Summary

EMBRIC, European Marine Biological Research Infrastructure Cluster to promote the Blue Bioeconomy, is a large project with the overarching objective of building interconnectivity along three dimensions: science, industry, and regional RDI policies. The expected endpoint is the formation of a perennial cluster of research institutes (RIs), which will foster innovation in marine biotechnologies. To prepare this sustainable cluster, EMBRIC focuses on two specific sectors of marine biotechnology, namely (i) discovery and development of marine natural products, and (ii) marker-assisted selection in aquaculture.

SZN is involved in WP7 and WP10.
The objective of WP7 is to demonstrate that linking complementary expertise in biology, analytical chemistry and genetic engineering can provide the blue biotechnology industry with high-performance strains from across the diversity of microalgae. This will involve:
1) Proof of concept that strains from across microalgal diversity constitute a rich resource of natural products for commercial exploitation.
2) Proof of concept that microalgal strains can be genetically engineered to improve their performance capabilities for commercial exploitation.
3) Proof of concept that selective breeding in microalgae in combination with genotype screening can produce strains with improved performance in commercial applications.
The objective of WP10 is to demonstrate that:
1) The external scientific user community is interested in using EMBRIC, i.e., infrastructure workflows across multiple RI-partners.
2) RIs within EMBRIC do provide integrated, interoperable transnational access.
3) Translational access to EMBRIC combined with interdisciplinary collaboration with in-house researchers can initiate Key Enabling Technologies.
4) Translational access aids external users with the maturation of their ideas for Technology Transfer.

What we do

Within WP7, the SZN will contribute to the identification of bioactive compounds from microalgal strains and to the generation of genetically engineered diatom strains.
Within WP10, the SZN will manage the translational access, coordinating the scientific, technical and logistic access to the different RIs involved.

Partners

27 partners from seven European countries plus one Israeli institution are involved in this project.

Research Area

Marine Biotechnology

Project Lifetime

June 2015 – May 2018

SZN Role

Partner

Principal Investigator

Wiebe Kooistra, WP10 and Steering Committee member for SZN
Mariella Ferrante, WP7

Project Leader

Bernard Kloareg, France

Funding Institution

European Commission, under the H2020-INFRADEV-4 call

Dedicated website

www.embric.eu

Personnel involved

Mariella Ferrante, Researcher
Wiebe Kooistra, Senior Researcher
Adrianna Ianora, Senior Researcher
Marina Montresor, Senior Researcher

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

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

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

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

HighGrass - High-C_O2 effects on seagrass photosynthetic ecophysiology

Summary

The atmospheric concentration of C_O2 has been steeply increasing since the beginning of the industrial era. The oceans are responsible for taking up around 25% of the anthropogenic C_O2 emitted into the atmosphere, but in this process the seawater chemistry is being altered, with the increase of total dissolved inorganic carbon (Ci) and the decrease of pH. At present, very little is known on the potential effects that these changes may have on seagrass biology and ecology, despite the fact that these plants are among the world's most productive marine ecosystems, with a very high ecological and economical importance (Costanza et al. 1997). A major impact is likely to occur at the photosynthetic carbon acquisition level. On the current state of the art, major uncertainties still persist concerning the operation of the fundamental processes of light harvesting and carbon acquisition in seagrasses. Much of these gaps are related to the fact that, although seagrasses are angiosperms, some of the physiological mechanisms and pathways of light harvesting and carbon acquisition are not identical to those found in their terrestrial counterparts, neither to those used by macroalgae inhabiting similar aquatic environments. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the operation of these mechanisms is a pre-requisite for further research aiming to predict the effects of a high-C_O2 environment on seagrass physiology, productivity, distribution and ecosystem function. While it is commonly assumed that seagrass photosynthetic rates will respond positively to a high-C_O2 scenario (Hellblom et al. 2001), the few published studies on this subject are not consensual, showing diverse responses and lacking physiological insights and explanations for the observed results. On the other hand, studies conducted in natural C_O2 vents revealed that seagrasses have adapted to live under permanently high C_O2 levels (Hall-Spencer et al. 2008) and are able to exploit C_O2 of volcanic origin (Vizzini et al. 2010). Nevertheless, little information is still available on the effects of more diffuse and stable release of hydrothermal C_O2 on seagrass productivity.
The first step in our research will be to solve critical knowledge gaps regarding the operation of the fundamental physiological processes of light harvesting and carbon acquisition in seagrasses. The next step will be to determine, in controlled mesocosm conditions, the short and long-term effects of high C_O2 exposure on the operation of these two processes. Finally, we shall investigate how seagrasses growing in the vicinity of natural C_O2 venting sites have adapted to long-lasting high C_O2 conditions, under both high- and low-light regimes. To address this sequential set of objectives, we shall use an innovative combination of ecophysiological tools, coupled to genomics and proteomics techniques in a multilevel approach, from genes to the whole-plant level.

