DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e188550

Authors: Yuting Tai, Tom Bucx, Mindert de Vries, Sara Pino Cobacho, Richard Marijnissen, Iris van Dongen, Rutger van der Brugge, Åse Johannessen, Fabienne Horneman, Silvia Torresan, Elisa Furlan, Andrea Critto, Alice Stocco, Caterina Dabalà, Francesca Coccon, Paolo Comandini, Silvia Frias, Ferran Bertomeu, Carles Ibáñez, Laura Puértolas Domènech

Abstract: The REST-COAST Project (Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity) is an EU Horizon 2020 research project (Grant agreement No. 101037097) whose overall goal is to address with effective and innovative approaches and tools the key challenges faced by coastal ecosystem restoration across Europe. The approach chosen for this project will deliver a highly interdisciplinary contribution, with the demonstration of improved practices and techniques for hands-on ecosystem restoration across several pilot sites, supported by the co-design of innovative governance and financial arrangements, as well as an effective strategy for the dissemination of results. Work Package 4 (WP4) focuses on the development of scalable adaptation-through-restoration plans (for each pilot of REST-COAST) based on adaptation pathways that incorporate ecosystem services (ESS) and biodiversity value (BDV) from NBS building blocks. It is envisaged that these plans will be suited for upscaling restoration in coastal systems worldwide, supported by the global scale analysis of coastal risks, costs and governance performed in WP 2/3/5. Deliverable 4.3 aims at providing guidelines for building adaptationthrough-restoration pathways, based on NBS and technical measures that deliver ESS and BDV gains, tested and validated at the Pilots. When using the adaptation pathway guidelines, it is important to apply them with flexibility to accommodate the specific needs and contexts of individual pilots. While it is recommended to follow the methodology in Chapter 2—‘Generic Stepwise Approach’—to develop pathways, pilots should view these methods as flexible rather than rigid, to fit their unique restoration goals, timelines, environmental and social conditions. Chapter 3—‘Restoration Pilots’—serves as a reference to provide insight from three pilots with pilot-specific approaches to build the pathways. The guidelines should be seen as a dynamic tool that can evolve based on feedback, local stakeholder input, or new scientific data, ensuring that each pilot tailors its pathway to address local uncertainties, opportunities, and challenges.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e182018

Authors: Manuel Espino, Luis Garrote, David Santillan, Xavier Sánchez-Artús, Vicente Gracia, Maria Liste, Marc Mestres, Manel Grifoll, Marta Balsells, Joanna Staneva, Benjamin Jacob, Wei Chen, Luciana Villa, Pushpa Dissanayake, Mindert de Vries, Ivan Federico, Causio Salvatore, Olivier Boutron, Christophe Briere, Rémi Caillibotte, Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla

Abstract: The REST-COAST project (Large-scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity) is a Horizon 2020 research initiative funded by the European Commission under Grant Agreement No. 101037097. Its overarching aim is to restore coastal ecosystems across Europe by advancing science-based approaches to hazard mitigation and resilience, with a strong emphasis on nature-based solutions (NbS) and the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services (ESS). To meet this objective, the project adopts a multidisciplinary approach that combines modelling, monitoring, restoration, governance, and finance. Scientific development is tightly linked to practical implementation through a network of pilot sites representing diverse coastal typologies and pressures. These sites serve as laboratories for testing and validating coupled hydro-morpho-eco models capable of simulating the role of natural ecosystems in reducing risks such as coastal flooding, erosion, and saline intrusion. This deliverable, D2.1, documents the modelling work conducted under Task 2.1, focusing on present-day storm conditions. It presents the model configurations, validation procedures, and simulation outcomes used to evaluate the risk reduction potential of NbS across seven pilot sites. The work includes detailed analysis of hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes, sediment transport, and vegetation interactions, as well as the derivation of site-specific ESS indicators. The models are tailored to local physical settings and restoration goals, and have been validated against real storm events using field and remote sensing data. D2.1 provides a robust technical foundation for assessing the effectiveness and operational relevance of ecosystem-based approaches to coastal risk management. The methods and results presented here contribute to the broader REST-COAST objective of supporting adaptive, transferable, and evidence-based coastal restoration strategies throughout Europe.

