U.S. Southern Ocean GLOBEC, Synthesis and Modeling: Top Predators Provide Large-Scale Context to Globec Area Ocean Processes and Food Web

这项由H.T. Harvey &; Associates、Woods Hole, Inc.的联合科学家和R.G. Ford Consulting合作进行的研究将结合并综合高流动性海洋鸟类和鲸类动物的分布和发生模式，作为基于南大洋全球海洋生态系统动力学（SO GLOBEC）实验野外工作过程中获得的数据的几个数据综合和建模组件之一。海鸟和鲸类是寿命长、机动性强、能见度高的顶级捕食者，除繁殖季节外，它们出现在猎物丰富和/或觅食效率高的地方。因此，这些高度可见的移动捕食者已被证明是食物网中间部分丰富和可用的敏感指标。这项工作将确定SO GLOBEC实验的中尺度综合研究在多大程度上适用于从更大的环极角度解释模式。SO-Globec是一项多学科合作项目，旨在了解影响南极磷虾（Euphausia superba）生长、繁殖、招募和生存的物理和生物因素。该计划采用多营养水平的方法，包括南极磷虾的捕食者和竞争对手，以其他浮游动物、鱼类、企鹅、海豹和鲸目动物为代表。它目前处于综合和建模阶段。该合作项目旨在了解如何利用顶部捕食者的空间分布来推断磷虾和其他中层猎物的分布，并将与其他有关水文、初级生产和磷虾动态的综合和建模研究相结合。

This collaborative study between H.T. Harvey & Associates, Associated Scientists at Woods Hole, Inc., and R.G. Ford Consulting will combine and synthesize the distribution and occurrence patterns of highly mobile marine birds and cetaceans, as one of several data synthesis and modeling components that are based on the data obtained in the course of the field work of the Southern Ocean Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (SO GLOBEC) experiment.Seabirds and cetaceans are long-lived, highly mobile, and highly visible top-predators that, except during breeding seasons, occur where prey is abundant and/or foraging efficiency is high. Therefore, these highly visible, mobile predators have proved to be sensitive indicators of where the middle portion of food webs are rich and available. This work will identify the degree to which the mesoscale integrative studies of the SO GLOBEC experiment apply toward interpreting patterns from a larger circumpolar perspective.SO-Globec is a multidisciplinary effort focused on understanding the physical and biological factors that influence growth, reproduction, recruitment and survival of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). The program uses a multi-trophic level approach that includes the predators and competitors of Antarctic krill, represented by other zooplankton, fish, penguins, seals, and cetaceans. It is currently in a synthesis and modeling phase. This collaborative project is concerned with understanding how the spatial distribution of top predators can be used to infer the distribution of krill and other mid-level prey, and will be integrated with other synthesis and modeling studies that deal with the hydrography, primary production, and krill dynamics.