Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

UUNIOZ_Harmful Algal Blooms

Have they really become more frequent?

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are phenomena caused by the proliferation of (micro)organisms in a water body. HABs can negatively affect human health (toxins production), the socio-economic sectors (fishery, tourism), ecosystems and the environment. There is growing concern that global climate change and anthropogenic impact are causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of HABs. Florida coastal waters are HAB hotspots, notorious for recurrent blooms of the toxic dinoflagellates (microscopic phytoplanktonic organisms) Karenia brevis and Pyrodinium bahamense. Whether HABs have indeed recently increased depends on knowing their past occurrence, their response to environmental changes on timescales matching and preceding human influence. This project applies a wide array of tools (from genomic to paleoecology) to provide the missing long-term perspective to Florida HABs.

Harmful algal blooms 'Redtides'. Photo: Oceana Datacenter ucsc-edu

Joint research

This project is part of the joint research of Utrecht University and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research concerning the functioning of (coastal) seas and oceans.  Pairs of scienists will carry out interdisciplinary research into pressing scientific and societal issues that tie in with the strategic themes of both organisations. In addition to the Faculties of Science and Geosciences, also the Faculties of Law, Economics and Governance, and Veterinary Medicine of the UU are involved. The projects are part of the agreement to intensify the collaboration UU-NIOZ (2016-2025), funded by UU.

Project information

Research leaders 
Dr. Laura Villanueva (NIOZ)
Dr. Francesca Sangiorgi (Utrecht University)

Theme 
Sustainable functioning of Coastal and Shelf Seas
Ocean of Discovery
Our Future Ocean

UU-NIOZ project page
For more information on this project and other UU-NIOZ projects, visit the joint UU-NIOZ project page 

Meet the team
Below you find the NIOZ employee(s) working in this team. For a complete overview including Utrecht University team members visit the joint UU-NIOZ project page 

Project information
Linked department:
Linked centre of expertise:
Funder:
Utrecht University
Duration:
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
Partners
  • Florida Eckerd College
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
  • Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Meet the team

 
Villanueva, Laura
Head of Scientific Department
 
Bale, Nicole
Head of Analytical Laboratory
 
Bleijswijk Tierens Verhagen van, Judith
Head of Analytical Laboratory
 
Hennekam, Rick
Tenure track Scientist

Linked projects

UUNIOZ_Defending our coast: Facilitating coastal ecosystems to respond to sea level rise
Supervisor
Johan van de Koppel
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_The role of the aviant nutrient pump for back-barrier island dynamics
Supervisor
Kees Camphuijsen
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Builders on the beach
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Greenland fjords as gateways between the ice sheet and the ocean
Supervisor
Lorenz Meire
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Impact of microphytobenthos
Supervisor
Karline Soetaert
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Extreme midlatitude seasonality in a hothouse climate?
Supervisor
Rob Witbaard
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Sea-level relationships
Supervisor
Paolo Stocchi
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_How changes in gut microbiome may increase resilience against climate change
Supervisor
Jan van Gils
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_The role of Marine Flavobacteria
Supervisor
Pierre Offre
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_The origin and diversification of eukaryotic metabolisms
Supervisor
Anja Spang
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Unravelling seasonal dust-induced productivity changes in the Mediterranean Sea
Supervisor
Jan-Berend Stuut
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Using isotopic indicators
Supervisor
Marcel van der Meer
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Calcification: Global Impact of a Microscopic Process
Supervisor
Lennart de Nooijer
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Nanoplastics pollution in the Ocean
Supervisor
Helge Niemann
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Cascading effects of sea-level rise on intertidal ecosystems
Supervisor
Allert Bijleveld
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Hydrothermal vent fields
Supervisor
Sabine Gollner
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Turning the tide
Supervisor
Andi Haas
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_Smile, you're on camera
Supervisor
Dick van Oevelen
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_The intermittency of large-scale ocean mixing
Supervisor
Sjoerd Groeskamp
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_I-NANO
Supervisor
Peter Kraal
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
UUNIOZ_The impact of atmospheric noise on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning circulation
Supervisor
Femke de Jong
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025