ioc-scor workshop on global ocean ecosystem...

29
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Workshop Report No. 75 IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland, USA 29 April-2 May 1991 UNESCO

Upload: vanhanh

Post on 14-Feb-2018

216 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Workshop Report No. 75

IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland, USA 29 April-2 May 1991

UNESCO

Page 2: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Reports The Scienlific Workshops of the lnlergovernmental Oceanographic Commission are sometimes jointly sponsored wilh olher intergovernmental or non-governmental bodies In most cases, IOC assumes responsibility for prinling. and copies may be requested from

lntergovernrnenlal Oceanographic Commission - UNESCO Place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris. France.

No.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

1 1 supd

12

I3

14

15

16

I7

17 suppl

18

19

20

nl*

CCOP-IOC. 1974. MetalkgeneW. Hydro and Tgtoor Panenu n E m Ayll

(M d UE IOOE W W on); Bangkok,

UNDP (CCOP), 138 pp ClCAR IchmvopcanHon W m , Msxm Ci, 1627 July 1974 (UNESCO Tech& P w in Manne -,No 20) F@pW d me IWGFCWUICSEM Imm workshop on Manne P-n kl UE MedflWlWWM,

Wbnd. 24-29 Seplember 1973

M e Carlo. S14 September 1974. Repon d me Workshop on me Phemmemn km as -El Niio". Goayawl. Ecuador. 4-12 Deoember 1974. IWE ImlmI W o w on Marine Gedogyand Geophysrsd mecariwean Reqm and rls Reyxlm. KiqslMl Jamaica, 17-22 Felxuay 1975. Repat d Ih, CCOPISOPACIOC IWE Inlefnatbnd Wotkshop on Geobgy, Mineral

Pds. Suva. Fji. 14 September 1975. bpxl d Ihe Scientnic W- la lnillala h N n g la a Cwpsrarm, lmeslgabon in me Ham and cemal wBslm lndlan ocean. aganuedrnmn me lrn U& me sponux- shp 01 IOCIFAO(IOFCWNES, W. Kenya 25 March-? April 1976. A%m IWFAO (IPFCpUNEP 1M-W W m on Manne Pdlutm VI E m kan Wales, Penay, 7-13 April 1976. KWCMOSCOR sermd l~~ Workshop on Manne Gexiera, Maudiiut, $13 August 1976. 10(3WMo second Workshop on Manne PdlM (Pelrohm) Wing, m, 1418 Jurm 1976. Repxi d @e IWFAONNEP Interfatmid Workshopon MarlnepolluMn m m e

d Spam. Tnnded, 13.17 Decsmbn 1976 W e d m-nhbcm d umled leaurers and aUmn b En IOXAWNEP

Rewrcesand Geophrscs d me sarth

'hlb%M and q m WIMX. Pcd

I m t b n d WDrWop on MaMe PmJIrn In me CarlMeM ard b4qacaM Repsm. Pofl d Spam. Tnndad, 13.17 December 1976 Repon d Ihe IOcAAlBE Inter&scqhnary Wohrtnpon Soenbk Rqyammbsn Sum4 d Faheries Prqedc. FMdeFrm. MaaNqw. 28 Novmtmr-2 December 1977 Reporr d me W*RIBE Workshop on ErmmnsnlarGedopydUm canbbean CoestaJ kea Pcd d Spain. Tmdad, 1618 Jmwy 1978. W A O M N N E P lnlemalmal Workshop on Mafine Pdlutm n me Gun d Goma and qdiaanc keas wan. tmy C o w 2-9 May 1978 CPPYFAOIIOUVNEP InlemaboMl Workshop on Manne Pollutwn m Um Swth.Eas( Paafc, %ago do Wuk. 610 Novembec 1978. Wonshop on me Weslern Pauk, Two. ISM Febuary 1979. Jovl loclwMowauloponc€asno graplvc Produds and me IGOSS Data Promsslng and Semes System flDPSS), Mmar. $ 1 1 April 1979 Papers submmed Io me Jan1 loCiwM0 SalMl on Oceamgraprrc P r m and IMSS Dab Pramrg and Ssmes

Syslm, L(0Uar. 26 1979. lOWVNESCO Ww(rPh0p on Syllabus la T R n q Mama Tecinnam Mlsmi, 22.26 May 197.9 (UNESCO repxls n manna IMm. No 4, poMuhed ly me Dmsm d MMm Soena. UNESCO) wx: ww(rPh0p on Hanne saencs syllabus IM seandery schoorr. uMhn( M ~ M . Wabs. U.U , 59 Jum 1978 (UNESCO repaU nmamsmnres.No5,prbbhbdbyIta M d Mem sdana, UNESCO) Sem-d CCOP-IOC Worwop on IWE Sh&s d East As@ TeC(m0 Md Resourma W n g , I-. 17.21 1978

L.ngu.gH

E (an of stock)

E (out 01 W) S(UAdElCdC

E, F. S(miolst0Ckl

E (out ol slock) s (an 01 slodr)

E(WlolsMr) S

E

E. F. S. R

E (an Of W)

E. F. S. R

E. F, S(0UldW) R E, S (and W)

E(wIolW).S

E. F. S

E, S

E. F

E (mi ol slodr)

E, F. R

E

E

Efoutol Wl, F S (mi olslodr), R

E (mi ol W), F. S. R. k

E

m.

Z1

22

23

24

25

25

n

28

29

30

31

32

32 supd

33

34

35

36

36 supor 37

3.9

39

40

40 s4v

41

nih

second IWE Sympawum on Turbulencs in Um ban, Lbp. Belgium, 7~18 May 1979. Third loOWM0 W m on Marine Pdlubon MMuwmg, k W hlh. 11.15 F W 1980. WESTPAC WwId'cq on me Manne Gedoey

Two. 27-31 March 1980. WESTPAC Workshop on btal Transport d Pdlutancn, Tdcyo. 27-31 March 1980. WorwOp on Um Inlerdibratm d samplvp Procadures 01 lOcMlM0 UNEP PJOl Prqm on MoMong Wgrwd Levels 01 Sezl6d Pdlutantr in OpewOcean Wales. Bermuda 11.26 January 1980. Kx: W o W q on coaolal Am M m

24 Seplember-5 odober 1979. CCOPISOPAC-IOC Sewrd Inlernatmd

and Geaphvws of me Nwlh-west Pdc.

menl !n me canthal Regm. Herm city.

W~onGedogy.MuleralResartOes and GeophysrS Of Ihe sarth PhK. Nournb. Mew C U l a S15 oclobef 1980. FAOilOC Worlrhop on thn Snec(s of e m m

khs, tnna. x) April.5 Hay 1980. WESTPAC WcrWq on Marine b & q d memoddoqy. Tdcyo. 914 F W 1981. I n t e m a W Workshop on MaMe Pdlubon VI the SwlhWed hbnlevldeo. 10-14 November 1980. W d Inlm~l4nal Wakshop M Marine Gemuerra. Hedelberg. 19-24 July 1982 UNWWNESCO Woh*op on Interrmbxd Co-operam in me Devebpmenl of Mams S&xa and Um Transla d T w klUm &rId me New& Reglms P m , 27Seple1llb~- 1 onaber 1982 Papers w!mmed la the UNWIOWUNESCO woh*op on InemaM *awl inme DevelopmeMd Marvle sdence Md me Trmler d Tghmbw VI me Canaxl 01 me New ocsan Repime Pars. 27 Seplember-1 ocrober 1982 WorwOpon Um IREP CMlpaWntof Um Kx: Programme on Ocean Seeoce in RelabMl la hlng Resources (OSLR) Wdar. 26-30 Seplembec 1983 Kx: Wofkstrq cm RegurwJ Coqarabon n Manrm Suena, u1 Um Cenlral Eastern Amtc Weslem Aha) T w f e 12-17 December 1983 CCOPISOPAC.IOCUNU WoWq on BavcGe+suenmmcRaseardl Required la Asserunetll d Minerds and l+maftms in Ihe w Paahc Suva 41.3.7 Ocrober 1883 IXFAO Wubskq on me Impwed uses d Research V& M, 28 May.2 June 1984 Papers submmed la Um IOC.FA0 Workshop on Irgroved Uses d Research Vessels, L~sbon. 28 May-2 June 1984 W N E S C O WMILSIKQ on Reg& C b p r a t a n in Marine Soem VI me

