Ruđer Bošković Institute scientists monitor marine forests

Scientists from the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB), in collaboration with the Ugor-Vrsar Diving Club, conducted educational and field activities to monitor the condition of marine forests and macroalgae. Recreational divers were trained to identify and record the status of macroalgae, sea urchins, and fish.

During dives at depths of approximately one to ten meters, researchers recorded the distribution of dominant macroalgae species and counted sea urchins. Certain fish species were also noted as indicators of changes linked to rising sea temperatures. Ljiljana Iveša, head of the IRB Benthos Ecology Laboratory, noted that while marine forests still exist at greater depths, their disappearance is increasingly visible in shallower habitats that are most exposed to high temperatures, waves, and human activity.

The monitoring process aims to track the coverage, physiological state, and fertility of large brown algae populations, as well as the presence of organisms that feed on them.