In 2024, a marine bioinvasion research network was established within an Intensive School for Advanced Graduate Studies (ISAGS) co-organized by the University of Pavia (Italy) and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center - SERC (USA). This initiative aimed at recruiting scientists working on marine bioinvasions in different countries, applying a standardized approach to sample biofouling communities (i.e. SERC protocol) and fostering discussions around common research goals. During the one-week intensive school held in Pavia in January 2024, training sessions and interactive discussions led to the design of an initial experiment to evaluate (i) large-scale spatial and temporal patterns of port biofouling communities and (ii) effects of simple biofouling management measures. Fieldwork was then simultaneously performed by all participants from April to October 2024 (northern hemisphere summer) in 23 European and North-African sites (spanning 13 countries) and three US sites (one on each Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts). Preliminary results illustrate strong spatial differences in both the structure of fouling communities and experimental effects of biofouling management. We aim to expand upon this network approach, implementing further measures in collaboration with ISAGS and partners.
Ferrario, J., Gestoso, I., Keppel, E., Larson, K., Marchini, A., Coco, S., et al. (2025). Building a collaborative network to develop large-scale bioinvasion studies on biofouling communities.
Building a collaborative network to develop large-scale bioinvasion studies on biofouling communities
Piazza, A.;Costantini, F.;Mikac, B.;
2025
Abstract
In 2024, a marine bioinvasion research network was established within an Intensive School for Advanced Graduate Studies (ISAGS) co-organized by the University of Pavia (Italy) and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center - SERC (USA). This initiative aimed at recruiting scientists working on marine bioinvasions in different countries, applying a standardized approach to sample biofouling communities (i.e. SERC protocol) and fostering discussions around common research goals. During the one-week intensive school held in Pavia in January 2024, training sessions and interactive discussions led to the design of an initial experiment to evaluate (i) large-scale spatial and temporal patterns of port biofouling communities and (ii) effects of simple biofouling management measures. Fieldwork was then simultaneously performed by all participants from April to October 2024 (northern hemisphere summer) in 23 European and North-African sites (spanning 13 countries) and three US sites (one on each Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts). Preliminary results illustrate strong spatial differences in both the structure of fouling communities and experimental effects of biofouling management. We aim to expand upon this network approach, implementing further measures in collaboration with ISAGS and partners.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
