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IMBeR Newsletter February 2026

“Ecological Feedbacks in the Earth System” Published, IMBeR Calls for Urgent Action

A new review article, “Ecological Feedbacks in the Earth System”, has been published in the AGU journal Earth’s Future. The paper synthesizes evidence from marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. The study was developed as part of IMBeR's scientific activities.

See the Special Feature in this issue for more on the IMBeR Perspective

IMBeR members actively participated in the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026 (22-27 February, Glasgow, Scotland), contributing to oral and poster sessions on marine biogeochemistry, ecosystem dynamics, and ocean-climate interactions. Key activities included discussions on IMBeR 3.0’s new decadal science plan and the co-launch of the Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) report. Science teams, such as ICED, the Action Plan for the Ocean, and the Submarine Groundwater Discharge Working Group (SGD-WG), shared insights and fostered collaboration. Early-career engagement was highlighted through a Town Hall event co-hosted with the IMECaN network. Here, we share some photos from the event with our readers, and a more comprehensive summary will be provided in an upcoming event report.

At the SKLEC’s booth and the SCOR booth, Prof. Dongyan Liu, IMBeR Chair, along with the IMBeR IPO representatives, Fang Zuo and Kai Qin, conducted outreach on the IMBeR 3.0 project framework, objectives, and future research directions, while gathering input from international colleagues to inform scientific planning.

During the ASLO cross-regional session, Fang further elaborated on the decadal plan for IMBeR 3.0 and shared strategies for establishing and sustaining international working groups with participants.

Carol Robinson, IOC-R Co-Chair, introduced the Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) initiative and officially launched its new report.

Co-sponsored by the Global Carbon Project, SOLAS, IMBeR, CLIVAR, IOCCP, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, the IOC-R report, developed by 72 authors and 13 reviewers from 23 countries, provides a comprehensive and actionable foundation for addressing current and future challenges in ocean carbon research.

The IMBeR SGD-WG and its Climate Change Subgroup met at OSM 2026. They proposed representative monitoring sites, a hybrid sensor-sampling framework, and using natural events like red tides to study climate impacts. The group also called for a centralized IMBeR SGD Data Repository to integrate scattered datasets, focusing on network construction, method standardization, and operational implementation.

IMECaN's participation at Ocean Science Meeting 2026

In collaboration with the Challenger Society for Marine Science and The Oceanography Society, IMECaN co-hosted the session "Broadening the Ocean Science Workforce for a More Equitable, Inclusive, and Engaged Community" during the past OSM held in Glassgow.

The session featured perspectives from DEI advocates and allies, highlighting effective interventions, and had participants who contributed to building a more inclusive ocean science community.

Learn more

The IPO is delighted to share recent advances in deep-sea observation being developed at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB). This work builds on their Marine Remote Imagery Platform (MaRIP) and ongoing research activities across the Indian Ocean. Further details are available in the poster below. 

To gather relevant information and perspectives from the community, we have prepared a short Call for Contributions survey. We warmly invite IMBeR partners and collaborators to share relevant activities, case studies, resources, or areas of interest by completing the survey. New

If you would like to contribute, please complete the survey by 31 March 2026. For any questions, please contact the IMBeR IPO at imber@ecnu.edu.cn.



“Ecological Feedbacks in the Earth System” Published,

IMBeR Calls for Urgent Action

A new review article, “Ecological Feedbacks in the Earth System” (DOI: 10.1029/2025EF006478), has been published in the AGU journal Earth’s Future. The paper synthesizes evidence from marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, demonstrating that ecological feedbacks—how organisms respond to and actively shape their environment—play a central role in regulating climate, biogeochemical cycles, and ecosystem stability. The study highlights that many current Earth system models underrepresent these processes, which limits our ability to anticipate and respond to rapid environmental change. The authors stress the importance of cross-scale integration and call for urgent action to incorporate ecological feedbacks into Earth system analyses.

IMBeR Perspective

The study was developed as part of the activities of the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research Project (IMBeR), a large global initiative focused on ensuring ocean sustainability in the context of global change. IMBeR is a Large-Scale Ocean Research Project under the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) and a Global Research Network under Future Earth. During the development of the IMBeR Science Plan and Implementation Strategy over a decade ago, the team began to highlight the need to improve understanding of ecological feedbacks in the Earth system and this became one of IMBeR’s Innovation Challenges: Innovation Challenge 3 – To advance understanding of ecological feedbacks in the Earth System.

