The Strait of Sicily (central Mediterranean Sea) is identified as a biodiversity hotspot able to provide multiple ecosystem services, supporting human life at different scales. However, the Strait of Sicily is one of the most threatened areas in the Mediterranean basin. Anthropogenic pressures are degrading its natural capital and the ability to provide ecosystem services, negatively affecting human well-being. In this context, the present study aimed to implement a multimethodological assessment framework to assess natural capital and ecosystem services in the Strait of Sicily, tracking changes over time. Combining Environmental and Ecosystems Accounting and conventional ecological indicators, the ecological and economic value of natural capital and ecosystem services was assessed.

The Eco-exergy method, coupled with the Shannon diversity index, was implemented to account for the complexity and organizational level of demersal natural capital stocks, monitoring changes in the last fifteen years. In addition, spatial and hotspot analyses were applied to identify areas exhibiting high natural capital and diversity values. Moreover, a set of environmental variables was investigated to link the decline of natural capital to environmental stressors.

The outcomes showed a decline in demersal natural capital stock and diversity, which is closely linked and discussed in relation to the observed trends of environmental variables in the investigated period. In addition, two ecological areas valuable for conservation purposes were identified.

Subsequently, the “System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Ecosystem Accounting” framework was applied to assess a set of ecosystem services provided by the Strait of Sicily, both in biophysical and monetary terms. Extent, condition and ecosystem services flow & use were assessed. Among ecosystem services, food provisioning, carbon sequestration, and nursery function were assessed. The method of willingness to pay for habitat conservation was also applied. Results will be useful to policymakers in charge of developing strategies to achieve impelling conservation actions and sustainability goals.

Rivers are dynamic systems which provide essential ecosystem functions (e.g., nutrients retention, climate regulation) and services (e.g., water supply, fish production) benefiting humans.

Many river ecosystems have been impacted by anthropogenic activities, for instance the construction of dams can degrade the hydromorphological conditions such as habitat loss and thus reduce biodiversity and alter ecosystem functioning.

As required by the EU Water Framework Directive, restoration river programs aim to reverse negative trends due to impacts, eliminate degradation causes and reinstate essential key processes.

In collaboration between UNIGE (Italy) and UFZ (Germany), a transdisciplinary methodology was developed and tested to assess the success of river restoration in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the Ecker stream in Germany. This work was made possible by the Antonio Moroni award funded by SItE.

The analyses conducted within the European RESTOLINK project involved dividing the stream into three sections: a reference upstream reach (control), a middle section with an old weir (impacted), and a downstream site where an old weir has been replaced with a step-pool structure (restored). In each reach, classical methods to asses rivers status through biodiversity measurements are supplemented by biophysical quantification of the natural capital and ecosystem functions through emergy analysis. The latter is based on a donor-side perspective, able to value an ecosystem as production cost in terms of resources exploited to generate and maintain biomass and trophic network. Natural capital is then calculated in the three river sections to obtain a unique system measure to assess restoration efficacy and complement ecological status evaluations. Biophysical measures can be then converted into monetary terms in order to better communicate obtained results also to managers and integrating them into monitoring plans.

Mangroves represent one of the most biologically and ecologically important ecosystems in the world, providing habitat and food for various terrestrial, estuarine, and marine species. Furthermore, they have an estimated economic value of at least $1.6 billion per year as they provide several ecosystem services, including fisheries enhancement, coastal protection, carbon storage and sequestration, and promotion of tourism and recreational activities. However, in the Maldives, knowledge about mangroves is scarce and their importance is still underestimated. The aim of our project is to study these ecosystems and conduct the first ever survey of all mangroves in the Maldives to improve the understanding of their unique ecosystems in order to take more action to protect them from human impact. In our recently published paper, we reviewed all information on mangroves in the Maldives and found that mangrove ecosystems have been documented on 108 islands (9% of all Maldivian islands) with 14 different mangrove species. However, the number of studies is limited and the number of islands with mangroves is potentially higher. In this context, in our last expedition, we explored the mangroves of Laamu and Thaa Atolls. We explored 9 mangrove areas and found two more islands with mangroves unreported in literature. For each mangrove habitat, the different macro-types of mangrove habitat, i.e. fringing, lake-based, embayment, and swamp-based, were documented, and water parameters, including temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen level were assessed. Furthermore, mangrove species were visually identified, and leaves samples were collected for identification with DNA barcoding. As the Maldives are experiencing an increasing demand for areas for agricultural expansion and coastal urban development and has recently been classified as critically endangered by the global assessment of IUCN, this work can push the authorities to ensure an effort in the management, protection, conservation, and restoration of these ecosystems.

Following the launch of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA) by the United Nations in 2021, ecosystem accounting has become a prevalent means of incorporating natural capital value into policymaking processes. Nevertheless, the reliability of such a tool depends on the accuracy and reliability of data at the level of individual ecosystems. This aspect is of particular importance when applied to deltaic environments, where aquatic ecosystems provide different and distinct bundles of ecosystem services (ES).

The present study aims to evaluate the diverse sets of ES delivered by four transitional wetlands, representing the aquatic ecosystems of the Po delta (Italy), based on empirical data gathered from primary sources. The results demonstrate that wetlands exhibit considerable variation in their qualitative and quantitative values, contingent upon their specific uses, management practices, and ecological characteristics. Coastal, closed lagoons and saltworks are primarily utilized for provisioning and cultural ES with direct market value, while other ES are of lesser monetary significance. In contrast, the value of regulating ES (i.e. water regulation) is prevalent in the inner wetlands.

Although primarily utilized for productivity purposes, the wetlands of the Po Delta exhibit distinct sets of ES according their specific features and differ in total ES value. By providing a detailed understanding of the ES provided by different wetland types, this study highlights the importance of tailored management practices to maximize the ecological and economic benefits of these critical ecosystems. The findings indicate a clear need for ecosystem-level studies in deltaic environments as a foundation for the scaling up of ecosystem accounting at regional and national levels.

European islands are hotspots of biological and cultural diversity. Compared to the mainland, they are more vulnerable to climate change, tourism development, uncontrolled land use changes and financial crises. Although ecosystem services assessments have been conducted worldwide in various geographical areas, islands -especially small and medium size ones- remain underrepresented.

