Minutes of the kick-off meeting of the RMP MARPLAN
Stazione Zoologica “A. Dohrn”
Naples, Italy, September 23rd, 2005
Written by Raffaella Casotti
Present:
Gianfranco NOVARINO
Jeremy YOUNG
Wiebe KOOISTRA
Marina MONTRESOR
Raffaella CASOTTI
Uwe JOHN
Wenche EIKREM
Bente EDVARDSEN
Marta ESTRADA
Nathalie SIMON
Maria-Luiza PEDROTTI
Alina TUNIN
Valentina TURK
Janja FRANCE
Jens HARDER
Richard K PIPE
Maria JUTSON
Costas TSIGENOPOULOS
Philippe LEBARON
NHM, London
NHM, London
SZN, Naples
SZN, Naples
SZN, Naples
AWI, Bremerhaven
UIO, Oslo
UIO, Oslo
ICM, Barcelona
SBR, Roscoff
LOV, Villefranche
LOV, Villefranche
MBS, Piran
MBS, Piran
MPI-MM, Bremen
MBA, Plymouth
MBA, Plymouth
HCMR, Heraklion
LOBB, Banyuls-sur-Mer
During the morning session, several members of the staff and PhD-students of SZN were
present to take note of the presentations but the afternoon meeting was restricted to the
abovementioned delegates.
Wiebe Kooistra of the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples opened the meeting
welcoming the MarPLAN delegates. After a short introduction of the history of the host
institute, he briefly recapitulated the origin and objectives of the Responsive Mode
Project MarPLAN within MarBEF. The project sprouted from plans for a research and
training network (NOMADS) written by Jeremy Young. MarPLAN focuses on research
in marine plankton in European waters by means of exchange of knowledge and
expertise, by mutual support and by integration of already existing research efforts. To
achieve these goals, the 13 partners in MarPLAN have agreed upon
a) An exchange program comprising short sabbaticals,
b) Provision of specialist training,
c) Creation of interdisciplinary collaborations in plankton biodiversity research,
d) Calibration of instruments, and
e) Exchange of samples and strains.
Then he gave the floor to the delegates of the 13 institutes participating in MarPLAN to
present facilities and on-going programs of their groups.
1. Gian-Franco Novarino of the Natural History Museum of London highlighted the
existing competences in taxonomy and systematics of different groups of nano and
microplankton, with an emphasis on haptophytes. Ongoing projects include also the study
of feeding and prey recognition of heterotrophic flagellates as well as eco-physiomorpho-molecular diversity of heterotrophic chrysomonads in relation to biogeography.
Jeremy Young from the same institute presented additional projects on high quality
imaging of coccolithophores, dinoflagellates (live and fossil), and diatoms.
2. Marina Montresor from Stazione Zoologica presented the participants from the
institute and their respective competences. She then presented research projects,
including an on-going long-term series (30 years) of phytoplankton records at a coastal
station in the Gulf of Naples. Genetic and morphological diversity of diatom species
(Skeletonema spp. and Pseudo-nitzschia spp.) is also studied, coupled with life cycle
investigation to deeper understanding and refining species definition. Also cryptic and
pseudocryptic diversity of Pseudo-nitzschia is investigated by means of life cycle and
mating experiments. The working group also focuses on diatom phylogeny and
taxonomy, and participates in the Marine Genomic Network of Excellence. Flow
cytometric competence is available for the project, and can support quantification of
species in natural samples and support taxonomical investigations (Casotti). An ancillary
project on microzooplankton biodiversity has also been incorporated in MARPLAN
(Modigh).
3. Bente Edvardsen, from the University of Oslo, presented the activities of the Biology
Department, which holds 8 research programs, including the management of the CEES
center for evolutionary and ecological synthesis, experimental, behavioural and
population biology, molecular ecology and biosystematics, marine biodiversity, plankton
biology and toxicology and ecophysiology, the last three are the more concerned with
MARPLAN. She then described the participants within the Plankton Biology Group and
the infrastructure, equipment and facilities available to MARPLAN, which include flow
cytometry, LSC, EM, DNA sequencing, culture collection, a research vessel, access to
coastal sites and laboratories. Research activities include phylogeny, taxonomy and
biology, biodiversity and genetic diversity, Harmful algae and toxin production, plankton
dynamics and ecological stoichiometry and planktonic food webs. The laboratory focuses
on harmful algae among which Chrysochromulina, Prymnesium, Planktothrix
(freshwater), Verrucophora, and Dinophysis species. Pico and nanoplankton diversity is
also investigated, so is biodiversity and distribution of flagellates. Statistical niche
modelling (Generalized Additive Models - GAM) is achieved and cross-validated using
thin-plate spline models. These methods aim at calculating the probability of occurrence
of one species or gene in certain conditions (applied to long-term series).
