Heatwave experiment on marine plants and bivalves successfully concludes

News   •   October-November 2024

Photos by Elena, Ludovica, Ulisse

Text by Elena

Experimental aquaria running both control and temperature treatment tanks (left) and a core containing the marine plant (Cymodocea nodosa), sediment, and below-ground lucinid clams (right).

The ENGAGE team recently completed a two-month aquaria experiment on the seagrass-lucinid symbiosis between the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa and below-ground lucinid clams Loripes orbiculatus under simulated heatwave conditions. Researchers from the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, the Università di Pisa, and the University of Cagliari conducted the study at the Aquarium of Livorno, Italy.

“Our goal is to uncover how seagrass-lucinid symbiosis influences ecosystem function and how this relationship responds to ocean warming” says Dr. Ulisse Cardini, the project coordinator.

To investigate this, the experiment used six tanks. Three served as controls, maintaining normal seawater temperatures, while the other three simulated future climate conditions by gradually heating the water to 31.5°C. By the end of the study, researchers had collected a variety of samples to analyze nutrient and gas exchange, microbial and sediment biodiversity, and key cellular and molecular processes. Ultimately, these insights will help clarify how seagrass-lucinid symbiosis adapts to rising ocean temperatures.

Some snapshots of the sampling effort, while researchers extrude the cores and collect sediment samples (left) and while preserving samples for metabolome and microbial community analyses (right).

Researchers expect significant differences between the control and heat-exposed cores. These findings will offer key insights into seagrass-lucinid symbiosis and its adaptability to environmental stress. Understanding this relationship could reveal its potential role in strengthening seagrass ecosystem resilience against climate change impacts.

the engage experiment sampling team

Members of the ENGAGE team participating in the sampling. From left to right: Dr. Ludovica Pedicini, Dr. Fabio Blanco, Dr. Ella Guscelli, Prof. Fabio Bulleri, Dr. Alice Blanckaert, Dr. Elena Quintanilla, and Dr. Ulisse Cardini

On a fun note, the experiment even made it onto local TV! You can check out a brief interview (in Italian) about our work starting at minute 12:40 in this video:

Follow our updates to discover how the seagrass-lucinid symbiosis might hold the key to mitigating the impacts of climate change!