ANNOUNCEMENT
of an
OPEN SCIENCE MEETING
on the
CORE RESEARCH PROJECT:
HABs IN FJORDS AND COASTAL EMBAYMENTS
VALPARAÍSO, CHILE
LOCAL HOST: COMITE OCEANOGRAFICO NACIONAL
26-29 April 2004
Conveners
Leonardo Guzman, Chile
Allan Cembella, Germany
The GEOHAB Programme, endorsed by the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, is an international programme aimed at fostering and promoting co-operative research directed toward improving the prediction of harmful algal bloom events.
Core Research Project: HABs HABs in Fjords and Coastal Embayments
The GEOHAB Core Research Project on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in Fjords and Coastal Embayments must be comparative, interdisciplinary, and international. It will directly address the goal of GEOHAB of improved prediction of HABs by determining the ecological and oceanographic mechanisms underlying their population dynamics, integrating biological, chemical, and physical studies supported by enhanced observation and modelling techniques. The overall objective is to understand and quantify the critical processes underlying HAB population and community dynamics in fjords and coastal embayments at temperate latitudes.
Fjords and coastal embayments are combined in this GEOHAB Core Research Project because they share features such as the importance of geographical constraints on water exchange and bloom retention and the dominance of meso-scale structures. Classic fjords, usually characterised by a high ratio of length to width, a deep wedge-shaped basin, freshwater input, and a sill located toward the mouth, create retention and/or initiation zones that favour the proliferation of a particular suite of HAB species. Many groups of key species (e.g., Alexandrium spp., Pseudo-nitzschia spp., and various raphidophytes) are virtually identical in fjords in the Northern and Southern hemispheres at similar latitudes. Such ecosystems are often only marginally affected by human activities because of low population densities, thus they are usually not subject to eutrophication. Coastal embayments are a broader category of an ecosystem type;; generally, such systems comprise relatively shallow nearshore marine environments, partially surrounded by land, and often affected by terrigenous run-off, but on a smaller spatial scale than open coastal or upwelling systems. As with fjords, the hydrodynamic processes may be complex, with an accentuated role of tidal flux, storm surges, wind-driven mixing, and salinity and thermal stratification. The physical processes associated with HABs in these systems are most often related to "density adjustment" problems, that is, buoyancy and frontal dynamics, geostrophic adjustment, establishment of a pycnocline after a storm and perhaps topographic frontal motion. The effects of benthic-pelagic coupling are likely to be crucial in understanding HAB dynamics in fjords and coastal embayments. Coastal embayments with limited exchange to the open coast may serve as “seed beds” for benthic cysts or relict populations of HAB species. Such systems are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic changes in the biological and chemical regime, and the introduction of exotic species via deballasting and transfer of aquaculture stock. Many fjords and coastal embayments are well characterised in terms of long-term plankton records and toxicity events. Optical data sets on ocean colour and relevant plankton patches are becoming increasing available from these systems. Furthermore, basic circulation models (both 2-D and 3-D) are already available from several locations around the world.
Invitation
This announcement serves as an invitation to the broad scientific community to participate in the formulation and design of a GEOHAB Core Research Project on HABs in Fjords and Coastal Embayments. Scientists working in physical, chemical and/or biological disciplines related to harmful algal research, and on the development of relevant instrumentation and models are encouraged to participate.
Deadline Early Registration: 12 March 2004
Submission of Abstracts
Abstracts relevant to the announcement may be submitted for consideration as oral and poster contributions. The organizers reserve the right to decide whether a contribution will be presented orally or as a poster. Authors should submit a one-page abstract of 200-300 words by e-mail as an attachment. The title should be given in bold letters followed by the full names and addresses of authors. The text should be single spaced using 10 point Times font and be confined to a width of 16cm and a height of 12cm. Underline the presenting author and ensure that your details for correspondence appear on the abstract. Deadline for submission of abstracts is 12 March 2004. Abstracts will be collated for distribution in an abstract volume at the meeting.
Posters
Posters should be prepared to occupy a space which measures 90cm in width and 120cm in height.
Download Payment FormDownload Registration Form
Registration Fee:
US$125 - Please note: The deadline for early registration has been extended to the time of the meeting.
US$75 for students
Meeting Location
Hotel Gala (see http://www.galahotel.cl)
Viña del Mar, Chile
Accommodations
Accommodations for speakers at the Hotel Gala will be arranged and paid for by the sponsors directly. The following hotels are available for other participants.
HOTEL GALA
| Arlegui 273 | Single Room: US$76-88 |
| Viña del Mar | Double Room: US$88-103 |
| Tel: +56-(0)32-321500 | |
| galahotel@galahotel.cl | (breakfast included) |
HOTEL RONDÓ
| 1 Norte N° 157 | Single Room: US$35 |
| Viña del Mar | Double Room: US$45 |
| Tel/fax: +56-(0)32-883144 | Triple Room: US$55 |
| rondo@hotelrondo.cl | (breakfast included) |
HOTEL ESPAÑOL
| Plaza Francisco Vergara N° 191 | Single Room: US$32 |
| Viña del Mar | Double Room: US$40 |
| Tel: +56-(0)32-685145 | Triple Room: US$48 |
| hotelespanol@elhostal.cl | (breakfast included) |
HOTEL HISPANO
| Plaza Parroquia N° 391 | Single Room: US$23 |
| Viña del Mar | Double Room: US$33 |
| Tel: +56-(0)32-685860 | Triple Room: US$44 |
| hotelhispano@vtr.net | (breakfast included) |
HOTEL CROWN ROYAL
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