The ocean sampling day consortium

Ocean Sampling Day was initiated by the EU-funded Micro B3 (Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology) project to obtain a snapshot of the marine microbial biodiversity and function of the world’s oceans. It is a simultaneous global mega-sequencing campaign aiming to generate the largest standardized microbial data set in a single day. This will be achievable only through the coordinated efforts of an Ocean Sampling Day Consortium, supportive partnerships and networks between sites. This commentary outlines the establishment, function and aims of the Consortium and describes our vision for a sustainable study of marine microbial communities and their embedded functional traits.

Marine microbes inhabit all marine habitats, are the engines of the ocean’s major biogeochemical cycles, and form the basis of the marine food web [1]. Over the past decades scientists have aimed to understand marine microorganisms, but technical and computational limitations have restricted studies to a local scale. Fortunately, with technological advancements and decreasing sequencing costs, genomic studies have become feasible on a global scale. The first landmark marine metagenome studies were published by the J Craig Venter Institute, beginning with a pilot sampling project in the Sargasso Sea followed by the Global Ocean Sampling (GOS) expedition [2]. The Tara Ocean project expanded this further by integrating the marine genetic, morphological, and functional biodiversity in its environmental context at global ocean scale and at multiple depths [3]. The Micro B3 (Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology) project now aims to investigate global marine microbial biodiversity and has pioneered the idea to do this on a single orchestrated Ocean Sampling Day (OSD).

Ocean Sampling Day

OSD is a simultaneous, collaborative, global mega-sequencing campaign to analyze marine microbial community composition and functional traits on a single day. On June 21st 2014 – the world’s first major OSD event – scientists around the world collected 155 16S/18S rRNA amplicon data sets, 150 metagenomes, and a rich set of environmental metadata. Standardized procedures, including a centralized hub for laboratory work and data processing via the Micro B3 Information System (Micro B3-IS), assured a high level of consistency and data interoperability [4]. Application of the Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics and Biotechnology (M2B3) standards ensures sustainable data storage and retrieval in respective domain-specific data archives [4]. OSD generated the largest standardized data set on marine microbes taken on a single day, which we consider complementary to other large-scale sequencing projects.

The solstice was chosen to test the hypothesis that diversity negatively correlates with day-length [5]. Data analysis will target three main areas: biodiversity, gene functions, and ecological models. OSD sampling sites are typically located in coastal regions within exclusive economic zones (EEZ). Therefore, the OSD data set provides a unique opportunity to test anthropogenic influences on microbial population ecology. We will perform a multi-level assessment of the human impact on microbial mediated biogeochemical cycles. Questions we would like to answer are: (i) what are the important factors (physical-chemical and biological) in structuring biodiversity patterns and range margins, and (ii) are functions associated with heavy metals, antibiotics or fecal indicators correlated with OSD sites exposed to higher human impact? We are confident that the simultaneous collection of samples will result in the discovery of new ecological patterns providing key information towards understanding environmental vulnerability and resilience.

Open access strategy and sharing of data

All OSD data are archived and immediately made openly accessible without an embargo period, following the Fort Lauderdale rules for sharing data [6]. Sequence and contextual data are publicly available via the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC) umbrella study PRJEB5129 and at PANGAEA. A model agreement and OSD Data Policy [4] was developed in compliance with the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) for the utilization on genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. An ABS Helpdesk exists to support OSD participants’ legal questions. Furthermore, the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) developed the CIESM Charter on ABS, which has been endorsed by 391 scientists from 49 countries (as of April 2015).

The OSD Consortium

At the 16th Genomics Standards Consortium (GSC) meeting in 2014, the OSD community agreed to form the OSD Consortium. Led by the five OSD Coordinators and comprising of up to 130 OSD Site Coordinators and their teams, the OSD Consortium installed the infrastructure and expertise allowing coordinated OSD events to take place. Furthermore, the OSD Consortium aims to foster collaborations and share expertise among and beyond the OSD network, and to connect scientists in a worldwide environmental movement.

Membership and governance

OSD membership is open to anyone and is earned by participation. Registered participants are provided with privileged access to the OSD network of sites, as well as training activities. OSD samples are prioritized for all types of data generation (as funds and resources allow). In return, participants agree to provide samples according to OSD’s standardized procedures and to work under the umbrella of the OSD Data Policy, which requires open sharing of data and to respect the national legal sampling framework.

