First Evidence of Spatial Relationships between Ecosystem Functioning and Services in the marine environment

The complexity of the marine system and the rate of anthropogenic impacts on ecosystem functioning demand a synthetic conceptual framework to organize the scientific knowledge needed to better conserve Nature and maintain ecosystem services supply. Currently, the most used conceptual framework is the cascade model that describe a tight positive link among biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services. The present study explores the spatial relationship between ecosystem functioning and services discussing its heterogeneity. It warns the next generation of researchers on ecosystem services to quantify even ecosystem functioning in their spatial efforts, to better set real sustainable management strategies. The unified framework of ecosystem services and ecosystem functioning assessment will further the goal for protecting nature while humans use it.