MEASO2018

International Conference on

Assessing Status and Trends of Habitats, Key Species and Ecosystems in the Southern Ocean

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

4 days in April-May 2018.

A core activity of ICED (Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean), a partner program of IMBER and SCAR

Hosted by

• Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Hobart, Australia
• Australian Antarctic Division

Endorsed by

• IMBER ICED
• IMBER CLIOTOP
• SCAR-SCOR Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS)
• SCAR Advisory Group on Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment
• SCAR Standing Scientific Group - Life Sciences
• SCAR Scientific Research Programmes
  • Antarctic Thresholds – Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation
  • State of the Antarctic Ecosystems

Themes

1. Assessments of status and trends in habitats, species and ecosystems, and the causes of change
2. Responses of species to changing habitats, including ocean acidification, sea ice and temperature;
3. Modelling and analytical methods to assess status and trends; and
4. Implementation of observing systems to estimate dynamics and change.

Summary

The four themes of the conference aim to facilitate contributions of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean marine science community to the next assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and recent initiatives to assess status and trends in global ocean ecosystems.  It also aims to make a significant contribution to the development of Theme 6 Biology of SOOS and for updating the SCAR Report on Antartic Climate Change and the Environment.  The outcomes of the conference are also expected to provide significant input to Committee on Environment Protection, Scientific Committee for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, the International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Committee and other organisations interested in the management and conservation of Southern Ocean ecosystems. 

Outputs

Products will be developed for each theme, and will include:

1. products from individual researchers and research teams and delivered to the conference and compiled into publications;
2. syntheses from the scientific community in review and position papers for use by the IPCC, CCAMLR, IWC and other bodies;
3. standard methods and approaches for observing Southern Ocean ecosystems,
4. increased capability and methods in modelling, statistics and presentation on status and trends to policy makers. 

The SOKI wiki (www.soki.aq) will be a primary forum for developing and consolidating materials in preparation for the conference and for facilitating research teams in this work.