The importance of Advanced Marine Monitoring

DEVelopment Of innovative Tools for understanding marine biodiversity and assessing good Environmental Status

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Importance of advanced marine monitoring

Table of content1. Marine Biodiversity2. Marina Biodiversity3. Why shoud we care about Marine Biodiversity?4. Why shoud we care about Marine Biodiversity?5. Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)6. Human pressures on European Regional Seas7. Marine Monitoring8. How can we effectively monitor the marine environment?9. Marine Monitoring Innovative Techniques10. Marine Monitoring Innovative Techniques: CHEMTAX11. Marine Monitoring Innovative Techniques: ARMS and ASUs


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Marine Biodiversity

Only ~ 226,000 eukaryotic marine species described

Less than 5% of the ocean has been studied

so farOcean contains 80% of

life on earth

Molecular methods willincrease our

knowledge of marine biodiversity

By M. Mea (Ecoreach Ltd)

~1 million species

Marine biodiversity is the whole diversity of life

living in the ocean


Marine Biodiversity

Marine biodiversity refers to the variability among marine living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species (i.e. genetic level), between species and of ecosystems and habitats

> ECOSYSTEM: functional units formed by living and non-living components that interact with each other (e.g., coral reef)

> COMMUNITY is an assemblage of different species living within a particular area (e.g., community of mussels and algae on coastal rooks)

> HABITAT: the area or environment where an organism or a community normally lives or occurs

Food webs are networks of feeding interactions between consumers and their food (or predators and prey)

In some trophic webs there are some species that are especially important, termed “key species”

If key species are stressed or even lost, the entire food web will be severely altered through a so-called “cascade” effect

There is a need for better scientific understanding of the consequences on the ecosystem of such changes, as well as the value that society should attribute to

marine food webs

Marine environments, while being the repository of important present and future resources, are currently threatened by a multiplicity of synergistically acting human pressures and climate change, altogether severely threatening their integrity and capability of furnishing environmental goods and services


Photo credit: CoNISMa

For more information:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/good-environmental-status/descriptor-4/index_en.htm

Modified from Marine Food Web 2012 University of Waiako. Icons: courtesy of the Integration and Application Network, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (ian.umces.edu/symbols/).

Human Seagull

Fish

Zooplankton

SeastarShark

Starfish

Phytoplankton

Algae

Octopus

Mussels


Why should we care about Marine Biodiversity?

The oceans are being progressively exposed to increasing and often unregulated sources of anthropogenic disturbances, which can sometimes lead to general alterations of marine ecosystems

This underlines the necessity for accurate and science-based measures aimed at assessing the impacts of human activities and climate change on marine

biodiversity, especially in coastal habitats that are critical for the renewal of resources

Marine scientists have already documented cases in which entire ecosystems have ceased to function in their current form because of human activities, thus leading to important loss of the goods and services derived from the ecosystems

Destruction of marine habitat has been occurring for centuries. This is happening worldwide at multiple spatial scales thus impairing the integrity and function of large-scale ecological processes

In spite of growing evidence, we still have limited knowledge of the synergistic effects of human pressures on the functioning of marine ecosystems


The rapid increase of human population, especially in coastal areas, is causing a pervasive threat to the diversity, structure, and function of marine coastal ecosystems and to the goods and services they provide

Marine litter (any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment) originates from many sources and causes a wide spectrum of environmental, economic, safety, health and cultural impacts

The very slow rate of degradation of most marine litter items, mainly plastics, together with the continuously growing quantity of the litter and debris disposed, is leading to a gradual increase in marine litter found at sea and on the shores

Photo credit: N. Papadopoulou - HCMR

Photo credit: N. Papadopoulou - HCMR

Photo credit: C. Smith - HCMR

wikimedia


Why should we care about Marine Biodiversity?

Estimates of future carbon dioxide levels, based on business as usual emission scenarios, indicate that by the end of this century the surface waters of the ocean could be nearly 150 percent more acidic, resulting in a pH that the oceans have not experienced for more than 20 million years

Climate change is a natural phenomenon on Earth, which is caused by factors such as biotic processes, variations in solar radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics, and volcanic eruptions.


