Article
Fisheries
M. Ramon, M. J. Amor, E. Galimany
Summary: This study aims to characterize the reproductive ecology of Parastichopus regalis in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, including its sex ratio, gonad description, and reproductive cycle. The results show that P. regalis has an annual reproductive cycle, maturing during spring and spawning in summer. The description of these reproductive characteristics fills an important information gap for future management of the commercial fishery, which is currently unregulated.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giulia Chemello, Greta Lucia Cerrone, Valentina Tavolazzi, Fortunata Donato, Francesco Tiralongo, Giorgia Gioacchini
Summary: This study provides new data on the population structure, sex ratio, and reproductive seasonality of sardine in the middle-western Adriatic Sea. The results indicate a decreasing population size with a predominance of males and a scarcity of small female specimens. The reproductive season occurs between October and June, with a rest period in July to September.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Valentina Tirelli, Tjasa Kogovsek, Manja Rogelja, Paolo Paliaga, Massimo Avian, Alenka Malej
Summary: This manuscript presents four new observations of the rare jellyfish species Mawia benovici in the Adriatic Sea, with the majority of observations referring to males. Due to the lack of female specimens, indispensable laboratory studies to clarify its life cycle have been hindered.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arthur D. Barraza, Larissa Young, Caitlin E. Smith, David T. Booth, Christine A. Madden Hof, Kimberly A. Finlayson, Frederic D. L. Leusch, Jason P. van de Merwe
Summary: Sea turtle nesting beaches are experiencing increased sand temperatures, resulting in a high percentage of female hatchlings. The effects of contaminants, such as trace elements and organic pollutants, on sex determination and hatchling health are significant. Understanding the interactions between contaminants and temperature is crucial for future studies on sea turtle conservation.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Tanveer, Nimra Mansha, Afzal Nimra, Muhammad Babar Khawar, Ali Afzal, Hanan Afzal, Muhammad Farooq, Sadia Ehsan, Rabbia Rana, Sara Shahzaman
Summary: Microplastics (MPs) are biologically active environmental pollutants that significantly impact the ecosystem and human health. These particles increase oxidative stress, leading to tissue damage, developmental abnormalities, metabolic disorders, epigenetic changes, abnormal reproduction, and reduced gamete quality. While there have been numerous studies on the effects of MPs on aquatic organisms, particularly their reproduction, the specific impact on mammalian reproduction, especially humans, remains limited. This review examines the effects of MPs on male and female reproduction, focusing on compromised gamete quality, gamete toxicity, apoptosis, and DNA damage.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Rhian G. Waller, Savannah Goode, Di Tracey, Julia Johnstone, Annie Mercier
Summary: The presence of deep-sea corals has been documented since the late 1800s, but ecological research on these species only began about 100 years later. Deep-sea corals play a vital role in creating habitat and contributing to global marine biodiversity. However, there is still a lack of understanding about their reproduction, with less than 4% of known species having any aspect of reproduction reported.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liang Wen, Qian Gong, Qian Du, Xiaoqiang Yu, Qili Feng, Lin Liu
Summary: In this study, three splicing variants of Sxl mRNA were identified in Spodoptera litura, and they highly expressed in the gonads, particularly in the testis. The Sex-lethal protein (SlSXL) is mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of spermatocytes and the head of spermatid. Knockout of SlSxl resulted in reduced sperm production and undeveloped testis, leading to decreased oviposition and hatch rate in the offsprings after mating with female.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Viviana Pasquini, Cristina Porcu, Martina Francesca Marongiu, Maria Cristina Follesa, Ambra Angelica Giglioli, Pierantonio Addis
Summary: This study investigates the basic life-history traits of Holothuria tubulosa in the Central-Western Mediterranean (Sardinia, Italy), including population structure and reproductive cycle. The findings provide new evidence on the biological and ecological features of the species, essential for scientifically-based stock assessment and conservation management.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Laura Pintore, Virginia Sciacca, Salvatore Viola, Cristina Giacoma, Elena Papale, Giacomo Giorli
