The protection, preservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems and their functions are 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 obtained determines the extent of potential management actions. The current approach to biodiversity assessment is based on morpho-taxonomy. This approach has many drawbacks such as being time consuming, limited in temporal and spatial resolution, and error-prone due to the varying individual taxonomic expertise of the analysts. Novel genomic tools can overcome many of the aforementioned 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 ecogenomic indices for routine application in biodiversity assessments of European fresh-and marine water bodies. Furthermore, DNAqua-Net 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

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The effect of the heating temperature on the properties of sintered ceramic bodies from three different contaminated marine sediments was investigated. The sintering behaviour was evaluated by means of the variation of shrinkage degree, bulk density, water absorption, open and closed porosity, while the phases transformation were investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results have shown that the sintering process follows a viscous liquid phase mechanism due to the formation of a glassy phase. The optimum sintering temperature is 1125ºC for Astilleros and Cuchia sediments and 1150ºC for Raos sample. Above this temperature, a significant overfiring with an increase of closed porosity was observed. Water absorption values and mechanical properties as bending and compressive strengths of sintered bodies show that the investigated marine sediments are suitable to be used as secondary raw materials in ceramic tiles and bricks production.