Contribution of hot spring cyanobacteria to the mysterious deaths of Lesser Flamingos at Lake Bogoria, Kenya

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dc.contributor.authorKrienitz, L
dc.contributor.authorBallot, A.
dc.contributor.authorKotut, K.
dc.contributor.authorWiegand, C.
dc.contributor.authorPütz, S.
dc.contributor.authorMetcalf, J. S.
dc.contributor.authorCodd, G. A.
dc.contributor.authorPflugmacher, S.
dc.date.accessioned2014-06-02T08:55:13Z
dc.date.available2014-06-02T08:55:13Z
dc.date.issued200-03-01
dc.descriptionDOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2003.tb01053.xen_US
dc.description.abstractCyanobacterial mats at hot springs on the shore of the alkaline Lake Bogoria, Kenya, were investigated regarding species community and cyanobacterial toxin content. The hepatotoxins microcystin-LR, -RR, -LF and -YR, and the neurotoxin anatoxin-a were present. The mats were dominated by Phormidium terebriformis, Oscillatoria willei, Spirulina subsalsa and Synechococcus bigranulatus. The concentration of microcystins in mat samples, ranged from 221 to 845 μg microcystin-LR equivalents g−1 DW of mat. Anatoxin-a concentrations ranged from 10 to 18 μg g−1 DW of mat. A contribution of the cyanobacterial toxins from the hot spring mats to the mass mortalities of Lesser Flamingos is suggested by: (a), the presence of hot spring cyanobacterial cells and cell fragments, and high concentrations of the cyanobacterial hepato- and neurotoxins in flamingo stomach contents and faecal pellets; (b), observations of neurological signs of bird poisoning at the lake. Cyanobacterial toxins in stomach contents, intestine and fecal pellets were 0.196 μg g−1 fresh weight (FW) for the microcystins and 4.34 μg g−1 FW for anatoxin-a. Intoxication with cyanobacterial toxins could occur by uptake of detached cyanobacterial cells from the mats, as the flamingos need to drink fresh or brackish water, and to wash their feathers daily, which they do in the vicinity of the hot springs, where salinity is lower than in the main body of water of the lake.en_US
dc.identifier.citationFEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2003 Mar 1;43(2):141-8.en_US
dc.identifier.issn0142-7873
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/9740
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherOxford University Pressen_US
dc.subjectAnatoxinen_US
dc.subjectCyanobacteriaen_US
dc.subjectHot springen_US
dc.subjectLake Bogoriaen_US
dc.subjectLesser Flamingoen_US
dc.subjectMicrocystinen_US
dc.titleContribution of hot spring cyanobacteria to the mysterious deaths of Lesser Flamingos at Lake Bogoria, Kenyaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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