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DOI: 10.3897/rio.11.e163757

Authors: Geraint Tarling, E Abrahamsen, Yevgeny Aksenov, Madeline Anderson, Carol Arrowsmith, Chelsey Baker, Chris Barry, Anna Belcher, Mar Benavides, Milo Bischof, Emma Boland, Mike Bowes, J Brearley, Peter Brown, Amanda Burson, Sammie Buzzard, Nathan Callaghan, Arthur Coët, Kathryn Cook, Sarah Coombs, Chris Evans, Sophie Fielding, Elaina Ford, Isabelle Fournier, Jennifer Freer, E Garcia-Martin, VR Ghosh, Sarah Giering, Alanna Grant, Huw Griffiths, Ruta Hamilton, Katharine Hendry, Simeon Hill, Nathan Hubot, Aidan Hunter, Nadine Johnston, Anna Katavouta, Ezra Kitson, Melanie Leng, Isabel Lewis, Katrin Linse, Stephen Lofts, Clara Manno, Adrian Martin, Alice Marzocchi, Edward Mawji, Daniel Mayor, Rebecca McKenzie, Andrew Meijers, Michael Meredith, David Munday, M Pereira, Alexandra O'Brien, Justyna Olszewska, Stuart Painter, Julien Palmiéri, Shailee Patel, Amy Pickard, Jessica Richt, Stefanie Rynders, Rachael Sanders, Ryan Saunders, Andrew Shepherd, Thomas Slater, Bryan Spears, Gabriele Stowasser, Amy Swiggs, Laura Taylor, Petra ten Hoopen, Sally Thorpe, Tracey Timms-Wilson, Maud van Soest, Hugh Venables, Zoe Wright, Andrew Yool, Emma Young

Abstract: The export of elements (particularly carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) from the Poles critically supports global marine biodiversity and major fisheries as well as the sequestration of atmospheric carbon to the deep ocean. Ecosystem processes regulate this export, but major uncertainties remain in terms of how and by how much. Progress on understanding key ecosystem interactions is hindered by lack of data and their representation in Earth system models is poor. The two polar regions share similarities in environmental extremes which make them sensitive to the impacts of climate change. They both receive nutrients from multiple and diverse sources and the delivery of these nutrients to other oceans is regulated by similar ecosystem processes. However, the extent to which these ecosystem processes will be modified by climate change is unclear and urgently needs to be determined. BIOPOLE will determine how polar ecosystems regulate the balance of carbon and nutrients in the world’s oceans and, through it, their effect on global fish stocks and carbon storage. It will address this challenge by integrating ambitious fieldwork campaigns and innovative modelling in a multidisciplinary and highly coordinated approach. BIOPOLE will capitalise on world-leading capabilities and infrastructure in ocean and high-latitude research, including cutting-edge land-based facilities, state-of-the-art polar research vessels and innovative autonomous instrumentation. Collaboration with national and international partners will further strengthen BIOPOLE’s multidisciplinary approach and efficient use of infrastructure. BIOPOLE’s legacy will be the first assessment of the global impact of polar ecosystems on biogeochemical cycling and fish stocks; technologically-novel approaches and strong partnerships between leading international science groups.

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DOI: 10.3897/rio.11.e168765

Authors: Christos Arvanitidis, Boris Barov, Montserrat Gonzalez Ferreiro, Gabriela Zuquim, Declan Kirrane, Cristina Huertas Olivares, Federico Drago, Nicolas Pade, Alberto Basset, Klaas Deneudt, Dimitrios Koureas, Natalia Manola, Daniel Mietchen, Ana Casino, Lyubomir Penev, Yannis Ioannidis

