A5102755085- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Echinoderm biology and ecology
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Tardigrade Biology and Ecology
University of Sassari
2012-2025
Hasselt University
2024
Universidad de Oriente
2024
Institute of Natural Sciences
2024
Queensland Museum
1996
University of Pisa
1984-1990
Background Biogeographical and macroecological principles are derived from patterns of distribution in large organisms, whereas microscopic ones have often been considered uninteresting, because their supposed wide distribution. Here, after reporting the results an intensive faunistic survey marine animals (meiofauna) Northern Sardinia, we test for effect body size, dispersal ability, habitat features on several groups. Methodology/Principal Findings As a dataset use workshop held at La...
This paper identifies the top-50 priority questions for meiofaunal research, highlighting their critical roles in biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity. It calls a balanced research agenda, international cooperation, advances technology to overcome current challenges unlock meiofauna's full potential.
Abstract Whereas most work to understand impacts of humans on biodiversity coastal areas has focused large, conspicuous organisms, we highlight effects tourist access the diversity microscopic marine animals (meiofauna). We used a DNA metabarcoding approach with an iterative and phylogeny-based for taxonomic assignment meiofauna relate patterns numbers tourists accessing sandy beaches otherwise un-impacted island National Park. Tourist frequentation, independently differences in sediment...
Accurate assessments of biodiversity are crucial to advising ecosystem-monitoring programs and understanding ecosystem function. Nevertheless, a standard operating procedure assess accurately consistently has not been established. This is especially true for meiofauna, diverse community (>20 phyla) small benthic invertebrates that have fundamental ecological roles. Recent studies show metabarcoding cost-effective time-effective method estimate meiofauna biodiversity, in contrast...
Nine new species of Duplominona and one Pseudominona (Platyhelminthes, Proseriata, Monocelididae) are described from the Caribbean coast Panama Puerto Rico. aduncospina n. sp.; D. terdigitata pusilla bocasana sp. (from Panama) dissimilispina chicomendesi macrocirrus diademata puertoricana Rico) can be distinguished numerous congeneric based on fine details sclerotized structures copulatory organ. is characterised by a cirrus provided with 3–4 rows recurve spines, 2–3 μm long. shows...
Eight new species of Duplominona (Platyhelminthes, Proseriata, Monocelididae) are described from the Pacific coast Panama. They differ their congeners in detailed morphology hard structures associated with copulatory organ. basidilatata n. sp. has a cirrus provided 5–6 rows triangular spines, 3–8 μm long, large, flat, poorly sclerotized basis. D. hystricina 10–12 needle-shaped 3.5–15 swollen The hyperhystricina is 20–25 slender spines 1.5–9 recurved distal tip. In veracruzensis sp., increase...
The genus Tajikacelis n. gen. is introduced for species of Archimonocelididae (Proseriata) characterized by the lack atrial spines in copulatory organ and opening seminal vesicles into prostate vesicle at its ventral side. Six new from Pacific Ocean are ascribed to genus; they may be distinguished features genital systems morphology their stylets. T. tajikai sp. (type genus) macrostomoides sp., both eastern Australia, have a long tubular stylet. In stylet more curved, bending 180°, has...
We used new 18S and 28S rRNA sequences analysed with parsimony, maximum likelihood Bayesian methods of phylogenetic reconstruction to show that Nemertodermatida, generally classified as the sister group Acoela within recently proposed Phylum Acoelomorpha, are a separate basal bilaterian lineage. several analytical approaches control for possible long branch attraction (LBA) artefacts in our results. Parsimony model based incorporate ‘corrections’ substitution rate heterogenities yielded...
Abstract Cuban biodiversity is characterized by high species richness and endemism; however, free-living flatworms have been neglected in studies of the fauna archipelago. These animals constitute an essential component marine freshwater ecosystems as top predators secondary producers. In this contribution, we provide first comprehensive analysis turbellarian diversity Cuba based on a long-term sampling effort marine, brackish, terrestrial environments. We used observed estimated indicators...
