Climate-driven oxygen limitation in freshwater macroinvertebrates

Project Information

RESPIRE

Grant agreement ID: 253897

Project closed

Start date 1 August 2010

End date 31 July 2012

Funded under

• Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Total cost € 180 103,20

EU contribution € 180 103,20

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH
United Kingdom

Objective

To predict future effects of climate change, a comprehensive mechanistic understanding is essential. In marine ecosystems, a mismatch between oxygen demand and oxygen supply to tissues was shown to be the first mechanism to restrict survival at thermal extremes. Here a study is proposed on climate-driven oxygen limitation in freshwater macroinvertebrates. Aquatic invertebrates display a range of adaptations related to respiration and oxygen is a key factor structuring species assemblages in freshwater ecosystems. Therefore, oxygen limitation is likely to play a role. First this research will assess if the thermal limits of species arise due to oxygen limitation. In laboratory experiments the prediction will be tested that a species’ thermal window expands under higher oxygen concentrations. A field study will asses if species occupy different thermal niches under high and low oxygen conditions. Experimental work is proposed to characterize the oxygen demand (metabolic rate) of species and relate these to their observed thermal limits. Secondly, this research will assess if and how differences in a species’ thermal vulnerability can be predicted from their life-history and physiological traits that relate to oxygen supply and demand (e.g. respiration system, body size, development speed, metabolic rate). The oxygen limitation hypothesis may prove to be a new and important mechanism bringing the fields of physiology and ecology together to explain the effects of climate change on freshwater macroinvertebrates. The proposed research will investigate whether water pollution exacerbates the effects of higher temperatures. Such an insight will help in taking the most effective measures mitigating the effects of climate change.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › biological sciences › ecology › ecosystems › freshwater ecosystems
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › environmental sciences › pollution
• medical and health sciences › basic medicine › physiology
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › atmospheric sciences › climatology › climatic changes
• natural sciences › biological sciences › zoology › invertebrate zoology

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)

• FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development"

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH

• EU contribution: € 180 103,20
• Address: DRAKE CIRCUS ; PL4 8AA Plymouth ; United Kingdom
• Region: South West (England) › Devon › Plymouth
• Activity type: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Administrative Contact: John Martin (Dr.)
• Total cost: No data