Title: Anthropogenic and natural chemical stressors modulating the development of primary production in the Dutch delta and coastal waters – key contaminants that influence primary producers

Primary Researcher: Petra Booij
Email address: petra.booij@ivm.vu.nl
Submitted on: February 2, 2010

Start date: 04 January 2010
End date:

Introduction:

Primary production by microalgae embodies the carrying capacity of marine ecosystems and has primarily been linked to nutrient availability. However, recent studies indicate that certain industrial chemicals may have a direct impact on coastal plankton communities and hence on the carrying capacity of estuarine and marine ecosystems. Also the frequency and intensity of toxic algal blooms are increasing globally, resulting in increased levels of toxins prospected to affect coastal ecosystems. These different chemical stressors, are hypothesized to disturb regulatory

mechanisms within algal communities, modifying the competitive abilities of individual species and resulting in shifts from highly nutritious to unfavourable algal species that destabilize the food chain. This research aims to provide knowledge about the (combined) effects of anthropogenic contaminants  and inherent natural algal toxins on primary producers in the dynamics environment of the Dutch Delta and the coastal waters. This research is divides in two interrelated PhD projects. The aim of my research is to identify the most relevant (phototoxic) contaminants in water and sediments in Dutch Delta that influence primary producers, and to gain insight in seasonal dynamics of the chemical speciation in the coastal zone.

For the concentration of compounds different extraction methods and passive samplers will be tested and subsequently deployed on selected locations in the Dutch coastal water, sediment and suspended particulate matter. Samples will be tested for toxicity in a test system on algae. (cooperation with other PhD). Based on these results, an in-depth EDA study (including extraction, fractionation and bio-testing) with a selected number of sediments, passive sampler and SPM extract will be conducted to unravel which compounds are responsible for the toxic effect on algae. The identification of the toxicants will be carried out with e.g. liquid chromatography and gas chromatography combined with different mass spectrometry detection methods (e.g. MS/MS, TOF-MS)

This project in a coordination between DELTARES, University of Amsterdam, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (UvA-IBED), Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and VU University Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Research (VU-IVM)

Aim:

(1) To identify the most relevant (phototoxic) contaminants in water and sediments in Dutch Delta and coastal water that influence primary producers

(2)  To gain insight in seasonal dynamics of the occurrence and toxic pressure of these contaminants in estuarine/coastal waters.

(3) To improve monitoring and risk assessment instruments and to identify measures needed to protect the marine environment.

Research:

External Funding Sponsors

Deltares

Research Group

VU - Chemistry and Biology