Objective In modern society, incidents concerning Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are reported with an alarming frequency and there has been an apparent increase in HABs throughout the world over the last decades. Among the multiple poisoning syndromes linked to HABs, Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) is the most widespread and significant on a global basis. Dinoflagellates within the genus Alexandrium are responsible for many of the PSP outbreaks in Europe. The geographic expansion of toxin-producing species, and in particular of species with the capability to form cysts, is believed to be aided by human activities such as the use of ballast water or the movement of shellfish stock from one area to another.The objective of the proposed study is to investigate a significant constraint to colonization of a new area by an introduced organism - namely reproductive barriers within a species, and in particular, between European toxic and non-toxic strains of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum. The hypothesis is that mating between toxic and non-toxic populations results in cysts with a low viability. In addition, I aim to identify a genetic marker capable of distinguishing between toxic and non-toxic A. minutum. The ecological relevance of the proposed study is significant as mating barriers have the potential to affect biogeography of the investigated species as well as formation, persistence and the potential suppression of toxic blooms. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesphysical geography Keywords biogeography bloom formation bloom mitigation cyst formation harmful algal blooms toxicity Programme(s) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Topic(s) MOBILITY-2.2 - Marie Curie Outgoing International Fellowships (OIF) Call for proposal FP6-2004-MOBILITY-6 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme OIF - Marie Curie actions-Outgoing International Fellowships Coordinator DEPARTMENT OF LIMNOLOGY LUND UNIVERSITY EU contribution No data Address Sweden See on map Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data
