AQUACOSM Work Packages

Lead: FVB-IGB

This task will establish, organise and support a group of four independent international experts responsible for selecting users for transnational access of the AQUACOSM platforms (described under 3.2.5). Its members will be administratively supported by the Steering Committee in the TA-application selection process specifically by help in sorting and organising incoming proposals and communication with the TA providing infrastructures (see also WP5.2 for announcement and proposal handling process, and WP 6 for TA provision).

The User Selection Panel (USP)

Lead: FVB-IGB

This task will establish, organise and support a high level scientific Advisory Board which will help to monitor progress, and provide independent guidance and advice to the coordinator, Steering Committee and the entire consortium. Advisory Board members will be supported in their function by the project logistically (e.g. AB meeting organisation) and with limited secretarial functions (e.g. meeting minutes). The Project Office will also provide for direct links between the Advisory Board and all consortium bodies, groups and partners as needed.

Scientific and Technology Advisory Board (STAB)

Lead: FVB-IGB

This task will undertake: Preparation and coordination of the periodic scientific and financial project reports as requested by the EC. Coordination of common administrative tasks, such as elaborating and providing templates for detailed planning and reporting of the tasks in each WP; providing formats for compiling and editing progress reports; monitoring progress through reaching milestones and deliverables; quality control of products and deliverables. Financial monitoring: Ensuring a transparent financial distribution of the EC grant, including setting and monitoring payment schedules, and terms of reimbursement. Preparation of financial controlling reports for the overall monitoring of the project. A formal project management plan will be developed and implemented for the project start, to provide how the project is executed, monitored and controlled.

Lead: FVB-IGB

Coordination of refining the work plan for the project according to the results of contract negotiations with the Commission and partners. Depending on the progress achieved, outcomes of internal and external reviews, and other developments, oversee and coordinate the further, possibly repeated updating of the AQUACOSM work program. Produce and provide up-to-date copies of the DoW to all consortium partners, associates and relevant stakeholders.

Lead: SYKE

Will define a science strategy for the AQUACOSM-RI. It will address the need to harmonise and integrate the mesocosms in order to address key scientific questions or specific societal needs related to climate change, contaminants and ecosystem disturbances in Europe. Task 2.2 will also capitalise on the existing resources and infrastructure in order to achieve a long-lasting performance for the AQUACOSM. The science strategy will specifically focus on the practical implementations performed through WP3 (NA), WP5 (NA), WP9 (JRA) and WP6 (TA). Task 2.2 will mobilise the know-how within the AQUACOSM consortium to elaborate a common strategy addressing the identified key environmental challenges, while taking advantages of the joint availability of harmonised mesocosm facilities into an integrated research framework. Besides advances in technology (WP7 and 8), optimising the implementation of a European network of mesocosms clearly requires an a priori consideration of: (1) the integration between facilities in terms of their uniqueness and representativeness of specific aquatic environments and conditions to study complex coupled processes, and (2) the transition between local to regional and pan-European (Mediterranean to Arctic) experiments. AQUACOSM will adopt a nested approach to tackle these two questions.

SubTask 2.2.1 will further analyse the data collected through task 2.1 and will synthesise the recommendations on best practices (WP3) and experiences gained from the JRAs (WP7, 8 and 9) and from relevant TA projects in terms of practical integration of infrastructures for serving scientific challenges. The output of task 2.1 on the science focuses will be analysed from a European perspective and will then be integrated into the AQUACOSM science strategy. More specifically, this subtask will:

• Assess how integrating mesocosms into a European infrastructure will lead for scientific breakthrough in marine and freshwater research.

• Summarise how the different components of AQUACOSM can optimally interact and can jointly be used in practice for joint research. A dedicated meeting with WP3 on Best practices will be organised around M36 in order to gather consensual views on how the level of harmonisation reached in the project can support the exploitation of the full potential of AQUACOSM as a network of European mesocosms.

• Propose strategies to increase the impact of European aquatic mesocosm research.

SubTask 2.2.2: Designing, and gaining experience from joint research activity (WP9) performed at a local/regional scale and aiming at demonstrating the ability of AQUACOSM efficiently address the identified environmental challenges. This will be achieved through tight interactions with the JRA-3 carried out through WP9. The activity of the team will be coordinated with those of the JRA-3, during the first 6 months of the project in order to optimise the experiments and tests to be carried out in WP9. Dedicated meetings will be organised at months 24 and 40 to collect experience and feedbacks from JRA-3 and integrate those in the proposed science strategy. The outcomes of the two subtasks will be presented in a report on the science strategy that will be elaborated and consolidated through two iterations during the course of the project.

Lead: UNI

Aims at establishing a long-term sustainability model for AQUACOSM based on innovation and service to the industry. It will use outcomes from task 2.1 to assess the present potential for innovation provided by AQUACOSM and propose concrete action plan for releasing this potential. Furthermore, close interaction with WP5 on engaging with the industry will be implemented in order to identify and create new opportunities for innovation and value-creation based on AQUACOSM.

