Intertidal Biodiversity Workshop Announcement

Updating Perspectives About Change and Conservation of Intertidal Biodiversity in the Northeast Pacific Region.

Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre 

April 25-27, 2004

Background

Worldwide, human activities have induced changes in coastal biotic communities. The Northeast Pacific has not been spared from the increases in anthropogenic influences that could potentially affect this coast. Examples include: increased nutrient loading, forest practices that occur with increasing proximity to aquatic environments, increased frequency of El Nino events, marine pollution, introduced species, and increased use of park lands. Yet, comprehensive and up-to-date perspectives about how these impacts are affecting NE Pacific coastal biotic communities are lacking. Are local intertidal communities being altered, and if so, what are the implications of these changes? What role should scientists from the Pacific Northwest play in including intertidal algae, plants, and animals into coastal conservation and management plans?  These questions are the focus of a two-day workshop following the Northwest Algal Symposium in April 2004.

Over three days, four sessions will be held. Each session will have a mix of formats, including symposia, large- and small-group discussions, and hands-on workshops (computer, lab, and/or field). The final content of the workshop will depend on the attendees, but a preliminary outline includes the following topics:

1) Demonstration of change in local coastal biotic communities

Symposium: presentations from participants regarding changes in intertidal communities in their region

Discussion:  Overcoming hurdles to demonstrating biotic impact, coping with a lack of baseline data, and overcoming limited taxonomic expertise

2) Methods and challenges in quantifying change in intertidal communities

Discussion:  highlighting problems and determining solutions specific to quantifying change in intertidal communities, methods in data collection and analysis

Workshop: multivariate community structure analysis using PRIMER software

3) Ramifications of change in intertidal communities

Symposium:  what happens when intertidal communities change? Loss of functional diversity and the alteration of community and ecosystem services provided by seaweeds and invertebrates.

Discussion: Are intertidal communities in the Pacific Northwest under stress? Should seaweeds and sessile invertebrates be targeted in marine conservation plans?

4) Challenges and futures in intertidal conservation in the Northeast Pacific

Discussion: Highlighting challenges and determining the future of intertidal conservation in the Northeast Pacific. What are the challenges to including seaweeds and sessile invertebrates in current marine conservation plans, and what are the ramifications of ignoring them? What can we do to overcome these challenges?

Outcomes

These sessions are intended to be highly interactive and participant driven. It is anticipated that the proceedings will be published either in a peer-reviewed journal, or as an independent workshop proceedings.

Contact

To register for this workshop, please see the attached registration form. To be added to the mailing list, offer suggestions for the workshop, or to indicate interest in participating, please contact Colin Bates (colinba@interchange.ubc.ca).

Please note that the registration deadline for this workshop is March 27^th, 2004, and we are limited to a maximum of 20 participants (due to accomodation limitations).

*UPDATE Mar 29.04:  There are TWO spaces left! As such, we will accept registration forms until the workshop is full. Contact us by email to confirm your spot before mailing anything!  

Click here to download a registration form (pdf) (MS Word)

Click here for a copy of the workshop outline program (pdf) (MS Word)

Click here to download a hi-res PDF image of the poster for printing (3.2MB)

Click here for administrative information about getting to, and surviving in, Bamfield.

Click here if you are giving a formal presentation.

Click here to see a rough schedule of formal presentations.

Click here to download a copy of the Participant Information Package, which includes the schedule, abstracts, and participant biosketch information (pdf; 1.6MB) 

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