The impact of biodiversity changes in coastal marine benthic ecosystems

Objective

The consequences of changes in biodiversity, natural and anthropogenic, for the functioning of coastal ecosystems are not known. To address this problem, two phenomena with regard to the (changes of) benthic biodiversity, occurring along the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Baltic coast, will be unravelled. Firstly, of two dominant benthic species, the blue edible mussel Mytilus sp. and the clam Macoma balthica, the strong north-eastward shift in distribution of several ecotypes along the European coast, and the consequences for the coastal benthic community structure, will be assessed. Secondly, the impact of low species numbers in the Baltic, in comparison to a higher diversity in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, on the production of coastal ecosystems will be studied. The resulting indicators of biodiversity and (their relation with) ecosystem functioning will be relevant to managers of environmental (coastal) quality control.

Programme(s)

• FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

• 1.1.4.-3. - Key action Sustainable Marine Ecosystems

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

NETHERLANDS INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY

Address

Korringaweg 7
4400 AC Yerseke
Netherlands

Participants (9)

BALTIC SEA RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Germany

Address

15,Seestrasse 15
18119 Rostock /Warnemunde

INSTITUTE OF OCEANOLOGY POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Poland

Address

55,Powstancow Warszawy 55
81-712 Sopot

INTERNATIONAL MARINE CENTRE

Italy

Address

Localita Sa Mardini
09170 Oristano

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Netherlands

Address

Darwinweg 2
2300 RA Leiden

SOCIEDAD CULTURAL DE INVESTIGACION SUBMARINA

Spain

Address

Zemoria 12
20013 San Sebastian

STICHTING KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT

Netherlands

Address

Toernooiveld 1
6500 GL Nijmegen

STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITET

Sweden

Address

Svante Arrhenius Vaeg 21 A
106 91 Stockholm

UNIVERSITE DE LA ROCHELLE

France

Address

Avenue De Lazaret
17042 La Rochelle

UNIVERSITY OF GDANSK

Poland

Address

Al. Pilsudskiego 46
81 378 Gdynia