Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/R007861/1
Combining molecular and acoustic approaches to improve pelagic stock assessment.
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor S Mariani, University of Salford, Sch of Environment & Life Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Salford, Sch of Environment & Life Sciences
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- Earth & environmental
- Earth & environmental
- Biodiversity
- Animal organisms
- Fish - marine
- Systematics & Taxonomy
- DNA barcoding
- Ecosystem Scale Processes
- Biodiversity
- Ecosystem management
- Environmental Genomics
- DNA sequencing
- Abstract:
- The sustainable use of natural resources, such as fisheries stocks, depends on our ability to i) maintain population biomass at adequate levels, ii) understand distribution patterns and life cycles, and iii) ensure ecosystem health. All of this requires regular monitoring activities, some of which rely on examining fish catch records, while others are independent of fishing operations. Pelagic stocks can typically be investigated using hydroacoustics, yet sonar data cannot accurately identify fish species and composition, therefore acoustic data must be verified by carrying out trawling. Trawling, however, requires significant gear, personnel, time and financial investments, and the obtained catch composition is not always representative of the biological community, due to inter-specific variation in catchability. Innovative monitoring methods should be able to reduce costs and effort, while providing monitoring agencies and fisheries organisations with accurate biological information. One such method that has received considerable attention in recent years is environmental DNA (eDNA), which is based on the notion that by simply sampling the water column, it is possible to retrieve traces of DNA belonging to the organisms present in the sampled water mass. The present project specifically aims to assess the efficacy of eDNA sampling as a tool complementary to acoustic surveying of pelagic fish stocks, in view of reducing/removing the need for trawling activities. The goal of "StockDNA" is to significantly reduce the costs and ecological impacts of monitoring activities and potentially revolutionising the way fishery-independent surveys are conducted. CEFAS is carrying out very detailed acoustic surveys of pelagic fish stocks in the south-west of England, which are complemented by trawling, plankton collection, and other physical, chemical and biological records of the ecosystem. StockDNA aims to carry out eDNA assessments alongside these pelagic surveys, and comparing the accuracy and consistency of eDNA information with traditional trawl data. The project also aims to develop statistical models of species presence and community composition by contrasting the performance of eDNA- and trawl-based predictive distribution models. The successful PhD candidate will have the unique opportunity to become proficient in a wide range of cutting-edge marine biodiversity assessment approaches, which will include the participation in sampling campaigns aboard the CEFAS endeavour vessel, the molecular methods for eDNA analysis, and the complex computational approaches required to interpret, analyse and compare acoustic, trawling, metabarcoding and spatial data, in an interdisciplinary framework. The outcome of the project will determine whether and how monitoring campaigns can be redesigned and optimised, not only in the attempt to reduce cost and impact of scientific trawling, but also to envision an "eDNA-enhancement" of ocean monitoring by complementing "opportunistic" surveys where trawling is simply not possible. CEFAS and the academic team will ensure effective communication of the project outcome through their established stakeholder channels, at both national and international levels.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/R007861/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £89,114
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - Student Stipend | Total - RTSG |
|---|---|---|
| £17,480 | £60,637 | £11,000 |
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