Deciphering Zooplankton Chemical Signalling: Compound Characterisation and Effects on Cyanobacterial Morphology and Toxicity
Public support
Provider
Czech Science Foundation
Programme
Standard projects
Call for proposals
SGA0202600001
Main participants
Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích / Přírodovědecká fakulta
Contest type
VS - Public tender
Contract ID
26-20727S
Alternative language
Project name in Czech
Deciphering Zooplankton Chemical Signalling: Compound Characterisation and Effects on Cyanobacterial Morphology and Toxicity
Annotation in Czech
Cyanobacterial blooms threaten freshwater ecosystems by producing toxins and altering food web dynamics. While zooplankton are often impacted by cyanobacteria, they also release infochemicals that can induce changes in cyanobacterial morphology and toxicity. The chemical nature and diversity of these cues across crustacean zooplankton taxa remain poorly understood. This project aims to characterise infochemicals released by two dominant freshwater zooplankton groups, copepods and cladocerans, across a phylogenetic gradient of taxa occurring in important Central European habitats. We will examine their effects on cyanobacterial growth, colony formation, and cyanopeptide production using chemical profiling and bioassays. We will also explore the role of food composition (including and excluding cyanobacteria from the diet) and microbiome on infochemical production by the model cladoceran genus Daphnia. By integrating chemical ecology, freshwater ecology, and microbial community analysis, our findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of freshwater planktonic interactions.
Scientific branches
R&D category
ZV - Basic research
OECD FORD - main branch
10503 - Water resources
OECD FORD - secondary branch
10617 - Marine biology, freshwater biology, limnology
OECD FORD - another secondary branch
10618 - Ecology
CEP - equivalent branches <br>(according to the <a href="http://www.vyzkum.cz/storage/att/E6EF7938F0E854BAE520AC119FB22E8D/Prevodnik_oboru_Frascati.pdf">converter</a>)
DA - Hydrology and limnology<br>EH - Ecology - communities
Solution timeline
Realization period - beginning
Jan 1, 2026
Realization period - end
Dec 31, 2028
Project status
Z - Beginning multi-year project
Latest support payment
—
Data delivery to CEP
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data delivery code
CEP26-GA0-GA-R
Data delivery date
May 23, 2026
Finance
Total approved costs
12,804 thou. CZK
Public financial support
12,804 thou. CZK
Other public sources
0 thou. CZK
Non public and foreign sources
0 thou. CZK