[APES Jobs] FW: [saabnet] MSc Projects at NMMU: Assessment of the Risk Posed by Harmful Algal Blooms in Algoa Bay

[Bursaries, Employment and Career Opportunities in Environmental Fields]

Prof Kevin Balkwill
Professor in the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences
Assistant Dean:  Staff Development in the Faculty of Science
University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS, 2050, South Africa

Reverend Kevin Balkwill
Assistant Priest (self-supporting), Anglican Church of St Mark, Northriding

Work Telephone +27 (0) 11 717-6468 -- Fax number +27 (0) 86-553-6376
Cell number 072-417-6813
E-mail: Kevin.Balkwill at wits.ac.za
http://web.wits.ac.za/Academic/Science/APES/  http://www.wits.ac.za/pullenfarm


-----Original Message-----
From: SAAB Secretary [mailto:forsaab at telkomsa.net] 
Sent: 07 September 2015 04:55 PM
To: saabnet at kendy.up.ac.za
Subject: [saabnet] MSc Projects at NMMU: Assessment of the Risk Posed by Harmful Algal Blooms in Algoa Bay


The Department of Botany at NMMU is offering two MSc projects on phytoplankton in Algoa Bay, starting in 2016. Details of the project are given below.

The purpose of this project is to determine the potential of harmful algal blooms (HABs) to impact the existing and emerging marine aquaculture enterprises in Algoa Bay. Although it is acknowledged that HABs are more prevalent to the west of Cape Agulhas, it is recognised that they are not restricted to this area. Recent blooms of the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries containing domoic acid (causes amnesic shellfish poisoning) affected Algoa Bay shellfish. On a much larger scale the recent dominance of the dinoflagellate, Lingulodinium polyedrum impacted Algoa Bay for almost a year. This species is associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. These findings together with a recent increase in the number of positive tests for lipophilic toxins on shellfish farms in Algoa Bay provide strong motivation for further investigation into the occurrence of HABs in this region. This project is intended to study phytoplankton biodiversity within various habitats of the Bay and in so doing identify HAB species that may pose a threat to marine aquaculture in Algoa Bay. The harmful status of these species will include assessment of their impact on aquaculture, fisheries and seafood safety.

For further information on the projects and to discuss aspects that interest you please contact Dr Derek du Preez (derek.dupreez at nmmu.ac.za). Please include your academic record (CV).