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A new approach to monitor changes in marine ecosystems
Ocean Ecosystem Accounting efforts (physical accounts: ecosystem extent, condition and ecosystem services) mainly focus on ecosystems easy to map, such as nearshore or intertidal areas, and lack the fundamental linkage between ecosystem extent and condition on ecosystem service delivery.
A new study led by BC3’ ARIES team and published in “Environmental and Sustainability Indicators” journal proposes an adaptable approach that effectively links ecosystem extent to ecosystem condition and that is scalable to broad regions, including the deep-sea
The methodology developed by the research team can be applied in data-limited regions or in areas with a high amount of fieldwork. Consequently, depending on data availability, the results will be a more comprehensive condition assessment of the habitats and a better link between condition and ecosystem service delivery (in case parameters used in the condition assessment are also involved in ecosystem service delivery) or a simpler condition assessment.
“Our study illustrates that integrating existing ecological valuation methods with existing marine habitat classification systems offers a novel approach to monitor changes in marine ecosystem extent and condition, and link both to ecosystem service delivery”, highlights Beñat Egidazu-de la Parte, BC3’ researcher and main author of the work.
The results can be used to compare conditions within a case study and identify hotspots with the highest condition, as well as areas with low condition where policy or management intervention is needed.
Moreover, the methodology aims to provide an ecologically grounded assessment of marine ecosystem condition, strengthening the basis to connect both ecosystem extent and condition to service delivery. Therefore, within the Ocean Ecosystem Accounting framework, it also strengthens the basis for valuing ecosystem services in monetary terms.
This research is funded by the European Union Horizon Europe project MARBEFES and supported by Innovate UK through the Horizon Europe Guarantee scheme.