SMILES (Enhancing Small-Medium IsLands resilience by securing the sustainability of Ecosystem Services) is a COST action that aims to provide a platform for coordinated interdisciplinary research on several aspects of mapping and assessing of ecosystems services in small/medium European Islands. The goal is to synthesize and strengthen the knowledge base for the conservation of island realms and contribute to their sustainable development. One of the expected output of SMILES is a comprehensive database of natural capital for all small and medium size islands.

The approach to achieve this result involved building a metadatabase that links islands to existing datasets of natural capital. First, we adopted a definition of natural capital to create a list of its components. Then, we compiled a list of islands (ranging from 1 km² to 10,000 km²), which included about 6,000 islands, considering all overseas territories, the entire Mediterranean basin, and more than 3,000 islands belonging to three countries (Russia, Norway and Denmark).

A novel approach to this evaluation was the inclusion of marine natural capital associated with the islands. By combining ecological zones, geographical factors and political borders, we delineated a buffer area around each island that can be considered part of its marine natural capital.

The final result is a global metadabase, available on COST action website that allows user to identify biodiversity and natural capital hotspots, island with natural heritages sites, or protected areas that can be prioritized in future conservation efforts.

Mangrove habitats are known to provide essential ecosystem services to tropical countries around the world. These habitats are considered extreme for the organisms living within them, because they are subject to high temperatures, and substantial fluctuations in salinity levels and ultraviolet radiation. Among these organisms are the algae, a group of primary producers often found in association with mangrove prop roots and pneumatophores. To cope with the extreme conditions, algae are known to produce interesting osmolytes and secondary metabolites. In the Republic of the Maldives, mangrove-associated algae are extremely understudied. After carefully preparing an updated checklist of algae reported in the country, we found that only six benthic algal species haveb been reported in association with mangroves, and no information about their chemical composition is currently available. We conducted a field survey of algal diversity in the Maldivian mangroves from two central and two northern atolls and analyzed their chemical profile by GC and HPLC, with particular regards to low molecular weight carbohydrates and the UV-absorbing molecules mycosporine-like amino acids. The predominant taxa observed were members of the families Rhodomelaceae (Rhodophyta) and Cladophoraceae (Chlorophyta), which showed significant qualitative and quantitative differences in chemical composition across sites. Additionally, we discovered the presence of an algal taxon commonly observed in association with mangroves around the world, but previously unreported from the Maldivian mangroves. The explored habitats showed diverse geomorphological and environmental characteristics across sites, thus providing an interesting ground to study patterns in algal osmolyte and secondary metabolite production. Understanding the diversity and chemical composition of Maldivian mangrove-associated algae will help us understand the contributions of these important organisms to these essential ecosystems.

Marine ecosystems are currently experiencing rapid changes, characterized by rising temperatures and more frequent extreme climatic events, which are having profound impacts across all levels of the ecological hierarchy. Marine heat waves (MHWs) and subsequent extreme storms pose significant threats to marine communities, causing alterations in their structure and composition. Understanding how key benthic structuring species respond to these environmental changes has become crucial, as local biodiversity relies heavily on their conservation status. The larval stage plays a particularly pivotal role in the life cycle of sessile organisms, facilitating the maintenance of local populations and the dispersal of species. Despite its critical importance, there remains limited understanding of how larval stages respond to environmental changes across many taxa. This study specifically investigates the response of the larval stage of a significant Mediterranean endemic habitat-former, the orange coral Astroides calycularis (Pallas 1766), under realistic single and multiple stressor conditions using manipulative mesocosm experiments. Our experiments exposed coral larvae to heat-temperature spikes, MHWs, and combined MHWs with dropping salinity treatments. We examined metabolic performance responses of the early-life stage, as well as larval survival and settlement abilities. Results indicated that rising temperatures and decreasing salinity significantly impair the species' performance, resulting in accelerated metabolism, faster settlement rates, and increased mortality. These findings are essential for comprehending and predicting species distribution and population dynamics under current and future environmental change scenarios. They also shed light on the fate of biodiversity associated with this habitat-forming species in the Mediterranean.

Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) provide an essential ecosystem service as pollinators. However, given their characteristics -big colonial size, generalist diet, wide foraging ranges- and their management, honeybees are capable of monopolising trophic resources (pollen and nectar), potentially impairing the survival of other species of wild bees. Competition can be especially harsh in small and homogeneous ecosystems, such as small islands. We investigated such potential competition on Giannutri, a small island within the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, in which 18 hives of managed honeybees are seasonally introduced since 2018. Spatial and flower-visits overlap between honeybees and wild bees suggests potential exploitative competition. Our experimental approach was to manipulate honeybees’ abundance by closing and opening the beehives, to obtain 2 experimental conditions in which we assessed: a) the abundance of different species of Apoidea, through transect walks; b) trophic resources availability, through quantification of nectar volume (on Teucrium fruticans L. and Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.) and presence/absence of pollen (on T. fruticans); c) foraging pattern behaviours of target wild bees (Anthophora dispar Lepeletier and Bombus terrestris L.), through focal behavioural sampling and observation plots. We documented: a) a decline in the number of individuals of the target species over 4 years; b) a lower availability of trophic resources in days with presence of honeybees; c) changes in foraging behaviour patterns in target wild bees (e.g. less time spent in nectar suction on individual flowers by wild bees in presence of honeybees). Our results suggest that honeybees can have a detrimental effect on wild bees. Giannutri, therefore, represents not only a study area in which we want to safeguard wild bees' populations, but also a model system of a small Mediterranean landscape. In view of this, our findings can drive the draw up of new guidelines towards a more aware and sustainable beekeeping practice.

