Ecology of cyanobacteria and the role of cyanotoxins

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Aquatic ecosystems are subject to multiple anthropogenic stressors: excess nutrient loading, invasive species and climate change are impacting lakes and rivers worldwide. One highly visible consequence appears to be an increase in the magnitude and/or frequency of cyanobacterial blooms. These blooms can also produce potent toxins with repercussions on wildlife, human health and local economies. However, the specific environmental conditions leading to toxic cyanobacterial blooms are complex and not well understood. In lakes, while nutrients are typically the primary cause of cyanobacterial blooms, increases have been observed in the absence of any change in nutrients, and other causal or contributing factors have been suggested, namely climate change and invasive species.