Climate change impacts and anthropogenic pressures: integrated research and approaches to protect and preserve the biodiversity in coastal environments

This project aims to define an innovative approach to allow for a more efficient, reliable, and integrated-based approach study of the coastal environment. In particular, the discharge of chemical and microbiological pollutants into the sea will be the focus of this project, as a consequence of both human activities and events linked to climate change (Fig. 1). Therefore microbiological, especially faecal and pesticide contamination will be assessed in both riverine and coastal marine environments. Faecal bacteria will be characterized at the genetic level to identify the host or environment from which they were derived, as indicators of contamination sources. The ultimate objective is to better define the effects of discharges on the coastal ecosystem and its biodiversity in order to improve its protection and conservation, ultimately mitigate their impacts. Fig. 1. This figure has been reproduced from a published paper MATERIALS AND METHODS Five sampling stations were chosen along the Arzilla River (Fano, Italy) closed to contamination sources: 1) near a little town; 2) near an oil mill, industries and horse riding centre; 3) in proximity of a reservoir where the digestate is discharged; 4) above the sewer outflow; 5) near the mouth of the river, next to the bathing area The hydro-meteorological station located near the mouth of the river allows for temporal monitoring of river flow and rainfall levels with a real-time visualization of the data. Multiple Parameters Analysis: • Trophic status: nutrient concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus, and dissolved oxygen; • Microbial contamination: analysis of faecal contamination in river, seawater, and sediment samples analysed using culture-based methods for faecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci) and through innovative molecular (qPCR) methods (using different types of primers to establish from which type of organism the contamination originates) [1]; • Pesticides: neonicotinoid and polar anionic classes; • Biodiversity status: Indicator species found in the sediment (meiobenthic analysis). II. EXPECTED RESULTS This PhD project is at the beginning of the first year and does not yet allow for obtaining results, but the expected results will concern: 1. Identification of major sources of chemical and microbiological pollution in the coastal areas and overall assessment of water quality. 2. Evaluation of the biodiversity status through the analysis of the trophic status and the study of indicator organisms (i.e., meiofauna) in sediment samples. This evaluation will provide insights into the ecological condition and overall quality of the coastal ecosystem. 3. Enhanced understanding of the impacts of climate change on the health of coastal environments. This knowledge can help inform future research and policies addressing the combined effects of these factors. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP by Decree n.118 of 2 March 2023 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU).