Plankton as prevailing conditions: a surveillance role for plankton indicators within ecosystem-based management

Indicators are used to monitor changes in the state of marine ecosystems. For example, an indicator approach to ecosystem assessment is adopted by the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), where indicators of... [ view full abstract ]

Indicators are used to monitor changes in the state of marine ecosystems. For example, an indicator approach to ecosystem assessment is adopted by the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), where indicators of ecosystem state are assessed as to whether they are in 'Good Environmental Status' relative to prevailing oceanographic conditions. Here we use examples from the literature to illustrate that climate-driven plankton community changes are necessary prevailing conditions that need to be understood for more effective ecosystem assessment, and are therefore useful as surveillance indicators. Plankton indicator surveillance could provide useful diagnostic information for assessing ecosystem status, both within plankton communities and other biodiversity components. It also has the potential to have a more strategic role in the assessment of other biodiversity components by affecting targets and influencing the programmes of measures needed to achieve them. Plankton indicators can therefore have multiple roles with ecosystem-based marine management frameworks such as the MSFD; both the detection of direct anthropogenic pressures, and the surveillance of underlying environmental change.