Uncovering intraspecific trait plasticity in harmful cyanobacteria

Description

rait-based approaches offer a mechanistic framework for understanding how
individual phytoplankton respond to their environment, with implications for
population and community dynamics. These approaches often consider traits being fixed at an organism level, overlooking intraspecific variation and phenotypic plasticity. To address this, we applied a functional trait approach at the cellular level using high-throughput flow cytometry to capture traits of harmful cyanobacteria at the individual level. We assessed the trait plasticity of Microcystis spp. in laboratory cultures exposed to gradients of light, nitrogen, and phosphorus. This allowed us to quantify intraspecific trait variation and examine how these traits respond to resource limitation. We then extended these findings to natural communities by applying a novel data analysis framework that uses trait-response patterns as ecological fingerprints. This approach enabled us to explore how resource availability influences the distribution and prevalence of cyanobacteria in lakes. Our results reveal that trait plasticity is a key factor in shaping cyanobacterial community structure and may help explain the conditions under which blooms emerge. This trait-based perspective offers new insights into the ecological mechanisms underlying harmful cyanobacterial blooms, providing a potential framework for assessing lake ecological status and informing management strategies.

Period	21 Oct 2025