Summary: Research on the acoustic presence of fin whales in the Mediterranean Sea revealed important findings such as the presence of individuals staying in the area for feeding or breeding purposes in autumn, and the relationship between the vocalization cycle and feeding activities and zooplankton vertical migration. This emphasizes the need for further and broader passive acoustic monitoring efforts in order to manage the species and mitigate the impact of anthropogenic activities at the basin level.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Abraham Sanchez-Cruz, Daniel Tapia-Maruri, Alfredo Jimenez-Perez
Summary: This study focuses on the reproductive system, gonadic maturation, and allometry of Cyclocephala barrerai. The results show that females are heavier while males have longer antennae. Gonadic maturation depends on larvae reserves and adults do not feed. This research provides important insights into the biology of this species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chiara Marchini, Valentina Fossati, Martina Cerpelloni, Erik Caroselli, Giuseppe Falini, Zvy Dubinsky, Stefano Goffredo
Summary: This study fills the knowledge gap about the reproductive biology of a widespread Mediterranean and Northern Atlantic coral, providing detailed information on its sexual characteristics, gametogenesis, and reproductive cycle.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marzia Bo, Francesco Enrichetti, Federico Betti, Guido Gay, Gianluca Quarta, Lucio Calcagnile, Giorgio Bavestrello
Summary: This study identified potential cold-water coral habitats in the Ligurian Sea using maps, sonar profiles, historical charts, and trawling routes. Remotely operated vehicle video footage confirmed the presence of coral in four sub-areas, with radiocarbon dating tracing back their geological history. These findings support the existence of a distinct cold-water coral province in the Ligurian Sea.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jussi Lehtonen, Serena Malabusini, Xiaomeng Guo, Ian C. W. Hardy
Summary: The extremely female-biased sex ratios observed in multiple-foundress groups of parasitoid wasps challenge evolutionary theory. Recent research proposes an explanation based on foundress cooperation, but here, an expanded explanation is developed using the theory of local mate competition. The research shows that reproductive dominance by some foundresses within the groups can lead to both immediate and long-term effects on sex ratio evolution.
Article
Zoology
Nathalia G. S. Lima, Vitor S. Borges, Jose E. Santos, Nilo Bazzoli, Paula C. Eterovick
Summary: In this study, researchers investigated the gametogenesis and reproduction of Bokermannohyla nanuzae in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. They found that frogs of both sexes had mature germ cells almost year-round, indicating continuous gametogenesis. Advanced gonad maturation, where females spawn and males have sperm, primarily occurred during wet months. Male frogs were observed calling with mature testes throughout the year, but only had sperm from October to January.
SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bai-an Lin, Yan Jiang, Robert Boenish, Qing Xu, Min Liu
Summary: This study provides the first comprehensive overview of the biology and fishery dynamics of Calappa philargius in the southern Taiwan Strait of China. It identified sex ratio variations, growth patterns, and reproductive characteristics, offering valuable information for future sustainable management.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Carlo Cerrano, Marco Giovine, Laura Steindler
Summary: The microbial community of the marine sponge Petrosia ficiformis plays a fundamental role in the synthesis of natural bioactive compounds. With its unique horizontal transmission feature and ability to generate 3D cell cultures, P. ficiformis is an ideal model for studying the complexity of holobionts.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Torcuato Pulido Mantas, Lisa Pola, Carlo Cerrano, Maria Cristina Gambi, Barbara Calcinai
Summary: This study investigates the bioerosion activity in the North Adriatic Sea. Limestone panels were deployed and micro-computed tomography was used to study the erosion. The results show that only two species of the polychaete genus Polydora settled on the experimental substrates, and the erosion rate is low.
Review
Biology
Ernesto Mollo, Ferdinando Boero, Josep Penuelas, Angelo Fontana, Mary J. Garson, Vassilios Roussis, Carlo Cerrano, Gianluca Polese, Alberto Maria Cattaneo, I. Wayan Mudianta, Gregory Genta-Jouve, Orazio Taglialatela-Scafati, Giovanni Appendino, Pietro Amodeo, Michael T. Ghiselin
Summary: Smell is traditionally considered a distance sense while taste is perceived as based on direct contact, but evidence has emerged that challenges this dichotomy, especially in non-human species. Conflicting data has been interpreted to conform to the traditional separation. Therefore, we propose unifying all chemosensory modalities into a single sense, developing a comprehensive perspective on chemical communication.
QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jan Bierwirth, Torcuato Pulido Mantas, Juliette Villechanoux, Carlo Cerrano
Summary: Marine sponges play important roles in various ecosystems, but their diversity and abundance are being compromised by human and environmental pressures worldwide. Researchers reviewed experiences in sponge cultivation and provided a roadmap for restoring coastal sponge populations. They found that sponge cultivation is highly species-dependent and suggested using skeletal consistency and taxonomy to determine appropriate restoration techniques.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juliette Villechanoux, Jan Bierwirth, Torcuato Pulido Mantas, Carlo Cerrano
Summary: Corallium rubrum, an important ecosystem service provider, has been heavily exploited over the centuries. Protection and restoration efforts are crucial, particularly in areas where natural recovery is hindered. This study reviewed previous research and tested various transplantation techniques, providing potential methods for successful restoration.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joaquim Garrabou, Daniel Gomez-Gras, Alba Medrano, Carlo Cerrano, Massimo Ponti, Robert Schlegel, Nathaniel Bensoussan, Eva Turicchia, Maria Sini, Vasilis Gerovasileiou, Nuria Teixido, Alice Mirasole, Laura Tamburello, Emma Cebrian, Gil Rilov, Jean-Baptiste Ledoux, Jamila Ben Souissi, Faten Khamassi, Raouia Ghanem, Mouloud Benabdi, Samir Grimes, Oscar Ocana, Hocein Bazairi, Bernat Hereu, Cristina Linares, Diego Kurt Kersting, Graciel la Rovira, Julia Ortega, David Casals, Marta Pages-Escola, Nuria Margarit, Pol Capdevila, Jana Verdura, Alfonso Ramos, Andres Izquierdo, Carmen Barbera, Esther Rubio-Portillo, Irene Anton, Paula Lopez-Sendino, David Diaz, Maite Vazquez-Luis, Carlos Duarte, Nuria Marba, Eneko Aspillaga, Free Espinosa, Daniele Grech, Ivan Guala, Ernesto Azzurro, Simone Farina, Maria Cristina Gambi, Giovanni Chimienti, Monica Montefalcone, Annalisa Azzola, Torcuato Pulido Mantas, Simonetta Fraschetti, Giulia Ceccherelli, Silvija Kipson, Tatjana Bakran-Petricioli, Donat Petricioli, Carlos Jimenez, Stelios Katsanevakis, Inci Tuney Kizilkaya, Zafer Kizilkaya, Stephane Sartoretto, Rouanet Elodie, Sandrine Ruitton, Steeve Comeau, Jean-Pierre Gattuso, Jean-Georges Harmelin
Summary: This study reveals that the Mediterranean Sea has experienced exceptional thermal conditions, leading to five consecutive years of mass mortality events of marine organisms. The occurrence of these events is significantly related to the heat exposure from marine heatwaves observed at the surface and depths. The Mediterranean Sea is facing an unprecedented threat to its ecosystem's health and functioning due to the accelerated ecological impacts of marine heatwaves.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Torcuato Pulido Mantas, Cecilia Varotti, Camilla Roveta, Marco Palma, Carlo Innocenti, Michela Giusti, Mouloud Benabdi, Egidio Trainito, Vesna Macic, Maria Cristina Gambi, Carlo Cerrano
Summary: The aim of this study was to update the distribution of S. savaglia Mediterranean populations and develop an Ecological Niche Model to identify potential monitoring areas. The results of the study can provide support for decision-makers in marine spatial planning.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Zoology
A. Riccardi, A. Colletti, R. Virgili, C. Cerrano
Summary: Rocky tide pools are transitional environments that are affected by temperature, salinity, and nutrient fluctuations, as well as human disturbances. This study investigated the Heterobranchia (Mollusca: Gastropoda) community in an anthropized rock pool system in Ancona, Italy and provided a checklist of sea slugs in this urbanized area. A total of 452 specimens, belonging to 19 species and 12 families, were recorded during the four-month survey. Notable findings include the first record of Placida dendritica in the Conero Riviera, and the first records of Doto cervicenigra and Ercolania viridis in the western Adriatic Sea. The study also revealed a diverse assemblage in terms of trophic categories, reflecting surprising species diversity. Additionally, a peculiar behavior possibly used by sea slugs to cope with the stressful conditions within this semi-closed system is described.
EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Torcuato Pulido Mantas, Giorgio Bavestrello, Marco Bertolino, Carlo Cerrano, Daniela Pica, Camilla Roveta, Barbara Calcinai
Summary: Red coral is often infested by boring sponges, which compromise its commercial value. Four sponge species, including a new species, have been identified in red coral collected from Cape Verde Archipelago. Advanced imaging techniques were used to study the erosion caused by these sponges.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Marcio A. G. Coelho, Gareth A. Pearson, Joana R. H. Boavida, Diogo Paulo, Didier Aurelle, Sophie Arnaud-Haond, Daniel Gomez-Gras, Nathaniel Bensoussan, Paula Lopez-Sendino, Carlo Cerrano, Silvija Kipson, Tatjana Bakran-Petricioli, Eliana Ferretti, Cristina Linares, Joaquim Garrabou, Ester A. Serrao, Jean-Baptiste Ledoux
Summary: This study found clear differentiation between Atlantic and Mediterranean lineages of the octocoral genus Paramuricea previously identified as P. clavata. Additionally, it identified a potential speciation event within the Atlantic population of P. cf. grayi involving two color morphotypes. These findings have important implications for conservation planning and validate the usefulness of phylotranscriptomics in resolving evolutionary relationships in octocorals.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Marcio A. G. Coelho, Jean-Baptiste Ledoux, Joana Boavida, Diogo Paulo, Daniel Gomez-Gras, Nathaniel Bensoussan, Paula Lopez-Sendino, Carlo Cerrano, Silvija Kipson, Tatjana Bakran-Petricioli, Joaquim Garrabou, Ester A. Serrao, Gareth A. Pearson
Summary: The Gray's sea fan, Paramuricea grayi, is a dominant constituent of deep littoral and circalittoral habitats in the eastern temperate and tropical Atlantic Ocean. Recent research has identified two segregating lineages (yellow and purple morphotypes) of P. grayi in the circalittoral coral gardens along the Iberian Peninsula. The mitochondrial genomes of these lineages were found to be highly similar, with a noteworthy polymorphism shared with the sister species P. clavata.
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Camilla Roveta, Torcuato Pulido Mantas, Jan Bierwirth, Barbara Calcinai, Martina Coppari, Cristina Gioia Di Camillo, Stefania Puce, Juliette Villechanoux, Carlo Cerrano
Summary: Modular colonial benthic organisms have the ability to adapt to fluctuations in environmental factors through phenotypic plasticity. However, abrupt environmental changes can limit their adaptive capabilities, leading to mass mortalities. Decreased body size is a common response to global warming in both terrestrial and aquatic organisms.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Torcuato Pulido Mantas, Camilla Roveta, Barbara Calcinai, Martina Coppari, Cristina Gioia Di Camillo, Veronica Marchesi, Teo Marrocco, Stefania Puce, Carlo Cerrano
Summary: This study used SfM photogrammetry to assess the abundance and spatial distribution of benthic organisms inside a semi-submerged marine cave, with a special focus on the impact of illegal fishing on a particular mussel species. The results showed that SfM and traditional approaches provided similar results in terms of species richness, percentage cover, and most seascape metrics, but differed in taxa density estimations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Marco Bertolino, Carlo Cerrano, Giorgio Bavestrello, Do Cong Thung, Laura Nunez-Pons, Francesca Rispo, Jana Efremova, Valerio Mazzella, Daisy Monica Makapedua, Barbara Calcinai
Summary: During scientific expeditions in Indonesia and Vietnam, sponge specimens of the genus Cladocroce were collected. By integrating morphological and molecular analyses, three congeneric species were identified using species delimitation models and phylogenetic approaches. Two new species, C. pansinii sp. nov. and C. lamellata sp. nov., were formally described. The re-examination of type material confirmed the coexistence of C. burapha with C. pansinii sp. nov. in Vietnam and with C. lamellata in Indonesia.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Eleonora Tassara, Caterina Oliveri, Luigi Vezzulli, Carlo Cerrano, Lian Xiao, Marco Giovine, Marina Pozzolini
Summary: This study evaluated the in vitro application of 2D collagen membranes derived from a marine sponge as a possible tool for wound healing. The results showed that the collagen membranes had good performance in terms of preventing liquid and protein loss, inhibiting bacterial infiltration, and promoting fibronectin production. Further studies and development of this marine-derived biomaterial are therefore important.
