Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

The effect of Climate Change on Food Quality and transfer of Energy and Pollutants in Polar Ecosystems  (ARCTOS QUALITY)

Outline
Background The focus of this initiative will be to advance the understanding of the biological structure and ecological function of the European Arctic and the importance of changing external forcing mechanisms on these biological systems. The main scientific thrust of the initiative will be effects of climate change on food quality, energy transfer, and persistent organic compounds in polar ecosystems. Climate variations are directly linked to food quality, recruitment and population growth of key herbivores and therefore affect ecosystem processes on all levels: • food web dynamics and energy transfer • the food quality-reproduction-accumulation complex • timing of reproduction and seasonal migration • sympagic-pelagic coupling • sympagic-benthic coupling • pelagic-benthic coupling • bioaccumulation pathways of POP from microbial web to apex predators • ecological function and biodiversity During IPY, an international group of scientists, coordinated under the ARCTOS Network (http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/), will organize and carry out a series of field investigations, research integration activities, student courses and symposia under a series of initiatives with financial support from national and European Union projects. Specific tasks will include: Task 1: Gather relevant historical data on environmental variables (e.g. water mass characteristics and sea ice dynamics) to be used for analysis of climate variability, biological responses to climate and model validations on decadal to centennial scale. Task 2: Determine biological responses on primary producer level (timing of blooms, succession of species, biochemical and physiological state and quality) of physical forces. Task 3: Determine biological responses on herbivore level (timing of seasonal migration and reproduction and succession of species) to the phytoplankton bloom and water mass changes and ice cover. Task 4: Determine predator-prey relationships, transfer of energy as marine lipids, transfer and bioaccumulation of POPs within the pelagic food web in relation to climate variability. Task 5: Determine experimentally, in marine laboratories, how food quality, energy content and lipid composition effect reproduction growth and energy transfer. The work is intended to achieve an enduring legacy within Arctic science, such that the achievements will contribute fundamental knowledge of Arctic biological systems, strengthen on-going international collaborative linkages, and support the build-up of new infrastructure for polar research.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Interpretation of historical data series of climate variables for developing regional forcing functions that will be used for model validations performed on multiple time and space scales. -Contemporary data series of biological variables for the European Arctic and Eastern Weddell Sea appropriate for use in coupled biological-physical model validation studies and contaminant bioaccumulation models and effects studies over multiple scales of biological organisation. -New quantitative relationships on biological responses to climate-driven physical forcing mechanisms in the European Arctic. -Establishment of new education and training opportunities for students and young scientists in polar ecosystem science.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This EoI consist of a large Consortium of active collaborators all members of the ARCTOS network. The consortium consists of 15 partners from 12 countries.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Fieldwork will be carried out in a series of ecosystems in the Arctic exemplified by fjords as Kongsfjorden, Rijpfjorden (Svalbard), Young Sund, Disco Bay (Greenland) and open systems as the Arctic Ocean and Lazarev Sea Antarctic. Experimental studies.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: March 2007            
Antarctic: December 2008            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Several research platform are available for use by the consortium including1) Research Vessels Lance, Jan Mayen, James Clark Ross 2) satellites, 3) Experimental Marine Laboratories at Svalbard and Greenland; 4) helicopters; and 5) biochemical laboratories in Norway, France, Germany, UK and Denmark; 6) Arctic moorings (multi-instrumented for biological and physical parameters; 7) snow terrain vehicles.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Development of infrastructure to carry out integrated ecosystem science at participating laboratories – notably at the new Arctic Marine Laboratory Svalbard, at Daneborg and the Disco Bay research Station Greenland – expansion of education and post-educational training opportunities in polar ecosystem science

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

The Consortium has access to vital infrastructure for Polar Operations from several of the involved Institutions

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The Consortium has today national and international research projects lasting through the IPY periods

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?


The consortium has ongoing projects that will operate into the IPY period (see http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/). In addition new applications have and will be sent both to national and international funding bodies.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be coordinated through the ARCTIOS network (http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/). The overall project coordinators will be headed by Stig Falk-Petersen NPI, JoLynn Carroll (APN), Graham Shimmield (SAMS). A steering committee will be appointed.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The students will be enrolled in the ARCTOS student network and ongoing ARCTOS PhD trainee school in Arctic marine Ecosystems (http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/). The ARCTOS PhD trainee school enrolls 5 students today and the student workshops are open for up to 25 students from the extended network of national and international collaborators. Further dedicated courses will be offered through UNIS (University Centre in Svalbard, http://www.unis.no)

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data management will be handled within the operating data management system in associated Institutes, ICES and other bodies which the Institute has agreement with. In addition the Consortium will apply the general principles which are demanded from funding bodies (EU etc)

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Basic funding to the involved Institutions, national programmes and EU.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Ongoing projects and co-operation are described in: http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/

PROPOSER DETAILS

Pro Stig Falk-Peteresn
Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI)
Tromsø
9007
Norway

Tel: 77750532
Mobile: 95111914
Fax: 77750501
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation