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

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The sustainable management of marine ecosystems relies upon the existence of a clear baseline which involvesquantifying species, habitats and processes within ecosystems and the connections between them. Understandingthe functioning of ecosystems requires an understanding of the role species play in ecosystem processes and thedelivery 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 frameworkand 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 theyprovide 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, comparedto more iconic, mobile species such as birds, fish and mammals, ecosystem-level impacts from OWF on thebenthic 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 newapproaches to improve decision-making within the context of environmental change at a systems level. Thisproject aims to support the Sustainable Management of Marine Resources by developing new TBA to informnatural capital valuation and assessment within an applied, offshore context. Developing an understanding of theeconomic, social and environmental value provided by the marine environment and how different activitiesimpact natural capital assets (both positively and negatively) is an important priority for TCE.