Flamingos Mass Mortalities (Harmful Algae 2006)
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Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Limnological studies were conducted in three alkaline lakes (Lake Big Momela, Manyara and Embagai) with the aim of
investigating the cause of mass mortality of the Lesser Flamingos in Lake Manyara and Lake Big Momela during July–August
2004. High concentrations, up to 150 million filaments per liter of the potentially toxic planktonic cyanobacterium Arthrospira
fusiformis were found in surface scum of Lake Big Momela where Lesser Flamingos were dying at a rate of between 15 and 50
individuals per day during the study period. Gut content analyses indicated that A. fusiformis was the main food item in moribund
flamingos. Mouse bioassay suggested that the crude microalgal extract dominated by A. fusiformis was toxic with all mice close to
death becoming lethargic, with loss of balance, uncoordinated movements, intermittent tremors, dyspnoea with gasping followed by
respiratory arrest. This observation gives circumstantial evidence that A. fusiformis at such high concentrations was toxic to the
Lesser Flamingo in Lake Big Momela.
# 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Keywords
Lesser Flamingos, Cyanobacteria, Lake Big Momela, Lake Manyara, Tanzania