The OSD network of sites

Participants from 191 sampling sites signed up for the main OSD event; these sites range from tropical waters to polar environments (Fig. 1). All major oceanic divisions (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Antarctic and Arctic Ocean) and continents are covered with 81 and 37 sites in Europe and North America, respectively. The majority of sites are located in the Northern Hemisphere (172), including 36 sites in the Mediterranean and three sites in the Black Sea.

Map of registered sites for OSD 2014

Full size image

OSD partnerships

Endorsement of the community and fruitful partnerships are essential. Supported by the Argonne National Laboratory, the generous cooperation with the Earth Microbiome Project (EMP) [7] enabled us to perform amplicon sequencing for OSD pilot events; these were conducted on each of the solstices in 2012 and 2013. In return, OSD data is EMP compliant and contributes towards construction of a global catalog of microbial diversity [7]. Cooperation with the LifeWatch project secured additional 18S rRNA gene sequencing, while Pacific Bioscience contributed sequencing of near-full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicons and metagenomes from selected OSD sampling sites. Moreover, the partnership with the Smithsonian Institute’s Global Genome Initiative for long-term bioarchiving of all OSD samples enables the community to re-analyze the samples in the future.

OSD beyond 2014

The OSD Consortium aims to expand in terms of sites and methods, as well as towards multicellular organisms. Future key tasks are to align closely with the Genomic Observatories (GOs) Network [8] towards biocoding the ocean, as well as to secure long-term resources and commitments to create an OSD time-series. The mid-term vision of the OSD Consortium is to generate microbial Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBV) data [9]. The envisioned regular OSD events would qualify for the candidate EBVs “Species populations” and “Community composition” to indicate, for example, vulnerability of ecosystems and climatic impacts on community composition. In the long term such indicators may be incorporated into the Ocean Health Index (OHI) [10], which currently excludes microorganisms from biodiversity assessment due to the lack of reliable data. OSD has the potential to close that gap and amend EBV and OHI by expanding oceanic monitoring towards microbes. This could lead to a global system of harmonized observations to inform scientists and policy-makers.

This commentary outlines the process for creating, managing and formalizing the OSD Consortium and describes its vision for a sustainable study of marine microbes. As we move forward, we will continue to explore and expand the scope of OSD beyond 2014. The idea of an OSD time-series is still in its early days but incorporating the OSD data set as EBVs and in the OHI is a strong source of motivation since this could pave the way to prioritize scientific research and raise public awareness for the unseen majority of the world’s oceans.

ABS:

Access and benefit sharing

CIESM:

Mediterranean Science Commission (Commission Internationale pour l'Exploration Scientifique de la Méditerranée)

EBV:

Essential biodiversity variables

EEZ:

Exclusive economic zone

EMP:

Earth microbiome project

GOs:

Genomic observatories

GOS:

Global ocean sampling expedition

Micro B3:

Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology

Micro B3-IS:

Micro B3 information system

M2B3:

Marine microbial biodiversity, bioinformatics and biotechnology data reporting and service standards

EBV:

Essential biodiversity variables

OHI:

Ocean health index

OSD:

Ocean sampling day

rRNA:

ribosomal RNA

We wish to acknowledge our extensive range of Micro B3/OSD participants, partners, advisors and supporters who have made the OSD possible. The generosity and tremendous support from our partners and participants has not only enriched the data set but also allowed the OSD Consortium to save resources for future OSD activities. We would also like to thank Sandra Nowack, Hilke Döpke, Greta Reintjes, Timmy Schweer and the technicians of the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology for their tremendous support with on-site logistics. This work was supported by the Micro B3 project, which is funded from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7; Joint Call OCEAN.2011‐2: Marine microbial diversity – new insights into marine ecosystems functioning and its biotechnological potential) under the grant agreement no 287589. This manuscript is NOAA-GLERL contribution number 1763.

Author notes

Affiliations

1. Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, D-28359, Bremen, Germany

   • Anna Kopf
   • , Renzo Kottmann
   • , Julia Schnetzer
   • , Antonio Fernandez-Guerra
   • , Christina Bienhold
   •  & Frank Oliver Glöckner

2. Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH, Campus Ring 1, D-28759, Bremen, Germany

   • Anna Kopf
   • , Julia Schnetzer
   • , Ivaylo Kostadinov
   • , Matthias Ullrich
   • , Marianna Mea
   • , Neil Davies
   • , Dawn Field
   •  & Frank Oliver Glöckner

3. University of Oxford, 7 Keble Road, OX1 3QG, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK

   • Mesude Bicak
   • , Antonio Fernandez-Guerra
   • , David Wallom
   •  & Dawn Field

4. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, MacLean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, OX10 8BB, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK

   • Katja Lehmann

5. CNRS & Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Station Biologique, Place Georges Teissier, F-29680, Roscoff, France

   • Christian Jeanthon
   • , Thierry Cariou
   •  & Daniel Vaulot

6. Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel- Shikmona, POB 8030, 31080, Haifa, Israel

   • Eyal Rahav

7. Alfred Wegener Institute, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Kurpromenade 201, 27498, Helgoland, Germany

   • Antje Wichels
   •  & Gunnar Gerdts

8. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Gournes Pediados, 71500, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

   • Paraskevi Polymenakou
   •  & Giorgos Kotoulas

9. Biology Department and YJ-Science and Technology Research Center, American University in Cairo, New Cairo, 11835, Cairo Governorate, Egypt

   • Rania Siam
   •  & Rehab Z Abdallah

10. Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Matematiktorvet 301, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark

    • Eva C Sonnenschein
    •  & Stephen Jackson

11. National University of Ireland–University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    • Fergal O’Gara

12. Curtin University, Biomedical Sciences, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    • Fergal O’Gara

13. Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IGS UMR 7256, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France

    • Emilie Villar

14. Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia

    • Sandi Orlic

15. School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, CO4 3SQ, Colchester, Essex, UK

    • Michael Steinke

16. Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Schleusenstrasse 1, 26383, Wilhemshaven, Germany

    • Julia Busch

17. Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Campo Grande 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal

    • Bernardo Duarte
    • , Isabel Caçador
    •  & João Canning-Clode

18. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 21037, Edgewater, Maryland, USA

    • João Canning-Clode

19. Department of Microbiology, Virology and Biotechnology, Odessa National II Mechnikov University, Dvoryanskaya str.2, 65082, Odessa, Ukraine

    • Oleksandra Bobrova

20. Matis Ltd, Vinlandsleid 12, 113, Reykjavik, Iceland

    • Viggo Marteinsson
    •  & Eyjolfur Reynisson

21. InBio/CIBIO, Departamento de Biologia da Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Portugal

    • Clara Magalhães Loureiro
    • , Ana Cristina Costa
    •  & Ana M Martins

22. National Research Council, Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), Castello 2737/f, Arsenale Tesa 104, 30122, Venezia, Italy

    • Gian Marco Luna
    •  & Grazia Marina Quero

23. Institute of Microbiology/ GEOMAR, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118, Kiel, Germany

    • Carolin R Löscher

24. Marine Research Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Erik Palmenin aukio 1, 00560, Helsinki, Finland

    • Anke Kremp

25. NOAA/National Ocean Service/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Environmental Health & Biomolecular Research Charleston, 29412, South Carolina, USA

    • Marie E DeLorenzo

26. Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 53B, 5020, Bergen, Norway

    • Lise Øvreås

27. LaRoche Research Group, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, B3H 4R2, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    • Jennifer Tolman
    •  & Julie LaRoche

28. Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Viale Trieste 296, 61121, Pesaro, Italy

    • Antonella Penna

29. University of Georgia’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, 10 Ocean Science Circle, 31411, Savannah, Georgia, USA

    • Marc Frischer

30. NOAA–Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, 4840 S State Road, 48108, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    • Timothy Davis

31. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th and Constitution Avenue NW, 20013, Washington, DC, USA

    • Barker Katherine
    •  & Christopher P Meyer

32. CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Center of Environmental and Marine Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal

    • Sandra Ramos
    •  & Catarina Magalhães

33. Station Marine d’Arcachon, CNRS & Univ Bordeaux, 2 rue Professeur Jolyet, F-33120, Arcachon, France

    • Florence Jude-Lemeilleur

34. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Unidad Mérida, Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km 6 Cordemex, C.P., 97310, Yucatan, Mexico

    • Ma Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo

35. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 39406, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA

    • Shiao Wang
    •  & Jorge A Herrera Silveira

36. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, 60 Bigelow Drive, 04544, East Boothbay, Maine, USA

    • Nicole Poulton

37. Smithsonian Marine Station, 701 Seaway Drive, 34949, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA

    • Scott Jones

38. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Balboa Ancon, Panama

    • Rachel Collin

39. Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 90089-0371, Los Angeles, California, USA

    • Jed A Fuhrman

40. Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR7621, Laboratoire d’Océanographie Microbienne, Observatoire Océanologique, F-66651, Banyuls sur Mer, France

    • Pascal Conan
    •  & Ian Salter

41. Microbial Ecology of Aquatic Transitional Systems Research Group, Centro Universitario de la Región Este, Universidad de la República, Ruta 15, km 28.500, Rocha, Uruguay