and Guns, cdombo, 8.13 July 1585 IOUROPMUUNEP Sympovum on Fala and Fluxes d Oil PdlulanU in Um Uuwan kim Pbn R+. Eiasrah, Iraq 812 Jaruary 1984 CCOP ISOPAC)-IOC-IFREMER~RST~ Wonshop on me Uses d Slrbmervbles and Remolely Operaled Vetuks in the Soum Pdc. Suva, F~I, 24-29 sep(emtmr 1985 KC WcfWuponIhe Tebncd&e&ol Tbunarm Analyses. Pied- ard Comrrwru cam. sdney, B.C , Canada. 2931 Jutf 1985 Kx: Wofkstrqontb TeCmcdkggtr d Twnsmi Analyses, Predlchon and CommurralMs, submmed PWr3 Shy. BC, Can;da B31 Jw 1% Fni WcrWq d P w ul meJa01 FAO/ KKIWWIAWUNEP Prqm on Mmrn-q d Pdlm in Em Marmm E m m d me Wed and Carnal Ahm Repm (WACAFI2)

mental varlalm on Ihe SumVal 01 hr*al @age

Cenlral lrdlan ocean and yacac Sea

DelW 28ocloba~ 1 Horemba 19B5

Language#

E, F. S R

E. F. S. R

E. R

E (w101 d&)

E (super. PededbylK

Serlerb 22)

E, S

Tghncd

E

E

E

E (wl of Iloc1() S

E. F. S

E. F. S

E

E

E. F. S

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

No.

43

44

44 w 45

Y

47

4a

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

5B

58 soppl

59

60

61

62

63

Tllls

IOC Workshop M ard Future Ocearograpk Programmes in Ihe Wenem Medltenanean Vena. IMy. 23.25 OaDber I585 IOC-FAO Wohshop on Recml(men1 in Tropcal C W Demersal Communiiies

Meum. 21-25 A$d 1986 IOC-FAO Wohshop on h m n l in Trqxd CoaW DemeMl Cornmum

C a m , Mexm, 21-25 Mil 1986 IOCARIBE W- on Phyvcd

Ca-m, cdomk 1922 Augusl 1986 Reundn de Tratqo para Desarrdlo M Program - C m banm en Re- a bs Reurrm No mos m la R e g h del Atlantm sudocclaenta. PMW Akgre. bul.7-11 deAMde1986 IOC SymCrmum on Marine Soem in the Western Pale. The I-&-Pdc Convergence Tcwnsvilk. 16 Dacamb 19% IOCARIBE Mini-Sympmum lor !he R e g m a

Programme on 'Ocean Soem in ReIalm la NOrrLrving Resources (OSNLR)' Havm, Cuba. 4-7 December 1986 AGU-IOC-WMOCPPS Cbpman Conlerene- An Imernatcd Sympovum on 'El NiM' Guyaquil, Ecuada, 27.31 Wtsr 1986 CCNLR-IOC ~aenblr seminar on Anlalcbc ocean Vwldlnllly and ns InflUBnDB m Manw Lrvq Resowces, pmulafly KriU (organued in rmlaborahm WIUI SCAR and SCOR) P a , F r m , 2 6 June 1987 CCOPISOPAC-IK Worlrhop on Coarlal Prooeues io me swrh Padc Idand Nalam. be, PapuaNew Guinea. 1-8 Odotmr 1987 SCOR-IK-UNESCO Sympmurn on Ve- Mton u1 he Equwd Upper Ocean and nS EH& upon Ltvq Resources and Ihe Almsghere, Paris. &IO May 1985

01 Pdlulantr. Oslo, 11-29 Augusl 1986

Resuns 01 MEOALPEX

ciudad de carmen. campeche,

submmed Pap3rs. ClUdad del carmen,

ocearography and Cllmale

hv+m of me IOC-UN (om)

IOC wofisk$ on me Bakqcd Enens

Wwuop on Sea.bvel Measuremenb in H O S W C o r d h s . Bdslon. UK. 28-31 March IYU IBCCA W o w on Data Sources and Compllalm, Boulder, Cobado. 18-19 July 19Ba IOC.FAO W- on Recnrnmenl of Penam Pram in me Ir&Wesl P a m Reqm (PREP)

E

E

Languages

E

E (WI Of SIDck), S

E

E

S

E

E. S

E

E

E

E

E

E

Ckvehnd, Australla. 24-30 Jub 1& IOC WDhshop M lnlemamnal Cooperah m lhn Sludy d Red Tdes and Ocean Blooms TakamaLsu, Japan 1617 NovemDer 1987 Inlernahnal Wawop on 1h8 TeCmcA Asp€ns 01 Um TwrMml wammg SYSlem. NavWrsk. USSR. 4 5 Aogusll989 second Inlema(mal WakShop on the Tech& Arpectr d Twmi Warning Systems, Tsumi Anaiyws. Preparedness, Observalm ard Instrupn1alan submm€d Paps Novowbrsk USSR. 4-5 Augusl 1989 IOC-UNEP Reghlnal Worksh IO Reviw Priomm la Marim Pollutron Monnorirq Research. Convd an3 Abalemenr in me Wder Caribbean. San Joe. Cosla Rm. 24~30 Augusl 1989 IOC Workstwp lo Define IOCARIBE-TRODERP Prwsais Caracas. Veoezuela. 12-16 SepleOlb 1989 second IOC WaVop on me Bioicqcd Eflms of Pdlutanls Bermuda. IO Seplerntar - 2Oclober19BB second Worllshop d Pwl~ipantr in lk Jan1 FA@IOC-WH@IMA-UNEP Prqecl on MOnMrirq of Pdlulmn in lk Marine Envirwment d Um We* an3 Cenlral A h i Fkqlon, Ma. Ghana. 13-17 June I988 WESTPAC Waulop on Cuoperauve SI* d the Conunerm %sii Circuialm in the Wedm Paafr, kqluk hiland. 31 October - 3 bmtef 1988

E

E

E

E A.S

E

E

E

E

Page 3: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Workshop Report No. 75

Solomons, Maryland, USA 29 April-2 May 1991

UNESCO

Page 4: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY REPORT

FOREWORD

1. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORKSHOP

2. THE ROLE OF THE WORKSHOP

3. THE WORKSHOP DISCUSSIONS

3.1 Example 1: THE ROLE OF ZOOPLANKTON IN CONTROL OF ALGAL BIOMASS

3.2 Example 2: THE ROLE OF ZOOPLANKTON IN FISH STOCK VARIABILITY

33 Example 3: THE ROLE OF ZOOPLANKTON IN CO, DRAWDOWN

4. THE WAY FORWARD

5. WHY AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM?

6. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 6.1 SAMPLING TECHNOLOGY 6.2 MODELLING AND THEORY

7. THE NEXT STEP - WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS

ANNEXES

I. TERMS OF REFERENCE OF WORKING GROUPS

11. A REVIEW OF CURRENT STATUS OF OCEAN-RELATED GLOBAL CHANGE PROGRAMS

111. THE ICES COD AND CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAMME

IV. NATIONAL PROGRAMMES

1

2

2

2

3

3

4

6

7

8 8 10

11

V. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Page 5: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75

FOREWORD

Concerns for global climate change emphasize the need to understand how changes in the global environment will affect the abundance, diversity, and production of animal populations comprising ocean ecosystems. The only existing marine-biologically oriented international global-change program is the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS). JGOFS, an International Geosphere/Biosphere Programme (IGBP) program is primarily concerned with average changes in the flux of biogenic elements (particularly carbon) and the role of ocean primary production in the exchange of carbon dioxide between the ocean and atmosphere especially in the context of global warming. In particular JGOFS addresses the role of ocean physics in determining the magnitude of new production. No component of the IGBP Study of' Global Change is focused upon the mechanisms by which climate change will impact the dynamics of niarine animal populations, some of which are important food resources.

