The Adriatic Sea is losing its seagrass meadows: sea warming among the main causes

Sea warming, together with environmental changes caused by human activities, is leading to a progressive decline of seagrass meadows in the northern Adriatic Sea. This is demonstrated by a new study recently published in the journal Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. The research shows that meadows of Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa, and other marine plants—vital for biodiversity, coastal stability, and carbon storage—are increasingly threatened by multiple factors.

The study, coordinated by OGS, involved an international team of researchers from the Miramare Marine Protected Area, the University of Trieste, the National Institute of Biology (NIB) in Slovenia, and the University of Maribor (Slovenia). It highlights how environmental alteration and sea warming significantly contribute to the decline of seagrass meadows, particularly Cymodocea nodosa, in the coastal areas of the northern Adriatic.