We would like to draw your attention to a special session at Ocean Sciences which will be held February 22-26, 2010 in Portland, Oregon.
IT39: From field observations to modeling connectivity in the nearshore and back again: Circulation, dispersal, and settlement
Abstract submission deadline is Oct. 15.
Description:
Identifying processes leading to larval connectivity, the rate of transfer of individuals between isolated populations, is critical for understanding coastal marine ecosystems and for developing effective strategies for marine conservation. A wide range of research approaches are currently employed to advance understanding of marine connectivity including process studies, genetics, and numerical circulation modeling. Research on connectivity has expanded greatly in the past decade and is increasingly focused on nearshore coastal circulation. For example, observations of coastal circulation features suggest larvae can be maintained nearshore for extended periods. Increased model resolution is beginning to enable inclusion of coastal circulation processes into dispersal models. As our understanding of population connectivity grows, it is becoming increasingly important to use models as hypothesis generating tools that can be directly tested through field experiments. This session solicits contributions describing advances in understanding larval connectivity in the coastal ocean employing a variety of interdisciplinary approaches.
Conveners:
C. Brock Woodson, Stanford University, USA
Libe Washburn, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
Chris Edwards, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA
Margaret McManus, University of Hawaii, USA
We look forward to seeing you.