Adriatic Sea scientists monitor emerging non-native species

Scientists from the Ruđer Bošković Institute are monitoring the emergence of non-native species in the Adriatic Sea through the ALIENA project. While many new organisms do not cause harm, some pose a risk of becoming invasive by competing with indigenous species for food and habitat, potentially disrupting the marine ecosystem.

One notable example is the comb jelly, a species originating from the Western Atlantic. These organisms feed on zooplankton, a critical link in the food chain that supports numerous local fish species. Rapid population growth of such species can increase pressure on food resources used by native marine life.

In collaboration with Italian partners, researchers are developing a joint early warning and monitoring system for the Adriatic. The project utilizes computer models to predict environmental conditions favorable for species expansion and employs molecular methods to detect organisms that traditional methods might miss. Citizens can also contribute to data collection via the ‘Crafting the Sea’ application.