A5082112721- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition
- Marine and fisheries research
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Environmental Education and Sustainability
- Marine animal studies overview
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Environmental Sustainability in Business
- Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Animal and Plant Science Education
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
2022-2025
University of Bologna
2016-2025
National Research Council
2018-2022
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment
2018
University of Padua
2018
University of Palermo
2018
University of Rome Tor Vergata
2018
CoNISMa
2018
Abstract Ocean acidification is predicted to impact ecosystems reliant on calcifying organisms, potentially reducing the socioeconomic benefits these habitats provide. Here we investigate acclimation potential of stony corals living along a pH gradient caused by Mediterranean CO 2 vent that serves as natural long-term experimental setting. We show in response reduced skeletal mineralization at lower pH, increase their macroporosity (features >10 μm) order maintain constant linear...
Abstract Organisms that accumulate calcium carbonate structures are particularly vulnerable to ocean warming (OW) and acidification (OA), potentially reducing the socioeconomic benefits of ecosystems reliant on these taxa. Since rising atmospheric CO 2 is responsible for global increasing acidity, correctly predict how OW OA will affect marine organisms, their possible interactive effects must be assessed. Here we investigate, in field, combined temperature (range: 16–26 °C) pH TS 8.1–7.4)...
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...
Abstract Environmental factors are encoded in shells of marine bivalves the form geochemical properties, shell microstructure and growth rate. Few studies have investigated how is affected by habitat conditions natural populations commercial clam Chamelea gallina . Here, skeletal parameters (micro-density apparent porosity) (bulk density, linear extension net calcification rates) were relation to sizes environmental along a latitudinal gradient Adriatic Sea (400 km). Net rates increased with...
Aquaculture plays a major role in the coastal economy of Mediterranean Sea. This raises issue impact fish cages on surrounding environment. Here, we explore aquaculture composition digestive gland microbiome representative locally dwelling wild holobiont, grazer gastropod Patella caerulea, at an facility located Southern Sicily, Italy. The was assessed individuals collected sea bream and rocky tract about 1.2 km from cages, as control site. caerulea variations were explained broad marine...
The fossil record documents ecological responses to past climate transitions, providing insights into future scenarios of marine ecosystems and taxa under change. In this study, we compared shell growth dynamics, specifically linear extension net calcification rates, the bivalve Chamelea gallina between Northern Adriatic Sea (NAS) assemblages from Holocene Climate Optimum (HCO, 9-5 kyr cal. B.P.) today. This species is a valuable economic resource, currently threatened by warming numerous...
Abstract The absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide is causing significant changes to the carbonate chemistry ocean, in a phenomenon called ocean acidification. latter makes it potentially more difficult for marine calcifiers like corals, build their calcium structures, thus affecting ability survive and reproduce. Research on how acidification impacts coral sexual reproduction has focused tropical species investigated under controlled conditions aquaria, lacking insights into intricate...
Abstract The anthropogenic increase in atmospheric CO 2 that drives global warming and ocean acidification raises serious concerns regarding the future of corals, main carbonate biomineralizers. Here we used transcriptome analysis to study effect long-term gradual temperature (annual rate), combined with lowered pH values, on a sub-tropical Red Sea coral, Stylophora pistillata , temperate Mediterranean symbiotic coral Balanophyllia europaea . gene expression profiles revealed strong both...
Tourism is one of the largest economic sectors in world. It has a positive effect on economy many countries, but it can also lead to negative impacts local ecosystems. Informal environmental education through Citizen Science (CS) projects be effective increasing citizen knowledge and awareness short-term. A change could bring behavioral long-term, making tourism more sustainable. However, long-term effects participating CS are still unknown. This first follow-up study concerning project...
Ocean acidification caused by shifts in ocean carbonate chemistry resulting from increased atmospheric CO
Tourism is one of the most important economic sectors worldwide, with significant overarching impact on environment, including negative effects caused by tourist inappropriate behavior while vacation. By providing informal educational activities, tourism also has an educative role that leads to positive learning outcomes and beneficial environmental effects. Here we present short- long-term a project for education (Glocal Education) carried out in three travel destinations, aimed at...
Mediterranean corals are a natural model for studying global warming, as the basin is expected to be one of most affected regions and increase in temperature greatest threats coral survival. We have analyzed first time with time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) porosity pore-space structure, important aspects skeletons, two scleractinian corals, Balanophyllia europaea (zooxanthellate) Leptopsammia pruvoti (nonzooxanthellate), taken from three different sites on western Italian...
Abstract Atmospheric carbon dioxide enrichment alters seawater carbonate chemistry, thus threatening calcifying organisms such as corals. Coral populations at vents are natural acidification experiments that mimic organism responses to pH values projected for 2100. Even if demographic traits paramount information assess ecological relationships and habitat suitability, population dynamics studies on corals thriving under acidified conditions lacking. Here, we investigate the demography...
Abstract This study investigates the effects of long-term exposure to OA on skeletal parameters four tropical zooxanthellate corals naturally living at CO 2 seeps and adjacent control sites from two locations (Dobu Upa Upasina) in Papua New Guinea underwater volcanic vent system. The are characterized by seawater pH values ranging 8.0 about 7.7. porosity Galaxea fascicularis , Acropora millepora massive Porites Pocillopora damicornis was higher (up ~ 40%, depending species) seep compared...
Scleractinian corals are a major source of biogenic calcium carbonate, yet the relationship between their skeletal microstructure and mechanical properties has been scarcely studied. In this work, skeletons two coral species:solitary Balanophyllia europaea colonial Stylophora pistillata, were investigated by nanoindentation. The hardness HIT Young's modulus E(IT) determined from analysis several load-depth data on perpendicular sections skeletons: longitudinal (parallel to main growth axis)...
Recent research studies have shown that the intra-skeletal organic matrix of corals contains lipids. This communication reports their characterization and influence on calcium carbonate precipitation. In addition, potential role in coral's biomineralization is discussed.