Polyphasic assessment of the bloom-forming cyanobacterial species Limnoraphis robusta (Oscillatoriaceae) and Microcystis aeruginosa (Microcystaceae) in a Mexican subtropical crater lake

The main element to assess the potential risks associated with toxic cyanobacterial blooms is precise identification of species. As part a water quality monitoring during 2015 in Santa María del Oro crater lake, Nayarit, bloom was detected. Thus, this work aimed identify bloom-forming cyanobacteria species using polyphasic approach. that produced were Limnoraphis robusta, which represented first record for Mexico, and Microcystis aeruginosa, new Nayarit. During bloom’s most intense phase March April, filament trichome width L. robusta decreased by 50%, thus, resembling hieronymusii morphometry. Despite morphological variations, ecological molecular data allowed us assign, unambiguously, morphotype robusta. According our data, it important trace cell size natural populations their variation limits.