Algal blooms in Nigerian waters: an overview

Abstract

Awareness of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their associated impacts is poor or lacking in the West African sub-region. Different aquatic environments in Nigeria have reportedly experienced blooms of algae either seasonally or year round, but there are no documented cases of human incapacitation in relation to these blooms. Potentially toxic microalgal species in Nigerian
water bodies include cyanobacteria (Microcystis spp., Oscillatoria spp., Anabaena spp. and Trichodesmium thiebautii), diatoms (Pseudo-nitzschia spp., Nitzschia spp. and Chaetoceros convolutus) and dinoflagellates
(Dinophysis acuta, Gonyaulax spp., Gymnodinium spp., Noctiluca scintillans and Prorocentrum lima). This paper reviews information on toxic microalgae in Nigerian waters and emphasises the need for monitoring and research efforts in the region.