Université de Liège; Faculty of Sciences; Department of Astrophysics, Geophysics and Oceanography; Chemical Oceanograpy Unit, co-ordinator
Frankignoulle, Michel, co-ordinator
Borges, Alberto Vieira
Université Libre de Bruxelles; Faculté des Sciences; Département des Sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement; Unité Modélisation Biogéochimique Système Terre; Laboratory of Chemical Oceanography and Water Geochemistry (LoCGE), partner
Vanderborght, Jean-Pierre
Wollast, Roland
Loijens, Micheline
Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee; NIOZ Yerseke, more, partner
University of Hull; Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies (IECS), more, partner
Elliott, Mike
European Commission; Fifth Framework Programme, sponsor
Abstract
Objective:
The project aims to improve our knowledge of the metabolic state of coastal ecosystems, which is fundamental in terms of nutrients and carbon cycling/storage. The trophic status will be determined in diverse ecosystems using simultaneously different methods at various time scales. The effect of nutrients speciation and organic carbon fractionation will be studied in systems of various eutrophication levels. A model will be implemented to estimate transfer and fluxes of carbon/nitrogen and to forecast the impact of human intervention on trophic status change. Results will be translated into management criteria and directives for monitoring procedures to assess the trophic status of coastal ecosystems. Dissemination will be organized at several levels, from general public to policy makers and environmental organisations.
Achievements:
The assessment of the autotrophic-heterotrophic balance within each of 3 study areas across 3 member states of the EU; the derivation of detailed data following the implementation of standard methods which have produced a large amount of data and information; the use of numerical predictive methods followed by scenario testing; the description and analysis of the legislative and administrative procedures within each country and their compliance with national, European and international statutes and agreements.
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