Over the past decade, IMBeR has undertaken a number activities in this area, including a conference session at the Future Oceans 2 Open Science Conference in 2019, which marked an important step forward. Following subsequent discussions, the team decided to generate a paper highlighting the operation of ecological feedbacks and examining their role in the Earth system. At that stage, the need for an integrated view encompassing terrestrial and freshwater systems was also recognized, leading to an expanded author team. The resulting paper represents an output of IMBeR Innovation Challenge 3 and Grand Challenge 2. The study was led by Eugene Murphy, IMBeR former Vice-Chair and Lead of Innovation Challenge 3, together with Dr Emma Cavan and Dr Jess Williams from Imperial College London. The study also identifies a series of future research priorities, and emphasizes that better integration of ecological feedbacks in Earth system analyses is essential for providing robust scientific advice to policymakers facing accelerating climate and biodiversity crises.

Overview Article

An overview article summarizing this work is now available on the Imperial College London website, providing an accessible summary of the study for a broader audience: 

Read the article here

This month’s Editor Picks highlight recent research advancing our understanding of marine ecosystems, climate-related change, and emerging approaches to ocean prediction and management. Featured studies examine the ecological and cultural importance of gray mangroves in arid coastal regions, the drivers of dissolved organic carbon accumulation in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre, and the structure of sponge assemblages across depth gradients in temperate reefs. Other contributions provide new insights into cryosphere–ocean interactions, including long-term Antarctic grounding line retreat and accelerating Greenland Ice Sheet runoff. Advances in forecasting and management are also represented, with studies demonstrating graph-based deep learning for Mediterranean Sea prediction, improved statistical models for recreational fisheries management, and a global synthesis of vessel impacts on marine megafauna. Together, these studies illustrate the value of integrating ecological observations, modeling innovations, and interdisciplinary analyses to better understand and manage marine systems in a changing world.



If you have papers or reports you would like to share in future issues, please feel free to send the information to imber@ecnu.edu.cn.

Gray mangrove (Avicennia marina): Ecological resilience, cultural heritage, and sustainable conservation in the arid arab region

Authors: A. Alblooshi, A. El-Keblawy, S. K. Manikandan, M. Hasnain, R. Zainab, S. S. M. Soliman

Journal: Regional Studies in Marine Science

The gray mangrove (Avicennia marina) is integral to coastal life in the arid Arab region. It can thrive in extreme conditions such as high salinity, scorching temperatures, and drought. As a result, it supports a rich web of marine and terrestrial species and offers a natural shield against coastal erosion and storm surges. Its intricate root systems stabilize shorelines and help protect the coastal areas from the impacts of rising sea levels. In addition, A. marina is deeply linked to the culture of the local people. Local communities have relied on its wood for fuel and construction for generations. Moreover, the gray mangrove is considered a symbol of resilience in regions with scarce resources demonstrating the enduring strength and adaptability of those who have coexisted with it for centuries. Currently, traditional knowledge about sustainable harvesting and conservation remains crucial for the survival of A. marina. Rapid urbanization, pollution, overharvesting, and climate change affects mangrove habitats. Despite these challenges, a combination of local stewardship and policy-driven conservation efforts has helped maintain A. marina populations in many parts of the Arab world. Research has also documented various phytochemicals in the species with promising health benefits including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Balancing these biomedical opportunities with sustainable conservation practices will ensure that A. marina continues to thrive as a cornerstone of both environmental health and cultural heritage.

Click to read the full paper

Figure 1. Graphical Abstract

Accurate Mediterranean Sea forecasting via graph-based deep learning

Authors: D. Holmberg, E. Clementi, I. Epicoco & T. Roos

Journal: Scientific Reports

Accurate ocean forecasting systems are essential for understanding marine dynamics, which play a crucial role in sectors such as shipping, aquaculture, environmental monitoring, and coastal risk management. Traditional numerical solvers, while effective, are computationally expensive and time-consuming. Recent advancements in machine learning have revolutionized weather forecasting, offering fast and energy-efficient alternatives. Building on these advancements, we introduce SeaCast, a neural network designed for high-resolution regional ocean forecasting. SeaCast employs a graph-based framework to effectively handle the complex geometry of ocean grids and integrates external forcing data tailored to the regional ocean context. Our approach is validated through experiments at a high horizontal resolution using the operational numerical forecasting system of the Mediterranean Sea, along with both numerical and data-driven atmospheric forcings. Results demonstrate that SeaCast consistently outperforms the operational model over the conventional 10-day forecast window and further extends skillful predictions to 15 days, marking a significant advancement in regional ocean prediction.

