Histological-based characterization of ovarian developmental stages in blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) within the spawning season in the central western Adriatic Sea.

The Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896) is a euryhaline and eurythermal species native to the Atlantic coasts of the Americas. Although its widespread distribution across the Mediterranean basin is well documented, information on its reproductive patterns remains limited. This study focused on the combination of both macroscopic and histologic characterization of ovarian developmental stages in female blue crabs along the north-central Italian Adriatic coast, within the spawning period.

Hydrogeological and structural controls on radon concentration in aquifers from alluvial areas: A case study of the Pordenonese plain (NE Italy).

This study aims to investigate the complex relationship between hydrogeological processes and tectonic structures which influence the spatial distribution of radon within alluvial aquifers in the Pordenonese Plain (PP). The results suggest that the source of dissolved Rn is primarily linked to the intrinsic radioactivity of plain's sediments. Seasonal fluctuations in radon concentrations, which are closely related to recharge inputs into aquifers, have been observed for shallower unconfined and semi-confined aquifers, (i.

Survival rates of commercial elasmobranch species: exploring post-capture release at early life stages as a fishery management measure.

Developing conservation approaches for elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea is an urgent matter. Within Italy's monitoring program under the European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive, 2008/56/EC), we investigated the release of juvenile commercial species (e.g.

Bottom trawling affects trophic niche diversity of red mullet in muddy bottoms of the Mediterranean continental shelf.

Bottom trawling causes detrimental effects on marine ecosystems, and significantly alter benthic communities, potentially affecting the diet and trophic role of benthic feeders. The ban on bottom trawling is a common spatial fishing restriction that has been implemented in tropical and temperate regions to restore overexploited marine resources and ecosystems. In northern Sicily (central Mediterranean Sea) two trawl ban areas, the Gulf of Castellammare and the Gulf of Patti, were established in 1990.

Bottom trawling and environmental variables drive the biodiversity of mediterranean demersal assemblages.

Marine ecosystems are healthy with a high degree of biodiversity. Assessing how factors affect spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity is an essential task for the Ecosystem Based Management approach. In this work, we investigated the effect of fisheries disturbance and ocean variables in determining α- and β-diversity of Mediterranean demersal assemblages.

Advanced methods for soil and water remediation: Introduction to the RemTech Europe 2023 special Series.

Many soil and water ecosystems are in poor condition. Contamination, among the numerous anthropogenic pressures on soils, causes degradation that may completely limit provision of ecosystem services. Healthy soils and waters are fundamental to sustaining life on earth, so the development and application of sustainable and effective technologies for remediation of contaminated environments is a priority.

Ecological role of benthic Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) indicator taxa on soft bottoms.

Several aspects of the relationships between VME indicator taxa and associated fauna have been previously explored mainly on rocky habitat respect the soft bottom. However, the soft bottom hosts many VMEs indicator taxa for which the ecological role remained still unexplored. This habitat hosts many associated species, a lot of them also of commercial value making this habitat more vulnerable to fishing pressure.

Combining USV ROV and multimetric indices to assess benthic habitat quality in coastal areas.

Coastal marine ecosystems are subject to interference from all human activities that develop on the coast and on the continental shelf. New monitoring methodologies involving innovative autonomous platforms and synthetic multimetric habitat quality indices could enhance our knowledge about coastal ecosystem responses and contribute to preventing habitat degradation. We assessed the coast-to-offshore extent and ecological status of benthic habitats in three coastal marine areas of the northeastern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), evaluating the effectiveness of an integrated remote sensing approach that combined autonomous (Unmanned Surface Vehicle - USV) and remotely operated (Remotely Operated Vehicle - ROV) technologies, along with the application of multimetric habitat quality indices.

A comprehensive analysis of the scrapping and abandonment of fiber-reinforced polymer vessels at sea.

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), also known as fiberglass, is a widely used composite material in marine, transportation, and construction industries because of its high strength, lightweight properties, and corrosion resistance. While FRPs are advantageous for these applications, the disposal and recycling of FRPs, especially in boats, remain challenging. The global FRP market valued at $3.

Parasite diversity in grey wolves () from Tuscany, central Italy: a copromicroscopical investigation.

Parasite monitoring is considered an important issue for wildlife conservation as well as for veterinary and public health. In Italy, data on endoparasites of the grey wolf () are still limited. A copro-microscopical study was performed to investigate endoparasites of grey wolf communities in three Apennine natural reserves and a hilly area in northern Tuscany, central Italy.

Citizen science substantiates jellyfish occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea.

In recent decades, gelatinous plankton blooms have attracted media attention due to their damaging effects on fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, human health and power/desalination plants. The scientific community often failed to recognize the rise of jellyfish, due to difficulties in monitoring their appearances and disappearances. In Italian waters, a citizen science approach was employed to monitor the presence and distribution of gelatinous zooplankton over wide spatio-temporal scales.

Occupational Risk from Avian Influenza Viruses at Different Ecological Interfaces Between 1997 and 2019.

Unprotected exposures to infected poultry or wild birds, and/or to the related avian influenza virus (AIV)-contaminated environments, could account for AIV infection in workers. This study was aimed at highlighting the ecological interfaces related to domestic poultry and wild birds posing an occupational risk regarding AIV. A search of all the articles investigating the possible presence of AIV in workers attested through virological and serological techniques and published up to August 2019 was performed on PubMed and Scopus electronic databases.

Feeding Behavior of the European Brown Hare (, Leu2 Haplotype) on Pianosa Island: Insights into the Absence of Trophic Competition.

