Planning: Formulating and Sustaining a System-Level Understanding of a Large Marine Ecosystem in the Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area to Better Conserve and Guide Policy

罗斯海地区海洋保护区是世界上最大的海洋保护区之一，拥有地球上现存的最健康的海洋生态系统之一；然而，它面临着持续的气候变化和捕鱼压力的日益增加的压力。需要解决我们对罗斯海海洋生态系统高度耦合性质的理解中的许多空白，以支持罗斯海区域的养护努力，包括告知未来几十年区域海洋生态系统管理方案的效力和管理情况。这项研究的总体目标是制定一个创新和可持续的世界级研究计划，旨在通过协调多方面的系统级方法来更好地理解、保护和管理RSRMPA。将协调努力，促进国际合作；创造教育、外联和多样化的公平和包容(DEI)机会；并提高保护意识。协调罗斯海海洋生态系统研究将有助于加强系统级别的全球研究、可持续数据网络、可持续发展指数和气候公平。该计划还将为其他大规模、全球重要的系统提供开发类似框架的机会。这种跨学科的抱负还可以用来指导NSF维持或启动新的融资机会，同时解决NSF 10个大想法中的几个，并让多个NSF董事参与进来。该项目将通过提供以科学为基础的保护计划来帮助缓解这一南大洋原始地区的环境变化，从而帮助保持NSF的科学领导使命。研究人员将召开一次研讨会，对基于跨学科和跨学科方法(包括连接科学、网络基础设施、政策、管理和保护)的国际联网的世界级计划的实施进行战略制定，同时也为STEM教育、早期职业发展和核心Dei原则提供机会。为了有效地促进与罗斯海海洋生态系统区域和全球相互联系有关的研究的优先次序，研讨会将有罗斯海海洋研究的主要专家和参与更大的海洋、气候和生态系统/食物网络模型界的其他研究人员、利益攸关方和政策专家参加。讲习班将确定包括以下阶段的长期十年计划：(1)初步数据合成和生态系统/食物网模型开发；(2)实地观测和建模，通过国际协调的罗斯海观测系统联网；(3)数据合成和建模，包括支持罗斯海海洋生态系统持续管理和养护的“日落”计划。结果将包括一份研讨会报告，详细说明长期研究计划，一篇同行评议的文章，教育和外展材料，以及为实施世界级研究计划和首席调查人员提出的研究课题清单，他们将帮助协调旨在解决我们对罗斯海系统了解的主要差距的多项努力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area (RSRMPA), one of the world’s largest MPAs, encompasses one of the healthiest marine ecosystems remaining on this planet; however, it is exposed to increasing stress from ongoing climate change and fishing pressure. Numerous gaps in our understanding of the highly coupled nature of the Ross Sea marine ecosystem need to be addressed to support conservation efforts in the Ross Sea region, including informing the efficacy and management of the RSRMPA into the coming decades. The overarching goal of this research is to formulate an innovative and sustainable world-class research program aimed at better understanding, conserving, and managing the RSRMPA through the coordination of multi-faceted system-level approaches. There will be a coordinated effort to facilitate international collaboration; create education, outreach, and Diverse Equitable and Inclusive (DEI) opportunities; and increase conservation awareness. Coordinating Ross Sea marine ecosystem research will contribute to enhancing system-level global research, sustainable data networks, DEI, and climate equity. This program will also provide opportunity to develop similar frameworks for other large-scale, globally important systems. The trans-disciplinary aspiration can also serve to guide the NSF in sustaining or initiating new funding opportunities while addressing several of the 10 NSF BIG IDEAS and engaging multiple NSF Directorates. The project will help maintain NSF’s mission of scientific leadership by networking the Antarctic community by providing science-based conservation plans to help mitigate environmental changes in this pristine region of the Southern Ocean.The researchers will convene a workshop to strategize the implementation of an internationally networked, world class program that is based on inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches (including bridging science, cyberinfrastructure, policy, management, and conservation), while also providing opportunities for STEM education, early career development, and core DEI principles. To effectively facilitate the prioritization of research related to the regional and global interconnectedness of the Ross Sea marine ecosystem, the workshop will involve leading experts in Ross Sea marine research and other researchers, stakeholders, and policy experts involved in the greater oceanographic, climate and ecosystem/food web modeling communities. The workshop will determine a long-term decadal plan comprising the following phases: (1) initial data synthesis and ecosystem/food web model development; (2) field observations and modeling, networked through an internationally coordinated Ross Sea Observing System; and (3) data synthesis and modeling, including a “sunset” plan to support ongoing RSRMPA management and preservation of the Ross Sea marine ecosystem. Outcomes will include a workshop report detailing the long-term research plan, a peer-reviewed article, educational and outreach materials, and a list of proposed research topics for implementing a world class research program and Principal Investigators who will help coordinate the multiple efforts aimed at addressing major gaps in our knowledge of the Ross Sea system.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.