Population dynamics and akinete formation of an invasive and a native cyanobacterium in temperate lakes

Most cyanobacteria of the order Nostocales in the temperate zone survive winters in the sediment as akinetes. The present study compared seasonal population dynamics and the formation of akinetes of the invasive cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii with the native species Aphanizomenon gracile in three German lakes. The effect of light, temperature and growth rate on akinete formation was investigated in the field over a 3-year period...