This **Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)** is the world's 12th highest-cited (private or public) institution according to research performance, innovation outputs and societal impact across scientific disciplines worldwide (Source: Scimago). The National Museum of Natural Sciences, a research unit of CSIC, is the oldest and the largest ‘life sciences’ research institution in Spain, receiving >250.000 visitors annually. Its origin dates back to 1771, standing as one of the oldest natural history museums in the world together with the Natural History Museum in London. The main objectives of the MNCN are to describe the biological and geological diversity of the planet, to study the processes that generate and maintain such diversity, and to promote biodiversity conservation.

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AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS

**Objectives**

Oversee the administration, operational management, and overall implementation of the project, including internal communication and collaboration between the Project Coordinators, individual consortium members, and the European Commission; to administer consortium networking and governance, including supporting relevant bodies and meetings (Task 1.1), a User Selection Panel (Task 1.2) and Advisory Board (Task 1.3); ensure efficient management, decision-making, and to implement sound financial management as well as controlling systems and quality assurance of deliverables and periodic and final Reports (Task 1.4) and of the description of work (Task 1.5). A specific goal of the overall AQUACOSM-plus management is to optimise the efficiency of the research infrastructures' management and their service provision through joint management of access provision and pooling of distributed resources at the facilities, initiated in AQUACOSM.

**Deliverables**

**D1.1** First Feedback from AB to project progress (Month 20)

**D1.2** Periodic & financial reports M1-18 (Month 20)

**D1.3** Second Feedback from AB to project progress (Month 32)

**D1.4** Periodic & financial reports M19-36 (Month 38)

**D1.5** Periodic & financial and final reports M1-48 (Month 50)



Consortium management

**Objectives**

While the mechanisms behind Grand Challenges (GCs) are influenced by factors at continental and global scales, many RIs, including aquatic mesocosm facilities, have typically operated locally, carrying out curiosity driven basic research on limited number of questions. Bridging this mismatch and effectively investigate stressors on a wider scale would provide tools to better inform national to global measures to tackle the GCs. This requires better communication, harmonisation and access to the best research tools combined with effective open science collaboration. To foster this development in the mesocosm community, WP3 aims to build on the fundament from AQUACOSM, but strengthen the networking and training activities to further increase cooperation, communication, co-ordination, while providing more effective support and updated best practice advices.

Thus, the future mesocosm-based research will be shaped by enhanced activities of the AQUACOSM-plus community through provision of support and knowledge transfer to potential new users, specifically targeting less strong mesocosms- based research EU Member States so that EU-wide network of scientific culture can thrive, and reach out beyond globally to complimentary facilities and their users (WP2 and in cooperation with WP5, 8 & 9, Fig.1.1a,b). In order to foster globally comparable studies in the future, WP3 will ensure transfer of standardised best practice knowledge through many open channels. In addition to reports, SOPs, manuals and scientific publications produced in AQUACOSM, WP3 will continue to update these, but most importantly will make use of new media, such as online freely accessible Wiki-publications. Specific focus will be given on the training of young researchers and facility users to maximise the benefit gained from mesocosm-based research both through training in new harmonised operation procedures at all facilities such electronic data acquirement and as real-time DB-upload (WP4) as well as supporting transferral of personal skills by exchange of experienced personnel between facilities to enhance Transnational Access provision (cooperation with WP 8.5 & 9). Thus, WP3 will effectively contribute to build human capital and competitiveness of AQUACOSM-plus partner infrastructures in the European Research Area (ERA) and beyond.

**Deliverables**

**D3.1** Minutes of the first summer School for knowledge transfer (M03)

**D3.2** Report on international view of on mesocosms and water grand challenges (M15)

**D3.3** First Report on social media group activities and impacts (M16)

**D3.4** Minutes of the second summer School for knowledge transfer (M21)

**D3.5** Report on the workshop on international collaboration in mesocosm based research incl. associated partners from mesocosm.eu (M21)

**D3.6** Report on the specific training workshops on networking, communication, open data and hands on training encompassing river, lake/pond, marine and temporary waters (M34)

**D3.7** Second Report on social media group activities and impacts (M44)

**D3.8** Wiki book usage report (M48)

Science and innovation strategy for society

**Objectives**

While the mechanisms behind Grand Challenges (GCs) are influenced by factors at continental and global scales, many RIs, including aquatic mesocosm facilities, have typically operated locally, carrying out curiosity driven basic research on limited number of questions. Bridging this mismatch and effectively investigate stressors on a wider scale would provide tools to better inform national to global measures to tackle the GCs. This requires better communication, harmonisation and access to the best research tools combined with effective open science collaboration. To foster this development in the mesocosm community, WP3 aims to build on the fundament from AQUACOSM, but strengthen the networking and training activities to further increase cooperation, communication, co-ordination, while providing more effective support and updated best practice advices.

Thus, the future mesocosm-based research will be shaped by enhanced activities of the AQUACOSM-plus community through provision of support and knowledge transfer to potential new users, specifically targeting less strong mesocosms- based research EU Member States so that EU-wide network of scientific culture can thrive, and reach out beyond globally to complimentary facilities and their users (WP2 and in cooperation with WP5, 8 & 9, Fig.1.1a,b). In order to foster globally comparable studies in the future, WP3 will ensure transfer of standardised best practice knowledge through many open channels. In addition to reports, SOPs, manuals and scientific publications produced in AQUACOSM, WP3 will continue to update these, but most importantly will make use of new media, such as online freely accessible Wiki-publications. Specific focus will be given on the training of young researchers and facility users to maximise the benefit gained from mesocosm-based research both through training in new harmonised operation procedures at all facilities such electronic data acquirement and as real-time DB-upload (WP4) as well as supporting transferral of personal skills by exchange of experienced personnel between facilities to enhance Transnational Access provision (cooperation with WP 8.5 & 9). Thus, WP3 will effectively contribute to build human capital and competitiveness of AQUACOSM-plus partner infrastructures in the European Research Area (ERA) and beyond.

**Deliverables**

**D4.1** Plan for centralized data portal for mesocosm data (M06)

**D4.2** Strategy documentation (M12, HCMR)

**D4.3** Training video and guidance documentation for TA users (M12)

**D4.4** Data management plan version 1 (M12)

**D4.5** Online script and protocol library available on the project website and also published to mesocosm.eu and GitHub for ease of access and to encourage community contribution (M18)

**D4.6** Improved metadata portal (M18)

**D4.7** Minutes of workshop open Science Benefits(M19)

**D4.8** Workflow for allocating DOI’s to TA datasets within a European open data portal (M20)

**D4.9** Report of centralized data portal launch. (M24)

**D4.10** Workflow for applying for AQUACOSM-plus Open Access fund (M24)

**D4.11** Tools for automated QA & QC of data. (M24)

**D4.12** Data management plan version 2 (M24)

**D4.13** Open mesocosm science evaluation – Intermediate impact report 1 (M24)

**D4.14** Virtual Access to near real-time data streams (M26)

**D4.15** Online training modules on benefits to open science (M36)

**D4.16** Report of the primary data portal status and use for open science primary data collection (M42)

**D4.17** Open mesocosm science evaluation – Final impact report 2 (M42)

**D4.18** Report on TA data available in European open data portals and the AQUACOSM-plus metadata portal and DOI’s assigned (M48)



Breaching barriers to open mesocosm science, including open science tools and data

**Objectives**

WP5 aims to link the AQUACOSM-plus project with the outside world via approaching and engaging multiple audiences at various levels (scientific, industrial, educational and general public) and encourage their interaction with the project. To achieve these goals, an efficient outreach strategy will be implemented, the partners’ communication skills will be improved and the outreach strategy of AQUACOSM project will be reviewed (Task 5.1). The main communication and dissemination channel will be the project’s website, which will also host the Transnational Access portal including the Project Tracker (Task 5.2); AQUACOSM- plus will continue to actively communicate the announcements and ΤΑ calls through all major social media platforms (Task 5.2). The scientific community will be approached via conventional and modern dissemination tools (Task 5.3). Industrial providers and SMEs with interest on mesocosms will be approached via the AQUACOSM Innovation Forums (ACIF) (Task 5.4). Finally, students (elementary school to university level), as well as the general public will be engaged to raise awareness on ecological/environmental issues and shape the next-generation of aquatic scientists while further dissemination actions will target decision-making bodies and NGO-networks (Task 5.5).

