Search

International audience; The development of a new generation of biological sensors has drastically changed the studies of marine plankton from lab bench work to in vivo and real-time observations. Target organisms, from bacteria to plankton, can now be optically characterized and/or photographed and archived. Consequently, scientists are facing the difficult challenge to handle a large amount of data which need to be processed rapidly and harmonised before being stored in databases to be accessible to scientific/environmental management communities. In the Joint European Research Infrastructure for Coastal Observatories (JERICO-RI), we intend to integrate the monitoring of physical, biogeochemical and biological variables to better understand coastal ecosystems. Focusing primarily on plankton communities measured at high spatial and temporal resolution, we aim to provide a framework for the data flow following the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse (FAIR). To achieve this, we need to draw up best practices in data management to be followed by users and experts operating the sensors such as standardised protocol, minimal technical metadata elements for effective re-use, identify and extend appropriate vocabularies, identify tools for data integration and platforms for trust-worthy long-term archival, standardised data formats to be ingested by European data infrastructures. In this presentation, we will present some of our achievements regarding in vivo flow cytometry, imagery analysis, and multispectral fluorimetry.

This is a summary of the activities and results of JERICO-NEXT Work Package 3 Innovations in Technology and Methodology, Task 3.1 Automated platform for the observation of phytoplankton diversity in relation to ecosystem services. The aim is to provide an advanced report on the last developments dedicated to the observation of the phytoplankton diversity by applying novel techniques on automated platforms. The work was carried out in close connection with task 4.1 Biodiversity of plankton, harmful algal blooms and eutrophication. The partners involved in these developments are CNRS, SYKE, SMHI, HZG, RWS, VLIZ CEFAS and Ifremer. Subcontractors in WP4, task 4.1 are WHOI, Scanfjord AB, Tomas Rutten b.v., CytoBuoy b.v. and UGent - PAE. The work was carried out mainly in the field with activities in the Baltic Sea, the Kattegat-Skagerrak, the Celtic seas-English Channel-North Sea Area, the Western Mediterranean, as well as in shared studies with other WP3.4 and WP4.4 in the Bay of Biscay and, out of Europe, in the Benguela Current. Instrument platforms included continuous recording (Ferrybox or assimilated) systems on research vessels, on ships of opportunity, instrumented oceanographic buoys/fixed platforms and land-based systems. Common implementations were carried out in some observatories, allowing inter comparison of sensors and some techniques. In addition, work on developing and testing new algorithms have been carried out in offices and laboratories. Three international workshops have been successfully arranged, one in Wimereux, France (June 2016 – organised by CNRS-LOG), one in Gothenburg, Sweden (September 2016, organised by SMHI) and one in Marseille (March 2019 – organised by CNRS MIO) connected to a EuroMarine workshop. Partners presented, discussed, were able to inter compare the sensors and techniques to be implemented in the field (Goetborg) and were trained to different automated analytical procedures and tools (for automated flow cytometry, Marseille). The work was divided into three sections but there is substantial overlap and cooperation. One example is that reference samples analysed in the microscope were used for completing and/or evaluating the quality of some of the automated methods. Imaging in flow and in situ imaging of plankton (led by SMHI) The work included evaluating instruments and developing algorithms for automated identification of phytoplankton automated image acquisition (in flow or in situ). Three different commercial instruments and one instrument prototype were used. On the Swedish west coast (Skagerrak coast) a study of harmful algae and other phytoplankton was carried out near a mussel farm. The Imaging Flow Cytobot was deployed in situ and collected samples at six different depths for approximately two months. In the English Channel the old generation of FlowCAM and a prototype system, the FastCam, were used to analyse samples on research vessels or in the laborator. A colour version of FlowCAM was used both during a cruise in the Baltic Sea-Kattegat-Skattegat (July 2017) as well as in coastal monitoring in the Baltic and the Channel). In addition, the CytoSense and CytoSub were used to collect images in flow. The in situ video system UVP5 was implemented during a cruise in the Baltic Sea-Skagerrak-Kattegat area, together with a new generation of FlowCAM of faster acquisition and providing colour images and CytoSense. A major task was to develop and evaluate plankton identification algorithms. This included the use of a subset of images of organisms for training the software tools. Existing software were improved (as the PhytoZooImage) and an image data system/platform named EcoTaxa was described and is currently available for storing and cooperative analysis/discrimination of plankton images. Single-cell optical characterization (led by CEFAS) Automated flow cytometers (FCM, CytoSense/CytoSub, Cytobuoy b.v.) were implemented on a Ferry line, on research vessels and a fixed platform to investigate