Microcystis development in most temperate lakes shows an annual cycle that is mainly triggered by water temperature and includes four stages. This study aims to identify the optimum growth temperature and the temperature thresholds for recruitment and overwintering in Microcystis in Lake Taihu, based on field data and experiments at the cellular and genetic level on Microcystis under a simulated temperature condition. The field investigation showed that the cyanobacterial biomass began to increase at 11–15 °C in spring, reached a peak at 20–30 °C and remained at a low level after the water temperature declined below 6 °C. The simulation experiment found that the recovery of gene expression, photosynthesis and growth in Microcystis cells occurred at 11–14 °C and increased to an appreciable level after the temperature exceeded 20 °C. Microcystis cells stopped growing and maintained low photosynthetic activity and gene expression when the temperature declined to 10 °C or lower. These results suggest that Microcystis in Lake Taihu begin recruitment at 11–14 °C in spring and grow vigorously at 20–30 °C, then overwinter at 10 °C or lower in winter.

在大多数温带湖泊中，微囊藻的发展显示出一个主要由水温触发的年度循环，包括四个阶段。本研究旨在根据田间数据以及在模拟温度条件下在微囊藻的细胞和遗传水平上进行的实验，确定太湖微囊藻的最佳生长温度和募集和越冬的温度阈值。现场调查表明，春季的蓝细菌生物量在11–15°C时开始增加，在20–30°C时达到峰值，在水温降至6°C以下后仍处于较低水平。模拟实验发现微囊藻的基因表达，光合作用和生长的恢复细胞在11–14°C时发生，并在温度超过20°C后增加到可观的水平。当温度降至10°C或更低时，微囊藻细胞停止生长并保持较低的光合作用活性和基因表达。这些结果表明，太湖微囊藻在春季开始于11–14°C募集，并在20–30°C剧烈生长，然后在10°C或更低的冬季越冬。