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Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/C511905/1

Measures of interaction strength and ecosystem function in perturbed food webs.

Grant Award

Principal Investigator:
Professor JI Jones, NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019), NERC CEH - Dorset
Co-Investigator:
Dr A Ibbotson, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Research
Co-Investigator:
Professor A Hildrew, Queen Mary University of London, Sch of Biological & Behavioural Sciences
Science Area:
Freshwater
Overall Classification:
Freshwater
ENRIs:
Natural Resource Management
Global Change
Biodiversity
Science Topics:
Population Ecology
Community Ecology
Abstract:
Humans have a profound effect on the structure of biological communities introducing some species and causing extinctions of others. Currently we do not know how to predict the effect of changes in one species on the other species in the community. We should be able to predict these changes using food web theory, which give detailed maps of who eats whom, and how big an effect a change in one species has on the other species. However, there is no consensus on how to measure the strength of interactions among the species of a food web or what these interaction strengths represent. We propose to measure the strength of interactions among the species of a small stream in several different ways, namely measures calculated through direct observation of gut contents (what has been eaten), body size ratios of predators and prey (what we expect to be eaten) and by changing the density of top predators (what happens when more is eaten). By comparing these measures w e will be able to determine how comparable these measure are and what they tell us. We will also determine measures of ecosystem function (useful things the ecosystem does, such as break down organic matter or support fisheries) so that we can verify models of food web structure and ecosystem function. In this way we will enable more accurate models of the consequences of species loss or invasion on ecosystems to be constructed.
Period of Award:
29 Mar 2005 - 28 Jun 2008
Value:
£107,066 Lead Split Award
Authorised funds only
NERC Reference:
NE/C511905/1
Grant Stage:
Completed
Scheme:
Standard Grants Pre FEC
Grant Status:
Closed
Programme:
Standard Grant

This grant award has a total value of £107,066  

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FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)

Total - StaffTotal - T&STotal - Other CostsTotal - EquipmentTotal - Indirect Costs
£51,038£10,258£18,178£4,113£23,477

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