4. Uwe John, from the Alfred Wegener Institute of Bremerhaven, Germany stated that
the AWI can contribute with its expertise in molecular methods, for examples for
phylogenetic and population genetics analysis: from DNA extraction, PCR, sequencing
up to analysis for the whole range of planktonic species. There is taxonomic and
phylogenetic expertise in diatoms (Linda Medlin and Richard Crawford) and in
dinoflagellate phylogeny (Uwe John) Urban Tillmann offer expertise in heterotrophic
protist handling and would be interested in sample and experience exchange.
A very strong field at the AWI is the long time series on Helgoland, with data for bacteria
(Wichels, Gerds), phytoplankton (Wiltshire), and for zooplankton (Boersma). These
groups are interested in data exchange, in cooperation, with other long time series and
offer to deliver samples of certain isolates. Kraberg is developing a taxonomic platform,
which includes taxonomic relevant description and pictures, which are for public use.
The group of Linda Medlin (Medlin, Töbe, Metfies) offers tools for diversity
identification based on molecular probes. Hierarchical probes are developed for use in
whole cell in situ hybridisation and on arrays. Knowledge and data transfer is possible.
For testing the diagnostic diversity microarrays, field samples from different European
sample sites would be appreciated. Within the group of chemical ecology of Allan
Cembella (Cembella, John, Tillmann, Krock), the allelochemical interaction among
protists (microbial eukaryotes) are the major focus of research. Therefore they can offer
expertise in genetically and phenotypically characterisation of isolates, including
phycotoxin measurements with HPLC or LC MS/MS. Phillip Assmy, Joachim Henjes
and Victor Smetacek, have a strong focus on off-shore biodiversity and factors
influencing bloom formation. Beside their own taxonomic expertise they do have interest
in cooperation with taxonomist for data- and knowledge exchange. The AWI groups are
interested in short-term sabatticles for learning methods in the field of diversity
identification and quantification.
5. Marcel Veldhuis from the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) at Texel, the
Netherlands, could not attend the meeting but Wiebe Kooistra gave the presentation on
his behalf. He presented the location and the infrastructure on Texel, its structure and
history. He then presented the phytoplankton research team, whose focus is on the
structure and functioning of marine pelagic food-web, and the role of low food-web in
biogeochemical cycles. The research topic directly related to MARPLAN mainly
concerns the seasonality of the polymorphic HAB (Harmful Algal Bloom) Phaeocystis
globosa in the coastal waters of the North Sea (intraspecific variability of single cells and
colonies, the role of viruses (specific affecting single cells), and the link between small
scale differences to functional responses). The approach used involves both in situ and
culture work, it uses flow cytometry as main tool of research, coupled with molecular
tools. Main goals are to trace the genetic similarities/differences of single cells and two
colony cells types over a season, differentiating between haploid/diploid stages,
investigating the role of viruses in controlling Phaeocystis populations, and to investigate
variations in physiology (viability/photosynthetic activity) among strains.
6. Marta Estrada from Institut de Ciències del Mar, CMIMA (CSIC), Spain, outlined the
administrative organization of the institute and presented its main research lines,
highlighting the most pertinent to MARPLAN, namely,
a) Biology of marine species and populations. Investigation of the structure and
function of marine organisms from unicellular microbes to vertebrates, in relation
with their environment.
b) Biodiversity and dynamics of marine ecosystems. Study of the taxonomical,
morphological and functional variability of species, populations, communities and
ecosystems.
c) Integrated study of littoral systems. Anthropogenic impacts at all levels:
modification of the coastline, fishing, contaminants and eutrophication.
