#ESR12

Forecasting the phenology, production, and distribution of diadromous fish in order to enable climate adaptation in fish management.

Host institution

University College Cork, Ireland.

Project description

The regulatory and demand-driven ecosystem services provided by freshwater fish include food production, recreation, regulation of aquatic foodwebs and nutrient cycling. In addition, freshwater fish provide a crucial link between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover migratory fish such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), extend this aquatic linkage into the marine environment.

Models which can accurately forecast future responses of climate sensitive ecosystems and their dependent biota are vital for the definition and fashioning of sustainable management practices that favor species conservation and support their resilience to multiple stressors, including global warming. The development of the Lakes and Water Sectors within ISIMIP makes it now possible to examine the controls of freshwater fish production and survival within a holistic inter-sectoral framework, and provide open source workflows and tools to aid management. This project will aim to expand the range of geographically explicit models available through ISIMIP to include growth, phenology, distribution and, ultimately, production of freshwater fish, specifically focusing of diadromous Atlantic salmon across its native range.

The project will cooperate with ISIMIP to define adaptations options to counteract the impacts of climate change on fishes.

Secondments

University of Stirling, UK. 3 months
Marine Institute, Ireland. 3 months
Postdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany. 2 months. 

ESR

Adrian Rinaldo

phenology, production, and distribution of diadromous fish