Among marine animal populations, zooplankton play a pivotal role in shaping ecosystem structure and the cycling of biogenic elements. Zooplankton grazing determines the size, species composition and fate of phytoplankton stocks and the nature of dissolved and particulate detritus that fuel microbial regeneration. Zocplankton secondary production represents the only route along which the products of phytoplankton photosynthesis flow to the animals that constitute the marine living resources.

Surprisingly, very little about production cycles of marine zooplankton populations is known (particularly in comparison with phytoplankton production cycles). Where algal growth rates exceed grazing rates, blooms develop and where the reverse situation applies, phytoplankton stocks remain small in spite of ample nutrient resources. O n an evolutionary time-scale, the advent of physical conditions favorable to algal growth has not resulted in a commensurate response by herbivores. Thus, organic material in excess of the demands of marine zooplankton are occasionally produced by phytoplankton. This phenomenon has great bearing on the uptake of CO, in surface layers, and its eventual removal via vertical particle flux. Zooplankton life cycles appear to be geared to specific hydrographic patterns at space and time scales that differ from those of phytoplankton. The connections between the phytoplankton and zooplankton stocks are widely postulated. Yet from long term fishery catch statistics and other records, we know that decadal changes of orders of magnitude have occurred in the major fish stocks of the ocean which cannot be explained merely by fishing pressure. It has been hypothesized that large year classes are uncommon events driven by a combination of favorable interactions of ocean physics and chemistry on the early life history of species, which occasionally magnify the normal, very low survival rates that occur during the recruitment process and vastly increase adult biomass. Exploring these patterns is a major challenge for marine ecology that has acquired a sense of urgency in connection with global change.

The Workshop participants took the above observations as a starting point for their deliberations, conclusions and recommendations, which follow.

Page 6: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 page 2

1. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORKSHOP

At the 23rd Session of the IOC Executive Council at UNESCO (Paris, March 1990), the President of SCOR, Professor Jarl-Ove Stromberg, taking account of a proposal from the Guiding Group of Experts of OSLR, stressed the importance of ecosystem dynamics, and invited the IOC to co-sponsor with SCOK a Workshop on Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics. IOC accepted the invitation and the meeting was organized by the Executive Director of SCOR, Elizabeth Tjdmarsh, and Senior Assistant Secretary of IOC, Thomas Osborn. Professor Stromberg provided overall guidance and the meeting was chaired by Professor Brian Rothschild, who also acted as host to meeting held in Solomons MD, USA 29 April to 2 May 1991.

The need for the workshop became evident because several countries were in the process of establishing major scientific research programs focused on ecosystems dynamics e.g., BICED (Brazil), ECOMONOC (USSR), GLOBEC (USA), OPEN (Canada). In addition, the IOC determined that its programs on recruitment (SARP and PREP) and Harmful Algal Blooms would benefit from a more complete framework for their studies.

2. THE ROLE OF THE WORKSHOP

The role for the IOC-SCOR workshop was to consider the scientific status of ocean ecosystem dynamics research, and determine whether there is a need for international coordination. The central scientific question for biological and fisheries oceanographers and living resource managers over the coming years concerns climate and its interaction with the physics and chemistry of the oceans to affect and control variability of ocean ecosystems and their component animal populations.

Will a global warming trend over the next few decades and its consequent modification of ocean circulation result in non-reversible ecological changes? Will overall ocean animal biomass and secondary production be adversely impacted? Will major resource species be replaced by others unsuitable for harvesting? Will the structure of marine ecosystems be radically altered, or some, such as coral reefs, be eliminated? What effects would such changes in ocean ecology have, in turn, on the biogeochemical cycles to influence climate, through, for instance, the modification of the CO, cycle in the oceans?

3. THE WORKSHOP DISCUSSIONS

The central theme which emerged from the workshop discussions is that zooplankton population dynamics is the unique nexus through which phytoplankton production, fish stock, and climatic variation are related. This theme is of paradigmatic importance, since it underpins our view of the dynamics of the entire marine ecosystem and forms the basis of the proposition that zooplankton population dynamics and ocean physics are directly coupled to control not only the magnitude of secondary production and variability of marine living resources, hut also the magnitude and fate of primary production.

Page 7: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Page 3

The tendency toward "top down" rather than "bottom up" ecosystem structure is much better accepted in terrestrial ecosystems. Biogeochemists have emphasized primary production and re-cycling as the dominant biological processes in the ocean. In this view, zooplankton population dynamics are merely a result of primary production variability controlled by ocean physics and chemistry. In fact, the reverse is probably more often true that phytoplankton production is controlled by zooplankton population dynamics (through grazing). This is not to say that photosynthesis is not the necessary process at the base of the food chain, but that its magnitude is controlled by, rather than controlling secondary production.

Thus, the conclusion of the workshop was that the role of zooplankton is far more important than generally assumed. Although a lack of sophisticated knowledge of zooplankton population dynamics prevents us from understanding the total contributions that they make to the overall variability of the ecosystem and biogeochemical dynamics, examples offered by workshop participants (see below) support the expectation that their contribution is fmdamental and global.

3.1 EXAMPLE 1: THE ROLE OF ZOOPLANKTON IN CONTROL OF ALGAL BIOMASS

In extensive areas of the world ocean, algal biomass is low and macronutrients (as opposed to "trace" nutrients) are high. The only high latitude ocean (> 40" Latitude) experiencing seasonal nutrient exhaustion following a prominent spring bloom is the North Atlantic. A particularly striking example of the role of grazers (in this case, krill) is in the seasonally ice covered waters of the Antarctic. Recent studies have shown that krill overwinter under the ice cover and in spring they enter the meltwater zones where the algae grow and control production. Thus, heavy grazing by the large overwintering krill stock effectively suppresses build up of an excessive algal biomass. The Antarctic meltwater zones display markedly lower algal biomass in spring that those in the Arctic where the zooplankton grazing impact is not mobiIized so quickly. In this example the effectiveness of grazing control is an evolved response to the physical environment. Macronutrients remain high in the Southern Ocean.

Pelagic ocean ecosystems are dominated by copepods which have evolved overwintering strategies to provide an early grazing impact in the following spring. In this way the physical environment determines the transfer of biomass from algae to the zooplankton. This depletes the nutrients and increases the chance of nutrient limitation of the algal division rate.

3.2 EXAMPLE 2: THE ROLE OF ZOOPLANKTON IN FISH STOCK VARIABILITY

Since the early seventies, much attention in biological oceanography has focussed on the microbial loop and the picoplankton, with a consequent loss of interest in the "traditional" food chain. Cushing recently proposed that there may be two main ecosystems in the sea - one normally associated with weakly stratified waters and the other where they are strongly stratified. These result in two forms of production cycle (a) spring outburst of temperate seas and upwelling areas of subtropical and tropical seas

Page 8: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Page 4

and (b) the summer production of temperate seas and in the oligotrophic ocean. The fisheries are found in the first form. In the microbial loop, where the thermocline is fully established, there are three levels of grazers, all of which feed on particlcs less than 5 b m in diarncter. Most of the enerky is x e d where it is formed in the upper water column and ends up as ammonia. The "traditional" food chain of diatoms, copepods and fish is associated with weakly stratified water columns. In terms of production the microbial loop out-produces by far the "traditional" food chain. The material produced within the former, however, is microscopic or dissolved.

