Achievements and lessons learned from the Benguela Environment, Fisheries, Interaction and Training (BENEFIT) research programme

Hampton, Ian; Sweijd, Neville

doi:10.2989/ajms.2008.30.3.9.643

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Flushing and penetration of the shelf by hypoxic waters is an annually oscillating process with a maximum in oxygenated waters during September-November and a minimum during February-April (Hampton and Sweijd, 2008;Mohrholz et al, 2008;Monteiro et al, 2008). Extreme situations in late austral summer may lead to the production of H 2 S in the bottom layers.…”

Section: Northern Benguela Upwelling Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of hypoxia on the structure and processes in pelagic communities (zooplankton, macro-invertebrates and fish)

et al. 2010

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Abstract. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in the water column is an environmental parameter that is crucial for the successful development of many pelagic organisms. Hypoxia tolerance and threshold values are species-and stagespecific and can vary enormously. While some fish species may suffer from oxygen values of less than 3 mL O 2 L −1 through impacted growth, development and behaviour, other organisms such as euphausiids may survive DO levels as low as 0.1 mL O 2 L −1 . A change in the average or the range of DO may have significant impacts on the survival of certain species and hence on the species composition in the ecosystem with consequent changes in trophic pathways and productivity.Evidence for the deleterious effects of oxygen depletion on pelagic species is scarce, particularly in terms of the effect of low oxygen on development, recruitment and patterns of migration and distribution. While planktonic organisms have to cope with variable DOs and exploit adaptive mechanisms, nektonic species may avoid areas of unfavourable DO and develop adapted migration strategies. Planktonic organisms may only be able to escape vertically, above or beneath the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ). In shallow areas only the surface layer can serve as a refuge, but in deep waters many organisms have developed vertical migration strategies to use, pass through and cope with the OMZ.Correspondence to: W. Ekau (wekau@zmt-bremen.de) This paper elucidates the role of DO for different taxa in the pelagic realm and the consequences of low oxygen for foodweb structure and system productivity. We describe processes in two contrasting systems, the semi-enclosed Baltic Sea and the coastal upwelling system of the Benguela Current to demonstrate the consequences of increasing hypoxia on ecosystem functioning and services.

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Section: Northern Benguela Upwelling Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of hypoxia on the structure and processes in pelagic communities (zooplankton, macro-invertebrates and fish)

et al. 2010

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“…It is not our intention here to repeat the recommendations proposed in these aforementioned documents, but we make a plea for regional scientists, and scientists interested in working within the region, to engage with this literature and begin to adopt the principles enshrined within it. Whilst the BENEFIT and BCLME programmes have been rightly hailed as successes 7,13 , there is much room for improvement if we are to move forward in a more equitable way, as regional nations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Foremost amongst these projects were ones involved with transboundary fish stocks, although many other studies were conducted. 7 The second pillar was capacity development 5,6 , and efforts in this regard focused on building human capacity with a lesser emphasis on developing, bettering and maintaining national and regional infrastructure.…”

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confidence: 99%

nature of international collaboration in the Benguela upwelling region, 2000–2016

Gibbons

Govuza

2019

S. Afr. J. Sci.

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The aim of this piece is to draw attention to the fact that although we, as a country, have participated extensively in collaborative work with neighbouring states in the area of marine science, the number of lingering collaborations is woefully low, at least as measured using collaboratively authored publications as a measure of success in collaboration. And this low level of collaboration is despite significant financial intervention in the first decade of the 21st century. Indeed, the situation is depressing, and from conversations with colleagues, the lack of willingness to be inclusive and generous with authorship leads to mistrust and potentially threatens future relationships. With Operation Phakisa, the South African government is intent on building the blue economy, an economy that can best succeed by working with neighbours. With South Africa currently holding the chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and with the Department of Environmental Affairs Branch Oceans and Coasts investing significantly in research in the Western Indian Ocean, we need to be careful. So this piece is framed with the intention of reminding scientists who are working 'collaboratively', to make good on the fruits of the collaboration.International collaboration occurs when scientists with different skill sets and/or knowledge/experience from different countries work together on a common subject/problem. International, regional collaborative research within the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) was generously funded between 1997 and 2008, and has been supported subsequently, albeit at a lower level of investment. Collaboratively conceived and executed projects that generate data should result in collaboratively authored publications at project end, conditional upon data quality, subject novelty and time. Starting from a low level then, we would expect to see a progressive increase in collaborative publications pertinent to the BCLME region over the period 1997-2008, reflecting the stimulation and momentum engendered by the injected resources. As funds dwindle, a decline in collaboration might be anticipated that will be followed by a new base built on common curiosities and linkages. Here, we examine the level of collaboration in the scientific publications that emanated from work conducted in the BCLME over the period 2000-2016, with a view to understanding the nature of the collaboration.The Benguela Current is one of five eastern boundary currents which characteristically flow equatorward along the western seaboards of the major continental land masses. These currents are renowned for their important industrial fisheries that contribute significantly to regional economies and have been subject to considerable study. While teams from across the world try to seek universal truths through comparative approaches 1 , much is management orientated, and is conducted 'in-country' 2 . The Benguela Current flows northwards along the west coasts of South Africa, Namibia and southern Angola. 3 Whilst the oceanographic ...

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Coupled Earth System and Human Processes: An Introduction to SPACES and the Book

von Maltitz,

Bieri,

Midgley

et al. 2024

Ecological Studies

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Ecosystems in southern Africa are threatened by numerous global change forces, with climate change being a major threat to the region. Many climate change impacts and environmental-based mitigation and adaptation options remain poorly researched in this globally important biodiversity hotspot. This book is a collection of chapters covering research undertaken in southern Africa by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s (BMBF) SPACES and SPACES II programs. SPACES II covered a wide range of global change-linked environmental issues ranging in scope from the impacts of ocean currents on global climate systems through to understanding how small-scale farmers may best adapt to the impacts of climate change. All the research has identified policy implications, and the book strives for a balance between presenting the detailed science underpinning the conclusions as well as providing clear and simple policy messages. To achieve this, many chapters in the book contextualize the issues through the provision of a mini-review and combine this with the latest science emulating out of the SPACES II program of research. The book therefore consolidated both past and the most current research findings in a way that will be of benefit to both academia and policy makers.

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Achievements and lessons learned from the Benguela Environment, Fisheries, Interaction and Training (BENEFIT) research programme

Cited by 6 publications

References 24 publications

Impacts of hypoxia on the structure and processes in pelagic communities (zooplankton, macro-invertebrates and fish)

Impacts of hypoxia on the structure and processes in pelagic communities (zooplankton, macro-invertebrates and fish)

nature of international collaboration in the Benguela upwelling region, 2000–2016

Coupled Earth System and Human Processes: An Introduction to SPACES and the Book

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