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Project leader: Dr Daria Ezgeta Balić
Project co-leader: Dr Elizabeta Briski
Administering organization: Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries Šetalište I. Meštrovića 63 21000 Split Croatia
Partner Institution/Company: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel
Grant type: 1C
Project title: Competition between native Ostrea edulis and invasive Crassostrea gigas oysters in the Adriatic Sea – effects on the ecosystem, fisheries and aquaculture
Project summary: In the Adriatic Sea non-native invasive oyster Crassostrea gigas started to spread and presents a threat to the native European flat oyster Ostrea edulis. Pacific oyster C. gigas was introduced by aquaculture to Mediterranean Sea in the 1960s as a response to the decrease of O. edulis production caused by high mortalities due to parasitic diseases. Introduction of C. gigas was limited to the aquaculture sites, but as environmental conditions in those areas were favourable this species started to reproduce and spread outside aquaculture sites. Although C. gigas is used for aquaculture all along the Europe, in the eastern Adriatic Sea it is not the case, and it is considered an invasive species. Invasive species spread may have negative effect on the ecosystem, and poses threat to the ecosystem stability and function. Spreading of invasive oyster may also have negative effects on the fisheries and aquaculture if invasive species effects commercially important species. In a case of the two oyster species this could be expressed through competition for space, food and larviphagy caused by invasive oyster. Although, C. gigas presence in the eastern Adriatic is detected, there is no information about its biology and ecology in Adriatic Sea, its effect on the native oyster populations, and effects that could have on fisheries and aquaculture sector. Furthermore, there are no monitoring or management plans and strategies. This situation requires immediate reaction in terms of research and proposal of measures for management of invasive oyster species. The main objective of this project is an assessment of impact of the invasive oyster species C. gigas on the ecosystem, fisheries and aquaculture, with focus on the native commercially important oyster species O. edulis. This will be achieved through: (i) determination of the current state and population dynamics of the invasive oyster populations along the eastern Adriatic Sea, and its impact on distribution of native oyster; (ii) exploring food competition between the invasive and native oyster; (iii) determination of vectors of spread of the invasive oyster along the eastern Adriatic Sea and (vi) making recommendations for the future research and management of the invasive species. This proposal is significant as it will provide first measurable insight into population dynamics of C. gigas in the eastern Adriatic. Thus, this research will present scientific basis for establishment of management strategies for C. gigas in the Adriatic Sea.
Hrvatski sažetak: Pacifička kamenica Crassostrea gigas počela je širiti svoj areal u Jadranskom moru te predstavlja prijetnju za autohtonu vrstu kamenice Ostrea edulis. Pacifička kamenica unesena je u akvakulturu u Mediteran 1960tih godina kao odgovor na opadanje proizvodnje vrste O. edulis uzrokovane velikim mortalitetima zbog bolesti. Unos Pacifičke kamenice bio je ograničen samo na područja gdje se obavlja akvakultura, međutim kako su uvjeti okoliša bili povoljni ova vrsta se počela razmnožavati i širiti izvan zona akvakulture. Iako se vrsta C. gigas uzgaja diljem Europe, u istočnom Jadranu se ne uzgaja te se smatra invazivnom vrstom. Širenje rasprostranjenosti invazivnih vrsta može imati negativni utjecaj na ekosustav i predstavlja prijetnju stabilnosti i funkcioniranju ekosustava. Širenje invazivne kamenice može također imati negativni utjecaj na ribarstvo i akvakulturu ukoliko širenje utječe na gospodarski značajne vrste. U slučaju vrsta C. gigas i O. edulis utjecaj se može očitovati kroz kompeticiju za prostor, hranu te predaciju nad ličinačkim stadijima. Iako je invazivna kamenica C. gigas zabilježena u istočnom Jadranu, trenutno ne postoje podaci o njenoj biologiji i ekologiji u Jadranu, utjecaju koji ima na populaciju autohtone kamenice te utjecaju koji može imati na sektor akvakulture i ribarstva. Nadalje, ne postoje plan i strategija za monitoring i upravljanje. Trenutna situacija zahtijeva hitnu reakciju u smislu istraživanja i prijedlog mjera za upravljanje invazivnom vrstom kamenice. Glavni cilj ovog projekta je procjena utjecaja invazivne vrste kamenice C. gigas na ekosustav, ribarstvo i akvakulturu, s naglaskom na autohtonu gospodarski važnu vrstu kamenice O. edulis. Cilj će se postići kroz niz aktivnosti koje uključuju: (i) određivanje trenutnog stanja i dinamike populacije invazivne vrste kamenice duž istočne obale Jadranskog mora, te njezin utjecaj na rasprostranjenost autohtone kamenice; (ii) istraživanja kompeticije za hranu između invazivne i autohtone vrste kamenice; (iii) određivanje vektora prijenosa invazivnih kamenica duž istočne obale Jadrana; (vi) izradu preporuka za buduća istraživanja i upravljanje invazivnom vrstom. Značaj ovog projekta je u tome što će pružiti prve mjerljive rezultate o invazivnoj vrsti C. gigas u istočnom dijelu Jadrana. Predloženo istraživanje predstavljalo bi znanstvenu osnovu za uspostavu strategije upravljanja za C. gigas u Jadranskom moru.
Amount requested from UKF: 299624
Amount of matching funding: 60400
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