Pollution and anthropogenic CO2 emissions are triggering alterations on ecosystems. In summer 2019, a heatwave affected ~95% of the Mediterranean basin and in particular the North Adriatic Sea, an area already compromised by chemical pollution where several aquaculture facilities are held. According to this multiple stressors scenario, filter-feeding and sedentary organisms like bivalves are (and will be in the near future) subjected to severe pressures impacting population stocks, resulting in biodiversity loss and socio-economic impacts on aquaculture. In this context, the case of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum is emblematic: in recent years this species experienced several mortality events with a consequent dramatic decrease of stock availability due to the persistence of harsh stressful environmental conditions. The PhD project will aim to provide novel strategies to ameliorate Manila clam performance under multiple stressful conditions, using innovative tools such as priming and microbiota manipulation, with the final aim to explore biodiversity conservation and sustainable aquaculture management strategies. In addition, effects of several emerging contaminants will be assessed in bivalve species (e.g. clams, mussels, oysters) through multidisciplinary approaches that will be then elaborated within a weight of evidence approach able to summarize different data into a hazard index. Overall, the PhD project will provide new data on actions/interactions of biological processes involved in responsiveness and adaptation to environmental changes.
Five publications related to the Research Topic for the candidate interview:
Contact person
Prof. Massimo Milan
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (https://www.bca.unipd.it/)
University of Padova
tel.: +39-049-8279413
e-mail: massimo.milan@unipd.it