Response of biodiversity change in North Sea food webs mediated by environmental drivers and human activities
The project is funded by „Coastal Research in North and Baltic Sea: Changing Coasts (KüNO3)“ within the research program MARE:N of the German federal government as part of the BMBF program „Science for a sustainable development“ (FONA3).
The North Sea, as many other marine ecosystems worldwide, is changing rapidly, i.a. driven by changes in human activities and effects of climate change. Decreasing fishing pressure, de-eutrophication due to decreasing riverine nutrient loads from the big rivers, and increasing water temperatures are the most striking changes altering the southern North Sea as a habitat for various species.
Therefore, shifts in the food web can occur through stronger top-down controlled processes (predatory fish) and weaker bottom-up effects (primary production), which have the potential to severely change ecosystem services and the usability of biological resources.
For a better understanding of the consequences of ongoing biodiversity changes for food webs, we will jointly analyse existing long-term datasets of 5 different taxonomic groups (marine mammals, fish, benthos, zoo- and phytoplankton). In addition, we will identify dominant functional characteristics („traits“) and their changes, which will then be implemented as functional groups in a food web model of the Ecopath family, thereby improving the parametrization of the model.
The scenarios for biodiversity changes as well as their effects on food webs and the use of biological resources will be discussed with local and regional stakeholders in the North Sea coastal zone, such as local fisheries, aquaculture companies, and local authorities responsible for tourism and other economic activities. To fulfill these objectives, we will form focus groups and execute case studies. Proposed solutions for ecologically, economically and socially sustainable future use and adaption strategies will be jointly developed.
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