Ecosystem Functioning and Biodiversity

Abstract

The task of working group 4 was to examine the relationship betweenecosystem functioning and biodiversity in marine systems. The definitionof biodiversity used by the working group is the biological variabilityin ecosystems at the genetic, species and habitat level. The inventoryof marine life is much closer to completion in Europe than in manyother areas but some geographic areas, such as the MediterraneanSea, and specific taxa, mostly in the small size range (viruses,bacteria and protists), require more exploration. Also required isa European synthesis, including studies of both horizontal and verticalgradients of biodiversity, as well as the relationship between diversityand environmental data. The most efficient manner to investigatehow species impact ecosystem functioning is to understand the roleof the relatively few key organisms. These species should be identifiedand preferentially attract the attention of ecologists and biologicaloceanographers. Their study would provide a functional understandingthat could be used to model and predict the response of marine ecosystemsto global environmental change. In addition to global issues, workinggroup 4 also examined a large range of regional and local issuesthat also require attention because it is at these scales that mostburning societal questions occur. The working group identified aneed for additional support to strengthen existing large-scale researchinfrastructures and establish new ones in the Mediterranean and onthe Atlantic coast. These are invaluable tools to investigate theinteractions between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Finally,the loss of taxonomic expertise due to the declining number of marinesystematists should be a matter of great concern to Europe, whichmust be dealt with urgently.