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Abstract
Eutrophication leads to the occurrence of harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms at Lake Kabetogama in Voyageurs National Park. The cyanotoxins anatoxin-a and microcystin were found at bloom sites. We determined if these toxins accumulated in fish from Lake Kabetogama at Voyageurs National Park. Adult fish were captured using gillnetting, and young of year fish were captured using seining. We extracted tissues from whole young of year fish as well as the liver and muscle from adult fish. Tissue concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Most enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay toxin results were above the upper limit of detection of 5.0ppb, and all but six liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry microcystin-LR samples were below the lower limits of detection, which varied per sample. Five samples were Smallmouth Bass, five samples were at sites near deep areas that internally load phosphorus, and six samples were in livers. Our unconfirmed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay toxin results could indicate either false positives or cyanotoxin levels between the limit of detection of both tests. Levels of microcystin and anatoxin-a at Voyageurs National Park in fish were low enough as to not be of risk to humans, but wildlife could be at risk. We suggest continued monitoring of cyanotoxins in water and organism tissues at the park.