Dialog with potential industrial users of AQUACOSM (WP5.4) will enable to identify key innovations that can lead to a leap in attractiveness of mesocosm facilities for industry-based research. In particular, we foresee that the aquaculture industry and maybe the oil and gas industry may become a significant actor/users of aquatic mesocosms. A general strategy will be elaborated for improving the visibility, the knowledge and the attractiveness of the AQUACOSM infrastructure for industry-based research.

A dialog with technology providers on the identified key innovation will be engaged through WP5.4 with the objectives of identifying key-enabling technologies that will support this paradigm shift in mesocosm-based research and industry users. The innovation forum activated in WP5 will play a major role in achieving task 2.3 objectives. We may consider consolidating the process with other tools such as questionnaire, phone interviews and direct bilateral meetings with key industry actors as identified in WP5. The outcome of this task will be reported in deliverable D2.3 as innovation-based strategy for AQUACOSM.

Lead: AU

Through this task AQUACOSM will establish links with national and regional funding agencies (e.g. JPI Ocean), which provide financial support, are part of the AQUACOSM scientific agenda, to ensure that they know the potential added value of their support through agencies are well aware of the capital investments required for mesocosm facilities, in the medium to long term, operational and recurring costs can be significant. This task will make an assessment of both the capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) costs for the AQUACOSM infrastructure. In terms of a legal framework for the longterm implementation of AQUACOSM, an assessment will be conducted for the most commonly used legal forms (ESFRI, ERIC, AISBL) and a recommendation made as to which is the most suitable special purpose vehicle or legal entity for the RI. Finally, a comprehensive cost benefit and value analysis will be undertaken for AQUACOSM, outlining both the direct costs and benefits, but also the non-quantifiable costs and benefits associated with mesocosm facilities. The measurable impact on interested communities of users will be an inherent part of this analysis. Successes recorded through the WP6 (Transnational Access) will be used as a critical input factor in the cost benefit analysis. This will lead to the definition of a strategy for sustainability of AQUACOSM-RI as a European Research Infrastructure. Different models and options for the sustainability of AQUACOSM-RI through, for example alliances with other environment RI projects or services such as RI (e.g. Jerico-Next, upcoming H2020 marine biological station project) ESFRI (DANUBIUS-RI, SIOS, AnaEE, EMBRC, LIFEWATCH, ICOS) infrastructures, and the integration into existing legal entities will be investigated. A particular attention will be given to the progress realised in the H2020-ENVRI-plus project in term of integration of European RI. The outcome of this task will be presented in deliverable D2.4.

Lead: FVB-IGB

Task 2.5 will provide a global strategy for the implementation of a future Network of European Mesocosms, ensuring both the long lasting impact of the infrastructure for research and freshwater and marine environmental policies in Europe and the subsequent necessary governance and economic framework.

Task 2.5 will define the balance between scientific potentials and requirements (see task 2.1 and 2.2), the innovation potential (task 2.1 and 2.3) and financial and governance constraints, and their consequences in terms of sustainability (task 2.4). Task 2.5 will receive inputs from all other tasks of WP2 as well from WP3 (best practices), WP5 (engagement with stakeholders), WP6 (TA calls and projects), WP 7 and 8 on new technological developments and from WP9 (implementation and achievements of the JRA) by month Month 42 so that the last six-month of the project will be devoted to their synthesis to produce a key report recommending a roadmap for the durable implementation of a European network of mesocosms.

Lead: IMPERIAL

The use of mesocosm experiments together with modelling/theoretical exercises is an excellent way to enhance our understanding about the base of the food web and to improve the understanding of general ecological principles. Training courses for PhD students and young scientists will communicate methods and approaches in contemporary mesocosm research. Participants will learn how to design and maintain experiments, collect and analyse material, and evaluate and explain results. The course will take place in the facilities of Partner 19 and consist of three phases: (1) Theoretical preparation (1-2 days), (2) Hands-on experience (7-9 days) and (3) Evaluation of the experiment performed through by the participants under guidance of experts in the field (1-3 days).

After an introduction to the general design of mesocosm experiments (1), the participants themselves will interactively decide on a short-term experiment they will prepare and perform (2) and evaluate the results utilising appropriate statistical, modeling and theoretical considerations (3). When the data are analysed and evaluated, the students will present the results to each other. A student will be nominated from attendees and lecturers, and paid by AQUACOSM, to present an overview of the summer school in the final symposium of the project.

The training activities will be conducted in the 96 pond mesocosm facility at Silwood Park. These are part of a new large global warming research programme connected to other European sites pan-Iberian study led by PI Miguel Araujo (CIBIO-UE, WP6). Dr Miguel Matias (CIBIO-UE/IMPERIAL) is based at Silwood and is involved in both of these large-scale projects. Silwood Park also offers world-leading lab and teaching facilities, and has a long history of running internationally renowned pedagogical courses. Experienced researchers will supervise the design, performance, analyses and evaluation. Potential topics for the experiment will be related to contemporary critical subjects on global change (e.g. darkening of the ocean, increased DOC from land to aquatic environments (one of the themes also addressed in WP9), increased temperature, altered nutrient loads or food web structure). The specific topic of the Summer School will be decided during the first annual meeting of AQUACOSM. The School attendees will evaluate the quality of knowledge disseminated during the summer school as well as the skills they have acquired. The evaluation will be used for future recommendations in training activities.

