A5066235204- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Leech Biology and Applications
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Mollusks and Parasites Studies
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
University of Palermo
2019-2025
University of Palermo
2017-2025
Universitas Nusa Nipa Maumere
2024
Organizzazione per la Tutela Forestale, Ambientale e Agroalimentare
2019
Caretta caretta is the most common sea turtle species in Mediterranean Sea. The threatened by anthropomorphic activity that causes thousands of deaths and hundreds strandings along coast. Stranded turtles are often cared for rehabilitation centres until they recover or die. objective this study was to characterize gut microbiome nine stranded Sicilian coast Sea using high-throughput sequencing analysis targeting V3–V4 regions bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Stool samples were collected from eight...
We describe three new parastenocaridid: Cottarellicaris sanctiangeli Bruno & Cottarelli sp. nov., Stammericaris vincentimariae nov. and Proserpinicars specincola collected in the pools of five different caves located Calabria (Southern Italy). conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial COI ribosomal 18S sequences C. S. four more species one Proserpinicaris available from literature. Based molecular study, specimens are clearly separated belonging to closely-related genus...
A major threat to biodiversity is represented by Invasive Alien Species (IAS), particularly on freshwater ecosystems, which are already heavily altered human activities. Two of the most pernicious IAS eastern and western mosquitofish, i.e., Gambusia holbrooki G. affinis. These two poeciliids morphologically very close each other, soon after their formal description, was considered a subspecies In following years, several studies proved that these entities belonged different species;...
Marine hydrothermal ecosystems represent extreme environments connected to submarine volcanic areas characterized by vents, having high temperatures and particular chemical compositions. The marine system of Panarea, located in one the seven small islands belonging Aeolian Archipelago (southern Tyrrhenian Sea), is a range vents exhibiting diverse physical conditions. We aimed analyze microbial community peculiar hot spring Panarea field, known as “Black Point” (BP), two separate sampling...
Freshwater ecosystems are among the most severely affected environments by species loss caused climate change and intense anthropogenic pressure. To preserve biodiversity, biomonitoring plays a key role providing reliable data on biological diversity ecological status. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as powerful non-invasive alternative to traditional morphology-based sampling identification methods. This study represents first application of eDNA analysis assess...
The information on Recent non-marine ostracod faunas of the north-eastern part Afrotropical region is still limited. Here we report first record ostracods from Dahlak Archipelago, a group small islands located in southern Red Sea off Eritrean coast. Specimens were obtained by hatching laboratory diapausing eggs occurring dried mud collected temporary freshwater ponds, following so-called “Sars’ method”. A total five species found, including two new to science, which four belong family...
Hydrothermal springs (HTSs) are unique environments characterized by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater that often releases large amounts dissolved minerals. Despite interest in HTSs, microbial composition these sites remains largely under-explored, particularly concerning interactions between marine invertebrates and microorganisms. The shallow HTSs near west coast Sicily (Italy), with a constant temperature 31 °C throughout year, host two invertebrates: nudibranch Peltodoris...
The frequent introduction and rapid spread of invasive alien species (IAS) along with the limited resources available for their management highlight need to adopt simple effective methods prioritizing efforts. Here, we propose a technically model actions, using Sicily (southern Italy) as case study. Despite its invasion being relatively recent not yet widespread, highly red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii proved be able colonize different habitat types on this Mediterranean island. We...
In this study, we evaluated the microbiome and resistome profile of water fragments polyethylene (PE) waste collected at same time from a stream seawater in coastal area Northwestern Sicily. Although core was determined by sequencing V3–V4 region bacterial 16S rDNA gene, quantitative differences were found among microbial communities on PE corresponding samples. Our findings indicated that contains more abundant increased diversity than Moreover, PCR analysis specific antibiotic resistance...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system, caused by combination genetic and environmental factors. In recent years, role in MS pathogenesis was assigned to gut microbiota. However, different signatures dysbiosis have been shown depend on factors, like diet lifestyle. this study, we compared microbiome patients their household healthy relatives sharing lifestyle Faecal metagenomic DNA extracted V3–V4 regions conserved bacterial 16S ribosomal...
