Arctic DEB node

Project: "FRamework for integrating Eco-physiological and Ecotoxicological data into ecosystem-based management tools"

January 01 2016 - Dec 31 2018

Objectives

Provide a lasting framework for integrating the latest biological and eco-toxicological information into ecosystem-based management (EBM) approaches.

Secondary objectives:

  1. Develop generalised biological and eco-toxicological models for Arctic species based on mass and energy flows through biological systems: Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory
  2. Stimulate the continuous uploading of DEB parameters for arctic species to public databases through training, networking and international cooperation
  3. Study a contemporary EBM challenge in northern Norway: (i) integrate DEB parameters for three commercial fish species into a recently developed EBM tool and (ii) perform simulations to test the hypothesis that differences in species life-histories influence the effect of an oil spill on fish recruitment

Project Summary

This project sets up a flexible, transparent, scientifically sound framework whereby the latest scientific insight from experiments on eco-physiology and -toxicology of animals can continuously be included into decision support tools for ecosystem-based management. The project increases cooperation between Norwegian institutes and 8 international organizations who already apply this framework to solve open problems in fisheries, ecological economics, conservation biology, population and ecosystem level impacts of toxicants, and mathematical analysis of marine ecosystem models. The consortium will train experimental biologists, risk assessors and environmental quality managers to use and expand, with many (Arctic) species, the free public database where scientific knowledge on relevant biological properties of animals is continuously uploaded and flexibly integrate the latest scientific knowledge while allowing any interested person to check the quality of the data and parameters (transparency).

This project moves beyond proofs of concept and applies the framework to study a contemporary EBM problem in Lofoten concerning the impact of petroleum activities on juvenile haddock and cod. Thus, this project will (i) generate new knowledge on how to simulate environmental risks associated with activities in the petroleum sector (ii) actively transmit the knowledge and (iii) strengthen international cooperation that will stimulate the scientific development of EBM for northern Norway. This project will leave a lasting legacy concerning how biology and eco-toxicology of Arctic organisms are integrated (respecting traceability and transparency) into ecosystem assessment tools.

Project Partners



"FRamework for integrating Eco-physiological and Ecotoxicological data into marine ecosystem-based management tools" is funded through the Marinforsk prgram (project 255295). The Symposium also is supported through NFR event support (268237) as well as by “ARCEx – The Research Centre for ARCtic Petroleum Exploration” funded by the Research Council of Norway (project 228107)

The FREE consortium is part of the DEBnet, network of expertise on Dynamic Energy Budget.