**Deliverables**

**D5.1** Website updated (M03)

**D5.2** TA portal and Project Tracker (M03)

**D5.3** Action plan for engaging with industry (M06)

**D5.4** Outreach Activities (M18)

**D5.5** Action plan for engaging with industry (M18)

**D5.6** Outreach Activities (M36)

**D5.7** Case-study on the impact of mesocosm studies on contemporary environmental issues (M36)

**D5.8** Action plan for engaging with industry (M36)

**D5.9** Outreach Activities and Education Materials (M48)

Outreach activities: Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation

**Objectives**

Work package 6 will provide a conceptual roadmap for facilitating cutting-edge solution-oriented research tackling grand challenges in AQUACOSM-plus JRA and TA (WP 8 & 9).

The AQUACOSM network provides access to the most advanced mesocosm facilities across Europe, and spans from alpine lakes over lowland waters to coastal and open ocean systems. These sites hence cover virtually all aquatic habitats and ecoregions found in Europe (Fig.3.3), and allow for analysing effects and mitigation measures of virtually all aquatic habitats and problems connected to them. On top of that, several of the partner sites in AQUACOSM-plus are involved in monitoring programs, which are part of other H2020 research infrastructure (IR) programs (e.g. JERICO, LTER, ICOS, DANUBIUS, AnaEE: Table 1.1). 

Long-term data of their sites allows formulating specific research questions in the context of site-specific ongoing environmental change including climate change, pollution and other disturbances on the ecosystem.

The principal aim of WP6 is to foster leading-edge research on the RIs present in AQUACOSM-plus and beyond in terms of addressing the most pressing scientific questions e.g. in the context of climate change, biodiversity loss, emerging pollutants and other disturbances on aquatic ecosystems, but also exploring the possibilities for of nature-based solutions in the field. WP6 will achieve this goal by bringing together experimentalists, modellers, and representatives from other relevant RIs and by involving stakeholders of key sites for facilitating to apply cutting-edge methods and theories to the most pressing environmental problems related to the ecology of surface waters.

**Deliverables**

**D6.1** Catalogue of grand challenges, also published on project tracker (M08)

**D6.2** Manuscript for Opinion paper (M12)

**D6.3** Manuscript for Concept paper AquaSUMMIT 1 (M12)

**D6.4** Meta-analysis manuscript (M24)

**D6.5** Manuscript for Empirical paper AquaSUMMIT 2 (M36)

Defining Grand Challenges in aquatic mesocosm research

**Objectives**

The enhanced mobility for mesocosm experimentation, through technological developments in WP7 and the expanded network of unique mesocosm facilities within AQUACOSM-plus, as well as the development of the first ice and wave resistant pelagic mesocosms from AQUACOSM will be exploited in WP8. Both **within the enlarged AQUACOSM-plus consortium** (Task 8.1), and **piloting co-design of research with European observational RI networks** (JERICO-S3, ICOS, LTER, DANUBIUS) in the continental (Task 8.2) and coastal marine domains (Task 8.3). In addition, the performance of the new ice-resistant Aquacosm- mesocosms will be tested by conducting a full-scale over-wintering experiment under Arctic relevant conditions (Task 8.4). Lastly, synergies will be created through the combination of the new international **co-design and optimisation of experimental approaches** (identified in WP6, Training in WP3, and Project Tracker in WP5) and **the Transnational Access (TA)** offered. This will be achieved by coordinating cross-facility joint research activities, to ensure effective capacity building and experimental harmonisation and novel high-throughput analytic approaches**, not previously available at all sites (Task 8.5).

All tasks will specifically aim at breaking existing communication barriers within the European environmental RI landscape, paving the way to **sustainable and integrated, mission-oriented multi-domain collaboration and co-designed research of RI networks**. The network RI-RI collaboration in AQUACOSM-plus will be based on shared partnerships and co-location of observational and AQUACOSM- plus mesocosm facilities. The light-weight mesocosm platforms (WP7.1) will also be mobilised to geographical areas currently represented by observatories of other RI networks, but lacking mesocosm facilities so far. Special emphasis will be put on establishing new and integrating recent aquatic mesocosm facilities in south Eastern European member states, specifically supporting the DANUBIUS-RI/PP initiative (<a href= "danubius-pp.eu" target=“_blank”>danubius-pp.eu</a>).

**Deliverables**

**D8.1** Report on experimental strategies to test Grand Challenges (M6)

**D8.2** Expert contributor module available on TA portal (M6)

**D8.3** Report on JRA-TA partnership programme (M30)

**D8.4** Report on joint investigations in controlled high-tech and natural low-tech sites for a better understanding of long-term processes (M42)

**D8.5** Report on boundary conditions for winter mesocosms (M44)

**D8.6** Summary report on success of JRA-strategies in WP8.1&8.3 (M46)

Pilot execution of Grand Challenge scenario-testing through bridging scales of experimental and observational RI networks

The Department of Bioscience, **Aarhus University (AU)** comprises >15 research groups and about 500 staff members and carries out basic research and strategic research as well as research-based consultancy services on all aspects of aquatic sciences. AU furthermore runs the national survey program on aquatic ecosystems. AU has conducted numerous small to large scale experiments, as well as whole lake/stream experiments on many continents during the past 20 years and are probably the aquatic group with most experienced in field experiments in the world. They collaborate with more than 120 research groups from all parts of the world.

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Thomas Davidson

Erik Jeppesen

outdoor – pelagic/benthic – freshwater

24 cylindrical outdoor mesocosms, each 2.8 m3 in volume

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The Lake Mesocosm Warming Experiment (LMWE) is a unique long-term (with 16 years so far the world’s longest running) flow-through mesocosm experiment addressing climate-change effects on lakes under contrasting nutrient levels and water clarity. Twenty-four cylindrical outdoor mesocosms are used, each with a capacity of 2.8 m3. The mesocosms receive groundwater 6 times per day, resulting in a theoretical water retention time of 2.5 months. Water in the mesocosms is continuously mixed by paddles and heated by electrical elements. Three temperature regimes are run: ambient temperature and two elevated temperatures according to IPPC climate scenarios A2 and A2 + 50%, down-scaled to local 25 25 km grid cells. The modelled temperature difference for the A2 scenario is generally higher in August to January (max. 4.4 °C in September) than during the rest of the year (min. 2.5 °C in June). Individual mesocosms of each temperature regime are run at either low or high nutrient concentrations (4 replicates per treatment). The latter are obtained by weekly dosing of N and P.

Located 15 km from AU Silkeborg, the facility is equipped with a small lab building to facilitate accessory small-scale studies and analyses. A fully equipped lab is available at the AU freshwater central lab in Silkeborg. The mesocosm facility is part of the Danish AnaEE project and it is also included in the European AnaEE list of experimental facilities for ESFRI.

