A conceptual framework for assessing the ecosystem service of waste remediation: In the marine environment

Watson, Stephen C. L.; Paterson, David M.; Queirós, Ana M.; Stephens, Nicholas; Widdicombe, Stephen

doi:10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.06.011

Cited by 35 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 112 publications

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“…Rather, they tend to focus on cultural and provisioning ES that have more obvious links to human wellbeing (e.g., in closer proximity to beneficiaries [44]). The lack of scientific knowledge surrounding the processes that provide regulatory services e.g., [45] and the fact that many of the benefits provide by these services are indirect and far removed from the businesses that utilize or experience them, also makes them prone to being overlooked [46]. This was observed in this study where the regulatory ES of carbon sequestration and storage were the least understood of all the ES.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Dependency of Businesses on Flows of Ecosystem Services: A Case Study from the County of Dorset, UK

Watson

Newton

2018

Sustainability

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Although it is widely assumed that business activity is dependent on flows of ecosystem services (ES), little evidence is available with which to evaluate this contention. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a questionnaire survey of business dependencies on twenty-six different ES in the English county of Dorset, where the environment supports a significant component of the local economy. Responses were received from 212 businesses across twenty-eight sectors. While virtually all businesses (98%) were familiar with the concept of ES, dependency on ES was highly divided with 50% of businesses surveyed claiming no dependence on any ES flows. The highest businesses dependencies reported in this study were for regulating services with the ES of water quality and waste water treatment being of particular importance to businesses. The results however, advised that greater efforts are needed in highlighting the indirect benefits provided by Dorset's ecosystems, with eight business sectors (58% of respondents) claiming no or little dependence on supporting and habitat services including the ES of biodiversity, habitats for species and maintenance of genetic diversity. Many businesses also indicated little or no dependence on the globally important ES of pollination and soil condition, which may reflect a lack of awareness of dependencies occurring upstream of their value chains. At the sector level, businesses directly involved in protecting, extracting, or manufacturing raw materials were found to be more dependent on provisioning, regulatory and supporting ES than those operating in the service sector who favored cultural ES. These results highlight the value of assessing business dependencies on ES flows, which could usefully inform environmental management and accounting systems and improve monitoring of business performance, and thereby contribute to achievement of sustainability goals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Dependency of Businesses on Flows of Ecosystem Services: A Case Study from the County of Dorset, UK

Watson

Newton

2018

Sustainability

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“…Nevertheless, successful efforts are being made to address this research deficiency within marine science, with evidence that interdisciplinary approaches are beneficial for all researchers involved. For example, Watson et al (2016) brought socio-economists and natural marine scientists together to explore the ecosystem service of waste remediation in the marine environment, resulting in the provision of operational guidance on the long-term sustainable use of this process. Fernandes et al (2017) quantified how the ecological impact of climate change on commercially important marine bivalves could create a cascade of negative economic effects on the fishing industry and its associated revenue and employment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Monodisciplinary via Multidisciplinary to an Interdisciplinary Approach Investigating Air-Sea Interactions – a SOLAS Initiative

et al. 2020

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Understanding the physical and biogeochemical interactions and feedbacks between the ocean and atmosphere is a vital component of environmental and Earth system research. The ability to predict and respond to future environmental change relies on a detailed understanding of these processes. The Surface Ocean-Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) is an international research platform that focuses on the study of ocean-atmosphere interactions, for which Future Earth is a sponsor. SOLAS instigated a collaborative initiative process to connect efforts in the natural and social sciences related to these processes, as a contribution to the emerging Future Earth Ocean Knowledge-Action Network (Ocean KAN). This is imperative because many of the recent changes in the Earth system are anthropogenic. An understanding of adaptation and counteracting measures requires an alliance of scientists from both domains to bridge the gap between science and policy. To this end, three SOLAS research areas were targeted for a case study to determine a more effective method of interdisciplinary research: valuing carbon

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“…In Europe, even where there are strict regulations on the discharge of sewage, it is still an issue in many areas due to outdated sewage systems or a lag in infrastructure developments achieving the required capacity to match increasing urban populations (Kiedrzyńska et al ., 2014). In this sense, coastal habitats are intentionally or unintentionally used to treat waste (Watson et al ., 2016). The biota occupying benthic habitats, including the benthic macroinvertebrates, are known to be able to process waste, providing this waste treatment ecosystem service (Watson et al ., 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this sense, coastal habitats are intentionally or unintentionally used to treat waste (Watson et al ., 2016). The biota occupying benthic habitats, including the benthic macroinvertebrates, are known to be able to process waste, providing this waste treatment ecosystem service (Watson et al ., 2016). However, input of waste into coastal areas can cause changes to benthic communities (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of a marine benthic invertebrate community and biotic indices to organic enrichment from sewage disposal

et al. 2019

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Nutrient enrichment is a significant cause of ecosystem change in coastal habitats worldwide. This study focuses on the change in a benthic macroinvertebrate community and environmental quality as assessed through different biotic indices following the construction of a sewage outfall pipe in the west of Scotland, from first implementation to seven years after operation of the pipe. Benthic macroinvertebrates are an important part of marine ecosystems because they mediate ecosystem processes and functions, are a key part of food webs and they provide many ecosystem services. Results indicated a clear change in benthic communities over time with an increase in species richness and changes to benthic community composition (specifically feeding type, bioturbation mode and ecological group) towards those indicative of organic enrichment. No clear spatial zonation was observed because organic carbon content increased over the entire area. According to a suite of benthic indices calculated, some negative changes were detectable following the start of sewage disposal, but largely negative community changes, and a change from ‘good’ to ‘moderate’ quality, only occurred seven years after implementation. The increase in species richness in response to increasing disturbance reduced the utility of a multi-metric index, the Infaunal Quality Index, which, instead of amplifying the signal of negative impact, dampened it. We suggest that any change in communities, regardless of direction, should be heeded, and species richness is a particularly sensitive and early warning indicator for this, but a suite of approaches is required to understand benthic community changes.

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A conceptual framework for assessing the ecosystem service of waste remediation: In the marine environment

Cited by 35 publications

References 112 publications

Dependency of Businesses on Flows of Ecosystem Services: A Case Study from the County of Dorset, UK

Dependency of Businesses on Flows of Ecosystem Services: A Case Study from the County of Dorset, UK

From Monodisciplinary via Multidisciplinary to an Interdisciplinary Approach Investigating Air-Sea Interactions – a SOLAS Initiative

Response of a marine benthic invertebrate community and biotic indices to organic enrichment from sewage disposal

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