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NEW! - Expert Group on Birds and Marine Mammals
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NEW! - Expert Group on Birds and Marine Mammals
Noting that there is a benefit in merging the Expert Group on Birds and the Expert Group on Seals into one Expert Group on Birds and Marine Mammals (EGBMM)
The SSG-LS proposed the establishment of a group:
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The Expert Group on Birds and Marine Mammals is established via a transitional period of two to three years, this at the discretion of the group. There will be an initial meeting of the group within one year. An evaluation of the group will be made after two years and be reported to the LSSSG meeting at XXXI SCAR in 2010. The outcome of the evaluation report will be decisive for further actions to be taken.
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The group will continue the research currently in progress in the two constituent groups.
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Meetings of the new group will be as much as possible combined. The group will meet in plenary or in two parallel sessions as they see fit and as the need arises.
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All members and co-opted members of the two constituent groups will automatically become members or co-opted members of the new group.
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In the transitional phase the group will seek extension of the membership with experts in the field of processing of large data sets and mathematical modelling.
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The group will consist of (i) a three person executive - initially to be led by a D. Patterson-Fraser (co-ordinator), M. Bester, and a Secretary (vacancy), (ii) A core group of invited experts (10-15 people) and (iii) co-opted members from the wider community, as required.
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The Expert Group will, wherever possible, seek formal collaboration with similar groups from other ATS bodies, especially with a view to facilitating data exchange and management to improve the information and advice provided by this group to SCAR and to the ATS.
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In one of its first meetings the group will discuss and adopt rules of procedure, especially with respect to the use of published and unpublished data.
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The provisional Terms of Reference for this group will be:
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To quantify the role of birds and marine mammals in the Antarctic marine and terrestrial ecosystems
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To work with other components of SCAR towards a multidisciplinary synthesis of biophysical and biochemical coupling mechanisms in the Antarctic.
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To collate and provide information on the status and trends of populations of specific species in the SCAR area of interest based on needs identified by SCAR or by the group.
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To provide advice to ATS bodies and others as requested from time to time, as agreed by SCAR, and in collaboration with these bodies including the exchange of data.
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Contribute to the conservation and management of Antarctic and subantarctic birds and mammals through the appropriate utilisation and interpretation of currently available scientific data.
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