Evan D. Richert1 (Project Director) and Lewis S. Incze2 (Chief Scientist)

Goals and ObjectivesGoals and ObjectivesThe goal of this project is to enable ecosystem-based management in a large marine ecosystem within ten years.

As the pilot ecosystem project of the international Census of Marine Life, the Gulf of Maine Program must demonstrate approaches that are transferable to other regions.

Our objective is to establish an integrated program that will:

Greatly increase the availability and use of past and current data through an on-line Gulf of Maine Biogeographical Information System (GMBIS) that partners with the global Ocean Biogeographic Information System (see OBIS poster at this meeting);

Engage the research and management communities to develop appropriate theories, evaluate data, identify critical information gaps, recommend research and funding, and add to knowledge;

Seed critical studies and argue for the necessary, ongoing funding to support ecosystem research and management;

Work with conservation organizations and marine industries to incorporate their knowledge and interests;

Incoprorate new data needs into operational ocean monitoring programs such as the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS) and the federal agencies of Canada and the U.S. that conduct regular physical and biological surveys of the region.

Gulf of Maine Area Program: Census of Marine Life Program FrameworkProgram Framework

  

The Gulf of Maine Program is funded to organize and catalyze The Gulf of Maine Program is funded to organize and catalyze activity. Three broad themes must be emphasized activity. Three broad themes must be emphasized and linkedand linked::

ExplorationExploration --- --- ExplanationExplanation --- ---

ApplicationApplication

ExplorationExploration:: The The biodiversitybiodiversity of the oceans in general of the oceans in general (even a long-studied area such as the Gulf of Maine) remains (even a long-studied area such as the Gulf of Maine) remains severely undersampled. The severely undersampled. The benthos and marine microbial benthos and marine microbial communitiescommunities are prime examples of old and new frontiers that have are prime examples of old and new frontiers that have not received enough support for basic work. Without basic not received enough support for basic work. Without basic knowledge there can be no application. knowledge there can be no application. Non-commercial members Non-commercial members of fish and invertebrate communitiesof fish and invertebrate communities also have been chronically also have been chronically undersampled and their roles in system function (e.g., trophic undersampled and their roles in system function (e.g., trophic transfers, benthic-pelagic coupling) poorly quantified. Ocean transfers, benthic-pelagic coupling) poorly quantified. Ocean exploration must be fostered to address these gaps. The value (and exploration must be fostered to address these gaps. The value (and excitement) of exploration must be communicated to the public, and excitement) of exploration must be communicated to the public, and these heretofore “missing links” in information introduced to these heretofore “missing links” in information introduced to ocean ocean area management conceptsarea management concepts..

  

ExplanationExplanation:: Process studies Process studies provide the basis for provide the basis for understanding understanding natural and anthropogenic influencesnatural and anthropogenic influences on the on the marine environment, whether the forcing is part of a short-term marine environment, whether the forcing is part of a short-term disturbance or secular change. A large body of knowledge and disturbance or secular change. A large body of knowledge and expertise in oceanography and marine ecology exists and can be expertise in oceanography and marine ecology exists and can be harnessed without interfering with the basic, curiosity-driven nature harnessed without interfering with the basic, curiosity-driven nature of the field. Indeed, new intellectual challenges and opportunities of the field. Indeed, new intellectual challenges and opportunities will certainly result. will certainly result.

  

ApplicationApplication:: Will the state of knowledge about Will the state of knowledge about biodiversity or oceanographic processes be sufficient to incorporate biodiversity or oceanographic processes be sufficient to incorporate into ecosystems-based management in the foreseeable future? And into ecosystems-based management in the foreseeable future? And will this even prove to be interesting? The answers are “YES” if the will this even prove to be interesting? The answers are “YES” if the goals and questions are properly formulated. For example, a goals and questions are properly formulated. For example, a scientific question might be: scientific question might be: How are biodiversity and benthic How are biodiversity and benthic landscapes linked to healthy ecosystems? landscapes linked to healthy ecosystems? A corresponding A corresponding management question might be:management question might be: Do present management practices Do present management practices conserve the necessary biological and physical attributes of conserve the necessary biological and physical attributes of environments to maintain ecosystem health and productivity? environments to maintain ecosystem health and productivity? The The PIs gratefully acknowledge the backing of numerous PIs gratefully acknowledge the backing of numerous policy and policy and scientific advisorsscientific advisors who have begun the process of defining goals who have begun the process of defining goals and knowledge in ways useful to the various communities (advisory and knowledge in ways useful to the various communities (advisory teams and working groups are still being formed).teams and working groups are still being formed).

1Muskie School of Public Service and 2Bioscience Research InstituteUniversity of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104 USA

e-mail: erichert or lincze@usm.maine.edu attending this meeting

STUDY AREA includes all of the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy, the Scotian Shelf to the “Halifax” time-series line, the Slope Sea, Georges Bank and the New England Sea Mount chain. The circulation is counterclockwise through the Gulf, shallow and deep waters entering primarily from the Scotian Shelf and the deep trough (Northeast Channel) north of Georges Bank. Slope water origins vary with NAO.

AN EXAMPLE:BENTHIC ENVIRONMENTS, BIOLOGICAL

COMMUNITIES AND CHANGE  The figure at left shows model-generated values of mean bottom tidal turbulent energy dissipation rates superimposed on bathymetry (finite-element model output from J. Loder, Bedford Inst. Oceanography, Halifax, CA). Model results such as these layered with mean bottom currents, surficial geology, seasonal water mass transformations, etc., can guide exploration efforts, the interpolation of benthic community data and predictions of change due to external forcing. Models and multi-beam mapping now enable a “biogeographic” view of the Gulf to help tie together the results of sampling and process-studies.