artículo científico
Addressing the Problem of Harmful Algal Blooms in Latin America and the Caribbean- A Regional Network for Early Warning and Response
Fecha
2018Registro en:
2296-7745
10.3389/fmars.2018.00409
Autor
Cuéllar Martínez, Tomasa del Carmen
Ruiz Fernández, Ana Carolina
Alonso Hernández, Carlos M.
Amaya Monterrosa, Oscar Armando
Quintanilla, Rebeca
Carrillo Ovalle, Héctor Leonel
Arbeláez M., Natalia
Díaz Asencio, Lisbet
Méndez, Silvia M.
Vargas Montero, Maribelle
Chow Wong, Ninoska Fabiola
Valerio Gonzalez, Lorelys Rosario
Enevoldsen, Henrik
Dechraoui Bottein, Marie Yasmine
Institución
Resumen
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) constitute a worldwide problem, affecting aquatic
ecosystems, public health and local economies. Supported by the International Atomic
Energy Agency since 2009, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries, including
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Uruguay and Venezuela, have integrated a regional
network for early warning of HABs and biotoxins in seafood. Technical capacities have
been developed at regional level to identify toxic species, evaluate biota toxicity, and
to perform retrospective analysis of HAB occurrence. This network involves 58% of the
coastal LAC countries, two regional reference centers (in El Salvador and Cuba), 14 well
equipped institutions, and 177 professionals trained to contribute to the operation of
HAB and biotoxin monitoring programs. All countries from the network have reported
planktonic and benthic toxic species, and in selected cases, associated with toxin in
biota. Dinocyst abundance analysis in 210Pb-dated sediment cores have shown that
some harmful species have been present in the region for at least 100 years ago, and
that both coastal water pollution and climate change are important drivers for HAB
occurrence. Efforts must be made to enrich the data base records on HAB events
occurred in LAC, better understand key environmental variables that control HABs
and expand coverage of HAB monitoring to all coastal countries in LAC to promote
sustainable development of the region.