functional groups of phytoplankton. In the Western Mediterranean the main targets were the picoplankton and the nanoplankton while in the other areas pico-, nano- and microplankton were in focus. Several cruises were carried out in the Channel and North Sea to follow combined diatoms and Phaeocystis bloom development. A cruise covering the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak-Kattegat area had a main focus on cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates. Moreover, inter comparisons of machines and on clustering analysis methods were performed. Finally, a combination of FCM and multi-spectral fluorometer continuous recording was coupled with physical and hydrological continuous measurements in the southern Bay of Biscay. Bio-optical Instrumentation (led by SYKE) Novel multi-wavelength fluorometers for detecting phycoerythrin indicative e.g. of certain cyanobacteria and of cryptophytes were evaluated in the Baltic Sea. Multi wavelength fluorometers were also used in the Benguela current, during the Gothenburg workshop, as well as on a variety of field cruises from the southern Bay of Biscay to the E. Channel and North Sea, in order to discriminate amongst main phytoplankton pigmentary groups. The manufacturers’ algorithms were found to be partly inaccurate for detecting algal groups based on photosynthetic pigment composition. New dedicated fingerprints were used in field work to improve discrimination amongst phytoplankton groups. A principle component analyses approach was also evaluated. Single wavelength fluorometers were evaluated in several sea areas. Sun induced photoquenching had a strong effect on fluorescence yield. In the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea multi spectral absorption was used to detect chlorophyll and phytoplankton groups based on pigment content. Variable fluorometers were implemented on both samples, continuous recording and profiles in the E. Channel and North Sea, as well as in the Baltic and Skagerrak-Kattegat, for studying photosynthetic parameters and potential primary productivity. Recommendations are made on the strategy and type of measurements to carry out. Recent work (since mid 2017) in task 3.1 Some field work was continued, especially at the Utö observatory in the Baltic Sea. The new data collected was processed together with old data and used for improving the discrimination of phytoplankton taxa or functional groups by inter-comparison of techniques and continued algorithm development which are described in the present deliverable 3.2. Scientific publication of results is in progress. A special issue in the open access journal Diversity (MPI) is being discussed. Some results and strategy were presented during a symposium in Hannover, in October 2017 and during the FerryBox workshop on board the ship Colour Fantasy later in October 2017 and in FerryBox meetings in 2018 and 2019. Results were also presented during the third JERICO-NEXT workshop on automated plankton observation in Marseille in March 2018 and some analytical tools for flow cytometry were presented and further directions as well as connections with modelling and remote sensing were discussed during the EuroMarine meeting that followed. A special session was held during the International Conference on Harmful Algae (ICHA) in Nantes in October 2018, and more presentations were carried out in 2019 meetings (IMBER, OceanObs, etc.). Main conclusions 1. The methods used are reliable for automated observation of phytoplankton biodiversity (functional groups, size classes, taxa when possible) and biomass, complementing manual methods for sampling and microscope analyses. 2. Operating the equipment and interpreting the results still need a lot of knowledge and time. Even though some operational procedures can be established, the standardization of analytical and data processing as well as data management need more development. The degree of automation varies depending on the method considered. 3. Imaging in flow and in situ imaging provide means for identifying and counting phytoplankton at the genus or species level. Also, biomass based on cell volume of individual cells can be estimated. Development of classifiers for automated identification of organisms is time consuming and requires specific skills on signal analysis and on taxonomy. 4. Flow cytometry has proven to be a useful tool for counting phytoplankton and for describing the phytoplankton community as size-based classes and functional groups. There was an agreement to report the phytoplankton count in four groups for inter comparison purposes: Synechococcus (pico-cyanobacteria), pico-eukaryotic organisms, nanoplankton and microplankton. 5. Single and multi-wavelength fluorometry makes it possible to estimate phytoplankton biomass (at a chlorophyll-a basis) and to differentiate phytoplankton based on photosynthetic pigments. Sunlight induced photo-quenching is a problem for estimating chlorophyll a from fluorescence. For instruments mounted buoys or vessels, night time data can be used to minimize the problem. 6. Multi-wavelength absorption is a useful tool for estimating chlorophyll a and is also useful for discriminating between phytoplankton groups based on pigment content. 7. Variable (active) fluorescence is available for addressing phytoplankton physiology, photosynthetic parameters and we could estimate primary productivity on both continuous sub-surface recording and water column profiles, mediating careful coupling with other optical and also biogeochemical analysis.

