An indicator framework for assessing ecosystem services in support of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

Maes, Joachim... et al.-- 10 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables, supplementary material https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.10.023In the EU, the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services, abbreviated to MAES, is seen as a key action for the advancement of biodiversity objectives, and also to inform the development and implementation of related policies on water, climate, agriculture, forest, marine and regional planning. In this study, we present the development of an analytical framework which ensures that consistent approaches are used throughout the EU. It is framed by a broad set of key policy questions and structured around a conceptual framework that links human societies and their well-being with the environment. Next, this framework is tested through four thematic pilot studies, including stakeholders and experts working at different scales and governance levels, which contributed indicators to assess the state of ecosystem services. Indicators were scored according to different criteria and assorted per ecosystem type and ecosystem services using the common international classification of ecosystem services (CICES) as typology. We concluded that there is potential to develop a first EU wide ecosystem assessment on the basis of existing data if they are combined in a creative way. However, substantial data gaps remain to be filled before a fully integrated and complete ecosystem assessment can be carried outBalint Czúcz was supported by the Bolyai Grant of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences under grant number BO/00138/12/8Peer Reviewe

Uses of Innovative Modeling Tools within the Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

In Europe and around the world, the approach to management of the marine environment has developed from the management of single issues (e.g., species and/or pressures) toward holistic Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) that includes aims to maintain biological diversity and protect ecosystem functioning. Within the European Union, this approach is implemented through the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC). Integrated Ecosystem Assessment is required by the Directive in order to assess Good Environmental Status (GES). Ecological modeling has a key role to play within the implementation of the MSFD, as demonstrated here by case studies covering a range of spatial scales and a selection of anthropogenic threats. Modeling studies have a strong role to play in embedding data collected at limited points within a larger spatial and temporal scale, thus enabling assessments of pelagic and seabed habitat. Furthermore, integrative studies using food web and ecosystem models are able to investigate changes in food web functioning and biological diversity in response to changes in the environment and human pressures. Modeling should be used to: support the development and selection of specific indicators; set reference points to assess state and the achievement of GES; inform adaptive monitoring programs and trial management scenarios. The modus operandi proposed shows how ecological modeling could support the decision making process leading to appropriate management measures and inform new policy.This manuscript is a result of DEVOTES (DEVelopment Of innovative Tools for understanding marine biological diversity and assessing good Environmental Status) project, funded by the European Union under the 7th Framework Programme, “The Ocean of Tomorrow” Theme (grant agreement no. 308392), www.devotes-project.eu.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

La gestión basada en los ecosistemas en el mar Mediterráneo: retos científicos y avances

Memoria de tesis doctoral presentada por Chiara Piroddi para optar al grado de Doctora en Ciencias del Mar por la Universitat de Barcelona (UB), realizada bajo la dirección de la Dra. Marta Coll Monton del Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) y de la Dra. Maria del Camino Liquete del Joint Research Centre (JRC).-- 390 pages[EN] In this thesis I investigated the status of the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem and the sustainability of its marine resources using an interdisciplinary approach, which combined data integration and modelling approaches. Results highlighted a series of commonalities for Mediterranean marine ecosystems: they indicate that ‘small pelagic fishes’, mainly European pilchards and anchovies, both with high biomasses and high proportions in catches, are important structuring species for the Mediterranean ecosystem (at regional, sub-regional and local scales). ‘Large pelagic fishes’ are the main keystone species for both the past and current Mediterranean ecosystem configuration, while ‘sharks’ and ‘medium pelagic fishes’ played a key role in the past, but their ecological role is currently replaced by benthopelagic and benthic cephalopods. In addition, the ‘Mediterranean monk seal’ “Monachus monachus”, where it still occurs, is the species with the highest TL followed by ‘piscivorous cetaceans’ and ‘large pelagic fish’. [...][ES] En esta tesis he investigado el estado ambiental del mar mediterráneo y la sostenibilidad de sus recursos marinos mediante un enfoque interdisciplinario que combina la integración de datos y la modelización de ecosistemas. Los resultados ponen de relieve una serie de puntos en común de los ecosistemas marinos mediterráneos: el grupo de “peces pelágicos de tamaño pequeño”, principalmente compuesto por sardinas y boquerones, con grandes biomasas y capturas, es un grupo importante en relación con la estructura del ecosistema mediterráneo (a nivel regional, sub regional y a escalas locales). El grupo de “peces pelágicos de gran tamaño” destaca por ser importante como grupo clave del ecosistema, tanto en el pasado como en el presente, mientras que el grupo de “tiburones” y “peces pelágicos de tamaño medianos” han jugado un rol ecológico clave en el pasado, pero éste es actualmente reemplazado por los grupos de peces bentopelágicos y cefalópodos bentónicos. Además, la foca monje del mediterráneo “Monachus monachus”, en aquellas zonas donde todavía existe, es la especie con el nivel trófico más alto, seguida por el grupo de “cetáceos que se alimentan de peces” y “peces pelágicos de gran tamaño”. [...][CAT] En aquesta tesi he investigat l'estat ambiental del mar mediterrani i la sostenibilitat dels seus recursos marins mitjançant un enfoc interdisciplinari que combina la integració de dades i la modelització d'ecosistemes. Els resultats posen en relleu una sèrie de punts en comú dels ecosistemes marins mediterranis: el grup de "peixos pelàgics de mida petita", principalment compost per sardines i seitons, amb grans biomasses i captures, és un grup important en relació amb l'estructura de l'ecosistema mediterrani (tant a nivell regional, sub regional i a escales locals). El grup de “peixos pelàgics de gran mida” destaca per ser important com a grup clau de l'ecosistema, tant en el passat com en el present, mentre que el grup dels “taurons” i “peixos pelàgics de mida mitjana” han jugat un paper ecològic clau en el passat, però aquest és actualment reemplaçat pels grups de peixos bentopelàgicos i cefalòpodes bentònics. A més, el vell marí del mediterrani “Monachus monachus”, en aquelles zones on encara existeix, és l'espècie amb el nivell tròfic més alt, seguida pel grup de "cetacis que s'alimenten de peixos" i "peixos pelàgics de grans dimensions". [...]Peer Reviewe

