Preprint volume - SIBM

41 st Congress of the Società Italiana di Biologia 

Marina 

with the participation of the Marine Biological Association 

UK 

Rapallo (GE), 7-11 June 2010

Pre-print Volume 

TABLE OF CONTENTS / INDICE DEI CONTENUTI 

Opening Keynote / Relazione inaugurale 

BERTNESS M.D. - Why experimental ecology matters to conservation biology 13 

Topic 1 / Tema 1 

Biodiversity and conservation science: contributing to management 

Biodiversità e scienza della conservazione: contributo alla gestione 

Introductory lecture / Relazione introduttiva 

FROST M. - Assessing the status of seas and oceans: determining the roles of 

science and policy 

Lecture / Relazione 

LANGMEAD O., JACKSON E. - Large scale patterns of marine biodiversity: an 

evidence-based approach for prioritising areas for protection 

Invited presentation / Intervento programmato 

HISCOCK K. - ‘Mind the gap’ - Science that informs implementation of policy on 

Marine Protected Areas 

Oral presentations / Comunicazioni 

BEDINI R., BONECHI L., PISTOLESI J., SARTONI G. - Multisciplinary 

approach as a tool to evaluate patterns of biodiversity in marine habitats 

EVANGELISTI F., ALBANO P.G., SABELLI B. - Genetic variation of the 

brachiopod Gryphus vitreus (Born, 1778) across the Gibraltar sill 

GATTI G., MONTEFALCONE M., PARRAVICINI V., MORRI C., CHIANTORE 

M., BIANCHI C.N. - Monitoring the ‘Isola di Bergeggi’ Marine Protected Area: a 

comparison between Point Intercept Transects and Visual Quadrats 

GRIPPA M.L., CINELLI F. - L’area minima di campionamento: confronto tra le 

metodologie visive e distruttive nel coralligeno dell’Isola di Pianosa (Parco 

Nazionale dell’Arcipelago Toscano) 

GUIDETTI P., SALA E., BALLESTEROS E., DI FRANCO A., HEREU B., 

MACPHERSON E., MICHELI F., PAIS A., PANZALIS P., ROSENBERG A., 

ZABALA M. - Fish assemblages across the Mediterranean Sea and the effects of 

protection from fishing 

LAURIANO G., PANIGADA S. - Uso della piattaforma aerea per il monitoraggio 

di vertebrati marini ai fini della gestione della biodiversità: il caso del Santuario 

Pelagos 

LOMBARDI C., SAVINI D., OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI A., PAROLO G., 

GIACOMAZZI F. - Citiziens science education: a challenging tool for monitoring 

MPAs biodiversity and environmental quality 

MUNARI C., COMO S., KEPPEL E., LARDICCI C., MAGNI P., MISTRI M., 

SIGOVINI M., TAGLIAPIETRA D. - Towards the management of transitional 

waters: assessing the potential of benthic tools 

RIBERO L., ESPOSITO F., MUSSAT SARTOR R., NURRA N., PESSANI D. - 

Aspects of biodiversity in the infralittoral of Enfola isthmus (Elba Island) 

41 st S.I.B.M. CONGRESS Rapallo (GE), 7-11 June 2010 

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ROGHI F., PARRAVICINI V., MONTEFALCONE M., ROVERE A., MORRI C., 

PEIRANO A., FIRPO M., BIANCHI C.N., SALVATI E. - Decadal evolution of a 

coralligenous ecosystem under the influence of human impacts and climate change 

SCINTO A., PANTALEO U., SERLUCA G., DI CAMILLO C.G., BETTI F., 

BAVESTRELLO G., CERRANO C. - Analisi comparativa di popolamenti di grotte 

sottomarine diversamente frequentate dall’attività subacquea 

SFRISO A., FACCA C. - Macrophytes as biological element for the assessment 

and management of transitional water systems in the Mediterranean Ecoregion 

Posters / Poster 

LOCCI I., ESPA M., PALMAS F., PENDUGIU A.A., PESCI P., SABATINI A. - 

Biodiversity index evolution in shallow water areas of Sardinian seas (10-100 m) 

PAPA M., RUSSO G.F. - Long-time changes in macroalgal biodiversity in the 

MPA of Gaiola (Gulf of Naples) 

PICCHETTI G., CARAVELLO A., GHELIA M., DI MARTINO V. - Proposta per 

il Parco Nazionale nello Stretto di Sicilia: la A.M.P. di Pantelleria 

SEWELL J., BISHOP J.D.D., SEELEY R. - Through the portal - improving the 

flow of information on non-native species in Great Britain 

VALENTE M., MALTAGLIATI F., CUPIDO R., COCITO S., CASTELLI A., 

PANNACCIULLI F.G. - Absence of genetic structure in the gorgonian 

Paramuricea clavata (Cnidaria, Octocorallia), from the NW Mediterranean, as 

inferred by the COI gene 


Marine organisms and ecosystems as model systems 

Organismi marini ed ecosistemi quali sistemi modello 

Introductory lectures / Relazioni introduttive 

BOERO F., BAVESTRELLO G., PIRAINO S. - Marine biodiversity and 

unexpected experimental models: the role of marine stations 

BROWNLEE C., WHEELER G.L., CHRACHRI A., TAYLOR A.R., HIGHFIELD 

A., VERRET F.J., SCHROEDER D. - Coccolithophore biomineralization: from 

molecules to global processes 

Invited presentation / Intervento programmato 

GAMBI M.C., HALL-SPENCER J.M., CIGLIANO M., COCITO S., LOMBARDI 

C., LORENTI M., PATTI F.P., PORZIO L., RODOLFO-METALPA R., 

SCIPIONE M.B., BUIA M.C. - Using volcanic marine CO2 vents to study the 

effects of ocean acidification on benthic biota: highlights from Castello Aragonese 

d’Ischia (Tyrrhenian Sea) 


ALBANO P.G., SABELLI B., ADANI M., PINARDI N. - The termophilous 

species Echinolittorina punctata as a new descriptor of tropicalization in the 

Mediterranean Sea - First data 


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BO M., DI CAMILLO C.G. , BERTOLINO M., POVERO P., MISIC C., 

CASTELLANO M., COVAZZI HARRIAGUE A., GASPARINI G.P., BORGHINI 

M., SCHROEDER K., BAVESTRELLO G. - The megabenthic assemblages of the 

Vercelli Seamount (North Tyrrhenian Sea) 

BONAVIRI C., PIPITONE C., GIANGUZZA P., HEREU B. - Predation on young 

Paracentrotus lividus settlers: implications for Mediterranean rocky infralittoral 

stability 

CAROPPO C., GIORDANO L., RUBINO F., BISCI A.P., HOPKINS T.S. - 

Phytoplankton communities as indicators of ecological change in the 

anthropogenically impacted Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea) 

CASABIANCA S., PECCHIOLI E., VERNESI C., PENNA A. - Population genetic 

structure of the toxic Dinophyceae Alexandrium minutum in the Mediterranean Sea: 

a case study 

CHESSA L.A., SCARDI M. - A machine learning approach to the study of a red 

coral Corallium rubrum (L.) population 

DI CAMILLO C.G., BO M., BARTOLUCCI I., BETTI F., CALCINAI B., 

CERRANO C., COPPARI M., MARTINELLI M., PUCE S., BAVESTRELLO G. - 

The benthic assemblage of Conero Promontory: a model for the study of seasonal 

cycles in the North Adriatic Sea 

RAUH N., BROWNLEE C., HAWKINS S.J., HETHERINGTON A.M. - Hypoosmotic 

stress tolerance among three intertidal Fucus species: effects on survival, 

recruitment and community composition 


AGNETTA D., BONAVIRI C., GIANGUZZA P., RIGGIO S. - The MPA ‘Isola di 

Ustica’: a model of benthic community natural changes 

CHRACHRI A., TAYLOR A.R., WHEELER G.L., GODDARD H., BROWNLEE 

C. - A voltage gated H + -conductance underlying pH homeostasis and calcification 

in coccolithophorids 

DEL PRETE F., LANGELLOTTI A.L., VITIELLO V., SANSONE G. - Sparus 

aurata (L.) embryos as model organism for ecotoxicological studies 

GAMBI M.C., BARBIERI F., SIGNORELLI S., SAGGIOMO V. - Mortality 

events along the Campania coast (Tyrrhenian Sea) in summers 2008 and 2009 and 

relation to thermal conditions 

PERRA G., FANELLO E., GUERRANTI C., FOCARDI S., ANDALORO F., 

ROMEO T. - Preliminary screening of perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and 

perfluooctanoic acid (PFOA) in a fish species (Serranus cabrilla) from the coast of 

Sicily (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea) 

TIMPANARO A., SINOPOLI M., GRISTINA M., CATTANO C., CHEMELLO 

R. - Habitat requirements for the choice of nesting site in Symphodus ocellatus 

(Forsskal) 


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Integrated coastal zone management 

Gestione integrata della zona costiera 


ANDALORO F., ROMEO T., GORACCI M., INCONTRO V. - Rediscovering old 

fishing traditions in Sicily: history and culture of small-scale fishery 

CAPPANERA V., CASTELLANO M., BAVA S., POVERO P., FANCIULLI G., 

CATTANEO-VIETTI R. - Andamenti delle catture e condizioni meteo-marine 

nella tonnarella di Camogli (Mar Ligure) 

CECERE E., ACQUAVIVA M., BELMONTE M., BIANDOLINO F., CAVALLO 

R.A., LO NOCE R., NARRACCI M., PETROCELLI A., RICCI P., STABILI L., 

ALABISO G. - Seaweeds and aquaculture: an indispensable alliance for the 

integrated management of coastal zone 

COSSU A., PASCUCCI V., CECCHERELLI G., DELUCA M., CHESSA L.A. - 

Contribution to understanding the erosion processes in Alghero coast 

FALAUTANO M., CILLARI T., PERZIA P., VIVONA P., CASTRIOTA L., 

ANDALORO F. - Methodological approach to integrated coastal zone 

management: a case of study in the Strait of Sicily 

GUIDETTI P., PETRILLO M., DE BENEDETTO G., ALBERTELLI G. - Natal 

origin of European anchovy: a case study in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean) 

LA MESA G., BAVA S., CATTANEO-VIETTI R., MOLINARI A., TUNESI L. - 

Gradients of abundance of Diplodus sargus and D. vulgaris across the reserve 

boundaries of the Portofino MPA (Ligurian Sea) 

ROVERE A., MONTEFALCONE M., VASSALLO P., PAOLI C., VACCHI M., 

MORRI C., BIANCHI C.N., FIRPO M., ALBERTELLI G., FABIANO M. - 

Posidonia oceanica through time: modern and paleoecological perspectives from 

the Bergeggi-Vado Ligure area (SV) 


CECCHI E., PIAZZI L. - A new method for the assessment of the ecological status 

of coralligenous assemblages 

COSTANTINO G., UNGARO N., MASTROTOTARO F., BATTISTA D., 

BLONDA M., PASTORELLI A.M., CARLUCCI R., TURSI A. - Recent data from 

the monitoring of Posidonia oceanica in two Marine Protected Areas of the 

Apulian coasts (Central-Eastern Mediterranean Sea) 

DE BIASI A., PIAZZI L., PACCIARDI L., VANNUCCI A. - The sustainable 

development of Mediterranean aquaculture in Marine Protected Areas 

DI STEFANO F., RUSSO G.F. - The role of marine biologist in the maritime 

spatial planning 

MANCUSI C., CECCHI E., PIAZZI L., RIA M., SILVESTRI R. - The assessment 

of the ecological quality of coastal water through the concurrent use of different 

biological indicators 


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NICOLETTI L., VALENTINI E., TARGUSI M., LA VALLE P., FORNARI A., 

TARAMELLI A. - Characterisation of Posidonia oceanica meadows using both 

hyperspectral and LiDAR data: a new approach 

PETROCELLI A., CECERE E. - Biodiversity and mollusc transfer: need of 

observance of the laws to avoid alien seaweeds introduction 

PONTI M., FAVA F., FABI G., GIOVANARDI O. - Benthic assemblages on 

artificial pyramids along the Central and Northern Adriatic Italian coasts 

POTOSCHI A., LONGO F., POTOSCHI A. JR., IARRERA S., RECUPERO 

TROVATO L. - Caratterizzazione del pescato e delle biocenosi bentoniche in una 

zona costiera tirrenica siciliana (Capo Peloro - Isole Eolie - Capo Raisigerbi) 

ROMEO T., BATTAGLIA P., ANCORA S., ESPOSITO V., BIANCHI N., 

ANDALORO F. - DPSIR model as tool for an integrated coastal management in 

the Aeolian Islands 

UNGARO N., PASTORELLI A.M., DI FESTA T., GALISE I., ROMANO C., 

ASSENNATO G., BLONDA M., PERRINO V. - Annual trend of the dinoflagellate 

Ostreopsis ovata in two sites along the southern Adriatic coast 


The Elasmobranchs 

Gli elasmobranchi 

Invited presentations / Interventi programmati 

RELINI G., MANNINI A., DE RANIERI S., BITETTO I., FOLLESA M.C., 193 

GANCITANO V., MANFREDI C., CASCIARO L., SION L. - Chondrichthyes 

caught during the MEDITS surveys in the Italian waters 

RELINI G., SERENA F., BOTTARO M. - Il progetto ELASMOIT 195 


ARTIOLI Y., VISENTIN E., BARAUSSE A., MAZZOLDI C. - What historical 

data and predictive models can tell us about elasmobranch future in the northern 

Adriatic Sea 

LIGAS A., BERTOLINI D., MANCUSI C., REALE B., RIA M., SARTOR P., 

SBRANA M., SERENA F., VOLIANI A., DE RANIERI S. - Temporal evolution 

of landings of elasmobranchs in Tuscany (Mediterranean Sea) 

PINTO C., MANNINI A., RELINI G. - Remarks on Galeus melastomus in the 

northern Ligurian Sea 

SARTOR P., ROSSETTI I., BALDUCCI G., LARICCIA M., SBRANA M., DE 

RANIERI S. - Fishermen perceptions on the elasmobranch abundance evolution 

over time in the Italian trawl fisheries 

SERENA F., BARONE M., MANCUSI C. - Mediterranean cartilaginous fishes: 25 

years of Italian research 


CAMMARATA M., MANGANO V., PARISI M.G., BENENATI G., 

PARRINELLO N. - Purification and characterization of an F-type lectin from 

small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) serum 


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CARLUCCI R., CAPEZZUTO F., BATTISTA D., PANZA M., SION L. - 

Occurrence of juveniles of Scyliorhinus canicula and Mustelus mustelus in the 

North-western Ionian Sea 

DE SABATA E., CLO’ S. - Public sighting scheme reveals the seasonal presence 

of Cetorhinus maximus around North Sardinia, Italy 

GAMBARDELLA C., GALLUS L., FASULO S., TAGLIAFIERRO G., VACCHI 

M., FERRANDO S. - First report on leptin in a cartilaginous fish 

GIOVE A., MINERVA M., MAIORANO P., D’ONGHIA G., TURSI A. - 

Elasmobranch assemblages in the Ionian Sea 

HUMPHRIES N., SIMS D.W. - Hunting for prey in the open ocean: search patterns 

of marine predators 

MANFREDI C., CIAVAGLIA E., PICCINETTI C., VRGOČ N. - Temporal and 

spatial distribution of some elasmobranchs in the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea 

