Cyanobacteria can produce cyanotoxins that may be a concern in recreational waters. Numerous cyanotoxins exist in lakes used for recreation and cyanobacteria capable of producing different toxins can be present at the same time. However, most research to date has focused on one toxin, microcystin. Less emphasis has been placed on various lesser studied toxins. Moreover, in a natural lake, environmental factors and species composition can be complex and associations among cyanobacterial species within the same algal bloom may be difficult to interpret. Therefore, USGS and academic scientists studied three recurring bloom sites in a remote temperate lake to characterize the phytoplankton and cyanobacterial communities and a suite of lesser studied cyanotoxins. 

This research study looked at phytoplankton and cyanobacterial communities, along with 19 toxins, including microcystin (11 variants), nodularins, microginins, cyanopeptides (3 variants), and anabaenopeptins (3 variants) at three sites with recurring algal blooms in Kabetogama Lake in 2019. The scientists found 7 of 19 toxins in various combinations. Anabaenopeptin A and B were detected in every sample. Microcystin-YR was detected more frequently than microcystin-LR, unlike other lakes in the region. Anabaenopeptins were correlated with six cyanobacteria, most of which lack available literature on anabaenopeptin production. The potential toxin producing cyanobacteria, Microcystis, was significantly correlated to microcystin-YR. Two cyanobacteria were strongly negatively related to several toxins, indicating potential competition  between organisms. Three cyanobacteria pairs were significantly correlated, which may reflect cooperation among taxa. This study highlights interactions among cyanobacteria and multiple cyanotoxins and the methods used may uncover additional patterns in cyanobacteria communities in other systems, leading to further understanding of how those interactions lead to toxin production.