Guest Speakers
Asst. Prof. Petar Kružić, PhD
Dr. Kružić is a marine biologist with expertise in taxonomy, ecology, biogeography and conservation of Anthozoans. His research focuses on the two main fields: an autoecological approach to the study of stony corals, and on a community approach to the study of macrobenthic assemblages, including coral secondary production and response to stress. His interest also includes ecology, biodiversity and conservation of Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Adriatic Sea.
Invited talk title:
The future of coral reefs in an age of global climate changeAbstract
Almost all reef building corals are sessile organisms, spending their entire adult lives fixed to the same spot on the sea floor. Natural and anthropogenic factors threaten many reef systems worldwide. As human populations and coastal pressures increase, reef resources are more heavily exploited, and many coral habitats are endangered. In many cases, natural disturbances such as hurricanes, cyclones, or disease outbreaks are exacerbated by anthropogenic stresses, such as pollution, sedimentation, and overfishing. This presentation will provide an overview on the problem and conservation perspectives of coral reefs in world oceans, and present little known information on the status of coral formations (bioherms) in the Mediterranean. The largest Mediterranean bioherm of colonial coral Cladocora caespitosa is found in Croatia, with surface area of 650 m2. The net production of calcium carbonate of this coral is in the same range as most of tropical hermatypic corals, and proves that the coral skeletons are the witnesses of sea temperature variations and global climatic changes.