PORCU C., MULAS A., CABIDDU S., GASTONI A., FOLLESA M.C. - 

Reproductive biology of the blonde ray Raja brachyura (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) 

in Sardinian seas 

RACZ LORENZ H., POLIZZI G., ZAVA B., FIORENTINO F. - New maximum 

lengths for the striped smooth-hound Mustelus fasciatus (Garman, 1913) 

(Carcharhiniformes, Triakidae) 

ZUPA W., DONNALOIA M., GAUDIO P., INTINI S., CARBONARA P. - 

Occurrence of Leucoraja fullonica (Linnaeus, 1758) in the South Adriatic Sea 

Posters of the aquaculture committee / Poster del comitato acquacoltura 

ADDIS A., DÍAZ LÓPEZ B., RABINO S., FABIANO F., BERNAL SHIRAI J.A. - 

Bottlenose dolphin presence in a marine fish farm from the North-Western coast of 

Sardinia 

CARUSO G., MARICCHIOLO G., MUGLIA U., GENOVESE L., DENARO 

M.G. - Changes in some physiological parameters of red porgy Pagrus pagrus 

during a fasting-refeeding experiment 

CASTALDI P., SILVETTI M., SABA S., RUBATTU R., DEIANA S., PAIS A. - 

Sediment features and heavy metal levels in four areas of Sardinia devoted to 

bivalve culture 

DI BIASE A., PIRINI M., MORDENTI O. - Prove di somministrazione di alimento 

commerciale su Mytilus galloprovincialis in fase di finissaggio 

FABBROCINI A., D’ADAMO R. - Histological examination of the gonads of 

Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) from the Southern Adriatic coast 

MARICCHIOLO G., CARUSO T., CARUSO G., GENOVESE L., MIRTO S. - 

Rearing conditions and welfare in Dicentrarchus labrax: a comparison between 

submerged and surface cages 

PAIS A., SERRA S., SABA S., RAGAZZOLA F., COSSU A. - Variations of 

biofouling communities in an off-shore fish cage farm from North-Western 

Sardinia 


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PANE L., GIACCO E., MARIOTTINI G.L., FELETTI M., STURLA M., 

MANDICH A. - Accrescimento di Aphia minuta mediterranea De Buen, 1931 in 

condizioni di laboratorio 

TRAVERSI I., MANDICH A., CEVASCO A., FATTORE E., GENEROSO C., 

MASSARI A. - Morphological and biochemical responses to environmental 

contaminants in farmed and wild European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) 

Posters of the benthos committee / Poster del comitato benthos 

ACCOGLI G., SEMPRUCCI F., D’ADDABBO R., SANDULLI R., BALSAMO 

M., GALLO M. - Beta-diversity on tardigrade fauna of Maldivian Islands 

BEDINI R., BOCCIA B., BATISTINI F., PERTUSATI M., PISTOLESI J. - Spatial 

and temporal variability of Crustacea assemblages of Posidonia oceanica meadows 

of northern Tuscany 

BELCI F., MUSSAT SARTOR R., NURRA N., PESSANI D. - Population biology 

of the hermit crab Cestopagurus timidus in two Posidonia oceanica beds 

BURGASSI M., PARDI G., MALVASO I., RENDE F.S., GRIPPA M.L., 

CINELLI F. - Preliminary study on the epiphytic community of transplanted 

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile shoots 

CARONNI S., CECCHERELLI G., NAVONE A., OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI A., 

PANZALIS P., PINNA S., SECHI N. - Distribution and density of the benthic 

microalga Chrysophaeum taylorii Lewis & Bryan from northern to central-eastern 

Sardinian coasts 

CARONNI S., NAVONE A. - Density and size of the fan mussel Pinna nobilis 

(Linneo, 1758) in two differently protected zones of Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo 

Marine Protected Area 

CRISTO B., CASU M., FLORIS A., CECCHERELLI G. - Condizione ecologica di 

Ruditapes decussatus (Veneridae) e sua presenza in aree di raccolta nel Golfo di 

Olbia 

ESPOSITO F., RIBERO L., MUSSAT SARTOR R., NURRA N., PESSANI D. - 

Gastropods and Polychaetes in the upper infralittoral zone of Enfola isthmus (Elba 

Island): new records and review of nomenclature 

FALACE A., ALONGI G., SPAGNOLO A., FABI G. - Segnalazione di 

macroalghe non-indigene nel porto di Ancona (Medio Adriatico) 

MANGANO M.C., COSENTINO A., DE DOMENICO F., SPANO’ N. - Antedon 

mediterranea (Echinodermata: Crinoidea) as host of commensal Subadyte pellucida 

(Anellida: Polychaeta) 

MANGANO M.C., PORPORATO E., DE DOMENICO F., PROFETA A., 

BUSALACCHI B., SPANO’ N. - Leptometra phalangium (J. Müller, 1841) fields 

from the southern Tyrrhenian Sea: preliminary data on the associated fauna 

MEREU M., MASALA P., MACCIONI A., STACCA D., CAU AL., CUCCU D. - 

Tagging Octopus vulgaris (Octopoda: Octopodidae) in an area of central western 

Sardinian waters 

PANETTA P., MASTROTOTARO F., CAPEZZUTO F., SASSANELLI G., 

TAVIANI M. - Size evaluation of Delectopecten vitreus (Mollusca, Bivalvia) from 

Santa Maria di Leuca deep-water coral site (Ionian Sea) 


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PORPORATO E., MANGANO M.C., DE DOMENICO F., SPANO’ N. - 

Distribution of the main biocenotic components of the Giardini Naxos Gulf 

(Mediterranean Sea) 

PREVIATI M., PALMA M., LANDI G., PANTALEO U., SCINTO A., 

BERTOLINO M., FAVA F., PONTI M., CERRANO C. - Symbols to represent 

Mediterranean seabed typologies and focal benthic species 

Posters of the management of the coastal zone committee / 

Poster del comitato gestione e valorizzazione della fascia costiera 

BLASI F., CAVALLETTI B. - Un tasso di sconto per le praterie di Posidonia 

oceanica 

BUSSOTTI S., GUIDETTI P. - Fish fauna of marine caves in four Italian Marine 

Protected Areas 

CANNAS A., TRENTADUE M., MANCA S., MURA L., FOIS N. - Insediamento 

di Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams & Reeve) nel Golfo di Olbia (Sardegna, Italia) 

e distribuzione in rapporto a Ruditapes decussatus (L.) 

CASSOLA M., CUNEO C., COPPO S., PARODI V., COSTA M., COSMAI T., 

MORETTO P., BERTOLOTTO R., MOLINARI A. - Implementation of a 

georeferred underwater towed camera system in a methodological approach to the 

monitoring of Posidonia meadows in Liguria, according to the Water Framework 

Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC 

CRISTO B., DEDOLA G.L., LAI T., COSSU P., SANNA D., CIRCOSTA C., 

CURINI-GALLETTI M., MELONI C., CASU M. - Analysis of the genetic 

variability of Patella ferruginea Gmelin, 1791 (Gastropoda: Patellidae) populations 

from the North-East Sardinia 

PETRONE L., STEFANIZZI F., CAVARRETTA V.A., FORTESE P., CELLINI E. 

- Valutazione tossicologica mediante batteri bioluminescenti delle foci della costa 

crotonese: risultati preliminari 

RAMBALDI E., LANNI L., PELUSI P., BINDA F., CERASI S., POGGI A., 

UKMAR E., AVETRANI P. - Valutazione dei banchi naturali di molluschi bivalvi 

eduli (telline, Donax trunculus, e cannolicchi, Ensis siliqua) lungo la fascia costiera 

della provincia di Latina e indicazioni gestionali per una pesca sostenibile 

RIZZO G., MARČETA T., MATOZZO V., BRESSAN M., MARIN M.G. - New 

insight on clam population (Chamelea gallina) in the Chioggia district: 

morphometric and physiological data 

Posters of the necton and fishery committee / Poster del comitato necton e pesca 

CUCCU D., MEREU M., MASALA P., CAU A., JEREB P. - First record of 

Stoloteuthis leucoptera (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae) in the Sardinian waters 

DONNALOIA M., GAUDIO P., BITETTO I., CASCIARO L., ZUPA W., INTINI 

S., SPEDICATO M.T. - Sexual maturity of the horned octopus Eledone cirrhosa 

(Lamarck, 1798) 

GANCITANO V., BADALUCCO C., RIZZO P., GANCITANO S., SIELI G., 

CUSUMANO S., FIORENTINO F. - Differences in growth of Common pandora, 

Pagellus erythrinus (L., 1758) (Pisces: Sparidae), caught by different fishing gears 

in the Strait of Sicily 


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INDENNIDATE A., CARLUCCI R., MAIORANO P., SION L., D’ONGHIA G. - 

Fishing effort and catch composition on the boundaries of Santa Maria di Leuca 

deep-water coral bank 

INTINI S., GAUDIO P., CASCIARO L., BITETTO I., DONNALOIA M., ZUPA 

W., CARBONARA P. - Preliminary observations on the growth of Engraulis 

encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Western Ionian Sea 

MODUGNO S., HOLTHAUS K.B., GELLI F., RINALDI A. - Applicazione 

dell’indice di argentinizzazione in due lagune italiane come strumento di 

monitoraggio e tutela dello stock di anguille 

MONTANINI S., STAGIONI M., VALLISNERI M. - Elliptic Fourier Analysis of 

otoliths of Triglidae in the North-Middle Adriatic Sea 

ORSI RELINI L., LANTERI L., GARIBALDI F. - Medusivorous fishes of the 

Mediterranean. A coastal safety system against jellyfish blooms 

SBRANA M., MARAVELIAS C., MARIANI A., MAYNOU F., SARTINI M., 

SARTOR P. - EVOMED project: fishermen interviews as source of information to 

reconstruct the evolution of the Mediterranean fisheries in the 20 th Century 

STAGIONI M. - Considerations of minimum commercial size of Chamelea gallina 

(L.) 

VALLISNERI M., STAGIONI M., MONTANINI S., TOMMASINI S. - 

Comparative morphology of Triglidae otoliths from the North-Middle Adriatic Sea 

ZAMMIT-MANGION M., DEIDUN A. - Management recommendations for the 

conservation of threatened Aphanius fasciatus Nardo populations from two 

wetlands in the Maltese Islands 

ZAVA B., FIORENTINO F. - Catture del rondone di mare Cheilopogon heterurus 

(Rafinesque, 1810) (Ostheichthyes, Exocetidae) in un’Area Marina Protetta lungo 

le coste settentrionali della Sicilia 

Posters of the plankton committee / Poster del comitato plancton 

BATTOCCHI C., TOTTI C., VILA M., MASO’ M., CAPELLACCI S., 

ACCORONI S., RENE’ A., SCARDI M., PENNA A. - Monitoring of toxic 

microalga Ostreopsis (Dinoflagellate) species in Mediterranean coastal waters 

using the PCR based-assay combined with light microscopy 

BOTTINELLI G., DI FESTA T., PASTORELLI A.M., UNGARO N., VADRUCCI 

M.R. - Numerical abundance and number of taxa in phytoplankton samples: 

preliminary comparison between two different counting strategies 

CABRINI M., FORNASARO D., LIPIZER M., GUARDIANI B. - First report of 

Ostreopsis cf. ovata bloom in the Gulf of Trieste 

FACCA C., BILANICOVA D., POJANA G., MARCOMINI A., SFRISO A. - 

Coupling taxonomic and chemical analyses to monitor harmful algae occurrence in 

lagoons (Venice and Po Delta system, Italy) 

RUGGERI G., BORGHINI M., RIBOTTI A., MILICI M., PAPALE M., 

SORGENTE R., DE DOMENICO M., DE DOMENICO E. - Luminous marine 

bacteria and water masses distribution in the Central Mediterranean Sea (Cruise 

SICILY09) 


10 

312 

314 

316 

318 

320 

322 

324 

326 

328 

330 

333 

335 

337 

339 

341


SOCAL G., BERNARDI AUBRY F., BON D., CEOLDO S., DE LAZZARI A., 

FACCA C., FINOTTO S., RIZZARDI S., SFRISO A. - Seasonal and spatial 

distribution of phytoplankton in the Veneto lagoons (Caorle and Po Delta lagoons, 

Italy) 

Posters on various topics / Poster della sessione vari 

ARIZZA V., CELI M., CALANDRA G., SARÀ G., BUSCAINO G., 

PARRINELLO D., FERRANTELLI V., VAZZANA M. - Effetti in vivo delle onde 

sonore (200 Hz 100 kHz) sull’espressione dell’Hsp70 nelle cellule del sangue di 

Chromis chromis (Perciformes) 

ARIZZA V., GIARAMITA F.T., PARRINELLO D., VAZZANA M., VICARI D., 

PARRINELLO N. - Variazioni sesso-dipendenti nell’attività citotossica dei 

celomociti di Paracentrotus lividus (Echinoidea) 

ARMANASCO A., BOTTEON E., SAVINI D., NANNARELLI S. - Fecal pellet 

analysis of Caretta caretta outpatients of the Linosa Island Turtle Rescue Centre 

(Sicily, AG) 

BIAGI F., ADDIS A., CORSO G., CARCUPINO M. - Spermatogenesis and sperm 

structure in the black-striped pipefish Syngnathus abaster (Teleostei, Syngnathidae) 

FLORIS R., MANCA S., CHESSA F., TRENTADUE M., CANNAS A., FOIS N. - 

Microbiological characterization of intestinal flora of gilthead seabreams (Sparus 

aurata L.) from Tortoli lagoon (Eastern Sardinia, Italy) 

GALLUS L., FERRANDO S., GAMBARDELLA C., DIASPRO A., BIANCHINI 

P., PIAZZA V., RAMOINO P., TAGLIAFIERRO G. - Immunohistochemical 

distribution of NMDAR1 receptor in the cyprid of Balanus amphitrite (= 

Amphibalanus amphitrite) (Crustacea, Cirripedia) 

MALAVENDA R., RIZZO C., LO GIUDICE A., MICHAUD L., DE DOMENICO 

M., BRUNI V. - Screening for biosurfactant production by Antarctic marine 

bacteria 

MOLA L., MINGOLLA V., GAMBARELLI A., PEDERZOLI A. - 

Immunoreactivity to HSP70 induction in larvae of Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) 

treated with LPS 

RIZZO C., CALDARONE B., DE LUCA M., DE DOMENICO M., DE 

DOMENICO E. - Evaluation of different carbon source for biosurfactant 

production 

SOMIGLI S., FANELLO E., PERRA G., FOCARDI S., UGOLINI A. - Seasonal 

variation in PAHs concentration in three species of talitrid Amphipods (Crustacea) 

UNGHERESE G., PASQUALI V., BARONI D., UGOLINI A. - Effect of sand 

contamination on locomotor activity of Talitrus saltator (Montagu) 

Author index / Indice degli autori 368 


11 

343 

346 

348 

350 

352 

354 

356 

358 

360 

362 

364 

366

Pre-print Volume – Opening keynote 

Opening keynote / Relazione inaugurale 

BERTNESS M.D. 

