Baltic Sea marine biodiversity - addressing the potential of adaptation to climate change
ACRONYM
BAMBI
Title
Baltic Sea marine biodiversity - addressing the potential of adaptation to climate change
General information
A major challenge to the Baltic Sea ecosystem is adapting to the climate change and linked changes in salinity, ice-cover etc. Unique genetic compositions of most of the marine populations add to Baltic Sea ecosystem vulnerability. Genetic variation in adaptive traits is a key factor in the evolution of tolerance to environmental changes. With Bambi we will target a Baltic Sea model ecosystem (a seaweed, a grazer and a predator) and map genetic variation, including adaptive variation, over large parts of the Baltic Sea using next generation DNA sequencing. We will combine DNA sequencing with ecological experiments to specifically identify genes involved in tolerance to extreme conditions and map their geographic distribution. Using climate scenario driven oceanographic models parameterized by life-history data will make it possible to model how organisms spread and distribute under different future scenarios, as well as effects of different management measures such as MPAs. In dialogue with representatives of management authorities we will suggest science-based management measures that aim to safeguard genetic variation of Baltic Sea populations and promote adaptation to expected environmental changes. This project will contribute new and urgent scientific findings and suggest ecosystem based management approaches to protect evolvability of Baltic Sea populations and mitigate biodiversity loss due to direct or indirect effects of climate change.
Start
January, 2014
End
December, 2017
Funding (total)
3900000
Funding (GEOMAR)
591000
Funding body / Programme
-
EU
/ BONUS call 2012: viable ecosystem
BMBF
/
Coordination
Göteborgs Universitet (UGOT), Sweden
Contact