The health of bees and other pollinating insects is increasingly threatened by human activities, which include factors like climate change, habitat destruction, parasitic infections, diseases, and notably, environmental pollution and pesticide use in agriculture. Population dynamics, the presence of Varroa destructor mites, and ecotoxicological impacts were examined in two apiaries subjected to varying levels of anthropogenic pressure. Biomarkers of neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and carboxylesterase (CaE)), metabolism (alkaline phosphatase (ALP)), biotransformation (glutathione S-transferase (GST)), and immune system (lysozyme (LYS), phenoloxidase (POx), and prophenoloxidase (proPOx)) were analyzed in different worker sub-castes of Apis mellifera. Specifically, we assessed biomarker responses based on sub-caste (newly formed, adult builders, and foragers), season (spring, summer, and autumn), and potential sources of contamination. The findings revealed a physiological oscillatory pattern in population dynamics and varroa levels, attributed to control treatments for parasitosis. Enzymatic activity values varied among worker sub-castes across the three seasons, with AChE activity being lower in newly formed bees and builders compared to foragers, while GST activity was higher in newly formed bees. The application of synthetic pesticides against varroa likely resulted in toxicological effects on bees treated for parasitosis. This study enhanced our understanding of the physiological activities of the investigated enzymes in different castes, providing deeper insight into the sub-lethal effects of pesticides and environmental contaminants, and how climate change and other stressors influence the population dynamics of these insects.

Connectivity within networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) is key to support the resilience of fish communities in the long run and scale up the benefits provided by single MPAs. Therefore, connectivity assessments are crucial for designing effective conservation strategies for fish populations. In the context of the Italian national research project “Reconnect”, we analyse connectivity among existing and candidate MPAs in Sicilian coastal waters using the dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus as a model species, in view of (i) its key ecological role in Mediterranean rocky reef ecosystems, (ii) its vulnerability to intensive fishing and (iii) the concurrent knowledge gap on its population structure and dispersal features. We study connectivity using an individual-based bio-physical model and simulate larval dispersal with a Lagrangian approach. Species distribution models – providing predicted biomass of E. marginatus in space – are used as initial conditions of the simulations and are generated based on field data gathered either via underwater visual censuses (UVCs) or baited underwater videos (BUVs), depending on bathymetric conditions. To harmonise the data from these two census methodologies, their statistical relationship was explored on a pre-existing dataset by fitting various statistical regression models (e.g., generalised linear models, two-parts models). This analytical framework allows for the elaboration of a set of connectivity metrics to (i) assess the performance of the existing MPAs network in the study area and (ii) identify potential connectivity hotspots where to funnel future conservation effort and reduce anthropogenic disturbance, ultimately contributing to science-informed MPAs spatial planning.

Transitional environments in deltaic areas host a diverse range of aquatic ecosystems, each characterized by distinct living communities and ecological functions. Understanding these ecosystems is essential for their management and biological conservation. This study investigates the conservation value and ecosystem functioning of eight aquatic systems within the Po River Delta Park (Italy), one of Europe's most significant transitional areas, using fish communities as indicators based on presence/absence data.The analysis considered seasonal patterns in species occurrences and respective functional traits. Initially, multivariate analyses were performed to assess the impact of environmental characteristics on community composition. Subsequently, conservation values were measured through community composition, and the functional roles of wetlands were evaluated by examining fish traits related to habitat use and feeding mode. The contributions of different wetlands to alpha and beta diversity were also explored.The results indicated that water level patterns (artificial vs. tidal) and wetland surface area were the most influential factors in determining the species composition of fish communities in both taxonomic and functional terms. Coastal wetlands exhibited a higher number of species, including protected ones, indicating a greater conservation value. Functional beta diversity analysis revealed that migratory species significantly contribute to functional beta diversity, emphasizing the role of wetlands as nurseries and feeding grounds. During winter and autumn, detritivorous species primarily drive beta diversity, while planktivorous and piscivorous species are more influential in spring and summer, highlighting trophic seasonal variations.Overall, the findings demonstrate that fish communities are effective indicators for describing and monitoring ecosystem functioning in managed transitional waters, providing valuable insights for guiding the environmental management of these unique ecosystems.

This speech serves as an introductory contribution to the discussions on the "Effects of Climate Change on Ecosystems" session. Ecosystems are communities of living things, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, interacting with each other and the physical world. People rely on ecosystems for many benefits, such as food, water, clean air, building materials, and recreation. Ecosystems can vary in size, from large ones (areas surrounding a national park) to as small as a single fallen tree. They can also overlap with one another or be part of larger ecosystems. These connections between ecosystems make them dependent on one another, and not dependent on the organisms within them. Climate change affects ecosystems in many ways. Climate controls how plants grow, how animals behave, which organisms thrive, and how they interact with the physical environment. The IPCC warns that if current warming trends continue, global temperatures could double by 2030-2052, causing devastating effects on ecosystems worldwide. The ocean, which absorbs over 80% of global warming, is particularly affected. Elevated sea-surface temperatures are damaging coral reefs, leading to bleaching and extinction. Ocean acidification, caused by higher CO2 levels, further threatens corals and shelled sea creatures. Sea levels are rising due to ocean water warming and the melting of land-based glaciers. Over the last century, the sea level has increased by an average of 20 centimeters. All regions at the global level are experiencing the impacts of climate change, but impacts vary by area and ecosystem. People are taking many actions to help ecosystems adapt to climate change impacts or minimize the effects. For example, environmental agencies that manage the nations' natural resources are now considering climate change in policies and planning. At the local level, many groups are preserving habitats and restoring ecosystems that have been damaged or disturbed in the past.

Agricultural food security is threatened by climate change impacts, which can distress crop growth and favor the spread of infectious diseases. We examinethe synergism of two potential causes of future yield failure in peach production: the effects of global climate change on fruit tree blooming and on the spread of fungal diseases.
The ‘disease triangle’, well-known concept in plant pathology that represents the interplay between the environment, plant hosts, and pathogens, was evaluated for brown rot in peach orchards in light of climate change. Coupling a climate-driven mechanistic phenological and epidemiological model across the French continental territory, we provided projections of yield losses for four peach cultivars (early, mid-early, mid-late, and late) in the XXI century under different climate change scenarios. We considered as adaptation strategy the possibility of shifting peach production sites to new suitable areas.
Global warming is expected to impair fruit phenology with blooming failure events in the south-western part of the country that comprise the 31% of the French territory at the end of the XXI century. This will be less extreme under the more moderate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenario, even though sporadic blooming failures will still occur that will involve less than the 10% of the French territory. In contrast, future warmer and drier conditions will decrease brown rot-induced yield loss in the historicallocations devoted to peach cultivation. Thanks to the considered adaptation strategy, the peach national yield could still be fulfilled even under the most extreme GHG emission scenario. Comprehensive mathematical frameworks, that concomitantly consider the climatic effects on the plant hosts and on their pathogens, are required to provide reliable future predictions of crop yields and to inform control and adaptation strategies to guarantee food security under global warming.

