Reference no: EM133462144

As an intern who is relatively new to the marine management field, you are still working through your own perspectives and worldview as it relates to environmental decisions. In your assigned text reading this week you learned about the importance of functional ecosystems (stable primary production as seen in your learning materials on plankton, dynamics of interactions between species, and the cycling of nutrients). Through your internship, you now see how many stakeholders beyond the ecosystem itself are involved in decision making. Each of the projects being proposed in this area has the opportunity to improve the local economy but could also impact the local ecosystem. Work out some of your thoughts by responding to the following discussion prompt:

New offshore drilling platform in the Ellwood Oilfield

Why do you think some stakeholders may have different perspectives on this project? Based on your understanding of marine ecosystems, what potential impact could the proposed project have on local ecological communities? Do you think the healthy ecosystem and the proposed project are of equal economic value to humans? Which do you personally think is more important?

In response to other students, point out any ecosystem function (primary production, interactions, nutrient cycling) they may have left out from their listed impacts. Discuss whether you agree with their perspective on economic vs ecological importance.