GOOS Biology and Ecosystems Panel – The challenge of identifying ecological essential ocean variables

There is no single model that describes how marine biodiversity and ecosystems are fairing or predict how they will change in the future under increasing anthropogenic pressures. Thus there is no unique set of Essential Ocean... [ view full abstract ]

There is no single model that describes how marine biodiversity and ecosystems are fairing or predict how they will change in the future under increasing anthropogenic pressures. Thus there is no unique set of Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) for biological components of the ecosystem that will satisfy the scientific understanding needed to support and monitor management actions. Yet there is a need to come to international agreement on a set of variables that can be developed globally to support advanced and advancing countries and international conventions in understanding and managing the marine environment. The DPSIR framework is a commonly accepted framework used to identify the information needs to understand and manage human impacts on the environment and provides one high level model that can guide the process to identify EOVs. It is a complex space with many existing initiatives that we need to integrate with and build on. In this
talk we are seeking input and feedback on our early progress in filling in this framework:
D what are the societal questions, sectoral trends, national and international obligations and that Drive the need to monitor marine biodiversity and ecosystem health
P what are the human Pressures affecting the environment that are or will impact marine biodiversity and ecosystem health
S what are the existing initiatives that could be built on to measure the State of the marine environment
I what are the priority Impacts on the marine environment that need to be monitored and how well do existing initiatives address those needs – what are the key gaps
R which monitoring information is most likely to be used to help society Respond to identified impacts
The GOOS BEP is in this process to define the major societal challenges and scientific questions requiring sustained global observations of ocean biological and ecosystem variables envisioning a healthy ocean for prosperity and sustainability while considering the requirements and impacts of human activities on three key ecosystem attributes: productivity, biodiversity, and services.