Click to read the full paper

Figure 2. SeaCast performs autoregressive ocean forecasting using a graph neural network (GNN). (a) The input sea state and (b) atmospheric forcing are projected onto a coarser mesh representation through the (c) encoder. (d) GNN layers process this latent representation on a hierarchical mesh. The output is then (e) decoded back onto the original grid to form (f) a predicted sea state. (g) Boundary conditions (here exaggerated in size) are incorporated to produce (h) the complete next state. This forecast is then fed back into the system as a new input (as shown by the arrow looping from h to a), enabling multi-step forecasting through repeated application of the encode–process–decode cycle.

Nonlinear increase of Greenland Ice Sheet runoff into Disko Bay

Authors: S. Hetzinger, J. Halfar, T. K. Watanabe & A. Tsay

Journal: EGUsphere

The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has experienced accelerated mass loss with record peaks in 2012 and 2019. Despite its role as an important tipping element in the climate system, the GrIS's response to recent warming is poorly understood. Here we use Ba/Ca ratios in coralline algae as a proxy for runoff into Disko Bay which is strongly influenced by the input of meltwater from glaciers connected to the GrIS, particularly from Jakobshavn Glacier – the fastest flowing marine-terminating glacier of the GrIS. The 115-year multispecimen master chronology confirms an unprecedented trend change in runoff beginning in the early 2000s. Statistical trend- and time of emergence analysis of the algal proxy record suggests that in 2007 western GrIS runoff has permanently emerged above the 20th century reference period, while temperature observations have not yet exceeded this threshold. This provides independent evidence for a non-linear accelerated response of the largest GrIS glacier, underscoring modelling results that a tipping point in glacial mass balance might soon be reached. Massive GrIS meltwater influx could intensify upper ocean stratification and contribute to global sea level rise.



 Click to read the full paper

Figure 5. West Greenland surface water temperature warming trend. a) Temperature trends (°C/decade) for the period 1982-2020 for summer sea surface temperature (SST, JJA, OISSTv2p1; 0.25x0.25° resolution, 1982-2020) for oceanic regions offshore of (a) southern and (b) central-western Greenland. b) Disko Bay region in central-western Greenland (rectangle, enlarged in a) with locations of sampling sites (green circles) southwest of Jakobshavn Glacier (Jakobshavn Isbrae, JI). Trend calculation significant at 90%. Locations of Ilulissat (orange circle, weather station 4221) and Jakobshavn Isbrae are indicated. Outline of Disko Bay frontal zone surface water mass (based on salinity from hydrographic observations in summer 2017 (Mascarenhas and Zielinski, 2019)) is marked as yellow stippled line (< 33 psu) to indicate up to where glacial freshwater influences surface water in relation to our study sites. Glacial meltwater plume extent marked as black stippled line.  

Depth-structured sponge assemblages offer limited evidence for mesophotic refuge potential under the deep reef refuge hypothesis

Authors: M. Broadribb, A. Rogers & J. J. Bell

Journal: Ecography

Temperate mesophotic ecosystems (TMEs) have the potential to act as climate refugia for shallower benthic species impacted by environmental change. However, the extent to which mesophotic ecosystems might provide an ecological refuge, particularly for key functional groups like sponges, remains poorly known in temperate systems. Our study investigates sponge assemblage structure across a depth gradient at the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, New Zealand, to assess the potential for mesophotic depths to act as ecological refuges for species inhabiting shallow water in the scenarios where mesophotic depths avoid shallower disturbances. Using ROV and SCUBA-based image surveys across three sites, sponge abundance data were collected from depths spanning 5 to 65 m. Assemblage composition, species richness, and depth-dependent abundance patterns were analysed using nMDS, PERMANOVA, and linear regression. Results revealed high beta diversity across depths, with sponge assemblages strongly structured by depth. The majority of sponge operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were restricted to either shallow (&lt; 30 m) or mesophotic (&gt; 30 m) zones, with between 26.4 and 32.7% of OTUs shared between both, and a total of 18 sponge OTUs found in multiple depths in each zone across all three sites. Depth related abundance patterns tended to be species specific, meaning the potential for any refuge effect will likely also vary between species depending on their local abundance. Our findings highlight the vertical structuring of sponge assemblages and suggest that, while TMEs may offer some refuge potential to specific species in scenarios where mesophotic habitats avoid disturbances experienced by shallow species, the benefits won't apply to entire sponge assemblages.



Click to read the full paper

Figure 6. (A) Percentage of sponge OTUs present in only mesophotic depths, only shallow depths, and both zones, at all three sites (NAW = Northern Arch West, NAE = Northern Arch East, IP = Imagination Point), and (B) list of sponge OTUs and the number of depths in which they were present at all sampling sites (NAW = Northern Arch West, NAE = Northern Arch East, IP = Imagination Point). Sponges which were not present at each site are not included.

