Content: A number of models have been developed to describe how fishing affects trophic interactions and transfer of energy through marine food webs. The course is intended to provide an up-to-date presentation of a selection of these models and a discussion of their differences and similarities. The models presented will include biomass based models (Lotka-Volterra and Multispecies Schaefer models), age based models (Leslie matrices and MSVPA/MSFOR) and aggregate system models (ECOPATH with ECOSIM and ECOSPACE). The models will be fit to a common dataset from the North Sea and/or the Baltic in order to discuss differences and similarities in their response to changes in fishing. Morning lectures will describe the theory behind the models, while the afternoons will be reserved for hands-on exercises. Additional lectures will discuss bottom-up versus top-down regulation of marine ecosystems, the food selection of fish, as well as other topics relevant for the modelling of marine food webs.
Context: The
course is the first in a series of courses arranged by the network on “ScaLing
– from Individuals to Populations” (SLIP). The objective of the SLIP network
is to promote research in how the behavior of individuals shapes the dynamics of
populations. The SLIP network forms part of the Danish Network for Aquaculture
and Fisheries Research (www.fishnet.dk).
Participation: The course is intended for Ph.D. students and will be held in English. The number of participants is restricted to 17.
Teachers:
Prof. Henrik Gislason (Univ. of Copenhagen), organizer
Dr. Villy Christensen (Univ. of British Columbia, Canada),
Dr. Jeremy Collie (Univ. of Rhode Island, USA),
Prof. John Pope (Univ. of Tromsoe, Norway),
Senior advisor Morten Vinther (Danish Inst. Fish. Res., Denmark)
Contact:
Prof. Henrik Gislason, University of Copenhagen,
c/o Danish Institute for Fisheries Research
Deadline for
application: 15 June 2001.
Additional information will be made available on the SLIP page of www.fishnet.dk.
Course
fee: 2500 Dkr per
participant.