Amplified cyanobacterial bloom is derived by polyphosphate accumulation triggered by ultraviolet light.

Cyanobacterial blooms appear more strongly, constantly and globally, yet the positive effect of surface solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) on cyanobacterial bloom in natural freshwater habitats is largely ignored. Here in-situ and laboratory studies were jointly designed to probe the mechanism of cyanobacterial bloom promoted by solar UV light. The results showed that solar UV light is a key trigger factor for the accumulation of total phosphorus, dissolved inorganic phosphorus and polyphosphate (polyP) in blooming cyanobacterial cells. The increase of UV dose induces polyP accumulation to result in the excessive phosphorus uptake of blooming cyanobacteria, which provides sufficient phosphorus for cyanobacterial growth in suitable environment. Solar UV light also can promote the contents of phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, and phycoerythrin, producing sufficient ATP by photosynthesis for polyP synthesis in cyanobacterial cells in lake enviroment. The frequent variations of UV irradiance exposure prompts cyanobacteria to absorb excessive phosphorus from suspended solid or sediment. Cyanobacterial intracellular phosphorus is accumulated for their growth. UV light promotes polyP accumulation in blooming cyanobacterial cells to avoid damage. The adsorption amount of phosphorus increases for exuberant growth and then more surface blooming cyanobacteria are exposed to UV light to absorb ample phosphorus. Thus, the positive feedback occurs in lake water bodies with abundant phosphorus. This amplified cycle of cyanobacterial density and phosphorus due to solar UV light in eutrophic water bodies is analogous to a triode to amplify visible photosynthesis by UV light as a base electric current in the energy flow process in lake environment, therefore, "Cyanobacterial Phosphorus Assimilation Ultraviolet Effect" is used to describe this phenomenon. A new explanation is provided for the continuing proliferating mechanism of cyanobacterial bloom. Besides, a new perspective appears on the outbreak of cyanobacterial blooms in natural eutrophic lake water bodies worldwide.

Dark accelerates dissolved inorganic phosphorus release of high-density cyanobacteria.

Bloom-forming cyanobacteria dramatically influence nutrient cycling in eutrophic freshwater lakes. The phosphorus (P) assimilation and release of bloom-forming cyanobacteria significantly may also affect the phosphorus source and amounts in water. To understand the phosphorus release process of bloom-forming cyanobacteria below the accumulated surface and sedimentary bloom-forming cyanobacteria, the degradation of bloom-forming cyanobacteria dominated by Microcystis spp. at different cell density in the dark was investigated over a 25-day microcosm experiment. The dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) contents increased with the increment of cyanobacterial density, and the dark status markedly increased the proportion of DIP in water during the decline period of bloom-forming cyanobacteria. Meanwhile, the process of cyanobacterial apoptosis accompanied by the changes of malondialdehyde (MDA) and phosphatase (AKP) contents, and the increases of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities of cyanobacteria in the dark, especially in low-density groups (5.23×108 cells L-1), which further affect the physicochemical water parameters. Moreover, the DIP release from high-density cyanobacteria (7.86×107 cells L-1~5.23×108 cells L-1) resulted from the relative abundance of organophosphorus degrading bacteria in the dark. Therefore, the fast decay of cyanobacteria in the dark could accelerate DIP release, the high DIP release amount from accumulated bloom-cyanobacteria provide adequate P quickly for the sustained growth of cyanobacteria.