Publication Abstract

Human activities in the marine environment are increasing rapidly, with much of the activity in Northwestern Europe associated with the expansion of the offshore wind industry. Whilst critical to achieving net zero carbon, it is important that planning decisions for offshore wind, and other human activities affecting the seabed, are also cognisant of the twin challenge of conserving and restoring biodiversity. In this study we use open data from hundreds of grab and core surveys, together with Random Forest modelling, to identify patterns in benthic biodiversity across the continental shelf region surrounding the British Isles  . We produce multiple maps revealing different aspects of biodiversity (Hill numbers 0, 1 and 2, and counts), assessed within the Whittaker framework (alpha, beta, gamma biodiversity), revealing patterns at a variety of spatial scales. These disparate metrics are synthesised into a single map based on clustering of the individual metrics, revealing areas of seabed where biodiversity was high across multiple dimensions, where areas of high biodiversity were formed by many rare species and thus which areas are particularly important to conserve .  This integrated information, which provides an important new and comprehensive perspective on spatial patterns of marine benthic biodiversity, can contribute to marine spatial planning and licensing decisions for activities affecting the seabed across the study region.

Keith Cooper*, Murray Thompson*,  Stefan Bolam*,  Connor Peach, Tom Webb, Anna Downie*

https://rconnect.cefas.co.uk/onebenthic_portal/ (will create a doi in due course)