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![Screenshot-2020-11-05-at-16.14.45.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/aq-cms-content/Screenshot_2020_11_05_at_16_14_45_69e4b76576/Screenshot_2020_11_05_at_16_14_45_69e4b76576.png)

<div class="photo-credit">The Lake Mesocosm Warming Experiment (LMWE), photo and schematic, in Denmark.</div>
</div>



Aarhus University

**Objectives**

AQUACOSM-plus WP7 builds on the JRA developments in AQUACOSM, by introducing a series of new approaches to reach the next level in tackling prevailing historical restrictions of non-standard, spatially fixed mesocosm facilities (Task 7.1), as well as methodological restrictions in obtaining high-frequency data on aquatic community change (Task 7.2) and greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes (Task 7.3). For the latter, development and testing of benthic mesocosms for use in soft sediments is also carried out. These JRAs create new Technological Readiness Levels needed for effective process studies and modelling, on the temporal and spatial scales required for experimental aquatic research tackling climate change-related Grand Challenges.

**Deliverables**

**D7.1** Report on prototype of affordable sensor system (M12)

**D7.2** Report on prototype of self-flushing chamber and GHG sensor system with data logging and communication (M12)

**D7.3** Report on Workshop on AI in imaging recognition techniques (M16)

**D7.4** Report on light-weight raft systems to carry 12 mesocosms (M20)

**D7.5** Report on GHG hands-on Workshop (M30)

**D7.6** Test results of benthic mesocosm and raft system combined with developed chambers and sensors (M38)

**D7.7**  Report on performance of various imaging instruments in identification of planktonic food web compartments (M42)



Towards transformative mesocosm research – breaking the spatial and temporal barriers of aquatic ecosystem experimentation

**Objectives**

The objectives of this work package are to oversee administration, operational management, and overall implementation of the project, including internal effective communication and collaboration between the coordinator, individual consortium members, and the European Commission; to organise and administer consortium networking and governance, including supporting relevant bodies and meetings (Task 1.1), and Advisory Board (Task 1.2); ensure efficient and effective management and decision-making procedures and to implement sound financial management as well as controlling systems and quality assurance of deliverables and periodic and final Reports (Task 1.3) and of the description of work (Task 1.4).

A specific goal of the overall AQUACOSM management is to improve the efficiency of the research infrastructures' management and their service provision by establishing a joint management of access provision and pooling of distributed resources at the individual facilities. 

**Deliverables**

**D1.1** First Feedback from AB to project progress (Month 16)

**D1.2** Periodic & financial reports M18 (Month 18)

**D1.1** Second Feedback from AB to project progress (Month 34)

**D1.2** Periodic & financial reports M36 (Month 36)

**D1.3** Periodic & financial and final reports M48 (Month 48)


**Objectives**

WP2 will provide an overall framework to guide the project work and strategy for long-term sustainability and impact of the RI on research and implementation of European policies. It will produce a long term strategy for development and integration of mesocosm facilities in Europe, with focus on the new capability that the integration of mesocosms provides to the international research community to address future scientific questions and to meet the societal challenges related to key environmental challenges such as climate change, impacts of contaminants and ecosystem disturbances.

In particular, the WP will tackle key scientific questions about how to best experiment and the adequacy of present science strategies to meet key environmental scientific and societal challenges (task 2.2 – science strategy). The present scientific focus and service level will be reviewed (task 2.1) in order to “unleash” the full innovation potential of the integrated infrastructure and to assess the capability that innovation can bring for supporting the long-term sustainability of AQUACOSM (task 2.3).

This WP will also look at long term financial and legal governance structures for the sustainable implementation of AQUACOSM infrastructures (task 2.4 – Governance strategy). Outcomes from tasks 2.2 and 2.4, together with results from the NA (WP3 and WP5), TA (WP6) and JRA (WP9) activities will provide the backbone for elaborating a roadmap for the sustainable development of the AQUACOSM RI, maximising its impacts on research and policy implementation, as well as innovation and value creation for Europe (task 2.5).

**Deliverables**

**D2.1** Review of present conceptual state, capabilities and limitations of aquatic mesocosm facilities. (M17)

**D2.2** Report on the science strategy (Two iterations at M24, M44).

**D2.3** Report on the innovation potential of AQUACOSM (M42)

**D2.4** A sustainable legal, governance and financial structure for AQUACOSM. (M38)

**D2.5** Report on the AQUACOSM roadmap for the future. (M48)



Integrated science strategy and governance from local to European scales

**Objectives**

WP3 will develop common guidelines and documentation for mesocosm facilities and provide platforms for cross fertilisation of ideas and training in mesocosm related research. The integration of freshwater and marine facilities under best practices aims to harmonise the quality of data and services the facilities provide, while jointly developing common technologies and documentation procedures. Through collecting, validating and distributing knowledge and information, WP3 will enhance the utilisation of the facilities in terms of their geographic and climatic diversity within Europe. A focus will be put on training of young scientists so that they can benefit from the full range of tools available for relevant research and improve training of staff and scientists managing, operating and conducting research on mesocosm infrastructures in Europe. WP3 will enhance the human capital and competitiveness of these infrastructures at an international level.

The harmonisation procedure in Task 1 will be facilitated by bringing the mesocosm community together in targeted and multidisciplinary workshops to discuss experimental design, setup and monitoring (MS11, Partner 18) and to challenge our current approaches in order to meet future challenges (MS25, Partner 9). Recommendations from these workshops will be summarised in minutes from the meetings (D3.2 and D3.3),Tasks 2, 3 and 4 aim at transfer of knowledge. A summer school on theoretical and practical aspects in mesocosm research will be carried out in the facilities of Partner 19 (MS30). The results from the experiment and course material, as well as feedback from the participants, will be made available to the community (D3.4 & D3.5). Documentation will be the specific target of deliverables 3.1&3.6. Factsheets for each facility and each TA experiment shall be collected and organised, and will subsequently be made available online (MS39). Finally, the knowledge and insights available from the large number of experts participating in AQUACOSM will, building on the previous guide on “Pelagic mesocosms” (Riebesell et al. 2010) be assembled in a best practices manual on aquatic mesocosm research (D3.7). Future approaches and challenges will be the subject of a position paper on state of the art and perspectives (D3.8). Outcomes of the TA and JRA activities will be presented in the AQUACOSM final symposium (MS40). WP3 will collaborate closely with all networking activities scheduled in the project.

**Deliverables**

**D3.1** Factsheet template (M08)

**D3.2** Minutes of Workshop 1 (M11)

**D3.3** Minutes of Workshop 2 (M18)

**D3.4** Report on results from the summer school experiment (M32)

**D3.5** Student evaluation of course and recommendations by attendees (M34)

**D3.6** Collation of factsheets from each experiment (M42)

**D3.7** Best practice manual (M48)

**D3.8** Review manuscript (M48)




Transnational network of best practices, harmonisation and international training

**Objectives**

Overall aim of WP4 is to provide the basis for more effectively, measure, share and utilise mesocosm data between science infrastructures and for further open use across Europe and beyond. To this end standardised protocols will be developed to provide best practice advice on data collection and QA/QC, and to ensure that data are processed and stored in compatible formats. To facilitate data sharing a centralised metadatabase will be set up which will be accessible through the website developed in WP5. In development of the relational metadatabase we will draw on our experience within the Global Lake Observatory Network (GLEON) and the EU-Cost action NETLAKE (WP leader NIOO is partner and in the steering committees in both consortia) and the JPI-Water project PROGNOS (Co-WP leader AU partner and PI here). Upon consultation of the online open access metadatabase, data can be requested and shared between not only partners of the consortium, but also members of the scientific community at large. Data sharing will enable the exploration of topics not envisioned by the individual investigators and permits the creation of new data sets when data from multiple sources are combined. Interactive data visualisation products (plots) will be developed and integrated into the website allowing the rapid visualisation of mesocosm data.

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Data collection, standardisation and sharing

**Objectives**

The overall aim of WP5 is to provide a set of links joining the internal environment of the project with the outside world. To this end, a structured and continuous effort will be undertaken through exploiting a wide range of IT tools, and targeting a wide range of potential users and stakeholders. It is anticipated that this effort will not only increase the visibility of the project during its life time but will also continue to function after the end of this project providing information on and access to this network of facilities. The main elements of WP5 include: the development of a website which will be used as a central project communication and dissemination tool (Task 5.1), the attraction and assistance of the widest possible range of users to the Transnational Access provision to all partner facilities (Task 5.2), the implementation of a detailed communication strategy to inform, interact and engage with all of the major relevant target groups (Task 5.3), the design and implementation of a set of specific actions for capacity building (Task 5.4) and the establishment of specific actions for engaging with targeted industries (Task 5.5).

**Deliverables**

**D5.1** AQUACOSM website for project dissemination and networking (M6)

**D5.2** TA portal for coordination of TA provision (M6)

**D5.3** First report on dissemination activities (social networking, press releases, brochures, leaflets, blog etc.) (M18)

**D5.4** Second report on dissemination activities (social networking, press releases, blog etc.) (M36)

**D5.5** Third report on dissemination activities (social networking, press releases, brochures, leaflets, blog etc.) (M48)

**D5.6** First set of educational material (Modules, training activities etc) (M18)

**D5.7** Second set of educational material (Modules, interactive application, training activities etc) (M48)

**D5.8** Minutes of ACIF workshop 1 (M12)

**D5.9** Minutes of ACIF workshop 2 (M24)

**D5.10** Minutes of ACIF workshop 3 (M40)

**D5.11** Final report on the KTN (M40)

Outreach: Dissemination and Stakeholder engagement

**Objectives**

<p>To develop a best practice approach for (semi-) autonomous analysis of physical, chemical and biological parameters in mesocosm experiments. The WP will survey the relevant sensors and probes. Cost efficient setups will be co-developed in cooperation with leading providers of sensing devices. A key aspect is to enhance spatial and temporal resolution beyond the point feasible with setups routinely used to date. Within the context of global change (GC) research, WP8 will thus foster and demonstrate novel instrumentation systems enabling high-frequency observations in widely compatible data formats, describing ecosystem responses to GC and other anthropogenic pressures over European-wide environmental gradients.</p>
<p>The Joint Research Action will have two major impacts in the field of mesocosm-based aquatic research. 

1. Enhancing spatial and temporal resolution which will allow a deeper insight in and modelling of key processes and interactions in the planktonic food web. 

2. By fostering the development and spread of cost- effective gear, equipment for standardised data collection will become available to the community, allowing better comparability of experiments carried out in Europe and around the world. The approach will therefore be essential to make best use of results of international mesocosm research in terms of yielding reliable ecosystem response scenarios to GC and related anthropogenic pressures.</p>

**Links to other WPs.**

<p>For defining research and development needs, WP8 will closely collaborate with WP3, where best practices in mesocosm research will be reviewed. The WSs in WP3 will directly give input to Task 8.1 in WP8. WP8 will also collaborate closely with WP7 on the development of future mesocosm research. The sensors developed in WP8 will take into consideration the requirements co-developed with WP7, regarding cold- water environments. Finally, WP8 will make use of the ongoing JRA in WP9 – experiments in this WP will be utilised for testing prototypes of WP8.</p>
<p>Furthermore, WP8 will collaborate with WP4 on agreement on standards for data formats. In order to provide input to the industry in terms of R&amp;D, gaps and research needs in context of available sensoring systems will be identified in WP3 and 8to be forwarded to the Innovation Forum in WP5.</p>

**Deliverables**

**D8.1** Report on the current status and aims for AquaBox (M8)

**D8.2** Report on the current status and aims for LAMP Sensor System (M10) D8.3 Final report LAMP Sensor System (M48)

**D8.4** Final report AquaBox (M48)

**D8.5** Final report data acquisition system (M48)


Autonomous measurements

**Objectives**

WP9 focuses on joint research strategies to: a) demonstrate and valorise the surplus value of the AQUACOSM consortium, in experimentally tackling key scientific questions regarding present and future environmental changes, and b) ensure consolidation and continuation of the network and joint research activities beyond the duration of the AQUACOSM-project. To accomplish this, WP9 will conceptualise and implement a first international scientific coordination of ecosystem-scale experimental studies across all water types from marine to freshwater (Task 9.2). The success of this task specifically, as well as all AQUACOSM activity in general, will be evaluated (Task 9.1) and the results will be explored as a basis for future sustainable and expanded collaborations between aquatic mesocosm infrastructures in AQUACOSM and beyond. We will invite all facilities to join a virtual international network on the mesocosm.eu portal and advertising it on the aquacosm.eu project website (Task 5.1 and 5.2). The activity under Task 9.2 will also be used to allow wider collaboration with other directly related areas such as coastal and terrestrial experimental and observational platforms as developed in the different European RI consortia (e.g. AnaEE, ICOS, JERICO-NEXT, DANUBIUS, and future new RI-projects). To facilitate such a collaboration we have invited representatives other networks to the AQUACOSM Scientific Advisory board (SA described under section 3.2.6).

WP9 (Task 9.1) will implement knowledge and strategies developed within the AQUACOSM project. We will utilise and integrate results on key environmental challenges from WP2, transfer of technology and best practices from WP3, and be the first to employ key methodological improvements from WP7 and WP8, while conducting joint Pilot-transnational experimental investigations of key research questions across sites selected to represent the width of the consortium (Task 9.2). This Pilot-research activity will take advantage of the large variety of environments and species pools at the different experimental sites, from freshwater to marine systems, and from the Arctic to Mediterranean.

A challenge in mosocosm studies is that the responses of ecosystems to changing environments depend strongly on local biotic dynamics, determined by local species pools and biodiversity and me lead to idiosyncratic responses preventing generalisations. Coordination among facilities doing comparable studies are therefore needed. We postulate that this is one of the most limiting factors for the development of ecosystem-scale empirical science to understand and mitigate the effect of anthropogenic stressors on our future environment. One of the major outcomes of WP9 is therefore expected to be a concept for a sustainable international network ensuring continuous development of international best practice approach allowing direct between-system comparisons, based on directly comparable experimental and analytical approaches. Notably, our current understanding of aquatic ecology draws much knowledge from experiments that were performed at few sites in the vicinity of important laboratories.

The research strategy demonstration in WP9 will focus on extending important site-specific investigations of key environmental challenges to analyses of “local environment x environmental stressor” interactions on the European scale. This will ensure mechanistic insights into key ecological challenges that would not be possible to extract from single site-specific experimental studies or observational time-series. We will thereby further increase the value of experimental manipulations at specific sites by embedding them within an overarching Joint Research Activity. We will develop and conduct a practical pilot test of best strategies to study key environmental questions in the context of major environmental gradients (salinity, climate) across Europe, in order to obtain robust predictions how global change will affect aquatic ecosystems and surface water quality across Europe. Such an understanding is essential to judge susceptibility of aquatic ecosystems and to foresee remediation measures to be taken in the future.

**Deliverables**

**D9.1** Data base environment x stressor interactions (M12)

**D9.2** Strategy for experiments along salinity and latitude gradients (M18)

**D9.3** Pilot Salinity, demonstration of successfully performing experiments along a salinity gradient (M36)

**D9.4** Report practical experience from experiments along a salinity gradient (M42)

**D9.5** Pilot Latitude, demonstration of successfully performing experiments along a latitudinal gradient from Arctic to Mediterranean (M46)

**D9.6** Strategy for continuing JRA beyond M48, concept paper (M48)

Lasting Science Integration

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Blue Lobster IT Limited

<p>The <strong>CEREEP-Ecotron IDF</strong> is a joined unit of services, in partnership with CNRS and ENS (<a href= "http://www.foljuif.ens.fr/" target=“_blank”>http://www.foljuif.ens.fr/</a>). It is dedicated to experimental ecology, with technical platforms of national importance, and is also used for teaching and biodiversity observatories. The centre coordinates since 2011 the PLANAQUA equipment (“Plateforme nationale d’expérimentation en écologie aquatique”) funded by the Equipex program (“Equipements d’excellence”). PLANAQUA consists in a fully integratedexperimental platform of aquatic microcosms, mesocosms and macrocosms. The centre belongs to the CNRS national network of ecological experimental stations (ReNSEE), which guarantees (1) a national framework, (2) permanent support, and (3) a platform for exchange of technical and administrative skills. It is networked with other platforms inside the “Infrastructure nationale en biologie-santé” AnaEE-France, itself involved in the elaboration of the Infrastructure AnaEE-Europe (“Structuring infrastructures for the ANalysis And Experimentation on Ecosystems”), in the preparatory phase of ESFRI FP7 program.</p>

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Sarah Fiorini

Gérard Lacroix

<p><strong>outdoor/indoor- pelagic/littoral – freshwater/marine</strong></p>
<p><strong>1)</strong> <strong>The Experimental Lake Platform</strong> consists of 16 artificial lakes (30 m x 15 m x 3 m deep, 750 m3 each) designed to simulate the spatial heterogeneity and biological complexity of small, continental freshwater bodies (Figure 1). These large experimental systems are spatially structured, with shallow littoral areas, a central pelagic zone and a central benthic area, and may be interconnected along 4 rows of 4 lakes each through 10 m long dispersal channels. In addition, each lake is equipped since June 2016 with automated sensors and data loggers providing detailed and real time information on physical and biological conditions along the water column from the central pelagic zone. The two other artificial reservoirs (126 m x 15 m x 3 m deep, 4000 m3) are a stocking lake used to homogenise water before distribution to experimental lakes and a drainage lake that can collect and purify used water at the end of experiments.</p>
<p><strong>2)</strong> <strong>Standard outdoor freshwater mesocosms</strong>, from 350 litres to 12 m3, with high degree of replication are available (currently, 142 tanks with a minimum of 12 replicates per size group).</p>
<p><strong>3)</strong> <strong>Standard floating mesocosms</strong> (up to 2.5 m deep and 5.6 m3) can be installed on a permanent floating structure of the stocking lake to run mesocosm experiments requesting a deeper and naturally mixed water column (Figure 3).</p>
<p>4) The new platform of <strong>thermoregulated mesocosms</strong> inaugurated in June 2021 is now available for TA 2022. 16 stainless steel mesocosms of 1m3 are set outdoor in two lines of 8 mesocosms (Figure 4). Four experimental temperatures can be precisely controlled, each one on four replicated mesocosms. This allows factorial experiments aiming to understand the effects of global warming and other environmental parameters on community structure and functioning.</p>
<p><strong>5) Aquatic microcosms</strong> are small containers dedicated to aquatic microbial ecosystems studies from single populations to communities of bacteria, microalgae and other planktonic organisms. Currently, we have in our dedicated laboratories 12 chemostats (single glass vessels) for culturing bacteria and phytoplankton in sterile conditions and 4 double-system chemostats (paired system made out of two connected glass vessels) dedicated to the study of phyto- and zooplankton interactions and dynamics in spatially structured ecosystems (meta-ecosystems) (Figure 5). All the systems can be used to run continuous cultures in a light- and temperature-controlled environment. Moreover, we have 36 custom-made open-top aquatic microcosms dedicated to experimentation on aquatic ecosystems in the Ecolab environmental chambers. Temperature, irradiance and nutrients can be precisely controlled inside each microcosm, and atmospheric conditions (CO2 and O2) are precisely regulated.</p>

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PLANAQUA is a cutting-edge experimental infrastructure located at the CEREEP Research Centre to explore the effects of human disturbances on aquatic biodiversity, community structure and ecosystem functioning of shallow lakes ecosystems. PLANAQUA is jointly supported by Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) and National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS). PLANAQUA combines several facilities. Sixteen artificial ponds (750 m3), with a vegetated, silty, littoral zone, a central pelagic zone, and a sandy benthic area, are equipped with automated sensors to measure vertical profiles of t°C, O2, pH, chl a and PAR. Two larger ponds (4000 m3) serve as storage (for species and water) or drainage reservoirs. In the first pond, a floating pontoon can receive suspended enclosures (typically, 64 enclosures of 6 m3). The experimental ponds are complemented by >80 outdoor mesocosms of various sizes (1-15 m3) and shapes. Finally, 12 mesocosms (15 m3 each) have wave generators to control water turbulence.

Aquatic communities (plankton, benthos, macrophytes of marine or freshwater ecosystems) can also be studied in the climatic chambers of the Ecotron IleDeFrance, under highly controlled environmental conditions (t°C, light, nutrients, gas). Dedicated sensors enable monitoring of gas exchange (O2 and CO2) in the experimental systems. Microcosms (from one liter to several hundreds of liters) can be used.

Available instruments include a flow cytometer, spectrophotometer, automatic titrator, segmented flow analyser, growth cabinets, a laminar flow hood, fume hoods, -20°C and -80°C freezers, an autoclave, ovens, a freeze-drier, culture facilities for algae, microscopes, liquid nitrogen, distilled and ultrapure water, samplers, fixed sensors, multi-parameter and fluorometric probes, small boats and other gear.

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<div class="photo-credit">PLANAQUA with 16 experimental ponds, a floating pontoon and various mesocosms. Photo credit: CEREEP</div>
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CNRS-CEREEP

The **Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg** was founded in 1973, making it one of Germany‘s young universities. Its goal is to find answers to the major challenges society faces in the 21st century – through interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research along three guiding themes. The guiding theme Environment and Sustainability combines questions and methods of natural and social sciences and sociology with the declared aim to develop forward-looking solutions for a reflected, responsible and efficient use of the resources of our planet. It brings together the priorities of biodiversity and marine sciences, sustainability and energies of the future.

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Maren Striebel

Miriam Gerhard

Anika Happe

indoor (outdoor) – freshwater/marin – pelagic/benthic

- 12 indoor mesocosms with 600 l volume (height 120 cm, diameter 80 cm) for marine or freshwater experiments and natural or artificial communities
- 3 temperature zones: upper half, lower half, and bottom
- Build-in rotor prevents wall growth
- Six ports at different levels of the water column for direct sampling
- Planktotrons can be connected for metacommunity approaches
- Sediment inclusion possible

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The experimental facility consists of 12 indoor mesocosms, so-called Planktotrons. The Planktotrons are custom-tailored units built of austenitic stainless steel, developed and established at the University of Oldenburg, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) in Wilhelmshaven. Each tank has a fillable height of 1.2 m and an inner diameter of 0.8 m, resulting in a volume of 600 L. The 2-walled tanks with pillow-plate technology allow temperature control independently in three vertical strata by circulating heating or cooling medium between the two walls. Temperature is measured using PT100 sensors mounted on the rotating paddle at three different depths. Each temperature zone can be adjusted between 5 and 35 °C.

During the experiments, rotating paddles with regulated speed can be used to avoid wall growth and for mixing the water in the Planktotrons in regular intervals with defined speed. The paddle itself can easily be disconnected and modified or shortened for other experimental setups. Sampling can be conducted from the top or at six different depths by connecting a sampling lance to one of the sampling ports. Additional ports allow connecting Planktotrons among each other, which enables meta-community approaches or the usage of automated water-pumping on-line sensor instrumentation. Two fully controllable LED lighting units assure light conditions with a near-natural light spectrum.

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<div class="photo-credit">Planktotrons in temperature controlled room for indoor experiments. Photo: M. Striebel</div>
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<div class="photo-credit">Scheme of the Planktotrons</div>
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Carl Von Ossietzky Universitaet Oldenburg

**CIBIO-UE** is a University of Évora’s branch of CIBIO (Centre for Research on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources), a research platform conducting basic and applied research on the three main components of biodiversity: genes, species and ecosystems. Research at CIBIO-UE is driven by three unifying questions: how did past climate changes affect biodiversity? How might current and future environmental changes affect biodiversity? How can biodiversity be conserved given current and future challenges?