The current knowledge of Sicilian inland water decapod malacostracans is scarce and an updated synopsis on species distribution lacking. Therefore, we reviewed the checklist recent decapods based published unpublished records novel observations with aim providing exhaustive repository, also to be used as a sound baseline for future surveys. Overall, five native occur in study area, i.e., atyid shrimp Atyaephyra desmarestii, palaemonid shrimps Palaemon adspersus, P. antennarius, elegans,...
The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 is included among the worst invasive alien species in Mediterranean Sea. Here, we report finding of two Sicilian rivers, Irminio and Imera Meridionale, where it was collected up to 6 km from river mouths. Although several records are already available Italy, this first evidence occurrence so far coastline whole country. In light well-known impact on invaded water bodies, monitoring appropriate mitigation strategies should be...
Discards remain among the main negative impacts of fishing activities, and their reductions are strengthened by European Common Fisheries Policy (European Regulation 1380/2013). Trammel net fisheries appear more sustainable compared with other techniques, especially from an ecological viewpoint. Despite this, reports show that trammel deliver discard quantities between 10% 43% total catch biomass. To supplement existing information, this current work attempts to address reduction using...
Abstract The Mediterranean area, from southern Balkans to western Maghreb, is inhabited by the Potamon subgenus Euthelphusa, with three currently recognised species. Maghrebian species P. (E.) algeriense isolated other Sea and Sahara Desert, nearly no molecular data are available for this taxon . Present study investigated mtDNA nuDNA diversity in s.l. aims of exploring its pattern throughout known distribution range, testing possible presence cryptic taxa lumped under binomen. phylogenetic...
To date, only two Cherax species have been reported to occur in Italy, i.e., C. destructor Clark, 1936 and quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868), both the wild aquaculture farms.Therefore, we aimed update their current status distribution Italian mainland Sicily.In addition, investigated origin of known populations, possible routes invasion.In order genetically characterize populations occurring inland waters facilities, barcode region mtDNA gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I was sequenced...
Evidence available for most inland water and terrestrial organisms highlights the significant role played by southern Italy, Sicily Maltese islands as refuges during Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. However, to date, hypothesis that these areas may have acted refugia freshwater crab Potamon fluviatile has not been explicitly tested, a recent origin of local P. populations was proposed on basis small set analysed molecular data. We thus expanded currently data population genetic structure...
The geographical pattern of genetic diversity was investigated in the endemic Sicilian pond turtle Emys trinacris across its entire distribution range, using 16 microsatellite loci. Overall, 245 specimens E. were studied, showing high polymorphic loci, with allele numbers ranging from 7 to 30. STRUCTURE and GENELAND analyses showed a noteworthy, geographically based structuring studied populations five well-characterized clusters, supported by moderate degree (FST values between 0.075...
The loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758), is the most common turtle species in Mediterranean Sea, where it can experience severe anthropogenic impacts. Although C. known to host more than 200 epibiotic taxa (crustaceans, algae and cyanobacteria), no reports have included a detailed evaluation of microbial community its carapace scutes. Thus, this study aimed determine diversity composition visible invisible communities on scutes wild turtles from Aeolian Archipelago...
A dataset including novel and publicly available mtDNA COI sequences of 14 Mediterranean combtooth blenny species belonging to nine genera was assembled in order provide a reference for DNA barcoding studies. Some inconsistencies the current taxonomy some were observed. In particular, monophyly Parablennius Salaria is not supported by present absence reciprocal between morphospecies basilisca S. pavo questions their status stresses need revision genus Salaria.
The copepod genus Tigriopus Norman, 1869 is distributed worldwide in coastal rock pools and it currently considered to include 14 valid species. fulvus (Fischer 1860), with its subspecies adriaticus Van Douwe 1913 algiricus Monard 1935, minutus Bozic 1960 are reported occur the Mediterranean area, but actual diversity of unknown. We aimed assess identity populations elucidate their taxonomy pattern genetic diversity. In order reach these goals, a fragment mitochondrial DNA gene (cytochrome c...