Welcome to ECSA’s next major symposium, ECSA 56 Coastal systems in transition: From a 'natural' to an 'anthropogenically-modified' state, which will take place from the 4-7 September 2016 in Bremen, Germany.

Humans are drivers of and affected by global change. Human-induced global climate and regional environmental change dramatically modify the structures and functions of coastal systems driving them into a new system state. The altered resource potentials and ecosystem services then, in turn, significantly affect the livelihoods of the population.

Distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic control factors and quantifying their impacts is a major challenge in the investigation of hydrodynamic, sedimentological, biogeochemical, ecological and socioeconomic processes in the coastal zone.

Inter- and transdisciplinary efforts are required to gain a profound understanding of these "novel" systems, which provides the basis for a sustainable management.

ECSA 56 brings together a global multi-disciplinary community of researchers and professionals to discuss and address issues of outstanding scientific importance in the science and management of estuaries and coastal seas in this rapidly changing world.

Conference Topics:

Abstract Submission Deadline: 18 March 2016

Oral and poster abstracts are now invited on the following topics. They should be submitted using the online abstract submission system: http://www.estuarinecoastalconference.com/submit-abstract.asp

1. Changing physical settings and processes

Coastal morphodynamics affected by anthropogenic modifications and climate change
From measuring to modelling hydro- and sediment
Impact of extreme events on coastal systems
Monitoring with coastal ocean observing systems
2. Biogeochemical processes and fluxes at the land – sea interface

Role of aquaculture for the pollution of coastal waters
From catchment to coast: effects of land use change and hydrological regulations
Carbon and nitrogen cycling in benthic and pelagic ecosystems
Impact of ocean acidification on coastal systems
Blue carbon: assessing the role and carbon storage potential of coastal wetlands
3. Shifting ecosystem structures and functions

Biodiversity in coastal systems
Role of functional and response diversity to changes for ecosystem resilience
Linkages between estuarine, coastal and marine habitats
Stress responses and resilience: from molecular to ecosystem level
4. The human dimension: impact, management, governance

Resource use patterns and management and implications for the environment
Participatory management approaches in coastal zone management
Marine and coastal spatial planning/ decision support
Valuing marine ecosystem services
Governing the commons: Institutions for the sea/ marine governance