CONTINENTAL MARGINS – LINKING ECOSYSTEMSCONTINENTAL MARGINS – LINKING ECOSYSTEMS

Jack Middleburg Nancy Rabalais KK Liu Burke Hales Helmuth Thomas Kai Wirtz Katja Fennel Paul Wassmann Isabelle Niang Diop Jing Zhang

OUTLINE

I. IntroductionII. ObjectivesIII. Commonalities of IMBER, LOICZ

and SOLASIV. RationaleV. Development of PlanVI. Study TopicsVII. Cross Cutting Methodologies for

Continental Margin StudiesVIII. Integration of the Human DimensionIX. Approach for SuccessX. References

Fig. 1. Important physical processes in continental margins (Liu et al., 2009)

The objectives of the Continental Margins Implementation Plan are to

•provide an understanding of the linked biogeochemical, physical and human dimensions of continental margin systems

•develop accurate predictive capacity for continental margin responses to environmental and anthropogenic drivers, including accelerating global change and the consequent effects on the earth system and human society

•provide knowledge, understanding and prediction needed to allow coastal communities to assess, anticipate and respond to the interaction of global change and local pressures which determines coastal change

•integrate the programs of IMBER (Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research) and LOICZ (Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone) across an important ecosystem

Continental Margin

LOICZ IMBER

Fig. 2. Domain of the Continental Margin Implementation plan in relation to IMBER and LOICZ.

LOICZ IMBER

Continental Margin

Fig. 3. Generalized model of shelf processes related to discharge of a large river efflux and the intensity of benthic fluxes related to faunal community, distribution in the sediments and level of bioturbation (from work on the Chanjiang continental shelf, Rhoads et al., 1985)

Topic 1 Continental Margins as Sources or Sinks of CO2

Topic 2 Coupling of Multi-Element Cycles across BoundariesTopic 3 Interaction of Biology and Biogeochemical CyclesTopic 4 Potential Shifts in Continental Margin Systems with Increasing Atmospheric CO2 and Ocean AcidificationTopic 5 End-to-End Food Webs Topic 6 Regime ShiftsTopic 7 Ocean Shelf Exchange as a Gateway of the Earth System

VII.Cross Cutting Methodologies for Continental Margin Studies

• Integration of Existing Tools and Analysis of their Applicability

• Continental Shelf Ecosystem Comparisons

• Integrated Ocean Observing Capabilities • Conceptual and numerical models

Fig. 4. Delineation of large marine ecosystems and marginal seas (adapted from Sherman and Hempel 2009).

VIII.Integration of the Human Dimension

This topic continues to surface and is critical for the incorporation of continental margin research, understanding and prediction as they related to societal needs. This is a both a LOICZ and IMBER theme but a strong component of LOICZ and as yet to be initiated theme of IMBER. This aspect of the Continental Margin IP was not discussed at the Open Science Meeting

IX. Approach for Success WE DID NOT DISCUSS IN ANY DETAIL IN SHANGHAI, THIS

SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING TO WORK OUT AMONG THE TWO IPOs AND THE TWO SSCs.