Monitorização da qualidade da água: Metodologias avançadas para combater toxinas emergentes

This project aims to apply cutting-edge methods for monitoring phytoplankton, biotoxins and HABs, to be implemented in the current monitoring programs for inland and coastal waters in the RAA. In addition, it is expected to expand the currently sought biotoxins, including new ones for which there is evidence of their presence in this region, creating protocols adapted to the needs and biodiversity of the RAA. The main objective is to create standardized and optimized monitoring protocols, adapted to the specific needs of the RAA, compiled in a Biotoxin Monitoring Manual. 1) “Production of an optimized SOP for metabarcoding in the Azores”: Metabarcoding libraries, although complex, are somewhat lacking in information from many taxa. As the Azores are a niche of diversity and endemism for cyanobacteria, this project is expected to fill gaps in current public metabarcoding libraries using sequences, by addition of sequences from cultured strains and eDNA from the RAA. From this, it is expected that optimized libraries will be obtained according to the monitoring needs of the region. An additional objective of the application of this technology is the use of eDNA, which is widely applied in phytoplankton monitoring. Overall, this will allow the creation of an SOP for phytoplankton monitoring through metabarcoding in the Azores. This SOP is thought to be implemented in the current monitoring programs and could replace the current phytoplankton microscopy analysis, increasing the analysis of picophytoplankton (missed in microscopy due to their small size) and reducing human errors and economic costs. 2) “Production of an optimized SOP for freshwater biotoxins in the Azores” and 3) “Production of an optimized SOP for marine biotoxins in the Azores”: HPLC is the legally required method for biotoxin analysis, so the aim here is to create an SOP not only for MCs, but also for other biotoxins present in the RAA. The implementation of these measures in the current monitoring programs is of utmost importance. For the SOP development, it is also aimed to optimize sample collection, sample preservation, toxin extraction and HPLC toxin analysis parameters for freshwater and seawater. It is expected that this project will result in two SOPs for HPLC analysis, taking into account the differences between freshwater and seawater, from salinity to taxa diversity and toxin presence. 4) “Production of an optimized SOP for remote sensing of HABs in the Azores”: The application of remote sensing using satellite imagery for HABs in the RAA is unprecedented. It is expected that this will enhance the monitoring of HABs and improve the understanding of these events in this region. It is expected that the best satellites will be selected according to the specifics of these islands (e.g., small inland waters, high percentage of cloud cover). The preparation of these four SOPs is the main milestone of this project, which aims to provide an updated and adapted manual for biotoxin monitoring in the RAA, using state-of-the-art technologies. These reliable monitoring measures are expected to reduce functional costs, increase sensitivity of analysis, reduce human error, streamline work and, overall, are crucial to protect human health, protect ecosystems and support economic activities that depend on clean water bodies.