Editorial: Multi-scale Variability of Ecosystem Functioning in European and Chinese Shelf Seas

Abstract

Coastal and shelf seas constitute the most dynamic part of the Earth surface where intense interactions between geosphere, ecosphere and anthroposphere take place. They process and accumulate continent-derived material (sediments, nutrients, contaminants, etc.), serve as cradles for life and contain the highest biodiversity in the Earth system. Coastal ecosystems are among the world’s most productive ecosystems that provide important functioning to sustain natural resources and carbon cycle (von Storch et al., 2021). On the other hand, these transitional ecosystems are highly vulnerable to multiple stressors including climate change, nutrient loading, pollution and fishing. Systematic changes in ecosystem functioning have been observed in coastal areas that are heavily affected by proliferation of industries, agriculture, and aquaculture (Halpern et al., 2019). Biogeochemical responses of the systems to external drivers are often nonlinear, involving feedback that may amplify or dampen a perturbation imposed to the system (Martiny et al., 2022). A profound understanding of the sensitivity of coastal ecosystem functioning to physical and biogeochemical perturbations necessitates a comparative assessment between different coastal shelf seas.