Oceans are critical for sustaining life on Earth, acting as carbon sinks, regulating climate, and providing essential ecosystem services for human wellbeing. Net Primary Production (NPP), defined as the rate at which phytoplankton convert inorganic carbon into organic matter via photosynthesis, represents the primary process sustaining the flow of energy into ecosystems. Consequently, from a theoretical point of view, NPP may also represent the most important driver influencing species richness and abundance. This study represents a proof of concept of the intricate relationship between NPP and biodiversity in marine ecosystems on a global scale, utilizing data from satellite observations and in-situ measurements. Results indicate a strong linear correlation between NPP and biodiversity, suggesting that higher productivity supports greater species richness and ecosystem resilience. Moreover, our findings highlight that diverse marine ecosystems tend to be more productive due to factors such as complementarity and functional redundancy among species. However, this relationship is complex, with some highly diverse ecosystems potentially experiencing reduced productivity due to competition for resources. Current trends in global environmental changes, including global warming and eutrophication, are likely to alter this balance. Warming sea temperatures, changes in ocean stratification and nutrient availability can impact NPP, which in turn affects marine biodiversity. This research underscores the importance of understanding NPP-biodiversity dynamics for developing effective conservation strategies. While the prevailing trend in marine ecosystems is a reduction in NPP in response to ongoing climate change, local trends may vary due to the influence of other environmental variables, resulting in a higher level of uncertainty. Using easily accessible satellite data, such as NPP, to inform biodiversity expectations could be a valuable tool for planning and managing conservation policies. Our study contributes to this understanding by integrating comprehensive data and emphasizing the need for adaptive approaches in marine conservation amidst changing global conditions.

Biological invasions are one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss. Efficient conservation efforts require knowing where negative impacts on biodiversity are likely to occur in the future, taking climate change into account.

The environmental impact classification for alien taxa (EICAT) is a well-known standardized system adopted by IUCN to score and compare impacts of alien species to native biodiversity and can be potentially used to predict invasion threats to biodiversity in Europe. We selected 100 terrestrial alien plant species known for their high potential for impacts. For each of them, we (i) assessed the EICAT impact score, (ii) fitted ensemble species distribution models and (iii) matched impact scores and geographical distributions across alien plant species to map the risk of biodiversity loss due to plant invasion in Europe, in the present and in 2050 under different climate change scenarios.

Preliminary results showed that several species with major impacts, inducing local extinctions of native species, have the potential to spread widely throughout Europe. Coastal, mountain and northern regions showed higher potential increase in the intensity of impacts in future climatic scenarios. Competition with native species in invaded communities, chemical and structural impacts on ecosystems were the most common mechanisms though which these alien plants are likely to affect biodiversity in Europe.

This study employs a modelling approach to assess the impact of climate change on four key species—Quercus cerris, Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa, Phillyrea latifolia, and Pistacia lentiscus—within a Mediterranean forest ecosystem. Field measurements, obtained using an infrared gas exchange analyser, inform the calibration and validation of a modified Farquhar and Caemmerer biochemical model of photosynthesis. This species-specific model simulates instantaneous net assimilation (μmolCO₂/m²s), stomatal conductance (mmolH₂O/m²s), and transpiration rates (mmolH₂O/m²s). To account for each species’ unique water-use efficiency, we incorporate marginal carbon cost theory in transpiration estimation.

By integrating model results over time, we obtain gross and net primary productivity, and transpiration values for each species under current climate conditions (2022) and future climate change scenarios (Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) 2.6 and 8.5). Key findings include:

1. P. latifolia and F. oxycarpa exhibit reduced annual net primary productivity under the SSP 8.5 scenario (179 and 624 gC/m²y) compared to 2022 levels (227 and 674 gC/m²y).
2. Conversely, P. lentiscus and Q. cerris demonstrate increased annual primary productivity in the SSP 8.5 scenario (872 and 425 gC/m²y vs. 828 and 392 gC/m²y of 2022).
3. Annual transpiration values are expected to rise for Q. cerris and P. lentiscus (from 392 and 484 gH₂O/m²y in 2022 to 444 and 532 gH₂O/m²y in SSP-8.5), while decreasing significantly for F. oxycarpa (from 674 gH₂O/m²y in 2022 to 227 gH₂O/m²y in SSP-8.5) and marginally for P. latifolia (from 227 gH₂O/m²y in 2022 to 206 gH₂O/m²y in SSP-8.5).

The model provides insights into how different species respond to climate change, which can be useful in guiding conservation and management strategies in ecological restoration projects.

Freshwater ecosystems play a crucial role in providing globally relevant ecosystem services. Yet, freshwater communities worldwide have experienced substantial declines due to human-driven changes, with non-native fishes and global warming identified as major threats. Although it is known that most fish are ectotherms, thus metabolically influenced by temperature, the effect of warming on fish impact has often been overlooked.

Among freshwater fishes, the eurythermal Micropterus salmoides is one of the most widely introduced and invasive species. Its predatory pressure has altered species composition and size structure of invaded communities, with M. salmoides often becoming the dominant predator. Although the species has been increasingly studied over the last few decades, the role of temperature in its predatory impact has only been marginally considered.

In this manipulative laboratory study, Functional Responses (FRs), describing the feeding rate as a function of prey density for M. salmoides and trophically analogous fish species (Esox cisalpinus and Perca fluviatilis), provided valuable insights into the effect of temperature (+3-6 °C increases) on predatory response and outcomes of competition between these predators. An increase in functional response (+418%) on prey populations with rising temperatures was recorded for the invasive species. Conversely, decreases in functional response and increases in mortality were recorded for the native ones. The differences in FRs were related to changing prey handling (which includes capture, consumption, and digestion of prey and defines the magnitude of the FR curve) with temperature.

