Játtað í:
2017

Granskingarøki:
Náttúra og náttúrutilfeingi

Verkætlanarslag:
Verkætlan

Verkætlanarheiti:
Faroese Marine Ecosystem Observatory Study (FAMEOS): Nýtsla av umhvørvis DNA í kanningum av vistskipanum í havinum

Játtanarnummar:
0449

Verkætlanarleiðari:
Ian Salter

Stovnur/virki:
Havstovan

Aðrir luttakarar:
Eilif Gaard, Sólvá Jacobsen, Durita Sørensen, Katja Metfies, Halina Tegetmeyer,

Verkætlanarskeið:
Planned: 01.01.2018-31.12.2020
Actual: 01.01.2018-31.03.2023

Samlaður kostnaður:
2.360.667

Stuðul úr Granskingargrunninum:
1.092.520

Verkætlanarlýsing:
Original
FAroese Marine Ecosystem Observatory Study (FAMEOS): Integrating DNA_based estimates of diversity with essential Ocean Variables

The oceans are critical for our survival. They produce half the oxygen we breathe, provide over 1/6th of the protein we consume and mitigate climate change by absorbing anthropogenic carbon dioxide. In the Faroe Islands interdependency with the coastal marine ecosystem is especially profound with the value of fisheries resources to the Faroese economy continuing to rise. Although the critical importance of the oceans is easily acknowledged, perhaps less well appreciated is that conditions in our oceans are changing rapidly and are subject to unknown trajectories and tipping points. Natural and anthropogenic pressures are currently manifested in changes to the physical and biogeochemical conditions of our oceans that are likely to affect marine ecosystem structure with obvious consequences for marine resource provision. It is now considered critical to develop observing systems that integrate physical, geochemical and biological elements to characterize marine ecosystem health and understand the societal consequences of natural and anthropogenic pressures. Sustained observations of important attributes of coastal ecosystems, especially biodiversity, are often lacking and this limits the capacity to report on changes in status and guide management decisions.

The current project aims to establish a coastal ecosystem observatory on the Faroese shelf that integrates DNA-based estimates of diversity across different trophic compartments with the biogeochemical properties of seawater. A novel high throughput sequencing metabarcode approach will be applied to environmental DNA samples collected at the coastal station Skopun that represents the wider shelf area due to strong tidal mixing. Ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA will be sequenced to provide biodiversity data for bacteria, phytoplankton, marine invertebrates and fish from a single seawater sample. The potential for metabarcoding biodiversity assessment to accurately represent ecosystem structure on the Faroese Shelf will be examined by comparing sequencing datasets with classical morphological based identification of phytoplankton, marine zooplankton and fish. Parallel measurements of the physical and chemical properties of seawater will be carried out that conform to the globally endorsed concept of essential ocean variables. The datasets originating from the project will be used to provide a baseline for biodiversity and integrated ecosystem structure of Faroese shelf waters that can form the basis of a sustained observation system.

Final
The Faroese Marine Ecosystem Observing Study (FAMEOS) had the primary objective of establishing an environmental DNA (eDNA) based time-series of marine biodiversity on the Faroese central shelf. The rationale for this was to augment existing observational framework for monitoring long-term environmental change of the Faroese shelf in response to natural cycles and anthropogenic pressures, not limited to but including climate change. As part of this aim, and in order to assess the suitability of biomolecular monitoring approaches, explicit comparisons were made with existing sampling methodologies to assess the differences in detection of different components of the marine ecosystem, namely phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish.

Additionally, FAMEOS aimed to enable legacy sampling by establishing the first bioarchive of seawater DNA samples for application to future projects and research questions. In order to achieve these objectives FAMEOS had to set up new laboratory procedures for sampling of environmental DNA samples, DNA extraction and preparation for metabarcoding using next generation sequencing techniques, and data analysis techniques.

Sample eDNA collection started in 2018, and through extension of the project continued until the end of 2023. During this period a total of 960 eDNA filters were collected, distributed across 223 independent sampling dates (2018 – 31; 2019 – 33; 2020 – 46; 2021 – 43; 2022 – 34; 2023 – 36) and covering entire seasonal cycles from January to February. DNA samples were extracted and prepared for next generation sequencing using different metabarcoding markers targeting different groups. A total of >60 million sequence reads were generated as part of the project corresponding to the registration of 599 Faroese marine species, the first attempt to do so using molecular markers. These included, but were not limited too, benthic invertebrates (247 species), coral (3), marine fish (89), marine fungi (17), heterotrophic microbes (17), hydrozoa (44), jellyfish (4), marine birds (2), marine mammals (8), sharks (3), seaweed (57), phytoplankotn (53) and zooplankton (44). Through efforts to compare with traditional methodologies, we used light microscopy to compile the first ever registry of marine phytoplankton diversity on the Faroe Islands, corresponding to 91 species.

Comparisons with trawl studies show that eDNA analysis of marine fish corresponded well to biomass distribution of demersal species and time-series analysis shows consistent patterns of movement by some pelagic species. Zooplankton eDNA analysis of water samples increased biodiversity estimates and resolved taxonomic issues but were a poor representation of biomass. eDNA provided a unique insight into the diversity of benthic invetebrates and gelatinous zooplankton and small phytoplankton not visible by microsocpe. Since it’s inception, the FAMEOS eDNA biorachive has supported numerous funding applications and scientific studies and the molecular time-series continues following completion of the project.

In summary FAMEOS was a successful project that has implemented methods for establishing a biomeolcular time-series in the Faroese marine environment tha continues beyond project completion representing a new valuabel resource for Faroese marine science. It has contributed to enhancing our understanding of marine biodiversity and provided a unique bioarchive for supporting funding applications.

Storage and access rights to collected data
The data is currently stored in Havstovan local databases and access rights will be assessed and granted through application to the project principal investigator. The datasets have either been submitted, or are in preparation for publication in peer-reviewed journals. As part of this process the data will also be submitted to open access international data archives in accordance with the guidelines of the publishing body. These datasets will be added to the project through the PURE portal.

Støða:
Liðug

Avrik:
See PURE



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