1. 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, original scientific article Abstract: 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.
Keywords: brown algal forests, Cystoseira s.l., habitat suitability, spatial modelling, Adriatic Sea, climate change, shifts
Published in DiRROS: 21.01.2026; Views: 352; Downloads: 288
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2. Environmental alterations and sea warming drive seagrass meadow decline in urbanized coastal areas of the northern Adriatic SeaFabrizio Gianni, Annalisa Falace, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Saul Ciriaco, Danijel Ivajnšič, Sara Kaleb, Lovrenc Lipej, Borut Mavrič, Stefano Querin, Vinko Bandelj, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: 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.
Keywords: species distribution, climate change, anthropogenic disturbance, urbanization, Northern Adriatic
Published in DiRROS: 08.10.2025; Views: 570; Downloads: 316
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3. ≠An ≠insight into the diet of the bull ray, Aetomylaeus bovinus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817) in the Northern Adriatic SeaLovrenc Lipej, Riccardo Battistella, Borut Mavrič, Danijel Ivajnšič, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: This study provides baseline information on the feeding habits of the bull ray, Aetomylaeus bovinus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817), in the Gulf of Venezia. Among 1557 prey items isolated from the stomachs of bull ray specimens, gastropods represented the overwhelming majority (93.8%). Within gastropods, Aporrhais pespelecani was the dominant species, followed by Gibbula magus and Bolinus brandaris – all characteristic elements of the biocoenosis of the muddy detritic bottom. We observed differences in prey structure between juveniles and adults, as well as sexes. Among fishes that proved to be particularly important in terms of biomass, the majority of prey items consisted of small pelagic fish, including pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) and horse mackerel (Trachurus sp.). This paper contributes new data on the feeding ecology of a lesser known and critically endangered batoid species.
Keywords: myliobatids, feeding ecology, nursery, Gulf of Venice, batoids, endangered species, marine biology
Published in DiRROS: 03.07.2025; Views: 823; Downloads: 440
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4. 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, original scientific article Abstract: 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.
Keywords: Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, checklist, ecological traits, feeding guilds, zoogeography, mapping, Adriatic Sea
Published in DiRROS: 09.06.2025; Views: 759; Downloads: 425
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5. Feeding habits of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Gulf of Trieste (Adriatic Sea)Borut Mavrič, Danijel Ivajnšič, Davor Lučić, Alenka Malej, Lovrenc Lipej, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The diet of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Gulf of Trieste was examined during its peak occurrence in the summer and early-autumn months (July to October) from 2017 to 2019, through the analysis of stomach contents. Altogether 506 specimens were individually caught for the analysis. A total of 3215 prey items were isolated and identified. Copepods emerged as the primary prey (relative abundance 66.7%), followed by cladocerans (7.7%), and bivalve larvae (6%). Notably, specimens of M. leidyi constituted a significant portion of the diet (5.4.%), providing further evidence of cannibalism within this species. Copepods were also the most commonly occurring prey items in the diet of M. leidyi. Most of them were represented by calanoid and cyclopoid nauplii (48.2%), followed by a harpacticoid M. norvegica (28.3%), and calanoids (26.8%). Other frequently occurring taxa were bivalve larvae (19.3%), M. leidyi (18.7%), and cladoceran Penilia avirostris (16.1%). The rate of cannibalism peaked in July, coinciding with a period of limited food availability. Additionally, the study revealed that fish eggs and larvae were infrequently found in the stomachs of M. leidyi. However, the presence of massive aggregations of M. leidyi may impact microzooplankton populations in late summer or autumn, potentially leading to competition with small pelagic fish.
Keywords: bioinvasion, cannibalism, comb jelly, competition, diet, Mediterranean Sea
Published in DiRROS: 10.04.2025; Views: 1036; Downloads: 542
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6. A preliminary life history traits analysis of sharks in the Sea of Marmara (Türkiye), where deoxygenation and habitat deterioration are raising concernsHakan Kabasakal, Serdar Sakinan, Lovrenc Lipej, Danijel Ivajnšič, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Life history traits of 17 species of sharks occurring in the Sea of Marmara were analysed based on Gower’s distances, Principal Coordinate Analyses, and hierarchical clustering. The analysis shows that the sharks of the Sea of Marmara can ecologically be divided into several clusters. The increasing occurrence of sharks on the Marmara continental shelf, especially in the last few years, suggests that the expected habitat compression due to deoxygenation has begun to take place. This situation, which can be considered as a “habitat trap” for sharks, should be considered as a threat that may lead to shark mortalities due to the intensification of bycatches or even the intentional killing of sharks. Available results are sufficient to predict a disturbing future for sharks of the Sea of Marmara if the factors (deoxygenation, habitat loss, bycatch, etc.) threatening the overall ecosystem do not improve.