Present climate change has been ascribed mostly to the inputof CO2 in the atmosphere as the result of fossil fuelscombustion by humans

CO2 emissions from human activity to theatmosphere end up in the ocean, alsocausing ocean acidification

Acidification will change the state of marine biodiversity

> Less biodiversity: acidification will adversely affect many calcifying organisms > Food webs affected: many organisms that form the basis for the marine food chain are going to be affected by ocean acidification> Habitat loss: ecosystem engineers, such as corals, are going to decline both in tropical and deep waters

Ocean absorbs 24 million tons of CO2 every day (increasing acidity, reducing pH)

Is ocean acidification the same as climate change?No. Ocean acidification and climate change are both caused by increasing CO2 in the atmosphere, but their mechanisms and effects are different. Both changes do happen globally, though.

Why call it ocean acidification, when the ocean is not acidic?Ocean acidification refers to the process of lowering the oceans’ pH (that is, increasing the concentration of hydrogen ions) by dissolving additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in seawater, or by other chemical additions either caused by natural processes or human activity. The word “acidification” refers to lowering pH from any starting point to any end point on the pH scale.

Day 1 Day 2 Day 16

Pteropod shells exposed to corrosive conditions expected by 2100



Source: http://earth.nullschool.net

David Littschwager/National Geographic Society

Photo credit: CoNISMa Photo credit: NOAA


Marine StrategyFramework Directive

The European Community has developed a strategy “for the protection and conservation of the marine environment… with the overall aim of promoting sustainable use of the seas and conserving marine ecosystems”The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC, MSFD) was adopted in June 2008

The MSFD represents the extension of environmental protection, previously set out by the so-called Water Framework Directive, beyond the coastal waters. Each

Member State has obligations to prepare, plan and implement the MSFD using an Ecosystem-Based Management approach

The MSFD is organized into three main phases:

I) assessment of the current environmental status (by July 2012),

II) determination of the good environmental status and of environmental targets (based on selected indicators) to be achieved (by 2014), and

III) establishment and implementation of monitoring programmes (by 2015)

The main target of this strategy is to achieve a “Good Environmental Status” (GEnS) of European Seas by 2020. To help Member States interpret what GEnS means in practice, the Directive sets out eleven qualitative descriptors which describe what the environment will look like when GEnS has been achieved:

D1 ‐ Biodiversity ismaintained

D2 – Non‐indigenous species do not adversely alter the

ecosystem

D4 ‐ Elements of food webs ensure long‐term abundance

and reproduction

D6 ‐ The sea floor integrity ensures functioning of the

ecosystem

D3 ‐ The population of commercial fish species is healthy

D5 ‐ Eutrophication isminimised

D10 ‐Marine litter does not cause harm

D11 ‐ Introduction of energy (including underwater noise) does not adversely affect the ecosystem

D9 ‐ Contaminants in seafood are below safe

levels

D8 ‐ Concentrations of contaminants give

no effects

D7 ‐ Permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions does not adversely affect the ecosystem


Source: http://ec.europa.eu/


Human Activities and Pressures in European Regional Seas

- Alteration of hydrographical conditions- Eutrophication- Heavy metals- Invasive/alien species- Overexpoitation of marine resources (e.g.

intensive fishing) - Pollution

- Invasive/alien species- Alteration of hydrographical conditions

- Climate change- Eutrophication

- Overexploitation of marine resources(e.g. intensive fishing)

- Pollution

- Alteration of hydrographical conditions- Eutrophication

- Invasive/alien species- Overexploitation of marine resources (e.g. extraction

of gas and crude petroleum)

- Alien/invasive species- Climate change- Habitat loss and degradation- Harmful algal blooms- Overexpoitation of marine resources (e.g.

intensive fishing) - Pollution and litter

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive lists four European marine regions: the Baltic Sea, the North-east Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea

North Sea Baltic Sea

Mediterranean Sea Black Sea


> PRESSURE: the mechanism through which an activity has an actual or potential effect on any part of the ecosystem (e.g. for demersal trawling activity, one pressure would be abrasion to the seabed)

> IMPACTS: the effect of state changes (changes in the ‘State’ of the natural environment which is effected by pressures) on human health and society, sometimes referred to as welfare, change in welfare is affected by changes in use values and in non-use values (e.g. loss of goods and services from loss of biodiversity)

For more information:http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

D1.1: Report detailing conceptual models for pressure / impactsD4-1(Annex 1): Report on available models for biodiversity and needs for development


Marine Monitoring

We need to improve our understandingof how marine ecosystems function, particularly as they provide essentialecosystem services to humans and because expanding human activitiesare putting these services under threat(J. Carstensen)

