WORMSOUT PLUS
Bearded fireWORM invaSiOn: UnderwaTer monitoring, biodiversity and social impacts, PotentiaL indUstrial application and mitigation Strategies
About the Project
WORMSOUT PLUS addresses the spread of invasive fireworms (Hermodice carunculata) across the Mediterranean Sea, tackling ecological, economic, and social impacts through transnational research.
The project adopts a transnational and transdisciplinary approach, aligned with the BiodivTransform objectives of fostering transformative change for biodiversity through co-produced knowledge, and stakeholder and policymakers engagement.
We assess the level of fireworm invasion and identify the ecological and human-related drivers influencing its spread across target countries: Italy, Tunisia, Turkey, Slovenia, Spain and France.
7 Countries
Transnational collaboration across the Mediterranean
10+ Partners
Research institutions and universities
3 Years
Comprehensive research program
Objectives
Monitor & Assess
Assess fireworm invasion extent and identify ecological and human-related drivers across target countries by combining stakeholder-based observations with scientific surveys.
Evaluate Impacts
Evaluate ecological and socio-economic impacts under current and future climate scenarios using multidisciplinary molecular, biochemical, and modeling approaches.
Develop Solutions
Develop and test effective mitigation strategies tailored to different stages of invasion and local contexts, including containment and sustainable biomass applications.
Inform Policy
Support evidence-based decision-making and promote coordinated management and policy responses at national and EU/Mediterranean levels.
Key Activities
Underwater Monitoring
Monitor fireworm abundance and distribution in target areas by combining stakeholder-based observations (dive centres and fishermen) with scientific surveys, including visual census.
Multidisciplinary Analysis
Conduct comprehensive analyses combining molecular biology, biochemistry, ecological modeling, and socio-economic assessment approaches.
Sustainable Applications
Develop containment strategies and explore sustainable biomass applications in food, cosmetics, and biotechnology sectors.
Knowledge Dissemination
Disseminate findings and integrate scientific evidence into policy frameworks at regional, national, and EU levels.
Partners
A consortium of leading research institutions across the Mediterranean
Italy
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS) - Coordinator
- University of Catania
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
- BMR Genomics srl
Slovenia
- Jozef Stefan Institute
Tunisia
- National Institute of Marine Science and Technology
France
- Aix-Marseille Universite
Turkey
- Mugla Sitki Kocman University
Spain
- University of La Laguna
- Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Romania
- QTIBIA Engineering
Contact
Project Coordinator
Dr. Michela D'Alessandro
National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS)
Milazzo, Italy
mdalessandro@ogs.itFor general inquiries about the WORMSOUT PLUS project, collaboration opportunities, or media requests, please contact the project coordinator.
Get in Touch