Lead: NIOO-KNAW

The purpose of the task is to create a hands-on repository of knowledge for each facility and provide common documentation for future use for potential users and to the scientific community that can serve as background for better planning and, more importantly, as a resource for future research. The information will be targeted towards better describing each infrastructure but also provide practical information and advice for future users. It will include metadata e.g. information on the type of experiment, parameters measured, available instrumentation and the associated risk assessment. It will also include a range of practical logistic information, contact persons etc. The standardised form/log will be used for each TA experiment and the information will be added into a database at each site. The template will be developed and provided to users who will have to submit this in conjunction with their final report after the completion of each TA activity. Factsheets and collated information will be made available online through WP4.

Lead: UIB

The objective of this task is to integrate the activities undertaken in WP3 in connection with other project activities (JRA, TA) and to document the project milestones for future use. The conclusions will be incorporated into the compilation of a best practices manual (D3.7). Although literature on use of mesocosm for specific tasks in either marine (e.g. Riebesell et al 2010) or freshwater (Davidson et al. 2015) exists, best practices manual for all aquatic areas (freshwaters and marine) is lacking at present. The new compendium will be freely available online on the mesocosm portal. From the “horizons” workshops (MS11 and MS25) we envision a “wish list” for the future to be compiled which will be circulated within the consortium for input and made available the best practice manual (D3.7). At the same time, the challenges, perspectives and limitations for future mesocosm research will be summarised in a position paper published in a peerreviewed journal (D3.8). The outcomes of the TA and JRA activities as well as the future perspective will be discussed during the project final symposium (MS40) organised by partners 7 and 8.

Lead: AU

This task aims at standardising database management in the decentralised repositories of the different partners within the consortium to ensure harmonisation of data formats, adequate storage and version control, backups and synchronisation of data. Harmonisation of data formats will disclose data for a multitude of applications, including e.g. the database approach to modelling (DATM; Mooij et al. 2014). To this end this task will:

• Develop guidelines describing a standardised environment for decentralised database management
• Develop a controlled vocabulary for data descriptors (metadata). Consistent descriptors of the data will enhance data deployment during and beyond the proposed AQUACOSM project.

Lead: NIOO

This task aims at setting up a metadatabase allowing for open access data sharing within and beyond AQUACOSM.

To this end this task will:

• Use the controlled vocabulary to setup of a centralised web accessible metadatabase. This metadatabase will be maintained through a web-based filing system accessible through the website developed in WP5. Through the metadatabase, researchers and stakeholders get an up-to-date overview of the data streams available within AQUACOSM. Upon consultation of the metadabase, data can be requested and shared within and beyond the AQUACOSM community. Develop a policy brief on data sharing, data integrity and data accessibility, which will provide a benchmark for future infrastructure projects.
• Develop a roadmap for sustained use of the (meta)databases beyond the lifetime of AQUACOSM to allow for full capitalisation of data gathered within the AQUACOSM project.

Lead: BLIT

This task aims at providing a standardised environment for (online) visualisation of data from the mesocoms facilities and experiments

To this end, this task will:

• Develop a suite of web-based data visualisation products
• Integrate the visualisation tools into the website to enable rapid and interactive visualisation of data from the mesocosm facilities and experiments. This website is developed in WP5, and the role of BLIT in both WP4 and WP5 will ensure a smooth interaction between development of visualisation tools and embedding them within the WP5 website.

Lead: FVB-IGB

1. Design of structure and providing information to attract and communicate with potential users of Transnational Access to the facilities described in WP6. This includes communication to support coordination of externally initiated TA research activities with internal research plans at the different facilities (WP6). Facilitate initiation of contacts between new users and facilities outside the AQUACOSM consortium in Europe and elsewhere.

2. Supply of information on the application process for Transnational Access including eligibility, how, when and where to apply. Processing applications for Transnational Access to the facilities described in WP6 using a web-based call and application process and communicate transparency of TA selection process.

3. Link to WP1 by assisting the User Selection Panel (USP) in handling of the TA proposals, WP2 and 3 by facilitating communication on design and best practice approaches of proposed experiments, communicating contact to WP4 for data handling routines and for WP6 by ensuring that TA provision will be visible to the outside the AQUACOSM consortium.

