Project description
Size effect on maternal gonads in marine fish
Truncation of size distribution in marine fish populations is a prevalent effect of overexploitation, with populations consisting of smaller individuals than a few decades ago. Coincidentally, declines in recruitment have severe consequences on population growth and productivity. The Big Old Fat Fecund Females (BOFFF) hypothesis states that older, larger females contribute disproportionally more to recruitment, due to increased fecundity and larval viability. As the first part of the hypothesis has been confirmed, the MSCA-funded POPULAV project will use size-specific natural biomarkers to link maternal size to larval viability. The aim is to confirm the size effect on gonadal isotopic signature and transfer, assign larvae to the size of their mother using isotope profiles, and estimate the effect of size truncation on larval viability.
Objective
One of the most pervasive effects of decade long overexploitation of marine fish is the truncation of size distributions in affected populations. Today, many populations of commercially important species, such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), consist of smaller individuals than just a few decades ago. Concurrently, a general decline in recruitment has been observed with severe consequences for population growth and productivity. These observations have led to the formulation of the Big Old Fat Fecund Females (BOFFF) hypothesis, which states that older, larger females contribute disproportionally more to the recruitment because of their increased mass-specific fecundity and production of more viable offspring. The first part of the hypothesis has been tested and confirmed, while the considerably more challenging test of superior offspring survival is hindered by the inability to link individual offspring caught in the open sea to the size of the mother. In the POPULAV project, I will use size-specific natural biochemical markers (stable isotopes) to link maternal size to larval viability. Larvae are provisioned with the maternal isotopic signature via nutrient transfer from maternal gonads to the eggs/larvae; A promising, novel tool to provide a robust test of the BOFFF hypothesis. The objectives are to (1) confirm the size-effect on maternal gonadal isotopic signature, (2) assess size-dependent stable isotope transfer in laboratory experiments, (3) assign wild-caught larvae to the size of its mother using stable isotope profiles, and (4) use a simple model to estimate the effect of population size truncation on larval viability. Data obtained in POPULAV will advance our understanding of how size truncation affects larval viability and thereby recruitment. This knowledge can support decision making and fisheries management, and place its coordinators and the EU at the forefront of international efforts for understanding the impacts of fishing on our marine resources.
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.
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries fisheries
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
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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)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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.
Funding Scheme
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
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