Department of
Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics

Marine Ecology

The research activities are focused on analysing ecosystem functioning with a particular emphasis on marine ecosystems, but also considering terrestrial environments, since recently we have started to look into soil biological quality assessment. The main research lines are:

  • Implementation of the Ecosystem Based Approach to the fisheries management, aiming to reduce the unsustainability related to the fishing activities. We identify management strategies for reducing fishing impacts through the co-creation approach, the engagement of both fishers and final consumers, and the use of labelling and certification.
  • Analysis of the nektonic community, both in lagoon and coastal areas, through the use of active acoustics method (scientific echosounders); assessment of the sea-lagoon exchanges in terms of biological material, and the effects of the possible reduction of connectivity as a result of the mobile barrier flood-defence system (MOSE) becoming operational at the lagoon inlets;
  • Ecosystem Services assessment, in aquatic and terrestrial environments, for describing and quantifying human society dependence on Nature. Particular attention is paid to the creation of scenarios to test the outcomes of different management choices.

The lab is also involved in research about the affiliation with Nature (according to the Biophilia concept by E.O. Wilson) and its possible applications within the context of outdoor education in primary schools.

Research group

Collaborators

  • Marco Anelli Monti
  • Alberto Caccin
  • Pietro Gorgosalice
  • Silvia Rova
  • Emma Schena
  • Alice Stocco

Collaborations

Publications

  • Stocco, A., Dupré, L., Pranovi, F. (2024). Exploring the interplay of landscape changes and ecosystem services maximization in man-managed lagoon areas  in ESTUARINE, COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE, 296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2023.108597
  • Stocco, A., Gorgosalice, P., Anelli Monti, M., Caccin, A., Pranovi, F. (2024). The Influence of Fishers’ Behavior on Recreational Fishing Dynamics and Catch: Insights from a Mediterranean Coastal Lagoon in COASTS, vol. 4, pp. 535-551. https://www.mdpi.com/2673-964X/4/3/27
  • Basconi, L., Rova, S., Stocco, A., Pranovi, F. (2023). Ecosystem services for supporting coastal and marine resources management, an example from the Adriatic sea (Central Mediterranean sea) in OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT, vol. 235, pp. 106486. http://dx.medra.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106486
  • Cavraro, F., Anelli Monti, M., Caccin, A., Fiori, F., Grati, F., Russo, E., Scarcella, G., Vrdoljak, D., Matic-Skoko, S., Pranovi, F. (2024). Is the Small-Scale Fishery more sustainable in terms of GHG emissions? A case study analysis from the Central Mediterranean Sea in MARINE POLICY, vol. 148, pp. 105474. http://dx.medra.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105474
  • Stocco, A., Basconi, L., Rova, S., Pranovi, F. (2023). Like Little Lagoons: The Contribution of Valli da Pesca to the Ecosystem Services Supply of the Venice Lagoon in ESTUARIES AND COASTS, vol. 46, pp. 616-629. http://dx.medra.org/10.1007/s12237-023-01168-z

Equipment

  • Scientific Echosounder
  • Acoustic Video Camera

Research projects

  • BoS Bauhaus of the Seas Sails (https://bauhaus-seas.eu)
  • BIOPRESSADRIA Cross-border integrated strategy to reduce biodiversity loss due to anthropogenic pressures along the Adriatic coast (https://www.italy-croatia.eu/web/biopressadria)
  • CRADLES Creating Resilient Areas to Develop Lifecycles and Ecosistem Services (https://galijula.izor.hr/en/projekti/cradles-2/)
  • Valorisation of SMall-scale ARTisanal FISHery of the Adriatic coasts, in a context of sustainability (ADRISMARTFISH), Project Interreg Italia Croazia
  • ECOlogical observing System in the Adriatic Sea: oceanographic observations (ECOSS), Project Interreg Italia Croazia
  • Co-creating a decision support framework to ensure sustainable fish production in Europe under climate change (ClimeFish), Project Horizon 2020
  • Sostenibilità Integrata e Innovazione Sociale, Programma Operativo Regionale - Fondo Sociale Europeo 2014-2020 - Asse II Inclusione sociale – Strumenti di innovazione sociale – NS2 – Nuove Sfide Nuovi Servizi
  • Venezia 2021', Project CORILA
  • Valutazione dell’importanza degli scambi mare-laguna per il mantenimento degli stock ittici soggetti a sfruttamento commerciale (Exchange I e II), Project FEAMP

Last update: 22/09/2025