INVESTIGATOR: Lindsay Green-Gavrielidis, Salve Regina University
MENTOR: Marta Gomez-Chiarri, University of Rhode Island

SCIENTIFIC THEME: Environmental Health Sciences

ABSTRACT: Overall, the goal of this proposed research is to assess the impacts of harmful macroalgal blooms on higher trophic levels and coastal environmental health. The health of coastal ecosystems can impact public health by compromising food sources or directly exposing people to harmful contaminants. While much research has focused on the impacts of harmful microalgal blooms (e.g. red tide) on coastal and human health, there is a need to assess the impacts of harmful macroalgal blooms as they increase in frequency and intensity worldwide. This proposed research is focused on the understudied impact of green macroalgal toxins (hereafter, green tide toxins) with a special emphasis on developing an easy screening protocol to assess bloom impacts in real time to inform management strategies. The objectives of this research are divided into two specific aims: 1) assess the sublethal and lethal impacts of green tide toxins on higher trophic levels; and 2) develop screening protocols to assess green tide impacts in real time. Briefly, a series of algal-invertebrate co-culture experiments will be conducted using three prevalent green tide species (Ulva compressa, U. rigida and tubular Ulva). To gain a comprehensive understanding of how green tides impact higher trophic levels, the sublethal and lethal effects of green tide toxins on isopods, mysid shrimp, and seed bivalves will be measured. Swimming behavior, reproductive output, growth, and survival of test animals will be determined (Specific Aim 1). Additionally, a laboratory assay will be developed to screen water collected from in and around green tides for toxicity. Two species of commercially available phytoplankton, the green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta and the diatom Thalassiosira
pseudonana will be cultured in serial dilutions of water collected from green tides and their growth will be compared to algae grown in: a) water collected from adjacent shorelines without green tides, and b) sterile open coast seawater. Through iterative trials, a final protocol will be established and tested to screen for green tide toxin impacts in real time (Specific Aim 2).

HUMAN HEALTH RELEVANCE: 
The health of coastal ecosystems can impact public health by compromising food sources or directly exposing people to harmful contaminants. While much research has focused on the impacts of harmful microalgal blooms (e.g. red tide) on coastal and human health, there is a need to assess the impacts of harmful macroalgal blooms as they increase in frequency worldwide. This proposal addresses this critical need by assessing the impacts of green tide toxins on higher trophic levels and environmental health.