Dissolved organic carbon accumulation

in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre: Microbial feedbacks

and ecological controls along Lagrangian trajectories

Authors: B. Owusu, L. Lücken, T. Kurahashi-Nakamura & S. T. Lennartz

Journal: JGR Biogeosciences

With ca. 700 Pg C, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) represents the largest organic carbon reservoir in the ocean, serving both as a carbon storage and the base for the heterotrophic microbial food web. Despite its significance in the marine ecosystem, the mechanisms driving its spatial variability remain poorly understood. This insufficient quantitative understanding limits our ability to predict how DOC reservoirs will respond to changing ocean conditions under future climate scenarios. Subtropical gyres such as the North Atlantic Subtropical gyre (NASG) display elevated DOC concentrations, and several mutually not exclusive processes have been hypothesized to lead to the observed regional accumulation. In this study, we systematically investigate the factors controlling DOC accumulation in the NASG in a modeling framework accounting for microbial interactions with dissolved organic matter (DOM). We adopt a Lagrangian particle tracking approach to track environmental conditions along trajectories into the NASG, which are then fed into a biogeochemical box model that systematically incorporates implementations of different microbial-DOM interactions. The results of our simulations suggest that DOC accumulation in the NASG is primarily driven by controls on bacterial degradation rather than production rates. By testing different models, we show that either top–down (e.g., grazing) or bottom-up controls (e.g., nutrient availability) can explain the observed DOC concentration patterns. Our models offer mechanistic insight into how microbial-DOM interactions influence organic matter dynamics, which may hold implications for environmental changes under future climate scenarios.



Click to read the full paper

Figure 7. Conceptual scheme of the microbial-DOM interaction model, predicting bacterial biomass, dissolved organic carbon and DON concentrations subjected to conditions along a Lagrangian trajectory into the North Atlantic Subtropical gyre.

Charting the course for management:

A global analysis of effects of vessels on marine megafauna

Authors: J. Saltzman, E. A. Yeager, J. F. Hlavin, M. M. P. B. Fuentes, M. Krumholz, C. Kynoch, A. R. Putillo-Wehry, K. Schweizer, R. Siegel-Ventura & C. C. Macdonald

Journal: npj Ocean Sustainability

Vessel traffic represents one of the most pervasive and escalating sources of disturbance in marine environments, affecting organisms through noise, physical presence, habitat degradation, collisions, and pollution. For some marine megafauna, including species of cetaceans, sirenians, fishes, pinnipeds, and marine reptiles, many of which are at high risk of extinction, effects of vessels are especially pronounced, well-documented, and recognized as a significant threat. Characterizing the potential effects of interactions between vessels and marine megafauna is necessary for effective science-informed management strategies. However, to-date these effects have not been comprehensively synthesized across species and ecosystems. To fill this gap, we conducted a global meta-analysis on the effects of vessels on marine megafauna, quantifying vessel effects on behavior, physiology, metabolism, and populations. Analysis of 1850 comparisons (‘vessel treatment and control scenarios’) across 204 peer-reviewed publications on 57 different species revealed that vessel effects vary widely across taxa and response types. Our systematic analysis provides a foundation for the development and implementation of multi-pronged management strategies to mitigate vessel-related threats to marine animals and enhance resilience in an era of increasing anthropogenic pressures.



Click to read the full paper

Figure 8. Temporal, geographic, and taxonomic distribution of studies examining vessel effects on marine megafauna.

Events, Webinars and Conferences

Information shared by our contacts:

• 13th International Conference on Tropical Marine Environmental Changes (MEC) & 6th CLIVAR Climate Dynamics Panel (CDP) Annual Workshop on“Abrupt changes and tipping points”, 13-16 April 2026, GuangZhou, China.
• Read more

• Workshop on Environmental Radioactivity and Radiation Protection (RAD 2026)
• Held as part of RAD 2026, this workshop brings together researchers in environmental radioactivity and radiation protection, with selected papers to be published in the Journal of Environmental Radioactivity.
• Read more

• ECSA 61 - Bridging the gap between science and policy in estuarine and coastal marine biodiversity: the way forward, 24-27 August 2026, Square, Brussels, Belgium.
• Abstract Submission Deadline Extended: 31 March 2026
• Early Bird Registration Deadline: 29 May 2026

• EGU General Assembly 2026, 3-8 May 2026, Vienna, Austria & Online. Registration is now open.

• ASLO-SIL 2026 Joint Meeting: Aquatic Confluence – Science, People, Knowledge. 12–16 May 2026. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Registration is now open.

• CommOCEAN 2026 – International Marine Science Communication Conference. 2–3 September 2026. Bergen, Norway. Further information will be available in early 2026.

