A5063310647- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Echinoderm biology and ecology
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Urban Planning and Valuation
- Biological Control of Invasive Species
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Optics and Image Analysis
- Diverse academic and cultural studies
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Plant and animal studies
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Historical and Environmental Studies
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Urban Planning and Landscape Design
University of Palermo
2005-2024
National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics
2019-2024
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment
2015-2016
Abstract Shallow-water marine organisms are among the first to suffer from combined effects of natural and anthropogenic drivers. The orange coral Astroides calycularis is a shallow-water bioconstructor species endemic Mediterranean Sea. Although raising conservation interest, also given its special position within Dendrophylliidae, information about threats health scant. We investigated status A. at five locations in northwestern Sicily along gradient cumulative human impact most probable...
Recent ecological studies have shown a strong relation between temperature, echinoids and their grazing effects on macro-algal communities. In this study, we speculate that climate warming may result in an increasingly favourable environment for the reproduction development of sea urchin Arbacia lixula. The relationship increased A. lixula density extent barren grounds Mediterranean Sea is also discussed.
Benthic—pelagic coupling plays a pivotal role in aquatic ecosystems but the effects of fishery driven interactions on its functioning has been largely overlooked. Disentangling benthic—pelagic links including mixed fisheries, however, needs sketching whole description ecosystem using quantitative tools. A holistic food web model here developed order to understand interplay between benthic-pelagic and fisheries Mediterranean system such as Strait Sicily. The reconstruction required review...
Disentangling the effects of mixed fisheries and climate change across entire food-webs requires a description ecosystems using tools that can quantify interactive as well bio-economic aspects. A calibrated dynamic model for Sicily Channel food web, made up 72 functional groups including 13 fleet segments, was developed. temporal simulation until 2050 conducted to evaluate reduction bottom trawling fishing effort by exploring different scenarios combine fishery change. Our results indicate...
Despite considerable progress in understanding the transition from algal forests to coralline barrens, knowledge of barren ecosystems terms community composition and functioning is still sparse important gaps remain be filled. Using a barren/forest patch system, we tested hypothesis that presence enhances abundance diversity benthic mega-invertebrates. We also analysed trophic functional through isotopic analyses δ
Fishing has significant trophodynamic impacts on marine communities, including reductions in the mean trophic position (TP) of ecosystem resulting from a decrease abundance and size species individuals with high TPs. This study demonstrates erosion fish TP, an additional process that results lower TP given size, which may exacerbate effects fishing food web. A stable isotope approach based tRophicPosition Bayesian method was used to quantify 12 target at length, compare their between...
Abstract Although protected areas can lead to recovery of overharvested species, it is much less clear whether the return certain predator species or a diversity re-establishment important top-down forces that regulate whole ecosystems. Here we report algal in Mediterranean Marine Protected Area did not derive from increase traditional strong predators, but rather establishment previously unknown interaction between thermophilic fish Thalassoma pavo and seastar Marthasterias glacialis . The...
This paper reports the results of a 15-year trawl ban imposed in 1990 Gulf Castellammare (GCAST: NW Sicily, central Mediterranean Sea) and its effects on biomass size structure demersal finfish shellfish proportion different commercial categories fish. Data were collected by experimental surveys conducted GCAST two trawled areas before after 1990. The total assemblage number selected species was significantly higher ban. Highly had largest increase same gulf ban, particularly at depths used...
Abstract The occurrence of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia in Straits Messina (Italy) provides an excellent opportunity to examine spatial and temporal patterns abundance endemic Mediterranean sacoglossan Oxynoe olivacea. Densities this species were recorded March, June October 2000 on three different habitats: underside boulders (UNB), upper side (UPB), surface concrete blocks (CB). Results showed that O. olivacea was consistently more abundant UNB whereas it present exclusively CB....