SIBER SPIS sept 2011.pdf - IMBER

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SIBER Science Plan and Implementation Strategy the BoB, aimed at answering this question (and many other related questions) to shed light on the role of how wind and freshwater forcing drive biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics in marine systems, and how these might be altered by anthropogenic forcing. What factors control phytoplankton production and export in the IO What water column and benthic biogeochemical processes are driven by export from the euphotic zone How do these processes and environmental controls vary across the IO and with season For example, characterizing and quantifying the: ●● Regional differences in controls on phytoplankton production ●● Basinwide production and export flux variability ●● Impacts of organic matter export on mid-water and benthic communities and processes SIBER will seek to motivate studies focused on quantifying the relative roles of light, nutrient and grazing limitation in controlling phytoplankton production in the IO and how these vary in space and time, as well as determining the fate of this production after it sinks below the euphotic zone. Quantifying the influences of top-down versus bottom-up control and their impacts on biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics are a high priority. This question also encompasses the issue of how benthic biogeochemical processes are driven by production that sinks from the euphotic zone and how these processes and environmental controls vary in space and time across the IO. How will human-induced changes in climate and nutrient loading impact the marine ecosystem and biogeochemical cycles For example, impacts of: ●● Warming and acidification on biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics ●● Human activities in the coastal zone ●● Increasing human populations in the future For each driver there is a unique set of issues to explore. SIBER will seek to motivate studies focused on understanding the effects of these phenomena and how natural climate variability and extreme events impact marine biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems. These studies will provide crucial information for understanding how the IO (and other ocean basins) will be impacted by global warming and anthropogenically-induced change. To what extent do higher trophic level species influence lower trophic levels and biogeochemical cycles in the IO and how might this be influenced by human impacts (e.g. commercial fishing). Potential study areas include: ●● Lower trophic level food web dynamics and cycling ●● Higher trophic level food web dynamics and cycling ●● Human (fisheries) impacts SIBER will motivate studies focused on understanding the influence of higher trophic level species on lower trophic levels and biogeochemical cycles in the IO and what the effects of human impacts might be. 76
SIBER Science Plan and Implementation Strategy Co n c l u s i o ns a n d l e g a c y SIBER will develop a coordinated, basinwide approach to determine the major controls and feedbacks between biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics in the IO and potential feedbacks as part of the Earth system. SIBER will focus on using remote sensing and models to improve our understanding of how the unique physical processes of the IO drive biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics. Models will also be used to improve predictions of future ecosystem dynamics in the IO, including responses to climate change and other anthropogenic impacts. SIBER will work towards integrating and analyzing existing process studies and monitoring datasets to facilitate investigation of long-term, large-scale changes in physical processes, biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics. SIBER will help to coordinate international research and monitoring programs, identify priority areas for research and monitoring, and develop coordinated field and monitoring studies to fill spatial and temporal gaps in IO data. SIBER will provide an important vehicle for capacity building in IO rim nations. The integration and coordination of IO biogeochemical and ecosystem research and analysis through SIBER will improve our predictions of the impacts of global change on IO ecosystems and human populations, creating a lasting legacy on which future research can build. Much of what is learned will also be transferable to other regions and research areas. The reports and papers produced will inform scientists in the international community and provide a focus for future research on important regional, basinwide and global issues. These outputs will also be presented in forms that provide policy makers with a sound scientific basis upon which to make decisions on how to mitigate anthropogenic impacts in the IO. In the global context, SIBER will complement IMBER and IOGOOS programs in facilitating the development of research and monitoring infrastructure and human resources in the IO and also by inspiring a new generation of international, multidisciplinary oceanographers and marine scientists to study and understand the IO and its role in the global ocean and the Earth system. 77
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