• The Ocean in a High CO₂ World – 6th International Symposium. 13–16 October 2026. Wellington, New Zealand. Please submit your abstract no later than 1 April 2026 (any time zone).

• 7th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, 17 - 20 November 2026, Bruges, Belgium. Submit abstract by 17 March 2026.

• AlgaEurope 2026. 8–11 December 2026. Valletta, Malta. More information will be released in due course.

• XMAS 2027: The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences. 11–14 January 2027. Xiamen, China. Session proposal submission/revision deadline: 31 March 2026.

• 2027 Gordon Research Conference on Polar Marine Science. 21-26 March 2027, California, United States. Applications for this meeting must be submitted by 21 February 2027.

• UN Ocean Decade Conference 2027, 7–9 April 2027, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More information will be released in due course.

Jobs and Opportunities

Information shared by our contacts:

• PhD Scholarship Transforming Climate Action – Uncertain Seas New 
• A PhD Scholarship is available at the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Fisheries & Marine Institute, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, Canada. 
• Apply by 31 May 2026.
• Read more

• Call for Papers: Ocean Decade - Promoting Ocean Literacy
• Participating journals: Ocean & Coastal Management, Journal of Sea Research
• Submission deadline: 30 April 2026
• This Special Issue aims to explore innovative approaches to enhancing knowledge of ocean science and instilling a sense of stewardship for marine environments.
• Read more

• Anthropocene Coasts Recruiting Position: Associate Editors
• Applications will continue until the position is filled.
• Anthropocene Coasts is a Golden Open Access journal hosted by East China Normal University, and published by Springer. The journal publishes multidisciplinary research addressing the interaction of human activities with our estuaries and coasts. The journal has been selected for the "Outstanding Case of English-language University Journals of 2025".
• To help build on the success of Anthropocene Coasts and to expand the opportunities for international collaboration and contributions to the work of the journal, the journal is seeking more international Associate Editors.
• Read more

• Full Professor (Chair) in Earth Sciences – University of St Andrews New
• The School of Earth & Environmental Sciences invites applications for a Chair in Earth Sciences, broadly covering atmosphere, oceans, land, and climate. Application Deadline – 23 March 2026.
• Read more

• Director of TROPOS / W3 Professorship in Meteorology – Leipzig University & TROPOS New
• The Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) and Leipzig University jointly seek a Director of TROPOS, who will also hold a W3 Professorship at the Institute of Meteorology, starting 1 October 2027. Application Deadline – 31 March 2026.
• Read more

• Tenure-Track Faculty in Geological Oceanography – University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg
• This position focuses on hydrography or marine geophysics within the Department of Geological Oceanography. Applications are accepted until the position is filled.
• Read more

• Funding Opportunity: Empowering the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Horizon Europe) New
• Led by the Horizon Europe programme, this call aims to consolidate international cooperation through European leadership and ensure that key processes, initiatives, and structures established during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development continue beyond the Decade.
• Application Deadline – 15 April 2026.
• Read more

• Funding Opportunity: 2026 Shanghai Government Scholarship
• The scholarship opens to excellent degree programs (undergraduate, master and Phd) students.
• Application Deadline (Undergraduate) - 30 April 2026.
• Application Deadline (Graduate - Second Batch) - 30 April 2026.
• Read more

For more information on activities and opportunities for early-career researchers, you can check the IMECaN Newsletter. Read more

Turn Your Innovation into Global Impact

IMBeR Blue Innovation Alliance

We invite you to explore our first partner, Nanopure, and join the IMBeR Blue Innovation Alliance. We welcome other companies to join us in this global initiative, where together we can advance ocean sustainability, support cutting-edge marine research, and foster innovation to shape a more sustainable future for our oceans.

Capturing IMBeR: Share Your Photos and Memories

We invite all IMBeR participants - past and present - to contribute photos that capture the spirit of IMBeR’s activities over the years. Whether from fieldwork, meetings, workshops, summer schools, or community engagement events, your photos will help illustrate IMBeR’s impact and legacy.

Please send high-resolution images, along with a brief description and credit information, to imber@ecnu.edu.cn.

More jobs and opportunities for ECRs, please sign up for IMECaN newsletter

If you would like to put some recruitment information in the IMBeR monthly newsletter, please contact us through imber@ecnu.edu.cn.

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DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in the news articles, project updates, and publications featured in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the positions of IMBeR, its sponsors,

or the IMBeR International Project Office and its host institutions.

Chief Editor: Suhui QIAN

Editors: Fang ZUO, Kai QIN

Contact us

IMBeR International Project Office

State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University

500 Dongchuan Rd., Shanghai 200241, China

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