Objective
Frame:
Studies on functional marine biodiversity as a basis for understanding ecosystem structure, dynamics and resilience shall be focused on the Northern krill, the euphausiid Meganychphanes norvegica, as a pelagic model species. The pattems of diversity in this species - an important component of Atlantic communities - shall be investigated at specific locations in the north-eastem Atlantic, the Kattegat and the Mediterranean.
Objectives:
1 ) Characteristic abiotic conditions at three selected study sites are:
- The Atlantic off Scotland: deep and cool
- The Mediterranean in the Ligurian sea: deep and warm
- The Kattegat: shallow and therefore variable in temperature The uptake, intemal transfer, metabolism, and ways of storage of energy under these conditions shall be analysed and compared 2) The adaptive capacity of M. norvegica in terms of the rates, ranges and limits of physiological performance in relation to the differing climatic conditions shall be compared.
3) Parallel, it is planned to investigate the genetic differentiation in M. norvegica with respect to physiological function and the contrasting properties of the ecosystems.
4) Adaptive features shall be sought which would give clues towards the extent of eurythermy vs. stenothermy in the species. The differing climatic regimes at the three locations are considered as parameters of a "natural experiment". The results of the comparison can help in determining the capacity of M. norvegica to cope with long-term changes in sea-temperatures. The innovative combination of ecophysiological and genetic techniques can be applied in future comparisons with other zooplankton species.
5) In all three areas krill crosses different water strata during regular vertical migration. The influence of the different biotic and abiotic conditions, with special regard to temperature, on the physiology of the migrating specimens shall be studied, in order to try to identify cause and effects of this characteristic behaviour.
6) Numerous vertebrates depend on M. norvegica as a food source. The importance of krill in the food chains of the three ecosystems shall be defined and compared. A better knowledge of processes affecting population stability and biomass will positively influence the level of prediction of productivity and thus improve the ability to manage local fisheries.
Approach:
Particularly promising for the success of the programme is the complementary experience of the partners (BAH, LOBE, SAMS) on population dynamics and ecophysiology of M norvegica, so far gained at three study sites. The new genetic approach (UP) shall be closely interlinked with these main topics. The fourfold expertise is the basis for the planned comparison of Northem krill along the climatic gradient:
- Existing data sets on population characteristics are to be re-analysed and improved using modern methods of quantitation with respect to biomass, vertical distribution/migration, and population structure.
- Adaptive processes linked to nutrition, reproduction, metabolism, behaviour, and genetic differentiation shall be studied on the basis of novel techniques and new ways of interpretation.
- Local research shall be combined with integrating sea-experiments on a specially equipped research vessel as a common platform during two summer and two winter cruises. Thus, field studies, maintenance experiments, as well as physiological, biochemical, and genetic analyses will be conducted in close accordance.
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 marine biology
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries fisheries
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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.
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.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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
22607 Hamburg
Germany
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.