10.1021/acs.est.5b03931.s001 Matthew J. Harke Matthew J. Harke Timothy W. Davis Timothy W. Davis Susan B. Watson Susan B. Watson Christopher J. Gobler Christopher J. Gobler Nutrient-Controlled Niche Differentiation of Western Lake Erie Cyanobacterial Populations Revealed via Metatranscriptomic Surveys American Chemical Society 2016 Lake Erie drinking water supplies cyanobacterial populations microcystin synthetase genes cyanobacterial communities cyanobacterial blooms Western Lake Erie Cyanobacterial Populations Revealed mcn gene sets nitrogen fixation gene abundance Anabaena Microcysti 2016-01-19 00:00:00 Journal contribution https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Nutrient_Controlled_Niche_Differentiation_of_Western_Lake_Erie_Cyanobacterial_Populations_Revealed_via_Metatranscriptomic_Surveys/2057856 Although toxic cyanobacterial blooms in western Lake Erie threaten drinking water supplies and are promoted by nutrient loading, the precise nutrient regime that selects specific cyanobacteria populations is poorly understood. Here, we assess shifts in cyanobacterial abundances and global gene-expression patterns in response to natural and manipulated gradients in nitrogen and phosphorus to identify gene pathways that facilitate dominance by different cyanobacteria. Gradients in soluble reactive phosphorus shaped cyanobacterial communities and elicited the largest transcriptomic responses. Under high-P conditions (closest to the mouth of the Maumee River), Anabaena and Planktothrix were the dominant cyanobacterial populations, and experimental P and ammonium enrichment promoted nitrogen fixation gene (<i>nifH</i>) expression in Anabaena. For Microcystis, experimental additions of P up-regulated genes involved in phage defense, genomic rearrangement, and nitrogen acquisition but led to lower abundances. Within offshore, low-P regions of the western basin of Lake Erie, Microcystis up-regulated genes associated with P scavenging (<i>pstSCAB</i>, <i>phoX</i>) and dominated cyanobacterial communities. Experimental additions of ammonium and urea did not alter Microcystis abundances but did up-regulate protease inhibitors (<i>aer</i> and <i>mcn</i> gene sets) and microcystin synthetase genes (<i>mcy</i>), with urea enrichment yielding significant increases in microcystin concentrations. Our findings suggest that management plans that reduce P loads alone may not significantly reduce the risk of cyanobacterial blooms in western Lake Erie but rather may promote a shift among cyanobacterial populations (Microcystis, Anabaena, and Planktothrix) toward a greater dominance by toxic strains of Microcystis.