Project Information
Project name
ASTRA
Project full name
ASsessment of Toxins and associated micRoAlgal species in the Black and Marmara Seas
Disciplines (P08)
Atmosphere
(DS05)
Biological oceanography
(DS01)
Chemical oceanography
(DS02)
Cross-discipline
(DS06)
Summary incl. objectives
The ASTRA project (ASsessment of Toxins and associated micRoAlgal species in the Black and Marmara Seas) aims to advance knowledge on harmful algal blooms (HABs), their toxins, and environmental drivers in the Black Sea and Marmara Sea. Building on previous efforts and expertise in the region, ASTRA combines multidisciplinary approaches, including hydrographic measurements, plankton sampling, DNA metabarcoding, toxin analysis (LC-MS/MS), and sediment cyst studies. The project will address critical knowledge gaps on HAB species diversity, toxin profiles, cyst distribution, and environmental triggers influencing bloom dynamics. Main objectives include: • Identifying and characterizing HAB species through morphological and molecular analyses. • Mapping spatial distribution of toxigenic species and associated phycotoxins across the Black and Marmara Seas. • Investigating resting cyst diversity, viability, and distribution to assess bloom initiation potential. • Establishing monoclonal cultures to study strain-specific ecophysiological and toxin profiles. • Performing interregional comparisons to reveal patterns in HAB dynamics and environmental drivers.
Start Date
2025-09-05
End Date
2025-09-21
Lighthouse Region of interest
Danube & Black Sea
Keywords
phytotoxins, phytoplankton, Black Sea, Marmara
Researchers
Bernd Krock Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research Ertugrul Aslan TUBITAK, Marmara Research Center, Environment Institute (Marine and Inland Waters Management SBU) Fuat Dursun Istanbul University, Institute of Marine Science and Management Kenneth Mertens Ifremer Station de Concarneau Laura Boicenco National Institute for Marine Research and Development "Grigore Antipa" Nataliya Slabakova Institute of Oceanology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Nina Dzembekova Institute of Oceanology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Oana Vlas National Institute for Marine Research and Development "Grigore Antipa" Ophelie David University of Western Brittany Sabri Multu TUBITAK, Marmara Research Center, Environment Institute (Marine and Inland Waters Management SBU) Urban Tillmann Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research