TRANSPLANT TRIALS OF THE FAN MUSSEL PINNA NOBILIS INSIDE THE COASTAL LAGOON OF CAPO PELORO (CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN, ITALY)

The fan mussel Pinna nobilis is threatened by several anthropogenic disturbances that are only partially mitigated by current conservation measures. In the Faro Lake Natural Reserve, the fan mussel population suffers from insufficient recruitment while, due to periodic dredging, a high larval supply within the canals does not support a stable population. In the present study, a robust number of fan mussel specimens were transplanted from a high-impact site to a guarded area to test the effects of transplantation on future conservation efforts. Over a 12-mo period, high survival and elevated growth were observed in the test population in comparison with the local population, demonstrating transplantation as a feasible and efficient method to prevent P. nobilis population decline. Such small-scale experiments provide useful indications for better management approaches for both of the threatened species and the natural hosting environment.