The Italian Omics Observatory Network of Marine Biodiversity

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Marine biodiversity is severely affected by multiple threats from human activities and climate change. Deterioration of natural populations, invasion by exotic species, extinction of native species, reduction of genetic diversity, loss/alteration of ecosystem dynamics and disease outbreaks are increasingly being linked to the introduction of pathogens and antibiotic resistant bacteria. To address these challenges, within the NBFC, the Activity 5 (A5) will implement last-generation technologies for the collection of Marine Omics data, their analysis and interpretation to implement Scalable, Fast and Cost- effective (SFC) response actions to Emergent Biodiversity threats. In collaboration with the National Marine Biodiversity Observatory System (Spoke 1), A5 will establish the Italian Omics Observatory Network fostering the development and application of last generation molecular technologies for present and future Marine Biodiversity studies in the Mediterranean Sea. II. METHODOLOGICAL STRATEGY Four marine (LTER) stations will be monitored: Golfo di Napoli, Promontorio di Portofino, Golfo di Trieste and Meda Senigallia (Fig. 1). Standard Operating Procedures for omics analysis of marine samples (sample collection, preservation, nucleic acid extraction and analytical workflows) have been defined. For protists/phytoplankton molecular data will be validated with microscopy-based and high throughput imaging devices. Last generation sampling methods will be employed to conduct size- fractionated filtrations (Fig. 2) of large seawater volumes at different depths on a monthly basis. DNA extraction and biobanking protocols, implementation of sequencing technologies in compliance with international standards for metabarcoding and shotgun metagenomics of marine communities will be performed. Environmental data (e.g T°C, salinity, nutrients, Chl-a, DOM) will be linked to biodiversity. Activities will be carried out following established protocols and international initiatives such as TARA-Oceans1, EMOBON2 and AtlantEco3 . FIG. 1. ITALIAN OMICS OBSERVATORY NETWORK SITES. FIG. 2. SIZE-FRACTIONATED FILTRATIONS SCHEME REFERENCE 1https://fondatio3ntaraocean.org/en/expedition/tara-oceans/#results; 2https://www.embrc.eu/services/emo-bon; 3https://zenodo.org/records/6956974 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Funder: Project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4 - Call for tender No. 3138 of 16 December 2021, rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.Award Number: Project code CN_00000033, Concession Decree No. 1034 of 17 June 2022 adopted by the ItalianMinistry of University and Research, CUP D33C22000960007, Project title “National Biodiversity Future Center - NBFC” .