Life is not a beach for those animals that survive in the rough ecological conditions found marine sandy beaches – and yet, microscopic thrive on them. We explore drivers meiofaunal diversity by analysing taxonomic functional patterns of 348 flatworm communities across 116 reflective western Mediterranean, totalling 152 species (61.2% new to science). First, we confirm richness does differ between hydrodynamic levels (swash, shoaling surf) but rather depends characteristics each beach....
We present here a first comprehensive database on the diversity of proseriate flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Rhabditophora: Proseriata) Western Mediterranean microtidal, wave dominated beaches. sampled 116 stations in two years, through Spain (22 beaches, including Balearic Islands), France (25 Corsica), Italy (63 Sardinia, Sicily, and Lampedusa), Tunisia (6 beaches). In each beach, we at three depths, corresponding to swash, shoal, subtidal zones. For sample, obtained environmental data. The...
Representatives of the Meidiamidae and Otomesostomidae (Platyhelminthes: Proseriata) are seldom encountered, monophyly phylogenetic relationships these families have never been assessed on molecular basis. Here, we present first exhaustive study Proseriata at family level, including species belonging to genera Meidiama Yorknia (Meidiamidae), Otomesostoma auditivum (Otomesostomidae), using 18S 28S genes as markers. We performed analyses (Maximum Likelihood [ML] Bayesian Inference [ BI ]...
Only a few species belonging to the Proseriata (Platyhelminthes) show parenchymatic pigmentation, which may aid identification. Among these, Pseudomonocelis agilis has yellowish body and is provided with reddish–brown girdle in front of statocyst. The known for limited areas northern Europe Mediterranean. present study was conducted assess both taxonomic status populations attributed across unusually wide range an interstitial flatworm, lacks obvious means dispersal, levels genetic...
Flatworms can very rapidly attach to and detach from many substrates. In the presented work, we analysed adhesive system of marine proseriate flatworm Minona ileanae. We used light-, scanning- transmission electron microscopy analyse morphology organs, which are located at ventral side tail-plate. performed transcriptome sequencing differential RNA-seq for identification tail-specific transcripts. Using in situ hybridization expression screening, identified nine transcripts that were...
Proseriata is a diverse and species-rich taxon of Neoophora (Platyhelminthes). The group divided into two morphologically well-characterised taxa: Lithophora Unguiphora. Previous molecular analyses, aimed at ascertaining in-group relationships the Proseriata, were equivocal in supporting monophyly Lithophora, one its families, Coelogynoporidae. Here we present new phylogeny based on complete ssrDNA partial (D1-D6) lsrDNA. analysis includes 36 proseriate species. 13 sequences from seven...
Molecular techniques like metabarcoding, while promising for exploring diversity of communities, are often impeded by the lack reference DNA sequences available taxonomic annotation. Our study explores benefits combining targeted barcoding and morphological taxonomy to improve metabarcoding efficiency, using beach meiofauna as a case study. Beaches globally important ecosystems inhabited meiofauna, microscopic animals living in interstitial space between sand grains, which play key role...
Microturbellarian flatworms comprise a diverse assemblage amongst meiofauna. These animals primarily exhibit carnivorous feeding habits, preying on various organisms, such as crustaceans, annelids and even other microturbellarians. However, details of their diet are poorly known. This study represents the first documentation proseriate upon rhabdocoel. The was extracted from sediment studied alive. Within its digestive tract, structures reproductive systems prey were observed identified...
Meiofauna—a collective term to define microscopic animals—represent a numerically important component of biodiversity in most Earth’s ecosystems and play crucial role biogeochemical cycles. Meiofauna have also been used as models understand fundamental adaptive processes, contributed better understanding the animal’s Tree Life, are believed be treasure trove for future genomic studies. To celebrate diversity research topics brought us by “meiofauna”, we gathered multidisciplinary team 42...