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FUTURE – a warmer Future world: effects on plankton commUnities and paThogens in mediterranean vUlneRable Ecosystems

Global warming is altering the dynamic and structure of aquatic ecosystems. The Mediterranean region is considered as one of the most sensitive areas regarding global warming and Mediterranean artificial lakes and coastal lagoons are considered particularly vulnerable environments that deserve attention as they provide fundamental goods and ecosystem services. Temperature rise is expected to cause plankton biodiversity loss and to favour the selection of smaller-sized organisms and pathogenic bacteria. This may produce strong alteration in the food web efficiency and energy flux in artificial lakes and coastal lagoons and, consequently, on the all related goods and services, such as good quality of water for agriculture and drinking in artificial lakes or fishing in lagoons.

In this context, the FUTURE project aims to investigate the effects of the forecasted climate warming on Mediterranean natural plankton communities, including several trophic levels, from bacteria to mesozooplankton. Specifically, FUTURE aims to evaluate the effects of warming on the plankton community biodiversity, the plankton food web size-structure and the abundance of potentially pathogenic and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Two different natural plankton communities from a Mediterranean artificial lake, Bidighinzu Lake, and a coastal lagoon, Cabras Lagoon, will be investigated by laboratory experiments and field monitoring activities.