Article section

Article title
Contributor
Abstract
About article
DOI
Citation style
Copyright
Open access
References
Research Article

Taxonomic Investigations of Freshwater Cyanobacterial Flora in Benghazi with Newly Documented Species from Libya

Authors

Abstract

A comprehensive survey of 400 freshwater samples was performed in and around Benghazi, Libya, for taxonomic study of Cyanobacteria at the species level. Samples were collected from different water sites and resources: ponds, rain ponds, sewage ponds, artificial lakes, manmade reservoirs, water tanks, wet soils, and wet walls. During the period between February 2023 and January 2025, samples were randomly collected and preserved by 4% formalin.  A total of 55 species belonging to 31 genera, 17 families, and 10 orders of cyanobacteria were recorded, and 44 species are newly reported in Libya. The documentation of 44 species newly reported in Libya significantly expands the known cyanobacterial flora of the country and emphasizes the importance of continued taxonomic exploration in understudied regions. These findings not only contribute valuable data to the field of microbial taxonomy but also provide a foundation for future ecological and biotechnological research involving cyanobacteria in Libya more broadly.

Keywords:

Algae Blooms Biodiversity Cyanophyceae Microcystis Oscillatoria

Article information

Journal

Journal of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Animal Science

Volume (Issue)

2(1), (2025)

Pages

236-247

Published

30-06-2025

How to Cite

Alteerah, M. A., & El-orofy, J. A. M. (2025). Taxonomic Investigations of Freshwater Cyanobacterial Flora in Benghazi with Newly Documented Species from Libya. Journal of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Animal Science, 2(1), 236-247. https://doi.org/10.69739/jaaas.v2i2.690

References

Abobaker, H. M., Ibrahim, N. M., & Shaieb, F. M. (2023). Distribution of Algae and Water Quality in Waterfall Derna–Libya.

Abobaker, H. M., & Elsalhine, H. (2016). Diversity of fresh water algae in some side of Green Mountain. http:// doi.org/10.37376/1570-000-012-003

Ambika, H. D., & Krishnamurthy, S. R. (2018). Algal flora of barks of tropical forests of Western Ghats-Perspectives of research. The Journal of Indian Botanical Society, 97(3and4), 1-13. http:// doi.org/10.5958/2455-7218.2018.00010.4

Bauer, F., Wolfschlaeger, I., Geist, J., Fastner, J., Schmalz, C. W., & Raeder, U. (2023). Occurrence, distribution and toxins of benthic cyanobacteria in German lakes. Toxics, 11(8), 643.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11080643

Bellinger, E. G., & Sigee, D. C. (2015). Freshwater algae: identification, enumeration and use as bioindicators. John Wiley & Sons.‏ http:// doi.org/10.1002/9781118917152

Bilous, O. P., Nezbrytska, I., Zhezherya, V., Dubniak, S., Batoh, S., Kazantsev, T., ... & Cantonati, M. (2023). Interactions between aquatic plants and cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater reservoir ecosystems. Water, 15(4), 672. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040672

Elsalhine, H., & Abobaker, H. M. (2018). Collection and definition of freshwater algae in City of Shahat-Libya. IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT), 12(12), 37-41.

Francoeur, S. N., Rier, S. T., & Whorley, S. B. (2013). Methods for sampling and analyzing wetland algae. Wetland Techniques: Volume 2: Organisms, 1-58.‏ https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6931-1_1

Guiry, M. D. (2024). How many species of algae are there? A reprise. Four kingdoms, 14 phyla, 63 classes and still growing. Journal of Phycology, 60(2), 214-228.‏ https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.13431

Guiry, M. D., & Guiry, G. M. (2014). AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://doi.org/10.7872/crya.v35.iss2.2014.105

Guiry, M. D., & Guiry, G. M. (2013). AlgaeBase. Galway: world-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland.‏ http://www.algaebase.org

Hu, C., Gao, K., & Whitton, B. A. (2012). Semi-arid regions and deserts. In Ecology of Cyanobacteria II: their diversity in space and time (pp. 345-369). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3855-3_12

Issa, A. A., Attitalla, I. H., & El-Mesmary, H. M. (2012). A first report of fresh water algae at Suluq lake, Libya. Top class Journal of Microbiology, 1(1), 18-24.‏

Jassim, Y. A., Awadh, E. F. A., & Al-Amery, S. M. H. (2023). A review of general properties of blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria). Biomedicine and Chemical Sciences, 2(2), 143-148. https://doi.org/10.48112/bcs.v2i2.397

Lakshmikandan, M., Li, M., & Pan, B. (2024). Cyanobacterial blooms in environmental water: Causes and solutions. Current Pollution Reports, 10(4), 606-627. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-024-00322-w

Loujanqi, A., Alteerah, M., & Godeh, M. (2020). Identification of Freshwater Algae from Kufrah, Libya. Libyan Journal of Ecological & Environmental Sciences and Technology (LJEEST), 2(1), 13-17. https://doi.org/10.63359/05rv9m80

Matthews, R. A. (2016a). Freshwater Algae in Northwest Washington (Volume I). Cyanobacteria. https://doi.org/10.25710/awgt-cp35

McAllister, T. G., Wood, S. A., & Hawes, I. (2016). The rise of toxic benthic Phormidium proliferations: a review of their taxonomy, distribution, toxin content and factors regulating prevalence and increased severity. Harmful Algae, 55, 282-294.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2016.04.002

Nizamuddin, M., & Gerloff, J. (1982). Freshwater algae from Libya. Nova hedwigia. Lehre, 36(1), 129-150.‏

Paerl, H. W., & Paul, V. J. (2012). Climate change: links to global expansion of harmful cyanobacteria. Water research, 46(5),1349-1363.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.08.002

Sánchez-Baracaldo, P., Bianchini, G., Wilson, J. D., & Knoll, A. H. (2022). Cyanobacteria and biogeochemical cycles through Earth history. Trends in Microbiology, 30(2), 143-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2021.05.008

Sheath, R. G., & Wehr, J. D. (2015). Introduction to the freshwater algae. In Freshwater Algae of North America (pp. 1-11). Academic Press.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-385876-4.00001-3

Van Vuuren, S. J., Taylor, J., Gerber, A., & van Ginkel, C. (2006). Easy identification of the most common freshwater algae: a guide for the identification of microscopic algae in South African freshwaters: Resource Quality Services (RQS).

Wehr, J. D., Sheath, R. G., & Kociolek, J. P. (Eds.). (2015). Freshwater algae of North America: ecology and classification. Elsevier.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/C2010-0-66664-8

Zorrilla, J. G., Siciliano, A., Petraretti, M., Saviano, L., Spampinato, M., Cimmino, A., & Masi, M. (2024). Ecotoxicological assessment of cyclic peptides produced by a Planktothrix rubescens bloom: Impact on aquatic model organisms. Environmental Research, 257, 119394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.119394

Downloads

Views

13

Downloads

13