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CONNECTING THE DOTS IN THE COASTAL OCEAN WITH COMPREHENSIVE ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENTS Melissa M. Foley*, Erin E. Prahler, Matthew H. Armsby, Margaret R. Caldwell, Larry B. Crowder, Ashley L. Erickson, John N. (Jack) Kittinger Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University 99 Pacific St, Suite 155a Monterey, CA 93940 [email protected] As the number of users vying for space continues to grow in the coastal ocean, so too does the need for a more comprehensive understanding of how ecosystems are structured, how they function, and how those fundamentals are linked to the provision of ecosystem goods and services relied upon by coastal communities. In addition, it is important to incorporate the temporal and spatial characteristics of these linkages into comprehensive ecosystem-based plans rather than treating them as fixed entities. Comprehensive ecosystem assessments (CEAs) provide a framework to incorporate ecosystem-based principles into planning efforts and to make the connections within and between ecosystems more transparent. Equipped with this knowledge, management decisions can be made with a better understanding of the interdependence between healthy ecosystems and human communities. Here we explore how CEAs can be structured to capture the fundamental ecosystem attributes and related human dimensions of coastal communities that determine the structure, functioning, and resilience of these linked systems. We will review CEA frameworks used in spatial planning processes around the world, highlight the strengths from these existing approaches, and provide recommendations for bolstering and standardizing these assessments for implementation. Integrating ecological and social data has the potential to provide a more realistic understanding of the linkages between healthy ecosystems and communities, including which ecosystem services are essential for community wellbeing. CEAs provide a framework for drawing this information together in a way that can help to inform planning efforts and policy and management decisions.