Current degradation of marine ecosystems, worsen by global change processes, have triggered scientific and public awareness for environmental conservation. That is the case of seagrass meadows, unique coastal habitats which provide a variety of ecosystem services, play essential roles in coastal ecology and biogeochemistry and are endangered by human development. Even though seagrass restoration might be locally helpful with some species, in the case of the iconic Mediterranean species Posidonia oceanica, conservation and recovery of the existing meadows is the most urgent topic to be addressed. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the active strategies which could be applied to enhance present meadow's tolerance and future resilience to environmental stressors. Through an interdisciplinary approach based on assisted genetic migration, active priming strategies, assisted ecological succession and science communication, SEACOVERY project will explore new insights into assisted recovery techniques and increase awareness in local communities. My experience in seagrass ecotoxicology and population dynamics will be complemented with the recognised expertise on assisted evolution and transcriptomic responses of Dr. Gabriele Procaccini (SZN, Italy), combined with the essential knowledge on seagrass physiological and ecological responses to environmental stressors of Dr. Lázaro Marín-Guirao (IEO-CSIC, Spain). The outreach of this research will be augmented thanks to the placement with the CSI Gaiola onlus, which will support science communication and education events. SEACOVERY will provide an urgently needed knowledge on assisted natural recovery of P. oceanica meadows, with the potential of being a cost-effective climate change mitigation strategy.

Ocean acidification (OA) is expected to profoundly alter the diversity and function of marine ecosystems, as well as the services they provide to society. Thus, understanding how future oceans will function in the face of OA represents one of the major challenges and needs for marine science and management. However, most of the studies to date on OA have consisted of short- to medium- timescale laboratory experiments of single species exposed in isolation to OA. Consequently, our understanding and ability to predict the impacts of OA at the community and ecosystem levels are extremely limited. There is, therefore, a great need for empirical investigations of the long-term effects of OA on marine ecosystems exposed to high pCO2, as found around naturally acidified systems. To fill the remaining knowledge gap of the emergent effects of OA on coastal marine ecosystems, I will adopt a multidisciplinary perspective by integrating three novel approaches: 1) functional-community level studies in natural CO2 vent systems; 2) use of newly developed multi-stressors experimental FOCE systems; and 3) genomic studies of the adaptive capacity of marine species to OA. Moreover, we will use virtual reality to increase public understanding of OA. This research, based on innovative and high-level training, is expected to generate a better understanding and ability to assess marine functional biodiversity vulnerability. Future4Oceans has a strong link to management and policy advice at EU and international levels. It directly addresses the H2020 Work Programme priorities of climate action and sustainable environment. This project will not only reinforce, extend, and diversify the scientific expertise of the fellow by facilitating the development of methodological skills but propel her career towards scientific independence and professional maturity.

Seagrass meadows are among the most productive marine ecosystems, playing essential structural and functional roles, and are recognized as the most efficient blue carbon sinks globally. The plant-associated microbiome, a diverse array of microbial taxa forming intimate symbiotic relationships with seagrasses, is critical for maintaining ecosystem stability and facilitating plant adaptation to environmental stressors. In the Mediterranean Sea, however, the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica is in decline due to climate change-driven stressors, particularly thermal stress. The sponge Chondrilla nucula is commonly found in association with P. oceanica, and it is hypothesized that this sponge-plant symbiosis enhances the metabolic capabilities of both organisms, mediated by key microbial communities, especially under thermal stress. Despite this potential, the precise dynamics of nutrient exchange and interactions between seagrasses and sponges, facilitated by their microbiomes, remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap limits our ability to fully comprehend the ecological and metabolic functions of these associations and hinders the development of nature-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change. MicroSymb aims to address this gap by studying the P. oceanica–C. nucula association through their microbiomes, utilizing field sampling, mesocosm and stable isotope probing experiments, metabarcoding, and meta-omics approaches. This project will evaluate the capacity of this association to adapt and remain resilient in the face of ocean warming. Throughout MicroSymb, I will acquire advanced skills in metagenomics, metaproteomics, and nutrient cycling within holobionts, while contributing my expertise in marine ecology, host-microbiome interactions, holobiont functioning, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. MicroSymb will position me at the forefront of host-microbiome research and the study of adaptive capacities in marine organisms amid climate change.