Documents

Summary

The Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean programme (ICED) provides a framework for research by identifying key science priorities and delivering targeted research and activities to understand the interactions between climate and ecosystem dynamics, their links to the Earth System, and generate scenarios and projections of the impacts of future change to support conservation and management. Over the coming decades major shifts in Southern Ocean ecosystems are expected in response to multiple stressors including climate-driven change and harvesting, with consequences for marine ecosystems and societies around the world. Understanding and predicting the response of Southern Ocean ecosystems is crucial for conservation and sustainable management. This report summarizes the ICED-sponsored workshop, 17-20 May 2021, focussed on improving our modelling of Antarctic krill (hereafter krill) which is a keystone species in Southern Ocean food webs and the subject of an international fishery. The workshop also aimed to provide Early Career Researchers (ECRs) with opportunities to network and highlight their work, as part of ICED’s wider goal of including ECRs in ICED activities to foster career development and shape the future of ICED research. This was also timely in providing opportunities for this cohort of researchers that have been limited during the COVID-19 pandemic. The workshop included background talks together with three themed sessions focussing on key aspects of krill modelling. Each themed session contained the main components: (1) speed talks presenting ongoing research projects; (2) tutorials on current approaches/best practices on methods for modelling krill; and (3) zoom polls and guided discussions on advancing understanding. Workshop attendees represented a broad cross-section of the international krill modelling community, in addition to researchers focussed on other species, comprising 81 registered participants across all career stages. This report summarises initial findings for research priorities, data requirements, facilitation methods for integrating modelling approaches, and ideas for fostering ECR networks and involvement within the ICED community.