Toxicological and Ecotoxicological Assessment of Benthic?Algae and their Toxins to Achieve Sustainable Management of Marine Ecosystem Services

Closed for Proposals

Project Type

Coordinated Research Project

Project Code

K41014

CRP

2071

Approved Date

2014/02/13

Project Status

Closed

Start Date

2015/09/03

Expected End Date

2019/09/02

Completed Date

2019/04/16

Description

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) represent a growing threat to coastal marine ecosystems and sustainable safe seafood supplies. Isotopic and radioisotopic techniques (such as the receptor binding assay or the measurement of isotopic signatures) can be used to identify and measure algal toxins in seafood, and improve knowledge on the impact of environmental and climatic variability on HABs. This project proposes to bring together scientists (and end users) with complementary capacities and expertise, and from different regions (including the vulnerable small island developing States), in order to: (i) better assess the fate and impact on marine organisms and seafood safety of the toxic benthic microalgae responsible for the neglected tropical disease ciguatera (i.e. Gambierdiscus spp.), and (ii) raise awareness and understanding of environmental sustainability and seafood safety.

Specific Objectives

Study the effects of environmental conditions on the occurrence of toxic species of benthic microalgae and provide information and technical tools to assess associated biotoxins in seawater and seafood

Impact

The impact of this small CRP is high as many high profile outputs were produced in a timely manner.

Relevance

The relevance of the CRP is also high as MSs along any coastline have to address their harmful algal bloom challenges. The techniques presented and confirmed here in this CRP have direct relevance to addressing these issues/

CRP Publications

BRA / UFPR / Curitiba

PhD

2021

Leite, Isabel do Prado (2017-2021) ACúMULO DE TOXINAS E EFEITOS TóXICOS DE DINOFLAGELADOS EPíFITOS EM ORGANISMOS BêNTICOS (Toxin accumulation and toxic effects from epiphitic dinoflagelates in benthic organisms). PhD thesis, UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil. CAPES scholarship (Brazil).