Objective
A laboratory study is proposed to gain new insights into the trophic interactions between certain unicellular marine algae, the diatoms, and their main predators, calanoid copepods. Some diatoms produce polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUA) when wounded, which interfere with the reproduction of copepods and thus represent a defence strategy of the algae. This relationship may significantly shape the planktonic food web, but so far experiments have considered only few copepod species.
In addition, most studies lack knowledge on the PUA production potential of the diatoms used as food, due to missing biochemical analysis methods for PUA. In consequence, the results were ambiguous and discussed very controversially. Recently, methods have been developed to quantify P UA production of diatoms.
Using this new technology, this study aims to identify:
1) potentially different responses of important neritic copepod species to PUA producing diatoms with regard to their different life cycle traits,
2) the effects of PUA producers on feeding copepod larvae, and
3) the impact of algal physiology on this trophic relationship.
Feeding experiments will be conducted alongside with PUA measurements to determine differences in the reproductive success of key copepod species of Dutch coastal waters when fed diatom diets. As toxin biochemistry of the algae is expected to vary with environmental conditions, diatom cultures grown under various defined conditions will be used in feeding experiments and compared with non-toxic controls. Thus, this study will integrate research across the sub-disciplines phytoplankton ecophysiology and zooplankton ecology in order to improve our understanding of complex trophic relationships at the base of the marine food web.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aldehydes
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology phycology
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy cetology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
PLYMOUTH
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.