Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V81
Höfundar / Authors: Alexandra Georganti Ntaliape1, Bettina Scholz2, Auður Sigurbjörnsdóttir1, Oddur Þór Vilhelmsson1
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1Faculty of Natural Resource Sciences, University of Akureyri, Akureyri, Iceland, 2BioPol ehf. Marine Biotechnology, Skagaströnd, Iceland
Kynnir / Presenter: Alexandra Georganti Ntaliape
Human activities have contributed to the increasing frequency of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in coastal waters and pose a recurring ecological and economic concern. Toxin-producing or high-biomass phytoplankton disrupt ecosystems, harm aquaculture and threaten seafood safety. Research has focused mainly on environmental drivers of blooms. The role of biotic interactions in bloom dynamics is only partly understood. Antagonistic microorganisms, such as algicidal bacteria associated with diatoms, have been identified as potential natural control agents. Their interactions with phytoplankton and effects on bloom development need further study. This study aims to identify and characterise algicidal bacteria associated with harmful algal species and to evaluate their potential in bloom control. Our approach combines metabarcoding of northern Icelandic coastal samples with PCR-based identification to study microbes linked to HAB events. In controlled microcosm experiments, selected bacterial isolates and bloom-forming species will be tested for algicidal activity. By integrating molecular and experimental methods, we seek to improve the understanding of ecological interactions in HAB dynamics. The goal is to develop a framework for considering antagonistic bacteria as natural regulators of algal blooms and support ecological strategies to minimise their impact on coastal ecosystems.