Meiofauna Diversity and Modelling
BMBF 03F0977C
A healthy hydrosphere with a rich biodiversity and functioning ecosystem ensures oxygen and food, but particularly the Southern Ocean is experiencing increasing pressure from climate change effects. International efforts such as the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” aim to manage and protect this unique ecosystem and its living resources from e.g. fisheries pressure. For the Weddell Sea, knowledge on the role of smaller seafloor organisms for ecosystem services as carbon storage and cycling is still lacking. Therefore, it cannot be included in the planning of Marine Protected Areas.
BEnToolsMaPs will generate and transfer knowledge on effects of anthropogenic stressors on the structure and function of Southern Ocean seafloor systems, facilitating decision-making on sustainable management of carbon storage and biodiversity ecosystem services.
Partners from the University of Rostock, the Alfred Wegener Institute and Senckenberg am Meer aim to
(1) provide the first complete description of biodiversity of sediment-inhabiting meio- and macrofauna
(2) include modern approaches for accelerated and in-depth analyses
(3) quantify ecosystem functions and services
(4) map these for marine spatial planning and
(5) translate this knowledge for integration into MPA planning and conservation of shelf and slope habitats under different climate change stressors.
At the institute Senckenberg am Meer in Wilhelmshaven, the subproject BEnToolsMaPs-Meio "Meiofauna Diversity and Modelling" will provide a comprehensive description of the biodiversity of sediment-dwelling organisms of the meiofauna and macrofauna in the Weddell Sea (WP1).To this end, entire benthic communities from multicorer samples from different regions of the Weddell Sea will be analysed using metabarcoding. The results will be compared to those of traditional techniques (morphological determination). The following genetic barcoding of single individuals of known and newly discovered species will complement existing morphological descriptions and enable new descriptions including genetic data. The spatial modelling of meiofauna communities (WP4) on the shelf and the continental slope using environmental data will provide a basis for marine spatial planning. In WP5, the subproject contributes to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders. The focus of science communication in the subproject is primarily on public outreach work.
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
MARE:N Coastal, Marine and Polar Research for Sustainability
Marine Biodiversity: Blue Ocean - Development of recommendations for action to conserve and protect marine biodiversity
Funding period: 01.09.2024 - 31.08.2027