Cyanobacteria from Two Coastal Wetlands in Lima During Algal Blooms: New Records for Peru

Cyanobacteria are widely distributed in aquatic ecosystems, such as coastal wetlands, where they play a fundamental role in primary productivity. These ecosystems are susceptible to the proliferation of potentially toxic cyanobacteria. Nevertheless, the taxonomic diversity of cyanobacteria during algal blooms remains poorly documented in Peru. This study aims to understand the biodiversity of cyanobacteria present in the coastal wetlands of Albufera de Medio Mundo and El Paraiso, Lima, Peru. Samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons of 2021–2024. A total of 31 taxa of cyanobacteria were identified, 15 of which represent new records for Peru. The genus with the highest number of species was Microcystis, recognized for its bloom-forming capacity and potential toxicity. The findings of this study contribute to expanding the knowledge about the biodiversity of cyanobacteria in Peruvian coastal wetlands. We emphasize the necessity of detailed taxonomic surveys to document cyanobacterial biodiversity and support the integration of molecular and chemical approaches along the Peruvian coastal strip to characterize ecologically relevant cyanobacteria.