Effect of orthophosphate and bioavailability of dissolved organic phosphorous compounds to typically harmful cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

Results show that Microcystis aeruginosa can utilize both dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) and orthophosphate (DIP) even under low phosphorus (P) conditions to sustain its growth. Total P concentrations decreased markedly in all three P source treatments. Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in the different P sources tested changed in response to the DOP and DIP. The APA of DOP groups remained low after decreasing significantly, but the APA in the DIP treatments remained high during the period of culture. Changes in APA at different PO43−-P concentrations in a culture medium revealed negative correlations between APA and DIP. However, a positive relationship was observed between APA and DOP under low P concentrations. These findings indicate that M. aeruginosa can regulate its physiological metabolism to acclimate to low ambient DIP environments.