Transcript MAR-ECO Students - Census of Marine Life Secretariat

MAR-ECO: PATTERNS AND PROCESSES OF THE
ECOSYSTEMS OF THE NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC
Realm: ”Dark Zone”,
restricted to pelagic
and benthic habitats
associated with
mid-ocean ridges.
after Garrison, 1993
Overriding aim: To describe and understand the
patterns of distribution, abundance and trophic
relationships of the organisms inhabiting the
mid-oceanic North Atlantic, and identify and
model ecological processes that cause variability in
these patterns.
Global Scope of Project
The target area of
MAR-ECO is the midocean North Atlantic.
NOAA
A spin-off project is
being developed in the
South Atlantic based on
experience in the North.
This effort has currently
no ship-time
commitments!
2007 Scientific Results
Southern area
High diversity - low biomass
Northern area
Low diversity - high biomass
64°
60°
100 %
90 %
56°
80 %
70 %
52°
60 %
50 %
48°
40 %
30 %
44°
20 %
10 %
40°
0%
2
4
10
12
14
16
20
26
28
32
36
36°
From Gaard et al.
40°
30°
20°
Copepod
diversity along a
north-south
transect along
the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge, IcelandAzores
2007 Scientific Results
From Sutton et al.
Abundance of pelagic fishes shows maxima in the
upper bathypelagic zone (1000-2000m) and near
the seabed. This concentration in deep layers
contrasts with the normal exponential decline seen
in oceanic areas and may be a special feature of
ridge-associated communities
Diversity
Examples
fromfocuses
MAR-ECO
MAR-ECO
onsamples
macro-include:
and megafauna
in
a limited geographical area, not the entire global
Fishes: ~ 300 species, 3-4 new
ridge system.
The targets
Cephalopods:
53 species,
2 neware animal species and
communities
associated
with photosynthetic
Pelagic
copepods:
~150 species
Cottunculus tubulosus
Shrimps:
~
30
species,
1
new
food-webs. The total number of species in this
Holothurians: at least 22 species, at least 3-4 new
category has not been determined or estimated.
Lophodolos sp.
Promachoteuthis sloani
Byrkjedal and Orlov, 2007
New species!
Crosnier & Vereshchaka
subm.
Photo: A. Orlov
Distribution
From Søiland et al.
Area backscatter, sA
12
9
6
3
0
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61
Latitude, °N
From Opdal et al.
0-1500m acoustic area backscatter
along latitudinal gradient
The abundance,
distribution and
composition of macroand megafauna is
primarily related to
depth of occurrence and
the watermass pattern
probably affecting
production. Only the
bathypelagic community
appears unaffected by
the latitudinal abiotic
environmental pattern.
Abundance
•Abundance estimation is not trivial for any pelagic or demersal
taxa inhabiting deep mid-ocean ridge waters. There is elevated
abundance near the seabed, and in oceanographic frontal zones.
•Current efforts are short-term and limited in spatial scale and do
not provide knowledge on seasonal variation except in few
locations using long-term lander observatories.
Diurnal vertical
migration of deep
scattering layers
above an acoustic
lander mounted on
mid-Atlantic Ridge
seamount
Steps Toward Project Synthesis
A multitude of interesting patterns and
observations emerge at population, species and
community levels. The most striking is the
latitudinal and watermass-related diversity and
distribution patterns, and the changes with depth
in species composition and abundance.
MAR-ECO will construct conceptual models of
value to future mid-ocean studies, but the results
may not form a satisfactory basis for predictive
or retrospective modeling efforts.
Steps Toward Realm Synthesis
MAR-ECO provides samples to CMarZ and
collaborates at sea, provides tissue to the Barcode of
Life programme, and exchanges results with
CenSeam. There is communication with other
deepwater projects, CaML, TOPP and HMAP.
Nancy Copley
(CMarZ) visiting
Tone Falkenhaug
(MAR-ECO) to
collect crustacean
zooplankton
specimens for
barcoding
BARCODE of LIFE:
Done: fishes,
cephalopods,
copepods
Coming: Shrimps,
mysids,
euphausids,
amphipods,
chaetognaths a.o.
Synthesis Outputs
Science community: two special journal
issues in early 2008, monograph on
biogeography, papers in primary literature 2004-present,
final synthetic review paper with conceptual model
Public: By end 2007; two TV-docs,
two DVDs, traveling exhibition
By 2010: popular book
Other user groups: Input to advisory organizations;
proposals for open-ocean biodiversity reference sites
(MARBEF), new knowledge continually provided to
advisory processes in e.g. ICES
Visualization & Communication
The midocean North
Atlantic
surrounded by
MAR-ECO
images
illustrating the
diversity of
organisms and
technologies
and methods
required to
gain new
baseline
knowledge
Illustration compiled by T. Wenneck, photos by D. Shale and MAR-ECO partners.
Visualization & Communication
No Mid-Ocean Ridge
With Mid Ocean Ridge
After Priede et al. 2006
What is the significance of mid-ocean ridges for the ocean-wide
patterns of species composition, abundance and production?
Science Impact
Achievements:
• Updated species inventories and range descriptions for midocean North Atlantic macrofauna, spanning a wide range of
pelagic, benthopelagic and benthic taxa.
