Grantee Research Project Results
2005 Progress Report: Linking Food Web Structure, Grazer Toxin Resistance and Ecological Stoichiometry in Understanding Harmful Algal Blooms
EPA Grant Number: R831706Title: Linking Food Web Structure, Grazer Toxin Resistance and Ecological Stoichiometry in Understanding Harmful Algal Blooms
Investigators: Dam, Hans G. , McManus, George , Kremer, Patricia
Institution: University of Connecticut
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2007 (Extended to December 31, 2008)
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2006
Project Amount: $408,315
RFA: Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (2004) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Water , Environmental Statistics
Objective:
The objective of this research project is to understand the effects of toxic prey, grazer toxin resistance, and the stoichiometric imbalance between predator and primary producers on trophic cascades.
Progress Summary:
The main accomplishments to date are: (1) experimental demonstration that omnivory effects are stronger than stoichiometric ones in affecting trophic cascades; and (2) the discovery of phenotypic-specific saxitoxin resistance in marine copepods, the most abundant metazoans in the oceans, and a major group of consumers in aquatic food webs.
Future Activities:
We will carry out experimental studies of the effect of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium on the expression of trophic cascades, and how grazer resistance to toxic Alexandrium may influence trophic cascades.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 29 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
marine, ecology, zoology, aquatic, toxics, health effects, dose-response, habitat, public policy, genetics, oceanography, modeling, Northeast, algal blooms,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Oceanography, algal blooms, Ecological Risk Assessment, Ecology and Ecosystems, marine ecosystem, bloom dynamics, food web, nutrient kinetics, phytoplankton, algal bloom detection, grazing and window opportunitiesRelevant Websites:
http://www.marinesciences.uconn.edu/faculty/dam.html Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.