International audience; Plankton plays a key role in the biological pump and has a big impact on marine living resources. However, plankton is difficult to observe in a consistent manner across its extended size range and by the multiple observers that uses protocols that are not inter calibrated. Imaging sensors have the potential to provide key ``ecosystem essential ocean variables'' eEOVs (plankton biodiversity, morphological traits) that complement other sensors such as optical ones. Lab and in-situ imaging sensors have been deployed the 10 last years to provide insights into local dynamics in the frame of time series programs (from daily to decadal scales) and during oceanographic surveys across ocean basins. Combining observations from the different programmes has sometimes allowed to detect concomitant changes in different areas or provide a better spatial distribution of plankton communities. For example, such efforts were supported by the European FP7 JERICO, H2020 JERICO-NEXT, BRIDGES, EURO-BASIN programs. Most of the observation efforts were performed independently and hundreds of millions of images have been collected (and billions to come as sensors are getting more available). All those sparsely distributed images are usually not available for the users because of limited development in software solutions for identification, archiving and distribution, which are in a current improving process. Several attempts for developing web based services for image recognition, distribution and archiving have been performed (ecotaxa.obs-vlfr.fr) but only a fraction of the existing and future data can be treated by them. Based on the past ten years of effort, we will present a synthesis of successful developments in using imaging systems to provide information on plankton community at local, regional and ultimately global scales. These examples will show how relevant they are for ecosystem monitoring (e.g. detection of ecosystem changes and regime-shifts) and services (e.g. aquaculture, fisheries, biological carbon pump). We will then build on these examples to discuss future developments with the aim of, better observing, harmonizing practices and developing state of the art marine data and information management in order to increase the connection with the relevant stakeholders and community of users among researchers, conservation managers and private companies.

The WP4 of the JERICO-Next is a synthesis of the project built upon activities in other WPs, gathering the consortium around applied Joint Research Activity Projects (JRAPs) selected to put forward the added value of JERICO-NEXT. In order to reach this objective, WP4 keeps on track the JERICO-NEXT course of actions via synthesis and application activities based on interactions with other WPs. WP4 helps establishing some topical approaches for the scientific strategy in WP1 (task 1.2) and will give inputs to establish the network strategy after JERICO-NEXT (task 1.6). Indeed, six JRAPs are being implemented to address different key environmental questions and/or policy requirements such as those considered by the MSFD, and according to the 6 JERICO scientific areas: 1- JRAP-1 on pelagic biodiversity 2- JRAP-2 on benthic biodiversity 3- JRAP-3 on chemical contaminant occurrence and related biological responses 4- JRAP-4 on hydrography and transport 5- JRAP-5 on carbon fluxes and carbonates system 6- JRAP-6 on operational oceanography. This document reports the work led in the framework of the JRAP activities during the 2nd year of the project whereas the deliverable D4.2 reports the activities led the 1st year. In the following pages, for each JRAP, we report main achievements with comparison to the initial plan, the next steps, the acquired data (link with WP5), and acquired communication material (to feed WP8).

