Article
Environmental Sciences
Andreu Santin, Jordi Grinyo, Maria Jesus Uriz, Claudio Lo Iacono, Josep Maria Gili, Pere Puig
Summary: Cold-water coral reefs (CWC) in the Mediterranean Sea are considered biodiversity hotspots, with sponge fauna within these habitats being poorly explored. The study provides new insights on sponge fauna associated with CWC in the Mediterranean, including the discovery of new species. While Mediterranean CWC appear as poriferan biodiversity hotspots, the current diversity values only represent a small fraction of the actual fauna.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chelsea A. Korpanty, Leon Hoffman, Rodrigo da Costa Portilho-Ramos, Juergen Titschack, Claudia Wienberg, Dierk Hebbeln
Summary: Framework-forming scleractinian corals in cold-water areas are important for supporting biodiversity hotspots. This study investigated the impact of habitat variability on diversity over geologic time using sediment cores from a coral reef in the Alboran Sea. It was found that habitat spatial patterns had a significant influence on molluscan diversity.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
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
Construction & Building Technology
Rocco Alaggio, Angelo Aloisio, Elena Antonacci, Riccardo Cirella
Summary: The Santa Maria di Collemaggio basilica, a 13th-century masonry masterpiece, underwent restoration works following the 2009 earthquake and installation of a permanent monitoring system. Monitoring revealed correlations between outdoor temperature and relative humidity with the amplitude of cracks and modal parameters. The study found that temperature affects the static and dynamic response of the basilica, leading to lower natural frequencies and modal interaction phenomena.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giovanni Chimienti, Diana De Padova, Maria Adamo, Michele Mossa, Antonella Bottalico, Anna Lisco, Nicola Ungaro, Francesco Mastrototaro
Summary: The study reveals the significant impact of global warming on mesophotic coral forests in the Mediterranean Sea, leading to extensive epibiosis of macroalgae on living corals. Certain areas have seen a decline in the density of endemic coral species, with a majority of living corals exhibiting signs of stress and epibiosis. This emerging phenomenon appears to be widespread at a basin scale, according to spot observations in different marine protected areas.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Guillem Corbera, Claudio Lo Iacono, Christopher D. Standish, Eleni Anagnostou, Jurgen Titschack, Orestis Katsamenis, Isabel Cacho, David Van Rooij, Veerle A. Huvenne, Gavin L. Foster
Summary: The study describes the formation stages, main coral species, and development process of cold-water coral mounds in the Mediterranean Sea. It was found that the southern and northern mounds formed during different glacial-interglacial periods, with the southern mound experiencing periods of coral mound stagnation due to lack of sufficient food supply during interglacials.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Luisa F. Duenas, Vladimir Puentes, Jorge Leon, Santiago Herrera
Summary: The first characterization of the megafauna found in cold-seep communities in the Colombian Caribbean between 2300 and 3300 m depth has been conducted, showing similarities with ecosystems found off Trinidad and Tobago and the Gulf of Mexico. Dominant species include tubeworms, mussels, shrimp, and squat lobsters. These findings provide foundational knowledge of deep-sea ecosystems in the southern Caribbean.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sabrina Lo Brutto, Davide Iaciofano, Vincenzo Lo Turco, Angela Giorgia Potorti, Rossana Rando, Vincenzo Arizza, Vita Di Stefano
Summary: Microplastics and nanoplastics pose harm to marine life due to their fragmentation and resistance to degradation. Marine coastal sediment has shown an increasing amount of microplastics, with certain species serving as monitors for environmental and health hazards. Amphipod crustaceans are effective tools for detecting and monitoring plasticizers, providing insights into the spread of chemicals in geographical areas.
