Zooplankton are, by definition, drifters in the ocean. Therefore, they are often associated with different water masses and can be ideal indicators for assessing ecosystem status. More specifically, what can they really indicate, how do we incorporate zooplankton indicators into ecosystem assessment framework, and how these indicators can be used in marine policy?
Hello Alessandra,
I strongly advise you look into William Peterson's work with the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center. His research has been integral on the effect of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) on zooplankton community composition with emphasis on fisheries management.
Just like temperature, zooplankton community composition can be used as a metric for stock success, individual growth, and overall fecundity. PDO phase shifts correlate with variation in seasonal upwelling and temperature regimes, resulting in zooplankton community changes that dramatically impact energetic constraints on foraging fishes with carryover effects for piscivorous species. Zooplankton community composition has also been used as a proxy for ecosystem health and assessment of susceptibility to climate change in more recent years.
Bill Peterson would definitely be the person I would try and contact for specifics on the how's and why's of how these metrics are applied to fisheries analysis and policy.
Cheers,
-Thomas
Zooplankton species especially Brachionoids indicate the occurrence of phosphates and nitrates in water. Hence they are very useful indicators of health of ecosystem.
Benthic foraminifera ( micro-zooplankton ) are used as proxies for studying the impact of different kinds of pollutants such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons .
Dear colleagues, this question was meant to feel the interest of the community on this topic and to reach new colleagues around the world, including non-copepod scientists (great intervention Lucilla, thank you). We thank you for your answers so far, and invite you to join Workshop W1 - Use of zooplankton indicators to characterize state of pelagic ecosystems - at the Sixth International Zooplankton Production Symposium, Bergen, 9-13 May 2016 (we will reinvite when the abstract open, on Aug 1st 2015). Please continue to provide ideas to this debate! Alessandra and Hongsheng
http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/symposia/zp6/Pages/Scientific-programme.aspx
these blooms indicate abnormal enrichment of nutrient medium (nitrates and phosphates)
ABSTRACT DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 1, 2015!!!
Just a reminder that there is still time (but not a lot!) to submit your abstract for:
Workshop W1 - Use of zooplankton indicators to characterize state of pelagic ecosystems - at the Sixth International Zooplankton Production Symposium, Bergen, 9-13 May 2016.
To submit and abstract go to:
http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/symposia/zp6/Pages/Call-for-papers.aspx
Please note that there is some financial support for people below 35 yrs
Please forward to interested parties!
Alessandra
Reminder! Zooplankton Indicators Workshop1 at the ICES/PICES 6th Zooplankton Production,Bergen 11may 2016.... more questions to follow!
http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/symposia/zp6/Pages/Use-of-zooplankton-indicators-to-charaterize-state-of-pelagic-ecosystems.aspx
Dear Thomas,
Bill Peterson is scheduled to present his work at the workshop. Hope to see many of you!
- Badges
- Science topic