A5058771447- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Echinoderm biology and ecology
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Marine and fisheries research
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
University of Sassari
2019-2025
University of Naples Federico II
2024-2025
University of Palermo
2024
Abstract This study explores the impacts of global warming on reproductive efforts Posidonia oceanica , a key seagrass species endemic to Mediterranean Sea. By analyzing data from five areas in Sardinia February 2023, we have investigated relationship between thermal descriptors and P. flowering fruiting variables. In fact, whether climate change has been affected distribution seagrasses by changing their is still controversial our findings contribute this ongoing debate, highlighting...
Marine heat waves (MHWs), prolonged discrete anomalously warm water events, have been increasing significantly in duration, intensity and frequency all over the world, associated with a variety of impacts including alteration ecosystem structure function. This study assessed effects current future MHWs on Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica performance, also testing importance thermal environment where plant lives. The were studied through mensurative experiment cold site (West...
Global warming and Marine Heat Waves (MHWs) are having large-scale impacts on the seagrasses their effects Mediterranean endemic Posidonia oceanica need to be properly defined. This research aimed sharpen knowledge P. response by correlating shoot morphology productivity of seagrass temperature conditions MHW occurrence. Two correlative studies, along a range (sites at same latitude), were conducted: one explored associations summer 2021 Sea Surface Temperature (SST) MHWs other used...
Restoration of coastal ecosystems, particularly those dominated by seagrasses, has become a priority to recover the important ecosystem services they provide. However, assessing restoration outcomes as success or failure remains still difficult, probably due unique features seagrass species and wide portfolio practices used on transplanting actions. Here, several traits (maximum leaf length, number leaves, growth rate per shoot, elemental carbon nitrogen contents) transplanted Posidonia...
The increase of marine heat waves (MHWs) occurrence is exacerbated in Mediterranean Sea and temperature resilience-enhancing strategies on key species, such as the seagrass Posidonia oceanica, need to be investigated. "Priming" describes a stimulus that prepares an organism for improved response upcoming environmental changes by triggering memory remains during lag-phase. aim this study, conducted Sardinia (Italy), was investigate whether development thermo-primed P. oceanica seedlings...
This study aimed at identifying the importance of thermal framework preceding Posidonia oceanica flowering induction (autumn before year) and anthesis (summer year). In 53 locations Sardinia (Italy), 35 vertical shoots were collected in 2001, 2020 2023 analyzed through lepidochronology, detecting past events from 1991 to 2022. Flowering probability was positively correlated with autumn SST range MHWs, stressing temperature year flowering. Summer mean Marine Cold Spell duration (the latter...
Abstract Comparing populations across temperature gradients can inform how global warming will impact the structure and function of ecosystems. Shoot density, morphometry productivity seagrass Posidonia oceanica to variation was quantified at eight locations in Sardinia (western Mediterranean Sea) along a natural sea surface (SST) gradient. The are spanned for narrow range latitude (1.5°), allowing minimization effect eventual photoperiod variability. Mean SST predicted P. meadow structure,...
<title>Abstract</title> Marine animal forests, composed of sessile suspension feeders such as gorgonians are known to host rich communities that support important ecosystem functions and services. These habitats undergoing dramatic loss due multiple pressures, with potential cascading effects on dynamics remain poorly understood. To address this critical knowledge gap, we used fine-scale data assess the role <italic>Paramuricea clavata</italic> forests in supporting biodiversity functioning...
Acclimation is a response that results from chronic exposure of an individual to new environment. This study aimed investigate whether the thermal environment affects early development seagrass Posidonia oceanica, and effects field-simulated Marine Heat Wave (MHW) on seedlings change depending acclimation. The experiment was done in field using crossed design (acclimated vs unacclimated) MHW (present absent) factors. has initially constrained P. oceanica seedlings, but then it increased...
In this work, the consequences of a local gorgonian coral mortality on whole coralligenous assemblage were studied. A Before/After-Control/Impact sampling design was used: structure compared before and after event at site two control sites. At site, relevant decrease in alpha beta diversity occurred, with shift from stratified characterized by gorgonians other invertebrates to an dominated algal turfs; conversely, neither significant variations nor biodiversity observed The involved main...
The deepening of the thermocline, correlated to rising temperature, can contribute affecting seagrass performance in a changing climate scenario. Here, effect thermocline on Posidonia oceanica has been investigated Cyprus through manipulative experiment that allowed also testing effects irradiance, origin depth and translocation. P. shoots were collected from 31 m transplanted at 12 under shading net, simulating light conditions. Morphology (i.e. leaf area, necrosis, number leaves)...
Coralligenous reefs are the main biogenic constructions of Mediterranean Sea and they considered indicators ecological quality coastal systems "seafloor integrity" by Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The two coralligenous morphologies cliffs platforms, former developing in shallow waters (about 20–50 m) on vertical/subvertical rocky substrate latter built over horizontal substrates below 50 m depth also detritic bottoms. present study aims at assessing whether patterns spatial...
Primary producers nutritional content affects the entire food web. Here, changes in value associated with temperature rise and occurrence of marine heat waves (MHWs) were explored endemic Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica. The variability fatty acids (FAs) composition carbon (C) nitrogen (N) examined during summer 2021 from five sites located at same latitude but under different thermal environments. results highlighted a decrease unsaturated FAs C/N ratio an increase monounsaturated...
The study aimed at contributing to the development of methods assessing effects human disturbance on coralligenous reefs. presence a fish farm reefs were evaluated using STAR (STAndaRdized evaluation procedure) sampling procedure. An asymmetrical design was used compare aquaculture site with two reference sites in areas unaffected by pressure. response different ecological indices (ESCA, Ecological Status Coralligenous Assemblages; ISLA, Integrated Sensitivity Level COARSE, COralligenous...
Since rising temperature (T) will enhance biochemical reactions and coastal marine sediments are hotspots of carbon cycling, heatwaves' (MHWs') intensification caused by climate change affect biogeochemistry. We investigated the effects MHWs on sediment organic matter (OM) in a nearshore locality (NW Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea) receiving an artificial warm water plume generating T anomalies 1.5-5.0 °C. Sediments were collected before after 3 11 weeks from initial release. Both influenced...
In the Mediterranean Sea, restoration of marine habitats has mostly focused on endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Despite several transplanting experiments, large-scale projects are rare, and their success is poorly known. The present work describes a project large, degraded area in northern Sardinia (Italy) using cuttings harvested from donor meadow that was destined for destruction due to harbor expansion. receiving site selected through multidisciplinary study including acoustic...
Marine fungi are widely distributed in the ocean, playing an important role ecosystems, but only little information is available about their occurrence and activity. Seagrass bleaching also a neglected phenomenon that seems to be linked warm environments, even though causes still defined. In this study, cultivable mycoflora associated leaf conditions (bleached, necrotic live) section (from base tip) seagrass Posidonia oceanica was investigated Mediterranean warm-edge location (Cyprus). A...
Finding solutions for a sustainable coexistence between wildlife and humans is considered among the most challenging environmental management issues scientists, conservationists, managers, stockholders world-wide. Depredation by common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) on small scale fisheries has increased in recent years, leading to growing conflict many areas of Mediterranean Sea pressing urgent solutions. This study aims at developing framework fishers dolphins Sardinia...