Marine and coastal ecosystem services on the science–policy–practice nexus: challenges and opportunities from 11 European case studies

We compared and contrasted 11 European case studies to identify challenges and opportunitiestoward the operationalization of marine and coastal ecosystem service (MCES) assessments inEurope. This work is the output of a panel convened by the Marine Working Group of theEcosystemServices Partnership in September 2016. TheMCES assessments were used to (1) addressmultiple policy objectives simultaneously, (2) interpret EU-wide policies to smaller scales and (3)inform local decision-making. Most of the studies did inform decision makers, but only in a fewcases, the outputswere applied or informed decision-making. Significant limitations among the 11assessments were the absence of shared understanding of the ES concept, data and knowledgegaps, difficulties in accounting for marine social–ecological systems complexity and partial stakeholderinvolvement. The findings of the expert panel call for continuous involvement of MCES ‘endusers’, integrated knowledge onmarine social–ecological systems, defining thresholds to MCES useand raising awareness to the general public. Such improvements at the intersection of science,policy and practice are essential starting points toward building a stronger science foundationsupporting management of European marine ecosystems

Automated Pipeline for Purification, Biophysical and X-Ray Analysis of Biomacromolecular Solutions

Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), an increasingly popular method for structural analysis of biological macromolecules in solution, is often hampered by inherent sample polydispersity. We developed an all-in-one system combining in-line sample component separation with parallel biophysical and SAXS characterization of the separated components. The system coupled to an automated data analysis pipeline provides a novel tool to study difficult samples at the P12 synchrotron beamline (PETRA-3, EMBL/DESY, Hamburg)