The study highlights that the impact of M. salmoides on prey populations is expected to increase with warming, while native predators may experience a reduction in their competitive capacity, with implications for species coexistence and food web dynamics. Investigating the effects of biological invasions and climate change separately is therefore not sufficient for accurately measuring ongoing changes and appropriately managing ecosystems.

The interaction between small-scale fisheries and dolphins has always been contentious and often results in conflicts between fishermen and dolphins with important losses from both sides. These interactions could also often result in the entanglement of marine mammals in fishing gear, the major cause of mortality in marine mammals by human activities. The Tursionet project, funded by the Pelagos Initiative, aims to study the interactions and relationship between different types of fishing gear and the population of bottlenose dolphins that inhabit the coastal waters in the Pelagos Sanctuary, a Marine Protected Area for marine mammals located in the Northwestern Mediterranean between France, Italy, and Monaco. Several hydrophones have been deployed along the Ligurian coast near different types of fishing gear such as gillnets and pots in continuous recording to monitor the acoustic interactions of dolphins passing nearby. The frequency of encounters, the types of vocalizations, and the diel pattern are investigated to assess the intensity of these interactions and further explore the impacts they may have on the local population of dolphins. The different sites will also show if there are particular hotspots of activity where further monitoring may be needed. Finally, the results from this project will result in the development of automated systems that will be used in monitoring these interactions and ultimately develop mitigation strategies to reduce conflicts between the local fisheries and dolphins.

The soundscape is the acoustic environment resulting from natural and human sounds present within an ecosystem or an area. It acoustically profiles the location as a whole, comprising the fingerprint of the soniferous species using the area (biophonies), the noisy human activities (anthropophonies) and the physical phenomena (geophonies). As such, the study of the acoustic patterns and the spectral characteristics of the different components of the soundscape can be viewed as an ecological metric of the status, dynamics and health of an ecosystem, and an indicator of environmental changes.

This study aims to provide baseline information on the biophonic component of the underwater soundscape of the Marine Protected Area "Secche di Tor Paterno" (Mediterranean Sea), investigating site-specific diversity and temporal patterns in sounds’ production. Using autonomous recorders released/recovered in the MPA, 24-days acoustic data were collected in the summer 2020, 2022 and 2023. A total of 6.741 files corresponding to 113 hours of recordings was analysed using Raven Pro, Rx and Avisoft Pro software.

Biophonies were detected at all times. At least 8 categories of fish sounds were recognized, indicating the positive acoustic presence of Scorpaena spp., Sciaena umbra and the cryptic Ophidion spp. Bray-call series emitted by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and impulsive sounds produced by Alpheidae species (i.e. snapping shrimps) were discriminated as well. The monthly/daily patterns revealed that fishes were acoustically active during the night, while crustaceans all-day-long, with two significant activity peaks (sunrise and sunset). The intense, concomitant nocturnal sound production by different fish species – mainly related to reproduction – was affected by the noise generated by vessels crossing the MPA, with a reduction of the emission rates.

These early findings emphasize the importance of soundscape studies to understand the acoustic community of a site, detect its changes/alterations, and improve MPA conservation effectiveness.

Climate change and biodiversity crises are rooted in the narrow set of utilitarian values that are prioritized in current policymaking processes. Therefore, recognizing the plurality of nature’s values is a key step to enable a transformative change towards sustainability. In this work, we aim to explore the diversity of nature’s values and ecosystem services (ES) perceptions expressed by the citizens of the Venice lagoon, Italy. The 965 complete responses obtained from our survey revealed a diversity of values, with almost half of the respondents mentioning a combination of two or more values of nature, including intrinsic, relational and instrumental ones. The perceptions expressed on ES allowed to divide the sample into four clusters, which recognize the importance of the lagoon’s ES to different extents. Interestingly, these distinct ES perceptions are associated with different priorities in terms of nature’s values, and can be positioned along a gradient ranging from high to low alignment with sustainability principles. These results convey two key messages. First, part of the local community already recognizes the high importance of the lagoon’s ecological structures, processes and ES, and holds values aligned with sustainability principles. These perspectives and values should thus be recognized and embedded in the local decision making processes. Second, the citizens that currently fail to recognize the importance of ES are those to which the greatest efforts should be directed, to promote a shift towards sustainability-aligned values and behaviours. Understanding how ES are perceived complements existing ES assessments providing insights on which ES categories are poorly recognized, and can help to envisage new ways to convey their importance to the public and decision makers. From a leverage points perspective, working in these directions means to act upon crucial value-centred leverage points that can enable a transformative change towards a sustainable use of natural resources.

The recently approved Nature Restoration Law (NRL) sets targets for urban green space and tree cover. Concurrently, the proposal for an amendment to the EU Regulation on Environmental Accounts includes accounts for ecosystem extent, condition, and services for urban ecosystems, aligning with the UN Statistical Standard for Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA). The NRL anticipates increased urban green space and tree cover in each Member State until satisfactory levels are achieved. However, it remains unclear what defines a satisfactory level and how it will be evaluated, though it is expected to relate to optimal or good ecosystem condition as outlined in SEEA-EA. Here, we benchmark Italian urban ecosystems in terms of extent, condition, and services against European counterparts. Hopefully, initiating a discussion to better understand potential satisfactory levels. We conduct an overall comparison and a closer look at countries with similar climates and population size. We develop thematic urban ecosystem accounts for the latest year available in Copernicus data (2018). Specifically, we create accounts for ecosystem extent, four condition variables (green space, tree cover, imperviousness, and particulate matter (PM) concentration), and air filtration as an ecosystem service. Results show that Italian urban ecosystems have slightly more artificialized areas and fewer (peri)urban forests than the EU average. In general, condition variables and air filtration efficiency in Italian urban ecosystems are similar to European averages. However, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ in Italian urban ecosystems exceed European averages by 3-7 μg/m³ (a 20% higher than the European average), varying seasonally. Italian medium-sized cities also show higher imperviousness per inhabitant and lower urban green per inhabitant than European counterparts, with regional variations within Italy. Overall, if satisfactory levels within NRL and related policies are defined as feasible general European values, Italy is unlikely to face major challenges, compared to most European counterparts, in meeting them.

