distribution, spanning different climates, suggests that C. raciborskii has acquired the status of a cosmopolitan species. From phylogeography studies, a tropical origin for this species seems convincing, with different conjectural routes of expansion toward temperate climates. This expansion may be a result of the species physiological plasticity, or of the existence of different ecotypes with distinct environmental requirements. In particular, C. raciborskii is known to tolerate wide temperature and light regimes and presents diverse nutritional strategies. This cyanobacterium is also thought to have benefited from climate change conditions, regarding its invasiveness into temperate climates. Other factors, recently put forward, such as allelopathy, may also be important to its expansion. The effect of C. raciborskii in the invaded communities is still mostly unknown but may strongly disturb species diversity at different trophic levels. In this review we present an up-to-date account of the distribution, phylogeography, ecophysiology, as well some preliminary reports of the impact of C. raciborskii in different organisms.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13