Report of the Study Group on Climate related Benthic processes in the North Sea (SGCBNS)

The Study Group on Climate related Benthic processes in the North Sea (SGCBNS) was initiated by the ICES Benthos Ecology Working Group (BEWG) as a follow up initiative of former North Sea Benthos Surveys (NSBS 1986; NSBP 2000) and is partly based on the outcomes of a eponymous workshop held in 2008 (see WKCBNS re-port). The aim was to discuss and initiate future research activities concerning ben-thic ecosystem processes related to changes in the climate regime and to establish a network of benthic long-term series. The meeting took place in Lowestoft, UK, 1–4 March 2010.Initial discussions were focused on the pros and cons of a reduced spatial coverage (i.e. box or small scale approach) for the study of benthic processes in the North Sea. Examples of representativity of benthic habitats, sampling effort and comparable ar-eas were covered at length. As previously discussed a series of benthic hypotheses in relation to benthic communities and the effects of climate change were identified as key questions at the study group meeting at Wilhelmshaven in 2008 (ToR a). From these initial discussions it was mainly acknowledged of the importance of ecosystem processes which are driven by the hypotheses previously discussed. Further discus-sions were mainly focused on the key processes, parameters, drivers and methodol-ogy to be considered in helping to identify specific benthic processes affected by climate change.