Urbanization is a global mega-trend resulting from urban population growth, urban expansion and migration from rural to urban areas. Road and communication infrastructure have been improved across large parts of rural areas, and demographic projections show that upcoming urbanization will occur in peri-urban areas, as well as in small cities and interconnected towns. The distinction between rural and urban is becoming increasingly blurred; rather than two separate entities in their own right, rural and urban areas represent two ends of a spectrum, connected via numerous linkages across a rural–urban continuum. As urban forms expand into the rural realm, the extent and condition of natural and semi-natural ecosystems is increasingly threatened by human-induced pressures, while their capacity to maintain consistent supply of Ecosystem Services (ESs) is reduced, with cascading impacts on the quality of urban life. In this context, Green Infrastructures emerge as fundamental Nature-Based Solutions because they enable residents to experience multiple co-benefits through the ESs they provide, in line with a “One Health” vision.

We present a spatial analysis of ES provision and synergies/trade-offs along the urban–rural gradient for the metropolitan city of Rome. We focus our attention on two macro classes of human-induced environmental pressures that are particularly critical to the quality of life in urban contexts, namely air pollution and the Urban Heat Island effect. We found that all the selected ESs, besides a few exceptions, are provided as a bundle, which means they appear together repeatedly. On average, ES provision grows at comparable paces moving from the inner urban core towards peri-urban and rural areas. As a consequence, most densely urbanized areas were found to be ESs coldspots, that is low ES-supply areas, compared to peri-urban and rural areas. These findings may support the implementation of the recent European Nature Restoration Law in urban areas.

Urban trees play a fundamental role in enhancing the liveability of our cities by providing several ecosystem services, including stormwater retention, air and water quality improvement, and heat island mitigation. However, the complex interplay between green systems and urban environments poses challenges in accurately quantifying their contributions. To estimate these interactions and forecast their effects, several highly specialized modelling tools are available. Indeed, the lack of a comprehensive and user-friendly tool that could fully characterize and describe the interactions has been noticed.

This study aims to assess the performance of three models, the drainage model SWMM, the water-stress model URbanTRee and micro-meteorological model PALM, in reproducing green systems and urban environment interactions, particularly in terms of runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, and thermal conditions.
We used a comparative analysis by parameterising the three models to the same case study, two well-monitored trees in TU-Campus, Berlin, with the same input data. The SWMM model, Storm Water Management Model, provided a high-resolution assessment of runoff and infiltration dynamics. The URbanTRee model focuses on runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration and soil moisture dynamics. Finally, the PALM, an advanced model for atmospheric and oceanic boundary layer flow, stands out for simulating evapotranspiration, soil moisture and thermal conditions.

The model intercomparison showed the difficulties that arise due to different model interoperabilities, such as different parameterisation required, the different data formats, and the different space and time resolutions used. However, once normalized, it was possible, to determine which model best described each aspect of rainfall separation and which information got lost while applying different model scales and structures.

In conclusion, it was shown that comparative analyses among environmental models facilitate the choice, the implementation and thus the performance of these tools, resulting in a positive impact on urban planning, environmental management, and ecosystem service assessment.

In recent decades, mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) has been widely applied on an industrial scale for the energy valorisation of organic waste according to a sustainable Waste-to-Energy approach. Despite the numerous advantages of AD treatment, mainly the disposal of organic waste and the production of CH₄, the performance of the bioprocess can still be improved by optimising biotic and abiotic process parameters. This study evaluated the AD treatment of a mixture of two problematic wastes of predominantly urban origin, namely the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and sludge from wastewater treatment plants (70% and 30%, respectively). To improve CH₄ production and yield and make the AD process more sustainable, two different strategies were compared, based on a non-conventional operating temperature (42°C) and the bioaugmentation of the microbial community in mesophilic condition (37°C), respectively. Two batch-configured experiments were conducted on a bench scale with acclimatized microbial communities monitoring CH₄ production and yield, fibre composition and microbial community characteristics. The results showed that a 5°C increase in operating temperature increased cumulative CH₄ production by 43.9%. However, bioaugmentation provided the best yields in terms of mL CH₄ production compared to the added volatile solid (VS). Furthermore, as bioaugmentation was performed at day 12 with the aim of reactivating the CH₄ process, it increased production by a further 19.2% and almost doubled the yields compared to the unaugmented condition (611.3 ± 3.2 vs 373.7 ± 28.1 mL CH₄ gVS^-1, respectively). The latter result is of particular interest for future research developments aimed at identifying strategies for recovering and enhancing the AD process in real plants, which are often subject to episodes of critical process conditions and inhibitory effects.

Seagrasses are essential to marine ecosystems, where they often play the role of foundation species and provide key ecosystem services, from habitat provision and coastal protection to water purification and carbon sequestration. We collated distribution data for >90% of Mediterranean seagrass species to analyze their vulnerability to climate change using species distribution modeling and climate-niche factor analysis. Our results show that seagrasses generally exhibit narrow ecological tolerances to variations in the environmental variables associated with their current distribution, indicating high sensitivity to climate change. Our study highlights the increasing vulnerability of seagrasses under progressively more severe climate change scenarios and, in particular, identifies significant risks under SSP 8.5. We also find that Posidoniaceae consistently show higher levels of vulnerability than Cymodoceaceae, and that the Adriatic Sea is a regional hotspot of vulnerability compared to other Mediterranean sub-basins. Our study thus highlights the need for targeted mitigation strategies to protect seagrass habitats from the impacts of climate change, and suggests ways to prioritize interventions based on the differential vulnerability projected for different taxonomic groups and/or geographic regions.

