CAnMove

A large number of Nordic lakes have during the last decades become invaded and dominated by the noxious protist Gonyostomum semen (Raphidophyceae). This phytoplankton species forms intense blooms and expels slimy threads that cause skin irritation to bathers as well as clogging of filters, thereby reducing the recreational value of lakes and water quality. Despite being classified as a nuisance alga, almost no research effort has to date been focused on this species, or invasion by protists in general. The aim of this project is to investigate the pattern of Gonyostomum invasion and dispersal, and thereby determine if it has been spreading or simply become more abundant.
The dispersal pattern of Gonyostomum is investigating using DNA fingerprinting techniques (AFLP). A large number of single-cell cultures have been established from different lakes in Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Intra- and interpopulation genetic differences can thus be determined, and patterns discerned.  The results will hopefully shed some light on the processes and pathway of Gonyostomum dominance dynamics and spreading, and eventually on the potential causes (such as climate change) and the species’ effect on biodiversity in aquatic communities. 
 
This summer we were on a Fenno-Scandinavian sampling trip, collecting Gonyostomum on a North-South and a East-West transect. Subsequently individual cells were isolated using microscopy and then cultured in the lab. Currently we are starting to harvest and extract DNA from the cultures that are ready for harvesting.
 
The project is funded by Formas.