Quantifying marine biodiversity through movements and feeding: Assessing coastal marine ecosystem dy
Abstract
Approved for Public ReleaseProject title: Quantifying marine biodiversity through movements and feeding: Assessing coastal marine ec,osystem dynamics near estuary mouthsThis project will integrate powerful technologies (acoustic telemetry, environmental DNA [eDNA],, and acoustics) with traditional fisheries sampling to quantify impacts of changes in local and regional water conditions on individ,uals, populations, and community structure. We will study the impacts of forage species and environmental conditions on Atlantic cod, and common terns in both New Hampshire and southern Maine (Casco Bay) coastal waters. To study the movements of these predators, we, will use tracking tags (GPS technology for terns, acoustic technology for Atlantic cod) to follow their movements. We will also exa,mine their diet, but analyzing gut contents from Atlantic cod (both visually and via genomic methods) and terns (via genomics of fec,al samples). We will quantify the availability of forage species (focusing on Atlantic herring) through active acoustics, passive ac,oustics, and eDNA of water samples. Information on animal movements and diet will be integrated with a variety of environmental cond,itions from oceanographic buoys, other sensors, and ocean simulation models. We will use mathematical models to predict how changes,in water temperature and diet will affect Atlantic cod and terns. Comparing and contrasting species? responses to environmental chan,ge will help us determine the ?winners and losers? of climate change. All efforts each year will be informed by a variety of stakeho,lders representing resource managers and non-profit organizations. Our team also includes experts in data management and accessibili,ty to ensure data are accessible in a timely manner.Collectively, these results demonstrate the value in novel technologies in track,ing shifts in biodiversity across space and time. Our efforts would build on the known strengths of each method (eDNA, diet analyses,, active acoustics,and passive acoustics) while also exploring their integration and defining scales of appropriate use. We will def,ine how each method describes marine biodiversity in both unique but also shared ways. This knowledge would allow stakeholders to in,tegrate these methods into their own efforts, aiding research and monitoring. Marine ecosystems are dynamic, and our approach would,determine at which scales ecosystem components change, and which methods best detect such variation. Broadly, our results would demo,nstrate the relative importance of environmental conditions and food availability on marine communities to promote proper conservati,on and management in a rapidly changing Gulf of Maine.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 07, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212731
Entities
People
- Nathaniel Furey
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University System of New Hampshire