PRIN 2017 - 2017MHHWBN - SIMONE Mirto - MAHRES - Marine habitats restoration in a climate change-impaired Mediterranean Sea (DTA.AD002.508)

Area tematica

Scienze del sistema Terra e tecnologie per l'ambiente

Area progettuale

Struttura responsabile del progetto di ricerca

Istituto per lo studio degli impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (IAS)

Responsabile di progetto

SIMONE MIRTO
Telefono: 3337180191
E-mail: simone.mirto@cnr.it

Abstract

The project "Marine habitats restoration in a climate change-impaired Mediterranean Sea" (MAHRES), by means of an unprecedented integration of meta-analyses, field and manipulative experiments and
modelling exercises, aims at testing the reliability and efficacy of protocols of restoration of selected marine Mediterranean habitats (Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, vermetids and coralligenous
bio-concretions) under expected conditions simulating sea warming and hypoxia due to CC and other sources of disturbance. We chose P. oceanica, vermetids' reefs and coralligenous habitats as they, by
providing a number of ecosystem functions (e.g. biodiversity distribution, nutrient recycling etc.), are among the largest providers of ecosystem services in the Mediterranean Sea. At the same time, they are
among the habitats most threatened by local, regional and global anthropogenic drivers of change, including climate change, eutrophication and hypoxia. The project will also focus on the facilitative role of
holothurians (a formidable bioturbator) and Cystoseira sp. (key canopy algae) in restoration of P. oceanica and vermetid reefs, respectively.

Obiettivi

1) Evaluating geographical spreading and success of marine restoration actions carried out at the Italian national scale, through meta-analyses or, in case of missing hard data, through narrative reviews.
2) Assessing, by means of lab and field experiments, the vulnerability of three Mediterranean habitats to different environmental conditions resembling future climate conditions, with specific reference to sea
warming and associated consequences (e.g., hypoxia and nutrient availability).
3) Testing in the field the reliability of a selection of restoration protocols of the selected habitats in different temperature and oxygen availability conditions in conjunction with other stressors.
4) Assessing the reliability of restoration protocols assisted with the use of untested yet but ecologically and economically relevant species (holothurians).
5) Predicting, through functional-trait based mechanistic modelling, the 'ecological costs' of the proposed restoration actions, under different sea temperature and oxygen availability conditions.
6) Assessing, the effects of restoration actions on biodiversity (with focus on meiofauna) and key ecosystem functions

Data inizio attività

20/01/2020

Parole chiave

biodiversity, ecology, restoration

Ultimo aggiornamento: 27/04/2024