Enabling more integrated ecosystem analysis
Whether it is by providing energy, food, or helping to clean and regulate water levels, natural ecosystems are important to our societies. However, over-exploitation of resources and changing climatic conditions are threatening these essential functions. Scientists need better data on how ecosystems are responding to climatic changes, however traditionally different ecosystem elements have been studied in isolation, whereas in practice there are large interactions. Better understanding of the dynamics of whole ecosystems - vegetation, animals, soil, microorganisms and water - is needed in order to assess the consequences of on-going environmental shifts and current management of natural resources. 'Structuring infrastructures for the analysis and experimentation on ecosystem' (ANAEE) was a two-year project to assess what research infrastructures are needed to improve knowledge of European ecosystems, looking at different analytical and modelling approaches. The project partners, drawn from universities and research institutes, looked at four types of platforms. The first was a network of long-term sites in natura across the major types of ecosystems, such as arable crops, grasslands, forests and wetlands. The partners found that up to 30 sites are needed, each costing about EUR 2 million to establish and with annual running costs of around EUR 100,000. The second type of platform is for artificially controlled environments, such as Ecotrons, where different ecosystems can be introduced and different parameters can be studied in an experimental environment. Up to five of these facilities are needed, at a cost of EUR 10 million each to build and EUR 4 million in annual operation costs. Other analytical platforms are needed to interpret the results that come from experimental data, estimated at around EUR 60 million for three sites with EUR 4 million per year of operational costs. The final elements needed to complete the system are modelling and information platforms which can couple experimental and theoretical data to provide datasets needed by scientific communities. The team projected the cost of making these state-of-the-art data management platforms at EUR 10 million to establish and EUR 1 million in annual costs. ANAEE also looked at how to best build on existing networks of researchers working in this field, as well as the administrative and legal aspects needed for greater partnership. There were several meetings and conferences held in different locations across Europe to raise greater awareness of the initiative among the research community and encourage cooperation. The project has taken a big step towards establishing the infrastructure needed to improve knowledge of natural ecosystems and follow-up activities are starting to bring these to reality.
