The changing marine environment
In order to manage marine ecosystems effectively we need to
understand how they will respond to future changes in the marine
environment. There are many potential drivers of change including
climate related drivers, for example, acidification, light,
circulation and temperature, and anthropogenic drivers, such as
fishing, pollution, invasive species and eutrophication. Models can
help us to understand how these multiple drivers interact and
impact upon the marine ecosystem.
PML is co-ordinating the first project, the Marine Ecosystem
Evolution in a Changing Environment (MEECE), that attempts to use
predictive models that consider the full range of drivers together.
Earlier studies have only considered the impacts of each driver of
change individually, but this innovative approach will enable
scientists and decision makers to respond to multiple driver
impacts with appropriate, knowledge based management
applications.
Information and data gathered in the early stages of the project
will then be used to develop predictive management tools and
strategies to help policy makers and society adapt to the changing
marine environment over the coming decades.
Projects
- Marine Ecosystem Evolution in a Changing
Environment (MEECE)
MEECE is a European FP7
Integrated project with 22 partners co-ordinated by PML. MEECE uses
predictive models that consider the full range of climatic and
anthropogenic drivers to explore the responses of the marine
ecosystem in a holistic manner. This innovative approach will help
scientists and decision makers to respond to multiple driver
impacts with appropriate, knowledge based, management applications.
MEECE will also go a step further and provide methodologies to
evaluate these new decision making and management
tools.