These achievements highlight that in less than five years ATLAS partners made a remarkable contribution to marine science advancing our understanding about deep-sea ecosystems in the North Atlantic. ATLAS inputs are key contributions that span across a wide range including physical oceanography, ecosystem functioning, marine biodiversity & biogeography, genetics as well as ecosystem services, maritime spatial planning, policy, industry and public outreach & dissemination. All these facilitate the achievement of Blue Growth and the conservation of deep-sea ecosystems for future generations.
The 100th ATLAS paper i.e. “The BenBioDen database, a global database for meio-, macro- and megabenthic biomass and densities” by Stratmann et al. in “Nature Scientific Data” is also an excellent reminder for one of the ATLAS key foundations i.e. the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation. Indeed, ATLAS co-authors on that paper are affiliated with institutes on both sides of the Atlantic: Tanja Stratmann, Dick van Oevelen and Karline Soetaert are affiliated with institutes in Netherlands and/or Germany while Ellen Kenchington and Paul Snelgrove (member of the ATLAS Advisory Board) are based in Canada. In addition, this manuscript adheres to ATLAS commitment for open science resources for stakeholders – it is available in open access here.
The full list of ATLAS publications (currently counts 108 papers and it keeps rising!) can be found here.
So, lay back and enjoy reading on how ATLAS partners have improved our knowledge for the largest biome on Earth – the deep sea and its precious ecosystems!