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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Different molecular responses of Mytilus mantle to lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan challenges.

Mytilus live in water as sessile filter feeders, and the mantle tissue plays an important role in their immune defense. However, the overall knowledge of the immunity of this tissue remains limited. Peptidoglycan (PGN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are the most representative microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) that play roles in the immune stimulation of host cells.

Exploring the Enigmatic Spread and Spatial Dynamics of in the Mediterranean Sea.

The invasion history of the gastropod mollusk in the Mediterranean Sea demonstrates a dynamic progression through distinct phases, comprising arrival, establishment, and expansion phases. Initial records in the 1930s trace its entry through the Suez Canal, likely followed by larval transport to the Aegean Sea facilitated by natural currents. The subsequent spread to Maltese and Italian waters suggests secondary dispersion favored by maritime traffic or aquaculture activities.

Advancing star: A revised protocol for assessing the ecological status of coralligenous cliffs.

The STAR protocol was recently proposed to standardise sampling methods for assessing the ecological quality of coralligenous cliffs through the three indices ESCA, ISLA and COARSE. In this paper, a revised version of the STAR protocol was proposed to enhance its robustness and effectiveness. Compared to the previous one, this new proposal includes the use of video transects for a more accurate assessment of erect anthozoans, the development of a new ESCA (n-ESCA) index independent of the encrusting coralline algae and integrated with the ISLA index, and the creation of the IICA index calculated averaging n-ESCA and COARSE.

Flight style and time-activity budgets of the smallest petrels.

Procellariforms are the most oceanic among birds, regularly embarking on the longest journeys in the animal kingdom to find food over an apparently featureless sea surface. To minimize energy expenditure, many species harness wind energy through dynamic soaring, extracting kinetic energy from the wind shear. The smallest members of this order, storm petrels, have functional traits that prevent this type of locomotion, and are predicted to rely on flapping flight despite their high motility.

Museomics and morphological analyses of historical and contemporary peninsular Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus) samples.

After centuries of decline and protracted bottlenecks, the peninsular Italian wolf population has naturally recovered. However, an exhaustive comprehension of the effects of such a conservation success is still limited by the reduced availability of historical data. Therefore, in this study, we morphologically and genetically analyzed historical and contemporary wolf samples, also exploiting the optimization of an innovative bone DNA extraction method, to describe the morphological variability of the subspecies and its genetic diversity during the last 30 years.

Assessing the effects of anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity: a multi-taxonomic approach in Basilicata, Italy.

The combined pressures of anthropogenic activities require rapid assessments of environmental impacts on ecosystems to develop strategies for sustainable management and biodiversity conservation. This study investigates the consequences of the anthropogenic effects in the upper Val d'Agri (Basilicata, Italy) by employing a multi-taxonomic analysis to investigate spatial dynamics and species responses to these pressures. By cataloguing 151 diverse species of small mammals, reptiles, birds, ground beetles, and lichens, we established a valuable baseline for analysing the local biodiversity.

Genomic Rewilding of Domestic Animals: The Role of Hybridization and Selection in Wolfdog Breeds.

: The domestication of the grey wolf () and subsequent creation of modern dog breeds have significantly shaped the genetic landscape of domestic canines. This study investigates the genomic effects of hybridization and breeding management practices in two hybrid wolfdog breeds: the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (CSW) and the Saarloos Wolfdog (SAW). : We analyzed the genomes of 46 CSWs and 20 SAWs, comparing them to 12 German Shepherds (GSHs) and 20 wolves (WLFs), which served as their ancestral populations approximately 70-90 years ago.

Molecular responses of Mytilus coruscus hemocytes to lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan as revealed by 4D-DIA based quantitative proteomics analysis.

Mytilus are sessile filter feeders that live in close contact with numerous marine microorganisms. Hemocytes, the immunocompetent cells of Mytilus, participate in the immune response in a very efficient manner. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN) follow specific microbe/pathogen-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs or PAMPs) and are involved in immune stimulation in host cells.

Impact of particulate matter exposure on melanoma risk: A multicentre case-control study.

Background: The relationship between particulate matter (PM) exposure and melanoma risk remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate the association between PM10 and PM2.5 long-term exposure and melanoma risk.

A harmonized dataset relating alternative farmer management practices to crop yield, soil organic carbon stock, nitrous oxide emissions, and nitrate leaching generated using IPCC methodologies and meta-analyses.

Farming practices such as soil tillage, organic/mineral fertilization, irrigation, crop selection and residues management influence multiple ecosystem services provided by agricultural systems. These practices exhibit complex, non-linear interrelationships that affect crop productivity, water quality, and non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, possibly offsetting their benefits regarding soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. Current methodologies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for assessing the impacts of alternative farming practices on GHG emissions rely on global or country-specific coefficients.

Preliminary assessment of waste accumulation along riverbanks in Italy.

This paper presents a preliminary assessment of waste accumulation along riverbanks in Italy, aiming to provide baseline data for future monitoring and management efforts. The study surveyed 18 stations along 16 rivers across different regions of Italy, from north to south, to quantify and characterise the types and abundance of litter present along their banks. Field surveys were conducted by Legambiente citizen scientists applying a standardised protocol to record and categorise litter items systematically.

Longitudinal serological and virological survey of hepatitis E virus in wild boar (, Maremman wild boar) and fallow deer () populations in a protected area of Central Italy.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is recognized as an emerging zoonosis. Pigs and wild boars are considered the main reservoirs of zoonotic HEV-3 and HEV-4 genotypes. In Europe, autochthonous human cases of hepatitis E, mainly associated with HEV-3 and consumption of raw or undercooked pig and wild boar liver/meat, have increased over the last decades.