A5029410642- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Dietary Effects on Health
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Light effects on plants
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
University of Ferrara
2016-2025
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
2021-2024
University of Messina
2007
University of Pisa
1994-1995
Abstract Microplastics have become pervasive environmental pollutants in both freshwater and marine ecosystems. The presence of microplastics been recorded the tissues many wild fish species, laboratory studies demonstrated that can exert adverse health effects. To further investigate biological mechanisms underlying toxicity we applied an integrated approach, analyzing effects at transcriptomic, histological behavioral level. Adult zebrafish exposed to two concentrations high-density...
Polyploidy or whole-genome duplication (WGD) is a major event that drastically reshapes genome architecture and often assumed to be causally associated with organismal innovations radiations. The 2R hypothesis suggests two WGD events (1R 2R) occurred during early vertebrate evolution. However, the timing of relative divergence gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) cyclostomes (jawless hagfishes lampreys) unresolved whether these underlie phenotypic diversification remains elusive. Here we present...
The circadian clock is synchronized with the day-night cycle primarily by light. Fish represent fascinating models for deciphering light input pathway to vertebrate since fish cell clocks are regulated direct exposure. Here we have performed a comparative, functional analysis of involving zebrafish that normally exposed and cavefish species has evolved in perpetual darkness. Our results reveal retains food-entrainable oscillates an infradian period. Importantly, however, this not This...
Flexibility in activity timing may enable organisms to quickly adapt environmental changes. Under global warming, diurnally adapted endotherms achieve a better energy balance by shifting their towards cooler nocturnal hours. However, this shift expose animals new or increased challenges (e.g. predation risk, reduced foraging efficiency). We analysed large dataset of data from 47 ibex ( Capra ) two protected areas, characterized varying levels risk (presence versus absence the wolf— Canis...
Abstract Cerebral lateralisation, the differential cognitive processing in two brain hemispheres, is variable among individuals most vertebrates. Part of this variance has been attributed to plasticity response environmental stressors experienced by and might be therefore mediated action glucocorticoids (GCs). Accordingly, we tested hypothesis that GC pathway related stress, which involved its cognate receptor GR, affects individuals’ lateralisation. First, characterised behavioural...
We investigated the activity patterns of a European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population living in forested Apennine area central Italy, order to shed light on environmental and biological factors that were expected account for observed daily yearly bases. Daily seasonal 31 radio-collared assessed through sessions radio tracking total period 18 consecutive months. Roe showed bimodal throughout year, with two highest peaks recorded at dawn dusk. Activity males females differed during...
Daily light and feeding cycles act as powerful synchronizers of circadian rhythmicity. Ultimately, these external cues entrain the expression clock genes, which generate daily rhythmic behavioral physiological responses in vertebrates. In present study, we investigated genes a marine teleost (gilthead sea bream). Partial cDNA sequences key elements from both positive (Bmal1, Clock) negative (Per2, Cry1) regulatory loops were cloned before studying how time affects rhythms locomotor activity...
Cryptochromes are flavoproteins, structurally and evolutionarily related to photolyases, that involved in the development, magnetoreception, temporal organization of a variety organisms. Drosophila CRYPTOCHROME (dCRY) is light synchronization master circadian clock, its C terminus plays an important role modulating sensitivity activity protein. The activation dCRY by requires conformational change, but it has been suggested could be mediated also specific “regulators” bind This C-terminal...
Abstract Black Soldier Fly (BSF) meal is considered as an alternative, emerging and sustainable ingredient for aquafeed production. However, results on fish physiological responses are still fragmentary often controversial, while no studies available behavior in response to these new diets. The present work represents the first comprehensive multidisciplinary study aimed investigate zebrafish behavioural BSF-based Five experimental diets characterized by increasing inclusion levels (0, 25,...
The mechanisms underlying the circadian control of gene expression in peripheral tissues and influencing many biological pathways are poorly defined. Factor VII (FVII), protease triggering blood coagulation, represents a valuable model to address this issue liver since its plasma levels oscillate manner promoter contains E-boxes, which putative DNA-binding sites for CLOCK-BMAL1 NPAS2-BMAL1 heterodimers hallmarks regulation. peaks FVII mRNA livers wild-type mice preceded those plasma,...
Objective— Diurnal variations in levels of factor VII (FVII), FVIII, proteins C and S, antithrombin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, prothrombin fragment F 1+2 , D-dimers healthy humans point to the existence circadian rhythms coagulation factors. We sought for temporal fluctuations tissue pathway inhibitor (TFPI) activity human mouse plasma. Methods Results— TFPI showed significant daily with highest morning men (+11%) mice at light-to-dark transition (+63%), beginning physically active...
The troglomorphic phenotype shared by diverse cave-dwelling animals is regarded as a classical example of convergent evolution. One unresolved question whether the characteristic eye loss in cave species based on interference with same genetic program. Phreatichthys andruzzii, Somalian cavefish, has evolved under constant conditions complete darkness and shows severe characteristics, such eyes, pigments scales. During early embryonic development, formed but subsequently lost. In Astyanax...
Background Polar environments are characterized by extreme seasonal changes in day length, light intensity and spectrum, the extent of sea ice during winter, food availability. A key species Southern Ocean ecosystem, Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) has evolved rhythmic physiological behavioral mechanisms to adapt daily changes. The molecular organization clockwork underlying these biological rhythms is, nevertheless, still only partially understood. Methodology/Principal Findings genome...
Light plays a key role in synchronizing rhythms and setting the phase of early development. However, to date, little is known about impact light wavelengths during ontogeny molecular clock behavioural rhythmicity. The aim this research was determine effect different (white, blue red) on onset locomotor activity gene (per1b, per2, clock1, bmal1 dbp) expression rhythms. For purpose, 4 groups zebrafish embryo/larvae were raised from 0 7 days post-fertilization (dpf) under following lighting...
The ability to identify the largest amount of prey available is fundamental for optimizing foraging behaviour in several species. To date, this cognitive skill has been observed all vertebrate groups except reptiles. In study we investigated spontaneous ruin lizards select larger food items. Experiment 1, proved able item when presented with two alternatives differing size (0.25, 0.50, 0.67 and 0.75 ratio). 2 items (1 versus 4, 3 4 items) were unable group any contrast. lack discrimination...
Abstract In a number of animal species, individuals differ in their ability to solve cognitive tasks. However, the mechanisms underlying this variability remain unclear. It has been proposed that individual differences cognition may be related behavior (i.e., personality); hypothesis received mixed support. study, we investigated whether personality correlates with allows inhibiting 2 teleost fish zebrafish Danio rerio and guppy Poecilia reticulata. both were bolder standard assay,...
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a key species in Southern Ocean ecosystem where it plays central role the food web. Available information supports existence of an endogenous timing system enabling to synchronize metabolism and behavior with environment characterized by extreme seasonal changes terms day length, availability, surface ice extent. A screening our transcriptome database "KrillDB" allowed us identify putative orthologues 20 circadian clock components. Mapping conserved...
Quantitative abilities have been reported in many animal species. Two main methods extensively used: spontaneous choice tests and training procedures. A recent study showed that ruin lizards are capable of spontaneously discriminating between the surface area two food items different size, but failed when was presented sets discrete differing number. In present study, we used a procedure to further investigate quantitative lizards. Subjects were with yellow disks either number (Experiment 1)...