Projet MixITiN (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Doctoral Networks
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The conceptual basis upon which management tools for our oceans, seas and coasts have operated are out-of-date. MixITiN will train an innovative team of early stage researchers (ESRs) to develop and deploy new methodologies for researching, monitoring and managing our marine environment according to the recently revised paradigm for marine pelagic production. Current management tools and policies operate within a paradigm that builds on a simple division functioning at the base of the food chain leading to fisheries, between ”plant-like” phytoplankton and their main consumers, the microzooplankton. Applicants of the research programme MixITiN have shown that this plant-animal paradigm represents at the least a gross simplification, if not a falsehood. The revised paradigm recognises that most phytoplankton and half the microzooplankton combine plant-like photosynthesis with animal-like consumer activity within the one cell. This form of nutrition, “mixotrophy”, supports the growth of organisms important for food chains and biogeochemical cycles removing atmospheric CO2; they are also causative agents of harmful algal blooms. In consequence of this revised paradigm, laboratory and field research approaches, management policies and allied computer modelling tools, are arguably no longer fit for purpose. MixITiN brings together European world-class research and training centres from 9 different countries, with skillsets from molecular biology, physiology and computer modelling, to marine and coastal zone management, public and media engagement. MixITiN will train ESRs in multinational and multidisciplinary centres of excellence, with intersectoral engagement enabling them to gain employment in various sectors such as consultancy, government, academic, or allied industries. The synergy of training approaches provided to the ESRs will raise their capabilities and progress science beyond the current state-of-the-art to enable improved management of marine resources.

Mots clés : marine, management, harmful algal blooms  habs, eutrophication, plankton, phytoplankton, zooplankton, mixotroph, primary production, ecophysiology, modelling

Participants :
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgique) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 250560.0 €
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 580163.76 €
- Tecnalia (Espagne) — Partner, organization partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- Swansea University (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 250513.89 €
- Concept shed (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Bremen (Allemagne) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 495745.92 €
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (Grèce) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 242386.92 €
- Deltares (Pays-Bas) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 255374.28 €
- Cardiff University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 296061.87 €
- Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 249216.48 €
- Ap marine environmental consultancy ltd (Chypre) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Sorbonne Université (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 262875.6 €
- The conversation trust (uk) limited (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, organization partner, Autres, subvention : 0.0 €