Can trait-based approaches inform habitat mapping of ecosystem function, process and services in benthic communities.

The sustainable management of marine ecosystems relies upon the existence of a clear baseline which involves
quantifying species, habitats and processes within ecosystems and the connections between them. Understanding
the functioning of ecosystems requires an understanding of the role species play in ecosystem processes and the
delivery of services. This project has been developed collaboratively between benthic ecologists, social scientists,
socio-economists, and marine managers to integrate functional approaches within a natural capital framework
and give new insight for sustainable management of marine resources. Offshore wind is expected to grow fivefold by 2030, and therefore understanding its impacts on benthic communities and the ecosystem services they
provide using long term datasets is critical to enabling a sustainable energy transition.
Benthic communities play an essential role in mediating EF and time-series data have been gathered through preand post-construction monitoring surveys at offshore wind farm (OWF) sites around the UK. However, compared
to more iconic, mobile species such as birds, fish and mammals, ecosystem-level impacts from OWF on the
benthic community structure and function are poorly understood. EF is closely related to biological diversity,
which has led to the development of trait-based approaches (TBA) to link community composition and functions.
Organisations that are responsible for management of the marine environment are actively seeking new
approaches to improve decision-making within the context of environmental change at a systems level. This
project aims to support the Sustainable Management of Marine Resources by developing new TBA to inform
natural capital valuation and assessment within an applied, offshore context. Developing an understanding of the
economic, social and environmental value provided by the marine environment and how different activities
impact natural capital assets (both positively and negatively) is an important priority for TCE.