WHY EXPERIMENTAL ECOLOGY MATTERS TO CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 


12


M.D. BERTNESS 

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. 

Mark_Bertness@Brown.edu 

WHY EXPERIMENTAL ECOLOGY MATTERS 

TO CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 

PROBLEMATICHE DI ECOLOGIA SPERIMENTALE 

PER LA CONSERVAZIONE BIOLOGICA 

Abstract - While experimental community ecology is often portrayed as an interesting esoteric field of no 

practical value, it can play a critical role informing and guiding conservation management decisions and 

priorities. I argue that experimental community ecology can drive successful marine conservation using two 

examples from my research: 1) How mechanistically understanding plant zonation in salt marshes provides 

tools to predict and remediate human impacts on salt marshes. and 2) How challenging entrenched dogma 

about the processes dictating the productivity of salt marshes reveals that we may be blind to some of the 

most serious conservation threats to salt marshes and other near shore marine communities. 

Key-words: eutrophication, overfishing, coastal conservation. 

Introduction - Experimental community ecology and conservation biology have had 

different beginnings, goals and conceptual development. Experimental community 

ecology developed from an interest to conceptually and mechanistically understand the 

generation of reoccurring patterns and the dynamics of natural communities (Paine, 

1980). Conversely, conservation biology developed independently with the goal of 

conserving and managing natural and human disturbed populations, communities and 

ecosystems from further human degradation (Primack, 2008). While these fields 

developed independently, they can be interdependent, but often are seen as antagonistic 

rather than complimentary fields. 

Here I summarize recent work in Western Atlantic salt marshes that highlights the 

interdependency of experimental marine ecology and effective marine conservation 

biology. 

Understanding mechanisms of plant zonation - Recent research on mechanisms 

generating the striking plant zonation of New England salt marshes has shown that the 

zonation of pristine, nitrogen-limited marshes is dictated by competition for nitrogen 

(Levine et al., 1998). This leads to the competitive dominance of plants with high 

investment in belowground nutrient harvesting roots and rhizomes. Eutrophication, 

driven by shoreline development and increased nutrient rich runoff, however, leads to 

the competitive dominance of plants with high investment in aboveground light 

harvesting leaves, a dramatic reversal of the competitive hierarchy and zonation of 

these communities and the loss of most of the native community (Fig. 1; Bertness et 

al., 2001). These findings lead to the simple conservation recommendation of 

preserving natural woody vegetation buffers around marshes to preserve native marsh 

communities. 


13


Fig. 1 - Shoreline development consequences on New England salt marsh plant communities (from 

Bertness et al., 2001). 

Conseguenze del cambiamento della costa sulle comunità vegetali delle paludi salmastre 

(from Bertness et al., 2001). 

Is human disturbance shifting salt marsh ecosystems from bottom-up nutrient 

control to top-down consumer control - Salt marsh ecosystems have long been 

recognized as systems under strong bottom-up control by physical factors. Recent 

research on Western Atlantic salt marshes, however, has shown that human 

disturbances, primarily overfishing, are shifting these systems to top-down, consumercontrolled 

systems, often with catastrophic consequences. Geese herbivory in the 

Canadian subarctic (Jefferies 1997), snail grazing on the Gulf of Mexico (Silliman et 

al., 2005), and crab herbivory on Argentinean (Alberti et al., 2008) and New England 

(Holdredge et al., 2009) salt marshes are all leading to significant die-off of salt 

marshes and loss of the ecosystem services they provide. These results challenge the 

long-standing paradigm that salt marsh ecosystems are controlled exclusively by 

bottom up forces and reveal that human disturbances are shifting salt marshes to top 

down control. Salt marsh conservation and management assumes strong, exclusive 

bottom-up control, these finding are critical to successful salt marsh conservation and 

management. 

These examples illustrate the necessary interdependence of experimental marine 

community ecology and successful marine conservation. 


14


References 

ALBERTI J., ESCAPA M., DALEO P., IRIBARNE O., SILLIMAN B.R., BERTNESS M. (2008) - 

Crab herbivory generated marsh plant die off and facilitation in Argentinean salt marshes. 

Ecology, 29: 155-164. 

BERTNESS M.D., SILLIMAN B.R. (2008) - Human disturbance driven consumer control of salt 

marshes. Conservation Biology, 22: 618-623. 

BERTNESS M.D., EWANCHUK P., SILLIMAN B.R. (2002) - Anthropogenic modification of New 

England salt marsh landscapes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 99 (3): 1395- 

1398. 

HOLDREDGE C., ALTIERI A., BERTNESS M.D. (2009) - Crab herbivory-driven die off of New 

England salt marshes. Conservation Biology, 23: 672-679. 

JEFFERIES R.L. (1997) - Long-term damage to sub-arctic coastal ecosystems by geese: ecological 

indicators and measures of ecosystem dysfunction. In: R.M. Crawford (ed), Disturbance and 

recovery in Arctic Lands: an ecological perspective. Kluwer Academic, Boston: 151-166. 

LEVINE J., BREWER S.J., BERTNESS M.D. (1998) - Nutrient availability and the zonation of 

marsh plant communities. Journal of Ecology, 86: 285-292. 

PAINE R.T. (1980) - Food webs: linkage, interaction strength and community infrastructure. Journal 

of Ecology, 49: 667-685. 

PRIMACK R.B. (2008) - A Primer of Conservation Biology. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland 

Massachusetts, USA 

SILLIMAN B.R., BERTNESS M.D. (2002) - A trophic cascade regulates salt marsh primary 

production. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 99 (16): 10500-10505. 

SILLIMAN B.R., VAN DE KOPPEL J., BERTNESS M.D., STANTON L., MENDELSSOHN I. 

(2005) - Drought and herbivory lead to catastrophic salt marsh collapse. Science, 310: 1803- 

1805. 


15


Topic 1: BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION SCIENCE: CONTRIBUTING TO MANAGEMENT 


BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION SCIENCE: 

CONTRIBUTING TO MANAGEMENT 

BIODIVERSITÀ E SCIENZA DELLA CONSERVAZIONE: 

CONTRIBUTO ALLA GESTIONE 


16

Pre-print Volume – Introductory lecture 


M. FROST 

Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK. 

matfr@mba.ac.uk 

ASSESSING THE STATUS OF SEAS AND OCEANS: 

DETERMINING THE ROLES OF SCIENCE AND POLICY 

VALUTARE LO STATO DI MARI E GLI OCEANI: 

DETERMINARE I RUOLI DI SCIENZA E LA LINEA DI CONDOTTA 

Abstract - There are numerous targets related to achieving a particular status for biodiversity, marine 

ecosystem components, and the marine environment as a whole. The vision adopted at the European and 

UK level is for “clean, safe, healthy, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas”. The UK 

government is currently producing its 5 yearly State of Seas report “Charting Progress 2 2010” assessing 

progress towards that vision. This report is the largest collation and analysis of marine data ever attempted 

in the UK and is providing invaluable information on trends in various ecosystem components. However, 

providing an assessment of state has produced the challenge of finding agreement on what we mean by 

clean, safe, healthy, productive and biologically diverse seas. This issue involves a complex interplay of 

scientific, political/societal considerations and any agreement will be crucial in informing future targets 

such as achieving “Good Environmental Status” by 2020, which is the central aim of the European Marine 

Strategy Framework Directive. 

Key-words: marine assessment, marine strategy framework directive, baselines, charting progress, 

assessment, conservation. 

Setting goals for the marine environment - A number of targets and strategic 

objectives exist relating to marine conservation at the international, European and UK 

level. Examples include a series of agreements aimed at halting or reducing the rate of 

biodiversity loss by 2010 (CBD, 2005; EC, 2001, 2004, 2006) and the Ecological 

Quality Objectives set out by Ospar (1998) as part of the ecosystem approach. Legally 

enforceable targets include achieving “Favourable Conservation Status” under the 

Habitats Directive (EC, 1992) and “Good Ecological Status” and “Good Chemical 

Status” under the Water Framework Directive (EC, 2000). All of these targets are able 

to contribute to an overall vision, which in the UK is articulated in the aim of having 

“clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas” (Defra, 

2002). The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) has “the ultimate 

aim of maintaining biodiversity and providing diverse and dynamic oceans and seas 

which are clean, healthy and productive”, encapsulated in the target of achieving 

“Good Environmental Status” (GES) by 2020 (EC, 2008). The conceptual and 

philosophical underpinning of the biodiversity and ecological quality targets is that 

scientists and policy makers accept that actions that contribute to an overall loss of 

biodiversity are “bad” (Reed, 2007) and that the exploitation of our seas should be 

undertaken in a sustainable way that does not compromise their ability to provide 

resources and maintain their function in the future. However, in terms of the marine 

environment being at the “status” as articulated in the overall vision, the difficulty 

arises as to what that status should be i.e. what should our seas look like (and how will 

GES be defined)? In order to provide an assessment of progress towards the vision the 

UK government produced a report, Charting Progress: State of UK Seas (Defra, 2005) 

measuring how different aspects of the marine environment compared with the vision. 

Charting Progress 2 (CP2) 2010 provides an update on the first assessment and also 

forms the basis for the initial UK assessment of current environmental status required 


17



under the MSFD by 2012. The report has highlighted the challenge of defining the 

desired “status” of UK seas, which has particular relevance to setting the 

baselines/reference conditions that will inform discussions on defining GES. 

Measuring progress towards the vision in UK seas - A large number of marine 

scientists were involved in CP2: the HBDSEG report alone has contributions from over 

150 scientists (including 99 primary authors) representing 40 institutions and 

encompassing information from the academic and research communities as well as 

experts in government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations. CP2, therefore, 

provides the largest and most comprehensive assessment ever taken of the health of 

marine ecosystems in UK waters. The CP 2 report is made up of four separate feeder 

reports relating to the different aspects of the vision: an Ocean Processes report 

containing information on the physical and oceanographic conditions in UK seas; a 

Productive Seas report with an analysis of economic productivity; a Clean and Safe 

Seas report with an assessment of contaminants and other inputs; and a Healthy and 

Biologically Diverse Seas report with an assessment of the state of the marine 

environment in terms of its habitats and species. The focus here is the latter report 

which looks at the status of habitats (Intertidal Rock; Intertidal Sediments; Subtidal 

Rock; Shallow Subtidal Sediments; Shelf Subtidal Sediments, and Deep-Sea Habitats); 

microbes; plankton; marine and estuarine fish; seals; turtles; cetaceans and seabirds and 

waterbirds. Information from surveys, monitoring programmes and long-term time 

series is used where available to assess the various components whilst information on 

pressures is provided by the “Clean and Safe Seas” and “Productive Seas” reports. 

Data are analysed to provide information on changes in habitats and species since the 

last report in 2005 as well as changes from “natural conditions”. Where possible and 

appropriate, results are reported for eight UK regions. 

Assessing trends in UK habitats and species - For some components such as 

microbes and turtles there is too little information available to make any assessment 

and for some components such as cetaceans and estuarine fish conclusions are based on 

fairly limited data so necessarily tentative. For other components the picture is mixed 

with concerns over trends in sedimentary habitats; improvements in many fish 

communities; continuing changes in plankton communities linked with increasing sea 

temperatures; declines in numbers of harbor seals and seabirds but increases in the 

number of waterbirds. The assessment of habitats depends largely on looking at trends 

in the distribution and intensity of pressures with this forming the basis of the 

assessment. 

Assessing the state of UK habitats and species – what do we mean by the vision? - 

Whether the focus is on survey and monitoring data or on pressures information, an 

assessment based on trends can be many of the marine components. However, the 

picture becomes more complicated when trying to make an assessment of state i.e. how 

near or far is the component under investigation from the status articulated by the 

“vision”. As there is no agreement on what the status should be overall or for 

individual species and habitats, different criteria are used to establish a reference point 

or baseline that represents this status. For example, when assessing species it is 

generally assumed that high population abundances are a good thing and that declines 

in abundance are not (e.g. seals, seabirds and waterbirds, cetaceans) and that high 

biodiversity is also desirable (e.g. fish). For others (e.g. plankton) changes in 

abundance or diversity are not considered a problem as long as the change is largely 

“natural change” i.e. not driven by anthropogenic pressures. For habitats, it is assumed 


18



that a trend towards more intense and widespread pressures is bad when these pressures 

overlap with the habitats under investigation. As well as a variety in the criteria uses to 

look at trends, there is also the issue that the reference points used to assess state are 

very much dependent on when monitoring and long-term time series information 

becomes available. For species, trends are measured from the 1940s (plankton), 1960s 

(grey seals), 1980s (harbour seals), 1986 (seabirds), 1975/76 (waterbirds), 1980s (fish) 

and 1994 (cetaceans). For habitats there is no monitoring data similar to that collected 

for the species groups, which means the assessment of status cannot be compared 

against a particular decade: baseline conditions are defined, therefore, as “a concept of 

former unimpacted conditions”. The benefits of the species chapters is that at least real 

long term trends can be shown, based on actual evidence, despite the fact that the lack 

of an agreed reference point (baseline) means changes can’t be compared in a 

consistent way across the groups (how close or far is the status from a specified target 

value). The issue of choosing a “baseline” or reference point to represent the vision 

goes beyond what scientists can deduce by analyzing data and trends and also becomes 

linked to what is acceptable to policy-makers, stakeholders and the wider public. An 

example is to consider the idea that large (and preferably stable or increasing) species 

populations are a good thing. Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) population numbers are 

at historically high levels in the UK and recent evidence suggests a “leveling off”, 

probably due to density dependent factors. However, the high numbers of grey seals in 

the UK, as elsewhere in the world, is actually seen as a problem by groups such as 

fishermen who see them as competitors for resources (Pinnegar et al., in press). At 

least the high numbers can be attributed to positive developments such as being 

protected from human persecution (Duck, 2010 in press). Despite declines in seabird 

numbers in many UK regions, there has been a large increase in the number of Fulmars 

(Fulmarus glacialis). However, this is thought to be almost entirely due to the fact that 

Fulmars feed on discards from fishing boats so that numbers are elevated beyond levels 

that naturally occurring food sources can sustain (Mitchell, 2010 in press). There are 

many other cases in the marine environment where populations of species thrive due to 

anthropogenic causes. The main issue is what point is selected as a baseline/reference 

condition along a continuum from completely natural and unimpacted conditions to 

conditions occurring as a result of high levels of impact or exploitation. Mee et al. 

