European gelatinous zooplankton: mechanisms behind jellyfish blooms and their ecological and socio-economical effects

Objective

The overall aim of EUROGEL is to identify and quantify key factors regulating jellyplantkon abundance and succession. Jellyplankton outbursts affect fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism and industrial development negatively, and information on jellyplankton is a bottleneck in marine ecological process studies. Through a joined experimental and field-based effort by 9 European partners, EUROGEL will explain the mechanisms behind mass developments and quantify their ecological and socio-economical consequences. EUROGEL includes studies on the functional biology of key species, the mechanisms behind trophic interactions, especially with fish larva, and how biotic and a biotic factors govern survival, growth and reproduction. Information from experimental and fieldwork will be used in modelling approaches to predict competitive ability of jellyplanton, development and spreading of jellyplantkon swarms. We will also study the toxic effects on fish, a serious problem in aquaculture.

Programme(s)

• FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

• 1.1.4.-3. - Key action Sustainable Marine Ecosystems

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN

Address

55,Thormoehlensgt. 55
5020 Bergen
Norway

Participants (9)

CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS

Spain

Address

S/n,paseo Juan De Borbo S/n
08039 Barcelona

DANISH INSTITUTE OF FISHERIES RESEARCH

Denmark

Address

Kavalergaarden 6
2920 Charlottenlund

INSTITUTE OF FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE - VARNA, NATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRARIAN SCIENCES

Bulgaria

Address

Primorski Blvd. 4
9000 Varna

INSTITUTO ESPANOL DE OCEANOGRAFIA

Spain

Address

Varadero, 1
30740 San Pedro Del Pinatar

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, GALWAY

Ireland

Address

University Road
90 Galway

NORTH ATLANTIC FISHERIES COLLEGE

United Kingdom

Address

Port Arthur
ZE1 0UN Shetland

UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG

Germany

Address

Martin-luther-king-platz 3
20146 Hamburg

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK - UNIVERSITY OF ODENSE

Denmark

Address

55,Campusvej 55
5230 Odense

University of Aberdeen

United Kingdom

Address

2 Tillydrone Avenue
AB9 2TN Aberdeen