Report on the 1st cruise performed in Syracuse Bay within the Project "Mechanisms of red tides and hypoxia as ecological marine disasters and technologies for its early warning along the "Belt and Road" (Italy-China Cooperation)

In the framework of the International project 'Mechanisms of red tides and hypoxia as ecological marine disasters and technologies for its early warning along the "Belt and Road" Countries', since September 2018 a seasonal monitoring is being performed in a target area of the Ionian coast of Sicily of HAB (Harmful Algal Blooms). In particular, dinoflagellates toxic for PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning), such as Alexandrium species or high biomass producers (Prorocentrum, Lingulodinium, Gymnodinium spp.) are being monitored, together with the main environmental (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients concentration, chlorophyll-a and particulate organic matter) and microbiological parameters (enzymatic activity rates, intracellular and extracellular alkaline phosphatase, bacterial taxonomical structure). Based on the past knowledge gained on the phytoplankton communities on this site, it is expected that there will be macroscopic blooms of dinoflagellates in early spring with a succession of water discolouration events, in conjunction with which the aforementioned parameters can be studied in order to identify the mechanisms underlying HAB blooms and possible hypoxic or anoxic conditions. The results expected in the first year of study in the Sicilian target area will therefore allow to assess the extent of HAB events, relationships with environmental parameters and their ecological impact in order to be able to subsequently compare the information obtained with those from other geographical areas as well as to formulate hypotheses on the different or common dynamics of HAB blooms and develop models/technologies for their prediction.