Study identified presence of diatoms

The MSF focuses research mainly on fisheries, aquaculture, oceanography, ecology of marine species and marine biotechnology.

Ahlam Al Kharusi recently successfully defended her thesis entitled “The effect of environmental factors on Harmful Algal Blooms at Majis desalination plant, Sohar Industrial Area, the Sea of Oman”.

Her work was supervised by Dr Sergey Dobretsov, Director of Centre of Excellence in Marine Biotechnology and co-supervised by Dr Khalid Al-Khashmi and Dr Gerd Bruss. This study was partially supported by Majis Industrial Services Company.

Compared to HABs in the open sea waters, which are dominated by the dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans, HABs in the industrial area are caused by diatom species. Some of the recorded HABs microalgae are potential toxin producing species. There has been a variation of densities of HAB species during Northeast and Southwest Monsoons.

Localised nutrient enrichment and the changes in seawater temperature were the most important factors controlling the seasonal fluctuations of HABs during the study period. For the first time, the presence of cysts was studied in sediments of Sohar Industrial Area and the port. No cysts were found near the desalination plant. However, cysts of seven HAB forming species were observed in sediments from the Sohar Industrial Port. Most of these species belonged to potentially toxin producing dinoflagellate species.

The findings of this study reveal that this area provides suitable environmental conditions for HAB-forming algae. Presence of cysts can also be one of the reasons for HABs in the studied area.

Ms Ahlam’s study also provided important recommendations for the desalination plant to mitigate and prevent HABs.