Universita' di Trieste - Santa Marinella

Restoration Project

Universita' di Trieste - Santa Marinella

Restoration Objective:

We investigated whether it is feasible to shorten the laboratory culture period for Ericaria amentacea (C. Agardh) Molinari & Guiry by introducing a subsequent suspended algaculture phase prior to outplanting. Three experimental treatments were tested, each defined by different combinations of laboratory and suspended cultivation durations. We hypothesized that an extremely short laboratory phase (i.e., five days) would result in suboptimal outcomes, with germlings poorly developed to endure environmental stressors. Conversely, a moderate reduction to twelve days was anticipated to strike a balance between resource efficiency and the developmental needs of the germlings, thereby conferring sufficient resilience for successful outplanting. This intermediate approach holds promise for enabling multiple culture cycles within a single reproductive season while maintaining both satisfactory outplanting success and scalability in restoration practices.

Site Selection Criteria:

The restoration area selected for the outplanting under the RENOVATE Project was the rocky shore of Santa Marinella (42°03′1.25″N 11°49′10.5″E). The area included two sites ∼50 m apart to account for environmental heterogeneity.

Cause Of Decline:

These declines are mainly driven by eutrophication, habitat destruction, and climate-related stressors such as warming, extreme events, and altered hydrodynamics (Thibaut et al., 2005, 2014; Bevilacqua et al., 2019; Bulleri et al., 2025). Collectively, these factors are contributing to the progressive degradation of Cystoseira s.l. populations, undermining their ecological functions and jeopardizing the stability and resilience of the ecosystems they structure.

Key Reasons For Decline:

Multiple

Scientific Paper

Towards streamlined restoration of macroalgal forests: integrating suspended algaculture and ex situ outplanting

Burchio, S. D. A., Bevilacqua, S., Comis, S., Marcelli, M., Amore, E., Batistini, E., ... & Falace, A. (2025).https://www.sciencedirect.com...S0141113625004611?via%3Dihub

Organisation:

Universita' di Trieste

Site Observations:

Observation Date

30th Jun 2024 – 4th Aug 2024

Action Summary:

Clay tiles with Ericaria amentacea juveniles were cultivated in the lab for 5 days, followed by 12 days in suspended agriculture. Randomly selected tiles were then outplanted onto a rocky shore and monitored over an 18-day period.

Approximately 500 fertile apices collected from multiple donor individuals were positioned onto clay tiles within aerated aquaria containing 0.22 μm-filtered seawater and cultivated for 5 days under controlled conditions (125 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ irradiance, 18 °C temperature, and a 15:9 h light:dark cycle). The tiles were then transported to a suspended aquaculture system using floating supports equipped with slow-release nutrient pellets, where they were held for a further 12 days.

Randomly selected tiles were then outplanted to the intertidal zone, where they were securely fixed to the rocky substrate using screws and an underwater drill at approximately 0.5 m below mean sea level.

Lessons Learned:

A cultivation protocol consisting of 5 days of laboratory culture followed by 12 days in suspended aquaculture conditions was sufficient to maintain seedling survival and growth after outplanting, while reducing the time and operational costs associated with prolonged laboratory cultivation.

Project Outcomes:

In conclusion, our study demonstrates that incorporating a suspended algaculture phase can effectively reduce the duration of the laboratory culture period required for E. amentacea without compromising seedling performance. A minimum of twelve days in mesocosm conditions was sufficient to attain both refuge size and photosynthetic resilience, enabling subsequent survival and growth after outplanting.

This approach not only increases the potential for multiple culture cycles within a single reproductive season—thus enhancing the scalability and temporal flexibility of restoration protocols—but also significantly reduces the operational costs associated with long-term laboratory maintenance. By limiting the time germlings remain in controlled indoor facilities, this protocol decreases energy consumption, personnel time, and infrastructure occupancy, all of which are critical factors in large-scale or multi-site restoration initiatives.