The WP4 of the JERICO-Next is a synthesis of the project built upon activities in other WPs, gathering the consortium around applied Joint Research Activity Projects (JRAPs) selected to put forward the added value of JERICO-NEXT. In order to reach this objective, WP4 keeps on track the JERICO-NEXT course of actions via synthesis and application activities based on interactions with other WPs. WP4 helps establishing some topical approaches for the scientific strategy in WP1 (task 1.2) and will give inputs to establish the network strategy after JERICO-NEXT (task 1.6). Indeed, six JRAPs will be implemented to address different key environmental questions and/or policy requirements such as those considered by the MSFD, and according to the 6 JERICO scientific areas: 1- JRAP-1 on pelagic biodiversity 2- JRAP-2 on benthic biodiversity 3- JRAP-3 on chemical contaminant occurrence and related biological responses 4- JRAP-4 on hydrography and transport 5- JRAP-5 on carbon fluxes and carbonate system 6- JRAP-6 on operational oceanography. This document reports the progress of the JRAP activities after 1 year in the project. In the following pages, for each JRAP, we report main achievements with comparison to the initial plan, the next steps, the acquired data (link with WP5), the acquired communication material (to feed WP8), and some specific points regarding the science strategy. Indeed, the previous WP4 deliverable (D.4.1) was dedicated to present the science strategy that could be deployed in JRAPs (but not only) and was then reviewed by the members of the Science and Technical Advisory Board (STAC). A meeting with the STAC was then organised the 7 September 2016 to discuss this strategy. As a conclusion JRAP teams were asked to address some common questions and some JRAP-specific ones. This meeting is reported in “Report of WP4 meeting with the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) & Contributions to the JERICO-NEXT science strategy”, provided in annex of this document. In addition, this document also enhances some activities driven in coordination with other WPs such as the WP3. The reported actions show that technical preparations were undertaken before deployment, some methodologies were reviewed, some field works are already done, some buoys and other systems are deployed and acquiring data, two WP3&4 joint workshops were organised. As a conclusion, JRAPs are well progressing with respect to their initial plans even if they are not developing along the same time line. Indeed some JRAPs already started their data acquisition, whereas some other will start this step later. Some important reported issues will be discussed during the next Steering committee Meeting to be held the 12-13 Dec. 2016. The upcoming important action in 2017 is to well coordinate the JRAPs data acquisition with the data management led in WP5, whereas 2018 will be more dedicated to work on the products delivered by JRAPs as JERICO-RI product prototypes.

WP4 of JERICO-NEXT aims to synthesize the project’s activities in the other WPs and gather the contributions around applied Joint Research Activity Projects (JRAPs) selected to benefit of and highlight JERICO-NEXT activities. In order to fulfil this objective, methodologies developed or improved in WP3 were applied in the JRAPs;the provision of data assembled and distributed was undertaken according to the WP5 recommendations; dedicated topical approaches of the scientific strategy matured jointly with WP1&4 (Deliverable D4.1) were applied within the JRAPs, providing then in return essential input to the future road map of the research infrastructures. Indeed, six JRAPs were implemented to address different key environmental issues and/or policy needs such as those considered by the MSFD, and according to the 6 JERICO-NEXT scientific areas: 1- JRAP#1 on pelagic biodiversity 2- JRAP#2 on benthic biodiversity 3- JRAP#3 on chemical contaminant occurrence and related biological responses 4- JRAP#4 on hydrography and transport 5- JRAP#5 on carbon fluxes and carbonate system 6- JRAP#6 on operational oceanography and forecasting. These JRAPs were not intending to implement similar actions at each JERICO-RI site but only to a selection of sites/regions according to the consortium interests and requirements from local to regional scales. Consequently, it is paramount to regionally synthesize the preliminary results after deployments in JRAPs, which is the purpose of this document. The main document is organised according to the following regions and sites: - Bay of Biscay (South East Bay of Biscay, Portuguese Margin and Nazaré Canyon, Girond Mud patch and Bay of Brest) - Channel and North Sea - Kattegat and Skagerrak Sea - Baltic Sea - Norwegian Sea - Med. Sea: From Liguria to the Ibiza Channel - Med. Sea: Northern Adriatic Sea - Med. Sea: Cretan Sea. Results for those regions are presented in chapter 3 after consideration of the regional or site specificities related to