003 | The Strait of Messina: a natural laboratory for studying marine ecosystem responses to environmental conditions

Teresa Romeo | Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina, Italy.

The Strait of Messina represents a unique oceanographic gateway within the Mediterranean sea, functioning as a strategic natural laboratory for monitoring marine ecosystem responses to global environmental shifts. Despite its restricted geographical scale, the Strait is characterized by extraordinary hydrographic dynamics, primarily driven by intense tidal currents and the significant phenomenon of upwelling. These conditions create a localized high-biodiversity hotspot that mirrors broader oceanic processes, making it an ideal site for climate change observations. This study highlights how the Strait’s environmental parameters influence the presence and behavior of ecologically pivotal species. High-trophic-level predators, including swordfish, bluefin tuna, and various shark species, serve as biological indicators of ecosystem health. Specifically, several research on the swimming behavior and trophic ecology of swordfish provides critical insights into how pelagic species adapt their movements, reproduction strategy and feeding strategy to local thermic and hydrodynamic variables. Furthermore, the Strait’s vertical mixing facilitates the stranding of mesopelagic fish, offering a rare window into deep-sea biodiversity. These organisms exhibit extraordinary evolutionary adaptations to extreme conditions, most notably the presence of photophores. These specialized light-emitting organs are essential for counter-illumination, intra-specific communication, and predation in the twilight zone. Monitoring these species, alongside structural builders like the hydrocoral Errina aspera, allows for a precise evaluation of how warming waters affect deep-sea communities. By integrating data on migratory patterns and the physiological adaptations of mesopelagic fauna, this research demonstrates that the Strait of Messina is an indispensable sentinel for predicting the future of Mediterranean ecosystems under climatic pressure.