https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17220270
A thorough review of the extant studies was conducted to assess which phytoplankton species reported since 1996 in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) are potentially toxic. The study found that 12 species are toxic; 11 of these appear on the IOC-UNESCO taxonomic reference list of harmful microalgae, while Coelosphaerium kuetzingianum has been reported as potentially toxic in Spanish inland waters. Eleven CGSM species are pending confirmation, and 21 are classified as non-toxic harmful species. Additionally, six organisms were identified only at the genus level as potentially harmful. Among the toxic species, six are freshwater cyanobacteria, four are dinoflagellates, one is a diatom, and one is a flagellate (Fibrocapsa japonica), which was discovered in 2015 and linked to a fish kill in the CGSM. The capacity of these species to induce toxic effects in humans remains to be elucidated. In Colombia, algal blooms are not considered a significant threat and receive minimal attention, a stark contrast to the ecological and economic importance of the CGSM in the context of fisheries. Rigorous monitoring is essential to ensure the safety and quality of fishery products.
