Cembella, Allan (2007) Cruise report FS POSEIDON Cruise No. 352 [POS352], 8.6.-5.7.2007: NORCOHAB (North Sea Coast Harmful Algal Bloom Study). . Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Section Ecological Chemistry, Bremerhaven, 36 pp.

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Abstract

The overall objective of the NORCOHAB cruise was to study the coastal oceanographic
processes and mechanisms underlying the dynamics of key toxic bloom species and the
biogeographical distribution of their toxins in the water column of different North Sea coastal
waters. The cruise was endorsed by SCOR-IOC Programme GEOHAB (Global Ecology and
Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms), under the auspices of the Core Research Project
on HABS in Fjords and Coastal Embayments. Following the prescribed format of GEOHAB
research the studies were international, multidisciplinary and comparative with the ultimate
aim of modeling dynamics and behavior.We assessed and compared key genotypic and
phenotypic properties of HAB species in relation to grazing and toxic and allelochemical
interactions in Scottish and Norwegian/Danish (Skagerrak) coastal areas. For the first time, on
board measurements of known phycotoxins collected directly from the plankton were
subjected to analysis by high resolution tandem mass-spectrometry coupled with liquid
chromatography (LC-MS/MS). These measurements included domoic acid and a large variety
of lipophilic toxins associated with marine plankton. We also performed grazing experiments
with protists and copepods on selected key toxin algal species in on-board incubations. The
following main goals of the cruise programme were successfully addressed: 1) the phenotypic
and genotypic characteristics of populations of selected HAB species were compared,
including that of a new dinoflagellate identified as the proximal source of azaspiracid
poisoning (AZP) in the North Sea; 2) the toxin profile and content of HAB species and toxin
transfer and metabolism to the next trophic level were assessed and compared; and 3) insights
into the relative importance of grazing by both metazoa and protists as a potential “top down”
regulatory mechanism for population dynamics of HAB species was achieved.

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