the most relevant scientific issues of the area and the most relevant societal and policy needs, respectively. As the project and the JRAPs were not a priori organised to fit with regional to local needs, the reader may identify a weak point in the way JERICO-NEXT is addressing scientific syntheses per region. Nevertheless, it is a preliminary work towards the regional structuration of the RI, as expected, and a significant effort was put forth to identify discrepancies in the level of regional integration, and the recommended way to progress on this issue is presented in Chapter 4. Synthesis of main achievements per region of JERICO-RI Bay of Biscay: SE BoB - Involved JRAPs: JRAPs #1 3 4 6 - Progress in the study of coastal small scale and mesoscale features from the combined use of multiplatform in-situ and satellite data. - Progress in the application of innovative techniques (developed in WP3) in this area for data-gap filling, data-blending, advanced Lagrangian diagnostics and performing observing system experiments (OSEs) and observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs). - Success in the gathering of new high-resolution datasets from different surveys and actions in the area (ETOILE with MASTODON-2D moorings deployment and TNA BB-TRANS). Bay of Biscay: Gironde and Bay of Brest - Involved JRAPs: JRAP #2 - Success in gathering biological and biogeochemical observations on a major marine mudpatch located in a high energetic environment. New evidence on the major role of hydrodynamics in controlling benthic diversity and associated biogeochemical processes in this mudpatch. - Success in deriving high resolution spatial maps of clam dredging pressure in the Bay of Brest and in using these maps to show the deleterious effect of this activity on benthic diversity hosted by maerl beds. - Success in the field testing of several techniques and tools (e.g., Image acquisition via mobile platforms and sediment profiling, image processing via dedicated software, and O2 sediment microprofiling) developed within both JERICO-FP7 and JERICO-NEXT. Bay of Biscay: Nazare Canyon - Involved JRAPs: JRAPs #4 & 6 - Success in the implementation of a high-resolution model with data assimilation able to describe the energetic dynamics and coastal ocean impacts of this long submarine canyon. - Progress in understanding the crucial importance of real-time monitoring infrastructures (fixed platforms, HF radars) to the characterization and operational forecasting of coastal ocean areas marked by the presence of submarine canyons, view the energetic and short spatial scale processes that are associated with these topographic features and the impacts canyons promote on larger domains of the coastal ocean. - Progress in understanding the dominant processes of subinertial dynamics in the Nazare Canyon area of influence, contributing to define the main components of a real-time monitoring system for this area. Channel and North Sea - Involved JRAPs: JRAPs #1, 4, 5 - Successful implementation of innovative (semi-)automated techniques for the monitoring of phytoplankton dynamics and C cycle in the English Channel and the North Sea - an extended shelf system influenced by multiple sources of human pressure and contrasting hydrodynamical conditions - Some of these methods were compared with traditional laboratory analysis which helped to better address the added value of innovative techniques in terms of improving the spatial and temporal resolution (both in surface and in the water column), making it possible to consider functional and, sometimes, even taxonomical characterization of phytoplankton communities composition as well as photo-physiology, at high resolution, in almost real-time. - New insights into the seasonality of the spatial distribution of delta partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) measured continuously on ships of opportunity at a regional scale in the North Sea, and the relation between marine sinks of CO2 with high total chlorophyll a fluorescence. - Automated techniques made it possible to characterize the size and functional composition of phytoplankton communities (from pico- to microphytoplankton) through the main bloom episodes including outburst of potential HABs as Pseudo-nitszchia spp. and Phaeocystis globosa (characterized as high or low red fluorescence nano-eukaryotes: Nano high and Low FLR) from the Eastern English Channel (EEC) towards the southern North Sea, in international cross-border (UK, FR, BE, NL) common research cruises, following the spatial and temporal succession of spring blooms. - There is a need to increase the combined implementation of innovative and reference techniques both on current monitoring of discrete stations as well as in continuous automated measurements performed on cruises and ships of opportunity (as FerryBoxes), in order to increase the spatial and temporal resolution of the surveys of the different eco-hydrodynamic regions of the