OUEVRE (Per Jonsson, revisions by F. Werner
Dec 13, 2015
• What have we learned? What models (or other approaches to synthesis) exist or are needed and of what type?
• How does climate influence variability of recruitment in these systems?
Model Resolution-Temporal/Spatial Issues of Model Integration
Bacteria
Birds/mammals
THE SEA
Number of Species
SPECIES IN THE MODEL
Number of State Variables
Detail of Resolution
Nested 3D physical models, linked to climate modelsu,v,w,Kz,T...
3D-coupled NPZD model(primary and secondary production)
3D-coupled ZLCM(distribution and abundance of individual zooplankton species)
3D-coupled fish larvae trophodynamic model(growth and survival of fish larvae)
Environmental conditions for recruitment
(Prey fields)
(Prey fields)
What are the critical characteristics that make these species useful for pan regional comparisons?
• Restate the question: What evidence do we have that knowledge of the life history characteristics and physiological attributes of the individual species is essential to understanding the ecosystem dynamics?
• Consensus is that detailed knowledge of the individual life histories of zooplankton is important
Egg survival
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
Egg production
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Copepod Life History Trade-offs
Pseudocalanus .
Calanus finmarchicus
The species question continued
• We have approaches and detailed knowledge to answer questions of climate forcing on recruitment of the target species
• During synthesis, we need to identify how our knowledge can be applied to the broad question of climate forcing on ecosystem and function. Do the target species responses representative of ecosystem structure and function. Will inclusion of other key species now identified be sufficient? How much simplification can we re-introduce?
Data gaps
• Identification of key species not originally targeted (e.g. pteropods)
• Microbial components for NPZ
• Nutrient and phytoplankton data for model validation
The overarching question
• Climate forcing mechanisms: local vs remote- Freshwater effects on density driven circulation and
stratification- Winds
• Model approaches: common technical issues linking the coupled models
• Different life histories- responses to forcing: compare and contrast among regions
• Similarities in geomorphology; eg. GB and Antarctica translate into similarities in forcing and ecosystem responses?
Biological challenges
1. Growth and reproduction dependency on food availability
2. Understanding the processes determining entry and exit from fall-winter dormancy
3. Mortality rates
4. Vertical distribution of life stages
Durbin et al. 2003: Gulf of Maine Runge et al. (2006): Georges Bank
Calanus finmarchicus: Relationship of egg production to
phytoplankton biomass
Biological challenges…1Description of linkage between primary production and copepod growth and reproduction
coupled ecosystem – sea-ice ocean circulation model
Le Fouest et al., submitted
Comparisons to satellite-derived fields:St. Lawrence discharge effect
model satellite
AVHRR
SeaWIFS
SeaWIFS
SST
Chl a
kCDOM
vs
Chl a
3rd – 6th of August 1998
1997 1998 1999
Spring
Fall
Observed vs simulated chlorophyll a biomass
predicted
observed
coupled ecosystem – sea-ice ocean circulation model
Chifflet et al., in prep
1997 1998 1999
Spring
Fall
Observed vs simulated nitrate concentration
predicted
observed
coupled ecosystem – sea-ice ocean circulation model
Chifflet et al., in prep