Project Page Views: [ 641 ]
Project Metadata Element | Details |
Project Title | Biology Oceanography of Azadinium |
Research Area | EPA Water Pillar: Ecosystem Services and Sustainability |
Project Acronym | |
Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Nicolas Touzet |
Lead Institution or Organisation | Institute of Technology Sligo (ITS) |
Lead Country | Ireland |
Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 54.27818364803712,-8.464751243591308 |
Lead Funding Entity | Marine Institute |
Approximate Project Start Date | 15/10/2015 |
Approximate Project Finishing Date | 15/09/2018 |
Project Website (if any) | |
Links to other Web-based resources | |
Project Keywords | Azaspiracids, Azadinium, shellfish, coastal waters |
Project Abstract | In the context of the EU Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework Directives, AZBO aims at carrying out frontier research on HABs in Irish coastal embayments. The global implications of HABs, which have severe impacts for human society in terms of health, economy and environmental quality, provide firm justification for funding and are clearly aligned with the remit of national and European research strategies such as the Irish NRPE report and EU Horizon-2020 initiative. AZBO will benefit from collaborations with academic and SME partners, national linkages with EPA and Marine Institute programmes and ongoing relationships with partners abroad. Specifically, the objectives of AZBO are centred around three pillars : 1- To investigate the diversity and azaspiracid production potential of Azadinium and closely related species in Irish waters 2- To better document the biological oceanography of Azadinium in the strategically important estuary for aquaculture that is Killary Harbour 3- To investigate the apparent discrepancy of shellfish contamination with Azaspiracids associated with relatively low numbers of Azadinium cells in the water column These will be addressed using a range of laboratory, desktop and field based analyses, thereby returning new knowledge on the molecular ecology and biology of Azadinium in Irish coastal waters. In terms of its intrinsic scientific value and its wider social and environmental benefits, AZBO is planned out with realistic goals and clearly defined deliverables. AZBO originality and innovative thrust will return outcomes that will substantially advance our understanding of HAB dynamics in coastal embayments in support of the shellfish aquaculture industry. |