Floraciones de cianobacterias en Colombia: Estado del conocimiento y necesidades de investigación ante el cambio global

Cyanobacteria can cause problems in water quality due to rapid increases in their abundance known as cyanobacterial bloom. Besides the increase in biomass, it causes physical, chemical, and biologic changes in ecosystems. Cyanobacteria also produce neurotoxins, hepatotoxins, and dermotoxins. The problems associated with cyanobacterial blooms have increased progressively in the last decades. Globally, more studies on harmful cyanobacterial blooms and their effects on ecosystems and human health are being conducted and many countries have developed protocols for their management. The main factors of climate global change associated with increasing cyanobacterial blooms are the rise in temperature, eutrophication, hydrological alterations, the increase in the physical stability of water columns, and changes in trophic networks. Eutrophication and the increase in water temperature are the main issues in Colombia, but, nevertheless, there is no record of cyanobacterial blooms nor state regulations on case reporting, monitoring or control and management measures. This review presents the current state of knowledge on cyanobacterial blooms in the country and expectations vis a vis the global climate change scenario.