7 relevant mesophotic species (based on their ecological and/or socio-economic importance) were selected: Kyphosus sectatrix, Pseudocaranx dentex, Heteropriacanthus cruentatus, Porites lobata, Cycloseris vaughani, Monetaria caputdraconis, Panulirus pascuensis. Faunistic data have been processed and stored as csv and excel files stored in the internal ES GitLab.
3 different historical models have been selected from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project – CMIP6 to compare if the current species distribution is differently represented based on the chosen model. Additionally, to the Historical environmental data, they have been selected considering that all of them have the data for future 3 scenarios (i.e. low, medium, and high emissions scenarios, ssp2-4.5/ssp3-7.0/ssp5-8.5). The historical models and future scenarios selected are: IPSL.IPSL-CM6A-LR; MIROC.MIROC-ES2L and MPI-M.MPI-ESM1-2-LR.
The researcher processed the above-mentioned data to generate historical and forecast values of absolute max, max mean, and max_std and absolute_min, min_min and min_std for the period 2000-2020, 2021-2060 and 2061-2100. The resolution of the input data is 1º (aprox. 100km) and at global scale in 3D (31 depth levels in the ocean). Environmental variables considered were temperature (thetao), ph, nitrates (no3), and oxygen (O2). Due to space limitations, these pre-processed data are stored as .nc files format in the BSC Cluster. Secondly, the researcher generated a set of 2D .nc files of the ocean bottom layer for all the variables (thetao, ph, no3, O2) and values (absolute max, max mean, and max_std and asolute_mi, min_min and min_std) for all the models, scenarios and time periods. That was achieved by using a high-resolution bathymetry (ETOPO_2022_v1_60s_N90W180) and extracting the exact value of the model for each of the bathymetry lat-lon-depth, increasing the accuracy of the data from 100km to 2km. All of them are being stored separately as .ascii files at the BSC Cluster.
The use of historical data and forecast for different emissions scenarios (low ssp4-3.4 medium ssp2-4.5 and high ssp3-7.0) in addition of the faunistic information are being processed with MAXENT (maximum entropy modeling software) and GLOSSA (global species spatiotemporal analysis software) to generate maps of present and future suitable habitats to determine potential future climate refugia. Also, environmental drivers’ importance is being calculated. When all the final maps of species suitable habitats and environmental variables importance will be obtained, they will be stored as. ascii files for scientific and .jpg for outreach purposes
In addition to final data (environmental + faunistic) every process code and explanation of how to use it (Readme files) are being stored in the internal ES GitLab, and when completed they will be stored in public repositories like Zenodo and EuDat.
Project MOANA concluded 3.5 months ahead of schedule due to the researcher securing a long-term position as an Established Researcher at BSC. However, all activities, tasks, and objectives non-completed will continue until completion, as the principal investigator's permanent position aligns perfectly with the project's main goals.
