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Povzetek: Brown algal forests (Cystoseira sensu lato) are key habitat-forming components of temperate rocky coasts but have experienced widespread decline across the Mediterranean Sea. This study investigates the current distribution and potential future shifts in brown algal forests across the Adriatic Sea under ongoing climate change. We combined non-destructive field-based mapping along the Slovenian coastline with remote-sensing products and spatial environmental predictors to model basin-wide habitat suitability. A multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) framework was applied to account for spatial non-stationarity and to explicitly capture the fact that environmental drivers of habitat suitability operate at different spatial scales—an assumption that global models such as GAM or standard GWR cannot adequately address. Habitat suitability maps were generated for present-day conditions and projected under mid- and late-century climate scenarios. The results reveal pronounced latitudinal gradients, identify areas of ongoing canopy decline in the northern Adriatic, and highlight parts of the southern Adriatic as potential climate refugia. Overall, the study demonstrates a likely north–south contraction of suitable habitat for brown algal forests and underscores the value of multiscale spatial modelling for informing marine spatial planning, conservation prioritization, and climate- adaptive restoration under European policy frameworks.
Ključne besede: brown algal forests, Cystoseira s.l., habitat suitability, spatial modelling, Adriatic Sea, climate change, shifts
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 21.01.2026; Ogledov: 132; Prenosov: 99
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Povzetek: Seagrass meadows are important habitat builders, providing food, shelter, and nursery grounds for many species, alongside essential goods and ecosystem services for humanity. However, in the last decades, seagrass meadows have been subjected to numerous pressures, leading to their widespread decline. The northern Adriatic Sea is no exception, with seagrass regression observed notably between 2014 and 2018. This study aims to identify the drivers of the recent seagrass decline in the Gulf of Trieste through a spatial and temporal assessment of seagrass distribution. To assess the relationship between seagrass dynamics and environmental changes, spatiotemporal patterns of environmental variables were analyzed, and generalized additive models were applied for two different time periods: 2009-2013 and 2014-2018. Historical data on seagrass distribution was also collected and compared with the current distribution. Our findings indicate that Cymodocea nodosa remains the dominant species on the northern coast of the Gulf, with a decrease of 30% in Slovenian waters and up to 89% near Trieste (Italy) during 2014-2018. Analysis of physicochemical variables revealed an increase in seawater temperature across the Gulf and a change in nutrient load, particularly in Slovenia, where it decreased significantly. Models achieved high-performance scores, identifying photosynthetically active radiation, nutrients, temperature, and sediment type as key determinants of seagrass occurrence. Nonetheless, additional local-scale factors likely contributed to lower seagrass’ resilience to disturbances. These findings stress the need to develop integrated spatial planning strategies and provide a crucial baseline for future seagrass monitoring and restoration activities.
Ključne besede: species distribution, climate change, anthropogenic disturbance, urbanization, Northern Adriatic
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.10.2025; Ogledov: 389; Prenosov: 174
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Ključne besede: Občina Piran, protipoplavna zaščita, kartiranje, habitatni tipi, biološke združbe
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.09.2025; Ogledov: 349; Prenosov: 118
Celotno besedilo (6,30 MB)

Povzetek: Polychaetes are important marine invertebrates that contribute to sediment bioturbation, nutrient recycling, and food web dynamics. This study examines the diversity and structure of the polychaete assemblages associated with the red algae Corallina officinalis in areas with different levels of anthropogenic pressures of the Northeastern Adriatic Sea. Sampling was performed in the intertidal zones. Altogether, 54 species from 13 families were found, with Syllidae being the most abundant. Polychaete richness, relative abundance and diversity at sampling locations with and without anthropogenic pressures showed no significant difference. Multivariate analyses revealed significant differences in species composition between sites under anthropogenic pressures and those without, with key species such as Sphaerosyllis pirifera, Syllis rosea, Syllis prolifera, Syllis gerundensis, and Platynereis dumerilii playing significant roles. Syllis rosea was the most abundant in locations without anthropogenic pressures, while S. pirifera was the most abundant in locations under anthropogenic pressures. These results suggest that while polychaete communities are resilient, anthropogenic pressures are causing shifts in species composition. This pattern is consistent with the results of related studies, indicating a broader ecological trend. The shifts observed here should raise concern among conservation ecologists, underscoring the importance of long-term monitoring to understand and mitigate the impacts of human activities on coastal ecosystems.
Ključne besede: Polychaeta, Syllidae, Nereididae, intertidal area, coastal biodiversity, hard bottom, anthropogenic pressure
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 24.06.2025; Ogledov: 586; Prenosov: 466
Celotno besedilo (3,59 MB)
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Povzetek: Marine fouling communities, characterized by a high abundance of suspension feeders, play a crucial role in regulating ecosystem services, particularly in improving seawater quality. While not typically prioritized in conservation due to their prevalence in degraded or artificial habitats, fouling communities are important for their ecological functions under increasing urbanization and climate change. Bryozoans are an important component of these communities, although their filtering activity is less understood compared to some other groups, such as bivalves and ascidians. In this paper, we aimed to investigate the filtration activity of two widespread fouling bryozoan species, namely Schizoporella errata and Bugula neritina in the northern Adriatic (Slovenia). We measured the clearance rates (CR) of both the species when fed with microalgae to assess their filtration capacity and determine the most suitable units for quantifying the biofiltration. B. neritina exhibited a higher average CR than S. errata. The maximum CR was 32 mL/(h·cm2 ) for the S. errata and 52 mL/(h·cm2 ) for the B. neritina. Due to the morphological and growth differences between the species, the surface area was determined to be the most appropriate unit for expressing the CR. We also examined the CR of the S. errata exposed to fluorescent microplastic beads and identified active feeding areas within the colonies. Feeding zooids in S. errata were concentrated at the terminal growth margins and elevated areas of the frontal budding, as indicated by a higher fluorescence and microsphere density. These results contribute to the existing knowledge on fouling bryozoans in coastal habitats and provide further insights into their potential role as biofilters and contributors to ecosystem functioning.
Ključne besede: bryozoans, suspension feeders, fouling community, ecosystem services, microplastics, Schizoporella errata, Bugula neritina
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 06.06.2025; Ogledov: 746; Prenosov: 542
Celotno besedilo (3,53 MB)
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