She then highlighted major results of some projects within these research lines, such as
the identification of new species and life cycle phases of coccolithophores, the
occurrence and taxonomical diversity of Alexandrium spp., and the study of picoplankton
populations at a coastal site along the Catalan coast, achieved using flow cytometry,
microscopy, and molecular tools. This last integrated project focuses on the identification
and phylogeny of Stramenopiles as well as on their functional role in the marine
ecosystem.
7. Nathalie Simon, from the Station Biologique de Roscoff, France, outlined the
infrastructure of the institute in terms of equipment and facilities, and then described the
structure and the organization of the “Ocean Plankton” research group, which is directly
involved in MARPLAN. Within the approaches and tools, she enumerated: Microscopy
(TEM, SEM, LM, Confocal, epifluoresence), flow cytometry, molecular tools
(sequencing, FISH, qPCR, DGGE), biochemical tools (HPLC, protein analysis) and
genomics and bioinformatics. She then gave examples of major results obtained on
marine picoeukaryote diversity, the discovery of presumed heterotrophic protists, and the
detection and biogeography of novel Alveolates. Another project concerns the occurrence
and dominance of Micromonas pusilla in coastal waters. She then presented the
participants to the project and the scientific plan of her group during MARPLAN, which
concerns a) Ceratium infra-specific phylogeny, in collaboration with the Laboratoire
Océanographique de Villefranche b) Micromonas infra-specific diversity (samples for
FISH, TEM) and the FISH calibration exercise. The "oceanic plankton team" holds a
culture collection (RCC : http://www.sb-roscoff.fr/Phyto/RCC/). The collection holds
651 strains and can provide cultures to partners in the frame of MARPLAN, or also
accept the deposit of strains.
8. Valentina Turk, from the Marine Biological Station of the National Institut of Biology
in Piran, Slovenia, presented the institute organization and the infrastructure. Among
current projects are the investigations of the mucus occurrence in the Adriatic Sea and the
possible role of microbial interactions in its generation and maintainance.
Available to MARPLAN are the laboratories with basic equipment and a research vessel
for coastal studies. In addition, small mesocosms are present. Expectation from
MARPLAN include collaboration at different levels, training and exchange, sabaticals,
participation to intercalibrations, and exchange of biological material.
9. Maria Luiza Pedrotti from the Laboratoire Océanologique de Villefranche, France,
presented the institute organization and dimension, with the facilities available. The
research topics include a) marine optics and remote sensing, focusing on the coupling of
elements (C, N, P, Si, Fe) in the subtropical gyre in the South Pacific, b) geochemistry,
focusing on the effect of nutrients and metals on pelagic systems and the evolution of
primary production and pigment diversity in NW Mediterranean Sea (monitoring at
DYFAMED site), c) plankton dynamics, focusing on plankton diversity and structure of
pelagic food web in relation to trophic transfers and the environment as well as on the
role of key species in energy transfer, mainly concerning phytoplankton ecophysiology
and modeling (chemostat). Within the institute, the Marine Microbial Ecology group,
directly involved in MARPLAN, develops three major topics:
a) Factors regulating activities and structure of microbial populations (external
forcings, top-down, bottom-up controls),
b) Functional and taxonomic diversity in microbial populations: variation in timespace scale,
c) Roles of microbes in biogeochemical processes (dynamics of DOM, TEP and
CO2).
Expertise includes: Specific diversity of ciliates and microphytoplankton, Grazing
experiments (predation in microbial community), Effect of nutrients on marines
microbes, Diversity and activities of marine bacteria, Roles of viruses, Particulate and
dissolved primary production, Particulate and dissolved matter (DOC, TEP), Respiration
of microbial communities. She also presented the participants to the program and the
equipment available. Participation to the programs includes short-term visits at different
sites to investigate the long-term changes in Ceratium (planktonic dinoflagellate)
diversity in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Sea. Expectations from MARPLAN include
exchange of old and recent net samples of microphytoplankton from partners, data
mining of hidden literature or data concerning distribution and annual variations of
Ceratium. Phylogenetics at specific and subspecific levels in genus Ceratium. The group
foresees collaboration with the phytoplankton group of Roscoff on single cell PCR
technique to acquire expertise and use equipment. In addition, exchange of samples and
participation to calibration exercises on FISH and CARD-FISH are expected focused on
two topics: a) the relationship between morphological and taxonomic diversity in
tintinnid cilates and b) the bacterioplankton diversity and role in the biogeochemical
cycles.
