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MARINFORSK-Marine ressurser og miljø

Invasive seaweeds in rising temperatures: impacts and risk assessments

Tildelt: kr 1,6 mill.

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Europe is a hot-spot for aquatic introductions with around 600 alien species recorded at present. The assessment of present and future impacts of invasive alien seaweeds on the North-Atlantic coastal biodiversity is a challenge. The project aims specifica lly at predicting the effects of alien seaweeds under climate variability and rising sea surface temperatures in the North-Atlantic. This will be done by addressing temperature effects on expansion rate and range shifts, abundance and ecological functioni ng of invasive or potentially invasive alien seaweeds. The project consortium represents seven different partners from five countries, covering the North-Atlantic European coast from Norway to Portugal. By using a combination of modelling, field studies, ecological experiments and molecular work, we will study the impact of alien seaweeds on the native biodiversity under variable climatic conditions. We will focus on case studies of selected seaweeds currently regarded as invasive or potentially invasive. The scientific objectives are organized in six Work Packages representing six objectives: Finding the new pathways for alien seaweeds to European coasts, performing species distribution by developing spatial modelling, examining processes related to spac e monopolization by invasive seaweeds, examining impact of invasive seaweeds on aquatic macrophyte associated species composition, studying acclimation and adaptation processes of invasive seaweeds and studying biochemical adaptation under different tempe ratures of invasive seaweeds and their impact on native marine organisms. The first two objectives are related to introduction vectors and spreading of alien seaweeds under changing climate conditions, the next ones concerns effects and impacts of alien s eaweeds under changing climate conditions, and the two last objectives are related to adaptation and acclimation of alien seaweeds and their impact on native communities.

Budsjettformål:

MARINFORSK-Marine ressurser og miljø