Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

TUNU: Climate and the Marine Fish Fauna of the NE Greenland Fjord Systems  (TUNU-Programme)

Outline
The diversity and distribution of fish species in NE Greenland is practically unknown. The warming trends reported for arctic waters and - in particular - NE Greenland fjords make studies of the fish fauna and its response to climatic changes an unprecedented challenge for arctic marine ecology. This is the scientific background of the multi-year TUNU*–Programme, which is initiated by the University of Tromsø and affiliated to the ARCTOS-network (website: http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/). The TUNU-Programme forms the ideal framework for network-building among research students and scientist. Hence, the first inter-Nordic and international expedition to NE Greenland was conducted successfully in October 2003 with the ice strengthened R/V “Jan Mayen” as the operational base (Christiansen 2003). *TUNU = East Greenland in the modern Greenlandic language Reference: Christiansen, JS. 2003. TUNU-I Expedition. The Fish Fauna of the NE Greenland Fjord Systems. Technical Report, University of Tromsø, 33 pp. (PDF available upon request). Objectives: The following three main points make up the scientific framework of the TUNU-Programme: 1. Conduct a zoogeographical mapping and quantify the marine fish fauna at selected sites along the NE Greenland coast, i.e.: • between 77N (Danmarkshavn) and 70N (Scoresby Sund) and • from the innermost part of the fjords to the continental slope. Expeditions are limited to the period between medio September and medio October. 2. Gather basic hydrographical data – e.g. depth profiles of temperature, salinity, and density – at the same sites. 3. Revisit and repeat investigations at key sites to obtain long-term data on possible inter-annual changes in fish composition and hydrographical regimes. The TUNU-Programme is interdisciplinary in the sense that the distribution and diversity of fishes is closely linked to genetical (molecular genetics, cytogenetics), physiological (blood chemistry, metabolism), and hydrographical studies – and multidisciplinary in the sense that a minor part of the scientific activities is allocated studies of seal physiology and feeding ecology as well as benthos or plankton communities.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The TUNU-Programme investigates fjord systems in NE Greenland that are pristine from a scientifical point of view. The sea ice cover has been significantly reduced in the area during the last three decades and this makes NE Greenland an excellent site to study effects of a changing marine environment on the marine fauna. Arctic fishes are physiologically adapted to live within a very narrow thermal zone (-1.8 degC - + 1 degC), and even slight increases in temperature (and concomitant reductions in salinity) are deemed to have profound effects on their composition (diversity) and spacial distribution.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The TUNU-Programme includes PhD-students and scientists from the Nordic countries, EU (Italy and UK), USA, and Russia.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The geographical focus of the TUNU-Programme is strictly limited to the NE Greenland coast from Danmarkshavn (77N) to the Scoresby Sund fjord system(70N).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 09-10/2005      09-10/2007      09-10/2008
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The TUNU-Programme will require access to ice strengthened research vessels, e.g. R/V "Jan Mayen" (website: http://www.nfh.uit.no/hmenyvis.aspx).

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The TUNU-Programme covers pristine waters and a net of hydrographical and faunistical key stations will be established along the NE Greenland coast. The stations may constitute the basis for future long-term monitoring programmes.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
A TUNU-Planning meeting was endorsed by the Nordic funding agency (NorFA) in October 2004. The planning meeting is to be held in January 2005.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
New

How will the project be organised and managed?
The TUNU-Programme is entirely organised and managed by the University of Tromsø. Furthermore, the TUNU-Programme forms an independent part of the ARCTOS-network (website: http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
As part of the ARCTOS-Trainee School (website: http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/), we plan to include a PhD-course in forthcoming TUNU-Expeditions.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
This point has yet to be decided but technical reports from the TUNU-Expeditions are made available through e.g. the ARCTOS website (http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The TUNU-partcipants usually have their own funding. However, in order to acquire some financial backbone for the exchange and communication between scientists we plan to seek Nordic agencies such as the NorFA network.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Jørgen S. Christiansen
University of Tromsø
Norwegian College of Fishery Science
Department of Aquatic BioSciences
N-9037
Norway

Tel: +47 776 46000
Mobile: +47 91766960
Fax: +47 776 46020
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation