“By measuring the number of predators of toxic algae in the water, toxic algae blooms can be predicted with greater certainty,” says Erik Selander, a marine researcher at the University of Gothenburg.
Poisonous algae sense the presence of zooplankton, causing them to increase their production of toxins to protect themselves from being eaten. Until now there has not been enough high-resolution data for zooplankton to be used for harmful algae forecasts. But the research team at the University of Gothenburg has found a shortcut that solved the problem.
“A simple analysis of a chemical marker from zooplankton in mussels could be used to improve forecasting,” says Erik Selander, who heads the research effort. “The analysis makes it possible to predict toxic algae outbreaks further in advance and with more accuracy than before.”
Important implications for food production and environmental monitoring
The method is important not only for shellfish-eating coastal residents but also for marine food producers.
“Norwegian aquaculturists lost hundreds of millions of euros in the summer of 2019 when a toxic algae bloom swept along the coast, killing millions of salmon. With earlier warnings, fish farmers have a chance to take action to minimise losses. In addition, mussel farmers can plan their harvest better.”
Food production from aquaculture also plays an important role in the transition to a more sustainable future, and this places higher demands on the monitoring of toxins.
As a next step, the researchers will test the method on a larger amount of data to see if it can be applied to more types of toxic algae than those they have studied so far.
“We hope the method will be useful in Swedish environmental monitoring.”
Name of the article: Eavesdropping on plankton—can zooplankton monitoring improve forecasting of biotoxins from harmful algae blooms?
Contact: Erik Selander, senior lecturer at the Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, +46 (0)31-786 26 27, mobile: +46 (0)766-18 26 27, erik.selander@marine.gu.se.
