Systematic Review on CyanoHABs in Central Asia and Post-Soviet Countries (2010-2024)

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Cyanobacterial harmful blooms (CyanoHABs) present significant global risks due to cyanotoxins and economic impacts.
• The frequency and severity of CyanoHABs have escalated in recent decades.
• Central Asian and post-Soviet countries are underrepresented in global CyanoHABs research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a systematic review of primary literature on CyanoHAB detection, monitoring, and management.
• To examine the current situation in Central Asia and post-Soviet countries from 2010-2024.
• To address the relative lack of reporting from this region.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of primary literature (2010-2024).
• Extensive database searches (Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Elibrary, ENU, KazNU).
• Inclusion of hand searching and citation searching.

Main Results:

• 121 primary articles and 214 local CyanoHAB cases were analyzed.
• Aquatic cyanotoxins, including microcystins exceeding WHO guidelines, were reported in eight countries.
• Monitoring efforts are more advanced in Baltic countries, Belarus, and Russia compared to Central Asia.

Conclusions:

• Central Asian aquatic ecosystems face severe threats from anthropogenic pressures and climate change.
• There is a critical need to enhance the assessment of cyanobacterial blooms in Central Asia and post-Soviet countries.
• Potential links between CyanoHABs and mass mortality events, such as Caspian seals, warrant further investigation.