In May 2016, I have been contracted as Research Assistant by Sylvaine Giakoumi on the PAVIS Project. During the 2 next years, my main role is is to help to the organisation of field missions and carry out the experimentation in 9 marine protected areas (MPAs) in 6 Mediterranean countries (Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey). PAVIS will investigate the following hypotheses:
whether MPAs influence the expansion of invasive species and mitigate their effects on native assemblages,
whether the ecological effects of such species could alter, reduce, or nullify ecosystem responses to protection in MPAs, and
whether local economic activities, such as artisanal fisheries and recreational diving, performed in MPAs and adjacent areas, have been impacted by the presence of invasives.
