Project description
The power of mesocosms for ecosystem understanding
To understand the intricate workings of complex ecosystems, scientists turn to mesocosms, which are controlled, large-scale experimental systems. In this context, the EU-funded AQUACOSM will take this approach to new heights. By expanding and integrating mesocosm research infrastructures, it aims to bridge gaps, unlock innovation, and provide unprecedented insights into the impacts of stressors on aquatic ecosystems. Building on the success of a previous project, AQUACOSM will unite freshwater and marine research infrastructures to form an expanded network, granting hundreds of researchers access to cutting-edge facilities. AQUACOSM’s goals include coordinated experiments spanning from the Mediterranean to the Arctic, investigating the effects of climate-related stressors on ecosystem services. This initiative will advance experimental ecosystem science to new frontiers.
Objective
Experimentation in mesocosms is arguably the single most powerful approach to obtain a mechanistic quantitative understanding of ecosystem-level impacts of stressors in complex systems, especially when embedded in long-term observations, theoretical models and experiments conducted at other scales. AQUACOSM builds on an established European network of mesocosm research infrastructures (RI), the FP7 Infra project MESOAQUA (2009-2012), where 167 users successfully conducted 74 projects. AQUACOSM greatly enhances that network on pelagic marine systems in at least 3 ways: first by expanding it to 10 freshwater (rivers and lakes), 2 brackish and 2 benthic marine facilities, and by involving 2 SMEs and reaching out to more, thereby granting effective transnational access to world-leading mesocosm facilities to >340 users on >11500 days; second, by integrating scattered know-how between freshwater and marine RI; and third, by uniting aquatic mesocosm science in an open network beyond the core consortium, with industry involved in an ambitious innovation process, to promote ground-breaking developments in mesocosm technology, instrumentation and data processing. A new dimension of experimental ecosystem science will be reached by coordinated mesocosm experiments along transects from the Mediterranean to the Arctic and beyond salinity boundaries. These efforts will culminate in a joint research activity (JRA) to assess aquatic ecosystem responses across multiple environmental gradients to a selected climate-related key stressor with repercussions for ecosystem services. Overall, AQUACOSM will fill a global void by forging an integrated freshwater and marine research infrastructure network. Long-term sustainability is sought through assessing governance models based on science priorities and economic innovation opportunities. Linkages to and synergies with ESFRI RI and other large initiatives are ensured by AQUACOSM partners and Advisory Board members in those programs.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsfreshwater ecosystems
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologylimnology
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencedata processing
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
12489 Berlin
Germany
See on map
Participants (21)
5838 Bergen
See on map
5020 Bergen
See on map
1011 JV AMSTERDAM
See on map
06800 ANKARA
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
LL74 8SG Tyn Y Gongl
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
19013 Attikia Anavissos
See on map
06800 Ankara
See on map
24148 Kiel
See on map
75794 Paris
See on map
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
34090 Montpellier
See on map
901 87 Umea
See on map
3293 Lunz Am See
See on map
80539 MUNCHEN
See on map
75230 Paris
See on map
8000 Aarhus C
See on map
00790 Helsinki
See on map
00014 Helsingin Yliopisto
See on map
7000 803 Evora
See on map
SW7 2AZ LONDON
See on map
0579 Oslo
See on map
06844 Dessau-Rosslau
See on map