Project

Nutritional Ecology of Climate Change

Tracking and projecting predator-prey interactions in a warming Gulf.

The Gulf of Maine is rapidly warming, and many marine species are shifting northward or to deeper waters as temperatures increase. However, each species moves at a different rate, resulting in changes in the spatial overlap between species. For this project, we will investigate whether predator-prey interactions have already changed along the Northeast Shelf as a result of differential responses to warming. We will also project future changes in predator-prey relationships, diet quality, and growth potential.

Project Goals:

  • Quantify rates of spatial distribution shifts for Northwest Atlantic marine species as ocean waters have warmed and evaluate how differential rates are related to biological traits.
  • Determine whether Northwest Atlantic fish species have experienced changes in diet composition and energetic content over the past several decades and whether these changes align with species distribution shifts.
  • Project how species’ diets and their energetic quality may change in the future as ocean temperatures continue to warm.
  • Incorporate results into educational programs at GMRI and the Seacoast Science Center.

Project Team

Project Sponsor

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2023536.

  • Aquaculture 101

    Aquaculture 101

    Aquaculture is quickly gaining popularity in our region, so we created a brief overview for you about what aquaculture is and its role in the …

    Perspectives

  • Sea State Recap: Hope and the Gulf of Maine

    Sea State Recap: Hope and the Gulf of Maine

    We recently welcomed community members, researchers, and local leaders to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) for the final installment of our winter Sea …

    Perspectives

  • Sea State Recap: The Thriving Blue Economy

    Sea State Recap: The Thriving Blue Economy

    In this installment of the Sea State series at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), we delved into the complexities and opportunities of our …

    Perspectives

  • 2024 Gulf of Maine Ventures Impact Report

    2024 Gulf of Maine Ventures Impact Report

    Our Gulf of Maine Ventures program connects early-stage blue economy companies with the resources and networks they need to scale and succeed. Read on for …

    Reports