April 2024 – Morigenos

SeaInsights: Improving the protection and management of the northern Adriatic by monitoring biodiversity through environmental DNA (eDNA) and public engagement

SEAINSIGHTS: IMPROVING THE PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC BY MONITORING BIODIVERSITY THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DNA (eDNA) AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Last week, Morigenos hosted the kick-off meeting of the SeaInsights project (SeaInsights: Improving the protection and management of the northern Adriatic by monitoring biodiversity through environmental DNA (eDNA) and public engagement), which we developed in collaboration with Slovenian and Italian partners. The project, worth 798,000 € and running for two years, was selected for funding under the Interreg Italy-Slovenia call for proposals. The aim of the project is to enhance the capacity for conserving the delicate biodiversity of the Northern Adriatic, a region known for its rich and diverse ecosystem that faces threats from climate change, overexploitation, and pollution.

The project involves several approaches, including the use of environmental DNA to monitor marine biodiversity; harmonisation and improvement of monitoring methods and databases for dolphins; development of new genetic markers; development and testing of innovative tools for collecting eDNA samples for individual identification of marine mammals; a study on the cultural ecosystem services provided by marine and coastal ecosystems; development of practical guidelines for transboundary protection and monitoring of marine mammals and marine biodiversity; and awareness raising and promotion of sustainable practices in line with local community values.

In addition to Morigenos, the project also involves the University of Ljubljana as lead partner, company DivjaLabs, the University of Padua, company Shoreline and the NGO Dolphin Biology and Conservation, as well as associate partners Public Institution Krajinski Park Strunjan, the Debeli Rtič Landscape Park, the Public Institution for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Development Projects of the Municipality of Izola, the Institute for Nature Conservation of the Republic of Slovenia, and the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Morigenos is leading the work package “Development and testing of innovative tools for sampling and individual eDNA genotyping”, which will develop an innovative approach for the identification of marine mammals at individual level, using the dolphins of the Gulf of Trieste as a model species, to improve knowledge of the North Adriatic dolphin population and to contribute new approaches to the conservation of marine apex predators.