Overview
Topic status: In progress
Coastal algal blooms (CAB) of the potentially toxigenic cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula (as well as other algae and cyanobacteria) present a human and ecosystem health toxicological risk. L. majuscula typically initially grows on marine benthic substrates, releases, floats and the biomass “rafts” onto proximal intertidal zones. Although known to produce a variety of toxins, production of toxin(s) is known to vary temporally and spatially. As part of a larger study of toxin occurrence and dissemination potential from CAB biomass, a collection of subsamples of archived L. majuscula biomass are required for both toxin and phylogenetic analyses. These subsamples will be linked with associated sample collection date/time and Geographic Information System (GIS) data.
This project will generate a valuable temporospatially-identified L. majuscula CAB biomass –versus-toxin map and bring together existing toxin analysis information. This project will provide the student experience in environmental microbiology, geospatial mapping techniques and high-end analytical toxicology soils.
Duration of project
Eight weeks, Dec 2011 to mid-Feb 2012
- Study level
- Vacation research experience scholarship
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Contact
- Please contact the supervisor for enquiries.
Dr James Smith