Area of Restoration (Ha)

0.00002

Indicator Data:

Indicator:

Ending Value:

Starting Value:

Kelp Cover

2.2200
%
2.3600
%

Observation Date

30th Jun 2024 – 4th Aug 2024

Action Summary:

Clay tiles with Ericaria amentacea juveniles were cultivated in the lab for 12 days, followed by 5 days in suspended agriculture. Randomly selected tiles were then outplanted onto a rocky shore and monitored over an 18-day period.

Approximately 500 fertile apices collected from multiple donor individuals were positioned onto clay tiles within aerated aquaria containing 0.22 μm-filtered seawater and cultivated for 12 days under controlled conditions (125 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ irradiance, 18 °C temperature, and a 15:9 h light:dark cycle). The tiles were then transported to a suspended aquaculture system using floating supports equipped with slow-release nutrient pellets, where they were held for a further 5 days.

Randomly selected tiles were then outplanted to the intertidal zone, where they were securely fixed to the rocky substrate using screws and an underwater drill at approximately 0.5 m below mean sea level.

Lessons Learned:

A cultivation protocol consisting of 5 days of laboratory culture followed by 12 days in suspended aquaculture conditions was sufficient to maintain seedling survival and growth after outplanting, while reducing the time and operational costs associated with prolonged laboratory cultivation.

Project Outcomes:

In conclusion, our study demonstrates that incorporating a suspended algaculture phase can effectively reduce the duration of the laboratory culture period required for E. amentacea without compromising seedling performance. A minimum of twelve days in mesocosm conditions was sufficient to attain both refuge size and photosynthetic resilience, enabling subsequent survival and growth after outplanting.

This approach not only increases the potential for multiple culture cycles within a single reproductive season—thus enhancing the scalability and temporal flexibility of restoration protocols—but also significantly reduces the operational costs associated with long-term laboratory maintenance. By limiting the time germlings remain in controlled indoor facilities, this protocol decreases energy consumption, personnel time, and infrastructure occupancy, all of which are critical factors in large-scale or multi-site restoration initiatives.

Area of Restoration (Ha)

0.00002

Indicator Data:

Indicator:

Ending Value:

Starting Value:

Kelp Cover

9.8700
%
3.0800
%
Transplant Info:
Life Stage:Juveniles
Source:Culture

Observation Date

30th Jun 2024 – 4th Aug 2024

Action Summary:

Clay tiles containing Ericaria amentacea juveniles were cultivated in the laboratory for 17 days, without any subsequent suspended-culture phase. Randomly selected tiles were then outplanted onto a rocky shore and monitored over an 18-day period.

Approximately 500 fertile apices collected from multiple donor individuals were positioned onto clay tiles within aerated aquaria containing 0.22 μm-filtered seawater and cultivated for 17 days under controlled conditions (125 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ irradiance, 18 °C temperature, and a 15:9 h light:dark cycle).

Randomly selected tiles were then outplanted to the intertidal zone, where they were securely fixed to the rocky substrate using screws and an underwater drill at approximately 0.5 m below mean sea level.

Lessons Learned:

A cultivation protocol consisting of 5 days of laboratory culture followed by 12 days in suspended aquaculture conditions was sufficient to maintain seedling survival and growth after outplanting, while reducing the time and operational costs associated with prolonged laboratory cultivation.

Project Outcomes:

In conclusion, our study demonstrates that incorporating a suspended algaculture phase can effectively reduce the duration of the laboratory culture period required for E. amentacea without compromising seedling performance. A minimum of twelve days in mesocosm conditions was sufficient to attain both refuge size and photosynthetic resilience, enabling subsequent survival and growth after outplanting.

This approach not only increases the potential for multiple culture cycles within a single reproductive season—thus enhancing the scalability and temporal flexibility of restoration protocols—but also significantly reduces the operational costs associated with long-term laboratory maintenance. By limiting the time germlings remain in controlled indoor facilities, this protocol decreases energy consumption, personnel time, and infrastructure occupancy, all of which are critical factors in large-scale or multi-site restoration initiatives.

Indicator Data:

Indicator:

Ending Value:

Starting Value:

Kelp Cover

14.9600
%
8.8000
%
Transplant Info:
Life Stage:Juveniles
Source:Culture
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