(2008) point out the value-laden nature of making this type of decision as different 

levels of impact are acceptable to different parties with differing values and 

expectations. For example, “former natural unimpacted conditions” is used as a 

reference point for habitats in CP2 and this type of reference point is implicit, if not 

explicit in many nature conservation approaches. The main difficulty with this 

approach is that there is very little information on what “unimpacted, natural, historical 

conditions” look like (Crowder, 2005). The commercial fish assessment has a 

completely different approach accepting high levels of exploitation (impact) as long as 

this is sustainable so the baseline is far from “unimpacted”. The issue for commercial 

fish stocks is that the agreed baseline is always changing anyway (Pauly, 1995). For 

the non-commercial fish communities in CP2 there was much discussion over where 

along this continuum the baseline/reference point should be with the result that two 

analyses are presented, one using historical relatively unimpacted conditions and one 

using a more recent period. 

Conclusions - To summarise, there is a major challenge in defining what is meant by 

the vision of healthy and biologically diverse seas and CP2 has made an important 


19



contribution to that discussion that will inform the decisions being made on 

determining GES. Mee (2008) had already anticipated the difficulties that would arise 

in defining GES due to the value judgements that would have to be made reflecting 

policy and societal expectations. It is important that we understand this interplay 

between science and policy so we do not end up with politically driven targets (i.e. that 

are low so we can meet them or based on an unsustainable use of the environment) or 

unrealistic targets that don’t take account of the ongoing and necessary interaction of 

humans with the marine environment. Scientists have a key role to play in collecting 

and analysing long-term data sets (crucial for understanding the state of the marine 

environment and how things change over time in response to natural and anthropogenic 

drivers) and providing information on the amount of pressure that species or habitats 

can be subjected to before functional integrity is compromised. 

References 

CBD (2005) - Decision vii/28 of the Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the 

Convention on Biological Diversity, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, February 2004. Published in the 

handbook of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 3 rd ed. (Secretariat of the Convention on 

Biological Diversity, Montreal, Canada, 2005). 

CROWDER L.B. (2005) - Back to the Future in Marine Conservation. In: Norse E.A., Crowder L. 

(eds), Marine conservation Biology: The science of maintaining the Sea’s Biodiversity. Island 

Press, London. 

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (2002) - Safeguarding our 

seas – a strategy for the conservation and sustainable development of our marine environment. 

PB 6187. Defra Publications, London. 

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (2005) - Charting 

Progress. An Integrated Assessment of the State of UK Seas. PB 9911. Defra publications, 

London. 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION (1992) - Council Directive 92/43/EEC The Conservation of Natural 

Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (the ‘Habitats Directive’). Off. J. n. l 206, 22/07/92: 7 p. 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2000) - Council Directive 2000/60/EC Establishing a Framework for 

the Community Action in the Field of Water Policy (the ‘Water Framework Directive’). Off. J. 

n. l327, 22/12/00: 1 p. 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2001) - A Sustainable Europe for a Better World: A European Union 

Strategy for Sustainable Development (the ‘Gothenburg Agreement’), COM (2001) 264 final. 

 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2004) - Message from Malahide: Halting the loss of biodiversity by 

2010: objectives, priorities and opportunities. Results of the conference organised under the Irish 

Presidency 'Biodiversity and the European Union: Sustaining life, sustaining livelihoods', 25-27 

May 2004, Malahide, Ireland. 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2006) - Communication from the Commission on Halting the Loss of 

Biodiversity by 2010 and Beyond. Sustaining ecosystem services for human well-being. 

 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2008) - Council Directive 2008/56/EC Establishing a Framework for 

Community Action in the Field of Marine Environmental Policy. (Marine Strategy Framework 

Directive). 

MEE L.D., JEFFERSON R.L., LAFFOLEY D.A., ELLIOT M. (2008) - Review: How good is good? 

Human values and Europe’s proposed Marine Strategy Directive. Mar. Poll. Bull., 56: 187-204. 

NOSS R (2007) - Values Are a Good Thing in Conservation Biology. Conserv. Biol.,21 (1): 18-20. 

OSPAR COMMISSION (1998) - Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the 

North-East Atlantic. 

PAULY D. (1995) - Anecdotes and the shifting baseline syndrome of fisheries. Trends Ecol. Evol., 

10: 430 


20

Pre-print Volume –Lecture 


O. LANGMEAD, E. JACKSON 

Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK. 

olangmead@mba.ac.uk, ejackson@mba.ac.uk 

LARGE SCALE PATTERNS OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY: 

AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH 

FOR PRIORITISING AREAS FOR PROTECTION 

MODELLI SU GRANDE SCALA SPAZIALE DELLA BIODIVERSITÀ 

MARINA: UN APPROCCIO BASATO SULLE EVIDENZE 

PER DETERMINARE LA PRIORITÀ 

DELLE AREE DA SOTTOPORRE A PROTEZIONE 

Abstract - Areas of high biodiversity may be more resilient to change and protecting these sites can help 

maintain the structure and functioning of the ecosystem. Additionally, identifying areas with high diversity 

may also improve the efficiency of an MPA network by capturing greater numbers of species and habitats 

of conservation importance within individual sites. We present a critical review of approaches to identify 

large scale patterns in marine biodiversity and discuss how these can be used to inform the selection of 

MPAs with reference to new national designations in UK waters. 

Key-words: marine protected areas, biodiversity, conservation, large scale patterns. 

Introduction - MPAs are a valuable tool to protect rare and threatened species and 

communities and the integrity and functioning of habitats. The UK is committed to the 

establishment of a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) to conserve marine 

ecosystems and biodiversity under international conventions (OSPAR convention, 

World Summit on Sustainable Development, Convention on Biological Diversity) and 

in achieving the objectives of European Directives (Marine Strategy Framework 

Directive, Habitats Directive, Birds Directive). MPAs are also a mechanism for 

implementing the Ecosystem Approach to management, central to which is the 

integrity of marine systems to ensure the sustained delivery of ecosystem goods and 

services that benefit human society. 

It is fundamental that the best available information is available to those responsible for 

selecting sites and the ability to identify areas of ecological importance is a key 

element, alongside the MPA design principles. Areas of high biodiversity may be more 

resilient to change (Loreau et al., 2001) and species invasions (Stachowicz et al., 

1999), and protecting these sites can help maintain the structure and functioning of the 

ecosystem. Additionally, identifying areas with high diversity may also improve the 

efficiency of an MPA network by capturing greater numbers of species and habitats of 

conservation importance within individual sites. Here we present a critical review of 

approaches to identify large scale patterns in marine biodiversity and discuss how these 

can be used to inform the selection of MPAs. 

Measures of biodiversity - Arguably the most widely accepted definition of 

biodiversity is "the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, 

inter alia terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological 

complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between 

species and of ecosystems" (defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity). From 

a practical point-of-view, protection is often reduced to species and habitats, since 

these provide measurable units for analyses and are most frequently recorded. 


21



Large scale patterns in biodiversity have been quantified using different multispecies 

surrogates including: 1) priority species (on the assumption that protecting 

rare/declining/threatened species provides an effective umbrella for overall species 

richness in an area, but this does not always hold (Bonn et al., 2002)); 2) structural or 

‘ecosystem engineer’ species (Jones et al., 1997); 3) specific groups e.g. molluscs, 

polychaetes, mammals and sharks that are taxonomically stable and evenly recorded 

(but are not necessarily indicators of total biodiversity (Smith, 2008)); 4) death 

assemblages – remains of shell bearing molluscs (Warwick and Light, 2002). All these 

surrogates have limitations, few have been correlated to overall biodiversity and some 

approaches are not appropriate for marine assessments such as endemic species (not 

applicable due to the higher connectivity and lower endemism in marine systems 

compared with terrestrial). 

There are an array of different measures to quantify species diversity (e.g. diversity 

indices, number of species, number of priority species and taxonomic distinctness) and 

many of these can also be applied to identify large-scale patterns at the scale of 

habitats. Each yields a different representation of diversity, and there is often a lack of 

congruence between measures (Orme et al., 2005). This has led to the combination of a 

range of measures being used to capture patterns in biodiversity (e.g. Myers et al., 

2000, Hiscock & Breckels, 2007). 

Each individual measure has its own limitations in terms of data requirements, 

sensitivity to variability inherent in the data (such as uneven sampling effort), ways of 

assigning confidence and the application of output in terms of the suitability to 

represent overall biodiversity over large scales. Species and habitat richness are the 

most commonly used measures of diversity and do not require abundance data, which 

can add a significant bias when handling data from multiple sources. Similarly 

taxonomic distinctness can be calculated without abundance data and provides 

additional information on the phylogenetic diversity of a site which is arguably more 

meaningful in terms of assessing ecosystem function. 

An approach for large scale pattern detection - The greatest constraint on the 

approach taken relates to the available data: large scale analyses are dependent on 

existing data that were originally collected for a multitude of different purposes using 

various sampling methods. Any approach that attempts to combine these data must take 

into consideration the quality of the data by filtering out low quality data (that is either 

old, inaccurate in terms of taxonomy, spatial reference etc.) but also standardize for 

sampling method and coverage (some areas may be intensively sampled while others 

rarely visited). We have used regression to standardise for sampling effort, carrying out 

analyses on data collected by broadly similar collection methods and recombining 

scores by grid cell (Langmead et al., 2008; Jackson et al., 2009). Other techniques 

include resampling. 

The data also determine the spatial scale of analysis, since the resolution of any grid 

applied to the area of study needs to be of optimal size; small sized grids result in many 

empty cells while large sized grids in the loss of fine scale resolution (Fig. 1). In our 

work around the coast of Wales we used several grids matched to the data coverage: 1) 

a small grid for the intertidal area (where sampling had better coverage); 2) a large grid 

for the subtidal area (where data coverage was lower) and 3) an intermediate sized grid 

to ensure comparison of the intertidal and subtidal areas (Jackson et al., 2009). 


22



Fig 1 - Number of species samples available within a) 5 km 2 and b) 20 km 2 grid in subtidal Welsh 

waters. 

Numero di campioni di specie disponibili in un reticolo di a) 5 km 2 e b) 20 km 2 nelle acque 

subtidali (infralitorali e circalitorali) del Galles. 

Any layer representing patterns of diversity should be viewed together with the 

confidence we have in those estimations. This confidence can be derived from: 1) 

quality criteria applied to collated datasets; 2) estimators for extrapolating species 

richness from limited numbers of samples (in order to check for artefacts in diversity 

analyses) and 3) concordance between different measures to identify whether high 

areas for one measure are matched with others. Together this approach gives important 

context when identifying persistent large scale patterns. 

How this information can be used in selecting areas for protection? - Areas of high 

biodiversity are one important factor to include in the site selection process for MPAs. 

However, there are limitations to the use of large scale biodiversity patterns, regardless 

of how rigorously analyses were conducted. There will always be some degree of bias 

in the datasets used to base analyses on, and while this can be mitigated to a greater 

extent, it is impossible to completely remove it. Furthermore, it may be that the gaps in 

coverage mean that the application is quite limited, generally to inshore areas. 

Identifying gaps in sampling coverage at this scale can be a useful exercise in itself 

though to direct future survey effort, and assembling data on a large scale can serve to 

emphasise the current state of knowledge to decision-makers. 

At a more fundamental level, the links between biodiversity, ecosystem resilience and 

functioning are not fully understood, and the debate continues. While protecting areas 

of high biodiversity is likely to help ensure the continued ecosystem functioning, this 

should not be at the expense of low diversity areas, which may be equally important 

from a functional perspective. In addition, some rare or threatened species with narrow 

habitat preferences may only be found in these areas, and would be outside of 

protection if this approach was taken in isolation for site selection. 

While the identification of large scale patterns of biodiversity clearly does not provide 

immediate solutions to all marine nature conservation issues, there is a strong argument 

for it to have a place in the site selection process since these approaches provide 


23



valuable information to assist in the prioritisation of marine sites for designation 

because of the overall disproportionately greater contribution of high biodiversity areas 

to ecosystem resilience and functioning. 

References 

HISCOCK K., BRECKELS M. (2007) - Marine Biodiversity Hotspots in the UK. A report identifying 

and protecting areas for marine biodiversity prepared by the Marine Biological Association, 

Plymouth for the WWF, Marine Biological Association, Plymouth. 

http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/marinehotspots.pdf 

JACKSON E.L., LANGMEAD O., EVANS J., WILKES P., SEELEY B., LEAR D., TYLER- 

WALTER H. (2009) - Mapping Marine Benthic Biodiversity in Wales. CCW Contract Science 

Reports, Countryside Council for Wales, Bangor. Report 913: 88 pp. 

LANGMEAD O., JACKSON E., LEAR D., EVANS J., SEELEY B., ELLIS R., MIESZKOWSKA 

N., TYLER-WALTERS H. (2008) - The Review of Biodiversity for Marine Spatial Planning 

within the Firth of Clyde. Report to the SSMEI Clyde Pilot from the Marine Life Information 

Network (MarLIN) Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth. 

http://www.clydeforum.com/ssmei/images/stories/Downloadable_PDFs/Review-of-Biodiversity- 

Report.pdf?phpMyAdmin=5mN53B1p-xO099PwRWkJHQg6uE8 

LOREAU M., NAEEM S., INCHAUSTI P., BENGTSSON J., GRIME J.P., HECTOR A., HOOPER 

D.U., HUSTON M.A., RAFFAELLI D., SCHMID B., TILMAN D., WARDLE D.A. (2001) - 

Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: current knowledge and future challenges. Science, 294: 

804-808. 

MYERS N., MITTERMEIER R.A., MITTERMEIER C.G., DA FONSECA G.A.B., KENT J. (2000) 

- Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403: 853-858. 

ORME C.D.L., DAVIES R.G., BURGESS M., EIGENBROD F., PICKUP N., OLSON V.A., 

WEBSTER A.J., DING T.-S., RASMUSSEN P.C., RIDGELY R.S., STATTERSFIELD A.J., 

BENNETT P.M., BLACKBURN T.M., GASTON K.J., OWENS I.P.F. (2005) - Global hotspots 

of species richness are not congruent with endemism or threat. Nature, 436: 1016-1019. 

STACHOWICZ J.J., WHITLATCH R.B., OSMAN R.W. (1999) - Species diversity and invasion 

resistance in a marine ecosystem, Science, 286: 1577-1579. 