Coastal sand dunes are ecologically and economically important habitats but are threatened by multiple factors including climate changes. Climate scenarios predict the intensity and frequency of precipitations will decrease in coastal Mediterranean areas by the end of the century. Water shortage associated with reduced precipitations is a major factor limiting seedling survival in dunes. A greater precipitation reduction is expected in spring, a period favorable for dune plant recruitment. Depositions of Posidonia oceanica wrack can be also present along beaches and embryo dunes. This material can provide essential nutrients to dune plants, but whether it can affect the ability of seedlings to cope with abiotic stressors like water shortage is still largely unknown. Here, the individual and combined effects of precipitation amount (current vs. predicted reduced according to SSP2-4.5 stabilization scenario) and wrack deposition (no wrack vs.wrack alone vs. wrack plus sand) on seedling establishment and growth of three dune species, Cakile maritima, Thinopyrum junceum, and Calamagrostis arenaria, were investigated in mesocosm. Wrack water holding capacity and leachate chemical/physical properties were also evaluated. Neither precipitation nor wrack affected seed germination and seedling emergence success for all investigated species. Reduced precipitation decreased root development while wrack promoted seedling aboveground elongation, regardless of its composition. Reduced precipitation also reduced biomass production in T. junceum and C. arenaria but only in the absence of wrack. Wrack retained water up to five-fold its weight and increase water pH, conductivity, and nutrient content. Our findings indicate that expected reduced precipitations could make dune plant seedlings more vulnerable to additional stressors. But wrack could mitigate reduced precipitation effects in T. junceum and C. arenaria by retaining most available water. Thus, maintaining P. oceanicawrack on beaches could be a valuable, eco-sustainable strategy for supporting the resilience of dunes under ongoing climate change.

Dissolved oxygen in water represents an essential substrate for most marine ecosystems. Its concentration is steadily decreasing in response to global warming. Alhough short-term impacts are well understood, the spatiotemporal paucity of instrumental records, coupled with numerical simulations with conflicting predictions about the future of oxygen deficient zones (ODZs) in the tropical Pacific, makes it difficult to make long-term predictions about the future of oxygen in the oceans and the resulting impact on marine ecosystems.

An alternative and complementary approach is given by the study of global warming events in the history of our planet that have left a tangible and measurable trace in the geological record. The use of geochemical and morphometric analyses on fossil organisms can provide important information on the long-term response of ocean habitability to temperature rise. We show here new evidence in favor of tropical subsurface oxygenation during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a rapid global warming event that serves as a “geologic analogue” to ongoing warming.

The isotopes of organic nitrogen on fossil planktonic foraminifera shells indicate that the tropical Pacific ODZ contracted during the PETM, implying an increase in oxygen in the vicinity. The plication of the metabolic theory of aquatic ectotherms in the fossil record, shows that the increase in size of tropical planktonic foraminifera, despite warming, implies that oxygen availability increased in the tropical Pacific.

These changes are consistent with biogeochemical models for the SSP5-8.5 scenario for 2300, in which a decline in biological productivity and subsequent respiration rates allow tropical oxygen to increase, even as global ocean oxygen decreases. The upping tropical oxygen may have alleviated the physiological stress on planktonic organisms in areas of higher biodiversity, helping to avoid a mass extinction of planktonic organisms during the PETM, despite the largest benthic extinction in the Cenozoic.

Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are among the major calcifying organisms in the Mediterranean Sea and are important foundation taxa in the photic zone. They enhance the structural complexity of marine ecosystems, promoting settlement and metamorphosis of various invertebrates. Due to multiple local factors and climate change effects, coralligenous reefs are in decline. Investigations on CCA, the foundation species, are therefore necessary to know their adaptability to different conditions and thus to evaluate the possibility of possible restoration actions based on CCA transplantation. To this end, a manipulative field experiment was conducted in Costa Paradiso (North Sardinia, Italy) where CCA recruited at 35 m of depth on artificial substrates (terracotta and ceramics 10x10 cm tiles) with varying initial coverage (high and low): to disentangle the effects of irradiance from those of the temperature, three treatments were used by fixing the tiles at 1) 15 m of depth where they were placed in a natural cavity so that the algae could experience the 35 m light irradiance but water temperature above the thermocline (LLHT), at 2) 15 m of depth outside the cavity (HLHT), and at 3) the same origin depth, 35 m, where irradiance was low and temperature below the thermocline (LLLT). The recruits exhibited greater growth when exposed to higher temperature compared to those in combined low light and low temperature conditions. A posteriori, molecular and morphological analyses were conducted to identify the CCA species which allowed estimating the species-specific growth rate at the studied conditions.

Managing marine aquatic resources is a complex challenge due to the intricated processes unfolding at sea. This challenge is amplified in the Mediterranean Sea, where pronounced seascape, climatic, and social variability critically affect the biodiversity of the basin across sub-regions. The traditional approach to fisheries management in this area has long relied on stock assessment with classical stock-recruitment models to reconstruct historical population dynamics and predict their response to different effort regulation measures. However, these methods lack robust predictive power due to their limited ability to incorporate changing environmental conditions and anthropogenic pressure. Our work proposes a spatially explicit metapopulation model of the European hake (Merluccius merluccius) within the area of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The model integrates the effect of environmental variables on life-history traits and larval connectivity. This approach, therefore, allows us to predict the response of the hake stock to different scenarios of climate change (RCPs) and fishing pressure, generating a realistic representation of the stock dynamics in the medium to long term and predicting the potential future spatial distribution of the stock. This tool enables the mapping of different performance indicators in space and time, informing the development of area- and effort-based management strategies that optimize resource conservation while identifying areas particularly sensitive to management interventions. This modelling framework provides a flexible and valuable tool for designing effective marine protected area networks and facilitating sustainable fisheries management practices.

In the Mediterranean Sea the temperature increase has accelerated over recent years, affecting at different levels key species like the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Recently, in warm-edged locations of Mediterranean basin, P. oceanica bleaching (i.e. discoloration of leaves still attached to the shoots) has been observed in late summer, but the factors that trigger the phenomenon remain unknown. This study aimed at i) estimating the spatio-temporal variability of P. oceanica leaf condition in Konnos Bay, Cyprus (mensurative experiment) and ii) investigating the role of light irradiation and temperature on leaf bleaching by a reciprocal transplant of plant cuttings from different depths under a light gradient obtained by using shading nets (manipulative experiment). To pursue our goals, morphological (i.e. leaf area, leaf necrosis, leaf bleaching) and eco-physiological (i.e. chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins) responses were considered. The hypothesis supported by the mensurative experiment is that interactive effects of irradiance and temperature (both continuously recorded by loggers) are responsible for the extent of bleaching and, as consequence, during summertime, shallow untouched P. oceanica plants are expected to bleach before the deep ones due to the exposure to higher temperature and irradiance conditions. The manipulative experiment could shed light on the effects of the variability of conditions influencing the seagrass leaf status of transplanted plants. More specifically, the occurrence of bleaching on deep cuttings transplanted at shallow depth without shading net, would support the hypothesis of the join temperature and light sudden variation in bleaching induction. Both approaches will allow to identify a potential modulation of light harvesting pigments found in the shoots at different depths as a plant defense strategy. Analyses are ongoing and both experiments will last until August 2024.

