Atlantic marine testbed for mollusc and crustacean biodiversity decline: ecology, multistressor mesocosms and coastal validation

The Marine Research Centre (CIM) of the University of Vigo is a CIGUS Centre of Excellence and a leading interdisciplinary hub for marine and aquatic sciences, with strong expertise in biodiversity, marine ecology, ecotoxicology, climate-change impacts and ecosystem functioning. For HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-01, CIM is particularly well positioned to contribute to Area B, focused on molluscs and crustaceans, by combining scientific expertise in marine invertebrate ecology with advanced experimental and field infrastructure.

The Coastal Ecology group EcoCost-EZ1 brings extensive experience in benthic ecology, marine invertebrate biology, ecotoxicology and the effects of environmental stressors on coastal biodiversity. Its research includes commercially and ecologically relevant molluscs and other marine invertebrates, as well as the study of global-change impacts, extreme climatic events and contaminant exposure. Recent work within EZ1 includes multistressor and multitrophic marine mesocosm experiments, trophic transfer of contaminants and biomarker responses in marine invertebrates, providing a strong basis for assessing interacting direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity decline.

These scientific capabilities are supported by ECIMAT, CIM’s main marine research station and part of EMBRC-ERIC. ECIMAT provides direct access to diverse Atlantic coastal ecosystems, including rocky and sandy intertidal habitats, mudflats, estuaries and seagrass meadows, together with research vessels, marine biological resources and specialised sampling and experimental support. Its distinctive mesocosm infrastructure includes 12 pelagic units of 1.5 m³ and 12 benthic units of 0.7 m³ able to reproduce tidal cycles, allowing controlled experiments under environmentally realistic conditions.

CIM could therefore contribute as a marine case-study and experimental partner, helping to assess and rank direct and indirect drivers of mollusc and crustacean decline across spatial and temporal scales. Potential contributions include field surveys along environmental gradients, controlled multistressor mesocosm experiments, analysis of cumulative and interacting pressures, trophic and community-level responses, and validation of experimentally identified drivers under natural coastal conditions. This combination of mechanistic experimentation and real-world Atlantic field access could also support predictive modelling, early-warning approaches and evidence for biodiversity protection, restoration and sustainable management, directly addressing the objectives of the call.