Strategic Planning and Collaboration for Monitoring Changes in Coastal Ecosystems, Gulf of Maine

贝茨学院与飓风岛科学与领导中心（Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership）合作，获得了一项奖励，以协调缅因湾（Gulf of Maine）野外观测站网络的研究和培训工作。从历史上看，墨西哥湾是世界上最具生产力的海洋生态系统之一。然而，2014年8月，美国国家海洋和大气管理局宣布，鳕鱼的数量已经暴跌至可持续种群规模的3%，这表明墨西哥湾的鳕鱼已经商业性灭绝。此外，缅因湾研究所和其他机构最近报告说，墨西哥湾的变暖速度比世界上99%的海洋都要快，这表明墨西哥湾可以作为快速变化的海洋生态系统的“活实验室”。至少有20个野外观测站在缅因湾收集环境数据。其中10-15所学校规模较小，师资、员工和设备有限。大多数学校都强调本科教育，有些则高度重视与不同沿海社区的接触。这些电台单独覆盖有限的地理范围；它们一起覆盖了从楠塔基特岛到新斯科舍的距离。此外，他们的综合数据集记录了各种自然系统的精细尺度条件，以及几十年来基于地点的观测和研究。该合同的中心目的是战略性地利用小型外地站作为一个协调网络的研究和培训能力。它的成功实施将促进协同效应和创新，有可能对缅因湾近岸条件产生重大发现，并有助于更深入地了解沿海水域的环境变化。该合同允许小型GOM现场站网络进行必要的战略规划，以实现共同的研究和培训目标。规划活动将包括为所有台站主任、与外地台站有关的科学家和三名科学顾问举行的两次多日会议。这一阶段的成果将包括总结知识差距和研究重点；设备需求;针对学生和市民的教学和培训建议；以及数据管理策略。在项目的第二阶段，三个主要站点——Shortridge的贝茨学院海岸中心（http://www.bates.edu/harward/bates-morse-mountain-shortridge/）、飓风岛科学与领导力中心（http://www.hurricaneisland.net/）和肯特岛的鲍登科学站(https://www.bowdoin.edu/kent-island/)-will)的负责人为该网络制定了一个十年战略计划，并根据之前的会议确定了可执行的项目。商业规划讲习班将为战略规划工作提供信息。最终报告将详细说明优先事项、行动步骤以及共同研究和培训计划的细节。

Bates College, in partnership with the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership, is granted an award to coordinate the research and training efforts of a network of Gulf of Maine (GOM) field stations. Historically, the GOM was one of the world's most productive marine ecosystems. However, in August 2014, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that the cod population had plummeted to 3% of what is considered to be a sustainable population size, indicating the commercial extinction of cod in the GOM. In addition, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and others recently reported that the GOM is warming faster than 99% of the world's oceans, suggesting that the Gulf could serve as a "living laboratory" for rapidly changing marine ecosystems. At least 20 field stations collect environmental data in the Gulf of Maine. Of these, 10-15 operate on a small scale, with limited faculty, staff and equipment. Most emphasize undergraduate education and some place a high priority on engagement with diverse coastal communities. Individually, these stations cover limited geographic ranges; together, they cover the distance from Nantucket to Nova Scotia. Furthermore, their combined data sets document fine-scale conditions across a wide range of natural systems, and across decades of place-based observation and research. The central purpose of this award is to strategically leverage the research and training capacity of small field stations as a coordinated network. Its successful implementation will foster synergies and innovation, with the potential to yield significant findings on near-shore conditions in the Gulf of Maine, and to contribute to a larger understanding of environmental change in coastal waters. This award allows a network of small GOM field stations to do the strategic planning necessary to implement shared research and training goals. Planning activities will include two multi-day meetings for all station directors, scientists associated with field stations, and three scientific advisors. Outcomes of this phase will include a summary of knowledge gaps and research priorities; equipment needs; teaching and training recommendations for students and citizens; and a data management strategy. During the second phase of the project, directors from the three lead stations-the Bates College Coastal Center at Shortridge (http://www.bates.edu/harward/bates-morse-mountain-shortridge/), the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership (http://www.hurricaneisland.net/ ) and the Bowdoin Scientific Station at Kent Island (https://www.bowdoin.edu/kent-island/)-will produce a ten-year strategic plan for the network, identifying actionable items for implementation based on prior meetings. A business planning workshop will inform the strategic planning efforts. A final report will detail priorities, action steps, and the specifics of shared research and training programs.