Abstract: This white paper represents the collective perspectives of a network of legal entities based in Europe and with global interests, which includes biodiversity, ecology, and engineering communities, aiming to strengthen Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) efforts toward achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With their combined expertise and through European initiatives such as the Research Infrastructures, the e-Infrastructures, the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), the Digital Twin projects and academic publishers, these communities provide a base for collaboration in strategically contributing to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets. Furthermore, these communities seek to forge an international alliance to further integrate biodiversity conservation into the UN Summit of the Future priorities and the post-SDG agenda.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e167392

Authors: Anita Franco, Katie Smyth, Michael Elliott

Abstract: Marine biodiversity is adversely affected by many human activities and their pressures. As such, there is the need for a cause-consequence-response method to objectively address the risks associated with those adverse changes. Such a method is the ISO-accredited Bow-tie technique as an objective and structured approach giving the causes, preventative control measures, mitigation and compensation measures and consequences of changes to biodiversity. Here, the Bow-tie method underpinned by the cause-consequence-response DAPSI(W)R(M) framework was used and adapted to help managers map out risks to biodiversity requiring management of the human activities and their relevant pressures, in specific case study areas (termed Broad Belt Transects, BBTs). Instead of using restrictive proprietary software, a more-flexible template framework was developed in Microsoft PowerPoint to allow a broad user base. This employed standardised lists of elements (and further adapted during the application process) allowing the development of unique, but standardised and directly comparable Bow-ties for all BBTs. The methods of developing the template and standardised lists are described together with the techniques used to help quantify this usually qualitative approach. The successful application of the Bow-tie method in case studies from the European seas shows the adaptability of this approach in ways wider than the original policy-driven risk-assessment use. Although designed for European seas, the approach and standardised lists are sufficiently generic for adoption in wider areas worldwide.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e167014

Authors: Dorota Kołbuk, Julie Bremner, Ashley Cahillane, Valentina Di Gennaro, Tasman Crowe

Abstract: In this study we apply the bow-tie risk analysis framework to map the causes and consequences of decline or loss of five key Irish Sea ecosystem components: intertidal sandflats and mudflats, burrowing fauna including Dublin Bay prawn Nephrops norvegicus, blue mussel Mytilus edulis, commercially harvested fish, and wintering waterbirds. Main activities exerting multiple pressures on the Irish Sea ecosystem include energy production from offshore wind farms, tourism and leisure, fishing, transport, agriculture, urban and industrial uses, and waste treatment and disposal. All of them can contribute to decline in condition or loss of critical habitats and biota, leading to significant ecological, economic and sociocultural consequences. Understanding these consequences is essential for designing appropriate management responses. The bow-tie approach allows to identify management risks and highlights the most impactful control points for intervention to prevent or mitigate adverse biodiversity events.

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DOI: 10.3897/rio.10.e134825

Authors: Tom August, Mario Balzan, Paul Bodesheim, Gunnar Brehm, Lisette Cantú-Salazar, Sílvia Castro, Joseph Chipperfield, Guillaume Ghisbain, Alba Gomez-Segura, Jérémie Goulnik, Quentin Groom, Laurens Hogeweg, Chantal Huijbers, Andreas Kamilaris, Karolis Kazlauskis, Wouter Koch, Dimitri Korsch, João Loureiro, Youri Martin, Angeliki Martinou, Kent McFarland, Xavier Mestdagh, Denis Michez, Charlie Outhwaite, Luca Pegoraro, Nadja Pernat, Lars Pettersson, Pavel Pipek, Cristina Preda, David Rolnick, Tobias Roth, David Roy, Helen Roy, Veljo Runnel, Martina Sasic, Dmitry Schigel, Julie Sheard, Cecilie Svenningsen, Heliana Teixeira, Nicolas Titeux, Thomas Tscheulin, Elli Tzirkalli, Marijn van der Velde, Roel van Klink, Nicolas Vereecken, Sarah Vray, Toke Thomas Høye