SZN role

Participant Institution for the genetic characterization of seagrass species 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; University of Palermo, Italy; University of Calabria, Italy

Project lifetime

2013-2014

P. I.

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

Funding Institution

Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior - Portugal

PALEOPARK – Seagrass palaeo-records as a tool for the evaluation, diagnosis and prognosis of the evolution of species, communities, and processes in Spanish insular National Parks

Summary

Change in the ecosystems occurs at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Discriminating between real state changes, cycles, and trends, is often difficult or not possible without the adequate time perspective. For this reason, long, detailed, and reliable series of data of relevant ecosystem functional and structural variables, are a central priority for natural reserves managers. Long-term series can be generated from monitoring programs or sought in human, biological, or geological records. Monitoring programs can provide detailed and high-quality information but because of their costly implementation they are often denied by the administrations or drastically limited to a few variables. When the right record is found, modern palaeo-reconstruction techniques can provide an extraordinary wealth of qualitative and quantitative information on environmental and biological features of the ecosystems along very long periods of time and with remarkable time resolution. High human population densities along the coasts of the world, are resulting in constant and intense impact on coastal environments. Paleo-reconstructions can provide valuable insights on these impacts and on the responses of the ecosystems. However, accurate paleo-records in exposed coastal environments are very rare, what has prevented this field of science to develop in such zones. Exceptionally, the endemic Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica has been found to be an accurate and patient observer of the past natural history of our coasts. Within its highly anoxic peat-like sedimentary deposits, the meadow stores information encompassing, at least, the last ca. 6000 years with a resolution ranging from 1 to 10 yr cm-1. The only other environments where appropriate paleo-records can be found are coastal lagoons. The sheltered condition of these systems, often colonized by species of the genus Zostera, allows the establishment of chronological coherent sedimentary records due to the relatively low hydrodynamism. The peat-like paleo-record formed by P. oceanica, has been found to hold a remarkable stock of carbon in the organic form. In a warming planet, the conservation and enhancement of efficient carbon sinks has become a priority as a help to offsetting the rise in atmospheric C_O2. This project proposes 1. to take advantage of these palaeo-records as a tool to characterize the evolution, health state and prognosis, of species, communities, and processes in Spanish insular National Parks (Illas Atlánticas and Cabrera Archipelagos Maritime-Terrestrial National Parks), as driven by humanization and other major environmental stressors and 2. to assess and price the carbon stocks and fluxes associated to the P. oceanica sedimentary record. Both objectives use the same ‘object’ of study and share exactly the same methodology. The objectives will be achieved by the participation of an international consortium of a dozen of research groups that will study geological, chemical, micropaleontological, molecular, genetic, palinological, and isotopic proxies, together with archaeological and historical information. These proxies will provide the managers with information on background levels (pre-anthropic), disambiguation between human and natural derived impacts, identification of ecosystems change patterns (cycles, extreme events, and trends), or quantification of the effects of C_O2 rise (sea surface warming and acidification), among many other features.

SZN role

Participant Institution for the analysis of fossil/sub-fossil DNA.

Partners

CSIC, Spain; University of Barcelona, Spain; Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain; University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain; University Politécnica de Cataluña, Spain; Brunel University, UK; SZN, Italy; University of Western Australia, Australia; NIOZ, The Netherlands; Institut Català d’Arqueologia Clàssic, Spain

Project lifetime

2015-2017

P. I.

Gabriele Procaccini
Project coordinator: Miguel Ángel Mateo Mínguez (CEAB-CSIC, Spain)

Funding Institution

Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentacion y Medio Ambiente - Spain

RECCAM - Seagrass Meadows resilience to global warming: an analysis based on responses at  ecophysiological, population and ecosystem levels

Summary

Climatic change is supposed to cause significant alterations in the global environment, with clear and specific effects in the oceans. The Mediterranean Sea is an excellent model for the study of such effects on marine ecosystems. Seagrass meadows, and specifically those dominated by Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa, are amongst the most threatened and relevant Mediterranean habitats. This project is aimed at contributing to the understanding of the main response mechanisms of these key habitats to global warming, probably the main component of climate change.To this end, we have focused the problem through three major approaches, relatively unexplored so far but crucial to achieve a proper knowledge of the impacts of temperature rising. First, we will study the physiological tolerance of Mediterranean seagrass species to thermal stress. Second, we will evaluate the influence of warming on herbivorism. Third, we will analyse the interactions between climatic change and other stressors, in particular eutrophication and mechanical disturbances.

SZN role

Participant Institution for the genetic characterization of seagrass species in mesocosms experiment and for assessment of gene expression in controlled conditions.

