Objective The objective of my research is to quantify how the structure of marine food-webs has changed due to biodiversity changes and develop an understanding of how these changes have impacted ecosystem functioning. To accomplish this objective I will use an interdisciplinary approach applying meta-analysis of historical and recent data on species loss and ecosystem changes, food-web modelling and laboratory experiments. This first trial run approach will provide complementary information on how biodiversity loss resulting from different anthropogenic disturbances such as fisheries exploitation, eutrophication and climate change has affected the network structure and functioning of marine food-webs at different temporal and spatial scales. The study will be divided into four parts: (A) In the first part I will make a synthesis of available data of long term changes on marine biodiversity (species decrease, loss, increase or recovery) under gradients of different human impacts (e.g. exploitation, increase of nutrient loading, habitat loss, temperature rise). I will also record observed/measured consequences of these changes from individual to ecosystem level (e.g. cascading effects, transfer efficiency changes, increase on detritus, oxygen depletion). (B) This data will be then analysed using ecological modelling techniques to explore the consequences of biodiversity changes in food web dynamics in time and space. (C) In parallel, I will develop aquatic microcosm experiments to reproduce observed patterns of human impacts on food webs and quantify ecosystem change. (D) Synthesis data, modelling results and microcosm analysis will be use to quantify general patterns of food web structural and functional changes due to biodiversity change by applying a meta-analysis approach. If I can successfully re-predict present-day food webs, I aim at forecasting past and current trends and develop ecosystem recovery scenarios into the future using modelling and laboratory experiments. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmarine biologyagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesfisheriesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes Keywords Natural sciences biodiversity change climate change ecosystem functioning eutrophication exploitation food webs historical ecology marine ecosystems meta-analysis microcosms modelling Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) PEOPLE-2007-4-1.IOF - Marie Curie Action: "International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-1-IOF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) Coordinator AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS EU contribution € 212 125,36 Address CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid Spain See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Isabel Palomera Laforga (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
