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Project title

Ocean CLImate variability and PHtoplankton in Irish coastal waters (Cli-PhI)

Primary Funding Agency

Marine Institute

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Lead Organisation

Atlantic Technological University

Lead Applicant

Not listed

Project Abstract

The phytoplankton communities that fuel marine food webs are undergoing profound changes as a consequence of climate change. Alterations to phytoplankton biomass, bloom phenology, species distribution and abundance can lead to increased incidence of harmful algal blooms and changes to the carrying capacity of coastal areas. This impacts on marine ecosystem service provision with consequences for sustainable food production and human health. Ireland�s climate change adaptation plan for the agriculture, forest and seafood sector identifies the increased incidence of harmful algal blooms as one of the climate change consequences that are likely to have the greatest impact on the sector and highlights the requirement for long-term baseline monitoring of coastal waters to detect climate-induced change phytoplankton. The Cli-PhI project seeks to unlock potential of such datasets to support evidence-based policy and management by building cross-disciplinary national capacity in their analysis and interpretation. The post-doctoral fellow will work with experts in ecology, statistics, harmful algal blooms and oceanography to build comprehensive understanding of spatial and temporal patterns in phytoplankton abundance, diversity, and distribution in Irish coastal waters. Value will be added to existing long-term data sets from aquaculture monitoring programmes by increasing their accessibility and linking to global databases. Advanced statistical tools will be developed to support reproducible analysis of trends in phytoplankton dynamics and their drivers and predictions (with uncertainty) of climate-change impacts. Cli-PhI will inform the development of climate change mitigation measures for the seafood sector and strategies for design of future phytoplankton monitoring programmes.

Grant Approved

�398,498.00

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

2. Ireland's Future Climate, its Impacts, and Adaptation Options

Start Date

01/12/2023

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/11/2027