Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AtlantECO (Atlantic ECOsystems assessment, forecasting & sustainability)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-05-01 al 2023-12-31
The aim is to determine the structure and function of Atlantic microbiome in the context of ocean circulation and presence of pollutants to assess its role in driving the dynamics of Atlantic ecosystems at basin and regional scales; its potential use as a sensor of ecosystem state; and the mechanisms by which it drives the provision of 5 Ecosystem Services (ES). This is key to improve our predictions on future provision of ES in the basin and inform a Blue Growth strategy for Atlantic communities.
To realise this, AtlantECO has 4 objectives:
Assess the status of ecosystem structures, functions, health and services at regional, basin and all Atlantic scales and provide high quality gridded data products and maps
Enhance knowledge and Innovate by adopting standard optical and genetic observations protocols, cutting-edge network analysis methods, and better parameterisation of connectivity and biogeochemical models.
Assess drivers and stressors of change and forecast their impact on tipping points and recovery of ecosystem structures, functions and services, and develop eco-socio-economic models to predict their future states
Share and use capacity and knowledge across the continents bordering the Atlantic Ocean ensuring a seamless engagement between science, industry, policy, and society.
To realise this, AtlantECO has 4 objectives:
Assess the status of ecosystem structures, functions, health and services at regional, basin and all Atlantic scales and provide high quality gridded data products and maps
Enhance knowledge and Innovate by adopting standard optical and genetic observations protocols, cutting-edge network analysis methods, and better parameterisation of connectivity and biogeochemical models.
Assess drivers and stressors of change and forecast their impact on tipping points and recovery of ecosystem structures, functions and services, and develop eco-socio-economic models to predict their future states
Share and use capacity and knowledge across the continents bordering the Atlantic Ocean ensuring a seamless engagement between science, industry, policy, and society.
During the second period, we:
Released AtlantECO-BASE1 database on the basins’ microbiomes & microplastics (> 21 million observations)
Released AtlantECO-MAPS1 (maps for management).
Completed standards for Zenodo, AtlantECO’s GeoNode and EMODnet Biology.
Compiled and regridded a range of climate model outputs from the CMIP6 project.
Set up and partially filled AtlantECO’s GeoNode.
Completed the biomass data conversions for many taxa. Several other databases were completed and made available.
Completed several studies on the plankton species ecology and their responses to climate change, using databases described above.
Completed the MGnify superstudy on metagenomes using data from Tara Ocean, GO-SHIP, GeoTRACES, Malaspina, OSD-14, AMAZON and others in MGnify (AtlantECO superstudy).
Published imaging dataset and data in ECOTAXA.
Created tools and apps for automatic mapping for machine learning species distribution modelling.
Disseminated our Handbook of Standards and Best Practices to the scientific community and used in field and training activities.
Established the first regular Continuous Plankton Recorder line in the South Atlantic.
Completed the first AtlantECO flagship cruise, Mission Microbiomes, covering most of the South Atlantic coastal regions, with 1000s of traditional and -omics samples collected.
Further enhanced TRL of high-res sensors for microbiome monitoring: 1) testing of the particle sampler and imaging sensor (UVP6-LP) on free-floating and moored sediment traps; 2) genomic autosampler (RoCSI) and genetic sensor. Trials scheduled for exploitation in aquaculture facilities.
Released an All Atlantic multi-year high-resolution, validated numerical ocean simulations for connectivity studies.
Mapped the physical connectivity with environmental filtering between biogeographic regions and the regional connectivity for different tracers (nutrient, psycho and zooplankton).
New global plankton geographies from combining satellite and genomic data via the use of machine learning.
Used improved biogeochemical model PISCES to study nutrients and light limitations in the oceans. Several other modelling studies completed, including on carbon sequestration in the South Atlantic. Advanced in the simulations with the Lagrangian biogeochemical model.
Identified Atlantic ecosystems drivers and stressors: marine extreme events (compound events) and physical co-factors acting on the planktonic community (trend and natural variability via oscillations). Established a first geography of the impact of climate change over the oceans’ physics.
Investigated the Particulate Organic Carbon export mechanisms associated with mesoscale variability.
Provided results on future response by the maine ecosystem to climate change (various taxa, especially polar).
Moved toward identifying the metabolic processes ruling the microbiomes interactome, with new network inferences; field measurements for network validation.
Prepared simulations using scenarios to evaluate socio-economic impact of drivers and stressors. Focus on the NPP.
Prepared data for the application of the Ocean Health Index in the Atlantic Sea at global and regional levels; focus on OHI goals “fishing opportunities” and “clean waters”. Approaches for embedding socio-economic and cultural aspects in fisheries and carbon sequestration services were used to identify the public perceptions of the threats to ocean health.
Matched the OHI with indicators from EU directives. (EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive).
Further established presence on social and traditional media. Produced a series of high quality podcasts, widely diffused.
Via port calls, organised multiple events in Brazil, Argentina and South Africa with local schools, public communities, policymakers and scientific communities.
Trained ESRs on AtlantECO’s standards using hands-on courses, workshops and hosting ESRs in the project cruises.
Identified priorities for two policy briefs.
Released AtlantECO-BASE1 database on the basins’ microbiomes & microplastics (> 21 million observations)
Released AtlantECO-MAPS1 (maps for management).
Completed standards for Zenodo, AtlantECO’s GeoNode and EMODnet Biology.
Compiled and regridded a range of climate model outputs from the CMIP6 project.
Set up and partially filled AtlantECO’s GeoNode.
Completed the biomass data conversions for many taxa. Several other databases were completed and made available.
Completed several studies on the plankton species ecology and their responses to climate change, using databases described above.