10. Jens Harder from the Max-Planck Institute for Microbiology of Bremen, Germany
described the structure of the institute and the facilities present. Ongoing research
projects in general aim at studying bacteria of anoxic environments, with three
departments involved. The department of Biogeochemistry focuses on Cycling of the
elements, regulation and interaction of microbial and geochemical processes, Carbon,
nitrogen, sulfur and iron cycles in the sediments and Ecology and physiology of nitrate
accumulating bacteria. The department of Microbiology focuses on Cultivation and
physiology of bacteria involved in the turnover of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and iron. The
department of Molecular Ecology focuses on Diversity, structure and function of
microbial populations by, among others, high resolution localization (FISH techniques)
and genome analysis. The institute is also managing the marMIC, an International Max
Planck Research School for the Master of Science in Marine Microbiology. The
involvement in MARPLAN foresees:
a) Short term sabbaticals from and to the institute,
b) Partial funding of a PhD student, including 2 short sabbaticals at CSIC, Mallorca,
Spain and NHM, London, Great Britain,
c) Organization of a workshop on fingerprinting techniques suggested for July 2007
in Bremen.
11. Richard Pipe from the Marine Biological Association of Plymouth, UK, presented
the Plymouth Algal Culture Collection, which is one of the oldest algal collections in the
world with approximately 300 strains, including 40 Type cultures, in addition to ca. 150
Emiliania huxleyi strains. The cultures are maintained in liquid culture with regular subculturing and the collection distributes approximately 300 culture strains per year.
Specific aims of the collection are to:
a) Provide strains for other researchers,
b) Isolate new strains of microalgae,
c) Provide repository for strains,
d) Develop training workshops,
e) Raise awareness of marine microalgae.
Research projects ongoing at the MBA include; the study of carbon & nutrient
acquisition pathways across the plasma membrane, calcification in coccolithophores, the
responses of diatoms to natural light gradients, calcium transport and homeostasis in
coccolithophores, redox processes and iron acquisition in marine phytoplankton, diatom
membrane physiology and signaling, functional characterisation of diatom membrane
transporters, novel techniques applied to algal cell biology, characterisation of the
infection process of E. huxleyi viruses, cloning diatom membrane transporters and trace
metal cycling in coastal phytoplankton. The role of the Plymouth Algal Collection within
MarPLAN is threefold:
a) Repository for strains,
b) Offer help & advice on culturing techniques,
c) Supply of culture strains.
12. Costas Tsigenopoulos, from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of
Marine Biology and Genetics of Crete, Greece, after outlining the history of the institute,
highlighted the research objectives, which are the analysis of the diversity of marine life
at all levels of biological organisation, from the gene to the ecosystem. This
multiparametric approach besides having a basic research interest has important
implications for applied sectors, such as environmental protection, fisheries management,
genetic improvement in aquaculture, and prediction of the responses of the ecosystem to
anthropogenic and natural changes. Main research lines are genetics and molecular
biotechnology and biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. After providing insights of
the research projects and their objectives, he listed the deliverables to be provided within
MARBEF: a) Identification and assignment of species to functional categories; genetic
attributes of populations and communities, b) Optimised protocols for Real Time
Quantitative PCR diagnosis of species - use as bioindicators for monitoring
environmental change, c) Develop environmental genomic libraries as a resource for
further characterisation of structural and functional aspects of biodiversity, d) Use the
Bioinformatic platform of IMBG towards educational goals in bacterial molecular
ecology and genomics. These will give a contribution to low cost and reliable assessment
of the marine ecosystems, which will render environmental management and decision
making more effective. In addition will provide high-level education on bacterial marine
genomics and diversity and allow for applications of biotechnological products to the
exploration of extreme environments.
13. Philippe Lebaron, from the Laboratoire Arago at the Observatoire Océanologique de
Banyuls, France, presented the location, the current activities and the facilities present at
the Institute. He then highlighted the activities of the Microbial Ecology Group, which
include a microbial observatory in the Mediterranean Sea and focuses on the role of
heterotrophic bacteria in the oceans. The overall philosophy of the group is to link
diversity and function. Diversity is approached using four main approaches:
Fingerprinting methods: SSCP, Cloning/sequencing/phylogeny/probes, Fluorescent in
situ hybridization and Isolation, charaterization, collection and database. Examples have
been given of the different approaches with results. Additional tools consist in Cell
sorting using FCM, MicroFish and Metaproteomic, the latter relatively recent in the lab.
