Abstract
Interactions between Microcystis aeruginosa and Chlorella pyrenoidosa were analyzed by flow cytometry and by phytoplankton pulse‐amplitude‐modulated fluorimetry (Phyto‐PAM) in joint cultures as well as in cultures separated by dialysis membranes. Results showed that the growth of C. pyrenoidosa was greater than that of M. aeruginosa, and that the growth of M. aeruginosa but not the growth of C. pyrenoidosa was significantly inhibited by the interactions between M. aeruginosa and C. pyrenoidosa. Culture filtrates of these two algae showed no apparent effects on the growth of the competing species. For M. aeruginosa, decreases in esterase activity, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and maximum quantum yield were observed in joint cultures, indicating that the metabolic activity and photosynthetic capacity of M. aeruginosa were suppressed. Light limitation from the shading effect of C. pyrenoidosa may be the main reason for such inhibition. For C. pyrenoidosa, esterase activity was suppressed in membrane‐separated and joint cultures, suggesting that C. pyrenoidosa was probably affected by allelopathic substances secreted by M. aeruginosa. However, no significant difference was observed in the chlorophyll a fluorescence and maximum quantum yield of C. pyrenoidosa in the two cultures. In addition, interspecific interactions induced a reduction in size in both M. aeruginosa and C. pyrenoidosa, which may contribute to the development of C. pyrenoidosa dominance in the present study. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)