Cyanobacteria: Ecology, Toxicology and Management (Bacteriology Research Developments)

Cyanobacteria are prokaryotic organisms (like bacteria) that are long living on Earth (about 3.5 billion years). These tiny creatures have adapted to several kinds of habitats and climates showing a huge adaptive irradiance. Their huge plasticity makes them a successful organism, able to colonize the most different habitats and climates. They can be found both in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, from poles to deserts and from lakes to the seas over the world. Another remarkable characteristic of cyanobacteria is the capacity of producing several bioactive compounds, such as toxins and allelochemicals, which makes them even stronger competitors. It is been a consensus among scientists that eutrophication (the nutrient enrichment of aquatic ecosystems) and global warming have favored these organism even more and enhancing their capacity of dominating aquatic ecosystems. Cyanobacterial blooms have been considered a serious problem in lakes and reservoirs worldwide, threatening wild life, cattle and humans as well. This book is intended to scientists, students and public in general interested in the Ecology, Toxicology and Management of cyanobacteria. It is a collection of review chapters, original research and case studies, which are ordinated in such a way to make readers not only to gain more knowledge about this topic but to enjoy reading. The book covers a series of up-to-date topics in cyanobacterial research, such as the role of cyanotoxins in species interactions, toxicology and ecotoxicology, risk assessment and management of toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. We hope this book will help also managers and decision-makers in environmental issues related to this very recent and serious problem in the history of the humanity.(Imprint: Nova)