Lead: UIB

Target groups will include the research community, all levels of education and relevant industries (Task 5.5). To reach these target groups, AQUACOSM will use key communication methods including:

At the start of the project, a brief presentation of AQUACOSM will be sent / uploaded to:

• Potential TA users through the mailing list of MESOAQUA, as well as through specific platforms and networks such as MEDOBIS, PLANKTONNET, The Freshwater Blog, Freshwater Information Platform, etc.
• Targeted social media networks and user groups (via ResearchGate, LinkedIn, Facebook, twitter, etc.).
• Also, an active dialog will be created to seek long-term collaboration towards a unified European Roadmap for effective networking between all relevant activities. This includes: AnaEE, e-LTER, EXPER, DANUBIUS etc and all relevant partners in the ESFRI roadmap. An effective and lasting international integration in the European Research Area will also be a main task of the AQUACOSM Advisory Board (see Section 3.6 above).
• Press release advertising the start of the project and also every time major activities take place (TA experiments, JRAs, workshops, summer courses, Symposium etc) or when major achievements are reached (results of JRAs).
• Dissemination of AQUACOSM activities and advancement by means of a blog.
• Project presentation at related conferences, congresses or meetings of relevant projects.
• Preparation of dissemination material (brochures, leaflets, etc) to be distributed by all partners in meetings, conferences etc. Partners will use common brochures, posters and other materials.
• Presentation of AQUACOSM activities at under- and post-graduate courses by the academic partners.
• Communication of AQUACOSM activities to relevant industries involved in underwater technology, sensors etc.
• Promote the AQUACOSM Community website amongst EU government agencies with aiming to engage governmental bodies to act as “intelligent lead customers” in sourcing innovative technologies.

Links to WP3,4,6,7,8,9. All workshops, training activities and symposium (WP3, WP4, Task 5.4 and 5.5) will be advertised to the public and target groups as well as the TA (WP6) and JRA (WP7,8,9) activities.

Lead: METU

This Task will increase European human capacity building in mesocosm-based research. To reach this goal, Task 5.4 will:

• Develop module(s) presenting AQUACOSM activities and possibilities to run high value research in mesocosms: to be used as training material at the MSc and PhD courses of the academic partners.
• Develop an Educational Interactive mobile/tablet application focusing on the use of mesocosms to run ecosystem experiments targeted to pupils and students. The application will simulate a “real” mesocosm experiment where the treatments will be controlled by users.
• Organise short-time education activities in aquaria to introduce primary school pupils to mesocosm ecosystem experimentation
• Organise tours of under- or post-graduate students to AQUACOSM facilities when TA or JRA experiments are taking place (WP6, 7, 8, 9) in facilities closely connected with and/or geographically close placed to universities
• Disseminate material from the training courses, workshops (WP3 through the AQUACOSM website and other Social Media

Links to WP 3, 6, 7, 8, 9. The TA (WP6), JRA (WP 7, 8, 9) and training (WP3) activities will be communicated to pupils, MSc and PhD students.

Lead: UNI

The purpose of this task is to establish a base for dialogues with the industrial providers and users of AQUACOSM for maximising innovation and support sustainability. Close interaction with WP2.3 on innovation as support for sustainability will be implemented with the goal to identify and create new opportunities for innovation and value-creation based on AQUACOSM. Consultation and dialogue with industry will be pursued through the AQUACOSM Innovation Forum (ACIF that will be a link between AQUACOSM’s scientific community and both industrial providers of mesocosm technologies and industrial users of the facilities. This will create synergy for maximising innovation and economical output.

Dialogue with potential industrial users of AQUACOSM will be sought in order to identify key innovations that can lead to a leap in attractiveness of mesocosm facilities for industry-based research. A special focus will be given to industry actors from the aquaculture. A dialogue with technological providers, industry and SMEs specialised mechanical engineering, especially instrument development and in water constructions, will be engaged with the objectives of developing the identified key-enabling technologies that will bring up the mesocosm-based research to a state of the art. The collaboration with technological providers will result in a better availability of equipment designed for mesocosm research (sensor systems allowing high spatial and temporal resolution and profiling; ice resistant mesocosm setups; collaboration with WP7&8).

The ACIF will play a major role in achieving WP2.3 as well as WP7 & 8 objectives. Specific actions encompass:

• Agree on cluster membership and invite participants,
• Establish the ACIF, and carry out three ACIF workshops, tentatively at M12, M24 and M36, but rather focused on relevant international technology events (most relevant for aquatic technology are e.g. Ocean Business, Ocean International)
• Set up a Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) for mesocosm research, to be promoted through Tasks 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.

Links to WP3, 7, 8 and 9: Three workshops will include knowledge sharing from WP3 to inspire confidence in the end-user community that harmonisation and standardisation is assured with any AQUACOSM labelled products or services. The case studies and technology clusters of WP7, 8 and 9 will be reflected in the choice of representative members of AQUACOSM on the KTN for mesocosm research.

