Environmental Change Associated Occurrence, Trophic Transfer and Ecological Impact of Cyanotoxins
As cyanobacteria producing toxins, specifically microcystins, occur ubiquitously in fresh and coastal waters, the overall hypothesis of this project is that the exposure of aquatic organisms to recurrent toxic cyanobacterial blooms will lead to effects on various trophic levels of an aquatic ecosystem via
Direct exposure and ensuing adverse effects on individuals or a whole population
Indirect exposure via trophic transfer of toxins and ensuing adverse effects on individuals or a whole population
Both scenarios are capable of potentially inducing an ecological imbalance of the whole aquatic ecosystem. The aim is, therefore, to causally determine cyanobacterial toxin-induced changes in the aquatic ecosystems using specifically synthesized stable radioisotope-labeled toxins. Causality however demands that direct exposures to cyanotoxins can be quantified in any fluid or tissue of an organism at any trophic level, such that trophic toxin transfer can be monitored and related to the individual species, population or ecosystem effects observed.
- FB Biologie
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