|
IMBeR Newsletter
Your news from the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research International Project Office
| |
| |
This month’s Editor Picks present a rich collection of studies spanning marine sustainability, carbon sequestration, biodiversity monitoring, climate dynamics, and ocean science futures. Highlights include a call to redefine the Blue Economy through social science integration, new insights into organic carbon capture beyond vegetated ecosystems, and innovative tools for assessing biodiversity under multiple pressures. We feature advances in understanding mercury transport into Arctic food webs, local drivers of fish biomass recovery in MPAs, and the timing of deep-ocean oxygenation that shaped marine life evolution. Climate-focused studies explore the North Pacific meridional mode’s role in ENSO development and outline NSF’s vision for forecasting the ocean in the next decade. Finally, we showcase the Global-ONCE declaration led by early career ocean professionals and an accessible book linking daily fluids to ocean dynamics, inspiring the next generation of ocean enthusiasts.
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.
| |
Rethinking the blue economy:
Integrating social science for sustainability and justice
| | |
Authors: J. Penca, I. Ertör, M. Ballesteros, M. Briguglio, M. Kowalewski, B. Pauksztat, D. Cepić, C. Piñeiro-Corbeira, N. Vaidianu, S. Villasante, J. J. Pascual-Fernández
Source: npj Ocean Sustainability
To fulfill the Blue Economy’s promise of sustainable and just ocean use, its scientific foundation must more fully integrate the social sciences. Drawing on insights from real-world scientific networking initiatives, we identify three key contributions of the social sciences and propose a strategy to redefine the Blue Economy. This strategy anchors knowledge in societal challenges and emphasizes co-creation, the science-policy interface, knowledge integration, and the values of accountability and care.
Click to read the full paper
| Figure 1. Three key contributions of the social sciences and a strategy to redefine the Blue Economy (Infographic). | |
Potential of organic carbon pool in the ocean:
Approaches for naturally and artificially capturing and retaining carbon
| | |
Authors: A. J. Wahyudi
Source: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
The organic carbon stored in the seas and coastal ecosystems is referred to as “blue carbon.” Studies on blue carbon have focused a lot of emphasis on ocean ecosystems such seagrass beds, mangroves, saltmarshes, and algae beds. However, these vegetated ecosystems are not the exclusive repositories of atmospheric carbon, and alternative methods of capturing and retaining carbon naturally (by utilizing the inherent capacity of the ocean) and artificially (through the implementation of engineered approaches) are thus being investigated. This study provides an overview of these approaches and assesses the potential for storing organic carbon beyond vegetated ecosystems. The study used a systematic evaluation of the literature in order to determine the trend in blue carbon research, particularly with regard to carbon storage beyond vegetated environments. Besides the carbon sequestration by the marine vegetation, the present study proposes the feasibility of capturing aquatic carbon through a biological pump process that has the potential to store carbon at the ocean floor. Furthermore, we summarize the potential impact of artificial processes on carbon dioxide removal. This study suggests an expanded definition of “blue carbon” that incorporates the concepts of “organic carbon,” “carbon dioxide removal,” and “carbon capture and storage by oceans and coastal ecosystems.”
Click to read the full paper
| | Figure 2. Simplified carbon cycle in the ocean system showing the carbon pool. | | Innovative and practical tools for monitoring and assessing biodiversity status and impacts of multiple human pressures in marine systems | | |
Authors: A. Borja, T. Berg, H. Gundersen, A. G. Hagen, K. Hancke, S. Korpinen, M. C. Leal, T. Luisetti, I. Menchaca, C. Murray, G. Piet, S. Pitois, N. Rodríguez-Ezpeleta, J. E. Sample, E. Talbot, M. C. Uyarra
Journal: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Human activities at sea can produce pressures and cumulative effects on ecosystem components that need to be monitored and assessed in a cost-effective manner. Five Horizon European projects have joined forces to collaboratively increase our knowledge and skills to monitor and assess the ocean in an innovative way, assisting managers and policy-makers in taking decisions to maintain sustainable activities at sea. Here, we present and discuss the status of some methods revised during a summer school, aiming at better management of coasts and seas. We include novel methods to monitor the coastal and ocean waters (e.g. environmental DNA, drones, imaging and artificial intelligence, climate modelling and spatial planning) and innovative tools to assess the status (e.g. cumulative impacts assessment, multiple pressures, Nested Environmental status Assessment Tool (NEAT), ecosystem services assessment or a new unifying approach). As a concluding remark, some of the most important challenges ahead are assessing the pros and cons of novel methods, comparing them with benchmark technologies and integrating these into long-standing time series for data continuity. This requires transition periods and careful planning, which can be covered through an intense collaboration of current and future European projects on marine biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Click to read the full paper
| |
Mid-Devonian ocean oxygenation enabled the expansion of
animals into deeper-water habitats
| |
Authors: K. Bubphamanee, M. A. Kipp, J. Meixnerová, E. E. Stüeken, L. C. Ivany, A. J. Bartholomew, T. J. Algeo, J. J. Brocks, T. W. Dahl, J. Kinsley, F. L. H. Tissot, R. Buick
Journal: PNAS
The oxygenation history of Earth’s surface environments has had a profound influence on the ecology and evolution of metazoan life. It was traditionally thought that the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event enabled the origin of animals in marine environments, followed by their persistence in aerobic marine habitats ever since. However, recent studies of redox proxies (e.g., Fe, Mo, Ce, I) have suggested that low dissolved oxygen levels persisted in the deep ocean until the Late Devonian, when the first heavily wooded ligniophyte forests raised atmospheric O2 to modern levels. Here, we present a Paleozoic redox proxy record based on selenium enrichments and isotope ratios in fine-grained siliciclastic sediments. Our data reveal transient oxygenation of bottom waters around the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary, followed by predominantly anoxic deep-water conditions through the Early Devonian (419 to 393 Ma). In the Middle Devonian (393 to 382 Ma), our data document the onset of permanent deep-ocean oxygenation, coincident with the spread of woody biomass across terrestrial landscapes. This episode is concurrent with the ecological occupation and evolutionary radiation of large active invertebrate and vertebrate organisms in deeper oceanic infaunal and epifaunal habitats, suggesting that the burial of recalcitrant wood from the first forests sequestered organic carbon, increased deep marine oxygen levels, and was ultimately responsible for the “mid-Paleozoic marine revolution.”
