Assessing larval connectivity for marine spatial planning in the Adriatic

Area of Science:

• Marine ecology
• Oceanography
• Renewable energy impact assessment

Background:

• Offshore wind farm development is planned for the Mediterranean, with the Adriatic Sea identified as a key location.
• These developments introduce hard substrata, potentially impacting sessile benthic populations on the predominantly sedimentary Adriatic seafloor.
• Altered larval connectivity could affect benthic population structure and resilience in the region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To simulate larval dispersal patterns of benthic populations in the Adriatic Sea.
• To investigate the influence of pelagic larval duration on connectivity.
• To inform marine spatial planning and the licensing of offshore wind farm developments.

Main Methods:

• Coupled bio-physical models were used to simulate larval release from benthic populations.
• Larval dispersal was modeled along the coasts of the Adriatic Sea.
• The effect of pelagic larval duration on dispersal patterns was analyzed.

Main Results:

• Simulations indicate a general east-to-west larval transport across the Adriatic.
• Larvae released along western coasts tend to remain localized, with the Puglia coast acting as a significant sink.
• Specific areas of high and low larval connectivity were identified.

Conclusions:

• Offshore wind farm development has the potential to significantly alter benthic larval connectivity in the Adriatic.
• Understanding these dispersal patterns is essential for effective marine spatial planning.
• The findings support informed decision-making for sustainable offshore renewable energy projects.