W e know that detailed knowledge of adult fish stocks is, in general, a poor predictor of future adult biomass. A fish population, like all other populations, is sustained by the number of young which grow into the adult population (in fisheries terminology - the recruits). The dynamics of recruitment may well be fixed at a very early age when the young fish are simply one more vulnerable component of the vast array of zooplankton species attempting to eat and not be eaten. Although recruitment may be modified to some degree by the initial fecundity, the physical and biological variability of the ecosystem is strongly transmitted through larval growth and survival. Because the rates of growth and mortality are highest during larval life, the variability of recruitment may well be established then.

This places a somewhat different emphasis on the central question involving grazing versus nutrient limitations. The fact that this question is not understood may very well be the reason for our inability to link fish-stock production and primary production.

Thus the Workshop participants focussed on the "traditional" food chain and theoverarching role of copepods in transferring primary production into the macroscopic animal populations that compose the ecosystems and living resources of the ocean. In order to understand the natural fluctuations in ecosystems and to predict the potential for variability with changing climate, it is recognized that we must first understand the processes that control material and energy flow through the "traditional" food chain.

3.3 EXAMPLE 3: THE ROLE OF ZOOPLANKTON IN CO, DRAWDOWN

While our relative ignorance of zooplankton-phytoplankton dynamics lends point to the proposal for an international research initiative, it is global change which gives it immediacy. Governments and other organizations with a vital interest in the management and optimization of the oceans' living resources face the requirement to predict the future course of events and develop responses to them. In order to do this their scientists must develop the understanding to distinguish between natural and human-induced variability. The latter cannot be predicted without the ability to predict the former. As ecosystems change, they will, in turn, impact the rest of the biogeochemical and climate system. Quantification of the nature of such changes will be sought from ecologists by scientists interested in these feed-back phenomena. The ocean CO, system, and hence the atmospheric CO, system and global warming, for instance, will be affected by changes in secondary production.

Page 9: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Xeport No. 75 Page 5

In the Greenland Sea, CO, drawdown reaches a global maximum in the seasonal ice-migration zone from Cape Farewell to Spitsbergen, largely as a result of phytoplankton-zooplankton interactions in the special circumstances which arise from the almost instantaneous onset of "biological spring" as the ice cover rolls back. The factors which promote such a radical CO, drawdown are all peculiar to the marginal ice zone and, although model simulations vary on the amount of global warming to expect, they seem agreed that surface temperature increases at more northerly latitudes will be up to several times larger than global average. Thus, the planktonic interactions which promote one of the most important ('0, sinks in the hemisphere are also among the most vulnerable to global warming, and could even result irl the loss of this narrow marginal ice zone. It remains to be demonstrated by measurement what this change will mean to the global ocean sink of CO,, but it already appears evident that it will act via a change in the effectiveness of grazing.

The Workshop concluded that these examples were typical of the scientific problems to be faced during the next decade. To move ahead it will be necessary to develop the theory, modeling, and sampling techniques that permit a more comprehensive view of ocean ecosystems in the context of the interaction between population dynamics and ocean physics.

4. THE WAY FORWARD

Currently planned and implemented Ocean Global Change programs (see Annex IX) are oriented towards understanding the effects of large-scale ocean physics and carbon flux on climate modification. What is missing is an understanding of the role of short-term variability in the system. For instance, it was recently shown in the JGOFS North Atlantic Bloom Sxperiment that about two-thirds of the total annual primary production at a single station occurred within two weeks. It has Seen hypothesized that the timing of such sharp production events are closely correlated to success or failure of year classes of larvae of major €ish stocks, and in turn their extreme adult biomass fluctualions on decadal time scales. W e need to know much more about the natural causes af biological variability in the ocean in order to understand the overlying long-term changes being caused by human-induced global climate changes.

What is also missing is an understanding of the contribution of the population dynamics of the zooplankton to overall system variability. W e know, for instance, chat virtua:ly every major predator, including those constituting the living resources of the oceans, depend on copepods and ather zoop!ankton lor their food at some stage (if not all) of their life cycle. Every copepod species has a compiex iife cycle and grows through several orders of magnitude in biomass during Its Xfetime, which may take days to years. To date, we have no well-accepted methodologies for estimating [he production af copepods in the Geld, nor even che ability LO routinely estimate population biomass in anything near real Lime.

The way forward requires a complex of activities. First we need to better understand how population variability is propagated and suppressed. This cannot be approached without an mcierstanding of the dynamics of the various populations that comprise the ecosystem. In turn Lhese cannot be understood withoiit 3 knowledge :)E the ?hysicai driving variables. By developing 3n

Page 10: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Page 6

understanding of the dynamics of the animal populations, particularly the critical connecting links through the zooplankton, we will be better able to predict, for instance, large year classes of fishes, the fate of coral reef ecosystems, changes in metabolic pathways resulting from anthropogeilic inputs, and bidogical influence and/or feedbacks to climate.

The Workshop participants defined the Goal of an International Program on Global Ocean Ecosystems. This is:

To understand the effects of physical processes on predator-prey interactions and population dynamics of zooplankton, and their relation to ocean ecosystems in the context of the global climate system and anthropogenic change.

An international program for global ocean ecosys tems research (GLOBEC) will:

improve understanding of the relationship between primary production and variability of fish stocks and other living resources, as controlled through the mediation of the zooplankton;

quantify the influence of zooplankton on biogeochemical cycles, through grazing control of the phytoplankton;

lead to advanced utilization of acoustic, optical, and image-identification in sampling technology to measure the time-space distribution of plankton on biologically critical scales; lead ultimately to a capability to model and predict ocean ecosystem dynamics on regional and global scales.

It was also agreed that there are two fronts upon which it is vital to advance in order to develop a large-scale international program to understand the effects of physical processes on predator-prey interactions and population dynamics of zooplankton, and their relation to the global climate system and anthropogenic change. These are in (1) sampling technology and long time series and (2) theoretical approaches and modelling. Advances on these fronts will form the necessary foundations and long-term context for new large-scale field oriented process studies designed to understand the great ocean ecosystems of the world.

5. WHY AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM?

The participants in the workshop recognized that a proposal for a new international effort in oceanography must be seen in the context of existing global change research programs already under way and which are straining the resources available to the oceanographic community. Any new initiative must, therefore, respond to a widely accepted scientific need and must complement, rather than compete, with

Page 11: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Page 7

existing activities. The participants believe that the time is right for such an initiative. The Tnternational Program for GLOBEC will represent a timely and well-founded response to this need.

It is timely to address questions of the physical-biological interactions in marine ecosystems. Programs already under way, such as TOGA, WOCE and JGOFS, are addressing the physical and biogeochemical responses of the ocean to global climatic change. JGOFS, which focuses on the oceanic carbon cycle and primary productivity, requires improved understanding of the coupling between phyto- plankton and zooplankton, population dynamics and biological variability. A global ocean ecosystems dynamics program will provide just such a complementary effort.

The results of GLOBEC will be of interest to a large number of countries, particularly those with a heavy dependence on living marine resources. Improved predictive capabilities resulting from GLOBEC will assist in the provision of scientifically sound basis for policy and management decisions. The scientific goals of GLOBEC outlined above demand an internationally coordinated effort for the following reasons:

An international program will provide a commonly accepted intellectual framework for dealing with issues of global concern. This framework will permit a common base upon which to build and extend national programs. Additionally, it should provide impetus to create new national efforts where none presently exist. Implicit in the formation of an international program is the understanding that the problem under study is either too large or too complex for any one national effort. Cooperation and integration of many disparate groups ensures greater geographical coverage, more resources (both human and material) and greater potential for the successful development of technological innovation required to successfully achieve the stated goals. It also provides a means of developing agreement on necessary constants such as a set of universal measurements, associated protocols and policies on data submission and sharing.

