Abstract
Key Customer Purpose - Why is the R&D needed? Assist Defra in determining a wider understanding of the health of marine ecosystems in relation to natural and anthropogenic change and provide key data to support several policy commitments e.g. Quality Status reports (OSPAR/ICES), climate change, the ecosystem approach etc. Summary Objectives To maintain and increase the multi-decadal data collected by the CPR over the North West European Shelf and in the Eastern and Western North Atlantic. In doing so, retain and improve survey skills in logistics, maintenance of equipment, taxonomy, identification, analysis and data processing. The data collected will be analysed to distinguish the difference between climatically forced, anthropogenic and natural plankton variability. The data will also be used to investigate the effects of pollution & enhanced inorganic nutrient loads on pelagic ecosystems; monitor changes in marine biodiversity to aid the development of indices of ecological health of UK regional seas; and provide data to Defra agencies and initiatives developing policy interests (e.g. climate and ecosystem modellers). The project will also contribute to a small education and knowledge transfer programme and will annually update the gridded plankton database WinCPR.
United Kingdom