Click to read the full paper
|
North Pacific meridional mode has larger impacts on
El Niño evolution than the March Madden-Julian Oscillation
| | |
Authors: Y. Liang, S.-P. Xie, A. Fedorov, S. G. Yeager
Journal: Science Advances
The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a key driver of global climate variability. Early-season westerly wind bursts (WWBs) have long been suggested to be important for ENSO evolution and diversity, with the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) among the main sources of WWBs. However, MJO’s contribution to ENSO evolution has been difficult to quantify. Here, using an ensemble hindcast approach specifically designed to isolate internal atmospheric variability, we evaluate the influences of March MJO on subsequent ENSO development. Our results show that the March MJO, under favorable background conditions, by itself has limited impacts on ENSO due to weak equatorial air-sea coupling in spring. In comparison, the North Pacific Oscillation–induced meridional mode exerts a more sustained influence on ENSO evolution. A cyclonic circulation anomaly over Hawaii, associated with the Pacific-North American pattern, also plays a role. These findings suggest that March MJO activity alone may not be a reliable predictor for ENSO evolution, but underscore the importance of North Pacific atmospheric variability.
Click to read the full paper
| | Figure 5. Heat budget terms for the ocean’s mixed layer (upper 50 m) in June | | |
Forecasting the ocean
The 2025–2035 decade of ocean science
| | |
Contributor(s): National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Division on Earth and Life Studies; Ocean Studies Board; Committee for the 2025–2035 Decadal Survey of Ocean Sciences for the National Science Foundation
At the request of the National Science Foundation (NSF), this report provides advice on how to focus investments in ocean research, infrastructure, and workforce to meet national and global challenges in the coming decade and beyond, and in doing so, enhance national security, scientific leadership, and economic competitiveness through a thriving blue economy. The report also sets out an overarching challenge for NSF and the broader research community: to establish a new paradigm for forecasting the state of the ocean at scales relevant to human well-being in the next decade. Accomplishing this challenge is reliant on continued funding for basic research across ocean studies and reinvestment in ocean science infrastructure. It will require an integrated approach to research that takes full advantage of emerging technologies, expands the workforce, and increases available resources through strategic partnerships among federal and state agencies, industry, academia, and other interest holders.