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Miguel B. Araújo

Gonçalo Camarinhas

**outdoor - pelagic/benthic - freshwater**

192 mesocosms deployed across six regions. The mesocosms consist of 1000-L tanks that mimic small ponds. In each location, there are 32 mesocosms installed ca. 3-5 meters apart.

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The Iberian Pond Network (IPN) was established in 2014 to investigate ecological responses to climate change across bioclimatic regions. This innovative infrastructure includes a range of environments from semi-arid conditions to mountaintops. A total of 192 mesocosms, each 0.70 m deep and 1.85 m in diameter, are deployed across 6 regions on the Iberian Peninsula. Locations include semi-arid, Mediterranean, temperate and alpine environments. This distribution of sites along a climatic gradient over a large area is expected to provide insights into effects of climate change, biogeography, biotic interactions, biodiversity and ecosystem processes in pond food webs. At each location, 32 mesocosms with a volume of 1000 l each are located at ca. 3-5 m distance from one another. The mesocosms are equipped with an automated system controlling temperature and water level, thus enabling simulations of future climatic conditions. The mesocosms were set-up and initiated by adding 100 kg of locally collected topsoil, then filled with local water. All mesocosms have been left untouched until 2019 to allow establishment of aquatic food webs, but can from now on be used for a variety of climate change manipulations, which can take the form of warming experiments, space-for-time substitutions across the network, or a combination of both. In addition, the IPN can be used for studies addressing fundamental questions relating to spatial patterns of community composition and function at biogeographical scales. The mesocosms were originally established with funds from the European Structural Funds and are currently used in 6 research projects, the EC funded AQUACOSM project, 3 funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, the 2 others through the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the UK National Environmental Research Council.

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<div class="photo-credit">Iberian Ponds Network is a multi-site infrastructure distributed across 6 locations spanning representative environmental gradients within Iberia: Arid, Mediterranean, Temperate and Alpine environments (left). Colours on the map represent temperature gradients across Iberia. Toledo (right).</div>
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Centro de Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos – Universidade de Évora

Dpend is an IT consulting company that cherishes long-term relationships where the customer and the consultant are in focus. Our consultants are social, competent and dutiful. They raise the mood and productivity of your development team.

We help to solve the most complex digital challenges. We do this through many years of experience in system development, testing and project management within large and small agile projects. We have expertise in, e.g., telecom, forest, study administration, banking, insurance, energy, healthcare, scientific data, etc.

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DPEND AB

**The Finish Environment Institute SYKE** is both a research institute, and a centre for environmental expertise. SYKE operates under the auspices of the Ministry of the Environment, and its activities focus on five themes, one of which covers the Baltic Sea. Marine Research Centre (MRC) at SYKE coordinates the national marine research infrastructure FINMARI (http://www.finmari-infrastructure.fi/), and aims at producing information and new solutions that help decision-makers to promote the protection and sustainable use of the Baltic Sea. Besides coordination, SYKE-MRC role in FINMARI is management of the largest Finnish marine research vessel Aranda and the Alg@line on- line monitoring platform, participation in the construction of the Utö Marine Station, hosting a Baltic Sea phytoplankton culture collection, and R&D on automated measurement and experimental platforms in the MRC Marine Ecology Research Laboratory.

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Maiju Lehtiniemi

Katri Kuuppo

**pelagic - marine - brackish – freshwater – indoor**

Indoor experimental systems in a range of volumes, with integrated incubation condition control, data retrieval, and their online presentation. Ice tanks available for ice ecology research. High-quality analytical laboratories are directly connected. 

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Research group in JERICO-AQUACOSM RI-RI Transnational Access 2022 experiment.

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Research group in JERICO-AQUACOSM TA2022 mesocosm experiment. Photo Eeva Eronen-Rasimus - resized.jpg

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The AquaBox instrument for autonomous near-real time sampling and measurement from the mesocosms. Incubator for small-scale bottle experiments with adjustable light and temperature.Experimental water is transported into the laboratory and mesocosms are filled with a peristaltic pump.

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The AquaBox instrument for autonomous near-real time sampling and measurement from the mesocosms. 

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Mesocosms and the water transport cube in the laboratory.

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Incubator for small-scale bottle experiments with adjustable light and temperature.

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The SYKE-MRC Indoor Mesocosm Facility is part of the Marine Ecology Laboratory at the Finnish Environment Institute. It hosts indoor experimental systems in a range of volumes up to 300 L. Temperature and light conditions are well controlled. The facility has several walk-in climate chambers and modern laboratories equipped with a wide range of instruments, including advanced bio-optical methods, such as flow cytometer, CytoSense, imaging FlowCam, Imaging flow Cytobot and LISST-Holo 2, Zooscan, high- quality microscopes, spectrophotometer with integrating sphere, spectrofluorometers, FRR fluorometers, plate readers, controllable LED panels, nutrient analysers, isotope laboratory, microplastics laboratory and a laboratory for molecular biology. Furthermore, SYKE-MRC Indoor Mesocosm is associated with a phytoplankton culture collection including hundreds of strains that can be used in experimental studies. 

The mesocosm facility has a unique instrument - [AquaBox](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9SqFst3Q-w&t=3s) -for automated sampling and measurement of several parameters, e.g., T°C, O2, in vivo fluorescence, FRRF, PAM, CDOM, pCO2, pH, inorganic N and P. Instruments for flow cytometry, image analysis of individual cells of phytoplankton and microzooplankton species (FlowCAM, CytoSense, FlowCytobot) can be hooked to the system, as well as automated water sample retrieval for additional analyses. All functions are computer-controlled, including automatic data transfer and storage. 

Please see also the gear gallery: <a href= "https://www.finmari-infrastructure.fi/gear-gallery/finnish-environment-institute-syke/ 
" target=“_blank”>https://www.finmari-infrastructure.fi/gear-gallery/finnish-environment-institute-syke/ </a>

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<div class="photo-credit">SYKE-MRC Indoor Mesocosm Facility hosts a wide range of temperature and light-controlled experimental units up to 300 L (left), attractive to teams of international experts (right).</div>
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Finnish Environment Institute, Marine Research Centre

**Objectives**

WP2 aims at maximising the impact of the AQUACOSM-plus RI for society by critically evaluating the relevance of the RI for different stakeholders and clarification of the position of AQUACOSM in the complex landscape of European RIs and its interface with other RIs. WP2 is structured in four tasks respectively focusing on: Task 2.1, reviewing and analysing the RI-landscape to effectively capitalising on co-design between relevant RIs; Task 2.2 enlarging the scientific spectrum of AQUACOSM as a standalone RI and through collaboration; Task 2.3, unlocking the innovation and service potential of AQUACOSM; and Task 2.4, Roadmap for the future.

