GEOMAR has a long-standing expertise in marine biogeochemistry, and recently completed a 12-year SFB Programme on climate-biogeochemistry interactions in the tropical ocean (SFB754). The GEOMAR team undertakes mechanistic studies of ocean biogeochemistry, and assesses the forcing factors for ocean productivity, ecosystem structure and functioning, C export and sequestration and combines information from field observations and experimental work with numerical models. The effects of temperature, ocean acidification, de-oxygenation and (micro-)nutrient supply on ocean productivity and C export have been assessed in a range of programmes, spanning a range of ocean ecosystems (SFB754, GEOTRACES, SOPRAN, BIO-ACID, Future Ocean), using a combination of field research, laboratory analyses and biogeochemical modelling. We have shown that as a result of climate change, oxygen levels in the oceans are decreasing, with expansion of oxygen minimum zones. The re-mineralization rate of sinking organic particles in low oxygen conditions is reduced, and ocean acidification is resulting in reduced growth of coccolithophores in high latitude regions where these organisms have typically thrived with a resulting reduced ballasting of sinking organic matter. We have shown that supply of dust stimulates nitrogen fixation in tropical oceans where dust-input is relevant, related to Fe delivery and that Fe availability plays a role in regulating the accessibility of P to microbial communities 49. Further, we have demonstrated that the boundaries of oligotrophic ocean gyres feature N-Fe co-limitation with Co also occurring at growth limiting concentrations 50. In such boundary regions we have also observed strong evidence of both organismal and cell biological responses (transcriptional responses) reflecting N-Fe colimitation of phytoplankton populations and enduring viral infection as a strong regulator of these communities. The relative balance between consumption of primary producers by grazers versus lysis by viruses, and the consequences for export are currently disputed. This balance also affects the type of organic material that is produced, the composition of microbial communities that are involved in degradation processes, and the amount of material that enters into “classical” food chains. Development and deployment of in situ biogeochemical sensors for nutrients, carbonate chemistry and trace elements is allowing us to undertake continuous ocean observations for assessment of ocean processes. GEOMAR has developed novel biogeochemical models for assessing plankton-ecosystem relationships and consequences of future climate conditions for C sequestration.

HAIFA - The Leon Charney School of Marine Sciences (CSMS), established in 2008, is currently Israel’s leading academic interdisciplinary hub of marine sciences, composed of four departments (Maritime Civilizations, Marine Geosciences, Marine Biology, and Marine Technologies). CSMS currently has 33 academic faculty, 50 staff and ~ 230 graduate students + 25 postdoctoral fellows from Israel and international community (studies are predominantly held in English). EMS research has increased in the past 12 years stimulated by the discoveries of deep-sea gas offshore Israel, the countrywide growing reliance on desalinated seawater from the EMS, demand for food and natural products from the sea, and increasing pressures on the EMS. Since its inception, CSMS faculty have provided lead research into some of the less explored environments of the EMS. Research at the school applies traditional and new technologies for a wide spectrum of multidisciplinary projects. Projects range from work at exciting underwater archaeological sites, rebuilding ancient ships, studying ancient tsunamis, mapping the seafloor and exploration of the sub-sea floor for methane seeps and applications related to expanding off-shore gas and oil industries, remote sensing via satellites and drones, advanced research-vessels, autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicles, and cutting-edge, innovative, newly developed underwater technologies or biological applications investigating trophic levels from viruses to apex predators. Furthermore, HAIFA leads the Israeli national Mediterranean Sea Research Center of Israel (MERCI), a consortium of Israel’s research universities, two leading colleges and the national marine research institutes. HAIFA maintains tight collaboration of marine research with other institutes and has access to a broader nation-wide research infrastructure via a close partnership with Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute (IOLR) and the MERCI consortium. CSMS also works with other Haifa Marine focused centers including the Center for Maritime Policy and Strategy and the Helmsley Mediterranean Sea Research Center with labs for subsea engineering, underwater imaging, underwater acoustics, advanced high-resolution geophysics and seafloor mapping and autonomous navigation and sensor fusion; an advanced underwater vehicle maintenance workshop with a salt-water test pool, 3000 m rated pressure tank, electronics and mechanical workshops. This Center develops and operates state-of-the-art equipment for deep-sea research, including a highresolution GeoMarine SUrvey Systems multi-channel seismic system and underwater vehicles (detailed above) that will be used for EMS FORE. The proposal will also exploit data produced by THEMO - two water-column observatories jointly operated by Haifa and Texas A&M University.