About cyanobacteria and Cyano Community

What is a cyanobacterium?

A cyanobacterium is a photosynthetic aquatic microorganism, not an algae despite the common nickname "blue-green algae". These bacteria can thrive across both calm lakes and rivers, forming blooms that sometimes produce toxins.

Where do cyanobacteria live?

You can find them in bodies of water across Switzerland—floating near the surface in warm seasons or forming dense carpets along the sediment in deeper pools.

Benthic and planktonic species

Benthic cyanobacteria grow on rocks and lakebeds, while planktonic species drift with currents. Both groups are part of our monitoring effort because they react differently to nutrients and temperature.

Cyanotoxins

Certain blooms release cyanotoxins that threaten swimmers, pets and drinking-water intakes. Cyano Community tracks toxin data, shares laboratory results and helps communities plan safe access.

Why join the project?

Our citizen science network keeps an eye on blooms, collects high-resolution datasets and educates the public. The more people document their observations, the better the science becomes.