The International Associated Laboratory on Benthic Biodiversity Ecology, Sciences and Technologies, BeBEST, has the general objective to describe the functioning of the coastal benthic ecosystems of the North Atlantic Ocean Basin, from the Estuary and Gulf of Saint-Lawrence, the Archipelagos of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, to the Arctic Ocean. Large climate-induced changes are expected in these highly-sensitive regions impacting the benthic communities. However, ecological consequences are not yet predictable. The understanding of local impacts and the evaluation of benthic ecosystem resilience to climate change require to take into account processes at the regional level. BeBest invites its partners and members to present their current research on any aspect of benthic ecology within and among the mosaic of systems that characterize the North Atlantic Ocean Basin. Holistic approaches to the ecology and biogeochemistry of benthic ecosystems in high latitude environments will be addressed, including the controls imposed by physical, and climate processes and process-oriented research in biogeochemistry.