This study investigates the feeding behavior of the European brown hare on Pianosa Island, Italy, focusing on seasonal dietary preferences in coastal and inland areas. We quantified plant species frequencies in vegetation and fecal pellets, assessed α and β diversity, compared diets via Bray-Curtis matrices, and evaluated selection preferences using the Resource Selection Ratio. During spring, the coastal diet was predominantly composed of grasses, particularly , while non-leguminous forbs like were prominent inland.

Dressed for the Weather: Tawny Owl Feather Adaptations Across a Climatic Gradient.

Populations are presumed to be adapted to local environmental conditions via natural selection, with gene flow breaking up local adaptations. In birds, various aspects of feathers may reflect local adaptation. For example, the insulation capacity of feathers could be greater in colder regions, while colour variation may also play a role in adapting to local environmental conditions since darker feathers are known to absorb more heat than lighter ones.

Multi-specific assessment of microplastic ingestion by Antarctic fish from the Ross Sea (Southern Ocean).

Microplastics contaminate all places on Earth, including remote areas such as polar regions. To date, our knowledge on the impact of synthetic materials on the Antarctic ecosystems is still very limited. To the best of our knowledge and considering the number of individuals analyzed, this study provides the largest assessment currently available of microplastic ingestion by Antarctic fish, including the first evidence of microplastics occurrence in Chionodraco hamatus, Pagothenia borchgrevinki, and Trematomus newnesi.

A marine and salt marsh sediment organic carbon database for European regional seas (EURO-CARBON).

Marine and salt marsh sediments contain large amounts of organic carbon (OC) and are therefore important in the global carbon cycle. Here, we collated previously published and unpublished measurements of sediment OC in marine and salt marsh sediments in European regional seas (EURO-CARBON; available at https://doi.org/10.

The LIFE STREAMS Project for the Recovery of the Native Mediterranean Trout in Six Italian Pilot Areas: Planning and Adoption of Conservation Actions.

The Mediterranean trout (currently referred to as for Corsican and Italian-native populations) is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List, due to fragmented distribution and declining populations across its whole range, and is included in Annex II of the European Habitat Directive. The widespread genome introgression from the invasive Atlantic trout (), overexploitation, and habitat alterations represent major threats to the persistence of native populations. The LIFE18NAT/IT/000931 STREAMS project aims to enhance conservation status of Mediterranean trout in 6 Italian pilot areas (Maiella, Sibillini Mountains, Casentino Forests and Pollino National Parks, Montemarcello-Magra-Vara Regional Park, and Sardinia with five sites of the Natura 2000 Network), and in 19 transferability areas covering almost the whole Italian species range.

GIS-based integration of marine data for assessment and management of a highly anthropized coastal area.

Monitoring coastal marine environments by evaluating and comparing their chemical, physical, biological, and anthropogenic components is essential for ecological assessment and socio-economic development. In this study, we conducted an integrated multivariate analysis to assess the descriptors of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive at a regional scale in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), with a specific focus on the densely populated coastal zone of the Campania region. Physical, chemical, and biological data were collected and analyzed in 22 sampling sites during three oceanographic surveys in the Gulf of Gaeta (GoG), Naples (GoN), and Salerno (GoS) in autumn 2020.

Are polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics a risk to marine organisms? Acute and chronic effects on the amphipods Gammarus aequicauda.

Conventional plastics have become a major environmental concern due to their persistence and accumulation in marine ecosystems. Recently, the development of bio-based polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA), has gained particular attention as an alternative to limit plastic pollution, as these materials can be degraded under certain conditions. This study investigated the ecotoxicity of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics (38-220 μm) in the marine amphipod Gammarus aequicauda.

A comprehensive assessment of non-indigenous species requires the combination of multi-marker eDNA metabarcoding with classical taxonomic identification.

In marine environment, non-indigenous species (NIS) can alter natural habitats and cause biodiversity loss with important consequences for ecosystems and socio-economic activities. With more than 1000 NIS introduced over the last century, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the most threatened regions worldwide, requiring an early identification of newly entered alien species for a proper environmental management. Here, we carried out environmental-DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding analyses, using multiple molecular markers (i.

Implementing potential biomarkers for early detection of retinal changes in Parkinson's disease: Preliminary study on BDNF role.

BackgroundVisual dysfunctions in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suggest a possible degeneration of dopaminergic retinal layers, This study aimed to investigate macular retinal thickness in PD patients versus healthy controls using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a non-invasive technique for in vivo retinal imaging. The role of the Val66Met polymorphism in the BDNF gene in relation to retinal degeneration and clinical features of PD was also explored.MethodsThis case-control study included 26 patients with idiopathic PD and 78 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, for a total of 208 eyes.

Anthropogenic fibers in the Mediterranean sea: Methods and monitoring of an overlooked category of microparticles in the water column.

Anthropogenic particles (APs) are widespread in the marine environment, but knowledge gaps remain regarding anthropogenic fibers. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of APs, including natural and synthetic fibers, in the water column. A literature review on fibers in Mediterranean seawater revealed that current sampling methods are underdeveloped.

Water circularity index: A novel approach for authorities and operators.

The "transition to a circular economy" is frequently articulated in conventional frameworks regarding water use efficiency, predominantly emphasizing quantitative dimensions. However, water is ubiquitous, and its various applications are often directly or indirectly interlinked. Examining water quantity and quality within the water usage cycle is imperative to ensure security and optimise added value throughout the process while promoting the natural values of the surrounding environment.

Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Strains Colonizing the Surface of Biodegradable Polymers.

Plastics play a key role in every sector of the economy, being used in the manufacturing of products in the fields of health, food packaging, and agriculture. Their mismanagement poses a serious threat to ecosystems and, in general, to human life. For this reason, particular attention has been paid in the last decade to the use of biodegradable polymers (BPs) as an alternative to classic plastics.