Abstract
Ecosystem-based marine spatial management is presently promoted to halt the declining health of marine ecosystems and maintain their services. However, this approach is seriously impeded by lack of information on dispersal and connectivity between habitats, the value of the ecosystem services, and methods for using this information in management. Eelgrass meadows (Zostera spp.) are key habitats in coastal ecosystems that provide a range of ecosystem goods and services. However, they are rapidly declining in Sweden and other countries and are in immediate need of management measures. With a multidisciplinary team this project aims to develop a series of new spatial management tools for protection and restoration of Swedish eelgrass meadows, through 3 main tasks: 1. Assess connectivity between past and present eelgrass meadows using oceanographic particle models and population genetic methods to assess genetic diversity and identify vulnerable and valuable eelgrass areas. 2. Assess historical changes of key ecosystem functions and services provided by eelgrass ecosystems, and estimate area-specific economic values using model results of juvenile cod distribution and cost of nutrient reduction measures. 3. Develop a new model-approach that integrates the connectivity of eelgrass communities with area-specific values of the ecosystem services to identify the eelgrass beds that promote the largest and most resilient metacommunities, and the highest benefits to society.
Sweden