Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C508418/1
Assessment of Calanus finmarchicus field growth and dormancy based on enzyme activity.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor AG Hirst, NERC British Antarctic Survey, UNLISTED
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr L Yibra Mora, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UNLISTED
- Grant held at:
- NERC British Antarctic Survey, UNLISTED
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Global Change
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Community Ecology
- Population Ecology
- Technol. for Environ. Appl.
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- To be able to determine how much resource will be available for fish stocks, we need to understand the population dynamics and productivity of the zooplankton populations on which they feed. Calanus finmarchicus is a dominant large copepod species and source of food for fish in the North Atlantic. The study of zooplankton growth in the ocean is very difficult and time consuming. However, we will measure the activity of enzymes related to growth (e.g. AARS), with the aim of being able to obtain estimates of Calanus productivity in a reliable and rapid way. In order to transform the data obtained from the enzyme analysis to real growth values (e.g. mg of protein per day) we have to determine relationships between enzyme activity values and growth rates under field conditions. Therefore, we propose to go to a Calanus productive area (Labrador Sea in spring) and perform growth experiments combined with enzyme activity assays on board. We will also examine these relationships using animals in laboratory culture under different conditions. We will explore using the enzyme activity as a tool to measure the degree of dormancy of animals, this will be useful in more accurately describing and quantifying true costs of over-wintering, and modelling this important aspect of life-history.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C508418/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Directed Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Marine Productivity
This grant award has a total value of £23,700
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,026 | £15,180 | £510 | £6,983 |
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