COCONET - Towards COast to COast NETworks of marine protected areas (from the shore to the high and deep sea), coupled with sea-based wind energy potential

Summary

The Project will identify groups of putatively interconnected MPAs in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas, shifting from local (single MPA) to regional (Networks of MPAs) and basin (network of networks) scales. The identification of physical and biological connections with clear the proceses that govern patterns of biodiversity distribution. This will enhance policies of effective environmental management, also to ascertain if the existing MPAs are sufficient for ecological networking and to suggest how to design further protection schemes based on effective exchanges between protected areas. The coastal focus will be widened to off shore and deep sea habitats, comprising them in MPAs Networks. Socioeconomic studies will integrate to knowledge-based environmental management aiming at both environmental protection (MPAs) and clean energy production(OFW). Current legistations are crucial to provide guidelines to find legal solutions to problems on the use of maritime space. Two pilot project (one in the Mediterranean Sea and one in the Black Sea) will test in the field the assumptions of theoretical appproaches. The Project covers a high number of Countries and involves researchers covering a vast array of subjects, developing a timely holistic approach and integrating the Mediterranean and Black Seas scientific communities through intense collective activities and a strong communication line with stakeholders and the public at large.

SZN role

SZN works as sub-partner of CONISMA and is responsible of assessment of genetic diversity and connectivity within Pilot sites (South Adriatic Sea and Black Sea) in two seagrass species, Posidonia oceanica and Zostera noltei.

Partners

3e, Belgium; Clu, Italy; Cnr-Ismar, Italy; Cnrs, France; Coispa, Italy; Conisma, Italy; Csic, Spain; Dtu Aqua, Denmark; Geoecomar, Romania; Hcmr-Ioo, Greece; Iber-Bas, Bulgaria; Ibmk, Montenegro; Ibss Nasu, Ukraine; Ieo, Spain; Ih Cantabria, Spain; Inat, Tunisia; Io-Bas, Bulgaria; Iolr, Israel; Israbat, Morocco; Istanbul University, Turkey; Metu, Turkey; Mhi, Ukraine; Naturebureau, Uk; Nea, Georgia; Nenuphar, France; Nersc, Norway; Nimrd, Romania; Obibss, Ukraine; Rshu, Russia; Sinop University, Turkey; Sio Ras, Russia; Ukrsces, Ukraine; University Of Malta, Malta; University Of Rostock, Germany; University Of The Aegean, Greece; University Of Zadar, Croatia; Unizkm, Albania; Usof, Bulgaria; Ustv, France.

Project lifetime

2012-2015

P. I.

Gabriele Procaccini
Project coordinator: Ferdinando Boero (University of Salento, Italy)

Funding Institution

EU, FP7-KBBE

Contribution to SZN

€ 47,506.65

Website

http://www.coconet-fp7.eu

GRASSMET - Climate change effects on seagrass secondary metabolism: ecological implications

Summary

This project aims to answer a relevant but yet unexplored question concerning the implications of climate change on seagrass communities: what will be the impact of changes in the relative availability of carbon and nitrogen in the plant’s primary and secondary metabolite profiles and how will this affect seagrasses capacity to defend themselves against oxidative stress and against epiphytes and herbivores? Seagrasses form some of the world's most productive marine ecosystems, with a very high ecological and economical importance and yet little is known regarding the physiological and ecological consequences of climate change on these plants. Most climate change scenarios predict that atmospheric C_O2 concentrations will reach values in excess of 700 ppm before 2100, changing the relative availabilities of carbon and other nutrients, with foreseen important impacts on plant metabolism. Based on what is known for land plants, it is expected that C assimilation and N use efficiency will increase with rising C_O2 availability, with direct consequences to the C:N balance in plant tissues. In this scenario, it is likely that seagrasses defence capacity be significantly affected, since the molecules involved in defense processes are also rich in carbon and/or nitrogen and share metabolic pathways with carbohydrates and amino acids synthesis. The antioxidant system depends on the activity of several enzymes, phenolic compounds and alkaloids, molecules with distinct compositions. While polyphenols, a large group of phenolic compounds, are N free, alkaloids are N containing compounds. In addition, phenolics, alkaloids and antioxidants, all play important roles in allelopathy and in the plant-epiphytes-herbivores relationships. Therefore, changes in carbon and nitrogen availabilities have the potential to affect not only seagrasses stress responses, but also the settlement of epiphytic communities and the grazing activity. To address this complex question, we designed a stepwise plan, that starts by optimizing the analytical methodologies for the screening and identification of the phenolic compounds, alkaloids, amino acids and soluble sugars in seagrasses, focusing on the molecules known to be relevant to defensive mechanisms, due to their antioxidant, allelopathic or anti-herbivory activity. The second step will be to investigate the effect of high C_O2 and different nitrogen concentrations on the phenolics:alkaloids balance. This will be done through a series of manipulative experiments to be conducted in the mesocosm facility already in place at the CCMAR marine station and also by sampling plants at the vicinity of submarine volcanic vents in the Mediterranean where C. nodosa plants are exposed to naturally high C_O2 and low nitrogen concentrations. Finally, we will investigate how different metabolite profiles will affect plants-epiphytes-herbivores relationships, again using a series of mesocosm manipulative experiments. To acomplish the ambitious worklplan, we assembled a team that largely derives from two previous sucessful projects that have set the stage for this natural followup, the European Science Foundation COST action "Seagrass productivity: From genes to ecosystem management" (ES0906) and the FCT-funded project "High-C_O2 effects on seagrass photosynthetic ecophysiology" (PTDC/MAREST/ 3687/2012). The seagrass Cymodocea nodosa was selected as a model species, for which the team has recently sequenced the full transcriptome, making available a large amount of molecular resources. Methodologically, we shall use an innovative combination of ecophysiological tools, coupled to genetic techniques, in order to link the biochemical processes to the underlying transcriptional responses. Previous work by the team, relating functional genomics with ecophysiology, has revealed new perspectives about how marine angiosperms respond to environmental pressures and have paved the way for this next step.

