Comunità epimegabentoniche: Studio delle comunità epimegabentoniche sottoposte a perturbazioni fisiche
Duration: 22/11/2024 – 30/11/2026
SZN Principal Investigator: Maria Cristina Mangano
Within the framework of the implementing agreement for the Marine Strategy (Directive 2008/56/EC), the ISPRA Convention Technical Annex D6-03 governs the scientific collaboration between ISPRA and the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station (SZN) for the 'Study of epimegabenthic communities subjected to physical disturbance'. The central objective is the monitoring and assessment of sea-floor integrity (Descriptor 6), with a specific focus on the impact that fishing activities exert on these vulnerable benthic communities.
Objectives
The project is developed in three operational phases:
'Methodological Development': This phase sees SZN engaged in a National Expert Working Group. Key activities include: the definition of standardized methodological protocols to investigate communities subjected to fishing disturbances; the organization of two technical-scientific meetings to develop such methods; and a final meeting to illustrate the results of the standardization.
'Sea Campaigns and Analysis': This is the operational core of the project. SZN will organize and execute 5 sea campaigns in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Specific activities include: logistical planning and sampling according to the protocols defined in Phase A; sample analysis (both on board and in the laboratory) and verification of quality standards; and joint analysis of the collected data between SZN and ISPRA.
'Reporting and Final Synthesis': The last phase is dedicated to drafting a comprehensive technical-scientific report that gathers all the results covered by the agreement and the experimental activities.
