This collection is dedicated to assembling significant research outputs that map out the relationships between biodiversity and ecological structure, and their impact on the functioning of coastal and marine ecosystems. It highlights the resultant ecosystem services and societal benefits.

The European Union and its Member States are intensely committed to understanding how the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functions can sustain the provision of ecosystem services, goods, and societal benefits. This comprehension is vital for the sustainable use of these resources and for appreciating the natural and social capital aspects of ecosystems, where stakeholder co-creation plays a crucial role.

Open for submissions from the MARBEFES Project consortium (MARine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning leading to Ecosystem Services), this initiative calls for contributions that address significant issues associated with the conceptualization of changes in biodiversity across 12 Broad Belt Transect (BBT) case studies from various regional seas, including the Arctic, Baltic, Northeast Atlantic, and Mediterranean.

These contributions should explore the implications of biodiversity changes for the management and governance of European seas. The BBTs span the entire range of European marine biodiversity, from the frigid Arctic to semi-tropical zones, encompassing dominant habitats and iconic species, and extending from shallow waters to deep-sea environments across diverse socio-economic contexts.