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Effects of nutrient management scenarios on marine food webs: a pan-European assessment in support of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Piroddi, C.; Akoglu, E.; Andonegi, E.; Bentley, J.W.; Celić, I.; Coll, M.; Dimarchopoulou, D.; Friedland, R.; de Mutsert, K.; Girardin, R.; Garcia-Gorriz, E.; Grizzetti, B.; Hernvann, P.-Y.; Heymans, J.J.; Müller-Karulis, B.; Libralato, S.; Lynam, C.P.; Macías, D.; Miladinova, S.; Moullec, F.; Palialexis, A.; Parn, O.; Serpetti, N.; Solidoro, C.; Steenbeek, J.; Stips, A.; Tomczak, M.T.; Travers-Trolet, M.; Tsikliras, A.C. (2021). Effects of nutrient management scenarios on marine food webs: a pan-European assessment in support of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Front. Mar. Sci. 8: 596797. https://hdl.handle.net/10.3389/fmars.2021.596797
In: Frontiers in Marine Science. Frontiers Media: Lausanne. e-ISSN 2296-7745
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open access 361092 [ download pdf ]

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    ecological modeling; hydrological modeling; hydrodynamic andbiogeochemical modeling; higher trophic level modeling; ecologicalindicators; criteria; policy support

Authors  Top 
  • Piroddi, C.
  • Akoglu, E.
  • Andonegi, E.
  • Bentley, J.W.
  • Celic, I.
  • Coll, M.
  • Dimarchopoulou, D.
  • Friedland, R.
  • de Mutsert, K.
  • Girardin, R.
  • Garcia-Gorriz, E.
  • Grizzetti, B.
  • Hernvann, P.-Y.
  • Heymans, J.J.
  • Müller-Karulis, B.
  • Libralato, S.
  • Lynam, C.P.
  • Macías, D.
  • Miladinova, S.
  • Moullec, F.
  • Palialexis, A.
  • Parn, O.
  • Serpetti, N.
  • Solidoro, C.
  • Steenbeek, J.
  • Stips, A.
  • Tomczak, M.T.
  • Travers-Trolet, M.
  • Tsikliras, A.C.

Abstract
    Eutrophication is one of the most important anthropogenic pressures impacting coastal seas. In Europe, several legislations and management measures have been implemented to halt nutrient overloading in marine ecosystems. This study evaluates the impact of freshwater nutrient control measures on higher trophic levels (HTL) in European marine ecosystems following descriptors and criteria as defined by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). We used a novel pan-European marine modeling ensemble of fourteen HTL models, covering almost all the EU seas, under two nutrient management scenarios. Results from our projections suggest that the proposed nutrient reduction measures may not have a significant impact on the structure and function of European marine ecosystems. Among the assessed criteria, the spawning stock biomass of commercially important fish stocks and the biomass of small pelagic fishes would be the most impacted, albeit with values lower than 2.5%. For the other criteria/indicators, such as species diversity and trophic level indicators, the impact was lower. The Black Sea and the North-East Atlantic were the most negatively impacted regions, while the Baltic Sea was the only region showing signs of improvement. Coastal and shelf areas were more sensitive to environmental changes than large regional and sub-regional ecosystems that also include open seas. This is the first pan-European multi-model comparison study used to assess the impacts of land-based measures on marine and coastal European ecosystems through a set of selected ecological indicators. Since anthropogenic pressures are expanding apace in the marine environment and policy makers need to use rapid and effective policy measures for fast-changing environments, this modeling framework is an essential asset in supporting and guiding EU policy needs and decisions.

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