OEMC project use case: Scale-dependency of "potential" marine biodiversity distribution patterns a national and European scales

Description

Marine biodiversity is essential for ecosystem stability and human well-being, but knowledge gaps

in spatial biodiversity data hinder effective conservation strategies. The Marine Strategy

Framework Directive (MSFD) emphasizes the need for tools that provide reliable, high-resolution

biodiversity information, yet much of the available data is either unevenly distributed or absent in

key areas.

This use case aims to model the spatial scaling of the biodiversity-productivity relationship using

open datasets and extensive in-situ biodiversity data. By linking net primary productivity from satellite

data (CBPM2 dataset) to biodiversity observations ( BioTIME database ), and incorporating auxiliary datasets like bathymetry and distance from the coast, the project will generate high-resolution potential biodiversity maps.

The key challenges addressed include:

1. Estimating biodiversity in regions lacking biological data.

2. Managing and integrating diverse datasets (e.g., productivity, bathymetry, and

biodiversity).

3. Providing decision-ready biodiversity data at scales relevant to both national and European

conservation efforts.

Stakeholder needs: 

• High-resolution biodiversity data tailored to MSFD requirements for coastal ecosystems.
• Tools for scenario building and predictions of biodiversity distribution, enabling effective
• resource management.
• User-friendly visual interfaces to generate decision-ready maps and reports for policymakers, scientists, and conservation practitioners.

Planned implementation:

To address these challenges, the project will:

• Develop robust models of the productivity-biodiversity relationship, integrating diverse

open and in-situ datasets, including long-term monitoring data and sampling results from the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). These additional datasets will refine the models, enhancing their accuracy and applicability to marine biodiversity assessments.

• Generate high-resolution biodiversity predictions at national and European scales, with a focus on coastal areas, where the interplay between environmental gradients and anthropogenic pressures are most pronounced.
• Create ensemble products, such as maps of potential biodiversity for key timeframes,

providing actionable insights into spatial and temporal variability. These products will help in dentifying priority areas for conservation and sustainable management.

• By incorporating data from the Marine Strategy, the project will better capture local variability in biodiversity and environmental conditions, ultimately producing models that are more representative of real-world dynamics.

Knowledge Resources

Funding awards

Additional details