Progetti di ricerca

The Mediterranean Sea is undergoing severe changes driven by increasing anthropogenic pressures. Besides being among the most important charismatic species in the Mediterranean Sea, cetaceans and pelagic sea turtles (CEPTU hereafter) are crucial bioindicators of marine health conditions, since their wellbeing… Leggi tutto reflects integrity of both low and high ranks of the food pyramid. The conservation status of CEPTU species is still considered data deficient for most taxa and range/population/habitat info are “extrapolated from a limited amount of data” according to the last (2013-2018) Italian report Art 17 Habitats Directive Report. The data deficiency is mainly due to the fact that CEPTU species spent the majority of their life in remote offshore areas most difficult to monitor because of their extent, highly dynamic nature and the high costs involved in carrying out regular large scale surveys that overcome socio-political borders. With their transboundary movements, they are exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors, such as maritime traffic and marine litter. Maritime traffic is responsible for underwater noise, regular and casualty-related pollution, transfer of alien species, and disturbance towards marine fauna. Disturbance by boats can determine short and long term changes in the behaviour and distribution of cetacean species and is directly related to the risk of collisions, especially during nighttime. Maritime traffic changes in density and composition during the year, as well as the vulnerable species change in distribution and abundance within the year, so that the potential impact varies among time and space. Marine litter is one of the main threats to CEPTU species, due to risk of entanglement, ingestion or toxicological effects. In the Mediterranean Sea there are no permanent structures able to retain floating items in the long-term so that the risk due to marine litter is scattered over broad areas, with high seasonal variability both in the amount and composition of items. Given the highly mobile nature of CEPTU species, the interactions between the vulnerable species and the pressure is possible almost anywhere in the species range, but with different intensity depending on areas and seasons. Therefore the effective management of CEPTU species requires a precise knowledge of their spatio-temporal distribution and the anthropogenic stressors to which they are exposed in offshore areas. Protected Areas (hereafter PA, i.e. Natura2000 sites, Marine Protected Areas) are cornerstones of marine biodiversity conservation, being among the most effective spatial management tools for the preservation of vulnerable species. However, PA are not isolated entities and, especially when the main vocation is the conservation of large migratory species (e.g. the Spanish Mediterranean Cetacean Migration Corridor or the Pelagos Sanctuary), it is essential to consider the adjacent marine sectors, which could represent areas of importance for particular species ecological needs. Anyhow, most of these species spend the majority of their lifespan in large marine sea regions which are not specifically protected. To this aim, the legislation requires to activate “a strict protection regime across the species' entire natural range, both within and outside Natura 2000 sites” (Habitat Directive) identifying the important areas (e.g. buffer zones, stepping stones, feeding grounds and ecological corridors) to prioritize mitigation actions. Article 11 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) requires Member States to implement surveillance of the conservation status of species of Community Interest, tailoring the National Reports obligations on the measures implemented and their effectiveness (Art. 17 Habitats Directive), to be submitted to the European Commission every six years. Different methodologies for surveying species of Annex II, IV have been proposed by Member State, but still an effective systematic methodology for monitoring in the long term CEPTUs over the vast pelagic domain they occupy throughout their life cycle is lacking, because considered too expensive, resource intensive and support demanding. Main problems addressed: Lack of systematic information on spatio-temporal CEPTU ecological needs for mapping the important areas (e.g. buffer zones, stepping stones and ecological corridors) especially in offshore areas and in gap areas such as the southern Tyrrhenian, Sardinia-Sicily channels. Lack of systematic information on main threats (i.e. maritime traffic, marine litter) for mapping high risk areas/seasons where preservation measures are a priority. Lack of standard effective approach for the long term surveillance of species conservation status in their range. Lack of international cooperation and agreed procedures to support the identification of important areas and for the long term surveillance of species conservation status.