Course description

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have multiple negative impacts on living marine resources, public health, socio-economic activities, and the dynamics of marine ecosystems. Mitigating the effects of HABs requires the use of knowledge-based, integrated management strategies, including HAB prediction. This course aims to provide knowledge of the physiology and ecology of HAB-forming organisms in marine ecosystems, including functional traits, environmental drivers, distribution patterns and temporal trends, relevant to support management practices. The effects of natural and anthropogenic environmental changes (e.g., eutrophication, climate variability) will be specifically addressed. The consequences of HAB events for human and ecosystem health and services, including the fate of phycotoxins in aquatic systems, and the methodological strategies used to quantify HAB-forming species and phycotoxins will be further explored. This information will be applied to critically evaluate the methods available to model, predict, and manage HAB events in aquatic ecosystems. 

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, students should be able to:

• Recognize the most relevant organisms that form toxigenic and non-toxigenic HABs in marine ecosystems, and their functional traits.

• Explain the consequences of HABs for human health, marine resources, and ecosystem dynamics and services.

• Recognize the main types of phycotoxins, and quantification methods.

• Explain the processes that regulate the fate of phycotoxins in marine biota.

• Evaluate and select methodological approaches used to quantify and identify HAB-forming species.

• Understand the environmental drivers and triggers of HABs in marine ecosystems.

• Discuss the impact of environmental variability on the distribution and progression of HABs.

• Understand and evaluate HAB prediction models, including operational early warning systems, and propose appropriate environmental management measures.

Course content

This course comprises 15 theoretical sessions (T), including case study discussions and periods for student participation, and 2 practical sessions (P) covering the identification of key HAB taxa and exploration of dedicated global databases, dedicated discussion forums, and mentoring/tutorial sessions. Major topics include:

Module 1. Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs): types of blooms, organisms and functional traits (2 T).

Module 2. Impacts of HABs: human health, marine resources and ecosystem dynamics and services (2 T).

Module 3. Fate of phycotoxins in marine biota: types of toxins and analytical methods, and toxin accumulation, biotransformation and elimination in aquatic biota (3 T).

Module 4. Approaches to study and identify HAB-forming species: sampling strategies, and biochemical, optical and molecular methods (2 T and 1 P).

Module 5. Environmental drivers of HABs: controls on growth and mortality (2 T).

Module 6. Dynamics of HABs: spatial patterns, temporal trends and interactions with eutrophication, and climate change. (2 T and 1 P).

Module 7. Modelling and prediction of HABs: types of models, operational early warning systems and links to HAB management (2 T).

Learning assessment

Learning will be measured using formative self-assessment questions, available for each course module, and a compulsory course assignement developed in groups and presented and discussed orally (synchronous seminar session).

Certificate 

Participants who complete all segments of the course modules (e.g., instructional materials, external sources, formative self-assessment questions), and score more than 60% on the final course assignment and complete the feedback survey, will receive a certificate of completion.

Target audience and prerequisites

Final-year undergraduates and graduates, students or professionals, in the areas of biological, marine and environmental sciences.

Language of instruction

English

Instructors

• Ana Branco Barbosa  (Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Algarve (PT))
• Maria João Botelho (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Portugal (PT))
• Alexandra Duarte Silva(Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Portugal (PT))

Course format 

This online course comprises a total workload of 50 hours, with synchronous theoretical and practical sessions (26.5 hours), dedicated discussion forums, and a final seminar session for the presentation of the course assignement developed in groups (3.5 hours). 

All theoretical and practical sessions will run synchronously, to promote interaction between instructors and learners, and to engage learners. Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged. Detailed  learning support materials will be made available for each session, and can be explored at the learner’s own pace. However, the seven modules must be completed sequentially.

Three synchronous sessions will generally take place per week (weeks 1 – 6), on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  During week 7, only one synchronous seminar session is planned. Session times and time zones will be provided at a later date.

Duration

Estimated course duration: seven weeks (including assessment).

Total workload: 50 hours. Average workload/working day: ca. 1.4 hours.

Contact periods: 30 hours, including synchronous theoretical sessions (22.5 hours), practical sessions (4 hours) and a final seminar session for the presentation and discussion of the course assignement (3.5 hours).

Independent study period: ca. 20 hours of asynchronous work hours for self-paced study, and development of the course assessment and its oral presentation.

Technologies

Technology requirements:

• Computer with Windows operating system

• Latest version of Chrome (preferably), Edge, Firefox browsers

• Administrator rights on the computer/laptop to be used during the course

• 2 GB or more of RAM memory

 Language and computer skills requirements:

• Knowledge of English language (synchronous sessions, learning support materials and websites in English)

• Basic computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Excel

• Experience using word processor and presentation software

Pre-requisites

No additional prerequisites required.

Application process

OTGA online application form. Before starting the online application process, applicants must: (a) create a profile in OceanExpert (www.oceanexpert.org); (b) prepare the Curriculum Vitae; and (c) prepare a motivational statement highlighting the relevance of this course for the candidate's career (maximum 300 words).

A limited number of seats are available (20 seats). Please complete the online application form available on this LINK. The applications start on Wednesday 2 April 2025. The deadline to submit the application is Sunday 04 May 2025 (23:59 CEST: Central European Summer Time).

UNESCO is committed to promoting equal access principles. Applications from minority or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

Costs

No costs associated

Contact

OTGA secretariat:ioc.training@unesco.org

Course organisers:  abarbosa@ualg.pt (Ana Branco Barbosa)

Cancellation policy

In the event of cancellation of the course by the OTGA or its affiliates, we will provide notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date. In the event of cancellation by the attendee, we should receive notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date.