Linking organism traits to ecosystem service mapping to inform natural capital-based management approaches to the offshore marine environment

The aim of this studentship is to conduct research that draws together traits-based information, with habitat mapping approaches, and management scenario modelling, to inform development of natural capital approaches to non-coastal marine environmental management. In this project the student will conduct research to answer the following four questions:

What benthic marine organism traits are linked to ecosystem services and organism responses to human induced pressures?

Which benthic assemblages (biotopes) contribute most to functional diversity and ecosystem services, and what are their respective vulnerabilities to human induced pressures.

How is functional diversity, ecosystem services and species vulnerability spatially distributed throughout UK offshore waters?

How do UK offshore benthic ecosystems respond to management decisions and what are the societal implications in terms of risk to ecosystem services?