Occurrence of the Toxin-producing Cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in Mona and Muskegon Lakes, Michigan

The bloom-forming and toxin-producing cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii was observed in Muskegon and Mona lakes, drowned river-mouth tributaries of Lake Michigan. Morphological features of the taxon were similar to those described elsewhere. The species was observed only in late summer; elevated bottom water temperature, and perhaps phosphorus concentration, appears to be implicated in its appearance. Maximum abundances at any given site reached 393 and 0.9 trichomes/mL in Mona Lake and Muskegon Lake, respectively. Although these concentrations are low relative to other reports, the presence of this species in these two lakes from adjacent watersheds adds to a growing body of literature that suggests the distribution of C. raciborskii is on the increase in northern latitudes.