Descrizione del progetto
Nuovi strumenti per la gestione delle risorse marine
Gli strumenti di gestione dei nostri oceani, mari e coste, ormai obsoleti, non riescono a cogliere la complessità dei nostri ecosistemi marini. È emersa la seguente rivelazione: fitoplancton e microzooplancton sono coinvolti in un’ipnotica danza di «mixotrofia». All’interno di un’unica cellula, infatti, questi fondono perfettamente una fotosintesi simile a quella vegetale con un’attività di consumo simile a quella animale, infrangendo la divisione semplicistica del passato. Il progetto MixITiN, finanziato dall’UE, affronta il problema fondamentale degli strumenti di gestione obsoleti per i nostri oceani, mari e coste. Gli approcci attuali si basano su una divisione semplicistica tra fitoplancton e microzooplancton, trascurando la complessa realtà degli ecosistemi marini. MixITiN formerà un gruppo di ricercatori in fase iniziale di carriera provenienti da diversi settori, potenziando le loro capacità e migliorando la gestione responsabile dei nostri preziosi ambienti marini.
Obiettivo
The conceptual basis upon which management tools for our oceans, seas and coasts have operated are out-of-date. MixITiN will train an innovative team of early stage researchers (ESRs) to develop and deploy new methodologies for researching, monitoring and managing our marine environment according to the recently revised paradigm for marine pelagic production. Current management tools and policies operate within a paradigm that builds on a simple division functioning at the base of the food chain leading to fisheries, between ”plant-like” phytoplankton and their main consumers, the microzooplankton. Applicants of the research programme MixITiN have shown that this plant-animal paradigm represents at the least a gross simplification, if not a falsehood. The revised paradigm recognises that most phytoplankton and half the microzooplankton combine plant-like photosynthesis with animal-like consumer activity within the one cell. This form of nutrition, “mixotrophy”, supports the growth of organisms important for food chains and biogeochemical cycles removing atmospheric CO2; they are also causative agents of harmful algal blooms. In consequence of this revised paradigm, laboratory and field research approaches, management policies and allied computer modelling tools, are arguably no longer fit for purpose. MixITiN brings together European world-class research and training centres from 9 different countries, with skillsets from molecular biology, physiology and computer modelling, to marine and coastal zone management, public and media engagement. MixITiN will train ESRs in multinational and multidisciplinary centres of excellence, with intersectoral engagement enabling them to gain employment in various sectors such as consultancy, government, academic, or allied industries. The synergy of training approaches provided to the ESRs will raise their capabilities and progress science beyond the current state-of-the-art to enable improved management of marine resources.
Campo scientifico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactions
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssimulation software
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbotany
- natural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-ITN-ETN - European Training NetworksCoordinatore
CF24 0DE Cardiff
Regno Unito