The first Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean (MEASO) is a core program of Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics of the Southern Ocean (ICED). The outcomes of MEASO are in a Frontiers Research Topic (https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/10606/marine-ecosystem-assessment-for-the-southern-ocean-meeting-the-challenge-for-conserving-earth-ecosys#overview) and provide a detailed assessment of current knowledge on status, trends and drivers of change in Southern Ocean ecosystems. Summary information and a subset of MEASO infographics are included to highlight the outcomes of MEASO relevant to the CCAMLR workshop on climate change, providing guidance on the details available from this assessment.
MEASO assessed global and local drivers of change. The global drivers of change influence environmental variability and change via the oceans and atmosphere. The assessment shows how these drivers influence the ecology of the ocean, benthos and sea ice. The current state of knowledge on the specific effects of climate change on Southern Ocean biota and food webs is summarized for phytoplankton and primary production, krill and zooplankton, fish and squid, marine mammals and birds, food webs, ecosystem services, as well as the linkages and impacts that change in Southern Ocean ecosystems can have for global systems.
MEASO has collated and described tools for assessing and managing impacts of climate change, including (i) modelling to support assessment and design of management procedures, (ii) the potential engagement of the Southern Ocean Observing System and its regional working groups in facilitating integrated observing of sentinel variables from across the food web, (iii) the breadth of stakeholder engagement that can support the development of management strategies, and (iv) risk assessments. A key highlight from MEASO has been the breadth of scientific communities brought together to assist this work.