Nature Restoration Law (NRL) aims to restore 20% of terrestrial and marine degraded ecosystems of the European territory by 2030. To achieve this goal, each Country must contribute at both national and regional scales.

One of the initial provisions states that by 2030, Member States should prioritize restoring natural ecosystems within Natura 2000 sites, making it urgent to focus on the conservation status of the habitats in these areas.

We chose Sardinia as a case study because Natura 2000 sites cover a similar percentage of its territory (18,87%) compared to the National (19,38%) and the European level (18,6%). Additionally, Sardinia's insularity, high biodiversity levels, and low population density make it an ideal model to test NRL feasibility.

We collected official Natura 2000 data from the Italian Ministry of the Environment (MASE). For each habitat within each site, we assessed the potential for restoration based on the value of the conservation status, i.e. the degree of conservation of the structure and functions of the natural habitat type concerned and restoration possibilities.

Results show that coastal ecosystems are the most endangered, with a few exceptions in habitats with limiting environmental characteristics, such as sea cliffs.

Despite the importance of restoring these environments in terms of biodiversity safeguards, their reduced distribution will have a limited impact on the NRL target, while forest and shrub habitats will potentially be the major contributors.

Relying solely on habitat restoration within Natura 2000 areas will not be sufficient to meet the NRL targets. This implies that interventions in natural areas outside Natura 2000 and agricultural territories will be necessary.

A qualitative analysis at the regional scale can provide insight into the feasibility of reaching the NRL targets and provides an example that can be adjusted and replicated at higher hierarchical levels across Europe.

In alignment with the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and the UNESCO Agenda for Sustainable Development, significant efforts are underway to protect and restore marine ecosystems such as the newly approved EU Nature Restoration Law. Within this framework, the Ocean Citizen EU project (HORIZON-MISS-2021-OCEAN-02) aims to develop replicable marine restoration protocols that integrate habitat restoration, carbon immobilization, and biodiversity regeneration with social and economic benefits for local communities. Pilot sites have been selected to experimentally test and develop sustainable restoration actions for various shallow and deeper marine forests.

The present study focuses on restoring intertidal macroalgal forests of brown canopy-forming macroalgae in one pilot site, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). Macroalgal forests are among the Earth's most productive and biodiversity-rich ecosystems, supporting fisheries and enhancing ecosystem resilience. Despite their ecological importance, they are in regression worldwide, including the study site where declines of 90% of the extension of some Cystoseira sensu lato species have been reported in the last decades, mainly attributed to ocean warming and habitat degradation These declines are calling the need for urgent actions to prevent further losses and restore areas unable to recover naturally.

To enhance restoration efficiency, several preparatory steps are undertaken. First, we are characterizing the macroalgal communities in the restoration site, establishing a critical baseline for evaluating restoration success and community evolution. We are also assessing habitat suitability following identification of potential stressors. Additionally, we are evaluating potential Cystoseira s.l. species for restoration, donor sites, and ex-situ out-planting techniques. Finally, we are developing a long-term monitoring protocol to assess restoration evolution.

This research provides crucial knowledge for restoring marine biodiversity and sustaining the ecosystem services provided by macroalgal forests. Outcomes will support marine conservation efforts, ensuring the long-term viability and the myriad benefits these ecosystems offer to marine life and coastal communities.

Several tunnelling projects have been implementing in Europe and worldwide for easily connecting people in areas with geographical constrains, such as the presence of mountains. For this purpose, tunnel industry produces millions of cubic meters of excavated soil (spoil material) which can be re-used for different purposes, in line with circular economy. Lime (1–6%) can be added for chemically stabilize excavated materials soils and makes it possible its handling. However, lime addition to SM leads to a significant increase in soil pH up to very high values (ca. 12), with possible deleterious effects if it will be in contact with soil biota or plants. In this work, a real case study, where a tunnel for the A1 highway has been implemented, for planning revegetation and reforestation of the degraded construction site area (Appennini Mountain, close to Florence, Italy) is reported. Microcosm experiments were set-up for 4 months with spoil material and surface soil mixed with different organic amendments (OAs) (compost, pomace or digestate) for evaluating Medicago sativa growth and soil quality improvements. Subsequently, at the construction site, a field experiment was set up using mesocosms with the same OAs and five tree/shrub species commonly present in this region: Ostrya carpinifolia (black hornbeam), Quercus pubescens (downy oak), Fraxinus ornus (ash), Olea europaea (olive) and Corylus avellana (hazel). The plant survival and development was evaluated as well as soil characteristics (e.g. pH, organic carbon) and microbial community structure and functioning in amended and un-amended mesocosms for 3 years. The soil quality increased significantly adding OAs, with the best results and plant growth in digestate or compost presence. These experiments are propaedeutic to the implementation of the new reforestation in the degraded area.

Given the rising need for forest restoration, identifying resilient local biodiversity for present and novel climates is crucial. Current species selection for reforestation will have a persistent effect on forest resilience, however, a comprehensive framework for monitoring the success of these programs is still in its infancy. This study employs a functional trait-based approach to evaluate the suitability of the species: Fraxinus ornus, Quercus cerris and Quercus pubescens in the short term for reforestation within a Mediterranean protected area. We focused on traits associated with hydraulics, carbon utilization and storage (e.g., water use efficiency, net assimilation rate, non-structural carbohydrates), posited as crucial for species’ growth and survival, particularly in environments facing prolonged hot-drought spells in summer. Our objectives include determining which traits contributed to different performances. They might suppose an advantage across species under short-term drought in a botanical garden experiment and post-planting in the reforestation site. Secondly, we explored whether the carbon storage may have played a role in the survival of the transplanted species in the reforestation site, after the summer period. Therefore, we compared the non-structural carbohydrate pool in both alive and dead seedlings in the study area and the nursery seedlings.