Completed the MGnify superstudy on metagenomes using data from Tara Ocean, GO-SHIP, GeoTRACES, Malaspina, OSD-14, AMAZON and others in MGnify (AtlantECO superstudy).
Published imaging dataset and data in ECOTAXA.
Created tools and apps for automatic mapping for machine learning species distribution modelling.
Disseminated our Handbook of Standards and Best Practices to the scientific community and used in field and training activities.
Established the first regular Continuous Plankton Recorder line in the South Atlantic.
Completed the first AtlantECO flagship cruise, Mission Microbiomes, covering most of the South Atlantic coastal regions, with 1000s of traditional and -omics samples collected.
Further enhanced TRL of high-res sensors for microbiome monitoring: 1) testing of the particle sampler and imaging sensor (UVP6-LP) on free-floating and moored sediment traps; 2) genomic autosampler (RoCSI) and genetic sensor. Trials scheduled for exploitation in aquaculture facilities.
Released an All Atlantic multi-year high-resolution, validated numerical ocean simulations for connectivity studies.
Mapped the physical connectivity with environmental filtering between biogeographic regions and the regional connectivity for different tracers (nutrient, psycho and zooplankton).
New global plankton geographies from combining satellite and genomic data via the use of machine learning.
Used improved biogeochemical model PISCES to study nutrients and light limitations in the oceans. Several other modelling studies completed, including on carbon sequestration in the South Atlantic. Advanced in the simulations with the Lagrangian biogeochemical model.
Identified Atlantic ecosystems drivers and stressors: marine extreme events (compound events) and physical co-factors acting on the planktonic community (trend and natural variability via oscillations). Established a first geography of the impact of climate change over the oceans’ physics.
Investigated the Particulate Organic Carbon export mechanisms associated with mesoscale variability.
Provided results on future response by the maine ecosystem to climate change (various taxa, especially polar).
Moved toward identifying the metabolic processes ruling the microbiomes interactome, with new network inferences; field measurements for network validation.
Prepared simulations using scenarios to evaluate socio-economic impact of drivers and stressors. Focus on the NPP.
Prepared data for the application of the Ocean Health Index in the Atlantic Sea at global and regional levels; focus on OHI goals “fishing opportunities” and “clean waters”. Approaches for embedding socio-economic and cultural aspects in fisheries and carbon sequestration services were used to identify the public perceptions of the threats to ocean health.
Matched the OHI with indicators from EU directives. (EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive).
Further established presence on social and traditional media. Produced a series of high quality podcasts, widely diffused.
Via port calls, organised multiple events in Brazil, Argentina and South Africa with local schools, public communities, policymakers and scientific communities.
Trained ESRs on AtlantECO’s standards using hands-on courses, workshops and hosting ESRs in the project cruises.
Identified priorities for two policy briefs.
Further implementation of the Belém Statement via reinforcing a scientific community involving Europe, South Africa, Brazil (and other countries) engaged in multidisciplinary studies for a new unifying framework for assessing and forecasting. Synergies also with our partners’ ERCs projects and with All Atlantic EU sister projects (e.g. completion of a special issue on understanding and protecting Atlantic ecosystems, joint exploitation of our databases and organization of joint Summer schools).
Professional training in the marine sector from many countries on latest state-of-the-art techniques/methods.
Broad dissemination of advanced standards for monitoring the health status of ocenic microbiomes, including microplastics, including tools for Citizen science.
Advances in the numerical modelling of the Atlantic environment, ecosystems and associated socio-economic processes.
Increased EU leadership in ocean technologies (e.g. sensor prototypes for monitoring)
Completed the connection between sequencing centres in Europe, South Africa and Brazil for standardisation and knowledge transfer, supporting future joint programs.
Assess ecosystem status: several All-Atlantic new databases for scientific exploitation and multistakeholder applications, all FAIR-compliant. New statistical techniques for extraction knowledge (e.g. realised niches) big, heterogeneous data.
Support to the global Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network, a programme of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and to the EuroGOOS working group on biological observations. Support to the implementation of the international program BioGEOSCAPES (AtlantECO considered a Best case)
Flagship expecditions as synergy with public and private actors of the Atlantic on oceanic regions where most of the blue economy activities occur.
Ocean-engaged citizens: during our flagship expedition around the Atlantic traditional and social media reached hundreds of thousands of people. Consultations for a new Ocean Literacy dedicated to the Atlantic microbiomes that is suited for a wide use in both hemispheres.
Professional training in the marine sector from many countries on latest state-of-the-art techniques/methods.
Broad dissemination of advanced standards for monitoring the health status of ocenic microbiomes, including microplastics, including tools for Citizen science.
Advances in the numerical modelling of the Atlantic environment, ecosystems and associated socio-economic processes.
Increased EU leadership in ocean technologies (e.g. sensor prototypes for monitoring)
Completed the connection between sequencing centres in Europe, South Africa and Brazil for standardisation and knowledge transfer, supporting future joint programs.
Assess ecosystem status: several All-Atlantic new databases for scientific exploitation and multistakeholder applications, all FAIR-compliant. New statistical techniques for extraction knowledge (e.g. realised niches) big, heterogeneous data.
Support to the global Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network, a programme of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and to the EuroGOOS working group on biological observations. Support to the implementation of the international program BioGEOSCAPES (AtlantECO considered a Best case)
Flagship expecditions as synergy with public and private actors of the Atlantic on oceanic regions where most of the blue economy activities occur.
Ocean-engaged citizens: during our flagship expedition around the Atlantic traditional and social media reached hundreds of thousands of people. Consultations for a new Ocean Literacy dedicated to the Atlantic microbiomes that is suited for a wide use in both hemispheres.