Global problem

Harmful algal blooms are a global problem, not simply confined to Europe. HABIT follows the lines of development defined in the Science Plan of the international programme IOC- SCOR GEOHAB (Global Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms). Both initiatives aim at HAB prediction on the basis of operational modelling. Although our knowledge on Dinophysis ecology is still sketchy relative to other HAB species, there is a general agreement that one major factor controlling the build-up of populations lies in the hydrodynamic regime. Collaboration between Europe and the US teams will be of huge benefit in order to define the Dinophysis ecological niche

The potential benefits and added-value will be improved through collaboration with partners from the US. The specific benefits to be realised from this collaboration are:

• deployment of a holographic camera to observe processes actively occurring at the critical scales of less than 1cm (http://www.me.jhu.edu/~lefd/shc/digital.htm). The digital holographic camera system will sample about 0.5l/second while a higher resolution emulsion system samples a litre at a time. This will allow a precise look at the scale of individual cells and observe interactions between them. This will also allow observation of and information on the dominance of Dinophysis (where and in what forms) and grazing within, and of the layers.
• the three-dimensional spatial concentrations and distributions of the particles (greater than 10 microns in diameter) as a function of size in conjunction with statistics of nearest neighbour distance and relative motion.
• for particles larger than 30 microns the shape can be discerned sufficiently to identify dinoflagellates and their predators.
• the local rate of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation in the sample volume and its distribution in the layers and relative to the particles.
• the local turbulent kinetic energy on scales up to meters can be estimated from a sequence of holograms

The US team from John Hopkins University, will participate in the field exercises listed in the description for Workpackage 2 of this proposal (Field studies). This will be effected through the proposal “In Situ Holographic Measurements of Particle Distributions and Small Scale turbulence in Thin Layers”.

Added value at European level

The value of integrating European research in the field of HABs has been recognised for some time (EUROHAB). This project brings together acknowledged expertise on Dinophysis (Reguera), modelling (IFREMER, Cefas), thin layer measurements (Gentien) and biophysical interactions (Raine, Gentien) which, taken together, provide the critical multidisciplinary research team necessary to tackle the complex issues generated within the proposal. Results from the project will not only apply to Dinophysis spp. but also any HAB species which occurs and accumulates in thin layers, giving a wide applicability of the project deliverables within the HAB topic area.

This project will establish a working network of marine scientists on the western coast of Europe, thus contributing to national and European initiatives. Approval under INTERREG IIIb of a networking initiative (NEMEDA) at once provides not only an initial, cost effective dissemination route but also an existing framework for future expansion.