Provision of TA to WCL: LMI (Lead: WCL, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Robert Ptacnik

Name of the infrastructure: Lunz Mesocosm Infrastructure (LMI)

Location of the infrastructure: Lunz am See, 150 km southwest of Vienna, Austria

Web site addresses: http://www.wcl.ac.at/index.php?id=31, http://hydropeaking.boku.ac.at/hytec_en.htm, http://biofilm.univie.ac.at/index.php?content=Lunzer%20Rinnen%20-%20Experimental %20Flumes&category=FIELD%20SITES

Provision of TA to LMU: LMU Mesocosms (Lead: LMU, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Maria Stockenreiter

Name of the infrastructure: LMU Mesocosms

Location of the infrastructure: Seeon-Seebruck, 80 km southeast of Munich, Germany

Web site address: http://www.aquatic-ecology.bio.lmu.de/index.html

Provision of TA to ENS: PLANAQUA (Lead: ENS, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Gerard Lacroix

Name of the infrastructure: National Experimental Platform in Aquatic Ecology (PLANAQUA)

Location of the infrastructure: Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, 70 km southeast of Paris, France

Web site address: http://www.foljuif.ens.fr

Provision of TA to AU: AU LMWE (Lead: ENS, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Eric Jeppesen

Name of the infrastructure: AU Lake Mesocosm Warming Experiment (LMWE)

Location of the infrastructure: Silkeborg, Denmark

Web site address: https://www.au.dk/

Provision of TA to SYKE: SYKE-MRC Mesocosm Facility (Lead: SYKE, M 13-48)

Contact name: Timo Taminen

Name of the infrastructure : SYKE-MRC (Marine Research Centre) Mesocosm Facility

Location of the infrastructure: Helsinki, Finland

Web site address: http://www.finmari-infrastructure.fi/laboratories/syke-mrc-marine-ecology-laborato/

Provision of TA to UH: Tvärminne Mesocosm Facility (Lead: UH, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Joanna Norkko

Name of the infrastructure: Tvärminne Mesocosm Facility (TMF)

Location of the infrastructure: Hanko peninsula, Finland

Web site address: http://www.helsinki.fi/tvarminne

Provision of TA to CIBIO-UE: Iberian Pond Network (Lead: CIBIO-UE, M 13-48)

Contact name: Miguel Araujo

Name of the infrastructure: Iberian Pond Network (IPN)

Location of the infrastructure: Iberian Peninsula with 2 sites in Portugal and 4 sites in Spain

Web site address: http://www.maraujolab.com/iberianponds/

Provision of TA to IMPERIAL: SMF (Lead: IMPERIAL, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Michelle Jackson

Name of the infrastructure : Silwood Mesocosm Facility (SMF)

Location of the infrastructure: Silwood Park Campus, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK

Web site address: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/visit/campuses/silwood-park/research/

Provision of TA to NIVA: SEF (Lead: NIVA, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Nikolai Friberg and Benjamin Kupilas

Name of the infrastructure: Solbergstrand Experimental Facility (SEF)

Location of the infrastructure: Drøbak, located by the Oslofjord, Norway

Web site address: https://www.niva.no/en/contact/solbergstrand-research-facility

Provision of TA to UBA: FSA (Lead: UBA, Month 13-36)

Contact name: Silvia Mohr

Name of the infrastructure: Artificial Stream and Pond System (FSA)

Location of the infrastructure: Berlin, Germany

Web site address: http://www.uba.de/fsa

Provision of TA to UIB: UiB Mesocosm Centre

Contact name: Jorun Egge

Name of the infrastructure: UiB Mesocosm Centre (University of Bergen Mesocosm Centre)

Location of the infrastructure: Marine Biological Station, Espegrend, 20 km south of Bergen, Norway

Web site address: http://www.uib.no/en/bio/53898/marine-biological-station-espegrend

Provision of TA to NIOO/KNAW: Limnotrons

Contact name: Lisette de Senerpont Domis

Name of the infrastructure: Limnotrons

Location of the infrastructure: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Web site address: https://nioo.knaw.nl/en

Provision of TA to HCMR: CRETACOSMOS (Lead: HCMR, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Paraskevi Pitta

Name of the infrastructure: CRETACOSMOS

Location of the infrastructure: Ex American Base, Crete, Greece, 25 km east of Heraklion

Web site address: http://www.hcmr.gr/en/

Provision of TA to METU: METU Mesocosm System (Lead: METU, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Meryem Bekioglu

Name of the infrastructure: METU Mesocosm System

Location of the infrastructure: METU Campus in Ankara, Turkey

Web site address: https://www.metu.edu.tr/

Provision of TA to GEOMAR: KOSMOS (Lead: GEOMAR, Month 13-36)

Contact name: Ulf Riebesell

Name of the infrastructure: KOSMOS (Kiel Off-Shore Mesocosms for Future Ocean Simulations)

Location of the infrastructure: Seagoing mobile platform operated in moored or free-floating mode by GEOMAR Kiel, Germany

Web site address: https://www.geomar.de/en/research/fb2/fb2-bi/infrastructure/kosmos-kiel-off-shore-mesocosms-for-oceanographic-studies

Provision of TA to GEOMAR: KOB (Lead: GEOMAR, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Martin Wahl

Name of the infrastructure: KOB (Kiel-Outdoor-Benthocosms)

Location of the infrastructure: Kiel, Germany

Web site address: https://www.geomar.de/en/

Provision of TA to CNRS-MARBEC: MEDIMEER (Lead: CNRS, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Behzad Mostajir

