MarClim: Marine biodiversity and climate change indicators for policy

Data on the abundance and distribution of rocky intertidal invertebrates and macroalgae around UK coastlines has been collected by the Marine Biological Association since the 1950s. In 2001 these datasets were brought together... [ view full abstract ]

Data on the abundance and distribution of rocky intertidal invertebrates and macroalgae around UK coastlines has been collected by the Marine Biological Association since the 1950s. In 2001 these datasets were brought together and restarted under the MarClim project, which currently surveys 100 time-series sites annually. MarClim has shown some of the fastest biogeographic range shifts in response to climate change in any natural system, echoing changes recorded in plankton and fish communities in UK regional seas. MarClim is funded by UK Country Nature Conservation Bodies and forms part of their statutory monitoring objectives as an indicator of climate change impacts. MarClim has been developed as Good Environmental Status indicators for the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive using the Community Temperature Index indicator.