The laboratory has an original and very well equipped cytometric platform, with
Transmission electronic microscope (TEM), Confocal laser microscope (CLM), two
Flow cytometers and sorters (FCM), Epifluorescence microscope and image analysis
system, Solid-phase cytometer (SPC). It is involved in the development of new
cytometers. The solid state cytometer principle and examples of applications to marine
ecology have been presented. The interest of the institute in MARPLAN include: a)
Single cell analysis (FISH / MICROFISH : training, improve protocols, inter-comparison
of results between different groups, Cell sorting techniques : training, development of
new protocols to improve PCR amplification of sorted cells, to share protocols between
groups, Review of techniques and/or applications : different partners could be involved),
b) Collection of isolates (mainly bacteria, but also other organisms), aimed at creating
environmental collections and databases, c) training, offering to organize in Banyuls a
workshop and/or a practical course on FISH/MICROFISH (depending on funding) OR on
cytometry techniques using the platform.
After the presentations, Jens Harder gave an overview of the training activities within
MARBEF, and issues of budget allocation and breakdown. He recommended contacting
our institute representatives in MARBEF to know the budget breakdown and financial
situation of the institute. As for the local research budget, he made clear that the money
should be used mainly for exchanges of personnel, up to three months, including
students, but not only, so to facilitate integration within the consortium. The host institute
can use up to 500 euros per month for consumables related to the sabbatical.
Training courses will be offered via RMPs and the workpackage training. There is an
open call for training courses each year and a small central budget to support the courses.
Participants can use their MARBEF money for travel and subsidence, and a fee will also
be demanded. The three team leaders have already received the money from the central
budget to provide training within their respective schemes.
If additional funding may become available, the final decision on budget allocation and
distribution will be suggested by the SSC and finalized likely at the next General
Assembly.
The assembly broke from 12:30 to 14:30 for lunch at the SZN cafeteria, and then for
short excursions into the Marine Botany department and the SZN Aquarium.
At reunion Wiebe Kooistra gave some practical recommendations. Avoid overlap with
the Marine Genomics NoE activities, mainly considering that 6 out of 14 MARPLAN
participants are also part of Marine Genomics. Also, he recommended giving special
emphasis to sabbatical exchanges within MARPLAN. He then proceeded to specific
examination of the list of Tasks indicated in the approved MARPLAN project and to
people assignments.
Task 1: the kick-off meeting
We will send the report and one task is already accomplished.
Task 2: Short term sabbatical visits to partner institutes within MARPLAN to
gain experience in techniques or to use equipment unavailable at the home
institutes, and to teach expertise unavailable at the host institute
Wiebe Kooistra distributed tables showing the expertise available and in demand in the
partner groups. He asked everybody to update the information ASAP.
The possibility of organizing training courses on microscopy at NHM is investigated.
Raffaella Casotti proposed to include HPLC pigment analysis in the list of expertise
needed in biodiversity studies of marine algae. However, although this facility is present
in the majority of the institutes participating to MARPLAN, no participant could offer
this expertise directly. Wiebe Kooistra advised the delegates to actively pursue the
exchange program and show results ASAP since active RMP’s may be rewarded in the
future if budget re-allocations occur from inactive members in MarBEF to active ones.
Task 3: Calibration of tools to permit comparison of results among groups
Philippe Lebaron and Nathalie Simon accepted to lead the calibration exercises on FISH
and possibly to organize a course on this technique. Raffaella Casotti proposed to replace
the calibration exercise on flow cytometry with a coordinated help on-line to users, so to
offer information on available facilities and expertise within MARPLAN and to provide
help on specific issues. Participants agreed to collaborate on this issue. Raffaella will take
the initiative to install such a network. Uwe John accepted to provide calibration help for
Real Time PCR. A discussion developed on the need for calibration for taxonomy and
also the presentation of data.
Task 4: Exchange of samples and strains
Task 5: Donation of strains to culture collections
Richard Pipe offered to provide support for culture isolation. Issues on authorship were
discussed with regard to providing strains. Delegates accepted to acknowledge the origin
of the material used, for example, in papers. It has made clear that such issues must be
discussed before the exchange of cultures or other material takes place. After the coffee
break, Wiebe Kooistra pointed out that the exchange of material is a thing of bilateral
agreements among participants.