WARWICK R.M., LIGHT J. (2002) - Death assemblages of molluscs on St Martin's Flats, Isles of 

Scilly: a surrogate for regional biodiversity? Biodiversity & Conservation, 2: 99-112. 


24

Pre-print Volume – Invited presentation 


K. HISCOCK 

Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, U.K. 

khis@mba.ac.uk 

‘MIND THE GAP’ – SCIENCE THAT INFORMS IMPLEMENTATION 

OF POLICY ON MARINE PROTECTED AREAS 

'ATTENZIONE AL 'GAP': LA SCIENZA INTERVIENE NELL'ATTUAZIONE 

DELLA POLITICA DELLE AREE MARINE PROTETTE 

Abstract - There is no shortage of policy statements that indicate the need for marine protected areas 

(MPAs), how they will be identified and by when. However, scientists are often unable to provide the 

evidence to implement policy statements – there is a gap between the information that policy advisors 

assume scientists will have and what scientists are actually able to deliver. Those information gaps do 

not prevent the establishment of MPAs but they do make the process difficult and, in the case of 

establishing a representative site series, incomplete. The key gaps in Britain at least, are in survey 

data describing what habitats (as biotopes) and species occur where, in identifying fully which are 

the rare, scarce and threatened habitats and species, in designing the site series including 

establishing whether separate MPAs benefit each other, and in interpreting change that occurs when 

MPAs are established. 

Key-words: marine protected areas, biodiversity, conservation, research. 

Introduction - At the 2008 annual SIBM meeting, I outlined the role of marine 

protected areas for biodiversity conservation and for science using examples from 

Britain (Hiscock, 2008). This paper draws attention to some of the gaps between what 

policy-makers might expect scientists to know and what we do not know, and a view 

on what we need to do to fill the gaps in what we know. 

‘The science of marine reserves’ (PISCO, 2007) is a touchstone for advocates of 

biodiversity conservation and fisheries enhancement, although almost all of the 

examples come from areas outside of Europe and the majority of success stories are for 

fish. We need to generate a NE Atlantic and Mediterranean perspective to collecting 

evidence for the effectiveness of marine reserves for biodiversity conservation and that 

means new work. 

What to protect 

Habitats. Countries that are members of the European Union are required to 

implement the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on 

the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora). That Directive aims to 

contribute to the conservation of biodiversity by requiring Member States to take 

measures designed to maintain or restore certain natural habitats and wild species at a 

favourable conservation status. At the time the Habitats Directive was being drafted, 

the classification that provided a ‘catalogue’ of habitats to select from was the 

CORINE classification (CORINE biotopes – Technical Handbook, volume 1, p. 73- 

109, 19 May 1988, partially updated February 1989) – which was incompletely 

developed for marine habitats. The ‘certain natural habitats’ for the marine 

environment are very broad types. Although ‘a blunt instrument’, the Habitats 

Directive has resulted in the establishment of a large number of MPAs in Europe. 

We now have a much better developed and precise tool to catalogue habitats (as 

biotopes) and to use as a starting point to identify habitats that are rare, in decline or 


25



threatened with decline. The tool that closes the gap between the desire to conserve 

habitats and having a meaningful classification of marine habitats is the EUNIS 

classification (Davies et al., 2004). Identifying which of those habitats should be 

protected especially requires survey information to know where they occur and 

information on their rarity and likely sensitivity to human activities. 

Species. There are very few marine species identified in the Habitats Directive for 

protection and OSPAR (the Oslo and Paris Commissions for the Protection of the 

Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) lists only seven limited-mobility 

species that were considered threatened (see www.ospar.org). The IUCN Red List 

criteria require detailed quantitative data on decline and it is large mobile species that 

generally make it onto the lists. In the UK, many species that would be considered as 

‘worthy’ of conservation action (because they are most likely long-lived, slow 

growing, reproduce infrequently, have limited dispersal powers and are sensitive to 

human activities) failed to pass the tests that would make them Biodiversity Action 

Plan species (see www.ukbap.org.uk) because the criteria used required quantitative 

information on decline (to be compatible with criteria for terrestrial species) and so 

‘data deficient’ became a widely ticked box in assessments. Nevertheless, the criteria 

for Nationally Important Marine Features (see Hiscock, 2008 for a summary and 

Connor et al., 2002 for the full report) successfully identified a significant numbers of 

species. However, the list has not been fully used because of incompleteness and 

because some of the species listed are considered very obscure and even of dubious 

taxonomic status. Another tangible tool that policy advisors and sea users can use is a 

list of rare and scarce species and, for Britain, pragmatic measures have been 

developed (Sanderson et al., 1996). 

Design of a series of marine protected areas - The OSPAR Commission (2006) has 

outlined guidance on design principles for the identification of an ‘ecologically 

coherent network of MPAs’. Those principles have been adopted and developed to 

prepare Ecological Network Guidance for the identification of Marine Conservation 

Zones as a part of a network of MPAs in England under recent legislation in the UK 

(the Marine and Coastal Access Act, which came into force in November 2009). Those 

principles in the UK include: 

• Representativity 

• Replication 

• Viability 

• Adequacy 

• Connectivity 

• Protection 

The idea of designing for connectivity between MPAs is a particularly difficult 

criterion and its inclusion in marine policy may draw more from the experience of 

terrestrial ecologists where wildlife corridors are important than from the knowledge 

that marine systems are very ‘open’ and connectivity through the water column is a 

general feature. The idea of designing-in connectivity is that separate MPAs will 

interact with and support each other to create a ‘network’. OSPAR (2006) note that 

“This [an ecologically coherent network] is particularly important for highly mobile 

species, such as certain birds, mammals and fish, to safeguard the critical stages and 

areas of their life cycle (such as breeding, nursery and feeding areas)”. For species with 


26



limited mobility, work that has already been undertaken (see, for instance, Gaines et 

al., 2007) is sufficient to understand that some larvae and propagules can travel long 

distances and populate distant areas including other MPAs, whilst some species travel 

no distance at all and the inference must therefore be that they need to be protected 

where they are because recolonisation from distant sources is unlikely. OSPAR (2006) 

conclude, in the ‘Guiding Principles’ that “Detailed connectivity issues should be 

considered only for those species where a specific path between identified places is 

known (e.g. critical areas of a life cycle)”. 

Achieving principles are a matter of undertaking more survey work and determining, 

often pragmatically, how many sites and how many replicates (Representativity and 

Replication) are needed. How to make each site large enough (adequate enough) to 

include all of the features and protect ecosystem functioning becomes a much greater 

challenge for scientists and may not be possible to achieve through algorithms and 

other apparently scientific means, but may be done by experience and knowledge with 

common sense. 

Management. Management needs to know whether the measures adopted to protect a 

MPA are working. Well designed monitoring will identify changes that are occurring 

within MPAs. However, those changes will need to be interpreted in terms of their 

source (for instance, has an increase in a species been directly attributable to good 

management or to some natural change in ocean currents etc.?) and whether or not they 

‘matter’ (if a species has declined, is it one that is of conservation concern and/or is it 

one that is anyway highly variable in occurrence?). Such considerations require 

information about what to expect in the way of natural fluctuations including changes 

that might take place on a decadal scale. Such changes are poorly known and may need 

long-term datasets. 

What to do 

Habitats. The development of classifications of marine habitats has improved greatly 

since the CORINE classification and various initiatives have resulted in the 

development of the marine habitats part of the European Union Nature Information 

System (EUNIS) classification. Continuity is needed across the EU if we are to provide 

policy advisors with a tool for any future iterations of the Habitats Directive and that 

are suitable for use in the other measures such as the Water Framework Directive and 

the Marine Strategy Directive. However, the broadscale maps being developed (see, for 

instance www.jncc.gov.uk/EUSeaMap) do not give the precision needed to identify 

where rare or threatened (including sensitive) biotopes occur. Attempts to use physical 

data to predict which biotopes will occur where have been partially successful (for 

instance, the HabMap project: www.habmap.org). With a well-developed and accepted 

classification of habitats, those that are sensitive can be identified using their 

component species in the way outlined in the MarLIN programme (Hiscock & Tyler- 

Walters, 2006). Those that are ‘important’ (for instance, because they are rare, in 

decline or threatened with decline) can be identified using the sort of criteria 

summarised in Hiscock (2008) and given in full in Connor et al. (2002). However, 

habitats need to be identified to level 4-6 to have meaningful sensitivity or importance 

characteristics identified. Mapping the location of biotopes at level 4-6 of the EUNIS 

classification reliably is most likely going to be on a spot location basis and the more 

‘spots’ we can survey and document, the better will be the ability to identify which 

biotopes are rare, sensitive or important, which examples are the richest and where 


27



there are ‘hotspots’ of biotope richness. Much more survey work is needed by 

experienced marine biologists. 

Species. If we are to bridge the gap between policy statements about protecting 

threatened species and meaningful ways to identify what those marine species are, 

more work is needed to develop criteria that reflect our levels of knowledge of marine 

species. Marine is different to terrestrial and marine biologists should develop our own 

criteria to identify species that are rare and threatened so that our lists are meaningful 

for marine conservation. Understanding which species need to be protected also 

requires knowledge of life history traits and what those traits tell us about vulnerability 

to human activities. Surrogate methodologies are also important to understanding 

which are vulnerable species and molecular genetics offers a route to understanding 

those species that are isolated from other populations of the same species. The 

pragmatic criteria that have been developed to identify which are rare and scarce 

species developed by Sanderson et al. (2006) need to be developed and the Nationally 

Important Marine Features criteria in Connor et al. (2002) provide a model for criteria 

designed with marine species in mind. We have extensively researched concepts of 

‘sensitivity’ (Hiscock & Tyler-Walters, 2006) but many more species, especially key 

structural or functional species and vulnerable species, need to be researched. 

Furthermore and as with habitats, we need to know where those species occur and that 

means in situ survey by experienced marine biologists. 

Design. Representativity and Replication can be designed into a site series whether or 

not there is comprehensive survey coverage. At Level 3 of the EUNIS classification, 

the location of different biotopes can be mapped using broadscale data on bottom type 

and knowledge of physical conditions such as wave exposure and light penetration so 

that examples of each type can be included in MPAs. However, representing level 3 

biotopes will not ensure that there is adequate representation of those biotopes that are 

rare or sensitive to particular human activities. Those rare and sensitive biotopes would 

deserve a higher proportionate coverage within MPAs than widespread and robust 

biotopes. Inevitably, locations will be sought that have special features and, to fill the 

gap in knowledge of what is where, more survey will be needed. Incorporating 

concepts of viability, resistance, resilience and of functioning requires much more 

research and policy advisors may be asking too much of current scientific knowledge. 

Whilst there seems little evidence of direct connections of limited-mobility benthic 

species between MPAs (any more than across the whole marine environment), there 

are gaps in our understanding of larval behavior that need to be addressed especially 

with regard to designing MPA’s and interpreting monitoring data. For some species, 

information on life history traits is available which will reveal larval longevity and 

therefore likely dispersal capability (see, for instance, Jones & Carpenter, 2009 for 

‘important’ species in Britain). More-and-more information will become available on 

isolation of populations of species as molecular techniques are used. Whether or not 

there is any direct connection between separate MPA’s in relation to recruitment of 

limited-mobility species needs to be established by science before the proposition of 

networks for other than highly mobile species is proven. 

Nevertheless, we must use the information available to identify MPAs now and do not 

need to wait for outstanding science questions to be answered. This means adopting a 

dual approach to design and management of MPAs using knowledge and data that we 

have, coupled with a programme of monitoring and survey work to refine the site series 

and management methods. 


28



Management. Commitment of funds to open-ended and costly monitoring is rare but 

establishing reference data and checking that reference data in a systematic way at 

intervals will tell us much about change and even about ‘shifting baselines’, especially 

with the influence of climate change. The gap between short term studies and the need 

for long-term observations may be filled by encouraging and maintaining natural 

history observations that can tell us much about events that happen unpredictably and 

at long intervals, including ‘disappearances’ or declines of species that ‘re-appear’ or 

become abundant again after several decades. ‘Institutional memory’ is also important 

and experienced and knowledgeable but retired staff should be valued and their views 

on interpreting change sought! 

References 

CONNOR D.W., BREEN J., CHAMPION A., GILLILAND P.M., HUGGETT D., JOHNSTON C., 

LAFFOLEY D. D’A., LIEBERKNECHT L., LUMB C., RAMSAY K., SHARDLOW M. (2002) 

- Rationale and criteria for the identification of nationally important marine nature conservation 

features and areas in the UK. Version 02.11. Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation 

Committee (on behalf of the statutory nature conservation agencies and Wildlife and 

Countryside Link) for the Defra Working Group on the Review of Marine Nature Conservation. 

(Available from: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/PDF/sg341.pdf.) 

DAVIES C.E., MOSS D., HILL M.O. (2004) - EUNIS Habitat Classification Revised 2004. Report to 

the European Topic Centre on Nature Protection and Biodiversity, European Environment 

Agency. October 2004. 307pp. (See: http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/habitats.jsp.) 

GAINES S.D., GAYLORD B., GERBER L.R., HASTINGS A., KINLAN B.P. (2007) - Connecting 

places. The ecological consequences of dispersal in the sea. Oceanography, 23 (3): 90-99. 

HISCOCK K. (2008) - The role of marine protected areas for biodiversity conservation and for 

science. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 15: 457-462. 

HISCOCK K., TYLER-WALTERS H. (2006) - Identifying sensitivity in marine ecosystems: the 

MarLIN programme. Proceedings of the 38th European Marine Biology Symposium. 

Hydrobiologia, 555: 309-320. 

JONES P.J.S., CARPENTER, A. (2009) - Crossing the divide: The challenges of designing an 

ecologically coherent and representative network of MPAs for the UK. Marine Policy, 33: 737- 

743. 

OSPAR (2006) - Guidance on developing an ecologically coherent network of OSPAR marine 

protected areas. 2006-3. (Available from www.ospar.org). 

PISCO (PARTNERSHIP FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES OF COASTAL OCEANS) (2007) 

- The Science of Marine Reserves (2 nd Ed., International Version). www.piscoweb.org.: 22 pp. 

SANDERSON W. (1996) - Rarity of marine benthic species in Great Britain: development and 

application of assessment criteria. Aquatic Conservation, 6: 245-256. 


29

Pre-print Volume - Oral presentations 


R. BEDINI, L. BONECHI, J. PISTOLESI, G. SARTONI* 

Istituto di Biologia ed Ecologia Marina, Piazza Bovio - 57025 Piombino, Italia. 

museomare@biomare.it 

*Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Firenze, Via La Pira, 4 - 50121 Firenze, Italia. 

