Consumption of benthic cyanobacterial mats and nodularin-R accumulation in freshwater crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons) in Lake Tikitapu (Rotorua, New Zealand)

Recent surveys of periphyton in Lake Tikitapu revealed widespread benthic mats dominated by cyanobacteria. All mats tested positive for the cyanobacterial toxin nodularin-R. The New Zealand native freshwater crayfish or koura (Paranephrops planifrons) are benthic-dwelling, opportunistic omnivores that are common in Lake Tikitapu. Benthic mats constitute a potential food source for this species. In this study an in-lake feeding experiment with isotopically labeled C-13 benthic mats confirmed they were consumed by koura. Consumption was variable amongst individuals, suggesting the benthic mats are an optional rather than primary food source. Nine koura were also tested using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine if nodularin-R bioaccumulated in the hepatopancreas and tail tissue. The hepatopancreas of all koura were positive for nodularin-R (9.7-225.3 mu g kg(-1) ww) and nodularin-R was detected in low concentrations in the tail tissue of two individuals (0.5-0.7 mu g kg(-1) ww). The detection of nodularin-R in koura is the first in a freshwater organism in a freshwater system, and the first to show the accumulation of nodularin-R from freshwater benthic cyanobacterial mats. Benthic mats may need to be considered as a potential source of cyanotoxins in future freshwater food-web studies. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.