Name of the infrastructure: MEDIMEER (MEDIterranean platform for Marine Ecosystem Experimental Research)

Location of the infrastructure: Sète, France

Web site address: http://www.medimeer.univ-montp2.fr/

Provision of TA to UMU: MF-UMSC (Lead: UMU, Month 13-48)

Contact name: Johan Wikner, Henrik Larsson

Name of the infrastructure: Mesocosm Facility at Umeå Marine Sciences Center (MF-UMSC)

Location of the infrastructure: Norrbyn, 40 km south of Umeå, Sweden

Web site address: https://www.umu.se/en/research/infrastructure/mesocosm-facility/

Lead: GEOMAR, Co-Lead: FVB-IGB, Participants: HCMR, UMU, Months 1-24

The usage range of the AQUACOSMS to exposed waters will be extended by a water collector system recently developed at GEOMAR.

The system shall be usable at variable depth in lakes, larger rivers and coastal waters from the Mediterranean to the Arctic. Disturbance of sampled organisms will be minimised and operation adapted to the AQUACOSMS. Following tests off Gran Canaria, it will be further evaluated at HCMR in Eastern Mediterranean, and in the Arctic, at Svalbard (see WP9.2.2).

Lead: UMU, Participants: CNRS, FVB-IGB and GEOMAR, Month 8-32

The design that has been developed within Task 7.1 by month 7 will be used to construct one prototype Aquacosm, in order to examine physical requirements in sea-ice during the first winter (M11-M17). The initial ice test and further refined concept will be used to improve the prototype further, to be tested at fully realistic scale, during winter and summer M23-32. This test will be coordinated with testing a set of autonomous probes developed in WP8.

Lead: WCL, Co-Lead: FVB-IGB, Participants: GEOMAR, Month 18-48

Less laborious cleaning systems than presently available in e.g. KOSMOS will be developed by a new method to keep fouling inside the mesocosms at a low level without adding or removing any material from the mesocosms. Non-pellucid double layer mesocosm bags, where the inner layer is turned ca. weekly (WCL-Ptacnik and FVB-IGB-Berger unpublished) should effectively allow long-time/seasonal studies, also in these medium-sized Aquacosms. This is especially important as many previous mesocosm studies may have been too short to reveal true long-time effects of ecosystem disturbances. Alternative systems for handling wall growths, e.g. modification of the KOSMOS system will also be tested with the prototype to evaluate which one functions best with the AQUACOSMS under ice and ice-free conditions. Best construction will be selected, 6-9 units produced and sent to NyÅlesund with the AQUACOSMS (Task 7.6) for the Arctic test (WP9.2.2)

Lead: UMU, Participants: FVB-IGB and GEOMAR, Month 32-38

With final design based on previous tasks, 6-12 (depending on cost) standardised AQUACOSMS will be produced by SMEs, sought in AQUACOSM Innovation Forum (WP5.5) and open market.

Lead: UMU, Co-Lead: FVB-IGB, (Participants: CNRS, in WP9.2.2), Month 41-48

The final AQUACOSMS will be shipped to NyÅlesund and tested together with autonomous probes developed in WP8, wall growth suppressing and water collection systems from Task 7.2 & 7.4.

The test in Svalbard will be part of a Joint Research Activity, on key scientific questions along major environmental and bio-geographical gradients (Task 9.2).

8.2.1: LAMP Sensor System (LampSS) development (Lead: CNRS-MARBEC, Contributors: SYKE, WCL, RF-SENS, Month 1-48)

A set of commercial sensors was developed to mesocosm experiments (e.g. electronic devices, software, etc.) by partner 10 CNRS-MARBEC (former CNRS ECOSYM) during the FP7 European project MESOAQUA. This set of sensors, installed in the LAMP (Lite aquatic Automated Mesocosm Platform), permits monitoring (minutes) physical, chemical and biological parameters at high temporal resolution without manipulation of the mesocosm water, and transmits the data via RF to a central data hub in real time. Hence key information on pelagic food web metabolism are monitored in a non-invasive approach (Mostajir et al. 2013, L&O: Methods 394-409). A separate module installed on the mesocosm platform captures incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR: 400-700 nm) and ultraviolet A and B radiation (315-380 and 280- 315 nm, respectively), together with meteorological data.

In the AQUACOSM project, the LAMP Sensor System and associated dataloggers will be further developed. This will result in a more robust system with the possibility to include new sensors that can be employed also in extreme conditions. A radio module is coupled, permitting data download as well as remote control of the system to e.g. change the protocol of measurements. Currently the datalogger is installed outside the mesocosm. The system will be miniaturised allowing installation directly inside the mesocosm. The miniaturisation of the datalogger assemblage and its vicinity to sensors allow a significant reduction of cable lengths. The LAMP Sensor System will be developed to handle a large number of digital probes (e.g. nutrient probes, light sensors, laser diffraction sensor, etc.), offering modular opportunities and greater flexibility. This permits to adapt the system to mesocosms with different diameter (for example, the new AQUACOSM in WP7).

