Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AQUACOSM-plus (Network of Leading Ecosystem Scale Experimental AQUAtic MesoCOSM Facilities Connecting Rivers, Lakes, Estuaries and Oceans in Europe and beyond)
Período documentado: 2021-10-01 hasta 2023-03-31
It is, hence, important to identify and quantitatively understand the mechanisms behind observed aquatic ecosystem changes, despite the difficulty of working with complex natural systems subject to multiple stressors. Mesocosm-based science is a powerful tool to investigate these environments, because it combines realistic scale and complexity close to natural systems, with multiple experimental units allowing replicated manipulations. Moreover, mesocosms can be used to test scenarios that are predicted to occur in the future, mitigation and rehabilitation measures, and to identify tipping points in these complex natural systems. The mesocosm approach becomes even more powerful when integrated in collaborative studies using long term data observational RI networks (e.g. LTER, JERICO), to guide experimental design for model and scenario-testing.
AQUACOSM-plus is bringing together a research community specialised in experimental mesocosm-based research, covering the full range of freshwater to marine ecosystems representing all EU-climatic zones from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. Exploring this advantage, AQUACOSM-plus aims to address the present challenges aquatic ecosystems are facing, by offering access to a high quality, innovative European mesocosm research infrastructure, to the international research community.
Compared to the previous related EU- projects MESOAQUA and AQUACOSM, AQUACOSM-plus has an increased focus on user needs for easy, wide and efficient access to standardized and harmonized experimental facilities. This includes focus on training of TA participants and early career scientists to ensure that a new generation of researchers receives essential skills.
Overall, AQUACOSM-plus is:
• Expanding and integrating leading aquatic mesocosm RIs in and outside Europe.
• Foster collaboration with other RIs (LTER, ICOS, DANUBIUS, JERICO) in order to jointly tackle the current and future Grand Challenges.
• Advance Open Mesocosm Science.
• Engage in new approaches towards standardised and spatially flexible mesocosm facilities, as well as approachable ways of obtaining high-frequency data, greenhouse gas fluxes and automated imaging technology.
• Widen the user base and strengthen the offered services by: 1) increasing the numbers of partner facilities to over 31, 2) doubling the involvement of SMEs, 3) expanding the societal environmental communication base by including an NGO, 4) increasing the competence in mesocosm science in new EU member states.
• established contact with industries and SMEs
• Comprehensively analysed the European RI landscape outlining ways for collaboration with several RIs.
• Redeveloped the website, aquacosm.eu to better reflect the objectives of AQUACOSM-plus, making the services available in a sustainable and user-friendly way.
• Integrated the specifically developed Project Tracker into the TA programme for more exchange and collaboration.
• Provided a future-proof WikiBook now ready for expansion of information collected throughout the AQUACOSM-plus project.
• Trained a new generation of aquatic/ mesocosm scientists by offering 2 training schools, workshops on science communication, metanalysis, grand challenges, open science, AquaSUMMIT writing retreats and forming an Early Career Researcher Network.
• Provided guidance and resources to lower barriers for open science/ data in the field, including
o Produced/ published videos to guide TA users on the submission of metadata to the Mesocosm Metadata Catalogue
o materials on DOI allocation,
o nodes in ZENODODRYAD, PANGAEA, GitHub.
o An open virtual platform for near-real-time data streams
o a primary mesocosm data collection portal (primary data shell).
• Developed & updated the projects DMP.
• engaged with the general public, news media and Universities, and was present in major scientific events including EGU, ASLO, GLEON and SIL conferences
• Held several Symposia on the Grand Challenges in Aquatic Mesocosm Research
• Published 18 well received peer-review manuscripts, e.g. on
o Environmental variability in aquatic ecosystems
o Freshwater salinization
o Metaanalysis of light effects on autotrophs
o CNN based method for plankton recognition
• Provided and developed resources for low cost mesocosm science including:
o video on how to build low cost pelagic mesocosms
o developed, built and improved a light-weight, portable mesocosm raft system
o developed and tested a prototype of a Chlorophyll-a sensor
o constructed a low-cost, version of a self-flushing system for automated measurement of greenhouse gas fluxes
• Investigated Grand Challenges using AQUACOSM-plus developed technology.
• Established a new long term mesocosm facility in Hungary.
• Improved the readiness to conduct full scale pelagic experiments under harsh ice conditions.
• opened its facilities for 62 TA projects with provision of 4294 person-days so far
This wider participation is expected to contribute to: 1) further share competence leading to a more cost-effective use of research funds in the ERA, by enhancing know-how in aquatic experimental ecosystem science across all EU member & associated states as well on a wider global scale e.g. in collaboration through the (mesocosm.org network), and to 2) reduce duplication between RIs and instead effectively translate predictive science into experimental scenario testing and possible environmental engineering in the AQUACOSM-plus facilities.