Distribution and Genetic Lineages of the Species Complex (Cnidaria, Olindiidae) in Italy.

Olindiid freshwater jellyfishes of the genus Lankester, 1880 are native to eastern Asia; however, some species within the genus have been introduced worldwide and are nowadays present in all continents except Antarctica. To date, there is no consensus regarding the taxonomy within the genus due to the morphological plasticity of the medusa stages. The species Lankester, 1880 was first recorded in Italy in 1946, and until 2017, sightings of the jellyfish were reported for 40 water bodies.

[Use of algal indicators (diatoms) for monitoring rivers].

Diatoms are widely used for monitoring rivers in many European countries, where standard methods are applied. The study of specific composition of epilithic diatoms can give useful information on biological quality of rivers. In Italy a method (EPI-D eutrophication pollution index with diatoms) has been developed for Appenine watercourses, based on sensibility of diatoms towards organic pollution, mineralization of water and chloride.