Abstract: The InsectAI COST action will support insect monitoring and conservation at the national and continental scale in order to understand and counteract widespread insect declines. The Action will bring together a critical mass of researchers and stakeholders in image-based insect AI technologies to direct and drive the research agenda, build research capacity across Europe and support innovation and application.There is mounting evidence that populations of insects around the world are in sharp decline. Understanding trends in species and their drivers is key to knowing the size of the challenge, its causes and how to address it. To identify solutions that lead to sustainable biodiversity alongside economic prosperity, insect monitoring should be efficient and provide standardised and frequently updated status indicators to guide conservation actions.The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 identifies the critical challenge of delivering standardised information about the state of nature and image-based insect AI can contribute to this. Specifically, the EU Nature Restoration Law will likely set binding targets for the high resolution data that cameras can provide. Thus, outputs of the Action will contribute directly to EU policies implementation, where biodiversity monitoring is considered a key component.The InsectAI COST Action will organise workshops, conferences, short-term scientific missions, hackathons, design-sprints and much more, across four Working Groups. These groups will address how image-based insect AI technologies can best address Societal Needs, support innovation in Image Collection hardware, create standardised approaches for Image Processing and develop novel Data Analysis and Integration methods for turning data into actionable insights.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115410

Authors: Fausto Favero, Lieke Hüsken, Jochen Hinkel, Heleen Vreugdenhi, Umberto Pernice, Michael Sedlmeier

Abstract: This deliverable is the first contribution of Work Package 3 to the REST-COAST Project. The overarching purpose of REST-COAST is to provide the tools to address some of the key challenges faced by coastal ecosystems restoration. To achieve this objective, REST-COAST will improve coastal restoration practice and techniques through new hands-on restoration pilot projects, co-design effective governance arrangements and policies, and generate new tools and data for risk reduction assessment. In addition to these activities, Work Package 3 will design innovative financial arrangements and bankable business plans to support the implementation and thescaling up of coastal ecosystem restoration.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115409

Authors: Gabriela Popova, Iliyana Demirova, Boris Barov

Abstract: The main goals of WP6 Dissemination, exploitation and social transformation tools, are to establish and maintain a distinct project identity, as well as to maximise the impact of project results by marketing andcommunicating them to stakeholders and the broader public. To ensure the efficient communication, Pensoft has developed a number of promotional materials reflecting the REST-COAST corporate identity, aswell as a project website.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e114825

Authors: Carles Ibáñez, Alba Alemany, Ferran Bertomeu, Silvia Frias, Judith Molero, Roberto Merciai, Laura Puertolas

Abstract: Coastal regions provide some of the most productive and biodiverse environments with an important and often underappreciated carbon storage potential. At the same time, they are among the areas of highest population density, natural assets, and cultural heritage in the world, yet are experiencing significant social, economic and environmental challenges, exacerbated by climate change and human pressures.The Rest-Coast Project (Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity) is an EU Horizon 2020 research project (Grant agreement No. 101037097) whose overall goal is to address with effective and innovative tools the key challenges faced by coastal ecosystem restoration across Europe. The approach chosen for this project will deliver a highly interdisciplinary contribution, with the demonstration of improved practices and techniques for hands-on ecosystem restoration across several pilot sites, supported by the co-design of innovative governance and financial arrangements, as well as an effective strategy for the dissemination of results.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e114824

Authors: Carla Danelutti, Emmi Lindqvist, Maria del Mar Otero, Mindert de Vries, Albert Vos, Nuno Caiola, Vicente Gracia, Nil Alvarez, Laura Puertolas, Jaime Ordonez, Silvia Torresan, Caterina Dabalà, Francesca Coccon, Grzegorz Różyński, Nikolay Valchev, Nataliya Andreeva, Elitsa Hineva, Olivier Boutron, Rosaria Ester Musumeci, Massimiliano Marino, Christophe Briere, Julien Dalle, Margot Defoort-Levkov, Margot Ahr, Yael Salame-Rubin, Simon Nemtzov, Avi Uzan

