Marine ecosystem connections
Essential indicators of healthy, productive and biologically
diverse European Shelf Seas
Sustainable human use and exploitation of the goods and services
provided by the seas depends upon clean, healthy, safe, productive
and biologically diverse oceans and seas. Science provides an
understanding of the impacts of climate change and human activity
on the marine environment, defining the tools required to describe
the state of the ecosystem and to set boundaries for acceptable
change which will help to avoid the irretrievable breakdown of
ecosystem health.
International targets have been set for reducing the rate of
loss of biodiversity. Our understanding of the link between
biodiversity (defined by ecosystem structure) and a healthy
functioning system is at an early stage. To avoid ecosystem
dysfunction we need a better understanding of connections between
the physical, chemical and biological components of the ecosystem.
These connections can be represented by flows of materials (Carbon,
Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Silicon) and energy through benthic and
pelagic food webs, and the linkages between them.
Marine ecosystem dynamics are driven by linkages between climate
forcing, hydrography, benthic (seabed) & pelagic (water column)
food webs and higher trophic levels (e.g. fish).
The main objective is to determine key ecosystem connections
that are susceptible to change.
This study, funded by Defra, will be undertaken by Cefas and
research partners. Additional collaboration is welcome. For further
information please contact Dr Ruth Parker or Dr Suzanne
Painting.
Arrows indicate
some of the key factors which influence linkages in marine
ecosystems. Indices of climate forcing include the North Atlantic
Oscillation (NAO), the Atlantic Inflow Index (AII) and the Gulf
Stream Index (GSI).