An Integrated Analysis of Plant Biometry, Meadow Distribution, Microbial Community Dynamics, and Released Surface-Active Substances

PROJECT TYPE:

Institutional Research Project

PROJECT DURATION:

October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2029

PROJECT LEADER AND TEAM MEMBERS:

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paolo Paliaga – Principal Investigator
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gioconda Millotti – Research Collaborator
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Petra Burić– Research Collaborator
• Dr. Neven Iveša – Research Collaborator
• Dr. Andrea Budiša – Research Collaborator
• Dr. Irena Ciglenečki-Jušić – Research Collaborator
• Dr. Clea Lumina Denamiel – Research Collaborator
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kristina Pikelj – Research Collaborator
• Dr. Željko Pavlinec – Research Collaborator 

SHORT PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Seagrasses represent one of the most important ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea, contributing to biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, and sediment protection from erosion. Their stability is seriously threatened by climate change, particularly by rising sea temperatures. The CYMOT project focuses on investigating the response of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa and its associated microbial community to extreme heatwaves in the Ribnjak Bay (Šćuza) on the southern coast of Istria — a unique and sensitive shallow-water system exposed to above-average summer temperatures.

The main objectives of the project include:

1. assessing the health status and spatial distribution of C. nodosa meadows,
2. analyzing changes in the microbial community within the plant’s rhizosphere under thermal stress,
3. investigating the release of organic matter with surface-active properties (surface-active substances – SAS) as potential early bioindicators of stress, and
4. developing a hydrographic model to simulate scenarios for mitigating the negative impacts of climate change.

Throughout the project, C. nodosa meadows will be mapped over a three-year period, and measurements will include hydrographic conditions, plant biometry, nutrient concentrations, dissolved organic matter, surface-active substances, as well as geomorphological and ecological characteristics of the sediment, together with the abundance and structure of the microbial community. Sampling and measurements will be conducted over three years, while final analyses and modeling will be carried out during the fourth year.

The project will contribute to a better understanding of climate-induced changes in coastal ecosystems and support the development of strategies for their protection and effective management.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The CYMOT project focuses on studying the response of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa and its associated microbial community to extremely high temperatures in a natural environment. The coastal area of the lagoon in Ribnjak Bay (Šćuza), characterized by above-average summer temperatures and almost complete coverage by C. nodosa meadows, provides an ideal natural setting for investigating the effects of climate change. This habitat represents a valuable model for understanding processes that, due to global warming, may become increasingly common in other parts of the Mediterranean Sea.

The project’s objectives are multifaceted. Primarily, it aims to assess the health status of C. nodosa meadows under elevated temperature conditions (C1) and to analyze changes in the structure and abundance of the microbial community associated with the rhizosphere and roots (C2). Special attention will be devoted to investigating surface-active substances (SAS) produced by the meadow ecosystem, which may serve as indicators of thermal stress (C3).

A hydrographic model of water circulation in the lagoon will also be developed, with the goal of simulating different management scenarios that could mitigate the negative impacts of climate change (C4). Finally, the project includes a strong dissemination and communication component — results will be shared with the scientific community, the public, and decision-makers to enhance understanding and promote more effective strategies for the adaptation and protection of coastal ecosystems (C5).

Overall, CYMOT contributes to a better understanding of the resilience of seagrass meadows and microbial communities to thermal stress and supports the development of measures for the conservation of these key Mediterranean habitats.

PROJECT HOLDER: Juraj Dobrila University of Pula