•Conceptual models for the pattern of occurrence and abundance
of e.g. zooplankton, nekton of all sizes, benthic macrofauna,
whales, and seabirds in relation to their abiotic environment.
• New species of e.g. sponges, echinoderms, crustaceans,
cephalopods, fishes, and redescription of species and revision of
genera.
Future impact:
•Concepts and methodology stimulating global efforts to
determine significance of mid-ocean ridges for
biogeography, oceanic system structure and processes
Societal Impact of Results to Date
The project has raised the public and managerial
awareness of the value and significance of midocean areas and their animal communities
Results have contributed to defining high-seas
habitats and communities in need of protection.
Results were used in e.g. ICES WGs to evaluate
closed areas implemented by the RFMO NEAFC.
OSPAR has shown interest. WWF has based an
MPA proposal on preliminary results from MAR-ECO.
Impact of Approach & Methodology
Comprehensive approaches to
monitoring high-seas
pelagic reference sites and
deepwater benthopelagic and
epibenthic communities
Many technologies on same ship combined with moored
observatories. E.g. acoustic and optical landers and profilers,
multisampler for midwater trawls, hull-mounted multifrequency
echosounders, real time bathymetry mapping.
Project Data Available in OBIS
Pictures by
Porteiro and
Piatkowski
All MAR-ECO fish
records were
included in OBIS.
Other taxa will be
provided as
taxonomic qualityassurance is
completed. Records
are from North
Atlantic only.
Bachelor Students
MAR-ECO
Students
Education
& Outreach
May-Siri Stene and Margrete Emblemsvåg,
Kaia Damsgård Andersen and Ingrid Stadsnes
Susana de Villegas Quevedo,
Tom Letessier,
Aalesund University College, Norway.
Aalesund University College, Norway
Aalesund University College, Norway
University of Aberdeen, UK
Completed June 2007.
Completed June 2007.
Completed June 2007.
Completed Jan 2006
The traveling exhibition “Deeper than Light” visited
Paris, Porto, and Essen in 2007.
The associated book “Deeper than Light” written by
MAR-ECO in cooperation with other deepwater
projects and EuroCoML was published.
Two educational DVDs and numerous website news,
including ship-to-shore reports and media attention
during 2007 cruise on the RRS James Cook
Master Students
Megan Geidner, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, USA
Christopher Sweetman, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, USA
Inger Marie Tyssebotn University of Bergen and the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), Norway
Fred Marius Svendsen, University of Bergen (UIB), Bergen Museum, Norway
Markus Busch, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf,Germany
Esra Kahn, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf,Germany
Jan Yde Poulsen, Zoological Museum University of Copenhagen (ZMUC), Denmark
Hanne Sannæs, University of Oslo, Institute of Marine Research
Completed Sept 2007
Lise Doksæter University of Bergen (UIB) and Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway
Completed 2006
Helene Axelsen, University of Bergen (UIB), Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway
Completed Nov 2006
Hildur Petursdottir Marine Research Institute ,Iceland and University of Iceland).
Completed Oct2006
Øyvind Karlbom ,University of Bergen (UIB), Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway
Completed Oct 2006
Anders Frugård Opdal, , Institute of Marine Research (IMR) Norway
Completed May 2006
Guro Gjelsvik, University of Bergen (UIB), Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway
Completed Mar 2006
Pål Øyvind Aas University of Bergen (UIB), Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway
Completed Febr 2006
Kristina Arianson , Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and IMR, Norway
Completed 2006
Anne Edvardsen, Notodden College, Norway
Completed 2007
PhD Students
Kyle Bartow, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, USA
Jessica Craig, Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen UK
Tom Letessier, University of St Andrews, UK
Vanda Carmo, Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores (DOP), Portugal.
Amy Heger,OceanLab, University of Aberdeen, UK
Birkir Bardarson, Marine Research Institute , Iceland & Univ. St Andrews, Scotland
Nina Svane Mikkelsen, Dept. of information science and media studies, University of Bergen (UIB) Norway
Inge Fossen, University of Bergen (UIB) and University College in Aalesund, Norway.
Aino Hosia University of Bergen (UIB) , Norway
Nicola King, OceanLab, University of Aberdeen, UK
Tom Sørnes,University of Bergen (UIB) Norway
Audiences: interested public of all ages, including
students and schoolchildren.
Impact: good attendance at all venues, high media
attention during events.
Completed June 2007
Completed May 2007.
Completed Nov 2006
Completed Nov 2005
Next Steps
1) Completion of analyses
of data and samples
from 2003-2005 field
phase; publishing and
provision of data to
OBIS. Barcoding.
2) New field work in the
North Atlantic,
3) Developing a South
Atlantic activity
4) Syntheses in
Getting prepared for the synthesis challenge!!
preparation for the 2010
MAR-ECO students exploring a mid-Atl Ridge
rift valley during the Sept ’07 project meeting
CoML
in Iceland
(photo: T. Letessier)
Limits to Knowledge
Unknown but knowable:
1. seasonal and interannual variation in
species composition and ranges.
2. understanding of relative significance of
different production processes.
3. scale and significance of human impacts.
Optical and acoustical observatory
technology and advanced long-term
samplers may enhance understanding of
production processes. Other items require
repeated observation programmes with
comprehensive sampling efforts.