The “Adriatic Conservancy” project by Fano University of the Sea is expanding its reach by involving students and teachers from IES Astrabudua BHI in Erandio (Bilbao, Spain), who were hosted by classes 2B and 2E of the Liceo Linguistico T. Mamiani in Pesaro as part of an Erasmus+ exchange.
The theoretical classes were conducted in English and Spanish by three Master’s students in Marine Biology from the Università Politecnica delle Marche. This approach facilitated the understanding of the topics for all participants, breaking down linguistic and cultural barriers.
The beach as a natural recorder
Marzia Gasparini introduced the project, illustrating how educational and field activities provide students with the necessary foundation to become “citizen scientists” active in the protection of the Adriatic coastal ecosystem.
Subsequently, the physical-chemical variables that determine the formation and evolution of the coastline (tides, river inputs, wave action, winds, and currents) were analyzed.
Students focused on the formation processes of sandy coasts, understanding how beaches can bear witness not only to the species inhabiting the Adriatic Sea, but also to the geological history of the territory.
Biodiversity and Conservation
Thanks to the contribution of Rafael Martínez-Cañavate Gutiérrez, the audience was able to learn scientific concepts in Spanish as well.
The focus of the lesson then shifted to the “ASPEH target species” (an Erasmus+ project for the protection of threatened coastal species).
Among these, Posidonia oceanica is a marine plant that supports entire ecosystems by increasing local biodiversity. The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) frequents the Adriatic Sea for feeding and reproduction but is often a victim of by-catch, risking injury or death in fishing nets. The Kentish plover (Anarhynchus alexandrinus) is a seabird that lays its eggs on the sand, exposing its nests to the pressure of beach tourism. Finally, the ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) is internationally protected as it is threatened by pollution, hunting, and habitat loss.
Attention then turned to the organisms inhabiting sandy seabeds, which have adapted to an apparently barren environment.
Bivalves, gastropods, echinoderms, and worms, as well as cephalopods, bony fish, and cartilaginous fish, were the protagonists of the documentary “Inhabited Deserts” (Deserti abitati) by Claudio Valerio and Davide De Benedictis, produced in collaboration with the Università Politecnica delle Marche.
YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8lOHMv3atE
Monitoring protocols and digital tools
Sara Cerri and Marzia Gasparini then illustrated the protocols for monitoring local coastal biodiversity and the human impact threatening its conservation. Among these, the citizen science protocol “MAC-Emerged” (Reef Check Italia) allows for the assessment of the conservation status of coastal ecosystems through the use of quadrats for surveying organisms washed up on the accumulation zone.
Digital tools were also presented: iNaturalist, a social network for identifying local species via artificial intelligence and validation by experts active on the platform to create a global database for scientific research; and Clean Swell (Ocean Conservancy), an app for monitoring global cleanup activities both on land and at sea, which helps evaluate local environmental impact and propose solutions to reduce it.
The field trip
On Friday, April 24, at Fiorenzuola di Focara beach within the Monte San Bartolo Natural Park, students applied the protocols they had learned.
An abundant amount of dried green and red algae was found on the shore. Animal findings were rare (ray eggs and a few gastropods), while there was a clear prevalence of waste such as polystyrene, plastic, nets, and footwear.
By collaborating in small groups and communicating in the languages they are studying, the students worked in synergy to collect data useful for science, acting as true “citizen scientists”. The experience increased their awareness of Adriatic biodiversity and how the abandonment of waste transforms beaches into silent witnesses of environmental loss and increasing urbanization.
