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: R831706
Title: 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 , Environmental Statistics , Water

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 project

Supplemental Keywords:

marine, ecology, zoology, aquatic, toxics, health effects, dose-response, habitat, public policy, genetics, oceanography, modeling, Northeast, algal blooms,, RFA, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Water, algal blooms, Ecological Risk Assessment, Oceanography, Ecology and Ecosystems, phytoplankton, grazing and window opportunities, bloom dynamics, nutrient kinetics, food web, stoichiometry, algal bloom detection

Relevant Websites:

http://www.marinesciences.uconn.edu/faculty/dam.html Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The 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.