During the 55th Congress of the Italian Society of Marine Biology, Livia Benedini, a PhD student at the National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBCF) and SZN, was among the winners of the participation awards presented to support and promote the attendance of young researchers at scientific conferences.
During the event, Livia presented the ongoing study which explores how the red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) reacts to heatwaves, comparing different populations. The aim is to investigate the link between the environmental conditions in which these forests thrive and their mechanisms of resilience during periods of thermal stress, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate anomalies.
This research helps to expand our understanding of these processes, which are becoming increasingly significant in the context of climate change, and offers new perspectives for the conservation of Mediterranean benthic ecosystems. The research is currently being carried out at the Montgrí Natural Park, Medes Islands and Baix Ter, in collaboration with the University of Barcelona.
