OSPAR Science Agenda Knowledge Gap Portal
Welcome to the OSPAR Science Agenda knowledge gap portal. The page showcases important scientific questions and evidence needs identified by OSPAR to help protect and sustainably manage the North-East Atlantic. Use the filters and search options below to explore knowledge gaps by topic, category, region, and status, or browse visually to discover areas where new research, data, or collaborations are needed. The aim is to make it easy for anyone - scientists, funders, and policy makers to understand the current priorities, access key details, and get involved in helping to close these important gaps for a healthier ocean future.
Showing 151 - 175 of 337 items
Sampling of trophic guilds
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Many trophic guilds are under sampled and therefore underrepresented in indicators and models worldwide.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Information on the different compartments to assess the state of food web status
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Information on as many compartments as possible is needed to assess a network where every node is interconnected. This is one of the main challenges in assessment of food web status.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
5. cumulative effects & integration
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Development of food web indicators
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Further development of food web indicators is required, involving more integrative and process-based indicators, operationalising the Ecological Network Analysis approach.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
1. indicator development
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Integration methods and cumulative effects assessments to assess impacts of human activities and climate change on food webs
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Integration methods and cumulative effects assessments need to be further developed to capture impacts of human activities and climate change on food webs, in terms of changes in trophic and non-trophic interactions and the supply of ecosystem services.
Knowledge Gap Category:
5. cumulative effects & integration
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Increased integration of monitoring, assessment and action on food webs
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Increased integration of monitoring, assessment and action, across all of OSPAR’s strategic objectives is needed for policy and management response to ensure good environmental status for food webs.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
6. effectiveness of measures
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Management effectiveness of the MPAs within the network regarding food web
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: OSPAR Marine Protected Area (MPA) network: understanding the management effectiveness of the MPAs within the network, and the network itself, needs to be addressed, particularly from the perspective of ecosystem functioning and food webs
Knowledge Gap Category:
6. effectiveness of measures
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Availability of data related to the OSPAR MPA network for management of human activities.
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: OSPAR Marine Protected Area (MPA) network: there needs to be better data availability relating to the OSPAR MPA network for those that have the responsibility to manage different human activities.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Geographic coverage and ecological coherence of OSPAR Marine Protected Area network
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: OSPAR Marine Protected Area (MPA) network: OSPAR is progressing towards establishing key metrics in terms of area-based protection; however, there are still gaps in geographic coverage (particularly in the Arctic region), and ecological coherence.
Knowledge Gap Category:
2. thresholds & references
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Applicability of indicators related to ecosystem state for assessing food web in OSPAR regions
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: The new approach to ecosystem state being taken by Norway in Region I incorporates several indicators that may be applicable to OSPAR food web assessment. This could be further investigated, to test if these indicators may be applicable to future OSPAR integrated assessments.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
1. indicator development
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Monitoring of non-indigenous species and impact on food webs
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Non-indigenous species, which can change the structure and functioning of food webs, continue to be introduced. Continued implementation of the joint response by OSPAR and HELCOM, the EU MSFD, the Invasive Alien Species Regulation and the International Maritime Organization Ballast Water Management Convention should ensure that some of the gaps identified in monitoring are addressed and also strengthen the monitoring required to reduce bias and data gaps.
Knowledge Gap Category:
5. cumulative effects & integration
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Direct impact of noise on food webs
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Noise (impulsive, continuous): Little is known about the direct impact on food webs.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Underwater distribution and effects of noise
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Noise (impulsive, continuous): Underwater distribution and noise effects are unknown.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Knowledge of the potential future impacts of windfarms on trophic structure and food web functioning
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: More knowledge of the potential future impacts of windfarms on trophic structure and food web functioning is needed.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Determermine the cause of the lack of trend for changes in average trophic level of marine consumers (FW4).
