Using the Google Trends tool to analyze searches for cyanobacteria

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Microbiology
• Digital Humanities

Background:

• Cyanobacteria are vital for Earth's ecosystems, performing oxygenic photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation.
• Excessive cyanobacterial blooms, driven by eutrophication and global warming, pose environmental and human health risks.
• Effective monitoring of cyanobacteria requires accessible and rapid data analysis tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate temporal and seasonal search trends for cyanobacteria using Google Trends data.
• To identify geographical patterns in public interest regarding cyanobacteria.
• To understand the relationship between environmental factors and online search behavior for cyanobacteria.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Google Trends data from 10 selected countries spanning 2004 to September 2021.
• Filtered search queries for the term "cyanobacteria" in English and official languages.
• Analyzed temporal and seasonal variations in search interest across different regions.

Main Results:

• Consistent temporal search patterns for cyanobacteria were observed across most selected countries, with notable interest from Brazil, Canada, India, and Mexico.
• Seasonal search trends in tropical regions correlated with drier seasons (spring and fall).
• In temperate regions, cyanobacteria search interest peaked during warmer seasons.

Conclusions:

• Google Trends serves as a valuable tool for monitoring public interest in cyanobacteria.
• Search patterns for cyanobacteria are influenced by geographical location and associated climatic seasons.
• Understanding these trends can aid in predicting and managing cyanobacterial bloom-related issues.