Pinna nobilis Larval Collectors in Slovenia
At the end of November and throughout December 2024, researchers at MBP NIB National Institute of Biology, Slovenia and at the Aquarium of Piran (UPR) began retrieving larval collectors for Pinna nobilis (the noble pen shell). This year, they tested two types of collectors:
1️) Soft plastic potato bags
2️) Yuta combined with hard plastic
The goal? To evaluate the efficiency of both materials in capturing bivalve larvae while reducing plastic usage in marine environments.
Although we haven’t found live juveniles of Pinna nobilis yet, the collectors were teeming with life! Various species of bivalves, crustaceans, bryozoans, ascidians, and more have taken up residence.
Our team is now analyzing the collected assemblages to determine whether yuta-based collectors could replace plastic ones. With some sites still unexamined due to strong winds and low visibility, we remain hopeful that early 2025 might bring more promising results.
Stay tuned for updates as we continue this important work to protect marine ecosystems.
#marineconservation #Pinnanobilis #sustainability #varstvomorja #Pinnanobilis #trajnost #pinnanobile
