1,720,997 research outputs found
EST: an exploratory model for Ecosystem Services in the Venice lagoon
No full textThe Venice lagoon is a complex socio-ecological system, where Ecosystem Services (ES) and benefits for people
result as emergent properties from the interactions between ecological processes and human activities. Such
a complex system is threatened by several drivers of change, including those connected to resource
exploitation and ecosystem fruition, along with climate related drivers. EST (Ecosystem Services Screening
Tool) is an exploratory numerical model based on dynamic system theory, aimed at investigating the
interactions among the different ES, the lagoon resources and the social dynamics, and compare possible
scenarios of evolution of the whole socio-ecological system. The conceptual model was inspired by the “Socialecological systems framework” and considers 13 Ecosystem Services, along with the biophysical component,
represented by specific macrohabitats characterizing the lagoon seascape and key faunal groups, and the main
groups of actors involved in services fruition. Increase in water temperature and relative sea level rise were
provided as external forcings in the model, which also attempted to account for the feedbacks on services
produced by the regulation of lagoon high tides through the closure of mobile gates. EST was implemented in
Simile v. 6.1 software environment, as an attempt to improve its applicability for participatory modelling
applications. Model development and parameterization is presented, and contrasting tendency scenarios are
preliminarily explored, considering a 50 year time horizon. Scenarios included both changes in climate-related
forcings and in governance choices aimed at preserving the biophysical component, ensuring ES sustainability
Modelling interactions between mussel farm biodeposition, sediment biogeochemistry and nitrogen recycling in the northern Adriatic sea (Italy)
No full textA bioenergetic model to address carbon sequestration potential of shellfish farming: example from Ruditapes philippinarum in the Venice lagoon
Full text linkShellfish are increasingly been looked at as sustainable food sources that provide additional ecosystem services. However, their role as CO2 sinks or sources is still debated. To quantify it, shell accretion dynamics should be accounted for. However, the shell component is usually calculated with allometric scaling, in most bivalve models. With this study, shell accretion was added to a bioenergetic model of the Manilla clam (Ruditapes philippinarum), and a parameter linking assimilated energy towards shell growth (KSH) was calibrated for four sites, where clams from the same cohort were monitored during a transplant experiment. The model was then used to calculate CO2 fluxes resulting from respiration and shell calcification, taking into account CaCO3 stocked in the shell and CO2 emission. The findings show that KSH varied slightly among sites and that clams played a role as a moderate sink of CO2 over a whole year. CO2 fluxes were characterized by a seasonal variability: clams were net sources in wintertime and sinks in summer time, suggesting the need of accounting for seasonality and growth should shellfish farming be included in carbon markets
Optimization of shellfish production carrying capacity at a farm scale
No full textIn this paper, we investigate the relationship between the production and ecological carrying capacity of shellfish cultured species (mussels, oysters, clams, etc.) and the spatial distribution of shellfish density within a licensed area. In order to achieve this goal, we used an analytical model for simulating the impact of a shellfish farm on the concentration of suspended particles or dissolved substances, namely dissolved oxygen in steady-state conditions. The results show that the impact depends on the spatial distribution of the rearing density within the licensed area. In particular, we found a family of non-homogeneous distribution of rearing density which allow one to increase the biomass yield in respect to the homogeneous one, while complying with constraints on suspended particles or dissolved substances. These results may be relevant for enhancing both the production and ecological carrying capacity of shellfish farms
Estimating Nitrogen and Phosphorus fluxes from net pen aquaculture: model application to a case study (Adriatic Sea)
No full textIdentificazione di un modello di dinamica di popolazione di Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) in laguna di Venezia
No full textA spatially explicit food web model for supporting the management of a marine Natura 2000 site: ongoing efforts at the Tegnùe di Chioggia
No full textAs remarked by the recent European legislation (MSPD), plans managing the interaction between
conservation goals and maritime uses should consider the spatial dimension, to be effective and easily
applied. In such a context, food web modelling, considering both the structure and functioning of an
ecosystem, is increasingly perceived as an important resource informing sea planning, at the different
spatial scales. In this preliminary work, an existing food web model (based on Ecopath with Ecosim) of the
northern Adriatic Sea was spatialized and downscaled to the ‘Tegnùe di Chioggia’, for testing different
management measures. This area, characterised by the presence of biogenic rocky outcrops and proposed
as Site of Community Importance in 2011, is indeed still missing of a management plan. Trophic groups of
high naturalistic and socio-economic interest have been distributed by considering different habitats and
tolerance to environmental drivers. In the model, four main habitats have been defined (rocky habitat
simulating the tegnùe, sandy and muddy habitats and mussel farms) and the trophic groups assigned to
each one according to their preferences. Fishing activities are described considering 5 different fleets
(including different trawling gears, hydraulic dredge, artisanal and recreational fishery) and their fishing
effort have been spatialized based on AIS data. The tool provides output maps of group biomasses, catches,
and ecosystem functioning indicators. Preliminary results are discussed in relation to their potential use for
comparing the consequences of different management options (for instance the expansion of the current
SCI, partial artisanal/recreational fishing openings within the SCI area, and expansion/reallocation of mussel
farms and clam fishing areas)
Ecasa EU project: indicators and models for the environmental impact assessment of longline mussel culture.
No full textEvaluating seagrass recolonisation probability in the Lagoon of Venice: an individual-based model approach.
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