Review
Oceanography
Michela Angiolillo, Gabriele La Mesa, Michela Giusti, Eva Salvati, Bianca Di Lorenzo, Lorenzo Rossi, Simonepietro Canese, Leonardo Tunesi
Summary: Scleractinian cold-water corals are key habitat engineers in the deep Mediterranean Sea, hosting a diverse range of species and playing a significant ecological role. Recent discoveries of new scleractinian CWC sites have been made in the Mediterranean Basin, highlighting the importance of urgent conservation measures due to negative impacts from deep-water fishing activities. The presence of vulnerable coral species on seamounts and banks underscores the need for specific marine protected areas to ensure their preservation.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Fabio L. Matos, Jacopo Aguzzi, Joan B. Company, Marina R. Cunha
Summary: This study investigated the connectivity and habitat availability of L. pertusa in the Mediterranean Sea, providing valuable information for species conservation. The connectivity among Mediterranean ecoregions was found to be weak, but the potential exchange of larvae within the same ecoregion was high. Important habitat areas for L. pertusa connectivity were identified, some of which are facing significant anthropogenic pressures. These habitat areas should be prioritized in conservation efforts targeting L. pertusa.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zaira Da Ros, Antonio Dell'Anno, Emanuela Fanelli, Lorenzo Angeletti, Marco Taviani, Roberto Danovaro
Summary: This study investigated the food selection of three cold-water coral species and determined the optimal feeding conditions through stable isotope analysis and prey capture rates. The results showed that Mysis relicta was the preferred food source, followed by Artemia salina and Brachionus spp. Isotope analysis also revealed the importance of Particulate Organic Matter in the isotopic composition of coral tissue.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Zhao, Yu Sheung Law, Xiaohui Zhai, Kai Zhou, Mingru Chen, Jian-Wen Qiu
Summary: Coral communities in China's Great Bay Area have been severely degraded, with live coral cover and generic richness negatively correlated with nutrient pollution.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
G. Dionigi, R. Dionigi
Summary: The large fresco depicts brutal episodes of torture against Cistercian monks, with an ugly aggressor in the right corner of the background. The aggressor has a huge goiter and attacks a monk with a sword, symbolizing evil and sin.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Architecture
Angelo Aloisio, Elena Antonacci, Massimo Fragiacomo, Rocco Alaggio
Summary: The paper compares the dynamic response of the Santa Maria di Collemaggio basilica under low-intensity earthquakes to operational conditions, discussing the impact of seismic intensity and ambient parameters on modal parameters. The Least-Squares Complex Exponential method is used to estimate FRF function, identifying linear modal parameters likely to reproduce the seismic response. Time-frequency analysis confirms results, and dynamic amplification factors hint at a macro-element response pattern.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Maria Montseny, Cristina Linares, Nuria Viladrich, Marina Biel, Nuno Gracias, Patricia Baena, Elena Quintanilla, Stefano Ambroso, Jordi Grinyo, Andreu Santin, Janire Salazar, Marc Carreras, Narcis Palomeras, Lluis Magi, Guillem Vallicrosa, Josep-Maria Gili, Andrea Gori
Summary: This study reports the preliminary results of the first large-scale active restoration of more than 400 cold-water gorgonians on the Mediterranean continental shelf. By involving local fishers, bycatch gorgonians were successfully recovered and reintroduced, with 460 gorgonian transplants surviving over an area of 0.23 ha. The cost-effective active restoration highlights the viability of large-scale restoration of impacted cold-water coral communities, showing promising results for the conservation and recovery of mesophotic and deep-sea ecosystems.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Francesca Capezzuto, Francesco Ancona, Crescenza Calculli, Roberto Carlucci, Letizia Sion, Porzia Maiorano, Gianfranco D'Onghia
Summary: The study documents the trophic spectrum of the deep-water bony fish Pagellus bogaraveo in two different habitats in the central Mediterranean Sea for the first time. The feeding habits and prey composition of P. bogaraveo differ significantly between muddy bottoms and cold-water coral habitats. Dietary differences were found to be significant between the habitats, with P. bogaraveo showing a broader trophic niche on muddy bottoms compared to cold-water coral habitats.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Roberto Carlucci, Giulia Cipriano, Carmelo Fanizza, Tommaso Gerussi, Rosalia Maglietta, Antonio Petrella, Guido Pietroluongo, Pasquale Ricci, Daniela Semeraro, Marco Vito Guglielmi, Giovanni Scillitani, Donatella Mentino
Summary: The glycopatterns of glycans secreted by the mucosa of stomach and duodenal ampulla of the striped dolphin were studied using histochemical and lectin-binding techniques. Different compartments of the stomach showed specific mucin secretion patterns with variations in sulfation, glycosaminylation, glycosylation/mannosylation, fucosylation, and other residues. The glycosylation patterns in the glands of the duodenal ampulla differed from those of the pyloric ones.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Angela Carluccio, Francesca Capezzuto, Porzia Maiorano, Letizia Sion, Gianfranco D'Onghia
Summary: Baited lander is a low-impact technique for collecting data on cartilaginous fish diversity and abundance, and this study compared the distribution and abundance of cartilaginous fish in two geographic areas. Differences in assemblages were detected in the same area using different sampling tools, while no significant differences were found among different areas explored with the same method.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Giulia Cipriano, Roberto Carlucci, Stefano Bellomo, Francesca Cornelia Santacesaria, Carmelo Fanizza, Pasquale Ricci, Rosalia Maglietta
Summary: This study provides the first preliminary information on the behavioral traits of Risso's dolphins in the Mediterranean Sea, indicating significant differences in group size and behavioral characteristics among different activity states. The study also provides detailed analysis on the interactions between Risso's dolphins and other species.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biology
Pasquale Ricci, Nicola Trivellin, Daniela Cascione, Giulia Cipriano, Viviana Teresa Orlandi, Roberto Carlucci
Summary: LED technology shows high catch efficiency in traditional purse seine fishing in the Mediterranean Sea, significantly reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions, with the potential for economic benefits to fishermen.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Roberta Piredda, Anna Mottola, Giulia Cipriano, Roberto Carlucci, Giuseppina Ciccarese, Angela Di Pinto
Summary: The multi-species fish products market is growing rapidly due to urbanization, modern lifestyles, and new technologies. These products lack species-related morphological traits and may contain fish waste, making them susceptible to substitution fraud. New molecular tools, such as metabarcoding, can be used to trace species in complex food matrices.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pasquale Ricci, Roberto Carlucci, Francesca Capezzuto, Angela Carluccio, Giulia Cipriano, Gianfranco D'Onghia, Porzia Maiorano, Letizia Sion, Angelo Tursi, Simone Libralato
Summary: Benthic-pelagic coupling refers to the combination of downward and upward flows of organic matter and nutrients between the pelagic and benthic domains mediated by trophic interactions. This study investigated the spatio-temporal variability of such flows in the Salento and Calabrian areas of the Northern Ionian Sea. The results highlight the important role of deep faunal communities in the BPC, which are influenced by temporal changes driven by the Adriatic-Ionian Bimodal Oscillating Systems (BiOS).
