Ecology of Harmful Algal Blooms

Ecology of Harmful Algal Blooms

Description

Marine phytoplankton play a central role in the food web and biogeochemical cycles in the ocean. The species composition and size structure of the phytoplankton community are critical role in determining the functioning of ecosystems through trophic interactions and fluxes of organic matter. Therefore, the factors controlling phytoplankton dynamics, that is when and where phytoplankton bloom, are of great interest. Of the many thousands of species, only a small number cause problems: the toxin-producing harmful algal bloom (HAB) forming species. This course will provide an introduction to the diversity and ecology of the phytoplankton, with particular focus on the harmful algal species and methods for observing.

Contents:

Lecture topics will include:

  1. General characteristics: A general introduction to the taxonomy and ecology of marine microalgae (dinoflagellates, diatoms, haptophyceae, dictyochophyceae, pelagophyceae, raphidophyceae)
  2. Environmental and physiological controls on the growth and distribution of marine phytoplankton
  3. Methods for enumeration (microscopy, pigment, molecular and imaging)
  4. Monitoring and early warning of HABs
  5. Ocean observing systems and HABs

Practical laboratory sessions will include:

  1. Light microscopy- examination of cultures from the collection
  2. Traditional flow cytometry- examine cultures and mixtures of cultures for quantification of cell types
  3. Imaging FlowCytobot- demonstration of images; dashboard; identification of HAB image

Methodology:

The course will include a series of lectures and laboratory practical demonstrations to provide a general overview of the algal phyla and their ecology, with emphasis on HAB species. There will be two lectures each day (2 hours each) and laboratory practical sessions (2 hours each) on 3 afternoons, and exercises and the evaluation session on the final afternoon.