Developing priority variables (“ecosystem Essential Ocean Variables” — eEOVs) for observing dynamics and change in Southern Ocean ecosystems

• Published in: Journal of Marine Systems
• Main Authors: Constable, Andrew J., Costa, Daniel P., Schofield, Oscar, Newman, Louise, Urban, Edward R., Fulton, Elizabeth A., Melbourne-Thomas, Jessica, Ballerini, Tosca, Boyd, Philip W., Brandt, Angelika, de La Mare, Willaim K., Edwards, Martin, Eléaume, Marc, Emmerson, Louise, Fennel, Katja, Fielding, Sophie, Griffiths, Huw, Gutt, Julian, Hindell, Mark A., Hofmann, Eileen E., Jennings, Simon, La, Hyoung Sul, Mccurdy, Andrea, Mitchell, B. Greg, Moltmann, Tim, Muelbert, Monica, Murphy, Eugene, Press, Anthony J., Raymond, Ben, Reid, Keith, Reiss, Christian, Rice, Jake, Salter, Ian, Smith, David C., Song, Sun, Southwell, Colin, Swadling, Kerrie M., van de Putte, Anton, Willis, Zdenka
• Other Authors: Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE-CRC), University of California Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz), University of California (UC), Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources and Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick (RU), Rutgers University System (Rutgers)-Rutgers University System (Rutgers), Southern Ocean Observing System International Project Office, University of Tasmania Hobart (UTAS), Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, CISRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Centre for Marine Socio-ecology, Institut méditerranéen d'océanologie (MIO), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Toulon (UTLN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies Hobart (IMAS), Zoological Museum Hamburg, University of Hamburg, Sir AlisterHardyFoundationforOceanScience, TheLaboratory,CitadelHill,PlymouthPL12PB,UK, Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université des Antilles (UA), Department of Oceanography Halifax (DO), Dalhousie University Halifax, British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung = Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research = Institut Alfred-Wegener pour la recherche polaire et marine (AWI), Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft = Helmholtz Association, Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion University Norfolk (ODU), Centre for Environment, Fisheries & aquaculture science, Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO - UC San Diego), University of California San Diego (UC San Diego), University of California (UC)-University of California (UC), Integrated Marine Observing System, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, CCAMLR Secretariat, Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing (CAS), Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2016
• Subjects: Ocean observing; Antarctica; Southern Ocean Observing System; Essential variables; Ecosystem change; Monitoring systems; Ecosystem management; Indicators; [SDU.STU.OC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Oceanography; Indian; Pacific; Southern Ocean; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-01331642; https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-01331642v1/document; https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-01331642v1/file/1-s2.0-S0924796316300756-main.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2016.05.003

International audience Reliable statements about variability and change in marine ecosystems and their underlying causes are needed to report on their status and to guide management. Here we use the Framework on Ocean Observing (FOO) to begin developing ecosystem Essential Ocean Variables (eEOVs) for the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS). An eEOV is a defined biological or ecological quantity, which is derived from field observations, and which contributes significantly to assessments of Southern Ocean ecosystems. Here, assessments are concerned with estimating status and trends in ecosystem properties, attribution of trends to causes, and predicting future trajectories. eEOVs should be feasible to collect at appropriate spatial and temporal scales and are useful to the extent that they contribute to direct estimation of trends and/or attribution, and/or development of ecological (statistical or simulation) models to support assessments. In this paper we outline the rationale, including establishing a set of criteria, for selecting eEOVs for the SOOS and develop a list of candidate eEOVs for further evaluation. Other than habitat variables, nine types of eEOVs for Southern Ocean taxa are identified within three classes: state (magnitude, genetic/species, size spectrum), predator–prey (diet, foraging range), and autecology (phenol-ogy, reproductive rate, individual growth rate, detritus). Most candidates for the suite of Southern Ocean taxa relate to state or diet. Candidate autecological eEOVs have not been developed other than for marine mammals and birds. We consider some of the spatial and temporal issues that will influence the adoption and use of eEOVs in an observing system in the Southern Ocean, noting that existing operations and platforms potentially provide coverage of the four main sectors of the region — the East and West Pacific, Atlantic and Indian. Lastly, we discuss the importance of simulation modelling in helping with the design of the observing system in the long term.