This project includes two subprojects: “Influence of environmental factors and conservation status on the carbon sequestration capacity of some types of Mediterranean wetlands: Implications for their management aimed at climate change adaptation and mitigation” (subproject 1) and “Climate change and emerging parasitoses on the Mediterranean coast” (subproject 2).

Subproject 1 aims to provide knowledge on the key factors for the contribution of some of the main types of Spanish wetlands, mainly the coastal marsh wetland systems and the endorheic lagoons -with no river outlet to the sea- in central Spain, in the adaptation and mitigation of climate change. Observational and, above all, experimental approaches will be used to identify the role of the main environmental conditions that modulate their intervention in the carbon cycle and the determination of what would be the best practices in this regard.

Subproject 2 aims to study the possible changes in the parasite-host processes that could be associated with the current climate change process, using a species of marine fish of known biology. It is a species of model fish, which lives around a model protected marine reserve, such as the Marine Reserve of the Island of Tabarca (RMIT). In addition, a methodology to predict the impact of climate change on Mediterranean coastal ecosystems will be validated, using parasite communities as response indicators.

The activities of subproject 1 include:

• Field and laboratory manipulation experiments will be carried out to assess the role of the main environmental factors likely to influence the carbon balance of the wetland types studied
• Assessment of the effects of wetland management models on environmental characteristics and their role on the carbon cycle in the types of wetlands studied.
• Associating wetland management models with favourable situations in terms of carbon balance and good ecological status of the wetland types studied

The activities of subproject 2 include:

• Preparation of the historical database for analysis in a “before-after” design: refinement of parasite identification, definition of functional groups, and analysis of data quality.
• Sampling, identification and quantitative characterization of Boops boops parasite populations and communities obtained around RMIT.
• Development of a standardized methodology for the discrimination of natural variability and the obtaining of specific indicators for host-parasite systems.
• Development of a standardized protocol of statistical testing and detailed statistical analysis of new data from parasite communities and historical data.