Nature-based solutions using positive species interactions in seagrasses
Project vision
The ENGAGE project aims to understand and harness the positive interactions between seagrasses, invertebrates, and their associated microbial communities. These interactions act as nature-based solutions to address pressing environmental and societal challenges in coastal ecosystems.
The project also promotes the conservation and restoration of healthy seagrass meadows, helping to mitigate the impacts of global change and combat the ongoing biodiversity crisis.
Nature-based solutions in seagrass–invertebrate systems and our working hypothesis. Enhancing nature by fostering positive species interactions, rather than focusing on a single species, can help address societal challenges, support climate change mitigation and adaptation, and ultimately safeguard human well-being. Adapted from Seddon et al., 2018.
Project participants
The project is funded by the Italian Ministry of Research PRIN call 2022 – grant n.20223R4FJK. Three Italian research units collaborate towards testing the power of facilitative macro-micro interactions in seagrass ecosystems.
Meet Our Team
Meet the people who make the ENGAGE project possible.
Ulisse
Cardini
Coordinator
Laura
Carugati
Partner PI
Fabio
Bulleri
Partner PI
Gabriele Procaccini
Participant
Carlo
Pretti
Participant
Mariella Baratti
Participant
Emanuela Dattolo
Participant
Irene
Olivé
Participant
Matteo
Oliva
Participant
Jessica Pazzaglia
Participant
German Zapata
Participant
Alice Blanckaert
Participant
Ella
Guscelli
Participant
Elena Quintanilla
Participant
Tamara Smith
Participant
Latest news
Follow engage project’s progress and dive into the learnings.
Marine Symbiomes at the #TMHM Symposium 2025
The Marine Symbiomes Group joined the TMHM Symposium 2025 at the Botanic Garden of Padova, organized by the University of Padova. The event fostered dialogue on new frameworks and technologies for studying marine host–microbe symbioses, with a focus on how climate change affects these vital ecosystems.
New ENGAGE experiment launches in Bacoli
Check out the latest update on an in situ experiment launched near Napoli as part of the PRIN ENGAGE project. The experiment aims to test Posidonia oceanica resilience to coastal eutrophication when in partnership with a sponge and its microbiome!
Celebrating transitions in marine symbiosis research
Dr. Elena Quintanilla wins a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship to conduct marine symbiosis research in our group, while Dr. Alice Blanckaert moves to the Centre Scientifique de Monaco for her next postdoc. Read about their exciting career milestones in marine research!
Heatwave experiment on marine plants and bivalves successfully concludes
Check out the latest news about an experiment that was conducted at the Aquarium of Livorno, within the frame of the PRIN ENGAGE project, to test the resistance of a tripartite association between marine plants, bivalves and bacteria to global warming!
Open position: postdoctoral fellowship on marine meiofaunal ecology and positive species interactions
We invite applications in the frame of the ENGAGE project, for a postdoctoral researcher to work with Dr Laura Carugati (UNICA) on meiofaunal ecology and positive species interactions.
Open position: PhD scholarship in microbial ecology of seagrasses
We invite applications for a PhD student to work with Dr Ulisse Cardini and Prof Fabio Bulleri on “Nested microbial interactions in seagrass ecosystems”.
Ocean acidification accelerates Nitrogen cycling on seagrass leaves
Our recent study in Communications Biology shows that Posidonia oceanica leaves exhibit complete nitrogen cycling, with key transformations accelerating under ocean acidification. These microbial interactions are crucial for seagrass resilience in a changing ocean.
Open position: postdoctoral fellowship in microbial ecology of seagrasses
We invite applications for a postdoctoral researcher to work with Dr Ulisse Cardini on “Positive species interactions and microbial ecology of seagrasses”.
Kickoff meeting of the ENGAGE project
Hey there, everyone! We're excited to share that the ENGAGE kickoff meeting recently took place at the CIBM in Livorno.