Richard Pipe accepted to receive and maintain strains, as long as certain prerequisites are
met: scientific relevance and taxonomic diversity. As an example, a proposed donation of
a hundred cultures of unknown things might meet little enthusiasm. Also, donators must
accept that the culture is redistributed to other users upon request. Wiebe Kooistra raised
the point of the suggested connection with the CCAP in Oban, which has been the only
recommendation made by the MarBEF external reviewers of the project. Jeremy Young
mentioned that also AlgoBank-Caen should be contacted because they were active in the
project NOMADS. Richard Pipe pointed out that CCAP is already a sister collection of
the MBA, and that it has a more commercial focus with respect to the MBA. The origin
of strains must be mentioned in the acknowledgement section of the papers, and a pdf file
of the paper should be sent to the provider. Nathalie Simon mentioned in her presentation
the Roscoff Culture Collection (RCC), which can provide cultures to partners in the
frame of MARPLAN, or also accept the deposit of strains.
Task 6: Integration and outreach through peer-reviewed papers
The proposition waits for further development. Wiebe Kooistra handed out a table listing
the taxonomic expertise with various taxonomic groups, as present among the partners.
The table also lists lead persons responsible for initializing, and possibly, organizing and
coordinating integrating activities, such as writing reviews. He asked to check and adjust
the list. Participants accepted the main reference persons for specific taxonomical groups,
as listed in the table. Doubts arose for Wichels, whose involvement needs to be
confirmed. Marta Estrada pointed out that Ramon Massana’s expertise in heterotrophic
flagellates focuses on molecular aspects.
Task 7: Presentation of results obtained during MARPLAN exchanges among
institutes at conferences
Task 8: Writing in collaboration of research proposals
Task 9: Organization of workshops and symposia on plankton diversity at
conferences
Wiebe Kooistra recommends the participants to work to spread the knowledge of
MarBEF in general, and of MarPLAN, for example by participating to conferences, use
the MarBEF logo, and to acknowledge participation to MarBEF and the RMP MarPLAN
in papers. Examples of endorsements are provided on the MarBEF website.
Wiebe Kooistra pointed out that MarPLAN institute funds can be used for organizing or
finalizing writing of proposals if the team includes several MarPLAN partners, for
examples, the Marie Curie Actions. He encourages the participants to do so.
Costas Tsigenopoulos stated that HCMR has offered to organize the final workshop in
Crete. All participants accepted his proposition. Wiebe Kooistra also advised to explore
the possibilities to organize small symposia on MARPLAN outputs within major
conferences, as for example meetings of the various Phycological Societies, or ASLO.
Jeremy Young, as co-ordinator of haptophyte research within MARPLAN, noted that the
haptophyte specialists within the project hoped to organize a workshop on haptophyte
life-cycles, provisionally to be held in Barcelona in May 2006 (local hosts Marta Estrada
and Lluisa Cros)..
Task 10: Writing of activity report
Wiebe Kooistra accepted to provide the Steering Committee with one Activity Report
every year. He expects a high input from the participants. Wiebe Kooistra announces that
coordination will be mainly realized using e-mail, and that the minutes and the
presentations of the day will be put on the MARBEF webpage. MARPLAN will also
have its own webpage but within the general MARBEF website.
Task 11: The daughter project, Planctomycetes in European waters
Jens Harder calls for contributions in terms of samples and integration by students’
exchanges.
Wiebe Kooistra asked if there were any other issues that needed discussion. None were
raised. He then thanked everybody for the enthusiasm and constructive participation in
the planning phase of the project and collaborative atmosphere during the meeting. Italia
Canettieri is acknowledged for having taken care of organizational matters, Raffaella
Casotti for writing the minutes, and the SZN for providing coffee, lunch, tea and
technical support. Spot-on at 17:00 Wiebe Kooistra closed the meeting, wished
everybody success, a safe trip home and announced that all who stayed were invited to
join for dinner in a typical Neapolitan restaurant. The next day, several delegates enjoyed
an excursion to Pompeii, not exactly a MarPLAN activity but it certainly served
integration.