Given the diversity of physical and biological environments, the comparative analysis of varied ecosystems is an integral component of a global program. Individual national studies, within an international framework can provide both parallel and serial efforts, hopefully leading to greater clarity in the search for general principles.

6. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

6.1 SAMPLING TECHNOLOGY

Science progresses through the unending cycle of observation and theoretical development. A major impediment to maintaining the cyclic progression towards more refined, informative, and predictive theory is the fact that present observational or sampling devices generally depend upon 19th century technology (towed nets and microscopic identification). This is extremely labor intensive and

Page 12: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 page 8

consequently few long time series exist. Data sets such as the Continuous Plankton Recorder, Station P, and CALCOFT are notable exceptions. For phytoplankton biomass the situation is currently much further advanced, where modern satellite ard in-situ optical techniques offer potentially continuous sampling and real-time analysis.

Improvements and new developments in zooplankton sampling systems are only slowly emerging, but promise to provide new data on population levels and their distributions. For example, a multi-frequency acoustic profiler system (MAPS) in conjunction with net samples for ground truth, produced a transect across the Irish Sea that relates the backscattered acoustic signal to the relative concentrations of different zooplankton. The advantage of such a system is the potential for real-time analysis. Such measurements give a deeper appreciation of the spatial variability and a better measure of the spatia: coherence between species.

There are optical systems capable of identlfying fish larvae, zooplankton, and even surne phytoplankton. These developments enable studies of patchiness and the coincidence of predator and prey with detailed knowledge of the relative concentrations as a function of time. In addition, information on feeding and predation rates is crucial to modelling population growth and mortality. Recent advances in biochemical and molecular biology show great promise for transfer to biological oceanography. For example, the RNA/DNA ratio indicates the nutritional condition of fish larvae. Technique? have been developed to assess food sources from chemical tracers in stornach contents. Automatior, ai these techniques to speed processing and reduce the labor involved is necessary.

In order to make progress in developing new technology the Workshop participants agreed that specificztions needed tc be drawn up. The first criterion regards size range. After much discussion it was agreed that a: a first approximation, the size range of 5 pm to 5 c m should be set as a goal. The rationa!e was that the lowen end of the range encompassed most of the autotrophic and heterotrophic biomass which would be at the base of the "traditional" food chain (see above) and not that of the re-cycling microbia! food chain. The upper end of the range encompassed all but the largest adults of whai are usually defined as the zooplankton or micronekton. Within this size range most grazing and most acts of predation would occur.

It was recognized that nc single technological device was likely to be capable of dealing with the entire range but that possibly a combination of acoustic and optical technologies might provide the solutioc. The appropriate mix of technologies would of course be defined by the problem at hand. A draft report of the Technology Working Groq of U.S. GLOEEC was broughl to the attention of the particjpants and its conclusions studied. In deve!oFing new technological approaches to sampling, it i:: importar,[ to keep in mind not only the short-term. fice scale measurernects needed for process-oriented field experiments, but also the requirements foi iarge-scale long time series or monitoring programs.

Page 13: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Page 9

Historically a portion of this information has been provided by the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) over a portion of the North Atlantic. For a program on predator/prey interaction, centered on zooplankton, the CPR Program can provide relevant information:

(i) pan-oceanic coverage,

(ii) (iii) (iv) robust technology.

temporal (1 month) and spatial (10 mile) resolution, historic context (30 to 60 years), and

The CPR, however, falls short of meeting some needs of a modern program envisaged by the workshop prticipants in that it:

does not sample the smallest size fraction (5 micron nauplii, 20 micron dinoflagellates) that are central, does not sample the larger size fraction associated with predators such as ctenophores, salps, etc., samples at a fixed depth of 10 m and the relevance of changes at that depth to the total euphotic layer is unknown, is time consuming in analytical effort, and

(i)

(ii)

(E)

(iv) (v) lacks concomitant environmental data.

Preservation of the continuity and integrity of the present data set, as well as the development of substantially increased capabilities are crucial. A new and expanded program must be developed and calibrated in conjunction with the present survey in order to respond to societal needs.

Some of these developments are already possible. Some are not. Of the "possible" one significant improvement readily available:

i> a wider geographic coverage by the existing system. A more global coverage by large regional monitoring efforts is possible now.

Other possible improvements are:

ii) Undulating oceanographic recorders are now relatively available with a suite of useful sensors in place - optics, bioluminescence, nitrate (under development), and other environmental parameters relevant to stratification (T,S, etc.), and Some proxy measure for dinoflagellates are already available (e.g. bioluminescence) and the CPR already quantitatively captures the larger dinoflagellates whose response to environmental change may be representative of smaller forms.

iii)

However, new technological developments are undoubtedly necessary. It is possible to see "Autosub" and other developments becoming the CPR Program of the future.

Page 14: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 page 10

The workshop endorsed the belief that present transition period for the CPR program fide& to be supported while a new system with enhanced capabilities is developed to provide a global ocean observing system for plankton fc,r thc next fifty years. Ultimately, it should Se secured within existing intergovernmental frameworks for administering large marine programs.

6.2 MODELLING AND THEORY

The question of problem identification is intimately related to theoretical development. The theory will need to be focussed upon the propagation of population variability. A first step in understanding population variability involves understanding the interrelationship between the dynamics of the populations that comprise the ecosystem and the physical forcing factors.

To move ahead it is important to place in perspective the kinds of models or explanations that have structured our information base. In this regard, a distinction was made between kinematic and first-principle models. Kinematic models are oriented toward accounting for observations of the natural world, while first-principle models use first principles to "predict" real-world system dynamics. Many of the models used in biological oceanography are based upon kinematics rather than on first principles and dynamics.

It is not easy to develop system dynamics models particularly of highly agsegated components and those with complex life history stages. Nevertheless it is doubtful that models that do not take explicit account of physics interacting with detailed population dynamics can result in major advances in understanding variability. For example, it was shown that there is critical variability in copepods whose life history stages consist of six naupliar five copepodite, and an adult stage, each involved with a different mix of predator and prey. Variability and understanding is masked by treating all members of the population(s) as a single variable.

In addition, the variability in copepod populations is intimately bound with their feeding behaviors and the interactions of physics on the fine scale. Most copepods feed on algal cells which detect and select in the immediate few millimeters of water that surrounds them. They are armed with chemo- and mechano-receptors in order to detect the range and direction of the cells. These cells are picked out of the water with a complex behavioral mechanism. The processes of detection and capture depend entirely upon the local physics. The physics of grazing is a difficult but essential problem that requires much more sophisticated investigation.

Page 15: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 page 11

7. THE NEXT STEP - WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS The Workshop participants agreed to the following recommendations.

This Workshop recommends: A. to its sponsoring organizations that they agree to jointly organize an international Global Change

Program on Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics Research and Monitoring (GLOBEC) which will provide a coordinating framework in which an international science plan can be developed, which takes into consideration ongoing national planning activities. The science plan should form the basis for the implementation of a global-scale research and monitoring program to accomplish the objectives enumerated below;

B. that SCOR and IOC should invite other interested international agencies to participate, particularly those regional bodies (e.g. ICES, PICES) with known programs or interests in the ocean ecosystems dynamics and global change;

C. that SCOR should propose to its parent body (ICSU) that a programme in Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics become established as a Core Project of the International Geosphere/Biosphere Programme to complete its suite of Global Change studies;

D. that IOC should adopt this joint program as its proposed new initiative Ecosystems Dynamics and Living Resources component of Ocean Sciences and Living Resources (OSLR);

E. that, in the meantime, until SCOR and IOC governing bodies can convene to discuss these proposals, the workshop participants should continue their activities on behalf of SCOR and IOC over the next year, under the continuing chairmanship of Professor Rothschild, as an interim ad hoc international planning committee;

F. that this ad hoc international planning committee should consider a series of potential activities in connection with a global ecosystems dynamics program and report on an order of priorities to SCOR and IOC. The potential list of activities are:

develop the strategy to focus on zooplankton population dynamics in a trophodynamic and physical setting; develop models that integrate fundamen tal biological and physical processes; facilitate the proper specification of physical models from the GCM scale to the regional scale, so that the models can be linked; develop an overall strategy for defining research projects, selecting study sites, trophic levels, species, etc; identify "core" elements of the international program, to be included in each regional study; consider a strategy for long-term monitoring of appropriate scales to observe global change and test predictions from regional models; evaluate technology needs;

Page 16: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 page 12

(viii) (ix)

consider the generic problems of sampling and experimental dcsign; facilitate communication and review progress;

G. in order to accomplish these aims the ad hoc international planning committee should convene as required (incorporating additional members from other countries not represented as they can be identified), and also form working groups in the areas of (a)theory and modelling, and (b)technology and long term monitoring. Some of the initial terms of reference for these working groups appear as Annex I.

