Research
Antarctica phase V (2000-2005)
PELAGANT - Status, control and role of the pelagic diversity of the Austral Ocean
Context
The PELAGANT project is an interdisciplinary
study of the key components of the Austral Ocean Pelagic Ecosystem
and deals with the criteria for the appearance, maintenance,
and modification of biodiversity. The diversity and dynamics
of this ecosystem are particularly sensitive to variations in
physical structure of the ocean and in ice coverage, and are
affected by climate changes.
This research project is a contribution of Belgian science
to international conventions on the maintenance and monitoring
of the Antarctic ecosystem in a context of environmental and
climatic changes (CCAMLR, SCAR, SO-GLOBEC).
The project is integrated with international Antarctic scientific
programmes (e.g. Italy, Germany and France) where the pelagic
diversity in the Austral Ocean is studied in an environmental
and biological context.
Project description
Objectives
1. To determine the distribution of Antarctic pelagic key-species
in relation to the biotic and abiotic factors of the environment.
2. To analyse the pelagic diversity at the species, population
and ecosystem levels.
3. To improve a conceptual and numerical ecohydrodynamical
model of the Austral Ocean Pelagic Ecosystem in view of determining
the stability of biotic assemblages, their sensitivity to the
environmental constraints and especially the response to climate
changes.
Methodology
1. Banking of the relevant data to calibrate the models (data
collection).
- Field acquisition and analysis, analysis and data compilation
of historical collections on the distribution of pelagic organisms
(especially ichthyoplankton and fishes) from targeted international
Austral Ocean cruises.
- Taxonomic approach of ichthyoplankton.
- Storage in original dedicated database (PELAGANT) compatible
with existing databases (Global Biodiversity Initiative Facility
and/or FISHBASE).
2. Conceptualisation of the pelagic diversity
and its spatio-temporal variations, with specific morphological and ecophysiological,
genetic, and ecosystemological tools.
- Morphological and nutritional analysis of the ichthyoplankton
at various developmental stages in view of their planktonic prey.
- Identification of “umbrella” fish species
with complementary molecular markers and detailed statistical
analysis.
- Statistical exploration of the pelagic assemblages in
search of consistent patterns or systematic relationships between
variables.
- Evolutionary analysis of large and small-scale population
structure and dispersal of target fish species with molecular
markers.
3. Development of a specific model of the Pelagos
Ecosystem.
- Implementation of a 1D plankton/hydrodynamical/ice plankton
sub-model and adaptation for multiannual purposes.
- Development of multi-annual sub-models of population dynamics
for ichthyoplankton and adult fish.
- Coupling of the sub-models and simulation of environmental
changes.
Interaction between the different partners
- The use of a molecular approach as a support for taxonomic
identification of fish eggs and larvae, in those cases where
morphologic identification is impossible or unreliable;
- The integration of the [zooplankton to fish] levels and
the functional role of each taxon in the ecosystem modelling
approach.
Expected results and/or products
- Knowledge on the pelagic species of the Austral Ocean,
their spatial and temporal distribution and a recognition of
the major pelagic assemblages and links with the habitats.
- A genetic molecular support of morphological identification
of fish larvae.
- A description of the phylogeographical pattern of selected
fish species.
- A pilot study on the dispersal dynamics of selected fish
species.
- A new conceptual view on the interactions between the
species in the pelagic assemblages, the large-scale distribution
of pelagic assemblages and an estimation of the effects of biotic
and abiotic factors on this distribution.
- A numerical modelling tool of the pelagic system, taking
into account the pelagic diversity, applicable to the sampling
strategy and able to test the level of stability and resilience
of the pelagic assemblages in reaction to local environmental
changes.
The results of the research will be available for the international community by publications in specialised journals and presentations at (inter)national meetings. The international diffusion of the integrated database produced by the research will be the target of a specific action of valorisation (creation of an international Austral Ocean plankton data centre). For that reason, the criteria of formatting the data base will follow the Global Biodiversity Initiative Facility (metafiles) and more specifically FISHBASE.
Complementary resources about this scientific project
www.kuleuven.be/research/researchdatabase/
project/3E03/3E030149.htm
Partners
| ULg | Conceptual and numerical modelling of the pelagic ecosystem. Quantitative and qualitative techniques in phyto- and zooplankton estimation. |
| KULeuven | Fish ecology and evolution, biodiversity and ecosystem modelling. |
Contact Information
Coordinator: Jean-Henri Hecq
Université de Liège (ULg)
Océanologie
Sart-Tilman - Chemistry B6c
B-4000 Liège
Tel: +32 (0)4 366 36 46
Fax: +32 (0)4 366 23 55
jh.hecq@ulg.ac.be
modb.oce.ulg.ac.be
Partner 2: Filip Volckaert
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULeuven)
Laboratorium voor Aquatische Ecologie
Ch. de Bériotstraat 32
B-3000 Leuven
Tel: +32 (0)16 32 39 72
Fax: +32 (0)16 32 45 75
Filip.volckaert@bio.kuleuven.ac.be
bio.kuleuven.be/eeb/laeec