Monitoring microcystin toxin and chlorophyll in five South African impoundments

摘要

Microcystis spp. in these hypertrophic impoundments are associated with the production of total microcystin that persists at concentratins ≥ 100 μg/L for long periods of time ( > 50%). Toxicity is persistent, so more than one site on the downwind shore of an impoundment is needed to determine the presence and potential extent of total microcystin in the system. The great variability in the depth distribution of total microcystins highlights the need to monitor when extracting raw water for purification purposes from a hypertrophic water body.