Food Web Analysis - From Sample to Model - 2017 edition
Aim of the course
Introduction into food web analysis using the example of the Wadden Sea Ecosystem. Demonstration of the necessary steps of food web description: sampling and habitat analysis as well as basics of the ecological network analysis will be communicated by explaining and exercising simple modelling.
Venue
Wadden Sea Station on Sylt of the Alfred- Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Target audience
Advanced students, Bachelor,-Master- and PhD students with ecologically focused program of study. Although the course is focusing on a marine ecosystem, interested students of terrestrial and limnic ecology as well as advanced disciplines are welcome.
Accommodation
The course is a full-time course and participants are accommodated in one of the guest houses of our institute in List at Sylt (18 Euro per day). For details please ask Dr. Harald Asmus.
Registration
For registration or further information please contact directly Dr. Harald Asmus.
Unfortunately we have limited space and therefore who will register first will get a place.
Costs
The course is on volunteer basis and has no further expenses out of accommodation and meals.
There is one supermarket close to the village and a couple of bakeries where you may buy all what you need. Furthermore the guest house has a fully equipped kitchen with living room where you may prepare your meals.
Course Materials
We ask you to bring your laptop and to install the required software beforehand. This lets speed up the preparation for excises and practices with the computer. Further material and information will be given in due time.
Program
Arrival
09:00- 10:00 General introduction into food web analysis
10:00- 10:30 Primary producers of the Wadden Sea
10:30- 11:15 Introduction into the course programme and building of teams (2-3 persons)
11:15- 12:30 Lunch break
12:30- 14:00 Primary producers and incubation of samples
14:00- 15:00 After sample procedures /incubation techniques/biomass sampling/chlorophyll
15:00- 17:00 Practical exercises to measure primary production/end of measurements
17:00- 18:00 Evaluating and presenting results
09:00- 12:00 Field trip with benthic sampling
12:00- 13:00 Lunch break
13:00- 16:00
16:00- 18:00 Analysing samples (Biomass of macrobenthos), evaluating and presenting results
9:00- 12:00 Ornithological tour into Königshafen /bird predation at certain communities
12:00- 14:00 Lunch break
14:00- 15:30 What kind of data are required to construct a quantitative food web?
15:30- 16:00 The Wadden Sea Ecosystem
16:00- 18:00 Literature and methodology reviews, methods of system analysis and introduction to Ecological Network analysis (ENA), explaining the data base of the food web of the Sylt-Rømø Bight
free
09:00- 12:00 Predators of the Wadden Sea: Excursion on board of RV MYA II
12:00- 13:00 Lunch break
13:00- 15:00 Analysing, evaluating and presenting results from fishing and dredging
15:00- 16:30 Introduction to Ecological Network analysis (ENA), explaining the data base of the food web of the Sylt-Rømø Bight
16:30- 17:00 Input Output Analysis
17:00 – 17:30 Trophic analysis
09:00 - 10:00 Cycle analysis
10:30 - 10:45 Coffee break
10:45- 12:00 Total System Properties
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 16:00 Introduction into Ecosystem Services (W. Windhorst)
16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break
16:30 - 18:00: Interactions between ecological functions and Ecosystem Services
9:00- 12:00 Food web based indication of Ecosystem services.
12:00- 14:00 Lunch
14:00- 18:00 Practical Exercises with food webs using network analysis with own data and models
09:00 - 12:00 Continuing Practical exercises with food webs of systems and ecosystem services
12:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 18:00 Continuing practical exercises
09:00- 12:00 Discussion of homework: How can we indicate stability of ecosystems?
Departure from 12:00 onward