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Project title

From the Microbiome to the Ecosystem: Unraveling the Effects of Marine Protected Areas on EcosystemServices

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT)

Lead Applicant

Deirdre Brophy

Project Abstract

Preserving marine ecosystem services is a key priority for the European Union as they support the livelihood and well-being of millions of its citizens. The delivery of ecosystem services is jeopardized by alterations to species composition and functional diversity. While the effects of conservation tools such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on species diversity have been extensively investigated, the impacts of these tools on functional traits, especially those relating to trophic processes, remain unknown. The goal of METRODIVER is to fill this gap by combining a multi-level approach (community, population, microbiome) with cutting-edge techniques and a large scale analysis (10 European MPAs) to answer three pivotal questions: What are the effects of MPAs on the trophic diversity and food web functioning? How do these effects mediate ecosystem services (e.g. productivity) and animal health (e.g. growth, body condition)? To what extent do they contribute to provide healthier food for human societies (e.g. nutritional value of fish flesh)? This project, strongly associating scientists and MPA managers, will enable a better management of current and future MPAs, maximizing their effectiveness and ensuring sustainable ecosystem services. Our project is in-line with the scientific objectives of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. METRODIVER will improve understanding of the effects of MPAs and human influences on marine biodiversity.and will provide new insights for ecosystem managers, planners and decision makers to evaluate the effectiveness of their MPAs and to consider corrective actions if necessary. Eight articles will be published in interdisciplinary peer review journals with high impact factors. Indicative titles are listed below: 1. Effects of MPAs on marine trophic diversity 2. Large scale study to reveal the effects of MPAs on marine productivity 3. Protecting trophic diversity: a priority for ecosystem service provision 4. Unravelling the effects of MPAs on trophic input 5. Do MPAs affect the trophic niche of low trophic level organisms? 6. Effects of MPAs on fish health and nutritional value 7. Impact of MPAs on the functional diversity and redundancy of the fish gut microbiome 8. Role of microbiome protection into MPA ecosystem service delivery Several webinars will be organised to (1) communicate METRODIVER findings to stakeholders, policy makers and public, (2) answer the question of the audience and (3) discuss about future research and societal directions. A PhD student will be employed on WP2 and will be registered at GMIT and deliver a PhD thesis and associated articles.

Grant Approved

�149,700.00

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Natural capital and ecosystem services including soils and biodiversity

Start Date

01/03/2020

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/03/2023