Since the early Autumn of 2016 a mass mortality event is devastating the populations of fan mussels, Pinna nobilis, in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is an endemic species. This ecological disaster is linked to a Haplosporodian endoparasite, Haplosporodium pinnae, being the cause of an epidemic that is about to extinguish one of the largest bivalves of the world. The parasite spreads by surface currents and the disease expression is closely related to temperatures above 13.5 o C and to a salinity range between 36.5 − 39.7 psu. The aim of this project is to study the epidemic by building mathematical and computational models. In particular, we’ll use classical compartmental models of differential equations as well as stochastic models described by a master equation. Therefore, we propose a first step for the mathematical modelling of the mass mortality event taking place in the Mediterranean Sea as a basis for future developments.
Master Physics defense
Advisors: Manuel A. Matias and Iris E. Hendriks
Jury: Emilio Hernández-García, Jose J. Ramasco, and Manuel A. Matias
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