Click to read the full report
| |
Early career ocean professionals’ declaration on
ocean negative carbon emissions for our ocean and future
| |
Authors: S. Li, C. I. Addey, R. Roman, H. Hayashida, C. Jiang, C. Hu, L. d. L. A. Coronado-Álvarez, H.-G. Lim, S. G. Akmal, C. M. Orji, P. Arora, R. Li, S. PM, R. B. Adesina, C. Lindemann, D. Ma, S. Sarkar, M. Mascioni, T. Monteiro, C. Liu, R. A. Ojwala, M. V. Tabilog, K. A. Roeroe, H. O. Oladejo, S. O. Daramola, D. D. Costa, T. Guo, C. Chicaiza-Ortiz, A. A. Adebiyi, M. R. Ahmed, A. Baloch, S. T. Andueza, J. K. Ansong, S. Appalanaidu, F. Asif, A. T. Awa, E. Baguya, M. Batista, O. E. Benedict, F. Bobby, P. T. Busumprah, M. Cardoso, A. d. C. d. O. Carvalho, T. D. Crea, K. Channimol, W. Cheah, I. G. Chinwendu, A. Dinoi, K.-J. I. Egbe, J. Eshun, J. D. G. Espitia, D. A. Essel, N. Fox, K. Fraser, M. Gaglioti, K. Gerbrand, L. Gusatu, D. A. H. Contreras, T.-M. Iradukunda, Z. M. Khalfan, L. Khatib, M. Kim, M. Koch, J. Liu, S. K. Mandal, S. Manivong, B. McAteer, C. L. Mgbechidinma, T. H. Ngo, M. S. Nirmale, R. N. Birch, T. E. Oginni, I. E. Olalekan, L. Offei-Darko, V. Puigcorbé, R. R. Gandhi, M. Rozaimi, E. Sanganyado, D. Sengupta, P. Singh, D. Sridhar, N. Sunanda, F. Tailor, B. Tintoré, O. M. Ugochukwu, K. Uthaipan, O. A. Vargas-Fonseca, A. Verma, C. R. Vives, S. Wallschuss, L. Wang, Y. Wang, Y. Wang, Y. Meng, M. Schoenbeck, W. Yan, H. Yen, T. Luo
Journal: The Innovation
This paper highlights the urgent need to accelerate research and action on ocean carbon sinks through human intervention, known as the Global Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions (Global-ONCE) Programme, as a vital strategy in global efforts to mitigate climate change. Achieving “net zero” by 2050 cannot rely on emission reductions alone, emphasizing the necessity of complementary approaches. Global-ONCE’s mission extends beyond scientific exploration. It embodies a profound commitment to protecting and restoring blue carbon ecosystems, as well as implementing ocean-based solutions that are sustainable, equitable, and inclusive. Early career ocean professionals (ECOPs) are at the heart of these efforts, and their innovative approaches, technical expertise, and passion make them indispensable leaders in advancing ONCE initiatives. ECOPs bridge the gap between science and society, playing a relevant role in integrating cutting-edge research, technological advancements, and community-driven action to address climate threats. By bringing together diverse perspectives and leveraging their interdisciplinary expertise, ECOPs ensure that ONCE strategies are grounded in scientific rigor and practical feasibility. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, ECOPs not only spearhead research and innovation but also inspire collective action to safeguard our oceans. This paper amplifies the critical role of ECOPs as agents of change and calls for a unified global commitment to harness the ocean’s potential for a climate-resilient future.
Click to read the full paper
| | Figure 6. ONCE-ECOPs call for action. | |
A cup of coffee and the ocean - The basics of ocean dynamics
| |
Authors: S. Y. Kim
Publisher: Springer Nature
This book introduces various, easily understandable examples of fluids encountered in daily life. It describes the characteristics of these fluids, starting from a cup of coffee, a familiar small-scale fluid, to the vast ocean—one of the largest-scale fluids on Earth. Understanding the principles of fluids and their motion has long been complex and challenging. However, grasping these fundamentals opens doors to deeper exploration and discovery. This book engages middle and high school students, undergraduates, and curious readers in exploring the ocean’s vast possibilities. Cartoons and simple language make the concepts more accessible, helping readers not only understand fluids but also gain valuable safety insights related to the ocean.
Click to read the full paper
| | Events, Webinars and Conferences | | |
Information shared by our contacts:
| | |
-
PICES-2025: Innovative Approaches and Applications to Foster Resilience in North Pacific Ecosystems. 8–14 November 2025. Yokohama, Japan.
| | |
Event highlights shared by our contacts:
One Ocean Science Congress: Ocean Science Meets Diplomacy
The recent One Ocean Science Congress (OOSC), a UN Special Event held ahead of the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), served as a critical platform for elevating integrated marine research into high-level policy. By convening over 2,000 scientists in Nice, France immediately before UNOC3, the OOSC ensured that evidence on challenges such as marine biodiversity, ecosystem-based management, and sustainable ocean-based food systems was directly accessible to UNOC3 delegations.
Key recommendations urged for the ratification of the BBNJ Agreement, the establishment of climate-smart marine protected areas and a pause on harmful deep-sea activities. A strong emphasis was also placed on enhancing research infrastructure and supporting inclusive, transdisciplinary science. The congress’s extensive multilingual outreach, significantly driven by early career ocean professionals, amplified these core messages globally.
This strategic engagement proved impactful, with many recommendations reflected in UNOC3’s Nice Declaration and Voluntary Commitments.
The OOSC provides a replicable framework for structuring scientific engagement to inform multilateral ocean governance. Its success highlights the value of strategic timing and policy-ready communication.
Replays and deliverables are available online.
Contacts: Jean-Pierre Gattuso and François Houllier
| | |
Information shared by our contacts:
- 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. 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.
| |
-
2026 OCB Activity Proposal Solicitation
-
Open until Oct 24. Read the full solicitation.
- Open to proposals for OCB-relevant workshops, training activities, small group activities, and regional hubs.
| | Turn Your Innovation into Global Impact | | 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.
| | If you would like to put some recruitment information in the IMBeR monthly newsletter, please contact us through imber@ecnu.edu.cn. | | |
Contact us
IMBeR International Project Office
State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University
500 Dongchuan Rd., Shanghai 200241, China
| |
| | | |