We know more about the surface of the Moon and about Mars than we do aboutthe deep sea floor, despite the fact thatwe have yet to extract a gram of food, a breath of oxygen or a drop of water from those bodies (P. Snelgrove)

Many marine monitoring programmes are facing budget reductions. This has led to the discontinuation of monitoring stations and the sampling of biological components, as well as decreasing monitoring frequencies

Less than 1% of the ocean is fully protected

Less than 5% of the ocean has been explored so far

Monitoring provides information that is useful in managing the marine environment, its resources and human activities

Number of sampling days (visits) for water quality in the Danish Monitoring Programme. The revisions of the programme (marked by dashed lines) in the beginning led to improvements, but since 2002 revisions has implied reductions in monitoring efforts (i.e. reduction in both number of stations and frequency). At present the sampling effort is about half of what it was from 1989 (when the first nation-wide monitoring program was established) to 2006. (J. Carstensen)

We need to establish the status of ourocean if we want be able to take actionin time (A. Borja)

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) establishes the international obligation to protect and use the resources of the marine environment sustainably and several initiatives have been developed at regional and local level

Our current understanding of marine ecosystem responses to human activities and climate change is limited by data availability, particularly long-term time series of physical and chemical conditions as well as biological properties

More efforts are needed to improve the accessibility and comparability of existing data



Photo credit: CoNISMa Photo credit: CoNISMa

Photo credit: CSIC Photo credit: Ecoreach


How can we effectively monitor the marine environment?


For more information:http://www.devotes-project.eu/deliverables-and-milestones/

D1.4 Report on SWOT analysis of monitoringPresentation “Monitoring networks currently used in European seas” – by J. Patricio

(available at http://www.devotes-project.eu/devotes-at-imber)

Marine biodiversity monitoring is focused on a few permanent/regular sampling sites and usually limited to observations of specific groups of organisms with little consistency in observation methods across ecosystems

To help covering these gaps, the DEVOTES project has produced an in-depth analysis of the marine monitoring networks in Europe and produced a catalogue aiming to assess the status of marine biodiversity monitoring. This has focused on Descriptors 1 (Biological diversity), 2 (non-indigenous species, 4 (Food webs) and 6 (sea-floor integrity) of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

The DEVOTES Catalogue of Monitoring Networks includes over 295 monitoring programmes reported by 16 EU Member States and 14 countries that share European Regional Sea boundaries

The information gathered in this study enhances opportunities for data collection and sharing, coordination and harmonization of monitoring between Member States

Photo credit: AZTI

Main overall findings• Most EU countries are using their existing monitoring programmes as a starting point for the

establishment of MSFD monitoring activities. There is the concern that some of these programmes might not be fit-for-purpose

• In some regional seas (e.g. NEA and Baltic Sea) current monitoring practices are built on a strong foundation of scientific knowledge (e.g. OSPAR Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme 2010-2014, HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy)

• There is a clear need for collaborative work between EU and non-EU countries to improve and/or develop monitoring programmes to achieve GES, particularly in the Mediterranean and Black seas

• There is a good basis on which to build on, although several countries will need to increasethe monitoring intensity and coverage of the areas to comprehensively assess the environmental status of their marine areas is increased

• Most monitoring programmes provide data to international platforms (e.g. EMODnet, MyOcean2, SeaDataNet, CEDar, DCR, DATRAS, JellyWatch) but the data collected are not easily available

Photo credit: Ecoreach Photo credit: KAUST Photo credit: CoNISMa

Genomic tools: some weeks


Marine MonitoringInnovative Techniques

Nowadays, there is an increasing need worldwide for monitoring in real time toinform management. If a management decision is needed quickly, then data that takes a year to be obtained is not fit-for-purpose

Sampling activity (sandy/muddy sediments): 1 day

Traditional taxonomic analyses: several months


The use of such approaches in next generation of marine monitoring programmes will help achieve the goals of marine legislation implemented world-wide

Genomics methods relevant to marine monitoring

They can provide accurate, rapid, and cost efficient observations of the marine environment

Genomic methods can yield faster results from monitoring, easier and more reliable taxonomic identification, as well as allow quicker and better assessment of the environmental status of marine waters

For more information:Bourlat et al. 2014 Genomics in marine monitoring: New opportunities for assessing marine health status/

https://zenodo.org/record/8507?ln=en#.U6FPdV6Mo3sPhoto credit : AZTI



CHEMTAX Software: The use of pigments to monitor phytoplantkon biodiversity


Phytoplankton pigments

Chlorophylls

Chla, b, c1, c2, c3, phaeophytin, phaeophorbide

Carotenoids and biliproteins

Accessory pigments such as peridinin, alloxanthin, diatoxanthin, diadinoxanthin, etc.