The current LAMP Sensor pack and data acquisition/transmission system have been successfully tested in the Mediterranean environments during FP7 MESOAQUA project. However, although most of the probes and electronic cards can nominally operate at a minimum temperature of -5°C, the LAMP Sensors and associated electronics have never been tested at temperatures below 0°C. Adaptation of the system to arctic conditions will be prepared and tested. Adequate datalogger and electronics components will be chosen, and heating options tested, in order to maintain constant temperature for correct operation. Finally, the last improvement of the systemconsists on the choice and test of the best power supply (i. e. batteries, solar energy). At present, all data collected by sensors of each mesocosm (including meteorological station) are saved in an independent datalogger (CR1000). Each data logger then send all data to a hub collector (CR3000) that save and transmit them to a remote PC on the vessel or on land. In task 8.2.3. (below), the existing data hub will be integrated in a general data analysis system.

8.2.2: AquaBox (Lead: SYKE, Participants: WCL, RF-Sense, LMU, GEOMAR, CNRS-MARBEC, Month 1-48)

Based largely on the Ferrybox technology that has emerged from previous projects (among them FP7 Jerico), and is currently being further developed at SYKE (H2020 project Jerico-NEXT), we will design a compact and modular flow-through system (AquaBox) capable for high-precision monitoring of mesocosms. AquaBox combines peristaltic pumps (Fig. 8.1) and multichannel valves, flow cells and sequential flow technology, performing autonomous measurements successively from several mesocosms installed in a joint rig. By employing flow-through sensors/analysers and OA software for system control, data retrieval, data QA/QC, and wireless data transfer, the system can perform multiple measurements on each water sample, allowing for high precision and reproducibility, as well as semi-continuous measurement frequencies hitherto unobtained in mesocosm studies.

During software development, involving sensor integration, data acquisition, data vocabularies, data transfer, data storage and metadata collection, we closely cooperate with WP4 to conform to EU data policies and enable interaction with related H2020 projects like Jerico-Next and NEXOS.

A modular, readily expandable system structure and control software for AquaBox will be first developed and tested with a basic set of sensors for key properties most prone to temporal variation in planktonic systems during mesocosm experiments (temperature, oxygen, in vivo phytoplankton pigment fluorescence at several wavelengths). Robust solutions for environmental tolerance and off-grid power acquisition will be studied, built (outsourcing/subcontracting), and subjected to field tests. At least 2 such versions of AquaBox will be delivered for field tests in joint WP9 campaigns during the latter stages of the project.

A key development task in 8.2.2 will be the assessment of feasibility and further demonstration of expanding the basic AquaBox structure to integrate additional functions, and measurements requiring advanced analysers, into its physical and control architecture, such as: automated water sample retrieval, inorganic nutrient analyses (miniaturised wet chemistry), Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometry (FRRF) and Pulse Amplification Modulated (PAM) fluorometry as primary productivity proxies, in-water carbonate system chemistry (pCO2, pH), dissolved organic matter (CDOM and FDOM), interphase for gas exchange measurements across water surface, flow cytometry, and image analysis of individual cells of phytoplankton and zooplankton species (FlowCAM, CytoSense, FlowCytobot). Also, the possibility to integrate into an AquaBox system miniaturised, highly replicated manipulative biotests like nutrient limitation bioassays will be addressed and tested. The assessment of and decisions on such extensions, to be executed in Task 8.2.2, will be carried out in Task 8.1, and in connection to the Innovation Forum, where leading manufacturers of respective instrumentation are invited for feedback. It is foreseen that a large share of these analysers will be temporarily obtained within the AQUACOSM partnership for basic functional tests and demonstration. The selected advanced features/analysers, chosen on the basis of the development work and laboratory and field tests, will be acquired and incorporated for a high-end AquaBox version.

Subtask 8.2.3: OA data acquisition system (Lead: WCL, Co-lead: RF-Sense, Contributors: SYKE, CNRS, ENS, Month 25-48)

A data storage system compatible with the instruments developed in subtasks 8.2.1 & 8.2.2 will be developed to provide automated data transfer from the instruments to a central IT interface.

The IT interface serves three purposes. (1) Basic QC and warning function, in case sensors/analytical routines produce erratic data. QC algorithms will be based on comparison to nominal parameter ranges and detection of inconsistencies over time. (2) Filtering algorithms that exclude evident outliers from downstream data analysis (based on quantile statistics & meaningful data ranges). (3) A graphical user interface, based on the free statistical software R (building on R-Studio/Shiny), allowing visualisation, summary statistics and basic statistical analyses (comparisons of means, time trends). For this purpose, the programmable user interface allows definition of treatments & replicates among mesocosms. The default export format will be R binary data, with option to export data as excel spreadsheets (POSIXt time format).

The data analysis system will be designed to work with both sensor systems (8.2.1, 8.2.2). For the Lamp Sensor System, effective handling of high frequency data is required (up to 20 measurements per hr possible). The AquaBox, on the other hand, will produce more complex data esp. in terms of photosynthetic- related parameters (optical quenching, FRRF). A modular setup will allow flexibility in terms of handling different types of data. Meteorological data will be coupled by exact time stamps to data obtained from mesocosms.

