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WPI-AIMEC: Safeguarding the Planet's Marine Future

As Earth's ocean faces unprecedented challenges from climate change and human activities, Tohoku University's Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (AIMEC) is pioneering new ways to understand and predict how marine ecosystems will respond.

A member of Japan's World Premier International Ç×ÅóÆåÅÆ Centre Initiative (WPI) AIMEC represents an ambitious fusion of ocean physics, ecology and data science aimed at safeguarding our planet's marine future. It is also the country's first multi-host WPI centre in collaboration with the Japan Ç×ÅóÆåÅÆncy for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).

"This is a highly cross-disciplinary programme," says Professor Toshio Suga, AIMEC's director and a physical oceanographer. "No single discipline alone can solve the challenges currently faced by our marine ecosystems."

A Focused Approach to Complex Problems

The institute's research philosophy centres on understanding how phenomena at vastly different scales interact. "The key is the connection between phenomena across a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, from molecular-level biological processes to global climate change patterns," says Suga. "Under global warming conditions, we need to understand how each area or region will change, and our initial focus is on the Northwest Pacific region and the ocean in front of Japan."

This multi-scale approach is crucial because marine species respond to conditions in their specific environments rather than global averages. The challenge lies in understanding how global climate patterns translate into local environmental changes that directly affect marine ecosystems.

AIMEC is addressing three fundamental questions: How do environments and ecosystems interact? What is the future of marine ecosystems? And how can humans mitigate or adapt to these changes?

These questions have taken on new urgency as ocean temperatures around Japan have reached record levels. "The rise in ocean temperature in front of Sendai or Sanriku is among the world's highest, 6 degrees higher than normal," Suga notes. "Many people, especially fishermen in this region, ask us: 'What is happening? Is this something we can expect for a long time or just a transitional thing?' But we cannot answer that yet."

The stakes are higher than many realise. "Most people don't know that photosynthesis occurs not just in trees and green plants on land, but also in ocean phytoplankton," Suga explains. "The amount of photosynthesis in the ocean equals that on land. This means that half the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean. If ocean ecosystems collapsed and photosynthesis stopped, atmospheric oxygen concentration would decrease significantly."

Technological Innovation Meets Marine Science

AIMEC employs cutting-edge technology to tackle these complex questions. The institute utilises robotic profiling floats that can operate autonomously for years, measuring temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, oxygen and other parameters whilst transmitting data via satellite.

? JAMSTEC

These biogeochemical Argo floats represent a significant advancement over traditional ship-based research, which, whilst still important, can cost millions of dollars per expedition.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis represents another technological breakthrough. "Environmental DNA comes from skin cells and other materials that fish and creatures naturally release into the water," says Suga. "We can now analyse this DNA to identify which species are present in a given area." This technique allows researchers to monitor ecosystem changes with unprecedented precision and has revealed dramatic shifts in fish species distribution as ocean temperatures rise.

The institute has also pioneered the integration of artificial intelligence with marine observation systems. Underwater cameras attached to research floats can now automatically identify and count marine species using AI technology, providing real-time data on ecosystem changes across vast ocean areas.

Building International Partnerships

AIMEC's organisational structure reflects its commitment to international collaboration. The institute maintains 10 research units designed to facilitate cross-disciplinary work - five based at Tohoku University, four at JAMSTEC and one at the University of Hawaii. "When you have individuals with different disciplines, skills, and methodologies, it's not so easy to collaborate when you don't know each other well. So, researchers with similar methodology and disciplinary specialities are grouped together in these units, making it easier for everyone to find various experts and know who to approach for cross-disciplinary work."

There are currently about 65 researchers - 35 from Tohoku University and 30 from JAMSTEC - a third of whom are international. Suga hopes to hire an additional 20 through open calls over the next few years. And with a new building planned, AIMEC is positioning itself as a global hub for marine ecosystem research. "My dream is that AIMEC will be a research institute where all levels of researchers - from students to senior professors - can easily get together, chat with each other, express their thoughts, and exchange ideas. Not only across disciplines but also across generations."

Link:

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Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC)
Tohoku University and JAMSTEC
Tel: +81-22-795-5620
Email: aimec-commgrp.tohoku.ac.jp

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