JNCC Report  
                        No: 397 
                           
                           
                           
                           
                 Defining concepts of ecosystem structure  
                 and function for UK marine monitoring 
                           
                           
                           
                           
               Marine Resources Assessment Group (MRAG) & 
            UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) 
                           
                           
                           
                           
                       August 2008 
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                    © JNCC, Peterborough 2008 
                           
                           
                           
                           
                      ISSN 0963-8901 
                           
                           
           Defining concepts of ecosystem structure and function for UK marine monitoring 
            
           For further information please contact: 
            
           Joint Nature Conservation Committee  
           Monkstone House 
           City Road 
           Peterborough    PE1 1JY 
            
            
            
            
           This report should be cited as: 
           MRAG & UNEP-WCMC (2008) 
           Defining concepts of ecosystem structure and function for UK marine monitoring. Joint 
           Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. 65 pages. JNCC report No. 397 
            
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                 Defining concepts of ecosystem structure and function for UK marine monitoring 
                 Contents 
                 Executive summary..................................................................................................................5 
                 1.      Introduction..................................................................................................................7 
                   1.1  Objective of this document............................................................................................7 
                   1.2 Consultation process......................................................................................................7 
                   1.3  How to read this document............................................................................................8 
                 2       Background context.....................................................................................................9 
                   2.1  The ecosystem approach................................................................................................9 
                   2.2   Challenges of implementing the ecosystem approach.................................................10 
                   2.3  Using concepts of structure and function in monitoring..............................................11 
                         2.3.1  Reference to ecosystem structure and function within policy instruments......11 
                         2.3.2   Monitoring and assessment as part of the management cycle.........................12 
                         2.3.3   Conceptualising the ecosystem in terms of structure and function..................13 
                         2.3.4   Structure and function within a framework for implementing an ecosystem 
                                 approach to marine monitoring........................................................................14 
                         2.3.5   Discussion document on definitions of ecosystem structure and function......19 
                 3       Consultation outcomes...............................................................................................21 
                   3.1 Written feedback..........................................................................................................21 
                   3.2 Workshop format.........................................................................................................21 
                   3.3   Main points of discussion............................................................................................21 
                         3.3.1   Usefulness of concepts of structure and function............................................21 
                         3.3.2 Application of concepts of structure and function...........................................23 
                         3.3.3   Linkages between concepts of structure and function.....................................25 
                         3.3.4  Feedback on different concepts of ecosystem structure and function.............27 
                         3.3.5  Other useful concepts.......................................................................................31 
                         3.3.6   Applying concepts to different scales..............................................................34 
                         3.3.7 Practicality issues.............................................................................................34 
                 4.      Conclusions.................................................................................................................36 
                   4.1 Concluding points........................................................................................................36 
                   4.2   Recommendations and next steps................................................................................38 
                 Annex 1: Discussion document.............................................................................................41 
                   1.    Definitions of ecosystem structure...............................................................................41 
                         1.1     Biological and physical elements.....................................................................41 
                         1.2 Integrating descriptions of ecosystem structure...............................................42 
                   2.    Definitions of ecosystem function...............................................................................43 
                         2.1     The biodiversity-function debate.....................................................................44 
                         2.2 Processes and properties..................................................................................44 
                         2.3     Integrated measures of ecosystem function.....................................................45 
                         2.4     Ecosystem goods and services.........................................................................46 
                         2.5     Linkages between structure and function ........................................................47 
                   3.    Applying concepts of structure and function to issues of scale...................................49 
                         3.1 Challenges of scale..........................................................................................49 
                         3.2 Application of structure and function definitions to different scales...............49 
                         3.3     Using structure and function to define marine ecosystem boundaries ............50 
                   4.    Comparison of definitions to structure, function and scale.........................................52 
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                   Defining concepts of ecosystem structure and function for UK marine monitoring 
                   Annex 2: Wider consultation................................................................................................55 
                     1. Feedback questionnaire................................................................................................55 
                     2. Broad Stakeholder Group (Institutions).......................................................................57 
                     3. Suggestion monitoring framework..............................................................................58 
                   Annex 3: Workshop outputs.................................................................................................59 
                     1. Workshop agenda.........................................................................................................59 
                     2. Workshop participants.................................................................................................61 
                     3. Workshop invitees.......................................................................................................62 
                     4.     Working group outputs................................................................................................63 
                            4.1      Group 1: Using ecosystem structure and function as a framework for UK 
                                     marine monitoring programmes.......................................................................63 
                            4.2      Group 2: Using ecosystem structure and function to inform selection of 
                                     indicators or environmental parameters...........................................................64 
                            4.3      Group 3: Scalability issues ..............................................................................65 
                            4.4      Group 4: Linkages between ecosystem structure and function .......................65 
                   Annex 4: Detailed Comparison Tables................................................................................67 
                   Annex 5: Comparison of eco-regions...................................................................................72 
                   Annex 6: References..............................................................................................................73 
                     1.     References used in development of the discussion document.....................................73 
                     2.     Additional references suggested by stakeholders........................................................75 
                    
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