The Underwater World: discover the biodiversity of the Mediterranean sea
If you would like to receive the certificate of participation for the course "The Underwater World: Discover the Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea", please register on the platform and track your progress.
To register (at this link), you only need to provide your first name (Nome), last name (Cognome), and email address (E-mail). Once you have completed all the lessons, send an email to oneplanetschool@wwf.it to receive the certificate in English.
About the course
Through this course, we invite you to dive into the wonders of the Mediterranean Sea - Mare Nostrum - and explore its exceptional biodiversity: from seabed plants, such as the Posidonia oceanica, to the most emblematic marine species, including jellyfish, sea urchins, groupers and species of marine megafauna such as the monk seal.
Throughout the course, you will learn about the main threats that endanger this precious treasure trove of life and discover how each of us can actively contribute to protect the Mediterranean's underwater world.
The EcoeFISHent project
EcoeFISHent is a European project that promotes a circular and sustainable model to enhance the value of by-products from the fishing industry, integrating the blue and green economies.
The goal is to transform fish processing by-products into ingredients for food supplements, cosmetics and biodegradable packaging materials, as well as fertilisers and biodiesel oil.
Moreover, the EcoeFISHent partnership is working to develop and implement a marine environment protection programme through the collection, recovery and recycling of abandoned and/or discarded fishing nets, which will be used to produce automotive components and packaging for cosmetic products. This is a concrete initiative to reduce the impact on the marine environment and promote a more sustainable development.
This projecy has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 101036428 "EcoeFISHent".
Exploring the underwater world
The main ecological characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea, brief notes on its evolutionary history and the main characteristics of marine ecosystems.
Plankton and Benthos
Let's take a closer look at plankton, with all its components and its importance in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, and at the benthos - the flora and fauna that make up the seabed.
| Tipo di lezione | Titolo della lezione | Durata | Completamento |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plankton: from bacteria to gelatinous plankton | 5 minuti | Inizia | |
| Benthos: the species that inhabit our seabed | 7 minuti | Inizia | |
| Seagrasses: the lungs of the sea | 11 minuti | Inizia | |
| Posidonia: a vital marine plant for biodiversity | Inizia | ||
| The marine forests of Cystoseira | 10 minuti | Inizia | |
| Pinna nobilis: an example of resilience | 9 minuti | Inizia |
Nekton
This module explores the topic of marine megafauna: bony fish, cartilaginous fish, reptiles and mammals. Let's take a look at the iconic species of the Mediterranean Sea and learn about their role within the marine ecosystem.
| Tipo di lezione | Titolo della lezione | Durata | Completamento |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nekton: from small fish to giants of the sea | 7 minuti | Inizia | |
| Bluefin tuna: a species to protect | 16 minuti | Inizia | |
| Sharks: fragile apex predators | 11 minuti | Inizia | |
| Sea turtles: a wonder to be protected | 11 minuti | Inizia | |
| Loggerhead sea turtle | Inizia | ||
| The monk seal: the only pinniped in the Mediterranean | 13 minuti | Inizia | |
| The monk seal: the last pinniped in the Mediterranean | Inizia | ||
| Cetaceans: fins and spouts of the Mediterranean | 16 minuti | Inizia |
Threats to the Blue World
This module examines the challenges the Mediterranean Sea faces today, from the threats of anchoring to alien species, from plastic pollution to unsustainable fishing, from climate change to chemical and noise pollution.
The threats to the Blue World: focus EcoeFISHent
The threats to the Mediterranean Sea and the EcoFISHent project, which promotes a circular and sustainable model to make the most of fishery industry by-products, integrating the blue and green economy.
| Tipo di lezione | Titolo della lezione | Durata | Completamento |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EcoeFISHent project | Inizia | ||
| Bycatch: the accidental capture of non-targeted species in fishing gear | 9 minuti | Inizia | |
| Protecting sharks to save the Mediterranean Sea | Inizia | ||
| Fishing Impact: the effects of fishing and possible solutions | 9 minuti | Inizia | |
| Overfishing: the overexploitation of fishing resources | 8 minuti | Inizia | |
| Ghost Gear: fishing equipment lost or abandoned at sea | 14 minuti | Inizia | |
| Plastic: a major threat to the Mediterranean Sea | 8 minuti | Inizia | |
| Report – Beyond plastic: the hidden burden of pollution | Inizia |
WWF Italy’s actions to protect the underwater world
The solutions and initiatives implemented by WWF Italy to safeguard the Mediterranean Sea – a true treasure trove of biodiversity.
| Tipo di lezione | Titolo della lezione | Durata | Completamento |
|---|---|---|---|
| The 30x30 challenge and the importance of Marine Protected Areas | 11 minuti | Inizia | |
| Marine Protected Areas: the challenge of becoming true “banks of the sea” | Inizia | ||
| Case study: the virtuous example of the Miramare Marine Protected Area | 14 minuti | Inizia | |
| Sustainable Fisheries: can we talk about sustainable fishing? | 8 minuti | Inizia | |
| Solutions for lost fishing gear: the EcoeFISHent and Ghost gear projects | 6 minuti | Inizia | |
| Case study: solutions from the Portofino Marine Protected Area | 9 minuti | Inizia | |
| The Citizen Science: citizen mobilization to protect the sea | 5 minuti | Inizia | |
| Case study: monitoring sea turtles nests | 3 minuti | Inizia |