Capabilities of Baltic Sea models to assess environmental status for marine biodiversity

Abstract To date there has been no evaluation of the capabilities of the Baltic Sea ecosystem models to provide information as outlined by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. This work aims to fill in this knowledge gap by exploring the modelling potential of nine Baltic Sea ecosystem models to support this specific European policy and, in particular, models' capabilities to inform on marine biodiversity. Several links are found between the Model-Derived Indicators and some of the relevant biodiversity-related descriptors (i.e. biological diversity and food webs), and pressures (i.e. interference with hydrological processes, nutrient and organic matter enrichment and marine acidification). However several gaps remain, in particular in the limited representation of habitats other than the pelagic that the models are able to address for descriptor sea-floor integrity and inability to assess descriptor non-indigenous species. The general outcome is that the Baltic Sea models considered do not adequately cover all the requested needs of the MSFD, but can potentially do so to a certain extent, while for some descriptors/ criteria/indicators/pressures new indicators and/or modelling techniques need to be developed in order to satisfactorily address the requirement of the MSFD and assess the environmental status of the Baltic Sea

Modelling the Mediterranean marine ecosystem as a whole: addressing the challenge of complexity

An ecosystem modelling approach was used to understand and assess the whole 16 Mediterranean marine ecosystem structure and functioning. In particular, two food web 17 models for the 1950s and 2000s periods were built to investigate: 1) the main structural and 18 functional characteristics of the Mediterranean food-web during these time periods; 2) the key 19 species/functional groups and interactions; 3) the role of fisheries and its impact; and 4) the 20 ecosystem properties of the Mediterranean Sea in comparison with other European Regional 21 Seas. Results show that among all functional groups the highest trophic levels were observed 22 for marine mammals and large predatory fish. The ecosystem flows were mainly dominated by 23 lower trophic level organisms, as benthic invertebrates, zooplankton and phytoplankton while 24 small pelagic fish, mainly European sardines and anchovies, prevailed in terms of biomasses and 25 catches. Large pelagic fish, sharks and medium pelagic fish seemed to play a key role in the past 26 ecosystem, replaced in more recent year by large pelagic fish, benthopelagic and benthic 27 cephalopods. Fisheries showed large impacts on most living groups of the ecosystem in both 28 time periods. Also, when comparing the Mediterranean to the other European Regional Seas, 29 the Mediterranean stood alone in relation to the type of flows driving the system and the 30 cycling indices, suggesting higher levels of community stress induced by intensive fishing 31 activities. In the near future, effort should be dedicated to implement spatial and temporal 32 dynamic simulations to evaluate the exploitation status of the Mediterranean Sea and explore 33 different management policies and future scenarios.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Ecosystem services sustainability in the Mediterranean Sea: assessment of status and trends using multiple modelling approaches

14 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, supplementary information https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep34162Mediterranean ecosystems support important processes and functions that bring direct benefits to human society. Yet, marine ecosystem services are usually overlooked due to the challenges in identifying and quantifying them. This paper proposes the application of several biophysical and ecosystem modelling approaches to assess spatially and temporally the sustainable use and supply of selected marine ecosystem services. Such services include food provision, water purification, coastal protection, lifecycle maintenance and recreation, focusing on the Mediterranean region. Overall, our study found a higher number of decreasing than increasing trends in the natural capacity of the ecosystems to provide marine and coastal services, while in contrast the opposite was observed to be true for the realised flow of services to humans. Such a study paves the way towards an effective support for Blue Growth and the European maritime policies, although little attention is paid to the quantification of marine ecosystem services in this context. We identify a key challenge of integrating biophysical and socio-economic models as a necessary step to further this researchPeer Reviewe

A century of fish biomass decline in the ocean

Contribution to the Theme Section ‘Trophodynamics in marine ecology’.-- 12 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, supplementary material https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10946We performed a global assessment of how fish biomass has changed over the last 100 yr, applying a previously developed methodology using ecological modeling. Our assessment built on more than 200 food web models representing marine ecosystems throughout the world covering the period from 1880 to 2007. All models were constructed based on the same approach, and have been previously documented. We spatially and temporally distributed fish biomasses delivered by these models based on fish habitat preferences, ecology, and feeding conditions. From these distributions, we extracted over 68000 estimates of biomass (for predatory and prey fishes separately, including trophic level of 3.5 or higher, and trophic level between 2.0 and 3.0, respectively), and predicted spatial-temporal trends in fish biomass using multiple regression. Our results predicted that the biomass of predatory fish in the world oceans has declined by twothirds over the last 100 yr. This decline is accelerating, with 54% occurring in the last 40 yr. Results also showed that the biomass of prey fish has increased over the last 100 yr, likely as a consequence of predation release. These findings allowed us to predict that there will be fish in the future ocean, but the composition of fish assemblages will be very different from current ones, with small prey fish dominating. Our results show that the trophic structure of marine ecosystems has changed at a global scale, in a manner consistent with fishing down marine food webs. © Inter-Research 2014This is a contribution from Sea Around Us, a scientific cooperation between the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Pew Charitable trust. V.C. acknowledges support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. M.C. was partially funded by the EC Marie Curie Career Integration Grant Fellowships to the BIOWEB project and the Spanish National Program Ramon y Cajal.Peer Reviewe