Finding potential pathways for adapting to the climate crisis in three Mediterranean countries—Italy, Greece, and Cyprus—where key areas have been identified for the life and reproduction of three iconic species of the Mediterranean: the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), and the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus).

These same adaptation pathways for these species can also inspire coastal human communities in the future: this is the message launched by some of the young italian biologists collaborating on the LIFE ADAPTS (Climate Change ADAptations to Protect Turtles and Monk Seals) project, recently launched and co-funded by the European Union. This project coincides with EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS’ NIGHT, an important event for scientific dissemination and participation promoted by the European Commission since 2005.

In their video messages, the young researchers also emphasized the importance of research both for protecting endangered species and for addressing the effects of the climate crisis, and the need to engage citizens as fully as possible. The fate of coastal communities will depend on how they address the effects of the climate crisis, such as rising sea levels, global warming, and the consequences for the distribution of breeding and feeding habitats such as caves, beaches, and open seas.

RESEARCHERS IN THE FIELD The young italian researchers, joined on the project by colleagues from Greece, Cyprus (to be adapted for each country), are working to identify breeding sites by monitoring beaches on foot or with drones and caves with camera/video traps. They are also developing a risk index for sea

level rise in breeding sites by profiling beaches with drones and caves with video mapping and using data loggers to record beach and nest temperatures. They are also collecting data on incubation periods and histological analyses on turtle hatchlings to then develop a warming/feminization risk index. Finally, to identify key marine areas for the project’s species, they are using satellite transmitters for turtles and eDNA (environmental DNA) for monk seals.

Alongside the researchers, volunteers, divers, boaters, and boat owners are involved in hundreds of citizen science activities: one of the project’s key focuses is the involvement of the affected communities, along with local institutions, as key stakeholders in achieving the project’s objectives.

Paolo Casale, Associate Professor of Zoology and Scientific Coordinator of the project, states: “The LIFE ADAPTS project exemplifies the importance of scientific research for the conservation of species and habitats. Identifying priorities for action is essential to optimize available conservation resources, especially for far-reaching anthropogenic threats, such as climate change. Recognizing the inevitability of such changes, the project aims to identify areas of the Mediterranean that, if preserved, could play a key role in the future for sea turtle and monk seal populations.”

Laura Pintore, a researcher at the Marine Office and scientific director of the project for WWF Italy, adds, “Together with other researchers collaborating on the project, we are trying to find ways to support the response to the climate crisis for these iconic species.”

FIELD EXPERIENCE

From Sicily, Oleana Prato, marine biologist with WWF Italy, delivers her message from the beach of Granelli (Syracuse), just after an inspection coinciding with one of the exciting hatchings of Caretta caretta turtles, which allowed 98 hatchlings, after 58 days of incubation, to conquer the sea: “I collaborate on this project, which has allowed us to survey over 270 nests this year, a record for Sicily, and to protect the turtles’ nesting habitats, because solutions to climate change are not only useful to them, but also to us!”

From the Policoro Oasis in Basilicata, where the WWF manages one of its Turtle Recovery Centers, Giovanni Galluzzo, a biologist at the Center, states, “In the project, I’m involved in monitoring the beaches to identify traces of sea turtle nesting, securing the nests, and guarding them until the hatchlings hatch. The best moments are those related to raising public awareness of the need to protect this species. Indeed, each of us can do a lot to protect this species.”

From Sardinia, where the fifth edition of Monk Seal Week took place in La Maddalena (Sassari), organized by the Gruppo Foca Monaca APS in collaboration with Area11 Diving Center as part of the project’s activities, Sofia Bonicalza of the Gruppo Foca Monaca and scientific director for the project: “We study monk seal habitats to understand how climate change affects them, and we promote the involvement of local communities: nature conservation and human communities are closely linked. The climate crisis: solutions for animals can also be good for us!”

The team is coordinated by the Department of Biology of the University of Pisa and includes research bodies, institutions, associations specialised in the protection of the three species, experts and researchers. Seven other  partners are involved: WWF and Gruppo Foca Monaca in Italy, ARCHELON (The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece) and MOm (Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal) in Greece and MEDTRACS (Mediterranean Turtle Research and Conservation Society),  the Oceanography Center of the University of Cyprus (OC-UCY) and the Department for Fisheries and Marine Research of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment (DFMR) in Cyprus. 

CLIMATE EFFECT ON SEA TURTLES AND MONK SEALS 

Sandy coasts used by marine turtles as nesting ground and caves chosen by monk seals for breeding face risks linked to the effects of the ongoing climate crisis: these two types of sites are influenced, for example, by sea level rise which could cause their disappearance or reduce their potential. Furthermore, the increase in sand temperatures can cause a “feminisation” effect for sea turtles (increase in the percentage of female individuals in hatches).  

Rising sea levels due to global warming could lead to the flooding of monk seal pupping caves, resulting in the loss of these critical habitats for a successful reproduction of these animals. This could lead to reduction of pups produced, with consequent reduction of genetic diversity and potentially resulting in population decline. At sea, climate change also affects food availability and can cause changes in the distribution of feeding areas and the availability of resources, such as, for example, with the increase in alien species. Having a clear picture of the potential changes in advance and implementing the adaptive measures developed during the project will allow us to protect these iconic Mediterranean species more effectively in the future.  

For more information: wwf.it/lifeadapts

Information to the editors:  

LIFE ADAPTS (climate change ADAptations to Protect Turtles and monk Seals) is a multi-year project running until 2030 financed by the European Union within the LIFE programme. LIFE23-NAT-IT-LIFE ADAPTS GA n. 101148207.”