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Porzia Maiorano, Francesca Capezzuto, Angela Carluccio, Crescenza Calculli, Giulia Cipriano, Roberto Carlucci, Pasquale Ricci, Letizia Sion, Angelo Tursi, Gianfranco D'Onghia
Summary: This paper reviews changes in commercial and experimental catches of deep-sea fishery resources in the central Mediterranean over the last 30 years, focusing on the link between deep-sea fishery resources and vulnerable marine ecosystems and highlighting the importance of these findings for biodiversity conservation and fishery resource management.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Giulia Cipriano, Francesca Cornelia Santacesaria, Carmelo Fanizza, Carla Cherubini, Roberto Crugliano, Rosalia Maglietta, Pasquale Ricci, Roberto Carlucci
Summary: This study provides insights into the site fidelity, residency patterns, and social structures of bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Taranto, aiming to support future management and conservation efforts. The findings reveal the presence of seasonal residents, visitors, and transient individuals, indicating complex associations and social organization within the population. Further investigations and a specific conservation plan are warranted for the entire area.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ezio Ranieri, Gianfranco D'Onghia, Francesca Ranieri, Jose Alberto Melian Herrera, Luigi Lopopolo, Vincenzo Luigi Spagnolo, Ada Cristina Ranieri
Summary: The Phyllostachys pubescens macrophyte, also known as Moso Bamboo, was evaluated in laboratory conditions for its potential to restore copper-polluted soil. The study found that the Moso Bamboo had an average growth rate of 0.47 cm/day with a irrigation flow of 1.644 mm/d. Over a twelve-week irrigation period, the Moso Bamboo showed tolerance to copper-polluted water and was able to remove 51.4% of copper from the soil. The results suggest that the phytoextraction technique using Phyllostachys pubescens could be considered for the restoration of copper-contaminated soils in Mediterranean conditions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maurizio Ingrosso, Beatriz Tintore, Giulia Cipriano, Pasquale Ricci, Tim Grandjean, Thodoris Tsimpidis, Paraskevi Nomikou, Roberto Carlucci, Anastasia Miliou
Summary: Cetaceans are important bioindicators of marine ecosystem health and effective management of their populations requires extensive knowledge on species distribution, habitat use, and associated threats. This study establishes a presence-absence distribution model for Delphinus delphis in the eastern Aegean Sea and highlights the importance of understanding the influence of environmental factors, especially in the context of climate change.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Ocean
Marco Vito Guglielmi, Daniela Semeraro, Donatella Mentino, Eliana Patricelli, Francesco Mastrototaro, Roberto Carlucci, Maria Mastrodonato, Giovanni Scillitani
Summary: This study investigated the effects of aluminum on the mucous tissues of the striped venus clam, revealing qualitative and quantitative alterations in the mucous secretion produced by the gills and feet epithelia of the clams. The acidity and viscosity of the mucus were found to be altered, potentially impacting the health and survival of the animals.
2022 IEEE INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON METROLOGY FOR THE SEA LEARNING TO MEASURE SEA HEALTH PARAMETERS (METROSEA)
(2022)
Review
Computer Science, Information Systems
Rosalia Maglietta, Roberto Carlucci, Carmelo Fanizza, Giovanni Dimauro
Summary: Photo identification is an essential method to identify cetaceans using natural marks, and the use of intelligent systems has increased in recent years. However, there are still some unresolved questions and further efforts are recommended to develop more effective automated systems for cetacean photo identification.