Monitoring potentially toxic Ostreopsis cf. ovata along the italian coasts. Year 2017: Working Programme ISPRA/ARPA: Ostreopsis cf. ovata blooms along the italian coasts

The presence of the potentially toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis ovata (Fukuyo) has been observed along the Italian coast since the ‘90s. From then, intense and recurrent blooms of this seaweed alga occurred in several locations of the Tyrrhenian Sea and Adriatic Sea. The presence of the microalgae O. ovata was detected in all the Italian coastal regions but Emilia Romagna and Molise.

The present work provides an overview of the national monitoring activities on potentially toxic benthic microalgae during the year 2017, including sampling and analysis methods, surveillance, management, information and dissemination activities. It aims at highlighting the activities effectiveness for detecting the distribution, abundance and space-temporal dynamics on O. ovata and their blooms.

This paper was written referring to the reports produced by coastal Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environments (ARPAs).

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