Resistance to blue-green algal toxins by Bosmina longirostris

Bosmina longirostris was resistant to strains of Microcysrts aeruginosa and Anabaena flosaquae previously reported to have lethal toxic effects on cladocerans. These blue-green algae were of poor nutritional value to B.longirostris; survivorship was increased when fed these algae but reproduction was negligible. Results of feeding selectivity experiments showed that B.longirostris did not avoid consuming these blue-green algae, indicating that the mechanism for resistance must be post-ingestion. These results suggest that, unlike the other cladocerans tested, B.longirostris could potentially coexist with toxic blue-green algal blooms.