area. Kattegat and Skagerrak - Involved JRAPs: JRAPs #1, 3, 5, 6 - Harmful algae, phytoplankton diversity and abundance were observed in near real time at an aquaculture site on the Swedish west coast. In situ imaging flow cytometry combined with machine learning and wireless communications provided data every 20 minutes. - Data from HF radar, FerryBox, research vessels and oceanographic buoys were used together with results from the 3D-NEMO Nordic ocean circulation model and remote sensing to describe the Kattegat-Skagerrak system. - Data from a FerryBox system revealed, as expected, the occurrence of strong concentration gradients reflecting progressive dilution along the South-North transect and highlighted harbours areas (Oslo and Kiel) as hotspots for some chemical compounds. - Microbial molecular markers representing bacterial species and genes were used to identify hydrocarbon pollution or high nutrient loads. - Barcoding of phytoplankton and bacteria revealed previously unknown diversity in the pelagic communities (see deliverable D3.8). - Carbon fluxes and carbonate system variability in the Skagerrak/Kattegat region is primarily driven by changes in salinity resulting from the balance of freshwater inputs from riverine and Baltic sources and saline waters from the Atlantic Ocean. Baltic - Involved JRAPs: JRAPs #1, 5, 6 - Different technologies for phytoplankton research have been successfully evaluated in the Baltic Sea. Operational monitoring of phycoerythrin fluorescence started after in-depth study during JRAP1, which identified different origins of this signal. To study filamentous cyanobacteria blooms, various sensors were tested and they were largely complementary. New absorption method seems to provide reliable estimates for Chlorophyll-a concentration, but still lacks automated maintenance procedures. Better understanding was obtained on the range of conversion factor between electron transport rate (measured with fluorescence induction) and carbon fixation rate, as well as of the reasons behind this variability. - Carbonate system components of the Baltic Sea showed large seasonal variability indicating high impact of biological activity for pH and pCO2. Alkalinity of the Baltic Sea is difficult to model from other carbonate system components and online sensors are required to understand its variability. - The joint studies between different (multinational) research groups using different technologies provided good know-how exchange and should be encouraged. As well, multidisciplinary research efforts, including physics, chemistry, biology and modelling, should be encouraged, to gain knowledge on the environmental challenges more in detail. Norwegian Sea - Involved JRAPs: JRAPs #1, 3, 6 - The Norwegian Sea plays a major role as an area where potentially highly polluted waters from the North Sea mix with water transported from the North Atlantic Ocean. This water is then transported into the Arctic region. Analysis of the transport pathway of waterborne contaminants along the Norwegian coast was instrumental for assessing the spatial range of contaminants with different properties and address questions regarding exposure of the Arctic. - 42 currently used pesticides in Europe, 5 artificial sweeteners and 11 pharmaceuticals and personal care products were targeted during the study. Several compounds were detected in the Norwegian Sea, including current use pesticides, artificial food additives and some pharmaceuticals. Their presence in this coastal area, and also in high-latitude more open waters, highlight the potential for these contaminants to undergo long range transport with marine currents. - Seasonal variability in temperature in the coastal area (up to a 15 ˚C differential between summer and winter depending on latitude) is a large driving force on carbonate system variability, including a decrease in surface water fCO2 due to lower wintertime temperatures as well as the uptake of atmospheric CO2 as water cools during its northward journey from the North Atlantic to the Arctic Ocean. - In addition, a focal point was the improvement of systems that provides knowledge for the transport of parasites and harmful algae in the Norwegian Sea coastal area. Here the observations by FerryBoxes, fixed stations as well as repeated transects were used to validate and improve numerical model simulations. Mediterranean Sea: Ligurian to Ibiza channel - Involved JRAPs: JRAPs #1, 4, 6 - Major investigation effort was led in the Liguro-Provencal area and the Catalan Margin to study the variability of the Northern current through the combination of independent and complementary observational platforms. The dynamics of the boundary currents were studied to identify the interplay between various forcings (remote, thermohaline and wind), the generation of mesoscale and submesoscale instabilities, and data blending and assimilation techniques were investigated. - Major results have shown a clear correlation between hydrographic changes led by climatic interannual variability and the community composition of phytoplankton and zooplankton. The role of (sub)mesoscale processes have shown to modulate biochemical processes and to locally enhanced marine biomass productions/accumulation. - The multiplatform observing system in the NW Mediterranean Sea, combined with growing centralized frameworks of data management and distribution, i.e. Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service and SeaDataNet/SeaDataCloud, will provide the basis for an extended European coastal infrastructure. Mediterranean Sea: Adriatic Sea - Involved JRAPs: JRAPs #5 & 6 - During the project, important steps forward have been made on the development of capabilities to integrate new kinds of experimental data and oceanographic models to support ecosystem management. The implementation of an Adriatic oceanographic model assimilating surface current from coastal radar and temperature profiles from fishing vessels (FOOS fleet) has been developed and tested, providing encouraging results. Surface currents from coastal radars were integrated with results from drifter deployments to investigate zones of recruitment for small pelagic fishes, highlighting the role of remote areas in supporting the ecological role of these environments. - One year of high frequency data of sea surface pCO2 was successfully gathered at a fixed station in the northernmost Adriatic. Results highlighted how the biological CO2 uptake during phytoplankton blooms was able to keep the central basin a strong CO2 sink not only in winter, when low temperatures favor CO2 dissolution, but through most of the year, even when temperatures raised above 25°C. - The work carried on so far highlighted the potentiality of the area, where historical data and many observational systems are available to support both ecosystem management and advanced marine researches. On the other hand, they pointed out the need for integration of the existing facilities and observational systems also at a trans-border level to address the climate and ecological challenges facing this basin. Mediterranean Sea: Cretan Sea - Involved JRAPs: JRAPs #2 & 6 - An interesting case of how the additional assimilation of glider profiles and FerryBox observations used in the OSE experiment is beneficial for the Aegean Sea forecasting system in terms of reducing the system biases. This improved the sea surface salinity model bias over the south Aegean (north of Crete and south of 37°N). - In the Cretan Sea, the vertical migration of mesopelagic organisms (macroplanktonic and micronektonic) was observed by acoustical means for almost 2.5 years in the epipelagic and mesopelagic layers. The observed organisms were categorized into four groups according to their migration patterns which appeared to occur at diel and seasonal scale. The variability of the migration patterns was inspected in relation to the physical and biological environmental conditions of the study area. Stratification of the water column does not act as a barrier for the vertical motion of the strongest migrants that move up to 400 m every day. Instead, changes in light intensity (lunar cycle, daylight duration, cloudiness) and the presence of prey and predators seem to explain the observed daily, monthly and seasonal. This report clearly demonstrates how the consortium of the project is willing to progress on monitoring strategies in several JERICO studies (besides the simulation experiments for transport studies, the analysis of search radius from contaminant sources and the use of covariance in highly relevant low-concentration persistent contaminants, use of multi-functional sensors, etc.); despite the difficulty and time-consuming activity of operating both fixed and mobile platforms working in the highly dynamic complex and densely utilised coastal areas. By progressing on the integration of scientific fields, it also shows the benefit of operating several platforms types (fixed & mobile, at sea, remote, & numerical). For instance, we can emphasize what deployments in JRAPs have proved: - JRAP #1: interest in deploying complementary observing systems for algal blooms to get information interoperable at EU level. - JRAP #2: success in monitoring highly dynamic benthic ecosystems. - JRAP #3: possibility to successfully perform monitoring of contaminants in an interoperable manner. - JRAP #4: the highly resolved low-cost sensor and mooring deployments for specific transport or contaminant studies, which shows the intent to be cost-efficient. The complementarity of remote + at sea and numerical systems. - JRAP#5: coastal carbon fluxes and biogeochemical cycling: The relatively large variability of conditions keeps being a challenge for sensor developers, with necessary periodic calibration needs that are possible to tackle as shown. - JRAP#6: makes a strong case of the need for in-situ data vs models, in particular for