Researchers from NIB recently made a remarkable find—18 tiny pinnids in two collector bags placed at a mussel farm in Debeli rtič! These delicate juveniles are now safely housed at the Marine Biology Station in Piran, where scientists are carefully monitoring their growth and survival.
🧺 To protect them, each pinnid has been placed in a separate juta basket filled with sediment—a technique proven to safeguard their fragile bissus and promote healthy development.
Given their tiny size, NIB researchers, in collaboration with the University of Trieste, are testing non-destructive methods to collect material for genetic analysis.
✔️ The largest juveniles were housed for one day in separate containers within an open system to keep water temperature stable and prevent thermal shock.
✔️ Water from these containers was filtered immediately, and the filters were then stored in freezers before being sent to UNITS for genetic research.
This approach aims at gathering genetic data while keeping these endangered mollusks safe! 💙🌊
#PinnaNobilis #MarineConservation #AdriaticSea #ProtectOurOceans #SustainableResearch
