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Content archived on 2022-12-23

Biodiversity and adaptation strategies of Arctic coastal marine benthos

Objective



In Arctic areas the extremely low temperature over the whole year and the absence of light over prolonged periods form unique features which require unique adaptations of the endemic organisms. Moreover, these organisms have to adapt nowadays to anthropogenic disturbances. Since human activities concentrate mostly where rivers meet the sea, the impact of changes in marine systems will be felt most strongly by the benthic organisms that cannot escape from natural and anthropogenic stress. This study in the Arctic coastal area is aimed at comparing and understanding: the present biodiversity of benthos in pristine and disturbed Arctic ecosystems, and the adaptative strategies of some Arctic benthic key species under natural and anthropogenic stress.

To measure the biodiversity, a field expedition to determine the benthic community composition in several coastal and estuarine areas in the White Sea, Pechora Bay and Kara Sea will be carried out.

To determine adaptive strategies of key species some ecophysiological features of two bivalves, Macoma balthica and Mytilus edulis, will be measured quarterly at field stations. Simultaneously, laboratory experiments will be carried out to test the stress-sensitivity of the key-species and to indicate the influence of natural (short light and food season, low temperature) and anthropogenic (pollution, global change) stress. During the field studies an inventory will be made of the biogeochemical characteristics at the sampling stations to assess the (possible stress from) environmental conditions.

In the project seven west and east European institutes will contribute with their specialities. For the Russian institutes the major expertise lies in the field of biodiversity through a profound knowledge of community structure analyses and taxonomy. For the west European institutes the expertise is centred around ecophysiological, toxicological and biogeochemical analysis in experimental research and detailed field studies. At each participating institute in Russia a PhD student will be identified for training at the institutes of INTAS member states. Furthermore, the NIS laboratories will be updated in order to ensure an optimal transfer of know-how in both directions and carry out the basic field work and laboratory experiments.

Call for proposal

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Funding Scheme

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Coordinator

Netherlands Institute of Ecology
EU contribution
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Address
Vierstraat 28
4401 EA Yerseke
Netherlands

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Total cost
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Participants (6)