**Deliverables**

**D2.1** Landscape and business analyses (M20)

**D2.2** Enlarging the scientific spectrum (M38)

**D2.3** Unlocking innovation (M48)

**D2.4** Roadmap for the future (M48)



**Objectives**
<p>WP7 explore a novel combination of leading freshwater and marine expertise in AQUACOSM to overcome several major limitations in present mesocosm based science:</p>
<ul>
	<li>Lack of standardisation hamper comparisons between facilities and experiments, limiting our ability to understand the functioning of ecosystems from local to global scales.</li>
	<li>Wave action prohibiting pelagic mesocosms in open lake and marine areas, effectively omitting most of the marine and large lake pelagic ecosystem from mesocosm experimentation. This is especially critical in most southern European areas where natural well-protected coastal areas such as fjords are scarce.</li>
	<li>Fouling, especially in pelagic mesocosms, prohibits long experiments (months-years), relevant for many expected ecosystem responses to climate as well as human drivers.</li>
	<li>Lack of resistance to ice formation has prohibited winter studies in Alpine, Boreal and Arctic areas of Europe. This is critical since sites with seasonal ice are predicted to be most sensitive to elevated temperature.</li>
</ul>
<p>The AQUACOSM consortium encompass pioneering expertise on each of these fields; the FVB-IGB LakeLab (WP6.1) is ice-resistant, the GEOMAR KOSMOS (WP6.6) is resistant to waves up to ca. 3 m and have (manual) systems for wall cleaning, The Lake Warming Experiment at AU (WP6.13) are presently running the worlds longest climate warming experiment (13 years). <strong>However, there exist no mesocosm that is resistant to both waves and ice. WP7 therefore aim to design a novel mesocosm type allowing experiments in ice and moderate waves (minimum 1m), combined with an effective and low maintenance system to minimise wall growth, all in an affordable mobile mesocosm: the AQUACOSM. The design and use of the AQUACOSM will be widely promoted by the AQUACOSM project, aiming to support a rapidly growing network of tightly collaborative mesocosm projects throughout Europe and globally.</strong> These goals will be achieved through by completing 6 Tasks.

**Deliverables**

**D7.1** Final water collector system constructed (M24)

**D7.2** AQUACOSMS constructed (M38)

**D7.3** Antifouling concept report (M48)

**D7.4** Arctic test report (M48)

Transforming leading freshwater and marine technologies to enable pan-European experimental ecosystem studies across all climates

<p>The <strong>Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei</strong> (FVB-IGB) is a research institute of the Leibniz Association and member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB; www.bbib.org). FVB-IGB is dedicated to generating, disseminating and applying knowledge about freshwater ecosystems (<a href="http://www.igb-berlin.de"target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.igb-berlin.de</a>). Working in close partnership with the scientific community, agencies and the private sector, FVB-IGB seeks to advance basic science and develop innovative solutions to pressing problems facing fresh waters and humans.</p> 

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Stella Berger

Jens Nejstgaard

**Outdoor – pelagic/benthic – freshwater**

24 large lake mesocosms, each 9 m diameter, 20 m depth, reaching into the sediment, water volume 1,270 m3 per mesocosm, one additional central unit 30 m diameter, volume 14,000 m3

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The LakeLab in the deep clear-water Lake Stechlin, NE Germany, consists of 24 cylindrical enclosures encompassing large water volumes of 1270 m3 (9m diameter, 20m depth) each. The special features of the LakeLab are the unique combination of large size and number of mesocosms enable multi- factorial designs and new research perspectives, including testing of large instruments and calibration opportunities (e.g. remote sensing) not possible in most mesocoms. Further, flexible curtains attached to aluminium floats extending into the sediment enable experiments on benthic-pelagic coupling also during winter, including manipulation of ice and snow coverage. Water renewal by special high-throughput impeller pumps (100 m3/h) minimise disturbance of plankton and provide excellent tools to manipulate mixing regimes and stratification patterns. Gases (N2, CO2, CH4) and solutes can be injected in air-lift systems, whereas application of xenobiotics or introduction of foreign species is precluded. All 24 units of the LakeLab are equipped with automated sensors mounted on vertical profilers recording water-quality parameters at high-resolution: PAR, pressure, temperature, pH, conductivity, O2 and chlorophyll.  Four identical profilers are deployed in the lake at the LakeLab. All profilers are controlled by industrial computers collecting and transmitting data in real-time to a central data base server. The LakeLab is in close proximity to well-equipped laboratories of IGB’s Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, located directly on the lakeshore. Quick boat access (<5 min) to the laboratories facilitates prompt analyses of delicate live samples. Laboratories include radioisotope lab (14C,3H,33P,35S), molecular S1 labs, walk-in climate rooms, and standard labs. Analytical instruments include autoanalysers for nutrients, ion chromatograph, UV-Vis spectrophotometers, fluorospectrophotometer, fluorimeter, TOC/TON analyser, CNHS analyser, CaCO3 analyser, GCs, HPLCs, ultracentrifuge, flow cytometers, FlowCAMs, picture based flow cytometer, zooplankton scanner, software for picture recognition and machine learning approaches, scanning electron microscopes, bright-field, epifluorescence and inverted microscopes, image analysis systems, other standard laboratory equipment and field gear (multiprobes, plankton nets, sedimentation traps, sediment corers, layer sampler, underwater video system, IFCB). The long-term monitoring programme on Lake Stechlin provides background data on water chemistry, phyto- and zooplankton, fish, primary and bacterial secondary production. Meteorological data are recorded by the German Environment Agency on site.

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<div class="photo-credit">Aerial view of the LakeLab in Lake Stechlin at twilight during a “skyglow” experiment and LakeLab team in 2018. Photos: © V. Crone & H. Krückeberg 2018; M. Bauchrowitz, IGB.</div>
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Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. - Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei

**Objectives**

<p>WP6 of AQUACOSM aims to offer European researchers effective and well-organised access to unique and diverse aquatic mesocosm facilities. This will be achieved by transnational access (TA) activities. Emphasis is placed on providing high-quality infrastructures and services that enable users to conduct first-class experimental research focusing on the environmental change impacts on ecosystem dynamics. However, facilities are also open for any other suitable R&amp;D project. An additional goal of transnational access offered to eligible researchers from Europe and third countries is to foster collaboration among users of different mesocosm facilities, with particular focus on new collaborations between currently separated scientific communities of users of freshwater and marine mesocosm infrastructure facilities, as well as with industries, environmental managers, and other relevant stakeholders. WP6 is a key element of AQUACOSM’s objective to extend the current mesocosm network from its established marine nucleus (rooted in the highly successful FP7 MESOAQUA project) to the freshwater science community and its unique infrastructures designed to perform experimental studies in streams and rivers, lakes and ponds, as well as estuaries across a broad geographic range from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. Through the trans-national access administered in WP6, AQUACOSM aims to greatly enhance the efficiency of experimental infrastructure management and service provision by means of optimised, harmonised, and coordinated access procedures (see also WP1). These efforts are complemented by an effective public interface established by WP5 at www.aquacosm.eu.</p>

**Description of work**

<p>WP6 will be led by Partner 1, FVB-IGB (Berger), assisted by Partner 3, UIB (Tsagaraki), and the Project Coordinator at FVB-IGB (Nejstgaard). The WP subsumes the activities of AQUACOSM relating to the provision of Transnational Access (TA). Standardised procedures for providing TA will be followed across all mesocosm facilities. General information is given here, since several core elements of WP6 are shared among most or all infrastructures. They relate to the Modality of Access, Support Offered, Review Procedures and Outreach to New Users. Detailed descriptions and specificities applicable to the individual infrastructures are described in Tasks 6.1 to 6.19.</p>

**Modality of access under AQUACOSM:** Individual users or user groups (henceforth ‘users’) will be given access to the AQUACOSM partner infrastructures, equipment and services according to a standardised protocol (see below). The unit of access offered by all facilities is person-days, although details of access vary among infrastructures, depending on location, typical duration of experiments, required number of person-days, capacities of local staff, integration of AQUACOSM activities into established schedules, degree of user independence and other factors. Unless noted otherwise in the description of Tasks 6.1-6.19, costs are calculated as unit costs in € per user-day according to the methodology laid out by the European Commission. Included are costs incurring during experiments but also for preparatory work needed before and after the arrival of users at the site. Specific training on site required to complete a specific project is also included. An overview of all partner facilities access costs and the total of access provided is summarised in Table 3.2c whereas travel and subsistence costs are listed in Table 3.4.c.</p>

