{"id":1080,"date":"2016-11-01T09:57:29","date_gmt":"2016-11-01T08:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.norbol.org\/?p=1080"},"modified":"2016-11-01T09:57:29","modified_gmt":"2016-11-01T08:57:29","slug":"dnaqua-net-a-cost-action-for-developing-new-genetic-tools-for-bioassessment-of-aquatic-ecosystems-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.norbol.org\/index.php\/2016\/11\/01\/dnaqua-net-a-cost-action-for-developing-new-genetic-tools-for-bioassessment-of-aquatic-ecosystems-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"DNAqua-Net: a COST-Action for developing new genetic tools for bioassessment of aquatic ecosystems in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dnaqua_net-logo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

From the COST-Action CA152119 website<\/a>:\u00a0The protection, preservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems and their functions is 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 thus obtained determines the extent of potential management actions. The current approach to biodiversity assessment is based on morpho-taxonomy. This approach has many drawback such as being time consuming, limited in temporal and spatial resolution, and error-prone due to variation of individual taxonomic expertise of the analysts. Novel genomic tools can overcome many of the aforesaid 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 for biodiversity assessments of European water bodies. Furthermore, DNAqua-Net<\/a> 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

The inaugural meeting of\u00a0DNAqua-Net was held in the COST-building in Brussels on October 20, 2016. The COST-Action was formally accepted and chair and working group leaders were elected. So far\u00a031 countries are associated with the action<\/a>, med representatives in the Management Committee<\/a>\u00a0nominated by national COST-coordinators. The delegates from Norway are Trude Vr\u00e5lstad (Norwegian Veterinary Institute<\/a>) and\u00a0Torbj\u00f8rn Ekrem (NTNU University Museum<\/a>). The first conference of DNAqua-Net will be held in Essen, Germany, March 6-8, 2017, with post conference meetings in the five working groups (leads in parentheses):<\/p>\n