SZN role

Participant Institution for the genetic characterization of Cymodocea nodosa individuals in situ and in mesocosms experiment and for assessment of gene expression in situ and controlled conditions.

Partners

University of Algarve, Portugal; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy

Project lifetime

2015-2016

P. I.

Gabriele Procaccini
Project coordinator: Joao Silva (University of Algarve, Portugal)

Funding Institution

Ministerio da Educacao e Ciencia - Portugal

ESSEM COST Action ES0906: Seagrass productivity: from genes to ecosystem management

Summary

The main objective of this Action is to provide the scientific basis for estimating and preserving the goods and services arising from the productivity of European seagrass ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure. Seagrass ecosystems rank with coral reefs and tropical rainforests in their many ecosystem services, yet are drastically declining worldwide as a consequence of both anthropogenic and natural pressures including habitat fragmentation, eutrophication, poor water clarity and climate change stressors. In spite of this, the level of awareness is low and management ineffective. Seagrass research is fragmented and there is little integration between researchers and coastal zone managers. The Action aim is to form a European-wide research coordination network that integrates expertise in physiological ecology, ecological genomics and conservation-resource management.

SZN role

G. Procaccini, Management Committee member and coordinator of the WG2. Develop functional genetic and genomic tools to understand seagrass photosynthetic responses to environmental stressors.

Project lifetime

2011-2014

P. I.

Gabriele Procaccini
Project coordinator: Rui Santos (University of Algarve, Portugal)

Funding Institution

EU - ERF

Website

FB: Seagrass Productivity _ Cost Action ES0906

HEATGRASS - Tolerance to HEAT stress induced by climate change in the seaGRASS Posidonia oceanica

Summary

Climate change is increasing in the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events during European summers. Heat waves are enhancing the water thermal stratification in the Mediterranean Sea with dramatic consequences for coastal ecosystems. As a consequence of these heat waves, it has recently been predicted that Posidonia oceanica meadows could be functionally extinct by the middle of this century. However, there no exist evidences of this cause-effect relationship and almost nothing is known about the tolerance capacity of this seagrass species to warming. There is, therefore, an urgent need to determine the resilience and acclimation capacity of the species for the conservation of these valuable ecosystems, the functions, and the services they provide. The general objective of this research is to find out how sporadic extreme heat events will affect P. oceanica meadows, and to forecast how they will respond under the effects of climate change along the European Mediterranean coasts. To this end, the present project will be based on mesocosm experimentation and will combine novel transcriptomic and ecophysiological approaches for a comparative analysis of plants from contrasting thermal regimes. The main specific objectives are: i) to determine and analyse on an integrated approach the stress responses and tolerance mechanisms of P. oceanica over the course and recovery period of a simulated heat wave, ii) to identify specific genes associated with the tolerance and resilience of the species to heat stress, iii) to compare whether genotypes from thermally contrasting depths of a population differ in their tolerance and resilience to warming, and iv) to compare whether populations from thermally contrasting localities differ in their tolerance and resilience to warming. Findings will represent a substantial and novel contribution to the capacity of the species to adapt to global warming particularly useful to adopt decisions in management and conservation policies.

SZN role

Project coordinator and host organization

Project lifetime

7/2015-6/2016

P. I.

Gabriele Procaccini

Funding Institution

EU, FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF

Contribution to SZN

€ 249,242.80