Publication Abstract

The DEVOTES Project (2012-2016) aims to 1) improve our understanding of the impact of human activities, considering cumulative, synergistic and antagonistic pressures, in addition to the influence of climate change on marine biodiversity;  2) assess those indicators proposed for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and develop novel indicators where necessary; 3) develop and validate innovative and integrative modelling tools to strengthen our understanding of ecosystem and biodiversity changes in space and time; 4) develop innovative monitoring systems capable of providing data efficiently on a range of parameters to support the assessment of Good Environmental Status; 5) provide an integrative assessment tool for the evaluation of the status of biodiversity and demonstrate the cost-effective implementation of monitoring and assessment strategies. DEVOTES focuses on the MSFD Descriptors 1, 2, 4, and 6, i.e. biodiversity, non-indigenous species, food webs, and sea-floor integrity, on the four regional seas of the EU. DEVOTES is a Collaborative project funded for 4 years (2012-2016) by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union. It involves 23 partners including 15 EU countries, 2 non-EU partners (from Saudi Arabia and Ukraine) and 4 SMEs, along with 2 observers (EPA and NOAA) from the US. The project invites collaboration with other projects and research institutes that have similar interests in the study of marine biodiversity and closely related topics such as alien species, food web health and functioning, ecosystem modelling and monitoring the marine environment.