Occurrence, Structure and Potential Threat of Cyanotoxins in Arid Environments

Dear Colleagues,

Arid and semiarid environments account for 40% globally and are expected to expand due to global climate change and anthropogenic impact. One of the most important issues characterizing these environments is water scarcity and inadequacy due to low precipitation. This problem is exacerbated by shifts in the water regime, pollution, and the occurrence of harmful algal blooms, including cyanobacterial blooms, connected with climate change and anthropogenic activity. Cyanobacteria may pose a threat to human health and the environment in soil and agricultural lands, as well as in aquatic ecosystems. Despite the discovery of ever new cyanotoxins, our knowledge of their distribution, structure and toxicity is still limited, especially in environments seemingly less connected with cyanobacteria, such as hot and cold drylands.

This Special Issue is devoted to the occurrence and structure of cyanotoxins studied in fragile ecosystems in arid zones. It aims to highlight the importance of research on cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in poorly studied environments and to promote cyanobacterial research in hot and cold arid regions, which are among the most vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic impact.

We invite papers covering:

• The monitoring of cyanotoxins and cyanobacteria in inland waters and soils in arid environments;
• Reports on novel cyanotoxins and cyanotoxins from unstudied communities and localizations;
• Studies on diversity and structure of novel cyanotoxins and/or of new localizations;
• Information on cyanobacterial toxicity in these environments;
• Reviews on cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in poorly studied arid environments.

Prof. Dr. Iwona Jasser
Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Suska-Malawska
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• Arid environment
• Biogeochemistry and toxicology
• Climate change and food security
• Cyanobacterial diversity
• Cyanotoxin toxicity
• Human health and environmental risk
• Monitoring
• Soil and water chemistry