CAUSES, DYNAMICS AND CONSEQUENCES OF EXCEPTIONAL PHYTOPLANKTON BLOOMS
Main researcher
: MARASOVIĆ, IVONA (28126) Assistants
ZVONARIĆ, TOMISLAV (55306)
GAČIĆ, MIROSLAV (12795)
GRBEC, BRANKA (148111)
BARIĆ, ANTE (72050)
KOVAČEVIĆ, VEDRANA (135465)
PEŠIĆ, NENAD (900281)
NINČEVIĆ, ŽIVANA (900558)
PEAKOVIĆ, MARIANA-ANTONIA (900768)
Type of research: basic Duration from: 01/01/91. to 12/31/93. Papers on project (total): 86
Papers on project quoted in Current Contents: 16
Institution name: Institut za oceanografiju i ribarstvo, Split (1) Department/Institute: Department of biology Address: Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića 63 City: 21000 - Split, Croatia
Communication
Phone: 385 (21) 358-688
E-mail: NILA@JADRAN.IZOR.HR
Fax: 385 (21) 358-650
Summary: Exceptional phytoplankton blooms have become a recurrent
phenomenon for the past two decades, having been significantly widened both
in time and space. The outbursts and termination of these blooms is
difficult to be accounted for due to the fact that individual bloom
mechanisms are highly affected by morphological, kinematical, hydrographic
and biological characteristic of individual areas. This means that the
factors of initiation of their occurrence considerably differ from one area
to another. It has been attempted, as a part of this programme, to
establish and explain the mechanisms of bloom outbursts in Kaštela Bay
whereas the blooms in the Šibenik Bay and northern Adriatic were observed
along. Special attention was given to the relationship between permanent
(resting cyst) and vegetative stages of individual stages in the
initiation, regulation and termination of blooms. The effects of
meteorological factors (wind, temperature) on the initation and termination
of blooms was given particular attention as well as the impact of
zooplankton "grazing" on bloom control. The studies included toxic and
suspect toxic phytoplankton species, the areas of their occurrence and
seasonal presence. At the same time samples have been prepared for PSP and
DSP toxicity testing whereas the development of biological and chemical
method for sample testing is under way.
Research goals: To supply more information on the occurrence
phytoplanktonblooms, it was attempted to examine some higly
specificmechanisms of this pohenomenon. Particular attention was given
tothe initiation and termination mechanisms as affected by
thecharacteristics of individual areas or, to put it another way,
toexplain how the environmental conditions affect different stagesof the
life cycles of individual "bloom" species (resting cysts,temporary cysts,
vegetative cells). An important objective of this project was to make a
list of toxic and suspect toxic phytoplankton organisms in the
Adriaticand to supply information on the time and areas of
theiroccurrence. A study of the life cycle of these organisms in greater
detail,to get better acquainted with their developmental stages
andtoxicity levels aim at eventual possibility of forecasting thetiming
of the outbursts of these blooms which are a permanent potential threaten
both for marine organisms and man.
COOPERATION - PROJECTS
Name of project
: > Alpe Adria Name of institution: CIM Rovinj, Institut Ruđer Bošković City: 52210 - Rovinj, Hrvatska
Name of project
: Harmful Algal Bloom Name of institution: IOC/UNESCO City: Pariz, Francuska
Name of project
: Investigation of growth and distribution of
potentially toxic organisms in some shellfish farms (Middle Adriatic) Name of institution: UNEP-MAP City: Atena, Grčka
Name of project
: Physical Oceanography of Eastern Mediterranean Name of institution: Harvard University City: Boston, USA
COOPERATION - INSTITUTIONS
Name of institution
: IOC - UNESCO Type of institution: International organization Type of cooperation: Systematic exchange of information City: Pariz, Francuska
Name of institution
: UNEP - MAP Type of institution: International organization Type of cooperation: Financial support City: Atena, Grčka
Name of institution
: OGS Type of institution: State institute Type of cooperation: Joint project City: Trieste, Italija
Name of institution
: ISDGM Type of institution: State institute Type of cooperation: Joint project City: Venezia, Italy
Name of institution
: CIM Type of institution: State institute Type of cooperation: Joint project City: 52210 - Rovinj, Hrvatska
Name of institution
: Morska biološka postaja Type of institution: University/Faculty Type of cooperation: Systematic exchange of information City: Piran, Slovenija Other information about the project.