MULTISCIPLINARY APPROACH AS A TOOL 

TO EVALUATE PATTERNS OF BIODIVERSITY IN MARINE HABITATS 

UN APPROCCIO MULTIDISCIPLINARE COME STRUMENTO 

PER LA VALUTAZIONE DELLA BIODIVERSITÀ IN AMBIENTE MARINO 

Abstract – The present paper shows results of a multidisciplinary study carried out around Pianosa Island, 

in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, in order to evaluate the importance of a similar approach to 

detect patterns of biodiversity. 

Key-words: biodiversity, cartography, Pianosa Island. 

Introduction – The conservation of natural biodiversity represents a main tool for 

environment management following the UN conference on Environment and 

Development in Rio in 1992. In order to manage biodiversity, it is necessary to make 

inventories of diversity, to monitor change in diversity and to make plans focused on 

the conservation of diversity (Gray, 2000). In this contest, a lot of studies have been 

carried out to detect and/or monitor biodiversity in marine systems. The most part of 

studies on this topic focused on a particular assemblage or taxonomic group (see Gray, 

1997). Although each information is important for the knowledge of the structure of 

ecosystems, results of these studies do not allow a complete assessment of patterns of 

biodiversity of a determinate system. In fact, the knowledge of diversity related to 

more taxonomic groups and including more habitats is necessary to obtain information 

about the biodiversity of an ecological system and to determine patterns of functional 

diversity. The knowledge of this latter aspect has an important role in ecosystem 

management and it needs the detection of the most part of species present in each 

ecosystem (Hooper et al., 2002). The aim of the present paper is to show results of a 

multidisciplinary study carried out around a little island within a National Park, in 

order to evaluate the importance of a similar approach to detect patterns of 

biodiversity. 

Material and methods – The study has been performed around the Island of Pianosa, 

in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, north western Mediterranean Sea. The island 

has a coastline of about 14 km. Two different surveys have been carried out, a first 

investigation in 2004 and a second investigation starting in 2008. In the first survey, 7 

sites were studied around the island. In the second survey, 33 sites were studied and 

Posidonia oceanica meadows were investigated at 3 different depth ranges (upper limit 

from -5 to -15 m; central zone from -18 to -26 m and lower limit from -27 to -48 m) 

(Fig 1). The study aimed at achieving the following objectives: 

• a detailed morphology and bionomic cartography of the bottom 

• the structure of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadows 

• the structure and biodiversity patterns of benthic assemblages from the surface 

to a depth of 50 meters. 


30



Fig. 1 - Map of Pianosa Island showing the study sites of 2008-2009 survey. 

Mappa dell’isola di Pianosa che mostra i siti di studio dell’indagine 2008-2009. 

A morphological cartography of the bottom was obtained through single beam profiles 

with the system GARMIN GI0272 in June-August 2009; data have been elaborated by 

the ISMAR-CNR of Bologna. The distribution of the main organisms and assemblages 

was obtained through direct surveys by scuba divers along transects. 

The structure of P. oceanica meadows was studied along 14 transects around the 

island, determining cover, density (number of shoots m -2 ), phenological variables and 

production. 

Benthic assemblages were sampled along 33 transects. The following assemblages 

were studied: macroalgal assemblages on hard bottom, macro-zoobenthic assemblages 

on soft and hard bottom, vagile fauna in P. oceanica meadows, epiphyte assemblages 

on P. oceanica, fish assemblages. Samples on rocky bottom consisted of total scraping 

of substrate with hammer and chisel. Soft bottom assemblages were collected using a 

30 cm long and 10 cm wide corer. P. oceanica epiphytes were studied collecting 12 

shoots in each sampling area. Vagile fauna of meadows was sampled through the handtowed 

net method. Species composition and abundance of fish assemblages were 

obtained through visual census techniques (Gambi and Dappiano, 2003). 

Results – Data obtained from transects were used to integrate the cartography of the 

island with information of a detailed distribution of the main assemblages (Fig. 2). 

During the survey of 2004 a total of 642 taxa were identified. After the survey of 2008- 

2009, a total of 1106 taxa were found in the studied habitats. In particular, 174 

Rhodophyta, 48 Heterokontophyta, 32 Chlorophyta, 2 Spermatophyta, 26 Porifera, 30 


31



Cnidaria, 2 Platyhelminthes, 1 Echiura, 1 Nemertina, 22 Nematoda, 10 Sipuncula, 212 

Annelida, 189 Mollusca, 203 Arthropoda, 27 Echinodermata, 16 Tunicata, 32 Bryozoa, 

1 Cephalochordata, 78 Vertebrata (1 Helasmobranchii, 77 Actinopterygii) were found 

(Tab. 1). 

Tab.1 - Number of taxa identified around Pianosa Island. 

Numero di taxa identificati intorno all’isola di Pianosa. 

Depth 

TAXA 2004 2009 

Rhodophyta 162 174 

Heterokontophyta 43 48 

Chlorophyta 30 32 

Spermatophyta 2 2 

Porifera 11 26 

Cnidaria 19 30 

Platyhelminthes - 2 

Nemertina 1 1 

Nematoda - 22 

Sipuncula 5 10 

Echiura 1 1 

Annelida (Polychaeta) 92 212 

Mollusca 100 189 

Arthropoda (Crustacea) 82 203 

Bryozoa 9 32 

Echinodermata 16 27 

Tunicata 5 16 

Cephalochordata 1 1 

Vertebrata (Helasmobranchii) - 1 

Vertebrata (Actinopterygii) 63 77 

Total 642 1106 

Fig. 2 - Example of bionomic transect. 

Esempio di transetto. 

Distance from the coast 


32



Conclusions – Results of the survey showed the importance of a multidisciplinary 

approach to detect patterns of biodiversity in marine coastal habitats. In fact, the 

detection of the species composition of assemblages including all main taxa can allow 

to determine not only the structure but also the functional patterns of ecosystems. 

Moreover, the knowledge of distribution of the main assemblages, even if not directly 

related to the diversity of a system, represents a fundamental information to be 

superimposed to patterns of diversity, in order to plan conservation programs. Finally, 

the comparison between results of 2004 and 2008-2009 surveys shows the importance 

of the sampling effort in biodiversity studies. 

Results obtained by the survey around Pianosa Island can be used to optimize sampling 

design in projects with similar objectives. Moreover, data of Pianosa Island may be 

integrated by other data of the same geographical area, in order to obtain a complete 

knowledge of patterns of diversity of Tuscan marine coastal systems. 

References 

GAMBI M.C., DAPPIANO M. (2003) – Manuale di metodologie di campionamento e studio del 

benthos marino mediterraneo. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 10: 1-638. 

GRAY J.S. (1997) - Marine Biodiversity: patterns, threats and conservation needs. Biodiv. Conserv., 

6: 153-175. 

GRAY J.S. (2000) - The measurement of marine species diversity, with an application to the benthic 

fauna of the Norwegian continental shelf. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 250: 23-49. 

HOOPER D.U., SOLAN M., SYMSTAD A., DIAZ S., GESSNER M.O., BUCHMANN N., 

DEGRANGE V., GRIME P., HOLT F., MERMILLOD-BLONDIN F., ROY J., SPEHN E., 

VAN PEER L. (2002) - Species diversity, functional diversity, and ecosystem functioning. In: 

Loreau M., Naeem S., Inchausti P. (eds), Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning. Synthesis and 

Perspectives. Oxford University Press, Oxford: 195-208. 


33



F. EVANGELISTI, P.G. ALBANO, B. SABELLI 

Department of Evolutionary Experimental Biology, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 3 – 40126 Bologna, Italy. 

francesc.evangelist2@unibo.it 

GENETIC VARIATION OF THE BRACHIOPOD GRYPHUS VITREUS 

(BORN, 1778) ACROSS THE GIBRALTAR SILL 

VARIABILITÀ GENETICA DEL BRACHIOPODE GRYPHUS VITREUS 

(BORN, 1778) ATTRAVERSO LA SOGLIA DI GIBILTERRA 

Abstract – Genetic analysis based on two molecular markers, the nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 

(ITS1) and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI), was used to investigate the phylogenetic 

relationship between two populations of the eurybathic species Gryphus vitreus (Born, 1778) 

(Brachiopoda) across the Gibraltar sill. No genetic differentiation was found, thus indicating that Gibraltar 

sill is not a barrier to gene flow for the species, and that a likely panmixia occurs between the two 

populations, despite the lecitotrophic development (low potential dispersal). 

Key-words: Gryphus vitreus, Gibraltar sill, gene flow, lecitotrophic development. 

Introduction - Planktonic larval duration (PLD) is a key factor in shaping patterns of 

dispersal and degree of connectivity among populations of marine species (Shanks et 

al., 2003). Species having a longer planktonic larval stage (planktotrophic 

development) show a major dispersion ability than species having a short planktonic 

larval stage (lecitotrophic development). Nevertheless, the dispersion ability of species 

depends also on other factors such as past geological events and geographic features 

(currents and physical barriers) of the area where they are distributed. Studying the 

relationship among populations of species which are distributed across geographic 

marine barriers is particularly interesting because, being generally less obvious than 

continental barriers, they can influence the gene flow through them in a way that not 

always coincides with a reduction of the dispersal of a species. One of the most wellknown 

oceanic fronts in the Northern Hemisphere is the strait of Gibraltar, formed by 

the encounter of the incoming Atlantic surface waters with the modified higher density 

Mediterranean waters. Most studies on population genetics of marine species with an 

Atlantic-Mediterranean distribution have focused on the genetic differentiation of 

populations found at both sides of the strait of Gibraltar. Many of them have revealed 

some degree of genetic differentiation among populations from both marine areas 

(Stamatis et al., 2004) but other ones have shown clearly no or very low genetic 

diversity (Triantafyllidis et al., 2005). These discordant results about the 

biogeographical separation between Atlantic and Mediterranean biota indicate that the 

hypothesis of the strait of Gibraltar as a phylogeographic break is controversial 

(Patarnello et al., 2007). In this study two different genetic markers, the Internal 

Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) and the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI), were used to 

investigate the phylogenetic relationship between two populations of the eurybathic 

and Atlantic-Mediterranean distribution brachiopod species Gryphus vitreus (Born, 

1778) across the Gibraltar sill, in order to establish the role of the Gibraltar strait in 

preventing or not gene flow between them. 

Materials and methods – A total of 31 specimens of G. vitreus were collected by 

dredge across the Gibraltar strait, 22 from the Balearic Sea and 9 from the Gulf of 

Cadiz. Total genomic DNA was extracted from the lophophore using the CTAB 


34



method. A fragment of 642 bp of the COI locus and a portion of the ITS1 region 

variable in length from 430 to 587 positions, were amplified by PCR using the primers 

LCO1490/ HCO2198 and ITS1L/58C respectively. The PCR protocol was as follows: 

95°C 5'; 95°C 1', 45°C (COI) or 55°C (ITS1) 1', 72°C 2', 35 cycles; 72°C 5'. All PCR 

reactions were performed in a total volume of 25 µl included 2.5 µl of 2 mM of each 

dNTP (GE Healthcare), 2.5 µl of 10× load buffer-MgCl2 (Qiagen), 2.5 µl of 2 µM of 

each primer (Invitrogen), 0.25 µl of 5 U/µl Taq DNA polymerase (Qiagen), 19 µl of 

demineralized water and 1 µl of the DNA template. Each amplicon was purified using 

the GFX PCR DNA and GEL band purification kit (GE Healthcare) and sequenced on 

both strands. Haplotype diversity (h), nucleotide diversity (π), hierarchical analysis of 

molecular variance (AMOVA), ΦST and FST fixation indices were computed using 

Arlequin 3.11. A combined data set composed by COI and ITS1 concatenated 

haplotypes were used to investigate the phylogenetic relationship between the two 

populations. The analysis was performed using the Bayesian inference (BI), computed 

with MrBayes 3.1.2 and the Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations tree sampling 

procedure. The analysis was run for seven millions generations, assuming the GTR +I 

+Γ evolution model and with parameter values and trees calculated et every 100 th step. 

The estimated log-likelihood scores were plotted against generation time, to assess 

when the log-likelihood values reached the stationary. The log-likelihood scores had 

been clearly plateaued after 10,000 generations, that is after 10,000 generations the 

changes in trees topology and parameter values did not continue to improve the trees 

likelihood scores. Therefore the first 100 trees (from the first 10,000 generations) were 

excluded and the remaining trees were used to make a 50% majority rule consensus 

and to estimate the Bayesian Posterior Probability (BPP), to give support for tree 

nodes. Only BPP values equal or above 95% were considered significant. 

Results - COI sequences comparison revealed 63 variable sites, and 49 of them were 

parsimony informative. This polymorphism defined 9 distinct haplotypes among the 31 

individuals, giving the sample an overall haplotypic diversity of 0.391 and a nucleotide 

diversity of 0.002. ITS1 sequences showed 58 variable sites 31 of which were 

parsimony informative. This polymorphism defined 17 distinct haplotypes among the 

31 individuals, giving the sample an overall haplotypic diversity of 0.965 and a 

nucleotide diversity of 0.048. AMOVA of the COI partial sequence data showed that 

the majority of the genetic variation was explained by the within populations 

component, with only a small fraction of no-significant variance explained by the 

between populations component (ΦST=0.008; p=0.145). Similarly, AMOVA of the 

ITS1 partial sequence data showed that most variability was found within populations, 

with a lack of significant variability between populations (FST=0.009; p=0.327). 

Phylogenetic estimate made for the combined data set (COI+ITS1), reveals clearly two 

major clades, one consisting of Mediterranean specimens and one including both 

Mediterranean and Atlantic specimens (Fig. 1). Therefore, while the Atlantic group 

appears monophyletic, the Mediterranean group is polyphyletic. However, all the BPP 

values are lower than the limit of 95%. 


35



Fig. 1 - Bayesian Inference cladogram of relationship among Mediterranean and Atlantic specimens 

of Gryphus vitreus based on COI and ITS1 concatenated sequences, rooted with Lottia 

digitalis (Mollusks, Gastropods). 

Cladogramma dell’Inferenza Baiesiana delle relazioni tra esemplari mediterranei ed 

atlantici di Gryphus vitreus basato sulle sequenze COI e ITS1 concatenate, radicalizzato 

con Lottia digitalis (Molluschi, Gasteropodi). 

Conclusions – Both the analysis of molecular variance performed on ITS1 and COI 

genes (low fixation index values) and the phylogenetic analysis based on the two 

combined genes (polyphyly of the Mediterranean specimens and low BPP values) 

rejected the null hypothesis of genetic differentiation between the Mediterranean and 

Atlantic populations of G. vitreus. These data suggest the existence of panmixia 

between the two populations, thus indicating that the Gibraltar sill does not represent a 

barrier to gene flow for G. vitreus. This result is unusual, considering the low potential 

dispersal of the species. If panmixia is maintained between geographically separated 

marine populations such as the ones under study, this is usually due to an high 

dispersal of planktonic larvae in ocean currents. Nevertheless, the dispersal of G. 

vitreus is achieved during a short pelagic larval stage (lecitotrophic development). 

