Project presentation - Phase VI BIANZO II - Biodiversity of three representative groups of the Antarctic Zoobenthos - Coping with Change Content BIANZO II is not only a continuation of the research conducted during the BIANZO I (2002-2006) project, which focused mainly on ecology, biodiversity and biogeography. It also expands the research in the context of our changing climate (cf. IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, 2007). As indicated by the subtitle (‘Coping with Change’), the focus here is on the ability of the Antarctic zoobenthos to adapt to a changing environment. BIANZO II directly contributes to the SCAR EBA programme (Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic). It is also accepted as IPY (International Polar Year) activity #391 as a part of CAML (Census of Antarctic Marine Life). The partners are also involved in other IPY projects (ANDEEP-SYSTCO and ClicOPEN) and SCAR-MarBIN. Objectives BIANZOII will investigate biodiversity patterns of the Antarctic zoobenthos and their causal processes for three representative groups of different size categories: nematodes (meiobenthos), amphipods (macrobenthos) and echinoids (megabenthos) (WP 1: NOWBIO). Trophodynamic aspects of these benthic groups and their ability to cope with temperature and temperature-related changes (food composition and availability, pH of the seawater...) will be studied mainly in an experimental approach (WP 2: DYNABIO). Information collected in previous studies and in the first two work packages will be used to initiate the development of a model about the possible changes in the benthic communities due to global environmental change (WP 3: FOREBIO). Complementary resources about this scientific project - Technical sheet Partners and Contact information Coordinator Ann Vanreusel Promoters Claude De Broyer (Department of Invertebrates) & Patrick
Martin (Section of Freshwater Biology) Chantal
De Ridder Patrick Dauby Bruno David
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