Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/B/S/2003/00794
Match or mismatch: do climate-induced changes in phenology lead to a de-coupling of multi-trophic interactions in a marine ecosystem?
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor S Wanless, NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019), NERC CEH - Banchory
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor M Edwards, Marine Biological Association, CPR Survey
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr AJ Richardson, Marine Biological Association, CPR Survey
- Grant held at:
- NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019), NERC CEH - Banchory
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Global Change
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Land - Ocean Interactions
- Conservation Ecology
- Community Ecology
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- Some of the clearest signs of global climate change are those associated with shifts in the timing of familiar natural events such as bud burst or the arrival of migrant birds in spring. The lesser sandeel, a small, eel-like, shoaling fish, is at the centre of the North Sea food web being a major consumer of plankton and an important prey for many seabirds, large fish and marine mammals. Sandeels are also the target of the North Sea's biggest fishery. It is therefore of great concern that sandeels off the east coast of Britain have been getting smaller over the last 30 years. The decline does not seem to be due to the fishery, rather changing climatic conditions may have adversely affected the early development of sandeels. This project aims to bring together researchers working on ocean climate, plankton, sandeels and seabirds to investigate whether changing climatic conditions in the North Sea have disrupted vital links in the food web that have altered sandeel growth patterns and contributed to long-term changes in timing of breeding and/or breeding success of well-known species such as puffins and kittiwakes. Our findings will help forecast the impacts of climate change on the North Sea ecosystem and also be of use to the sandeel fishery. The project is therefore of immediate relevance to NERC's three priority research areas: earth's life support systems, climate change and sustainable economies.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/B/S/2003/00794
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Small Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Small Grants
This grant award has a total value of £30,928
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Equipment | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £3,101 | £18,014 | £1,527 | £8,286 |
If you need further help, please read the user guide.