Study approach
A multidisciplinary approach is often necessary to investigate the complex ecological and
socio-economic impacts of invasive species. In this project, we integrate information on the
biology and ecology of M. leidyi and C. sapidus in the Venice Lagoon and in the northern
Adriatic Sea. This information is collected from field monitoring and aquarium experiments,
with time series analyses, fishery sampling and local ecological knowledge (Tsirintanis et al.,
2022). This integrated approach is employed to clarify the impacts of these invaders on the
nektonic biodiversity of the study areas and the ecosystems services they provide, allowing us
to explore management solutions with the final goal of contributing to the sustainability of the
traditional fisheries. Several methods will be integrated to collect biological and ecological
data and assess impacts on local biodiversity and fisheries. Field samplings of M. leidyi and
C. sapidus will be carried out in all seasons to understand the spatial distribution of the
species and to assess which life cycle stages are present, where and when in these waters.
Seasonal samples are expected to provide a better understanding of the distribution of the
species in different areas for their reproduction and overwintering, and in refugium areas in
the case of M. leidyi. To evaluate the influence of abiotic factors on the two species, aquarium
experiments will be made by maintaining the animals at different temperatures and salinities
and, for the blue crab, with different sediment types. To assess the interactions between the
invaders and their possible competitors, behavioural experiments will be performed. To
evaluate the ecological and economic impacts of the invaders, the statistical analyses of
landing time series in two local fish markets, Burano and Chioggia (covering both the lagoon
and the sea), will be carried out. An analysis of landing composition in terms of species will
also be carried out to evaluate which of the local species have been most affected by the
arrival and the subsequent invasion of M. leidyi and C. sapidus. Moreover, samplings of
fisher’s captures will be carried out on board of fishing boats of local fishers. Local
Ecological Knowledge (LEK) of fishers will be a complementary tool to investigate the
evolution over time of the invasions, and to assess their socio-economic consequences. A
local fisher cooperative, “Società Cooperativa San Marco - Pescatori di Burano”, mainly
operating in the lagoon is involved in the project to plan research and discuss results and
management options, assist in field sampling, and provide data on landing records,
occurrence, and economic impact of invasive species in the past years (via questionnaires,
logbooks and interviews).
Bibliography
MANCINELLI G., BARDELLI R., ZENETOS A. (2021) - A global occurrence database of the
Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Scientific Data, 8(1), 1-10.
SHIGANOVA T.A., SOMMER U., JAVIDPOUR J., MOLINERO J.C., MALEJ A., KAZMIN
A., ISINIBILIR M., CHRISTOU E., SIOKOU- FRANGOU I., MARAMBIO M., FUENTES
V., MIRSOYAN Z.A., GÜLSAHIN N., LOMBARD F., LILLEY M.K.S., ANGEL D.L.,
GALIL B.S., BONNET D., DELPY F. (2019) - Patterns of invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis
leidyi distribution and variability in different recipient environments of the Eurasian seas: A
review. Marine environmental research, 152, 104791
TSIRINTANIS K., AZZURRO E., CROCETTA F., DIMIZA M., FROGLIA C.,
GEROVASILEIOU V., LANGENECK J., MANCINELLI G., ROSSO A., STERN N.,
TRIANTAPHYLLOU M., TSIAMIS K., TURON X., VERLAQUE M., ZENETOS A.,
KATSANEVAKIS S. (2022) - Bioinvasion impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and
human health in the Mediterranean Sea. Aquatic Invasions, 17.
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
116
A multidisciplinary approach is often necessary to investigate the complex ecological and
socio-economic impacts of invasive species. In this project, we integrate information on the
biology and ecology of M. leidyi and C. sapidus in the Venice Lagoon and in the northern
Adriatic Sea. This information is collected from field monitoring and aquarium experiments,
with time series analyses, fishery sampling and local ecological knowledge (Tsirintanis et al.,
2022). This integrated approach is employed to clarify the impacts of these invaders on the
nektonic biodiversity of the study areas and the ecosystems services they provide, allowing us
to explore management solutions with the final goal of contributing to the sustainability of the
traditional fisheries. Several methods will be integrated to collect biological and ecological
data and assess impacts on local biodiversity and fisheries. Field samplings of M. leidyi and
C. sapidus will be carried out in all seasons to understand the spatial distribution of the
species and to assess which life cycle stages are present, where and when in these waters.
Seasonal samples are expected to provide a better understanding of the distribution of the
species in different areas for their reproduction and overwintering, and in refugium areas in
the case of M. leidyi. To evaluate the influence of abiotic factors on the two species, aquarium
experiments will be made by maintaining the animals at different temperatures and salinities
and, for the blue crab, with different sediment types. To assess the interactions between the
invaders and their possible competitors, behavioural experiments will be performed. To
evaluate the ecological and economic impacts of the invaders, the statistical analyses of
landing time series in two local fish markets, Burano and Chioggia (covering both the lagoon
and the sea), will be carried out. An analysis of landing composition in terms of species will
also be carried out to evaluate which of the local species have been most affected by the
arrival and the subsequent invasion of M. leidyi and C. sapidus. Moreover, samplings of
fisher’s captures will be carried out on board of fishing boats of local fishers. Local
Ecological Knowledge (LEK) of fishers will be a complementary tool to investigate the
evolution over time of the invasions, and to assess their socio-economic consequences. A
local fisher cooperative, “Società Cooperativa San Marco - Pescatori di Burano”, mainly
operating in the lagoon is involved in the project to plan research and discuss results and
management options, assist in field sampling, and provide data on landing records,
occurrence, and economic impact of invasive species in the past years (via questionnaires,
logbooks and interviews).
Bibliography
MANCINELLI G., BARDELLI R., ZENETOS A. (2021) - A global occurrence database of the
Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Scientific Data, 8(1), 1-10.
SHIGANOVA T.A., SOMMER U., JAVIDPOUR J., MOLINERO J.C., MALEJ A., KAZMIN
A., ISINIBILIR M., CHRISTOU E., SIOKOU- FRANGOU I., MARAMBIO M., FUENTES
V., MIRSOYAN Z.A., GÜLSAHIN N., LOMBARD F., LILLEY M.K.S., ANGEL D.L.,
GALIL B.S., BONNET D., DELPY F. (2019) - Patterns of invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis
leidyi distribution and variability in different recipient environments of the Eurasian seas: A
review. Marine environmental research, 152, 104791
TSIRINTANIS K., AZZURRO E., CROCETTA F., DIMIZA M., FROGLIA C.,
GEROVASILEIOU V., LANGENECK J., MANCINELLI G., ROSSO A., STERN N.,
TRIANTAPHYLLOU M., TSIAMIS K., TURON X., VERLAQUE M., ZENETOS A.,
KATSANEVAKIS S. (2022) - Bioinvasion impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and
human health in the Mediterranean Sea. Aquatic Invasions, 17.
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
116