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Changes in average trophic level of marine consumers (FW4): The lack of trends found in many scenarios with this assessment needs to be further investigated in order to determine whether such absence can be attributed to resilience of the ecosystem or other possible causes.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Identify specific links of food web to perform an assessment based on a bow-tie analysis
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: The intrinsic complexity of interconnections in trophic chains makes it difficult to perform an assessment based on a bow-tie analysis. For bow-tie analysis to be effective, the use of a complex food web assessment is needed in order to better identify specific links. Bow-tie analysis was not included in this assessment.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
6. effectiveness of measures
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Site-specific data on the ecological status of the protected features of the MPA
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: In 2021, there was a high proportion of 'unknown' responses regarding whether the protected features of OSPAR Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are moving towards their conservation objectives. This is largely due to the lack of site-specific data on the ecological status of the protected features of the MPAs. Measures necessary to achieve the conservation objectives of the protected features of the MPAs need to be implemented.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
6. effectiveness of measures
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Report and assessment of the status of the OSPAR network of Marine Protected Areas in 2021
Evaluation of the management of the OSPAR network of marine protected areas
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Improvement is needed in methods of evaluating the degree to which the OSPAR Marine Protected Area (MPA) network is well-managed to support a better assessment as to whether or not the OSPAR MPA network is delivering a conservation benefit to targeted habitats, species and ecological processes.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
6. effectiveness of measures
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Report and assessment of the status of the OSPAR network of Marine Protected Areas in 2021
Long-term monitoring programmes to evaluate the effectiveness of management measures
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: There are knowledge gaps with respect to ecological status. Long-term monitoring programmes are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of management measures to conclude with greater confidence on whether the conservation objectives of the protected features of OSPAR Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are being achieved.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Report and assessment of the status of the OSPAR network of Marine Protected Areas in 2021
Quality of distribution data and assessment of Marine Protected Areas' connectivity
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Improve the ecological and scientific robustness of the OSPAR eco-coherence assessment methodology: ecological distribution data needs to be assessed for quality and applied in order to assess the connectivity of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of each threatened and/or declining feature and assess whether the OSPAR MPA network is representative and resilient for each threatened/and or declining feature.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
6. effectiveness of measures
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Report and assessment of the status of the OSPAR network of Marine Protected Areas in 2021
Site-specific socio-economic benefits of Marine Protected Areas
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Detailed knowledge on the site-specific socio-economic benefits of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is often missing since it is a challenging task to generate this information. The exact links between biodiversity and other benefits are yet poorly understood. In most cases sufficient data to perform cost-benefit analyses are lacking due to missing long-term ecological monitoring programmes. More work is needed to understand the value of the previous undisturbed state of the area.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Report and assessment of the status of the OSPAR network of Marine Protected Areas in 2021
Data for eco-coherence assessment.
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Data deficiencies hamper a sophisticated eco-coherence assessment. A major challenge of assessing ecological coherence is the paucity of relevant data (e.g. on occurrence, distribution and status of species and habitats).
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status of the OSPAR Network of Marine Protected Areas in 2021
Methodology for eco-coherence assessment
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: The lack of a feasible methodology currently hamper a sophisticated eco-coherence assessment.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
1. indicator development
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status of the OSPAR Network of Marine Protected Areas in 2021
Monitoring programmes to assess the achievement of conservation objectives in the OSPAR Marine Protected Areas
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Broaden long-term monitoring programmes to evaluate with greater confidence whether the conservation objectives of OSPAR Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are being achieved.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status of the OSPAR Network of Marine Protected Areas in 2021
Coherence in assassment methods and data availability
ID Number: BB08.01
Knowledge gap description: There are improvements needed to achieve coherence and data availability. There are heterogeneities between indicators and assessment methods that limit inter-calibration and comparison of results at wider regional and European scales. Relevant work should be coordinated at a (sub)-regional scale to ensure coherence and facilitate the data flow for OSPAR assessment to be used in parallel for EU Member States’ reporting requirements (WFD, MSFD and HD).
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Common indicator assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D5C6, D5C7, D5C8
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Assessment of some Coastal Habitats in Relation to Nutrient and/or Organic Enrichment
Fine-scale monitoring
ID Number: BB08.02
Knowledge gap description: Most Contracting Parties conduct large-scale marine benthic monitoring. But there are gaps in finer-scale networks of state-pressure relationship assessment areas that need investigation.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Common indicator assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D5C6, D5C7, D5C8
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Assessment of some Coastal Habitats in Relation to Nutrient and/or Organic Enrichment