6 research outputs found
Steeper size spectra with decreasing phytoplankton biomass indicate strong trophic amplification and future fish declines
Under climate change, model ensembles suggest that declines in phytoplankton biomass amplify into greater reductions at higher trophic levels, with serious implications for fisheries and carbon storage. However, the extent and mechanisms of this trophic amplification vary greatly among models, and validation is problematic. In situ size spectra offer a novel alternative, comparing biomass of small and larger organisms to quantify the net efficiency of energy transfer through natural food webs that are already challenged with multiple climate change stressors. Our global compilation of pelagic size spectrum slopes supports trophic amplification empirically, independently from model simulations. Thus, even a modest (16%) decline in phytoplankton this century would magnify into a 38% decline in supportable biomass of fish within the intensively-fished mid-latitude ocean. We also show that this amplification stems not from thermal controls on consumers, but mainly from temperature or nutrient controls that structure the phytoplankton baseline of the food web. The lack of evidence for direct thermal effects on size structure contrasts with most current thinking, based often on more acute stress experiments or shorter-timescale responses. Our synthesis of size spectra integrates these short-term dynamics, revealing the net efficiency of food webs acclimating and adapting to climatic stressors
Steeper size spectra with decreasing phytoplankton biomass indicate strong trophic amplification and future fish declines
Under climate change, model ensembles suggest that declines in phytoïżœplankton biomass amplify into greater reductions at higher trophic levels, with
serious implications for fisheries and carbon storage. However, the extent and
mechanisms of this trophic amplification vary greatly among models, and
validation is problematic. In situ size spectra offer a novel alternative, comïżœparing biomass of small and larger organisms to quantify the net efficiency of
energy transfer through natural food webs that are already challenged with
multiple climate change stressors. Our global compilation of pelagic size
spectrum slopes supports trophic amplification empirically, independently
from model simulations. Thus, even a modest (16%) decline in phytoplankton
this century would magnify into a 38% decline in supportable biomass of fish
within the intensively-fished mid-latitude ocean. We also show that this
amplification stems not from thermal controls on consumers, but mainly from
temperature or nutrient controls that structure the phytoplankton baseline of
the food web. The lack of evidence for direct thermal effects on size structure
contrasts with most current thinking, based often on more acute stress
experiments or shorter-timescale responses. Our synthesis of size spectra
integrates these short-term dynamics, revealing the net efficiency of food
webs acclimating and adapting to climatic stressor
âThis is a beautiful school.â âThis school is useless!!â Explaining disengagement in a Greek vocational school through the examination of teacher ideologies
This multi-method case study of a Greek vocational school explored teachersâ culture (including beliefs about education, teachersâ role, and studentsâ nature) using the concept of pupil control ideology to explain problems of disengagement and low morale among staff and students, as well as tensions in relationships. A prominent custodial culture was identified in the school using a functional/apolitical pedagogy to transmit âlegitimateâ knowledge to students whose working-class background did not produce desired outcomes. This generated deficit views of students, teachersâ sympathy, and a seemingly caring school ethos which was, nevertheless, oppressive. Studentsâ failings were naturalised and vocational education misinterpreted as merely a streaming device in a system honouring academic achievement and middle-class ways. Teachers were blind to these cultural subtleties, believing they acted ârationallyâ and altruistically. A humanistic subculture emphasising student empowerment and social transformation consisted of a minority of teachers and was rather marginalised. This disallowed meaningful dialogue and the identification of an alternative rationale for the sector, generating strong feelings of futility. Positive change in this school necessitated the deconstruction and (subsequent) reconstruction of custodial teachersâ world views as embedded in their practice. © 2016 Association for Research in Post-Compulsory Education (ARPCE)
LengthâWeight relations of 22 fish species from the littoral zone of the Eastern Ionian Sea, Greece
Lengthâweight relations are presented for 22 fish species caught in the littoral zone of the eastern Ionian Sea. Mean values of b ranged from 2.58 to 3.43. For Greek waters no information regarding the LWR existed for 2 of the recorded species. This is the first study on the LWR for species of the littoral zone of the eastern Ionian Sea which may be helpful in future fisheries studies in this area
The âMetaCopepodâ project: Designing an integrated DNA metabarcoding and image analysis approach to study and monitor the diversity of zooplanktonic copepods and cladocerans in the Mediterranean Sea
The timely and accurate analysis of marine zooplankton diversity is a challenge in ecological and monitoring studies. Morphology-based identification of taxa, which requires taxonomy experts, is time consuming and cannot provide accurate resolution at species level in several cases (e.g. immature stages, cryptic species, broken specimens). The âMetaCopepodâ project is aimed at overcoming these limitations by developing a high-throughput and cost effective methodology that integrates DNA metabarcoding and image analysis. Utilizing the accuracy of DNA metabarcoding in species recognition and the quantitative results of image analysis, zooplankton diversity (mainly of copepods and cladocerans) is assessed both qualitatively (species' composition) and quantitatively (abundance, biomass and size-distribution). To achieve this goal, bulk zooplankton samples are first scanned and analyzed with ZooImage and then massively sequenced for a selected fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. Through a bioinformatic pipeline, sequences are compared to a reference genetic database, constructed within the project, and identified at species- level. The methodology was calibrated by using both mock and taxonomically identified samples and demonstrated on samples collected monthly from monitoring stations across the Mediterranean Sea. It is currently optimized for higher integration and accuracy and is expected to become a powerful tool for monitoring zooplankton in the long term and for early warning of bioinvasions and other ecosystem change