Keywords: PCoA, ecology, sharks, habitat compression, mortality
Published in DiRROS: 12.03.2025; Views: 823; Downloads: 502
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7. Pregled stanja morskega dna na območju predvidenega posega (predvidena nasipavanja s prodcem) na centralni plaži v PortorožuLovrenc Lipej, Tihomir Makovec, Borut Mavrič, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Simone Spinelli, Milijan Šiško, Danijel Ivajnšič, 2024, final research report Keywords: morski travniki, kartiranje, osrednja portoroška plaža, topografski pregled, predvideni posegi
Published in DiRROS: 09.01.2025; Views: 924; Downloads: 347
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8. Analiza pritiskov in presoja vplivov na morski ekosistem Krajinskega parka Strunjan s poudarkom na vplivu turizma in prostočasnih dejavnosti na stanje morskih travnikovLovrenc Lipej, Danijel Ivajnšič, Tihomir Makovec, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Simone Spinelli, Milijan Šiško, Domen Trkov, Borut Mavrič, 2024, final research report Keywords: morski travniki, kartiranje, MediSkew indeks, pritiski, Krajinski park Strunjan
Published in DiRROS: 09.01.2025; Views: 894; Downloads: 360
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9. Diet of three cryptobenthic clingfish species and the factors influencing itDomen Trkov, Danijel Ivajnšič, Marcelo Kovačić, Lovrenc Lipej, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Cryptobenthic fish are small benthic fish species that normally live in various hiding places. Due to their large numbers, they are very important for energy transfer to higher trophic levels. However, due to their small size and hidden lifestyle, knowledge about them and their ecology, including their diet, is still limited. Using a non-destructive method based on faecal pellets, we investigated the diet of three clingfish species, Lepadogaster lepadogaster, L. candolii, and Apletodon incognitus, in the shallow northern Adriatic Sea. To better understand the results, we studied the fauna of potential prey in the habitats of the fish studied and also took fish specimens to observe their behaviour in the laboratory. The three species feed predominantly on crustaceans, particularly amphipods, copepods, and decapods. The proportion of the different taxa in the diet depends on the species of clingfish, the size of the specimens, and the size of the prey. In addition, the behaviour of the fish, the home range of the specimens, and the availability of food played an important role. The presence of certain crustacean groups in the environment also determines the occurrence of clingfish of different species and sizes.
Keywords: cryptobenthic fish, clingfish species, diet, diet habits, non-destructive method, faecal pellets, crustaceans, northern Adriatic Sea
Published in DiRROS: 03.10.2024; Views: 1282; Downloads: 738
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10. Evaluating seagrass meadow dynamics by integrating field-based and remote sensing techniquesDanijel Ivajnšič, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Daša Donša, Jaša Veno Grujić, Domen Trkov, Borut Mavrič, Lovrenc Lipej, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Marine phanerogams are considered biological sentinels or indicators since any modification in seagrass meadow distribution and coverage signals negative changes in the marine environment. In recent decades, seagrass meadows have undergone global losses at accelerating rates, and almost one-third of their coverage has disappeared globally. This study focused on the dynamics of seagrass meadows in the northern Adriatic Sea, which is one of the most anthropogenically affected areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Seagrass distribution data and remote sensing products were utilized to identify the stable and dynamic parts of the seagrass ecosystem. Different seagrass species could not be distinguished with the Sentinel-2 (BOA) satellite image. However, results revealed a generally stable seagrass meadow (283.5 Ha) but, on the other hand, a stochastic behavior in seagrass meadow retraction (90.8 Ha) linked to local environmental processes associated with anthropogenic activities or climate change. If systemized, this proposed approach to monitoring seagrass meadow dynamics could be developed as a spatial decision support system for the entire Mediterranean basin. Such a tool could serve as a key element for decision makers in marine protected areas and would potentially support more effective conservation and management actions in these highly productive and important environments.
Keywords: Adriatic Sea, seagrass meadow, change analysis, Cimodocea nodosa, image classifiers, Sentinel-2, marine biology, hydrobiology
Published in DiRROS: 16.07.2024; Views: 1139; Downloads: 810
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