Nutrients, food web and tropho-dynamic processes

This volume presents the papers on the theme of nutrients and tropho-dynamic processes from the ECSA50 Venice 2012: Today's Science for Tomorrow's Management meeting. They illustrate how the application of cutting-edge techniques such as stable isotope analysis (SIA) together with improved analytical and synthetic procedures allow a much finer degree of definition in understanding system function. To this may be added increasingly sophisticated models, underpinned by ever more precise and detailed data, through which we can predict with greater and greater certainty the consequences of the changes Drivers, Pressures, States and Impacts on the system to shape the management Responses.The papers improve our understanding of the limitations and uncertainties of the evaluation systems and their target values, but, whilst moving environmental management forward based on best science outcomes, we must not lose sight of the original goal of indices and other assessment measures such as those presented here. Progressively, we are able to fill gaps in the system, adding to our knowledge and hastening application of more developed analyses under which the status of the whole system and not just its component parts may be assessed.