Abstract
Current environmental issues in the Baltic environment are the increasing occurrence of toxic algal blooms, eutrophication and the increasing level of UVB radiation. Light and nutrients are key factors for photosynthetic primary producers but light can act as a promoting as well as a restricting factor to both the individual cell and the phytoplankton community. The ultraviolet part of the solar spectrum is believed to act as a restricting factor. The overall aims of the project are to assess the influence of bottom-up factors and study the effects of I) high light intensities (PAR: 400-700 nm) and UVR (UVBR: 280-320 nm, UVAR: 320-400 nm)) on the biodiversity of phytoplankton communities focusing on bloom-forming Baltic cyanobacteria, and II) the interaction effects of UVR and nutrients (N, P). A central question to be answered is "Will UVBR function as a selective pressure thereby altering the microalgal biodiversity?" The project aims at increasing the knowledge about factors controlling the occurrence and distribution of toxic microalgae, a knowledge crucial for predicting toxic phytoplankton blooms.
Sweden