Page 17: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex I

ANNEX I

TERMS OF REFERENCE CF WORKING GROUPS

1. TECHNOLOGY AND LONG-TERM MONITORING

The Working Group on Technology and Long-term Monitoring should take as its initial Terms of Reference the following.

Progress in understanding predator-prey interactions requires new capabilities to sample and observe organisms in relation to their environment. Sampling/observing systems must be designed C O meet needs of specific programs or projects, at both national and international levels.

Sampling/observing systems need to:

Count organisms agd determine their size frequencies; Determine rates of growth, mortality and reproduction; Observe organisms (optically, acoustically), their interactions and relationships in the context of their environment; Sample and capture organisms; Discriminate taxonomic groups, possibly using their biochemical characteristics; and Determine age and physiological condition of organisms.

Systems will be required to deal with individual organisms and with populations of organisms over a wide size range (5 microns to 5 cm). Many observations will be made over long times (weeks) and space scales (kilometers). Some measurements must be made with high resolution in time and space. Sampling/observing Systems will require: - - - - - International intercomparisons

New sensor development (or improvement) Integration of new and existing sensors Integration of sampling/observing systems with data/information-handling systems An international structure to develop acoustical and optical instrumentation

The Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) should be updated. Tt has been ''saved" for three years, hut a new internationat funding mechanisrr. must be developed and work must begin on a modern replacement and augmentation of the system.

Page 18: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex I - page 2 2. THEORY AND MODELLING

The Working Group on Theory and Modelling should take as its initial terms of reference the following:

Models, especially those that focus on zooplankton as the vital transmission link should be developed. A physical model should be linked to the photosynthesis algorithms further to a physics-zooplankton model to describe the algal mortality due to grazing. This combination would be followed by a higher predator model to describe the changes in the populations of phytoplankton and zooplankton properly. Modelling, data assimilation and data interpretation will require significant effort. Both ecosystem models (energy, carbon, nitrogen,etc) but also the more novel approach to a grazing model using behavior etc sa well as the population dynamics secondary ion. Ajoint workshop on modelling and instrumentation could focus on the problems of making models appropriate for the measurements and vice-versa. Many developing countries are interested in local ecosystem modelling to increase technical capabilities, assist fisheries management, and to guide aquaculture. From an IOC perspective these are important aspects. Call for international support in developing, testing, and using ecosystem models for local fisheries management. Develop physical models at scales relevant to zooplankton dynamics. These will range from basin to microscale. The development of these models will entail examination of existing models to determine how they might be useful and a systematic determination of those areas that might be most fruitful for future work. Develop zooplankton population dynamics model(s) for use by the scientific community." This would involve reconciliation of existing models and identify needs for the future. Such models could be developed in their own right while serving as a basis for conducting research by non-specialists in population dynamics. Develop models of zooplankton population dynamics and their interactions with their food and predators, as influenced by physical oceanographic processes. To do this the group should report within one year on appropriate models and techniques that may be used; In the report, propose a plan of action to develop models over a realistic period, and select case studies to validate models; Cooperatively develop the models at over the range of physical and biological scales, from the micro-scale physics of grazing to the meso-scale; and Suggest experiments and field studies to validate models - Consider data/needs and technology needed for the validation.

Page 19: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex II

ANNEX I1

A KEVJEW OF CURRENT STATUS OF OCEAN-RELATED GLOBAL CHANGE PROGRAMS

The science communities representing the disciplines of atmospheric and ocean climate and circulation, and ocean biogeochemistry have been planning, and in some cases embarking on field observational programs on the global physical and chemical interconnections which drive ecosystem and population change. Much of the information biological oceanographers and resource managers will need will be generated over the next 10 or more years, and a substantial part of the basis of the necessary models will also be in place. Equally importantly, the computing resources needed to integrate biological parameters into models of circulation and biogeochemistry will become readily available through technology advances.

Other disciplines have not been slow to recognize the enormity of the research challenges facing them. One of the first planning efforts, born out of the very strong El Nino of 1982-83, was the TOGA (Tropical Ocean - Global Atmosphere) Program. This program, an international effort to identify the role of the coupling of tropical ocean and atmospheric dynamics on the interannual variability of global climate and weather, is already half-way through its ten-year implementation phase. Scientists expect that, by the year 2,000, it will be possible to predict the occurrence and strength of El Nino phenomena accurately enough to provide forecasts of the ensuing regional ocean physical dynamics, and in turn the distribution and biomass of populations as far north as Alaska in the Pacific and on the coral reefs in the Atlantic.

WOCE, the World Ocean Circulation Experiment, in planning €or a decade has, as its goal, to obtain a "snapshot" of the world ocean circulation now, which would provide a baseline with which to compare future changes. In doing so, the massive amounts of oceanographic and satellite-based data will be used to greatly improve the precision of regional and general circulation models.

The prospect of the ocean being called upon to receive greatly increased loads of CO, - and other gases prompted the initiation of the JGOFS (Joint Global Ocean Flux Studies) Program. The mechanisms and rates of movement of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the ocean, its long-term deposition in the ocean sediments or return to the atmosphere are largely unknown, yet vital to computations of potential global warming. These processes are intimately bound with the activities of the ocean biota. Because the JGOFS program is primarily interested in mass balances and fluxes of biogenic gases, it has chosen to focus on the variability and control of primary productivity - the input term -for atmospheric CO, and the vertical transport and transformation of subsequently produced biological particulate detrital material.

Page 20: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex I1 - page 2

Within the IGBP framework for A Study of Global Change - Initial Core Projects (IGBP Report no. 12; 1990) two other potentially relevant programs are described. Under the heading Ocean Biogeochemical Processes is GOEZS -Global Ocean Euphotic Zone Study - as a potential Core Project. It is being designed as a "next generation'' project to follow and built upon WOCE and JGOFS jointly, and to focus on physical mixing processes in relation to upper ocean primary productivity. The second program is LOICZ - Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone - and is designated a proposed Core Project. Although specifically concerned with land/sea interactions within the coastal zone, is more specifically related to ecosystems dynamics and the potential for alterations through climate change and the effect on human populations.

Taken as a whole, the resources which are being set aside for these programs by governments are an indication of the immense amount of research of potential relevance to ocean ecosystems dynamics which will be forthcoming. In the U.S. alone the projected outlays amount to over $50M in FY 1991, rising to over double that within five years. International governmental and non-governmental organizations like the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Geosphere/Biosphere Program (IGBP) of the International Council of Scientific Unions (TCSU), and its scientific committees such as that for ocean sciences (SCO R), have helped to forge successful planning and implementation activities for these programs. To date, there does not exist any comparable international organization for research on the impact of global change on ocean ecosystems.

