Trophodynamic interference of cyanotoxins on the growth and reproduction of Heliodiaptomus viduus

Cyanotoxins are highly persistent in water due to their stable chemical structure and are increasingly being recognized as a potent stress factor in aquatic food chains. The carbon transfer efficiency between the primary producers and the herbivorous consumers during cyanobacterial blooms is a theme for investigation because of the direct impact of the cyanotoxins on the growth and reproduction of herbivorous zooplankton. Heliodiaptomus viduus is a dominant freshwater calanoid species o f South In dia that forms an important link in the trophodynamics of freshwater food chains, and field studies show they are feeding on cyanobacteria. Toxic strains of genus Microcystis are a common occurrence in many Indian ponds during summer, and Heliodiaptomus viduus are found to coexist with them in the Thuvakudi pond located at the outskirts of Tiruchirappalli. This study observed how Heliodiaptomus viduus cope with the toxic Microcystis in their diet and how this influences their reproductive performance. The objective was to assess the impact of cyanotoxins on the growth and reproduction of Heliodiaptomus viduus by subjecting them to Microcystis food in different experimental combinations.