On-line Data from the U.S. GLOBEC Georges Bank Program

The proximate goal is to understand the population dynamics of key species on the Bank: cod, haddock, and two species of zooplankton - in terms of their coupling to the physical environment and in terms of their predators and prey. The ultimate goal is to be able to predict changes in the distribution and abundance of these species as a result of changes in their physical and biotic environment as well as to anticipate how their populations might respond to climate change.

The effort is substantial, requiring broad-scale surveys of the entire Bank. In addition, process studies focus both on the links between the target species and their physical environment and on the determination of fundamental aspects of these species' life history (birth rates, growth rates, death rates, etc.). Equally important are the modeling efforts that are ongoing which seek to provide realistic predictions of the flow field and which utilize the life history information to produce an integrated view of the dynamics of the populations.