It is time to organize a concerted international program to make use of the massive influx of data and models on how the ocean works which will be forthcoming from programs like WOCE, TOGA and JGOFS. W e must apply it to understanding how ocean ecosystems work, and how they will change.

Page 21: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex 111

ANNEX IT1

THE ICES COD ANI) CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAM

The initiative to an international study on how climate variability and climate change influence the Atlantic Cod stocks was taken during the ICES statutory meeting in the Hague in October, 1989. The result was that ICES Study Group on Cod Stocks Fluctuations was established. A part of this group met in Bergen in January 1990 and outlined the problem. The Study Group presented their report "Cod and Climate Change - A Framework to the Study of Global Ecosystem Dynamics" at the ICES Statutory Meeting in Copenhagen in October 1990. The Study Group outlined that the problem should be met by organizing a hierarchy of models where large scale circulation models, describing the large scale climate, give the boundary conditions €or regional physical models, and biological and physical process models are linked to regional physical models. The Study Group was asked to proceed in 1991 to work out an implementation plan for the Cod and Climate Change Program.

The goal of the Program is to investigate how climate fluctuations and climate change influence reproduction, growth and mortality of cod directly and through its predators and prey. In particular, during the planktonic stages of cod, when the year class of strength is determined, the interaction with zooplankton (and in particular the copepods) is impnitant. Copepods comprise the main prey organismr for larvae and early juveniles. Little is known about the predators of the early stages of cod, but it is strong reasons to believe that the main predators on cod larvae is also found among zooplankton species. In spite of that, the biology of cod is more investigated than any other fish species. The processes that determined the year class strength is not substantially more understood than for other species. Therefore, the future focus of recruitment studies should be moved in the direction of zooplankton population dynamics.

W e have evidence of that climate parameters have a substantial influence on recruitment within major cod stocks. The climate parameters partly influence recruitment directly, as for example through temperature dependent growth rate of larvae. However, probably at least equally important is how climate influences production and advection of zooplankton.

Page 22: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex IV

ANNEX IV

NATIONAL PROGRAMS

1. BRAZIL ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS INITIATIVE IN BRAZIL (BICED) . In order to understand the

structure and dynamics of tropical coastal ecosystem, an integrated oceanographic investigation was started in 1085 by the University of Sac) Paulo at a coastal region near Ubastuba (24"s). During last four years, intensive sampling has been carried out in this region by groups of researchers from different specialties. One of the objectives was to investigate an interaction among physical, chemical and biological components and to study energy flow in the coastal ecosystem. Many new findings on dynamics of ecosystem have been obtained. The project will be concluded at the end of 1990.

2. CANADA OCEAN PRODUCTION ENHANCEMENT NETWORK (OPEN) is a network of university,

industry and government scientists whose objective is to provide the information base necessary to enhance the competitive position of Canada's fishery industries. OPEN will bring together the country's best fisheries biologists and oceanographers in a unique integrated research program. The initial focus of the program will be on two species which are of great commercial value: the sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Using these species as models, scientists will investigate the processes which control the survival, growth and reproduction and distribution of fish and shellfish. OPEN is organized around the concept of fisheries as ecological production systems. The research program will bring together biological and physical oceanographers as well as physiologists and geneticists in a uniquely integrated program that will focus on the interactions between organisms and their physical environment. The program consists of thirty eight projects which are linked to six major research themes.

3. CHILE In Chile, the National Committee of IGBP organized a workshop (January 1990) to assess the

potential impact of climate change on terrestrial and marine ecosystems. With emphasis on the prediction of changes in the distribution and availability of agricultural and hydrological resources. A second workshop convened by E.Frientes and H.Mooney (December 1990), sponsored by the AAAS, the US. NAS and the Chilean Academy of Sciences, in conjunction with the National Committee of IGBP, concentrated in the comparative analysis of terrestrial and marine ecosystems between North and South America, with the purpose of identifying processes that by being particularly sensitive to global change, could benefit of bi-hemispheric joint studies. As a result of these activities, a project got started with the purpose of starting a small network of stations in charge of generating coastal time-series of temperature and chlorophyll along the west coast of South America, in order to perform an integrated analysis with the 19 coastal stations monitored by Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California.

Page 23: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

TOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex IV - page 2 4. FRANCE

Aside from France-JGOFS program under which some process studies are designed to study flux of matter in the sea, other programs ARE area and species oriented. The objective of the PNDR program is to understand the biological and physical mechanisms controlling the fluctuations in abundance of stocks and the population dynamics of some target species. Target species are either exploited by man (Flat fish, scallops, cockle) or not (polychete worms, sea urchin, copepods). Whole life cycles are taken into consideration in the hydrodynamical environment of specific areas. A second program is considering blooms of harmful phytoplankton species. The principal species studied are dinoflagellates. Spatial distributions, physiology, cultivation techniques, toxin development are the main objectives. This program involves about 10 laboratories (IFREMER and universities). It is funded by different governmental agencies and TFREMER.

5. GERMANY Most of the ongoing ecological wearch programs are being conducted within the JGOFS

framework and are focused on biological processes governing vertical flux. The study sites are the central N. Atlantic, the Arctic (including Greenland, Norwegian and Barents areas) and the Weddell Sea in the Southern Ocean. In all these studies, much effort is concentrated on the role of zooplankton (protozoa and metazoa) in vertical flux. These biological programs are closely linked with studies conducted by other disciplines, in particular paleoclimatology (sedimentary geology) and oceanography. WOCE and JGOFS studies in the Weddell Sea are being carried out in close collaboration. In addition, international programs studying biological processes at the ice edge (EPOS = European "Polarization" Study) have been particularly successful in the Weddell Sea and are being continued in the Arctic. Monitoring and process oriented studies are also conducted in coastal waters of the North and Baltic Seas aimed at ascertaining the impact of eutrophication in these waters. The investigation of recruitment of commercial fish stock is being conducted on sprat in the North Sea and such studies have been conducted in collaboration with South American countries along the easter shelf of South America.

6. JAPAN Fisheries oceanographers in Japan have long been interested in the long-term variations 3f fish

stocks and fishing conditions. Hence, eggs and larvae surveys of main Felagic fishes have been monitored for more than 40 years. However, as ecodynamics of the recruitment have not been well investigated, the Fisheries Agency determined to conduct BIOCOSMOS Project of &en years to make clear the mechanisms which control the variability of the Pacific Sardine (Sardinops melanosticta). Besides these Sardines research projects, Japan/Canada Cooperative study on marine science, is conducted by Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, to one of those focus is varia tions in marine environment and secondary production dynamics in the Oyashio and the Labrador Current based on WOCE and JGOFS funds. Future Plans include research projects on the population dynamics of pelagic and demersal fishes is under planning by the fisheries oceanographers and biologists in the University of Tokyo and Hokkaido University, etc., where international collaborations are expected under international Si ,Oi3EC Project. Coinpai.7 tive r'ishciies ccosysterns studies including secondary production between the high, mid and iow iatitude weas and cornparkon between thc ecosystem ;n [he astern and western

Page 24: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

LOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex IV - page 3

boundary regions of the Pacific will also be very useful in discriminating the complicated systems including their long term variations.

7. NORWAY PRO MARE (Program on Arctic Marine Ecology up to 1990) and MARE NOR (Program on

Coabtal Ecology of northern Norway, 1990 onwards). PRO MARE focused on the ecodynamics of how the melt water close to the retreating ice border in the Barents Sea gives rise to the production of phytoplankton, how it is grazed down by zooplankton and how capelin feed on the zooplankton. It consisted of field investigations in open waters and under the ice, and a numerical model of the dynamics of ice melting, phytoplankton production and zooplankton grazing was made. MARE NOR is a 3-year program based on the experience of PRO MARE. Other related activities include reproduction strategy in Arcto-Norwegian Cod, influence of age, size and condition of female spawners on the quality of eggs and I;irvae, and influence of turbulence and light on the encounter rate between cod larvae and their prey.

