New Service to Help Monitor Toxic Species in Marine Waters

University of Liverpool

University of Liverpool scientists have launched a new website to help environmental agencies and marine industries identify harmful organisms in UK coastal waters.

The website, called the Harmful Plankton Project, will help experts and non-experts identify harmful algal blooms (HAB), which can pose a threat to both human health and businesses, such as fisheries and aquaculture.

Most microscopic algae, or phytoplankton, are beneficial and form the basis of the ocean’s food web. Those that are harmful, however, are difficult to recognise and many different species can occur within one drop of water. Marine biologists at Liverpool have now launched a website, funded by the Environment Agency, to help non-experts identify harmful algal species quickly and accurately.

Dr David Montagnes, a marine biologist in the School of Biological Sciences, said: “Phytoplankton, such as dinoflagellates and diatoms, produce potent toxins and can pose a considerable public health risk, as they may accumulate in shellfish, which we eat. Identification of these species is very difficult, as the differences between harmful and beneficial phytoplankton can be minute. The guide, which includes an illustrated database, helps us identify these algae.”

Shellfish are often not visibly affected by harmful algae, but they accumulate algal toxins in their organs. The toxins become a threat to humans when shellfish are consumed. Many of these toxins cannot be detected by taste and are not generally reduced in potency after cooking. Those affected can suffer with diarrhoea, memory loss or paralysis. To reduce the risk of serious seafood poisoning, monitoring of phytoplankton is required in marine areas that are frequently harvested.

Dr Montagnes added: “We are also working on another site which will allow users to input the characteristics of a species - for example, their colour and shape - and the site will automatically identify the species. This is particularly useful for fisheries, aquacultures and health services so that algae can be monitored and sufficient warnings about fishing and swimming in the area can be established.”

The Harmful Plankton Project, which also includes information about non-harmful algae, can be accessed by logging on to www.liv.ac.uk/hab

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