Potentially toxic planktic and benthic Cyanobacteria in Slovenian freshwater bodies: detection by quantitative PCR

Due to increased frequency of cyanobacterial blooms and emerging evidence of cyanotoxicity in biofilm, reliable methods for early cyanotoxin threat detection are of major importance for protection of human, animal and environmental health. To complement the current methods of risk assessment, this study aimed to evaluate selected qPCR assays for detection of potentially toxic cyanobacteria in environmental samples. In the course of one year, 25 plankton and 23 biofilm samples were collected from 15 water bodies in Slovenia. Three different analyses were performed and compared to each other; qPCR targeting mcyE, cyrJ and sxtA genes involved in cyanotoxin production, LC-MS/MS quantifying microcystin, cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin concentration, and microscopic analyses identifying potentially toxic cyanobacterial taxa. qPCR analyses detected potentially toxic Microcystis in 10 lake plankton samples, and potentially toxic Planktothrix cells in 12 lake plankton and one lake biofilm sample. A positive correlation was observed between numbers of mcyE gene copies and microcystin concentrations. Potential cylindrospermopsin- and saxitoxin-producers were detected in three and seven lake biofilm samples, respectively. The study demonstrated a potential for cyanotoxin production that was left undetected by traditional methods in both plankton and biofilm samples. Thus, the qPCR method could be useful in regular monitoring of water bodies to improve risk assessment and enable timely measures

Typology of lakes in Slovenia

A typology of natural lakes in Slovenia with the surface area of >50 ha was prepared according to the Water Framework Directive. Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj were taken into consideration only. Both systems proposed by the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC) for the preparation of the lake typology were tested. Using the system A, the satisfactory differentiation for the description of biological reference conditions could not be established. The system B was chosen based on the obligatory descriptors that include altitude, latitude, longitude, depth, geology and size. An additional descriptor, which concerns bioregional affiliation, was also chosen (sensu Urbanič, 2006a), which includes two obligatory descriptors, altitude and geology. These two descriptors are not specifically mentioned in the description of lake types

Typology of lakes in Slovenia

A typology of natural lakes in Slovenia with the surFace area of >50 ha was prepared according to the Water Framework Directive. lake Bled and Lake Bohinjwere taken into consideration only. Both systems proposed by the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC) far the preparation of the lake typology were tested. Using the system A, the satisfactory differentiation forthe description of biological reference conditions could not be established. The system B was chosen based on the obligatory descriptors that include altitude, latitude, longitude, depth, geology and size. An additional descriptor, which concerns bioregional affiliation, was also chosen (sensu Urbanič, 2006a), which includes two obligatory descriptors, altitude and geology. These two descriptors are not specifically mentioned in the description of lake types.V skladu z Vodno direktivo smo pripravili tipologijo naravnih jezer v Sloveniji s površino >50 ha. Takšni sta Blejsko in Bohinjsko jezero. Preverili smo oba predlagana sistema za pripravo tipologije po Vodni direktivi (Direktiva 2000/60/ES) in ugotovili, da po sistemu A ne dosežemo dovolj dobre diferenciacije za opis bioloških referenčnih razmer. Izbrali smo sistem B in obveznim deskriptorjem - geografskemu položaju oz. ekoregijam, velikosti površine jezera, povprečni globini jezera, geološki podlagi in nadmorski višini - dodali še izbirni deskriptor. Deskriptor, ki smo ga izbrali, je pripadnost bioregiji (sensu Urbanič 2006a), ki vključuje tudi dva obvezna deskriptorja - geološko podlago in nadmorsko višino, zato ju posebej pri opisu tipov nismo navajali

Water Framework Directive Intercalibration Technical Report: Alpine Lake Phytoplankton ecological assessment methods

One of the key actions identified by the Water Framework Directive (WFD; 2000/60/EC) is to develop ecological assessment tools and carry out a European intercalibration (IC) exercise. The aim of the Intercalibration is to ensure that the values assigned by each Member State to the good ecological class boundaries are consistent with the Directive’s generic description of these boundaries and comparable to the boundaries proposed by other MS. In total, 83 lake assessment methods were submitted for the 2nd phase of the WFD intercalibration (2008-2012) and 62 intercalibrated and included in the EC Decision on Intercalibration (EC 2013). The intercalibration was carried out in the 13 Lake Geographical Intercalibration Groups according to the ecoregion and biological quality element. In this report we describe how the intercalibration exercise has been carried out in the Alpine Lake Phytoplankton group.JRC.H.1-Water Resource