8. SOUTH AFRICA South African Marine Research Ecosystems programmes commenced in 1975 with the kelp bed

project (1975-1982) which resulted in building an energy budget for a kelp bed in the Benguela current. followed by dynamic simulation models of carbon and nitrogen flows and the influence of upwelling/downwelling on the functioning of the food web. The Benguela Ecology Programme ( 1962- 1991) aims at providing fundamental rcienti iic understanding of physical and biological processes leading to fish production, with the emphasis on pcl>.gic fish such as anchovy. Hake and rock lobster are. also included. The ten year programme will culminate in an international symposium in Capetown in September 1991. The Benguela Ecology Programme is to be succeeded by a Marine Boundary Processes programme (1991-1996) which will also be a collaborative effort between the Sea Fisheries Research Institute and universities, national and private funding bodies. Effort will be concentrated on the physical and biological processes that occur at and across boundaries such as the shelf-edge front, thermocline, sediment- water, air-sea, and land-sea interfaces, with the emphasis on how these processes lead to fish production.

9. SWEDEN Although Sweden does not have a GLOBEC-type programme as yet, it plans to take part in the

Nordic WOCE exercise work of Iceland. Some components of JGOFS are being planned as parts of an Arctic cruise in 1991, on board the Swedish ice-breaker, the "Oden." Another part is planned in cooperation with Chilean scientists to cover an eastern boundary current situation between Easter Island and the Chilean coast. Ongoing programmes include, i.e. SKAGEX, a study of ocean dynamics in the Skagerrak-Kattegatt area, which is an ICES undertaking with 10 participating nations. Another programme deals with the Bothnian Bay (of the Baltic Sea) comprising an extensive Swedish-Finnish cooperative The programme starts in 1991 and will continue through 1992. Extensive monitoring of coastal waters has been carried out both in the Baltic and on the Swedish west coast over a long period (close to 20 years).

investigations on physics, chemistry, and biolobz of this brackish water body.

Page 25: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

10C Workshop Report No. 75 Annex IV - page 4 10. U.S.A.

U.S. GLOBEC (GLOBal ocean Ecosystems dynamics) is a research initiative is organized by the oceanographic and fisheries communities to address the question of how changes in global environment are expected to affect the abundances and production of animals in the sea. The approach is to develop a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms that determine both the abundance of key marine animal populations and their variances in space and time. The physical environment is a major contributor to patterns of abundance and production of marine animals, in large part because the planktonic life stages typical of most marine animals are intrinsically at the mercy of the fluid motions of the medium in which they live. Consequently, a logical approach to predicting the potential impact of a globally changing environment is to understand how the physical environment, both directly and indirectly, contributes to animal abundance and its variability in marine ecosystems. The Core Science Theme of GLOBEC is The Coupling of Physical and Biological Systems.

11. USSR PROGRAMME ON INTEGRATED STUDIES AND MONITORING OF MARINE

ECOSYSTEMS EXPOSED TO ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT AND GLOBAL CLIMATIC CHANGE (ECOMONOC) The main goal of the Programme ECOMONOC is the long-term studies of marine ecosystem dynamics in various geographical zones of the World Ocean and assessment of man- induced changes in marine ecosystems exposed to global climatic change. The tasks of the Programme include: (1) Investigations of biogeochemical pollutant cycles and contaminant distribution mapping; (2) Assessment of the ecological consequences of the World Ocean Pollution in various geographical zones; (3) Assessment of the assimilative capacity in the key regions of the World Ocean; (4) Investigation of carbon biogeochemical cycle elements in the ecosystems of the World Ocean and determination of its role in global climatic processes.

Page 26: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex V

ANNEX V

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

INVITED EXPERTS

Dr. Patricio Bernal Tel: 56-2-225-6325 Fax: 56-2-225-4362 Casilla 1287 OMNET: 1FOP.Chile Santiago - Chile

Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP)

Dr. David Cushing Tel: 0502 565569 Fax: as MAFF Fisheries Laboratory OMNET: D.Cushing 198 Yarmouth Road

Min. of Agr., Fisheries & Food

Lowestoft NR32 4AB Suffolk, United Kingdom

Dr. Robert Dickson Tel: 0502 562244 Fax: 0502 513865 OMNET: as MAFF

Dr. John Field Tel: 27-21-650-3612 Fa: 27-21-650-3726 OMNET: J.Field

Dr. Robert Fournier Tel: 902-494-65 13 Fax: 902-494- 1595 OMNET: R.Fournier

Dr. M. Grant Gross Tel: 202-357-9639 Fa: 202-357-7621 OMNET: G.Gross

Min. of Agr., Fisheries & Food Fisheries Laboratory 198 Yarmouth Road Lowestoft NR32 4AB Suffolk, United Kingdom

Department of Zoology University of Cape Town Rondebosch 7700 South Africa

Department of Oceanography Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 451 Canada

National Science Foundation Ocean Sciences Division, Rm 609 Washington, D.C. 20550 USA.

Page 27: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex V - page 2 Dr. Paul Nival Tel: 93-76-38-14 Stat ion Zologique Fax: 93-76-38-34 BP 28 OMNET: Villefranche-sur-mer, France

Dr. Michael Reeve Tel: 202-357-9600 National Science Foundation Fax: 202-357-7621 OMNET: M.Reeve Washington, D.C. 20550, U.S.A.

Ocean Sciences Division, Rm 609

Dr. Brian Rothschild (Chairman) Tel: 301-326-4281 Fax: 301-326-6987 OMNET: B.Rothschild

Dr. Michael Sissenwine Tel: 301-427-2239 Fax: 30 1-427-2258 OMNET: M.Sissenwine

Dr. Victor Smetacek Tel: 49 471 4831440 Fax: 49 471 4831149 OMNET: V.Smetacek

Dr. Jarl-Ove Stromberg Tel: 46-523-22192 Fax: 46-523-22871 OMNET: J.S tromberg

Dr. Takashige Sugimoto Tel: (03)3376-1251 Fax: (03)3375-6716 OMNET: 0RI.Tokyo

Dr. Svein Sundby Tel: 47-5-238500 Fax: 47-5-23853 1 OMNET: NODS.Norway

Chesapeake Bay Biological Laboratory P.O. Box 38 Solomons, Maryland 20688-0038, U.S.A.

NOAA/NMFS, Room 9358 1335 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910, U.S.A.

Alfred Wegener Institute Columbusstrasse 2850 Bremerhaven, Germany

Kristineberg Marine Biological Station S-450 34 Fiskebackskil Sweden

Ocean Research Institute University of Tokyo 1-15-1 Minamidai, Nakano-ku Tokyo 164, Japan

Inst. of Marine Research Nordnedparken 2 P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes N-5024 Bergen, Norway

Page 28: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

IOC Workshop Report No. 75 Annex V - page 3

Dr. Phillip Taylor Tel: 202-357-9600 National Science Foundation Fax: 202-37-7621 OMNET: P. Taylor

Division of Ocean Sciences, Rm 609 Washington, DC 20550, U.S.A.

SECRETARIATS

INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION Dr. Thomas Osborn Tel: 33- 1-4568-4025 Fax: 33- 1-4056-93 16 IOC/UNESCO OMNET: T.Osborn

Senior Assistant Secretary, IOC

7 Place de Fontenoy 75700 Paris, France

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON OCEANIC RESEARCH Ms. Elizabeth Tidmarsh Tel: 902-494-8865 SCOR Secretariat Fax: 902-494-3877 Dalhousie University OMNET: E.Tidmarsh Halifax, Nova Scotia

B3H 4SI Canada

Page 29: IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamicsunesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000923/092336eo.pdf · IOC-SCOR Workshop on Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Solomons, Maryland,

m 64

€6

I

61

60

6a

rn

71

72

73

74

E

E