1. New records of marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea (April 2026)Argyro Zenetos, Fares Nasser Abd El-Gwaad, Ahmed Mohamed Al-Beak, Neža Leban, Domen Trkov, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: This collective article presents new information about 18 species occurring in 12 Mediterranean countries from the Alboran Sea to the Levantine Sea. Five lessepsian species namely Erugosquilla massavensis, Syrnola fasciata, Plocamopherus ocellatus, Maritigrella fuscopunctata and Siganus javus have spread within 2025 to neighbouring MSFD areas. Another five are here reported as first country records [Polyandrocarpa zorritensis (Malta), Gonioinfradens giardi (Italy), Istiblennius meleagris (Egypt), Epinephelus fasciatus (Israel), Lophocladia trichoclados (Montenegro)]. Cladophora patentiramea has spread from the Levantine to the Aegean Sea, while Pinctada radiata has reached Granada, and Cádiz. The Atlantic fish Enchelycore anatina and Synodus synodus have expanded their distribution to Montenegro and Syria respectively. Three rare native species are reported for first time at country level, while a fourth (Mobula birostris) has made an appearance more than a century after its first Mediterranean record.
Ključne besede: non-native species, colonial tunicate, artificial habitat, floating structure, maritime traffic
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 05.05.2026; Ogledov: 82; Prenosov: 54
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2. From loss to life: how empty Pinna nobilis shells enhance motile macroinvertebrate habitats in soft-bottom environmentsAna Fortič, Valentina Pitacco, Domen Trkov, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis) is experiencing mass mortality events across the Mediterranean Sea. In the northern Adriatic, as in many other regions, soft-bottom habitats are now covered with numerous empty shells. To assess their ecological role, we conducted underwater SCUBA surveys using quadrats in 2023 and 2024. We examined the function of empty shells as refuges for motile epibenthic macroinvertebrates across vegetated and unvegetated habitats. Specifically, we compared invertebrate diversity among habitats with and without shells, assessed the influence of shell orientation on community composition, and identified taxa characteristic of each habitat type using non-invasive methods that did not displace shells. Most shells remained upright, though their density and orientation varied among the six study locations. We recorded fauna from seven classes, with malacostracans and gastropods being the most species-rich groups. Biodiversity metrics differed markedly among the four microhabitat types (sediment, sediment with shells, meadow, meadow with shells), reaching the highest values in meadows with shells and the lowest in bare sediment. Malacostracans and polyplacophorans were significantly more abundant in samples containing shells, while other taxa showed no consistent trends. Shell orientation did not affect the composition of motile fauna, but distinct assemblages were associated with specific habitat types. These findings highlight the ecological importance of P. nobilis shells as microhabitats that enhance coastal biodiversity even after the death of the organism and underline the potential negative consequences of their degradation or removal.
Ključne besede: habitat engineering, benthic community, mass mortality, macroinvertebrates, Northern Adriatic, Noble pen shell
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 16.03.2026; Ogledov: 282; Prenosov: 176
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3. Priprava predloga metodologije in navodil za presojo vpliva posega na stanje morskih voda : poročilo o izvedenem delu, Pregled nacionalnih smernic in predpisov s področja upravljanja z vodami ter pregled pristopov presojanja vplivov v znanstveni literaturi in morebitnih obstoječih praks v drugih EU državahVesna Flander-Putrle, Katja Klančnik Židan, Rožle Kaučič, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Domen Trkov, končno poročilo o rezultatih raziskav Ključne besede: upravljanje z vodami, biološki elementi kakovosti, stanje, morje, predpisi
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.02.2026; Ogledov: 553; Prenosov: 0 |
4. Climate-driven habitat shifts in brown algal forests: insights from the Adriatic SeaDaša Donša, Danijel Ivajnšič, Lovrenc Lipej, Domen Trkov, Borut Mavrič, Valentina Pitacco, Ana Fortič, Ana Lokovšek, Milijan Šiško, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek 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: 352; Prenosov: 287
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5. Growth rates of the critically endangered fan mussel Pinna nobilis in the Slovenian sea (northern Adriatic)Valentina Pitacco, Ana Fortič, Domen Trkov, Borut Mavrič, Ciril Mlinar, Lovrenc Lipej, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The fan mussel Pinna nobilis is a bivalve endemic to the Mediterranean Sea that is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Its decline is due to a disease that has led to mass mortalities throughout the Mediterranean. The Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic) used to harbour one of the densest populations of P. nobilis, but since 2019, it has also been affected by this disease. The aim of this work was to analyse the growth of P. nobilis in the Slovenian part of the Gulf, with 3 case studies: (1) in situ measurement of adults before the mass mortality event (MME), (2) in situ measurement of juveniles after the MME and (3) ex situ measurement of juveniles kept in the laboratory. The pre-MME growth rate was comparable to that in other areas of the Gulf. In the first years of life, the growth rate of P. nobilis is higher than the growth rate reported in the southern Adriatic, and comparable to the growth rate in the Spanish lagoons. This is probably related to the physico-chemical conditions and confirms the potential of the area for restoration actions. Captive growth of juveniles could be an effective conservation measure, although juveniles kept in the laboratory grow more slowly than those in the sea, probably because of their lower immune response. Temperature plays an ambivalent role, as it increases the growth rate but also triggers the parasites responsible for the MME, which is of concern, given the recent rise of seawater temperatures and heatwaves.
