Integrating new technologies for the study of benthic ecosystem response to human activity: towards a Coastal Ocean Benthic Observatory (COBO)

Marine coastal ecosystems are among the most productive and diverse communities on Earth and are of global importance to climate, nutrient budgets, and primary productivity. Shelf sea sediments and their associated biota represent a reservoir for biodiversity, hosting benthic communities as well as resting and reproductive stages of planktonic organisms. Yet, these ecosystems, and in particular sedentary benthic (bottom-living) invertebrate communities at their base, are compromised by human-induced stresses, including overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution, which compromises biodiversity, ecosystem stability and biogeochemical processes. However, due to the remoteness and spatio-temporal variability of this environment, the relationships between tightly coupled biological and geochemical processes are poorly understood. The overall objective of COBO is to integrate emerging and innovative technologies from different disciplines (physics, chemistry, biology, imagery) to provide in situ monitoring of sediment habitats, in order to understand complex interactions between the biota (function and diversity) and their chemical environment. Existing technologies have limited spatial and temporal sampling resolutions which has hampered progress in determining key parameters and, in explaining biogeochemical patterns / processes and in modelling ecosystem dynamics. Improved in situ technologies are required to provide rigorous scientific information on processes regulating this unique and fragile habitat and for assessing, controlling and minimising human impact on European coastal waters. This programme will provide powerful tools to significantly advance our understanding of organism -sediment relations under dynamic coastal conditions and enhance predictive capability. The main activities of COBO are: ?Integration of sediment profile imagery (SPI) and Optodes for the simultaneous measurement of 2-D fields of oxygen and images of macrofaunal movement. ?Development of an integrated sediment disturber, combined with digital cameras and oxygen micro-profilers and, at the start and end points, by examining sediment cores. ?Development of a chamber capable of regulating oxygen (oxystat) equipped with nitrate sensors. ?Integration of manipulated benthic chambers capable of particle and liquid addition and sediment resuspension. ?Development of "smart" and adaptable systems integrating control electronics capable of reaction to external events. ?Development of numerical tools consisting of building 2D models of early diagenesis and sediment-organism relationship.