
The research conducted by a group of scientists, including Associate professor Ana Bratoš Cetinić, PhD., from the Department of Applied ecology at the University of Dubrovnik, on the restoration and conservation of the European flat oyster, has been published in one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals, Nature Sustainability. This recognition not only affirms the high scientific caliber of Associate professor Bratoš Cetinić’s work but also enhances the international reputation of the University of Dubrovnik.
‘I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with an outstanding team of scientists. Working in an interdisciplinary environment was inspiring, and the results achieved underscore the importance of collaboration. Publishing in a journal like Nature Sustainability is a tremendous honor and a strong motivation for future research projects. I am especially delighted that this study focuses on the European flat oyster, a mollusk well-known and highly valued in our region,‘ said Bratoš Cetinić.
The European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis Linnaeus, 1758) is an indigenous and commercially important european species that has been cultivated for centuries in the Croatian Adriatic, particularly in the Bay of Mali Ston. Historically widespread, this shellfish has nearly disappeared from most european waters due to overfishing and disease.
In the past, live and dead oyster shells formed reefs that hosted numerous fish and invertebrate species, creating unique biocenoses that significantly contributed to the biodiversity of their habitats. Additionally, these commercially valuable reefs played an essential role in stabilizing sandy shores, cycling nutrients, and filtering seawater, thus maintaining marine environmental balance.
Led by researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of Edinburgh, including Associate professor Bratoš Cetinić, the study analyzed historical records, maritime maps, and scientific reports to map the historical natural distribution of oyster reefs. The goal is to restore these biocenoses and reinstate their ecological functions. The findings reveal that oyster reefs once spanned at least 1.7 million hectares across 1,196 locations from Norway to the Mediterranean Sea. Intensive fishing and habitat degradation have led to their destruction, and the remaining reefs no longer provide significant ecological services, directing research efforts toward their restoration.
This multidisciplinary study highlights the critical importance of restoring European flat oyster populations and their reefs as keystone biocenoses for the conservation of marine ecosystems. The article, Records reveal the vast historical extent of European oyster reef ecosystems, is available in Nature Sustainability, which boasts an impact factor of 26.2. Such an achievement brings great recognition not only to the lead researcher but also to the University of Dubrovnik, affirming its place on the global scientific map.
Congratulations to Associate professor Ana Bratoš Cetinić on this remarkable achievement!