Report on Theme Session B: Integrating observations and models to improve predictions of ecosystem response to physical variability

Understanding and managing an ecosystem without knowledge of circulation patterns and hydrography would be like trying to diagnose a patient without taking their pulse and temperature. In order to improve our understanding and prediction of ecosystem dynamics, we must improve our knowledge of the processes and mechanisms that link changes in the physical environment to biological variability. This understanding first starts with knowledge of physics, from small to large scales. In this theme session, presenters examined observations to describe the changing oceans and seas, employed observations to validate oceanographic predications, and integrated observations and models in case studies that enhanced our understanding of species and ecosystem dynamics. An underlying objective of this session was to support ecosystem-based management by providing a venue for researchers who ‘take the pulse of the ocean’ (i.e., observational oceanographers) to those who build tools for predicting and mitigating ecosystem response to climate change (i.e., bio-physical modelers).