Ključne besede: fan mussel, model growth, temperature, conservation, northern Adriatic sea
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 23.12.2025; Ogledov: 404; Prenosov: 262
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6. Recruitment and controlled growth of juveniles of the critically endangered fan mussel Pinna nobilis in the Northern AdriaticValentina Pitacco, Domen Trkov, Daniela Caracciolo, Saul Ciriaco, Marco Segarich, Edoardo Batistini, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Lovrenc Lipej, Borut Mavrič, Manja Rogelja, Ilenia Azzena, Chiara Locci, Fabio Scarpa, Daria Sanna, Marco Casu, Chiara Manfrin, Alberto Pallavicini, Ana Fortič, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The fan mussel Pinna nobilis is the largest bivalve species in the Mediterranean Sea and provides numerous ecosystem services. It is classified as critically endangered by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) due to severe mass mortality events throughout the Mediterranean. The aims of this work are as follows: (i) to assess the current recruitment potential of the species, (ii) to enhance recruitment by keeping juveniles in controlled conditions before releasing them back into the sea, and (iii) to assess the health status of recruits. In the period 2022–2023, larval collectors were set up in the Gulf of Trieste as part of the LIFE Pinna project. The collected individuals were kept in aquaria in two different facilities under different conditions: (a) a closed system with constant water temperature, live phytoplankton, and commercial food and (b) an open system with ambient seawater temperature and commercial food. A clear temporal and spatial variability in recruitment was observed: 13 recruits were found in 2022 and 50 recruits in 2023. The live specimens were between 0.5 and 8 cm in size upon collection and larger in 2023. The growth and survival rate did not differ significantly between the two systems, but the average monthly growth and survival rate were related to the initial size of the juveniles.
Ključne besede: pen shell, ex situ maintenance, in situ maintenance, Haplosporidium pinnae, Mycobacterium, conservation, marine biology
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.10.2025; Ogledov: 550; Prenosov: 287
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7. Enhancing ex situ cultivation of Mediterranean Fucales: species-specific responses of Gongolaria barbata and Ericaria crinita seedlings to algal extractsAna Lokovšek, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Edi Gljušćić, Andrea Bilajac, Ljiljana Iveša, Alberta Di Cave, Saverio Savio, Federico Ortenzi, Domen Trkov, Roberta Congestri, Annalisa Falace, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Mediterranean brown algal forests, dominated by Cystoseira sensu lato species, are undergoing widespread decline due to the cumulative effects of anthropogenic pressure and climate-related stressors. Restoration efforts increasingly rely on ex situ cultivation and outplanting of seedlings, yet early developmental stages often suffer from low survival and growth rates. This study investigated the potential of algal extracts to enhance the seedling development and survival in two canopy-forming species, Gongolaria barbata and Ericaria crinita. We tested extracts from a cyanobacterium (Trichormus variabilis), two microalgae (Desmodesmus sp. and Cylindrotheca closterium), and a commercial macroalgal formulation (AlgatronCifo®) at varying concentrations under controlled mesocosm conditions. Seedling performance was significantly influenced by extract type, and target species identity. Notably, a low-concentration Desmodesmus sp. extract (0.07 mg mL− 1 ) improved survival and growth, whereas T. variabilis exerted an inhibitory effect on G. barbata. AlgatronCifo® did not outperform Desmodesmus sp. extract in promoting seedling development. These findings suggest that specific extracts from green microalgae could improve protocols for the early stages of restoration, offering a scalable tool for rehabilitating degraded marine forests. However, the results underscore the importance of species-specific optimization and the need for in situ validation of biostimulant-based restoration approaches.
Ključne besede: Cystoseira s.l., seaweed biostimulants, microalgal extracts, seedling development, restoration, Mediterranean sea
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 22.09.2025; Ogledov: 590; Prenosov: 309
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8. Kartiranje morskega dna in habitatnih tipov ter popis flore in favne na območju predvidene gradnje protipoplavne zaščite mesta Piran : končno poročiloLovrenc Lipej, Ana Fortič, Borut Mavrič, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Tihomir Makovec, Milijan Šiško, Leon Lojze Zamuda, Domen Trkov, končno poročilo o rezultatih raziskav Ključne besede: Občina Piran, protipoplavna zaščita, kartiranje, habitatni tipi, biološke združbe
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.09.2025; Ogledov: 542; Prenosov: 199
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9. Faunistic, ecological, and zoogeographical survey of heterobranch fauna in the Adriatic Sea: experiences from SloveniaLovrenc Lipej, Ana Fortič, Domen Trkov, Borut Mavrič, Danijel Ivajnšič, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The heterobranch fauna recorded to date in the Slovenian part of the Adriatic Sea was reviewed and analysed in order to present an updated inventory. The ecological traits and zoogeographical affiliation of the recorded heterobranchs were also analysed. The new data revealed that the heterobranch fauna in the area consists of at least 157 species with the majority being nudibranchs (61.4%). The bulk of heterobranchs were considered as Atlanto-Mediterraneans. Heterobranch diversity was found to be significantly related to the number of sampling events. The spatial pattern of heterobranch species and their composition structure in parts of the study area were linked to specific human-impacted areas (HIAs) such as coastal wetlands, ports, and mariculture facilities. Better examination of less investigated environments, new sampling techniques, and citizen science involvement will doubtlessly increase the numbers in this checklist.
Ključne besede: Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, checklist, ecological traits, feeding guilds, zoogeography, mapping, Adriatic Sea
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 09.06.2025; Ogledov: 758; Prenosov: 407
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10. Zaključno poročilo o izvajanju monitoringa bioloških elementov kakovosti ekološkega stanja morja v 2024Janja Francé, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Borut Mavrič, Valentina Pitacco, Domen Trkov, končno poročilo o rezultatih raziskav Ključne besede: monitoring, biološki elementi kakovosti, stanje, morje, Škocjanski zatok
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 28.05.2025; Ogledov: 836; Prenosov: 317
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