Some carotenoids or chlorophylls are typical for a specific group or species, and can be used as biomarkers –diagnostic pigments.

How to know the phytoplantkon pigments concentration?

1) Collection of phytoplankton cells through filtration2) Extraction of the pigments from the cells (usually in

acetone or ethanol)3) Analysis by cromatography (HPLC)

Example of a chromatogram: each peak represents a different pigment.

CHEMTAX Software:Input:• Diagnostic pigments concentration• Main groups which might be found• Approximate initial pigment to Chla ratios.• Configure the software:

CHEMTAX software interface.

Aim of : Increase the knowledge of phytoplankton community (i.e. estimating themain groups contributing to total Chlorophyll a (CHla) concentration)

0%

20%

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100%

A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3

Prymnesiophytes

Crysophytes

Diatoms

Cyanobacteria

Cryptophytes

Dinoflagellates

Prasinophytes

28‐05‐2010 31‐05‐2010 16‐06‐2010

CHEMTAX vs Microscopy

Comparison between CHEMTAX (upper graph) and microscopy results (lower graph) in samples from Sagres. A, B and C are three different sampling stations at 2, 10 and 18 km from coast, respectively; the indices 1, 2 and 3 represent 3 different depths of sampling: 1-Surface, 2-Mid-Secchi and 3-Secchi Depths.

Advantages• Good approximation of the major phytoplankton groups present in one sample, including the smaller sized cells.• Practical and rapid

Limitations• Some diagnostic pigments might be shared by various phytoplankton groups;• It is assumed that all members of a given algal class have the same ‘typical’ set of pigment ratios.• An a priori knowledge of the phytoplankton community is essential to avoid misclassifications.

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20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3

Dinoflagellates

Diatoms

Phaeocystis

Coccolithophorides

Cryptophytes

Nanoflagellates

Basis: Knowledge of the concentrations of pigments found in phytoplankton cells, factor analysis and a steepest descent algorithm

Source: http://www.iopan.gda.pl/

Detonula pumila

25 um

Chaetoceros spp.

25 um

Flagellate

10 um

Crytophyta

10 um

Protoperidinium sp.Gyrodinium sp.

25 um

Dinophysis acuminata

25 um

25 um

Chaetoceros spp.

25 um

Guinardia spp.

Examples of phytplankton from Sagres. (In Icely et al., 2012)

Source: P. Costa Goela, 2014 CHEMTAX: The use of pigments to monitor phytoplantkon biodiversity



ARMS and ASUs: monitoring biodiversity of rocky habitats and coral reefs


ARMS mimic the complexity of rocky habitats or coral reefs to attract and collect colonizing organisms, which allows for posterior taxonomic and molecular analyses. Similarly, ASUs, when deployed, provide living spaces for a plethora of biota.

ARMS (Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structure) and ASUs (Artificial Substrate Units) are sampling devices designed to assess microbial, algae and invertebrate biodiversity

In the context of DEVOTES project, AZTI (Spain), CONISMA (Italy), KUCORPI (Lithuania), IO-BAS (Bulgaria), CNRS (France), and KAUST (Saudi Arabia) have participated in the deployment of this innovative biodiversity monitoring devices across the four European regional seas as well as in the Red Sea

For more information:http://www.devotes-project.eu/arms-and-asus/

After one year from deployment, the ARMS and ASUs have been recovered. The biological material that colonized these devices have been obtained, and samples will soon be evaluated through genomic sequencing

The final purpose of the study is to compare biodiversity and assess connectivity across regional seas. An additional goal of the study is to determine the cost-benefit of these devices and to compare it with that of traditional methods for

biodiversity assessment

ARMS, just after the installation ASU, just after the installation

Photo credit: AZTI

Colonization of ARMS (yellow circles) and ASU (white circles) installed in the Basque coast during one year

14 May 2013 1 July 2013 17 March 2014 14 May 2014

Recovery of ARMS and ASUs Samples collected and ready to be analyzed

The importance of Advanced Marine Monitoring

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