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Abstract:
This review examines interregional linkages and gives an overview perspective
on marine ecosystem functioning in the north-eastern Atlantic. It
is based on three of the 'systems' considered by the European Network
of Excellence for Ocean Ecosystems Analysis (EUR-OCEANS was established
in 2004 under the European Framework VI funding programme to promote
integration of marine ecological research within Europe), the Arctic
and Nordic Seas, North Atlantic shelf seas and North Atlantic. The
three systems share common open boundaries and the transport of water,
heat, nutrients and particulates across these boundaries modifies
local processes. Consistent with the EUR-OCEANS concept of 'end-to-end'
analyses of marine food webs, the review takes an integrated approach
linking ocean physics, lower trophic levels and working up the food
web to top predators such as marine mammals. We begin with an overview
of the regions focusing on the major physical patterns and their
implications for the microbial community, phytoplankton, zooplankton,
fish and top predators. Human-induced links between the regional
systems are then considered and finally possible changes in the regional
linkages over the next century are discussed. Because of the scale
of potential impacts of climate change, this issue is considered
in a separate section. The review demonstrates that the functioning
of the ecosystems in each of the regions cannot be considered in
isolation and the role of the atmosphere and ocean currents in linking
the North Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic shelf seas and the Arctic
and Nordic Seas must be taken into account. Studying the North Atlantic
and associated shelf seas as an integrated 'basin-scale' system will
be a key challenge for the early twenty-first century. This requires
a multinational approach that should lead to improved ecosystem-based
approaches to conservation of natural resources, the maintenance
of biodiversity, and a better understanding of the key role of the
north-eastern Atlantic in the global carbon cycle. copyright by R.N. Gibson,
R.J.A. Atkinson, and J.M.D. Gordon, Editors Talyor Francis.
