Evidence of global dispersal of the harmful cyanobacterium, Raphidiopsis raciborskii, in lentic freshwaters through migratory waterbirds.

The cyanobacterium Raphidiopsis raciborskii has received much attention due to its global distribution and toxin production in freshwater. However, research on understanding the potential factors facilitating its geographical spread, the pattern of increasing range, and long-distance dispersal (LDD) of this species is very limited. In this study, we investigated the role of migratory waterbirds (using domesticated ducks as a proxy) and reservoirs (lentic waterbodies) in global distribution or dispersal of R.

Urbanization leads to convergent succession and homogenization of phytoplankton functional traits in a subtropical watershed over 11 years.

Urbanization can significantly drive biodiversity loss in river ecosystems, yet the underlying mechanisms require further study. Here, we used a trait-based approach to investigate temporal succession and variation in the dissimilarity of phytoplankton community functional traits along an urbanizing subtropical river over 11 years - during which time the downstream of catchment underwent rapid urbanization. Our results indicated that urbanization altered the interannual succession of phytoplankton.