Effects of nitrogen on interspecific competition between two cell-size cyanobacteria: Microcystis aeruginosa and Synechococcus sp.

Abstract Micro-cyanobacteria and pico-cyanobacteria coexist in many lakes throughout the world. Their distinct cell sizes and nutrient utilization strategies may lead to dominance of one over the other at varying nutrient levels. In this study, Microcystis aeruginosa and Synechococcus sp. were chosen as representative organisms of micro- and pico-cyanobacteria, respectively. A series of nitrate and ammonia conditions (0.02, 0.1, 0.5, and 2.5 mg N L−1) were designed in mono- or co-cultured systems, respectively. Growth rates of the two species were calculated and fitted by the Monod and Logistic equations. Furthermore, the interspecific competition was analyzed using the Lotka–Volterra model. In mono-cultures, the two cyanobacteria displayed faster growth rates in ammonia than in nitrate. Meanwhile, Synechococcus sp. showed faster growth rates compared to M. aeruginosa in lower N groups (≤ 0.5 mg N L−1). However, in the highest nitrate treatment (2.5 mg N L−1), M. aeruginosa achieved much higher biomass and faster growth rates than Synechococcus sp.. In co-cultures, Synechococcus sp. dominated in the lowest N treatment (0.02 mg N L−1), but M. aeruginosa dominated under the highest nitrate condition (2.5 mg N L−1). Based on the analysis of Raman spectra of living cells in mono-cultures, nitrate (2.5 mg N L−1) upgraded the pigmentary contents of M. aeruginosa better than ammonia (2.5 mg N L−1), but nitrogen in different forms showed little effects on the pigments of Synechococcus sp.. Findings from this study can provide valuable information to predict cyanobacterial community succession and aquatic ecosystem stability.