Martina Staviaov

The current situation of cyanobacteria in the Brno reservoir

Cyanobacteria is a phylum of bacteria. Almost all of the cyanobacteria contain toxins and they can
poison the water in lakes. Depending on the temperature of water, the species composition of
cyanobacteria in the Brno reservoir was changing throughout every vegetation season.
Pseudanabaena limnetica usually dominated at the end of May, but it was soon suppressed by
Anabaena sigmoidea and Planktothrix agardhii. Aphanizomenon klebahnii replaced Anabaena in
June. The most toxic one is also the smallest - Microcystis began to appear at the second half of
summer and dominated till its end. The situation changed in the past five years with the installation
of aeration towers which mix the water and bring oxygen into it. Recent studies show that the
domination of cyanobacteria was suppressed and harmless diatoms started to dominate instead.
Even though the situation has gradually improved, it is too soon to declare victory over the
cyanobacteria.