**Support offered under AQUACOSM:** The logistic support and services offered to users supported by AQUACOSM Transnational Access is described individually for each of the mesocosm facilities (see Task 6-1-6.19). Generally, however, it includes travel costs, accommodation at the site, a per-diem as well as scientific, technical and administrative support. The scientific environment in which users will be embedded varies among locations, but scientifically strong, active and open-minded research groups associated with most AQUACOSM facilities typically ensure a stimulating and rewarding research experience during TA activities. The application process and administrative procedures before and during TA activities will be coordinated in WP6 and WP1 for the entire network of mesocosm infrastructures in AQUACOSM. However, each facility will manage all other aspects of its own TA activities, for which the facility providers are responsible.</p>
**Outreach to new users:** An effort will be made to attract and support a wide range of users through AQUACOSM Transnational Access activities. In particular, WP6 will focus on attracting three distinct but not mutually exclusive groups of users:</p>
<ul>
	<li>Researchers or developers from SMEs and other industries keen on developing or testing instruments or interested in other applications (see WP5.5, WP8)</li>
	<li>Researchers from countries that lack state-of-the-art freshwater or marine mesocosm facilities (see also WP5)</li>
	<li>Researchers not previously involved in experimental investigations conducted in aquatic mesocosm facilities</li>
</ul>
<p>Information about opportunities for TA will be widely disseminated via various channels. The AQUACOSM website, in particular, will serve as a central hub to make TA calls for designated experiments and announce open time slots at all AQUACOSM facilities. In addition, announcements will be made through various other outlets developed in WP5, including social media and professional meetings.</p>

**Review procedure under AQUACOSM:** TA proposals must be electronically submitted at www.aquacosm.eu (WP5.2) and undergo a standardised review-process compliant with EU-regulations. Users will be selected based on the principles of transparency, fairness and impartiality:</p>
<ul>
	<li>Incoming TA applications are initially collected, sorted and registered by the AQUACOSM Project Office (WP1) and checked for formal compliance according to the present European Commission Requirements.</li>
	<li>The Project Office then forwards all formally correct applications to the independent User Selection Panel (USP), which is composed of four distinguished aquatic scientists with international expertise on all aquatic systems addressed in WP6 (see 3.2)</li>
	<li>The USP is asked to prioritise applications for transnational access according to a set of transparent criteria (see Application Assessment). Most important are scientific merit and attributes of prospective users as defined above.</li>
	<li>The Steering Committee (SC) and WP6 task leaders will then comment on the feasibility of the proposed activities at the specific sites based on the available expertise, collaboration potential and schedules at the respective facility.</li>
	<li>Final decisions are taken by the USP after consultation of the SC and respective task leaders.</li>
	<li>Facility providers start organising the planned activity as soon as they are informed about approved TA applications</li>
	<li>Decisions on TA approval will be also reported to the Project Office and publicly communicated via the outreach pathways of WP5.</li>
</ul>

**Deliverables**

**D6.1** Report on quantity of Transnational Access delivered by all partner facilities (6.1-6.19) before M24, to be delivered with the 2nd Scientific report to the EC (M36)

**D6.2** Report on quantity of Transnational Access delivered by all partner facilities (6.1-6.19) between M25 and M46, to be delivered with the 3nd Scientific report to the EC (M48)


Provision of trans-national access to all AQUACOSM facilities.

The **GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel** is among the largest non- university research institutions in the field of marine sciences in Germany (950 staff, incl. 450 experienced scientists and about 200 doctoral candidates). It is a member of the Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest non-university scientific organisation. The centre’s mandate is the inter- and multidisciplinary investigation of all relevant aspects of modern marine sciences, from sea floor geology through physical, chemical and biological oceanography to marine meteorology. Research is conducted worldwide in all oceans. The main research topics are grouped in four divisions: Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics, Marine Biogeochemistry, Marine Ecology, and Dynamics of the Ocean Floor. Its publication record and research grant funding is leading in these fields. GEOMAR cooperates closely with national and international research institutions and with a number of SMEs active in marine technology and science. Although GEOMAR’s mandate is to carry out basic science studies on the oceans, the centre strives to link basic knowledge to applied issues including gas hydrate, volcanic and seismic hazard, marine substances and onshore aquaculture research. This scientific breadth and the state-of-the-art infrastructure, particularly adapted for deployments in the open ocean and the deep sea, gives GEOMAR a unique profile and a central collaborative role within the German and international marine science community.

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Ulf Riebesell

**off-shore/outdoor/indoor – pelagic/benthic – marine/brackish**

**Kiel-KOSMOS**

outdoor mobile – pelagic – marine/brackish

9 floating structures of 50 m3 (emerging part : 2.5 m high, 2.8 m Ø. submerged part : 17 m high, 2 m Ø)

The Kiel Off-Shore Mesocosms for Ocean Simulations (KOSMOS) are a seagoing mobile platform for mesocosm experiments. They can be deployed from any mid-sized research vessel. KOSMOS comprises 9 free-floating units, each consisting of a floatation frame and a flexible bag 2 m in diameter. After deployment in the sea, the bag unfolds by weights pulling down its lower end to 20 m depth, thereby enclosing an undisturbed water column of 55 m3. The bag is then closed at the bottom by a full-diameter sediment trap. Regular cleaning of the mesocosm walls prevents wall growth and thus enables long-term experiments that capture plankton seasonal succession. The enclosed water encompasses the entire plankton community from bacteria and viruses up to the level of fish larvae and small pelagic fish. Sampling of sedimented matter in combination with measurements of dissolved and suspended matter and air-sea gas exchange can be used for budget calculations of major elements (C, N, P, Si). Potential experimental perturbations include the addition of inorganic nutrients or organic compounds, carbonate chemistry manipulation (i.e. simulating ocean acidification or alkalisation), manipulation of mixed-layer depth, simulation of deep-water upwelling, species exclusion and addition of invasive species.

Sampling devices include depth-integrated and discrete water samplers, nets, gas tight samplers, and sediment samplers. Various sensors continuously record physical and chemical characteristics of the enclosed water along depth profiles. Underwater optical instruments allow for non-invasive in situ quantification of plankton community composition. The KOSMOS facility was successfully employed in long-term experiments in different climate zones, ranging from the high Arctic, temperate waters in the Baltic and North Sea, upwelling ecosystems off Peru, to oligotrophic waters off Gran Canaria and Hawai’i. These studies, which focussed on the effects of ocean acidification, deoxygenation and simulated upwelling on plankton dynamics and biogeochemical cycling, involved researchers from a wide range of scientific fields, including marine and atmospheric chemistry, molecular and evolutionary biology, marine ecology and biological oceanography, aquaculture, fish biology, and biogeochemistry. Results of the KOSMOS experiments have been used in various ecosystem and biogeochemical modelling activities.

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<div class="photo-credit">KOSMOS mesocosms off the coast of Ny Ålesund, Svalbard. Photo: S. Klavsen</div>
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Facilities

Transnational Access

Metadata & Data

Papers & Reports

Knowledge Base

Partners

AQUACOSM-plus

AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS

Aarhus University

Blue Lobster IT Limited

CNRS-CEREEP

Carl Von Ossietzky Universitaet Oldenburg

Centro de Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos – Universidade de Évora

DPEND AB

Finnish Environment Institute, Marine Research Centre

Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. - Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Hellenic Centre for Marine Research

INSTITUTUL DE CERCETARI BIOLOGICE CLUJ FILIALA A INCDSB BUCURESTI

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität

Luftförorenings- och klimatsekretariatet

MARine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation

Middle East Technical University

NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS

Netherlands Institute of Ecology

Norwegian Institute for Water Research

OKOLOGIAI KUTATOKOZPONT – CENTRE FOR ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH OK-CER, Hungary

Rsk Adas Limited

Trinity College Dublin

Umeå Marine Science Center

Umweltbundesamt

United Kingdom Research and Innovation

University of Bergen

University of Helsinki, Tvärminne Zoological Station

University of Vigo

Uppsala Universitet

WasserCluster Lunz-Biologische Station GmbH

AQUACOSM

AQUACOSM-plus