coastal processes. A vision: a possible geographical structure of JERICO-RI per region and site As a consequence, JERICO-RI already proved his capability to gather information and tools to qualify and quantify processes, their scales, related challenges and the possible solution to progress on. As a next step, in agreement with regional stakeholder, JERICO-RI should develop regional forum/center to share information (data and products), expertises, practices, solution and training in line with regional purposes to support scientists and regional stakeholders. This would support application of policies and regulations, based on applied collaborations between scientists and other stakeholders to tackle common societo, environmental and scientific questions from local to regional scales. According to the monitoring purposes in regions and sites, the need of integration in scientific fields is diverse and JERICO-NEXT presented only a first steps. In the future, JRAPs, TNA & regions should engage with outermost regions where regional projects take place and could be liaised with JERICO RI to better connect these regions in the coastal observing RI landscape. Because of these considerations, the consortium progressed towards regional integrated coastal observatories and preliminary elements are presented in chapter 4. A main lesson learned is that societal challenges and priorities at the regional level are important elements for the structuring of a coastal observing system. Therefore, a key challenge for the future is to improve regionalisation of the observatories for a better understanding of region-specific processes and an improved fit-for-purpose of the JERICO-RI. Furthermore, the observatories need to be consolidated in terms of performance, reliability and variables to optimally address and answer to key regional and pan-European environmental challenges. The two above-mentioned aspects are the integration challenge that the consortium wishes to tackle by implementing a regional structure of JERICO-RI. The structuring process will be challenging because coastal observatories are not operated by the same organisations and therefore may have differing objectives and means of operation (financial, logistical, etc.). Based on these differences, we have proposed that the coastal observing systems in JERICO-RI can be structured hierarchically in which all sizes and types of coastal observatories can function in JERICO-RI in an integrated and mutually beneficial way. This will be reported in deliverable D1.4. This way towards a regional structuring of JERICO-RI is included in the proposal for the 3rd project of the JERICO series of projects, JERICO-S3, selected for funding during 4 years and to start in early 2020. With regards to the WP4 of the present project, the final deliverable: D4.5 is in progress to report results of each of the six JRAP activities and will be available by Sept. 2019 on the JERICO-RI website.

This document reports on the science strategy required to answer the targeted scientific questions, policy requirements, and societal challenges linked with the observation of the European Coastal Ocean as elaborated within the framework of the WP 1 of the JERICO-NEXT project. The structuration of JERICO-RI science strategy is in line with the scientific strategies put forward by current major international initiatives regarding the observation of the ocean (i.e., GOOS, EOOS and EUROGOOS). The main elements of those general strategies are: (1) technological innovation, (2) the enhancement of integration/coordination, (3) the developments of interactions between observation initiatives acting over different spatiotemporal scales, (4) the optimisation of the benefit of coastal observing for the society, and (5) the major importance of the regional level in structuring ocean observation. These elements constitute the basis of the five pillars of JERICO-RI science strategy., Ce document rend compte de la stratégie scientifique nécessaire pour répondre aux questions scientifiques ciblées, aux exigences politiques et aux défis sociétaux liés à l'observation de l'océan côtier européen élaborés dans le cadre du WP 1 du projet JERICO-NEXT. La structuration de la stratégie scientifique JERICO-RI est en ligne avec les stratégies scientifiques mises en avant par les grandes initiatives internationales actuelles en matière d'observation de l'océan (à savoir GOOS, EOOS et EUROGOOS). Les principaux éléments de ces stratégies générales sont: (1) l'innovation technologique, (2) le renforcement de l'intégration / coordination, (3) le développement des interactions entre les initiatives d'observation agissant à différentes échelles spatio-temporelles, (4) l'optimisation du bénéfice de l'observation du littoral pour la société, et (5) l'importance majeure du niveau régional dans la structuration de l'observation des océans. Ces éléments constituent la base des cinq piliers de la stratégie scientifique JERICO-RI.