    • Cecilia Alonso
    • , Valentina Amaral
    •  & Rafael Santana

42. The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat-Gan, Israel

    • Noga Stambler

43. Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, 88103, Eilat, Israel

    • Noga Stambler

44. NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, 33149, Miami, Florida, USA

    • Kelly Goodwin
    • , Christopher David Sinigalliano
    •  & Maribeth Louise Gidley

45. Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, IAMC-CNR, Spianata S Raineri, 86 – 98122, Messina, Sicily, Italy

    • Michael M Yakimov

46. Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, PO Box 56, 9054, Dunedin, New Zealand

    • Federico Baltar

47. CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, 7000, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    • Levente Bodrossy
    • , Jodie Van De Kamp
    •  & Dion MF Frampton

48. Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Macquarie University, 2109, Sydney, Australia

    • Martin Ostrowski

49. South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) – Aquatic Sciences, PO Box 120, 5022, Henley Beach, South Australia, Australia

    • Paul Van Ruth
    •  & Paul Malthouse

50. Flanders Marine Institute, InnovOcean site, Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400, Oostende, Belgium

    • Simon Claus
    • , Klaas Deneudt
    •  & Jonas Mortelmans

51. Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Pakefield Road, NR33 0HT, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK

    • Sophie Pitois

52. Alfred-Wegener-Institut-Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    • Ian Salter
    •  & Christina Bienhold

53. Microbial Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Centre of Marine Sciences, Algarve University, Gambelas Campus, Building 7, Room 2.77, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    • Rodrigo Costa

54. Marine Biological Association of the UK, Citadel Hill, PL1 2PB, Plymouth, Devon, UK

    • Declan C Schroeder

55. Soil and Water Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, El-Shatbi, 21545, Alexandria, Egypt

    • Mahrous M Kandil

56. Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 7093, LOV, Observatoire océanologique, F-Villefranche-sur-Mer, Paris, France

    • Maria Luiza Pedrotti

57. Marine Biogeochemistry – Argentine Institute of Oceanography, Camino La Carrindanga Km 7,5, 8000, Florida, Bahia Blanca, Argentina

    • Florencia Biancalana

58. Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, 606-8502, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan

    • Takashi Yoshida
    •  & Hiroyuki Ogata

59. IPMA, Department of Sea and Marine Resources, Avenida de Brasília, s/n, 1449-006, Lisboa, Portugal

    • Antonina dos Santos

60. Waters, Wetlands and Coasts, New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney South 1232, 59-61 Goulburn Street, 2001, PO Box A290, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    • Tim Ingleton

61. Lwandle Technologies, Black River Park, Fir Road, 7925, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa

    • Kate Munnik

62. Marine Research Division, AZTI, Txatxarramendi ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain

    • Naiara Rodriguez-Ezpeleta

63. CRIOBE, USR3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, LabEx Corail, BP 1013-98729, Papetoai Moorea, French Polynesia

    • Veronique Berteaux-Lecellier
    •  & Patricia Wecker

64. Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania, 7004, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    • Tim Ingleton

65. University of the Basque Country, PO Box 644, E-48080, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain

    • Ibon Cancio
    •  & Juan Iriberri

66. Gump South Pacific Research Station, University of California Berkeley, BP 244 98728, Moorea, French Polynesia

    • Neil Davies

67. Polydisciplinary Faculty of Nador, University Mohammed Premier, Selouane, Nador, Morocco

    • Hassan Ghazal
    • , Soumya Essayeh
    •  & Rajaa Chahboune

68. Laboratory of Genetics and Biotechnology, University Mohammed Premier, Oujda, Morocco

    • Hassan Ghazal
    • , Bouchra Chaouni
    • , Sara Ettamimi
    • , Noureddine Boukhatem
    •  & Abderrahim Bouali

69. College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China

    • Jack A Gilbert

70. Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, University Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah, Fes, Morocco

    • Sara Ettamimi

71. Faculty of Sciences of Rabat, University Mohammed Fifth Rabat, Rabat, Morocco

    • Bouchra Chaouni
    •  & El Houcine Zaid

72. Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Tanger, Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi, Tanger, Morocco

    • Rajaa Chahboune
    •  & Said Barrijal

73. Institute for Genomic and Systems Biology, Bioscience Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, 60439, Argonne, Illinois, USA

    • Jack A Gilbert

74. Pasteur Institute of Morocco, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, 20100, Casablanca, Morocco

    • Mohammed Timinouni
    •  & Mohamed Bennani

75. Microbiology, Health and Environment Team, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Chouaib Doukkali University, Rte Ben Maachou, BP 20 Avenue des Facultés, El Jadida, Morocco

