Adverse role of colonial morphology and favorable function of microcystins for Microcystis to compete with Scenedesmus

•Scenedesmus can use lower concentrations of phosphorus than colonial Microcystis.•Colonial Microcystis failed in the competition and was replaced by Scenedesmus.•Microcystins inhibited Scenedesmus photosynthesis and growth at early stage.•Microcystins stimulated the photosynthetic potential of colonial Microcystis.•Microcystin production of Microcystis was enhanced by Scenedesmus competition. In eutrophic freshwaters, Microcystis usually becomes dominant in phytoplankton communities due to the synergistic effects of its special eco-physiological traits and environmental factors. Colonial morphology can protect Microcystis from zooplankton grazing, which indirectly favors Microcystis to outcompete other phytoplankton, although the colonial form is not conducive to the absorption of nutrients. Moreover, unicellular Microcystis usually has competitive advantages over other phytoplankton due to its efficient absorption capacity for nutrients and releasing microcystins. However, the consequence of direct competition between toxic colonial Microcystis and green algae without external grazing pressure still remained unknown. In this study, the competition between toxic colonial Microcystis aeruginosa and a common green alga Scenedesmus obliquus was explored. Results showed that: (1) colonial M. aeruginosa had a higher requirement for key macro-nutrient phosphorus than S. obliquus, and thus its population declined and was replaced by S. obliquus eventually; (2) microcystins released by colonial M. aeruginosa inhibited the photosynthetic activity and growth of S. obliquus at early stage of the competition; (3) the photosynthetic potential of colonial M. aeruginosa was stimulated in response to the competitive stress from S. obliquus, although the population of colonial M. aeruginosa declined eventually; (4) microcystin production of colonial M. aeruginosa was enhanced by phosphorus limitation due to S. obliquus competition and was positively related to photosynthetic potential of colonial M. aeruginosa. These results indicated that, in the absence of complex natural environment, colonial Microcystis cannot outcompete Scenedesmus in a pure competition, although microcystins can play a favorable role in the competition, which clarified the opposite role of colonies and microcystins in the competition of colonial Microcystis against other phytoplankton. [Display omitted]