Vlanezo approach and results - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Title: Vlanezo approach and results


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Vlanezo approach and results Maaike Steyaert
VIMBSS, 23 February 2007
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MANUELA proposal - Task 4 Link between
ecosystem processes and meiofauna activity
JOINT MANUELA EXPERIMENT
VIMBSS, 23 February 2007
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What is MANUELA ?

• Responsive Mode Project within MarBEF

AIMS
(1) To integrate the currently fragmented
information on the dynamics and functional role
of meiofauna (2) To improve understanding of
how the activities of meiobenthic organisms,
population dynamics and community assemblages
are linked to ecosystem processes (3) To
facilitate meiobenthic research within the
MARBEF community and stimulate the interest in
meiobenthology
VIMBSS, 23 February 2007
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What is MANUELA ?
Manuela partners
14 institutes covering 8 countries IOPAS
(Poland) DZMB (Germany) NIOO-CEME (The
Netherlands) VLIZ (Belgium) Ghent University
(Belgium) CEFAS (UK) PML (UK) NHM (UK)
Ecological Consultancy Services (Ireland)
CNRS-MHN (France) Polytechnic University of
Marche (Italy) HCMR (Greece) MBS-NIB
(Slovenia) University of Evora (Portugal)
VIMBSS, 23 February 2007
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Task 4 - Link between ecosystem processes and
meiofauna activity
Description of the work
Results from both completed and ongoing
experimental research at the partner institutes
on the response of the meiobenthos to changes in
ecosystem processes and the resilience of the
meiobenthos to physical or chemical disturbances
will be integrated to investigate the universal
response of the meiobenthos to these events.
Collaborative MANUELA experiments will be
discussed during the Kick-Off workshop.
VIMBSS, 23 February 2007
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Formulation of the experimental research question

• to meet the MANUELA deliverables
• to solve burning scientific questions
• because we have a unique opportunity
• MarBEF provides travelling money and support
• to show rest of MarBEF that meiobenthology is
  alive
• and relevant!

VIMBSS, 23 February 2007
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Manuela planning workshop (Hel, 25-26 September
2006)
VIMBSS, 23 February 2007
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Manuela planning workshop (Hel, 25-26 September
2006)
GOALS

• Formulation of a research question
• Design the set up of the experiment
• Frame a time schedule
• Assignment of tasks
• Group of responsible persons
• Quality control

VIMBSS, 23 February 2007
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Manuela planning workshop (Hel, 25-26 September
2006)
RESULTS Manuela Joint Action Working Plan
VIMBSS, 23 February 2007
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Manuela planning workshop (Hel, 25-26 September
2006)

• Global warming ? increased rainfall
• Solutions????
• Umbrellas?
• ...
• No solutions at this moment
• Impact??? ? may indirectly lead to solutions
• How to study?
• The solution to all problems Meiofauna

VIMBSS, 23 February 2007
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Rainfall experiment (1)
Null-hypothesis

• Sandy beach meiofauna from different geographic
  areas responds in comparable ways to the same
  type, intensity and frequency of disturbance
  (i.e. increased fresh water input as a result of
  climate change).

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Rainfall experiment (2)

• On 4 different beaches in Europe
• Increased intensity and frequency of rainfall
• How?
• Strong people will poor fresh water on the beach!
• Meiofauna community will be sampled and analysed
  during the experiment! (see further)

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Setup of the experiment (1)
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Setup of the experiment (2)
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Setup of the experiment (3)

• Meiofauna
• Grain size
• Permeability
• Chlorophyll a
• Salinity
• Temperature

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Setup of the experiment (4)
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Setup of the experiment (5)

• Meiofauna identification
• Different identifiers
• Use of NeMys Communities ? undescribed taxa
• Identification workshop
• ? Identification quality test

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Setup of the experiment (6)

• Dataset rainbase (Vliz)
• existing database (IMERS)
• Input different scientists of different
  institutes
• ? stand alone version
• Output not public consultable
• Backbone finalised on 5 March
• Still some issues to be resolved

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Problems already tackled

• Sampling methodologies (standardisation)
• Sines Workshop (February 2007)
• Practical testing and discussing of sampling and
  extraction methods
• Quality assurance
• document protocols

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Problems already tackled

• Sampling methodologies (standardisation)
• Sines Workshop (February 2007)
• Practical testing and discussing of sampling and
  extraction methods
• Quality assurance document protocols

• Communication!!!!
• Manuela-Marbef website (as backup)
• Community in NeMys
• Workshops !!!!!!!!!

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Problems already tackled

• WHAT IF list 3 pages!!

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Problems remaining
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EXPECTATIONS

• Global Warming ? quantify universal respons of
  meiofauna!
• Outreach Manuela website
• Standardisation of meiofauna methods among
  institutes

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ARINA beach
De PANNE beach
HEL beach
SINES beach