    • Fatima El Otmani

76. University of Chicago, 1101 E 57th Street, 60637, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    • Jack A Gilbert

77. Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (IBER), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin Street, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria

    • Nadezhda Todorova
    •  & Ventzislav Karamfilov

78. European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK

    • Petra ten Hoopen
    •  & Guy Cochrane

79. Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO, UEB), Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM), Place Nicolas Copernic, F-29280, Plouzané, France

    • Stephane L’Haridon

80. Dokuz Eylul University (DEU), Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology (IMST), Baku Bulvard, No: 100, Inciralti, 35340, Izmir, Balcova, Turkey

    • Kemal Can Bizsel

81. Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35121, Padova, Italy

    • Alessandro Vezzi
    • , Riccardo Rosselli
    • , Fabio De Pascale
    •  & Riccardo Schiavon

82. Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, 60 Nanyang Drive, SBS 01N-27, 637551, Singapore, Singapore

    • Federico M Lauro
    •  & Jamie Hinks

83. Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore, Singapore

    • Patrick Martin

84. Indigo V Expeditions, ONE°15 Marina, #01-01, 11 Cove Drive, Sentosa Cove, 098497, Singapore, Singapore

    • Rachelle M Jensen

85. School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Dove Marine Laboratory, Cullercoats, NE30 4PZ, Tyne and Wear, UK

    • Susan Gebbels

86. Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    • Mark J Costello

87. PANGAEA - Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University Bremen, Hochschulring 18, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    • Stéphane Pesant

88. OGS, National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics, Via Auguste Piccard, 54, 34151, Santa Croce, Trieste, Italy

    • Bruno Cataletto
    •  & Francesca Malfatti

89. Department of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka

    • Ranjith Edirisinghe

90. Marine Biological Laboratory, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, 02543, Massachusetts, USA

    • Linda A Amaral-Zettler
    •  & Jack A Gilbert

91. Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, 02912, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

    • Linda A Amaral-Zettler

92. Mediterranean Science Commission, 16 Bd de Suisse, 98 000, Monaco, Monaco

    • Michele Barbier

93. Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, 6330, Piran, Slovenia

    • Valentina Turk
    •  & Tinkara Tinta

94. Near East University, TRNC Mersin 10, 99138, Nicosia, Cyprus

    • Wayne J Fuller
    • , Ilkay Salihoglu
    • , Nedime Serakinci
    •  & Mahmut Cerkez Ergoren

95. Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores, PT-9901-862, Horta, Portugal

    • Ana M Martins

96. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Box 757220, 99775, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

    • R Eric Collins
    •  & Anne-Lise Ducluzeau

97. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kewalo Marine Laboratory, 41 Ahui St., Honolulu, 96813, Hawaii, USA

    • Jonathan Martinez

98. Phytoplankton Ecology, Marine Scotland Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road, AB11 9DB, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, UK

    • Eileen Bresnan

99. Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), 28 rue du 2 mars 1934, 2025, Salammbô, Tunisia

    • Monia El Bour

100. Kind of Blue Project ABS and Citizen Science, Gaustadvn 6, 0372, Oslo, Norway

     • Paul Anders Fronth Nyhus

101. Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066, 0316, Blindern, Oslo, Norway

     • Edvardsen Bente

102. Drøbak Field Station, Marine Biology Research station, Biologiveien 2, 1440, Drøbak, Norway

     • Hans Erik Karlsen

103. School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, LL57 2UW, Gwynedd, Bangor, UK

     • Peter N Golyshin

104. Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia, Institut de Ciències del Mar-CSIC, Pg Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, E08003, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain

     • Josep M Gasol

105. Fridtjof Nansen Institute of Oceanology, First May Street 40, 9000, Varna, Bulgaria

     • Snejana Moncheva
     •  & Nina Dzhembekova

106. Nicholas School of the Environment and Biology Department, Duke University, 135 Marine Lab Road, 28516, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA

     • Zackary Johnson

107. Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, 33149, Miami, Florida, USA

     • Maribeth Louise Gidley

108. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy

     • Adriana Zingone
     •  & Roberto Danovaro

109. Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy

     • Roberto Danovaro

110. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, 2 Seferi Street, 301 00, Agrinio, Greece

     • George Tsiamis

111. British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, CB3 0ET, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK

     • Melody S Clark

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frank Oliver Glöckner.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

AK drafted the original text with detailed input from MB, RK, JS, IK, KL and FOG. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript and/or participated in OSD.

Anna Kopf and Mesude Bicak contributed equally to this work.

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