The Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) Research Program is a multi-agency partnership between NOAA's Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR-lead), NOAA Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Sea Grant, the National Science Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Office of Naval Research.
Through a combination of long-term regional studies and short-term targeted studies, ECOHAB seeks to understand HABs and, where applicable, their toxins in relation to the surrounding environment with the intent of developing new information and tools, predictive models, and prevention strategies to aid managers in coastal environments. ECOHAB also develops models of trophic transfer of toxins, knowledge of biosynthesis and metabolism of toxins, and assessment of impacts of toxins on higher trophic levels. Research results will be used directly to guide management of coastal resources to reduce HAB development, impacts, and future threats and will feed into other HAB programs for development of tools to improve HAB management and response.
Projects selected for support must successfully compete in a rigorous external, peer-review process that ensures a high-level of scientific merit. Projects include a mix of investigators from academic, state, Federal (including NOAA Ocean Service), and nonprofit institutions. Funding announcements for ECOHAB, as well as CSCOR’s other national competitive HAB programs (MERHAB and PCM HAB), are issued on a rotating regional basis. Click here for details.