Abstract: Coastal regions provide some of the most productive and biodiverse environments with an important and often underappreciated carbon storage potential. At the same time, they are among the areas of highest population density, natural assets and cultural heritage in the world, yet are experiencing significant social, economic and environmental challenges, exacerbated by climate change and human pressures.The REST-COAST project (Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity) will demonstrate to what extent upscaled coastal restoration can provide a low-carbon adaptation, reducing risks and providing gains in biodiversity for vulnerable coastal ecosystems, such as wetlands or sea grass beds. By overcoming present technical, economic, governance and social barriers to restoration upscaling, REST-COAST will develop the large scale river-coast connectivity and increase the nearshore accommodation space for the resilient delivery of coastal ecosystem services (ESs). The selected ESs (risk reduction, environmental quality and fish provisioning) touch urgent coastal problems such as the erosion/flooding during recent storms or the accelerating coastal habitat degradation that seriously affects fisheries and aquaculture. Combining new techniques, risk assessments, innovative financial/governance arrangements and homogeneous metrics for ESs and biodiversity, REST-COAST will develop a systemic approach to coastal restoration based on a scalable coastal adaptation plan.

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DOI: 10.3897/rio.2.e11321

Authors: Florian Leese, Florian Altermatt, Agnès Bouchez, Torbjørn Ekrem, Daniel Hering, Kristian Meissner, Patricia Mergen, Jan Pawlowski, Jeremy Piggott, Frédéric Rimet, Dirk Steinke, Pierre Taberlet, Alexander Weigand, Kessy Abarenkov, Pedro Beja, Lieven Bervoets, Snaedís Björnsdóttir, Pieter Boets, Angela Boggero, Atle Bones, Ángel Borja, Kat Bruce, Vojislava Bursić, Jens Carlsson, Fedor Čiampor, Zuzana Čiamporová-Zatovičová, Eric Coissac, Filipe Costa, Marieta Costache, Simon Creer, Zoltán Csabai, Kristy Deiner, Ángel DelValls, Stina Drakare, Sofia Duarte, Tina Eleršek, Stefano Fazi, Cene Fišer, Jean-François Flot, Vera Fonseca, Diego Fontaneto, Michael Grabowski, Wolfram Graf, Jóhannes Guðbrandsson, Micaela Hellström, Yaron Hershkovitz, Peter Hollingsworth, Bella Japoshvili, John Jones, Maria Kahlert, Belma Kalamujic Stroil, Panagiotis Kasapidis, Martyn Kelly, Mary Kelly-Quinn, Emre Keskin, Urmas Kõljalg, Zrinka Ljubešić, Irena Maček, Elvira Mächler, Andrew Mahon, Marketa Marečková, Maja Mejdandzic, Georgina Mircheva, Matteo Montagna, Christian Moritz, Vallo Mulk, Andreja Naumoski, Ion Navodaru, Judit Padisák, Snæbjörn Pálsson, Kristel Panksep, Lyubomir Penev, Adam Petrusek, Martin Pfannkuchen, Craig Primmer, Baruch Rinkevich, Ana Rotter, Astrid Schmidt-Kloiber, Pedro Segurado, Arjen Speksnijder, Pavel Stoev, Malin Strand, Sigitas Šulčius, Per Sundberg, Michael Traugott, Costas Tsigenopoulos, Xavier Turon, Alice Valentini, Berry van der Hoorn, Gábor Várbíró, Marlen Vasquez Hadjilyra, Javier Viguri, Irma Vitonytė, Alfried Vogler, Trude Vrålstad, Wolfgang Wägele, Roman Wenne, Anne Winding, Guy Woodward, Bojana Zegura, Jonas Zimmermann

Abstract: The protection, preservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems and their functions are of global importance. For European states it became legally binding mainly through the EU-Water Framework Directive (WFD). 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 obtained determines the extent of potential management actions. The current approach to biodiversity assessment 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 the varying individual taxonomic expertise of the analysts. Novel genomic tools can overcome many of the aforementioned problems and could complement or even replace traditional bioassessment. Yet, a plethora of approaches are independently developed in different institutions, thereby hampering any concerted routine application. The goal of this Action is to nucleate a group of researchers across disciplines with the task to identify gold-standard genomic tools and novel eco-genomic indices for routine application in biodiversity assessments of European fresh- and marine 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.

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