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Pitch

Monitoring phytoplankton, protecting bioluminescence & awareness of toxic algae bloom in a network of coastal communities


Description

Summary

Awareness of the alarm system that bioluminescence can be for precarious ecosystems in esp the Caribbean bays and Puerto Rico

As global warming and the consequent increasing strength of storms that threaten coastal areas the phytoplankton populations are affected: bioluminescent  for example in the bays of the caribbean (one of the ecological wonders of the world) is threatened and in relation to the storms triggered by the transformation of the oceans temperature: decrease of the bioluminescent species and increase of the partly toxic phytoplankton bloom of non-luminescent species. (for example as shown in a pilot study by Michael Latz )

weather influences the nutrients and balance in the ocean

Scientists detected a very clear shift in the salinity of the world's oceans, and have found that global warming has caused intensification in the cycle that drives both rainfall and evaporation. This is a crucial influence as the ocean is one of the biggest influences on the weather, and even small changes in its characteristics have the potential to create dramatic effects. 

It is necessary to work on the following trajectory over the time of 2-3 years involving more and more communities, scientists and educators/programmers to distribute the information

- research on historical conditions and development, creating a database plattform

improvement of infrastructure for scientific studies supervised and guidedmonitoring salinity and currents water quality and population of dinoflagellates with programming apps for fishermen

- feeding into a database for research done in the different bays and communities 

  •  


What actions do you propose?

  • network of caribbean and global communities of the 
  • monitoring and  problematizing the context and ecology and the politics of the creatures and organisms that are enabling basis of this planet,enhance the sustainable and long term perspective on development
  • understanding the relations of the precarious ecosystem will make people more aware of its implications
  • - bioluminescence as a future ecotourism asset is a valuable alternative to exploitation of fiheries and can also help to implement the technology to monitor the plankton population of various kind
  • - education of future generations immediately in relation to the bioluminescent bays in Jamaica and Puerto Rico and Trinidad
  •  as a coastal sustainability creating awareness and care for the coastal habitat including mangroves and necessary vegetation to keep a strong coastal environment possibly resisting storms and unruly weather
    • for example with the marine labs alligator head foundation in jamaica and a network of marine labs in coastal areas working on education reach out and research monitoring at the same time, par la naturalezza in Puerto Rico and an organisation based in vieques also working as a union for fishermen are a starting point
    • creation of awareness of the habitat and ecological  entanglement with the local communities that can be spread and carried further social media and ecotourism is also a tool against poverty and pollution in the long run


Who will take these actions?

a network of marine labs supervisors and communities will implement the technology developped and researched

organised by susanne winterling and Dalealan Anderson

Dalelan Anderson

University of the West indies

Lab Technician / Research Assistant/ Field Ecologist

will start the first session and trajectories and work with a programmer for two different apps.

    

a network including the following is the starting point:

http://www.paralanaturaleza.org

https://www.facebook.com/alligatorheadmarinelab

AHML is a project of the University of the West Indies and TBA21-Academy focussing on the conservation of marine environment in Portland, Jamaica.

Fabian Kyne, Alligator Head Foundation Dayne Buddo PhD

Marine Ecologist Lecturer and Academic Coordinator 

Diving Safety Officer, PADI IDC Staff Instructor Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory and Field Station

Centre for Marine Sciences University of the West Indies (Mona) Queens Highway Discovery Bay, St Ann

- Emma Ranston- Young Phd fellow Jamaica

- Brenda Maria Solar Phd fellow Puerto Rico

- Prof Miguel Sastre marine ecologist San Juan 

- Prof Michael Latz Scribbs San Diego

Michael I. Latz, Ph.D.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

University of California San Diego

La Jolla, CA 92093-0202

858-534-6579

http://siobiolum.ucsd.edu

Whitehead Institute MIT

Discovery Bay Marine Lab Jamaica

 

water keepers association as colaborators

https://waterkeeper.org

-- 

Sharon Khan

International Director

Waterkeeper Alliance

skhan@waterkeeper.org

212.747.0622 ext. 121

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

YouTube | Flickr

180 Maiden Lane, Suite 603 

New York, NY 10038

Support Waterkeeper Alliance when shopping online by signing up for our Shop, Save, Support program!

 


Where will these actions be taken?

coastal communities and universities of Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Trinidad, schools, fishermen communities and municipalities, local organisations

a connection to places where the toxic algae bloom has been detected and identified will be made examples are HongKong

 

connecting to local waterkeepers to further spread and multiply information and information feedback

 

https://waterkeeper.org

 

 

 


What are other key benefits?

-Awareness of the alarm system that bioluminescence is for precarious ecosystems in esp the caribbean but partly model for other coastal communities.

- development and distribution of basic biological knowledge and ecological sensibility about the ecosystems precariousness in regard to phytoplankton.

-As global warming and the consequent increasing strength of storms that threaten coastal areas the phytoplankton populations are affected and identifying this at an early stage allows to take action and prepare.  

- as investigation of toxic algae species is in demand because the foodchain is affected. The weather is in direct proportional relation to the nutrients and balance in the ocean. A shift in the salinity of the ocean and global warming has caused intensification in the cycle that drives both rainfall and evaporation. The ocean is one of the biggest influences on the weather, and even small changes in its characteristics have the potential to create dramatic effects. 


What are the proposal’s costs?

research and development (built on previous 4 years)

30 000 Euro

programming and launching of network outreach

30 000 E

educational distribution and implementation of technology with small events and panels and connecting to further points of distribution

there is a need for communication and collaboration within the region and with the federal agencies to be more effective 

it can be supported in a sustainable way for the implementation and long termed monitoring

about 80 000 Euro for 3-5 years

ideally also creating local employment with about 500 $ a month for about at least 5 model projects in coastal areas 

48 000 Euro a year


Time line

research and development (built on previous 4 years)

2018

programming and launching of network outreach  2019 january

educational distribution and implementation of technology 2019 january

 

long term monitoring and local supervisors as well as global supervisors will be appointed

there is a need for communication and collaboration within the region and with the federal agencies to be more effective 

it can be supported in a sustainable way for the implementation and long termed monitoring

similar to the structure of the water keepers

https://waterkeeper.org

and with a lasting and multiplying time effect over the next 10 years


Related proposals

Coral Reef Restoration Program

(added a new video: CORAL REEFS: Capital Assets in Maximum Danger)

 

http://blindspot.org.uk/projects/#climaterescue

 

http://www.ramsar.org

 


References

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/06/201261492844367748.html

https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/hab/resources.html

https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/hab/hab.html

there is a need for communication and collaboration within the region and with the federal agencies to be more effective