Partners

University of Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Oceanographic Institute (IEO), Spain; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy; CSIC-CEAB, Spain

Project lifetime

2014-2016

P. I.

Gabriele Procaccini 
Project coordinator: Javier Romero Martinengo (University of Barcelona, Spain)

Funding Institution

Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) - Spain

Contribution to SZN

€ 16.000

Multidisciplinarity training in evo-devo and neurobiology of marine animal models

Summary

Neptune is a multidisciplinary training network in evo-devo and neurobiology of marine animal models. Through the use of advanced methods of genetic analysis and imaging technologies, Neptune aims at solving an array of important questions in the evolution, development, neurobiology and ecology of marine invertebrates.
Neptune is training a new generation of young researchers by combining the strengths of modern technologies with a real understanding of traditional approaches. The Neptune consortium involves seven academic institutions and one industrial partner that will provide Neptune fellows with expertise, specialized equipment and training on a wide range of approaches and methodologies incorporated in evolutionary developmental biology and marine neurobiology.

What we do

We are one of the seven partners and are contributing to the WP "Evolution of sensory systems" by studying photoreceptor evolution in echinoderms and hemichordates (Ambulacraria).

Partners

European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg - DE; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli – IT; Uppsala University, Uppsala – SE; Max Plank Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübigen – DE; University College London, London – UK; Sars International Center for Marine Molecular Biology, Bergen – NO; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villefranches sur mer, Lion - FR; Associate industrial partner: ZEISS.

Research Area

Organismal Biology

Project Lifetime

March 2013 to February 2017

SZN Role

Partner

Principal Investigator

Maria I. Arnone

Funding Institution

European Commission, FP7 Call for Proposal: FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN
Marie Curie Action - Initial Training Network (ITN)
Grant no. 317172

Contribution to SZN

€302.697,45 (EU contribution)

Dedicated website

http://neptune-itn.eu

Media - Pictures

Neptune facebook group

Publications

Valero-Gracia A, Petrone L, Oliveri P, Nilsson DE, Arnone MI. Non-directional Photoreceptors in the Pluteus of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (2016) 4, 127.

D’Aniello S, Delroisse J, Valero-Gracia A, Lowe EK, Byrne M, Cannon JT, Halanych KM, Elphick MR, Mallefet J, Kaul-Strehlow S, Lowe CJ, Flammang P, Ullrich-Lüter E, Wanninger A and Arnone MI (2015). Opsin evolution in the Ambulacraria. Marine Genomics, 24: 177-183.

Ullrich-Lüter E, D’Aniello S and Arnone MI (2013). C-opsin expressing photoreceptors in echinoderms. Integr Comp Biol 53: 27-38.

Peterson KJ, Su Y-H, Arnone MI, Swalla B, and King B (2013). microRNAs Support the Monophyly of Enteropneust Hemichordates. J Exp Zool B Mol Dev Evol 320: 368-374.

Meet the team

Maria I. Arnone, primo ricercatore
Alberto Valero Gracia, PhD student

Gut patterning and PANcreas development in evolution and disease: a TRAnsCriptomic approach

Summary

Many genes that have been shown to cause diseases were originally identified because of their role in embryonic development, but were subsequently shown to be also important in the postnatal control of cell growth and differentiation. This is the case of many transcription factors (TF) among which the ParaHox gene Xlox, whose mammalian homolog, Pdx1, is well known for its role in specification of the pancreas, and subsequent formation and maintenance of pancreatic beta-cells. Pdx1 is a causal factor in the development of diabetes, wherein there is a deficiency in insulin production of beta-cells within the pancreas. Moreover, mis-expression of Pdx1 is commonly seen in intestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease. Here we propose to combine analyses in the highly simple but phylogenetically relevant sea urchin embryo and sea star embryo models with developmentally targeted mouse transcriptome data to characterize regulatory connections that are downstream of the disease-related Xlox/Pdx1 transcription factor.

What we do

We are coordinator of the project and Operating unit SZN and will perform all manipulations and analyses in sea urchin and sea star embryos and all bioinformatic analyses and evolutionary comparisons.

Partners

Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli; Laboratorio di Medicina Molecolare e Genomica, Università degli Studi di Salerno.

Research Area

Organismal Biology

Project Lifetime

April 2014 to December 2015

SZN Role

Coordinator

Principal Investigator

Maria I. Arnone

Funding Institution

MIUR Progetti Premiali (DLGS 213/99)

Contribution to SZN

€169.143,00 (MIUR contribution)

Publications

Annunziata R and Arnone MI (2014). A dynamic network of regulatory interactions explains ParaHox gene control of gut patterning in the sea urchin embryo. Development 141: 2462-72.

Perillo M, Wang YJ, Leach SD and Arnone MI. Specification and differentiation of pancreatic, acinar-like cells in the sea urchin embryo and larva. Submitted to Development.

Meet the team

Maria I. Arnone, primo ricercatore
Rossella Annunziata, postdoc
Claudia Cuomo, PhD student
Elijah Lowe, postdoc