Small pelagic fish represent a key component of Mediterranean marine ecosystems, playing an essential role in the transfer of energy from lower to higher trophic levels, represented by apex predators. Among these, the anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and the sardine (Sardina pilchardus) are species of high ecological and economic interest, in fact they constitute a significant share of fishing landings in the Mediterranean.
However, in recent decades, the Mediterranean Sea has been affected by environmental modification associated with climate change and other anthropogenic pressures, with possible effects on the distribution, abundance, physiological condition and trophic dynamics of these populations.
This study aims to evaluate how environmental changes observed in the central Mediterranean have influenced anchovy and sardine populations over time, with particular reference to the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Strait of Sicily.

For this purpose, historical series of acoustic data from oceanographic surveys, will be analyzed, integrated with environmental data obtained from in situ measurements and satellite observations, such as sea surface temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll. The approach also includes the analysis of biological and physiological parameters, including growth indices and condition factors, and the study of trophism using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes.
During the PhD project, the available environmental, acoustic, and isotopic datasets will be integrated with new data acquired during oceanographic campaigns and through specific laboratory analyses. This integration will allow us to better understand the relationships between oceanographic changes, biomass variations, spatial distribution, and the trophic niche of anchovy and sardine, contributing to a better understanding of the resilience of the central Mediterranean pelagic ecosystem and providing useful elements to support future strategies for the sustainable management of fishery resources in a context of climate change.