Lead: AU, Month 24-48

Task 9.2 aims at investigating key challenges across two important environmental gradients, from freshwater to marine waters, and from European Arctic to Mediterranean systems. Such a task is only possible by effectively bundling the individual site-specific expertise of the consortium within joined research actions, thereby yielding synergistic results that cannot be achieved by individual institutions. The experimental approach will make use of the AQUACOSM network and will employ standardised methods (WP3 & 4) and new experimental setups (WP7 & 8). For initial actions and to ensure an efficient start of the approach, we will focus on environmental aspects that have been already identified as future key challenges for marine and freshwater systems within the context of global change research. One of these aspects is that global change is altering the movement of materials across landscapes, which is affecting functioning and stability of ecosystems. There is growing evidence that terrestrial ecosystems are exporting more dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to aquatic ecosystems than they did just a few decades ago (Clark et al., 2010). This “browning” phenomenon will alter the chemistry, physics, and biology of water bodies in complex and difficult-to-predict ways. Browning will directly influence primary production by higher light attenuation creating shading, thereby reducing primary production. At the same time, browning will increase bacterial production by supplying DOC, thereby shifting basal energy mobilisation within aquatic food webs in complex and not easy to predict ways (Ask et al., 2009). Initial food-web configuration and traits will therefore largely affect the response of aquatic systems to browning. Experiments at different sites provide a unique opportunity to elucidate how browning will affect the stability and functioning of aquatic ecosystems and interact with local species pools and ecosystem characteristics.

We will conduct a joint research activity demonstration, by investigating the effects of increasing DOC exports from terrestrial ecosystems into aquatic systems along two important environmental gradients. We will perform manipulations of DOC loading at 3 sites along a salinity gradient from freshwater to marine and along 3 sites along a latitudinal gradient from Arctic to Mediterranean. We will install (in close cooperation with WP7 and WP8) standardised floatable mesocosm systems and instrumentation at all sites, including 9 mesocosms of 2m diameter and 3m depth equipped with modern sensor technologies. Experimental manipulations at all sites will include different degrees of enrichment with an already tested and well characterised terrestrial DOC source. Thereby we keep comparability between experiments as high as technically possible.

Subtask 2.1: Salinity gradients (Lead: AU, Co-Lead: SYKE, Contributors: SYKE, AU, Month 24-40)

This task is the first approach of successfully investigating “browning” with joint research actions including a limited number of partners at 3 sites covering a large salinity gradient in the same climate zone. Experiments will be performed at a freshwater site in Denmark (AU), a brackish site in Finland (Tvärminne) and a full marine site in Norway (Hopavagn, Sletvik Field Station, NTNU Trondheim). Hopavagn is a wind and wave protected bay north of Trondheim, characterised by a high degree of exchange with the open North Atlantic. The experiments at Sletvik Field Station will demonstrate the ability of the consortium to extend its activity to a larger network and also perform experiments at important and relevant sites that do not have a permanent installation of mesocosm systems. Additionally, Sletvik Field Station, NTNU Trondheim, is a member within the European HYDRALAB+ consortium; the planned experiments will thereby ensure a close interaction between these two large European research networks.

Building on experience from a highly standardised cross-European mesocosm experiment on shallow freshwater lakes, headed by AU (Landkildehus et al, 2014) in the FP7 REFRESH project, the experiments will allow testing basic strategies within a well arranged consortium of a small number of partners that are covering the important and challenging gradient from freshwater to full marine waters. These experiments will act as a proof of principle for the surplus value of cross-aquatic environment joint research activities within the AQUACOSM consortium. Experiences from subtask 2.1 will greatly improve strategies to further extend the joint research actions of the AQUACOSM consortium.

Subtask 2.2: Latitudinal gradients (Lead: UNI, Contributors: HCMR, M42-M48)

Subtask 2.2 is a logical extension of subtask 2.1. Based on knowledge achieved from subtask 2.1, we will further improve cooperation strategies to extend the above described experiments along a salinity gradient (9.2.1) to a marine latitudinal gradient from Arctic to Mediterranean systems. The two endpoints of the latitudinal gradient will be an Arctic site at Svalbard and a Mediterranean site at Crete, the midpoint is the experiment at the full marine site (Sletvik Field Station) already done within 9.2.1. The pilot test of the research strategy at Svalbard (NyAlesund) will be especially relevant as many partners will join, demonstrating the effectiveness of the transnational coordination abilities of the consortium to perform joint mesocosm experiments in important but difficult - and therefore under-investigated - environments such as Arctic waters, where already existing systems such as on most other sites are not available. The strategy performing a pilot project in Svalbard will be strongly based on the knowledge and techniques obtained in Subtask 2.1, WP7 and WP8; the experimental infrastructure has to withstanding harsh conditions.

Subtask 2.2 will demonstrate the ability of the consortium to develop successful research strategies to investigate global change related key research questions from the Arctic to the Mediterranean