EDMERP Details

General

Project Title

Interactions of physical and biological factors in the surf and swash zone of European rocky shores (EUROROCK)

Project Acronym

EUROROCK

Project Reference

MAS3-CT95-0012

Associated programme

MAST III

Start Date

1996-02-01

End Date

1999-01-31

Geographic Area

Geocoverage

European waters

Sea Area

Adriatic Sea

Alboran Sea

Baltic Sea

Bristol Channel

Celtic Sea

English Channel

Gulf of Bothnia

Gulf of Finland

Irish Sea

Ligurian Sea

Mediterranean Sea

North Atlantic Ocean

North Sea

Northwest Atlantic Ocean (40W)

Norwegian Sea

Tyrrhenian Sea

Observations

Data Theme

Biological oceanography

Marine geology

Description

Abstract

Within the context of the MAST III scientific area dealing with extreme environments, EUROROCK focuses on the intertidal and shallow sublittoral fringe of rocky shores. The strategic objective of EUROROCK is to adopt the European rocky coast as a model system to understand the functioning of the extreme marine environment represented by the intertidal zone, in relation to dominant physical factors and their influence on biological interactions. A key feature of this project is linking behavioural responses at the individual level to population dynamics and community structure. Most importantly, it includes comparative studies made at Atlantic sites from Scandinavia to the Iberian Peninsula, and into the Mediterranean in Italy. The very different physical characteristics of the wave swept littoral zone across the geographical gradient require a broad-scale integrated European perspective. Integrated studies on the generality of ecological processes on continental scales have not previously been attempted anywhere in the world. The consortium of scientists from six European countries enables such variations to be investigated in a co-ordinated fashion for the first time. Work modules Part T develops instrumentation for acquiring critical information on (a) the environment, (b) behaviour and physiology of individuals, and (c) recruitment and population dynamics in the wave swept zone. Part T is divided into two modules specifically dealing with telemetric instruments (module T1), and image-analysis techniques (module T2). Part A analyses the individual adaptation to physical and biological factors acting in the rocky intertidal, by examining the behaviour of (a) key grazers, and (b) predators having an important influence on community structure. This part of the project largely deploys equipment developed in module T. Part A is articulated in two distinct but interconnected modules, dealing with the temporal and spatial organisation of foraging behaviour of grazers (module A1), and with the foraging behaviour of invertebrate predators (module A2). Part B basically examines the geographic variation in community-structuring processes. In particular, investigations concern (a) the importance of recruitment fluctuations using barnacles as a model, and (b) the way in which the physical environment modifies community patterns and processes on the geographic gradient of the European coast. Part B is organised in two distinct but interconnected sub-tasks: module B1 and module B2, dealing respectively with geographic variation in patterns of recruitment and with the role of physical and biological factors in the organisation of intertidal communities. Part C provides integrative models to link individual adaptation to physical and biological factors, to population dynamics and community structure on rocky shores. Accordingly, this task is organised in three modules: module C1 dealing with individual-level models; module C2, dealing with population-level models, and module C3, dealing with community-level models. Models are done in parallel with field experimentation to enhance generation of hypotheses for specific testing. Modelling techniques include: a) Montecarlo techniques and dynamic optimization models to be applied to the individual-level phenomena; b) matrix techniques including deterministic and stochastic parameters to model population dynamics; c) cellular automata and risk-sensitive models for the community-level theoretical analysis.

Project website

Originators

Coordinator

CONISMA, National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Science

Contact name

Prof Guido Chelazzi

Fax

06 8543810

E-mail

chelazzi@conisma.it

Other Partners

CONISMA, National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Science

National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

University of Gothenburg, Faculty of Science

University of Lisbon, Faculty of Sciences, Guia Marine Laboratory (IMAR network)

University of Liverpool, School of Biological Sciences

University of Oviedo, Biology of Organisms and Systems departament

University of Wales, School of Ocean Sciences

Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University College Cork

Administration

Local identifier

936

Creation Date

2014-10-06

Revision Date

2014-10-06