El aporte de la ciencia ciudadana para generar un monitoreo visual de cianobacterias en el embalse Los Molinos, Córdoba, Argentina

Abstract

Citizen science involves the participation of the entire community in scientific activities and promotes the active contribution of citizens in research projects through their efforts, knowledge, tools and resources. The community living nearby a reservoir suffers the main consequences of cyanobacteria blooms and usually has a popular knowledge of the problem and a great enthusiasm to collaborate in research tasks. This study describes a joint project between the community and the Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of the National University of Cordoba, the Special Rescue Group of Calamuchita and the Provincial Administration of Water Resources. This initiative includes the collaborative monitoring of cyanobacterial blooms in Los Molinos reservoir in an unprecedented experience in reservoirs in the province of Cordoba (Argentina). Secchi depth is described as an excellent indicator for recreational use. The participation of students of the Alfonsina Storni school in Potrero de Garay and of the Special Rescue Group of Calamuchita, who reported valuable data on the reservoir conditions in relation to cyanobacterial blooms and transmit the main results and conclusions to their families, coworkers and the whole community, is here underscored.