Developing new genetic tools for bioassessment of aquatic ecosystems in Europe

Project: Research

Documents

CA15219
Textfile, 16.1 MB, application/x-rtf

Mergen, Patricia (Participant)
Leliaert, Frederik (Participant)
Van de Vijver, Bart (Participant)
Cocquyt, Christine (Participant)

Meise Botanic Garden

Description

The protection, preservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems and their functions is of global importance. For European states it became legally binding mainly through the EU-Water Framework Directive (WFD; 2000/60/EC) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC). In order to assess the ecological status of a given water body, aquatic biodiversity data are obtained and compared to a reference water body. The quantified mismatch thus obtained determines the extent of potential management actions.

The current approach to biodiversity assessment and monitoring is based on morpho-taxonomy. This approach has many drawbacks such as being time consuming, limited in temporal and spatial resolution, and error-prone due to variation of individual taxonomic expertise of the analysts. Novel genomic tools can circumvent many of the aforesaid problems and could complement traditional bioassessment and biomonitoring strategies. Yet, a plethora of approaches are independently developed in different institutions, thereby hampering any concerted routine application.

The goal of DNAqua-Net is to nucleate a group of researchers across disciplines with the task to identify gold-standard genomic tools and novel eco-genomic indices and metrics for routine application for biodiversity assessments and biomonitoring of European water bodies. Furthermore, DNAqua-Net will provide a platform for training of the next generation of European researchers preparing them for the new technologies. Jointly with water managers, politicians and other stakeholders, the group will develop a conceptual framework for the standard application of eco-genomic tools as part of legally binding assessments.

Layman's description

The Goal of the COST action is to evaluate the suitability of molecular tools for the assessment of the quality of the aquatic ecosystems. It concerns freshwater, marine waters and transitional waters. Botanic Garden Meise is via Patricia Mergen co-leader on the workgroup on Implementation Strategy and Legal Issues. The staff members collaborate to topics related to diatoms as bio indicators for water quality.

Acronym	DNAQUA-NET
Status	Finished
Effective start/end date	20/10/16 → 19/10/20
Links	http://dnaqua.net/ http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/ca/CA15219

Research outputs

Implementation and legal issues of DNA-based monitoring
Boets, P., Hering, D. & Mergen, P., 4-Mar-2021, In: ARPHA Conference Abstracts . 4, 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference abstract in journal › peer-review
DNAqua-Net: Developing new genetic tools for bioassessment and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems in Europe
Leese, F., Altermatt, F., Bouchez, A., Ekrem, T., Hering, D., Meissner, K., Mergen, P., Pawlowski, J., Piggott, J., Rimet, F., Steinke, D., Taberlet, P., Weigand, A., Abarenkov, K., Beja, P., Bervoets, L., Björnsdóttir, S., Boets, P., Boggero, A., Bones, A., & 81 othersBorja, Á., Bruce, K., Bursić, V., Carlsson, J., Čiampor, F., Čiamporová-Zatovičová, Z., Coissac, E., Costa, F., Costache, M., Creer, S., Csabai, Z., Deiner, K., DelValls, Á., Drakare, S., Duarte, S., Eleršek, T., Fazi, S., Fišer, C., Flot, J-F., Fonseca, V., Fontaneto, D., Grabowski, M., Graf, W., Guðbrandsson, J., Hellström, M., Hershkovitz, Y., Hollingsworth, P., Japoshvili, B., Jones, J., Kahlert, M., Stroil, B. K., Kasapidis, P., Kelly, M., Kelly-Quinn, M., Keskin, E., Kõljalg, U., Ljubešić, Z., Maček, I., Mächler, E., Mahon, A., Marečková, M., Mejdandzic, M., Mircheva, G., Montagna, M., Moritz, C., Mulk, V., Naumoski, A., Navodaru, I., Padisák, J., Pálsson, S., Panksep, K., Penev, L., Petrusek, A., Pfannkuchen, M., Primmer, C., Rinkevich, B., Rotter, A., Schmidt-Kloiber, A., Segurado, P., Speksnijder, A., Stoev, P., Strand, M., Šulčius, S., Sundberg, P., Traugott, M., Tsigenopoulos, C., Turon, X., Valentini, A., Hoorn, B. V. D., Várbíró, G., Hadjilyra, M. V., Viguri, J., Vitonytė, I., Vogler, A., Vrålstad, T., Wägele, W., Wenne, R., Winding, A., Woodward, G., Zegura, B. & Zimmermann, J., 1-Nov-2016, In: Research Ideas and Outcomes. 2, p. e11321 24 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › A2: International peer reviewed article (not A1-type) › peer-review
Implementation options for DNA-based identification into ecological status assessment under the European Water Framework Directive
Hering, D., Borja, Á., Jones, I., Pont, D., Boets, P., Bouchez, A., Bruce, K., Drakare, S., Drakare, S., Hänfling, B., Kahlert, M., Leese, F., Meissner, K., Mergen, P., Reyjol, Y., Segurado, P., Vogler, A. & Kelly, M., 1-Jul-2018, In: Water Research. 138, p. 192-205 14 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review
DNAqua-Net: A platform for (young) water professionals interested in DNA-based biomonitoring and bioassessment
Geerts, A., Weigand, A., Mergen, P. & Leese, F., 6-Jul-2017.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
Chapter Two - Why We Need Sustainable Networks Bridging Countries, Disciplines, Cultures and Generations for Aquatic Biomonitoring 2.0: A Perspective Derived From the DNAqua-Net COST Action
Leese, F., Bouchez, A., Abarenkov, K., Altermatt, F., Borja, Á., Bruce, K., Ekrem, T., Čiampor, F., Čiamporová-Zaťovičová, Z., Costa, F. O., Duarte, S., Elbrecht, V., Fontaneto, D., Franc, A., Geiger, M. F., Hering, D., Kahlert, M., Stroil, B. K., Kelly, M., Keskin, E., & 12 othersLiska, I., Mergen, P., Meissner, K., Pawlowski, J., Penev, L., Reyjol, Y., Rotter, A., Steinke, D., Wal, B. V. D., Vitecek, S., Zimmermann, J. & Weigand, A. M., 2018, In: Advances in Ecological Research. 58, p. 63-99 37 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review
Pressing topics in the Belgian water sector anno 2015
De Mulder, C., Van Hoey, S., Van Hulle, S., Agathos, S. N., Cauwenberg, P., Mergen, P., Seuntjens, P., Smets, I., De Gueldre, G., Mouton, A., Schowanek, D., Meesschaert, B., Verstraete, W. & Nopens, I., 1-May-2016, In: Sustainability of Water Quality and Ecology. 7, p. 32-36 5 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review