Project Iemanjá

Recent studies indicated that increasing temperatures (fig.1) coupled with high levels of carbon dioxide dissolved in sea water are contributing to the acidification of the marine environment and to the degradation of coral reefs. These changes can also influence the settlement of invasive species or the extinction of endangered species, which highlighted the need of collecting data on physical and chemical parameters.
The Iemanjá Project is thus contributing to this collection via use of its ROV (remoted operated vehicle) which collects real time information on dissolved oxygen, temperature and depth, in conjunction with the photographs made by divers. The database will be accessible to researchers, organizations responsible for the protection of the environment and the general public.

Bleaching Process:
Most corals live in close symbiosis with the algae 'zooxanthellae'. This unicellular algae actually lives in the coral tissues. Through photosynthesis, zooxanthellae produces energy-rich composts which are a crucial food source for the corals. In exchange, the corals provide the algae with a protected environment and compounds required for photosynthesis. In other words, the corals greatly depend on this symbiotic relationship which provides them with up to 90% of their energy needs.
Under certain conditions of stress, the corals may suffer discolouration or bleaching.
This can disrupt the symbiotic relationship between the corals and algae which leads inevitably to their death. The term 'bleaching' is an apt description for the loss of colour that follows from either the expulsion of the zooxanthellae or the degradation of the algae pigments. The disappearance of the zooxanthellae is the main reason for the discolouration of the corals as it causes their tissues to become transparent. It is the white of the calcium carbonate that makes the coral skeleton visible by making it appear sparkling white or discoloured.
The chemical composition of the water has a drastic influence on marine life.
The ever-increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are raising the acidity of the water which, in turn, decreases the number of carbonate ions present in it. This reduces the calcification rate of the organisms which make up the coral reefs: corals and coralline algae. The main cause of the mass bleaching we see around the world is the increasing temperature of the sea water. For the corals living at their maximum thermal environment, an increase in temperature of just 1- 2 ºC ( 33,8 ºF - 35,6 ºF ) lasting only 4-8 weeks could activate the bleaching process. High temperatures are the cause of the bleaching, while the collapse of the photosynthetic system increases the production of oxygen which damages the structure of the coralline cells. Since the corals cannot tolerate high levels of these toxic molecules, they are forced to expel the zooxanthellae in order to avoid damage to their own tissues.

INVASIVE SPECIES FROM MEDITERRANEAN SEA
There are more than 830 invasive species reported in the Mediterranean Sea and 600 of these have now pernamently settled in.
A dangerous species is the Lagocephalus sceleratus (Silver-cheeked Toadfish) which is of tropical origin and highly toxic for consumption.
It has invaded most of the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea creating serious ecological, economic and health problems for countries such as Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt where various cases of food poisoning have been reported, some fatal.
Legambiente, an Italian NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation), indicates that recent reports have also originated from the southern coasts of Sicily, Apulia, Croatia and Spain.
Other invasive species of fish include the Fistularia commersonii (Bluespotted cornetfish) and the Siganus luridus (Dusky spinefoot) and species of algae such as the Caulerpa cylindracea and the Lophocladia lallemandii, which can cause serious consequences to the natural habitats, while Ctenofora Mnepiopsi negatively impacts fishing.
There is another major corcern: the rapid geographical expansion of the Pterois (Lionfish).
Originally from the Red Sea, this fish has been spotted along the Sicilian Coast. Its sting is very painful.
The president of Legambiente, Ms Rossella Muroni, has said that in spite of the ever-increasing knowledge of the problem there is not, as yet, as far as Italy is concerned, a global and integrated strategy to efficiently address the problem. To mitigate the negative ecological and economic consequences caused by the invasive species, it is fundamental to both intervene on the routes followed by the invasive species and to work closely with the communities living along the coasts.
It is for all these reasons that using a participatory approach to research and acknowledging the important role of the local communities, especially that of professional and amateur fishermen, that it should be possible to detect and monitor the presence of invasive species, perhaps transported unwittingly by ship, and to monitor and safeguard the biodiversity of Marine Protected Areas.

fonte:http://www.ansa.it/canale_ambiente/notizie/animali/2017/07/26/mediterraneo-invaso-da-pesci-alieni-tossici_17e35ef0-c0b5-4b53-beac-7abdef0e0de2.html