Therefore it is likely that the strong currents into the Gibraltar strait, joined with the 

internal waves that it can often generate, led to genetic exchange across the Atlantic- 


36



Mediterranean transition, even if larvae have a short life. Probably this gene flow 

climbs up to the end of the Messinian salinity crisis when, with the reopening of a 

communication between Atlantic and Mediterranean, G. vitreus colonized the 

Mediterranean basin from the Atlantic Ocean. Population genetic structure of 

brachiopods has never been investigated so that the present work represents the first 

genetic population study on brachiopods, based on specific genetic markers. Therefore, 

comparisons with other similar works are not possible. 

References 

PATARNELLO T., FILIP A.M., VOLCKAERT J., CASITLHO R. (2007) – Pillars of Hercules: is 

the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition a phylogeographical break? Molecular Ecology, 16: 4426- 

4444. 

SHANKS A., GRANTHAM B., CARR M. (2003) – Propagule dispersal distance and the size and 

spacing of marine reserves. Ecological Applications, 13: 159-169. 

STAMATIS C., TRIANTAFYLLIDIS A., MOUTOU K.A., MAMURIS Z. (2004) – Mitochondrial 

DNA variation in northest Atlantic and Mediterranean populations of Norway lobster Nephrops 

norvegicus. Molecular Ecology, 13: 1377-1390. 

TRIANTAFYLLIDIS A., APOSTOLIDIS A.P., KATSARES V. (2005) – Mitochondrial DNA 

variation in the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) throughout the range. Marine Biology, 

146: 223-235. 


37



G. GATTI, M. MONTEFALCONE, V. PARRAVICINI, C. MORRI, M. CHIANTORE, C.N. BIANCHI 

DipTeRis, Department for the study of the Territory and its Resources, University of Genoa, 

Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genoa, Italy. 

gatti.giulia25@gmail.com 

MONITORING THE “ISOLA DI BERGEGGI” MARINE 

PROTECTED AREA: A COMPARISON BETWEEN 

POINT INTERCEPT TRANSECTS AND VISUAL QUADRATS 

IL MONITORAGGIO DELL'AREA MARINA PROTETTA 

“ISOLA DI BERGEGGI”: POINT INTERCEPT TRANSECTS 

E QUADRATI VISUALI A CONFRONTO 

Abstract – Differences between two visual sampling methods, Point Intercept Transects (PITs) and Visual 

Quadrats, were investigated on hard bottom subtidal benthic assemblages in the “Isola di Bergeggi” MPA 

(Ligurian Sea). Results showed that PITs detect differences among sites better than quadrats. 

Key-words: quadrat, PIT, Marine Protected Area, hard bottom, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction – Monitoring activities were carried out in 2009 in the “Isola di 

Bergeggi” MPA (Ligurian Sea, NW Mediterranean), instituted in 2007 (D.M. 

7/5/2007), aiming to evaluate the condition of hard bottom assemblages. During the 

kick off of these activities we sampled benthic assemblages using two visual methods 

that enable to survey areas of different size, in order to compare their performance 

when investigating differences among sites and zones subjected to a distinct protection 

regime and to assess the most efficient method for monitoring a MPA. 

Materials and methods – Surveys were carried out in May 2009 in a total of six sites: 

two in zone A (Sites 5, 6), two in zone B (Sites 3, 7) and two in zone C (Sites 1, 2) at 

5 m depth (Fig. 1). Two visual methods were applied for sampling benthic 

assemblages: the Point Intercept Transect (PIT) and the Visual Quadrat (Bianchi et al., 

2004). Three 10 m long replicates of PITs and six replicates of quadrats (50 cm x 

50 cm) were examined, totalling 18 PITs and 36 quadrats. Data from quadrats were 

collected either as percent cover and relative frequency. 

PIT and quadrat cover and frequency data for each species (or higher ranked taxon) 

were used to calculate Bray Curtis Similarity and compared using multivariate analyses 

(Multidimentional Scaling, SIMPER) to investigate similarity among sites. On the 

basis of the number of species (or taxa) obtained in each replicate the Dispersion 

Coefficient was computed, in order to analyse effects of the size of sampling area on 

the dispersion between replicates. 

Results – The comparison between PITs and quadrats shows small differences in the 

number of species detected (PITs: 48 species; quadrats: 52 species). The MDS plot 


38



Fig. 1 - Zonation of the ‘Isola di Bergeggi’ MPA and position of sampling sites. 

Zonazione dell’AMP “Isola di Bergeggi” e posizione dei siti di campionamento. 

(Fig. 2) shows that samples collected by the two techniques stand into clearly different 

groups and a much higher variability is observed among replicates from quadrats, 

compared to replicates from PITs, also confirmed by the Dispersion Coefficient. The 

SIMPER analysis, finally, shows that the only relevant difference between the two 

sampling methods is represented by the percentage of bare substrate, that appears 

relevant only in PIT samples. 

When comparing cover data with frequency data from quadrat samples, the MDS 

plot (Fig. 3) shows that replicates of the two descriptors are similarly dispersed in 

space and are often coincident. 


39



Fig. 2 – Similarity among cover data collected with visual quadrats (Q) and PITs (P). Symbols 

represent sampling sites. 

Similarità tra dati di ricoprimento e dati di frequenza rilevati con i quadrati visuali (Q) e 

con i PIT (P). I simboli rappresentano i siti di rilevamento. 

Fig. 3 – Similarity among cover data (c) and frequency data (f) from quadrats. Numbers represent 

sampling sites. 

Similarità tra dati di ricoprimento (c) e di frequenza (f) dai quadrati. I numeri rappresentano 

i siti di rilevamento. 


40



Conclusions – Results of the comparison between PITs and visual quadrats highlight a 

high variability among quadrats that hides the differences existing among sampling 

sites in zones subjected to a different protection regime. To overcame this limit a 

higher number of replicates is necessary, with a consequent increase in the amount of 

time spent underwater. On the contrary, PITs have a larger cost/time effectiveness, 

exhibit a lower variability among replicates and, because of their larger sampling size, 

should be better candidates to detect differences at larger spatial scales (Parravicini et 

al., 2009). The MDS plot also ordinates PIT replicates in a way that reflects the 

zonation of the MPA. However, the institution of the Isola di Bergeggi MPA is too 

recent, while a high number of studies (Claudet et al., 2008 and references therein) 

suggest that several years are necessary to make protection effects detectable. Our 

sampling sites were located along a inshore-offshore gradient, and the zonation of the 

‘Isola di Bergeggi’ MPA exactly superimposes over such a gradient. This might cause 

a problem in the future monitoring programs to discriminate protection effects from 

environmental constrains: a more appropriate design will be necessary to disentangle 

inshore-offshore and protection effects. Actually, visual quadrats and PITs are two 

complementary sampling techniques, because the former is able to detect the 

variability on the small scale, while the latter on the large scale. 

When comparing cover data with frequency data no significant differences between 

the two descriptors are found, both being able to collect the same information on 

benthic assemblages. However, we advocate the adoption of frequency to characterize 

benthic communities because it requests a comparatively shorter time for collecting 

data. 

References 

BIANCHI C.N., PRONZATO R., CATTANEO-VIETTI R., BENEDETTI-CECCHI L., MORRI C., 

PANSINI M., CHEMELLO R., MILAZZO M., FRASCHETTI S., TERLIZZI A., PEIRANO A., 

SALVATI E., BENZONI F., CALCINAI B., CERRANO C., BAVESTRELLO G. (2004) – 

Mediterranean marine benthos: a manual of methods for its sampling and study. Hard bottoms. 

Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 11: 185 215. 

CLAUDET J., OSEMBERG C.W., BENEDETTI-CECCHI L., DOMENICI P., GARCÍA- 

CHARTON J.A., PÉREZ-RUSAFA A., BADALAMENTI F., BAYLE-SEMPERE J., BRITO 

A., BULLERI F., CULIOLI J.M., DIMECH M., FALCÓN J.M., GUALA I., MILAZZO M., 

SÁNCHEZ-MECA J., SOMERFIELD P.J., STOBART B., VENDEPERRE F., VALLE C., 

PLANES S. (2008) – Marine reserves: size and age do matter. Ecology Letters, 11: 481-489. 

PARRAVICINI V., MORRI C., CIRIBILLI G., MONTEFALCONE M., ALBERTELLI G., 

BIANCHI C.N. (2009) - Size matters more than method: visual quadrats vs photography in 

measuring human impact on Mediterranean rocky reef communities. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf 

Science, 81: 358-367. 

Work partially done within the frame of the research project ‘The impacts of biological invasions and 

climate change on the biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea’ (Italy–Israel co-operation, Italian 

Ministry of the Environment). Data were collected thanks to an agreement between DipTeRis and the 

MPA Authority Comune di Bergeggi. 


41



M.L. GRIPPA, F. CINELLI * 

URL CONISMa, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via Derna, 1 - 56127 Pisa, Italia. 

mlgrippa@biologia.unipi.it 

* Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via Derna, 1 - 56127 Pisa, Italia. 

L’AREA MINIMA DI CAMPIONAMENTO: 

CONFRONTO TRA LE METODOLOGIE VISIVE E DISTRUTTIVE 

NEL CORALLIGENO DELL’ISOLA DI PIANOSA 

(PARCO NAZIONALE DELL’ARCIPELAGO TOSCANO) 

THE MINIMAL AREA OF SAMPLING: COMPARISON BETWEEN VISUAL 

AND DESTRUCTIVE METHODS IN THE CORALLIGENOUS ASSEMBLAGES 

OF THE ISLAND OF PIANOSA (TUSCANY ARCHIPELAGO, NATIONAL PARK) 

Abstract – Coralligenous assemblages are considered one of the most important benthic systems of the 

Mediterranean Sea, with an elevated biodiversity. This biocoenois is the result of an edification process due 

to the precipitation, by several organisms, particularly algae, of the calcium carbonate present in sea 

water. 

The minimal area estimated in the Mediterranean Sea ecosystems range from 300 to 400 cm 2 . This value 

was calculated utilizing destructive sampling methods. Until now no information is available for minimal 

area of coralligenous assemblages both with destructive and visual sampling methods. In this study the 

evaluation of qualitative and quantitative minimal area for coralligenous assemblages and comparation 

between visual and destructive sampling methods, are reported. 

Key-words: minimal area, Mediterranean, coralligenous, Island of Pianosa. 

Introduzione – Nel 2006 Ballesteros ha definito il coralligeno come un substrato duro 

di origine biologica prodotto principalmente dall’accrescimento di alghe calcaree in 

condizioni di scarsa luminosità. Il coralligeno presenta due caratteristiche essenziali: in 

primo luogo è sciafilo pur essendo a dominanza vegetale, in secondo luogo è legato 

alla presenza di substrati duri, primari ma anche secondari, cioè dovuti ad un 

precedente concrezionamento. Il coralligeno è un popolamento ancora poco studiato, 

per il quale non sono presenti in letteratura adeguate informazioni sull’area minima di 

campionamento, definita come l’area in grado di contenere un numero rappresentativo 

di specie di un popolamento.Cain (1938) ha messo a punto, per lo studio dell’area 

minima per il benthos infralitorale, il metodo della curva area-specie con il quale è 

possibile identificare per ogni popolamento un’area minima.Per il Mediterraneo e per 

un campionamento di tipo distruttivo, l’area minima indicata per il benthos animale è 

compresa tra 300 e 400 cm 2 (Bellan-Santini, 1969), mentre per il benthos vegetale è 

compresa tra 150 e 250 cm 2 (Boudouresque, 1974). In questi lavori non si prendono in 

considerazione, anche per mancanza di sistemi fotografici idonei, campionamenti di 

tipo visivo. Gli obiettivi di questo lavoro sono quelli di identificare l’area minima 

qualitativa per il popolamento coralligeno e di confrontare i dati di copertura delle 

specie cospicue rilevate con la tecnica di campionamento visivo con i dati di 

ricoprimenti delle medesime specie provenienti da un campionamento distruttivo 

effettuato su un’ area di 400 cm 2 . 

Materiali e metodi – Lo studio è stato effettuato nel Luglio 2008 nell’ambito della 

ricerca condotta dall’Università di Pisa e dal NURC (Nato Undersea Reserch Center) 


42



con immersioni con autorespiratore ad aria (A.R.A) e con tecniche di campionamento 

visive (photo-quadrats) e distruttive (grattaggio) in tre aree dell’Isola di Pianosa nel 

Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago Toscano. In ciascuna area, si è provveduto a 

effettuare 5 fotografie con una fotocamera digitale ad elevata risoluzione, prendendo 

come riferimento un quadrato in PVC di 50×50 cm (suddiviso in 10 sottoquadrati di 

100 cm 2 ) e a prelevare 5 campioni di substrato mediante campionamento distruttivo di 

un’area di 400 cm 2 (Ros e Gili, 1984). Su entrambi i campioni si è proceduto alla 

determinazione dei valori di ricoprimento/copertura (Boudouresque, 1971) delle specie 

identificate. Lo studio dell’area minima, per il campionamento di tipo visivo, è stato 

effettuato considerando il numero di specie medie presenti in aree sempre maggiori, 

per ciascuna fotografia, partendo da una superficie di 25 cm 2 . Il numero medio di 

specie identificato per ciascuna superficie è stato poi inserito in un grafico area-specie 

(Cain, 1938; Boudouresque, 1974; Cinelli et al., 1977; Boudouresque et al., 1979). 

Dopo aver identificato l’area minima per il campionamento visivo, si è provveduto a 

confrontare i valori di ricoprimento delle specie cospicue (Gili e Ros, 1985) riscontrate 

con tale tecnica, con quelli determinati, sempre per le specie cospicue, con la tecnica 

distruttiva. Il test statistico utilizzato è stato un t-test per la verifica d’ipotesi sulla 

differenza tra medie di due campioni. Le ipotesi verificate sono: H0 : µ1=µ2 e HA : 

µ1≠µ2. L’indagine è stata condotta concentrando l’attenzione solo sulle specie: 

Flabellia petiolata (Turra) Nizamuddin, Halimeda tuna (Ellis e Solander) Lamouroux, 

Peyssonnelia spp., Myriapora truncata Pallas, Jania rubens (L.) Lamouroux, Corallina 

elongata Ellis e Solander, Sertella septentrionalis Hammer, alghe filamentose e spugne 

incrostanti. 

Risultati – Per lo studio dell’area minima di campionamento si è provveduto alla 

identificazione, in tutti i campioni fotografici, del numero di specie per superfici di 

diversa grandezza. Il tutto inserito in un grafico area-specie (Fig. 1). 

Fig. 1 – Curva area-specie. 

……….Species-area curve for minimal area of sampling. 

Una volta identificata l’area minima per un campionamento di tipo visivo, si è 

provveduto a confrontare i due metodi di campionamento (visivo e distruttivo) 

effettuando un test sulla differenza tra medie di due campioni. Si sono presi in esame i 

dati di ricoprimento/copertura di specie cospicue esaminate, ricavati dall’analisi dei 

campioni di substrato prelevati mediante grattaggio (area di 400 cm 2 ) e dall’analisi dei 


43



campioni fotografici (area di 400 cm 2 e successivamente di 1600 cm 2 ). Il test statistico 

prevede la presenza di alcune condizioni sperimentali quali: popolazioni normali, σ1 e 

σ2 ignote ma uguali, n1 e n2 piccole. In tali condizioni sperimentali il test t-student 

prevede le seguenti ipotesi: H0 : µ1=µ2 e HA : µ1≠µ2. Il primo caso esaminato ha 

permesso di mettere a confronto dati di ricoprimento/copertura ricavati da campioni 

entrambi di area di 400 cm 2 . In questa situazione l’ipotesi nulla H0 risultava essere 

rigettata (T ≥ t n1+n2-2) per Peyssonnelia spp., Halimeda tuna e spugne incrostanti. 

Essendo queste specie rilevanti per il coralligeno in esame, si è ripetuto il test 

considerando un’area di 400 cm 2 ed una di 1600 cm 2 . I risultati di questo secondo test 

hanno portato all’accettazione dell’ipotesi nulla, T ≤ t n1+n2-2, (tra i due campionamenti 

non c’è una differenza significativa), per Myriapora truncata, Flabellia petiolata, 

Peyssonnelia spp., Halimeda tuna. Jania rubens, Corallina elongata, Sertella 

septentrionalis e alghe filamentose. Per le spugne incrostanti il test continua a non 

prevede l’accettazione dell’ipotesi nulla (Fig. 2). 

Fig. 2 – Curva t-test con valori di T per ogni specie esaminata. 

……….T-test curve with T values for every species considered. 

Conclusioni – Lo studio dell’area minima per il coralligeno di Pianosa, molto 

uniforme ed omogeneo, condotto mediante un campionamento di tipo visivo, ha 

permesso di determinare il valore sperimentale di tale area tra i 1600 e i 2000 cm 2 in 

quanto in quest’area è possibile riscontrare il numero maggiore di specie. Questa 

conclusione viene poi avvallata dal t-test condotto mettendo a confronto, per le specie 

cospicue, i valori di ricoprimento ricavati mediante la tecnica di campionamento 

distruttiva e quelli di copertura ricavati dai campioni fotografici. È possibile concludere 

quindi che il campionamento di tipo distruttivo potrebbe essere sostituito, per l’analisi 

delle specie cospicue, da un campionamento visivo se si considera un’area di 1600 

cm 2 . Questo ovviamente vale per le specie cospicue e superficiali di un popolamento 

coralligeno, infatti per l’identificazione tassonomica e per i ricoprimenti delle altre 

specie, continua ad essere necessario il campionamento distruttivo. Nel caso preso in 

considerazione, come risulta anche evidente dal t-test, le specie dominanti, sia animali 

che vegetali, sono rappresentate da individui di una situazione di pre-climax, 

caratterizzato in particolare da specie vegetali a tallo foliaceo (Halimeda tuna, 

Flabellia petiolata, Peyssonnelia spp.) o filamentoso e da specie animali di tipo 

coloniale incrostante come Sertella septentrionalis e Myriapora truncata, 


44



particolarmente abbondanti anche in popolamenti più superficiali. Sarebbe quindi 

opportuno effettuare uno studio dell’area minima per ogni tipo di popolamento 

coralligeno visto e considerato che tale popolamento risulta essere estremamente 

variabile nella sua struttura e maturità. Questo è da mettere soprattutto in relazione con 

le caratteristiche dei fattori abiotici, in particolare la luce, che nel caso dell’Isola di 

Pianosa raggiunge valori molto elevati anche a profondità rilevanti. 

Bibliografia 

BALLESTEROS E. (2006) – Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages: synthesis of present 

knowledge. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev., 44: 123-195. 

BELLAN-SANTINI D. (1969) – Contribution à l’étude des peuplements infralittoraux sur substrat 

rocheux (étude qualitative et quantitative de la frange supérieure). Rec. Trav. St. Mar. Endoume, 

47: 1-294. 

BOUDOURESQE C.F. (1971) – Reserches de bionomie analytique, structurale et experimentale sur 

les peuplements benthiques schiaphiles de Méditerranée occidentale (fraction algale., La sousstate 

sciaphiles res peuplements de grandes Cystoseira de mode battu. Bull. Mus. Hist. nat. 

Marseille, 31: 141-151. 

BOUDOURESQE C.F. (1974) – Aire minima et peuplements algaux marins. Soc. Phycol. De France, 

Bull., 19: 141-157. 

BOUDOURESQE C.F., BELSHER T. (1979) – Une method de determination de l’aire minimal 

qualitative. Rapp.Comm.int. Mer Mèdit., 4: 25-26. 

CAIN S. A. (1938) – The species-area curve. American Midland Naturalist, U.S.A., 19: 573-581. 

CINELLI F., BOUDOURESQUE C.F., FRESI E., MARCOT J., MAZZELLA L. (1977) - L’aire 

minima du phytobenthos dans le Port de Sant’Angelo (Ischia, Italie). Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer 

Mèdit., 4: 148-152. 

ROS J., GILI J.M. (1984) – L’estudi de les comunitats bentòniques de les illes Medes: metodologia i 

relaciò de mostres. Institut d’ Estudis Catalans, Barcelona: 619-636. 


45



P. GUIDETTI 1 , E. SALA 2, 3 , E. BALLESTEROS 3 , A. DI FRANCO 1 , B. HEREU, E. MACPHERSON 3 , 

F. MICHELI 5 , A. PAIS 6 , P. PANZALIS 7 , A. ROSENBERG 8 , M. ZABALA 4 

1 CoNISMa and DiSTeBA, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy. 

paolo.guidetti@unisalento.it 

2 National Geographic Society, P.O. Box 98199, Washington, DC, USA. 

3 Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, CSIC, Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14 - 17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain. 

4 Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 645 - 08028 Barcelona, Spain. 

5 Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Oceanview Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA 93950-3094, USA. 

6 Sez. di Acquacoltura e Gestione delle Risorse Acquatiche, Dip. Scienze Zootecniche, Università di Sassari, Italy. 

7 Marine Protected Area of Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo, Via Dante, 1 - 07026 Olbia, Italy. 

8 Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA. 

FISH ASSEMBLAGES ACROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA 

AND THE EFFECTS OF PROTECTION FROM FISHING 

I POPOLAMENTI ITTICI NEL MEDITERRANEO 

E GLI EFFETTI DELLA PROTEZIONE DALL’IMPATTO DELLA PESCA 

Abstract – Several studies have assessed the effectiveness of individual marine protected areas (MPAs) in 

protecting fish assemblages, but regional assessments of multiple parks are scarce. Here fish surveys using 

visual census were done in marine parks and fished areas at 31 locations across the Mediterranean Sea. 

Fish species richness, diversity and biomass (especially of top predators) were higher in MPAs compared 

to fished areas, and community structure differed significantly between MPAs and fished areas. Results 

suggest that MPAs are generally effective means to protect and recover fish populations and assemblages. 

Key-words: fish biomass, predators, marine parks, fishing impact, visual census, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction – Marine protected areas (MPAs) are portions of the coastline and/or sea 

where human activities, especially fishing, are restricted or banned (Agardy et al., 

2003). As fish assemblages usually include many species targeted by fishing, they are 

primarily expected to respond to protection within MPAs, especially those MPAs that 

have no-take zones (Micheli et al., 2004). The evaluation of benefits on fish 

assemblages, e.g. in terms of increase in density, size and biomass of target fishes 

(Micheli et al., 2004; Guidetti & Sala, 2007), can be useful to assess the ecological 

effectiveness of MPAs. Moreover, most target fishes are high-level predators in the 

food webs and their functional extinction may cause community-wide changes (Sala et 

al., 1998; Worm et al., 2006). Protection from fishing, therefore, may directly restore 

populations of target fishes and indirectly drive whole communities towards an 

unfished state (Sala et al., 1998; Micheli et al., 2004). Effective MPAs and, more 

generally, areas characterized by null/low levels of exploitation were found worldwide 

to host particularly high total fish biomass with a clear dominance of top predators 

(Friedlander & DeMartini, 2002). In the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 100 MPAs 

have been established (Abdulla et al., 2008), making this region among those with the 

highest concentration of MPAs in the world. A number of Mediterranean studies 

assessed direct and indirect ‘reserve effects’ of protection (Guidetti & Sala, 2007 and 

references therein). Most of the ‘reserve effect’ assessment studies in the 

Mediterranean basin were carried out focusing on fish assemblages associated with 

rocky reefs, due to the fact that: 1) rocky reefs are the most common habitat protected 

within MPAs in Mediterranean; 2) previous visual census studies showed that rocky 

reefs host greater abundance of fish species targeted by fishing and that fish 

assemblages more clearly respond to protection from fishing than others (e.g., benthic 


46



assemblages). This study aims at investigating the generality of responses to protection 

of fish assemblages associated with shallow rocky reefs across the Mediterranean Sea, 

by comparing MPAs and areas open to fishing and other human uses. 

Materials and methods – Fish surveys were done in late spring 2007 and 2008 at 12 

MPAs and 19 fished areas across the northern Mediterranean coast (Spain, Italy, 

Greece, Turkey; Fig. 1). 

Fig. 1 – Location of Marine Protected Areas and fished areas investigated in this study. 

Localizzazione delle Aree Marine Protette ed aree aperte alla pesca oggetto del presente 

studio. 

Fish data were collected by using underwater visual census (UVC) at several stations 

within each areas (protected or fished), with three replicated UVCs at each station, for 

a total of 516 UCVs. Each replicate consisted of a 25 m-long and 5 m-wide transect. 

Along each transect, the diver swam one way (at ~10 m depth) for about 8-10 min, 

identifying and recording the number and size of each fish encountered (Harmelin- 

Vivien et al., 1985). Fish wet-weight was estimated from size data by means of lengthweight 

relationships from the available literature and existing databases (Froese & 

Pauly, 2009). Multivariate and univariate analyses were conducted to examine whether 

fish assemblage structure (i.e. taxa composition and abundances) and single variables 

(e.g. species richness) responded to protection. Effects of protection were analyzed on 

whole fish assemblages (using species×sample matrices) using three-way 

permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) both on abundance 

and biomass data. The sampling design consisted of 3 factors: Protection (Pr; fixed 

factor with 2 levels), Area (Ar; random and orthogonal) and Station (St; random and 

nested in Area). Multivariate analyses were based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices 

and ln(x+1) transformed data. Univariate analyses on species richness, diversity, and 

total abundance and biomass of fish were run using t-tests to compare mean values 

under protected and unprotected conditions. Finally, fish taxa in terms of biomass data 

from both protected and fished conditions were pooled into trophic groups because 

fishing disproportionately targets species at higher trophic levels (Pauly et al., 1998), 

and recovery from fishing potentially includes increased abundances or biomass of 

high-level predators and shifts in trophic structure (Micheli et al., 2004). Each taxon 

was assigned to one of 4 trophic macrogroups using the information about diet in the 

database “FishBase” (Froese & Pauly, 2009), and in Mediterranean studies (Guidetti & 

Sala, 2007): 1) large apex predators (large carnivores, AP), 2) small carnivores 

(including piscivores and invertivores, SC), 3) herbivores (He), and 4) planktivoresdetritivores 

(PD). 

Results – Multivariate analyses (PERMANOVA tests) showed that considering total 

fish abundance (P



variability was detected at both spatial scales of areas and stations. Species richness (ttests, 

P



References 

ABDULLA A., GOMEI M., MAISON E., PIANTE C. (2008) - Status of Marine Protected Areas in 

the Mediterranean Sea. IUCN, Malaga and WWF, France: 152 pp. 

AGARDY T., BRIDGEWATER P., CROSBY M.P., DAY J., DAYTON P.K., KENCHINGTON R., 

LAFFOLLEY D., MCCONNEY P., MURRAY P.A., PARKS J.E., PEAU L. (2003) - Dangerous 

targets? Unresolved issues and ideological clashes around marine protected areas. Aquat. Cons.: 

Mar. Freshwater Ecosyst., 13: 353-367. 

FRIEDLANDER A.M., DEMARTINI E.E. (2002) - Contrasts in density, size, and biomass of reef 

fishes between the northwestern and the main Hawaiian islands: the effects of fishing down apex 

predators. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 230: 253-264. 

FROESE R., PAULY D. (2009) - Fish Base. World Wide Web electronic publication, 

www.fishbase.org 

GUIDETTI P., SALA E. (2007) - Community-wide effects of marine reserves. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 

335: 43-56. 

HARMELIN-VIVIEN M.L., HARMELIN J.G., CHAUVET C., DUVAL C., GALZIN R., LEJEUNE 

P., BARNABE G., BLANC F., CHEVALIER R., DUCLERC J., LASSERRE G. (1985) - 

Evaluation des peuplements et populations de poissons. Méthodes et problemes. Rev. Ecol., 40: 

467-539. 

MICHELI F., HALPERN B.S., BOTSFORD L.W., WARNER R.R. (2004) - Trajectories and 

correlates of community change in no-take marine reserves. Ecol. Appl., 14: 1709-1723. 

PAULY D., CHRISTENSEN V., DALSGAARD J., FROESE R., TORRES F. JR. (1998) - Fishing 

down marine food webs. Science, 279: 860-863. 

SALA E., BOUDOURESQUE C.F., HARMELIN-VIVIEN M.L. (1998) - Fishing, trophic cascades, 

and the structure of algal assemblages: evaluation of an old but untested paradigm. Oikos, 82: 

425-439. 

SANDIN S.A., SMITH J.E., DEMARTINI E.E., DINSDALE E.A., DONNER S.D., 

FRIEDLANDER A.M., KONOTCHICK T., MALAY M., MARAGOS J.E., OBURA D., 

PANTOS O., PAULAY G., RICHIE M., ROHWER F., SCHROEDER R.E., WALSH S., 

JACKSON J.B.C., KNOWLTON N., SALA E. (2008) - Baselines and Degradation of Coral 

Reefs in the Northern Line Islands. PLoS ONE, 3 (2): e1548. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001548 

WORM B., BARBIER E.B., BEAUMONT N., DUFFY J.E., FOLKE C., HALPERN B.S., 

JACKSON J.B., LOTZE H.K., MICHELI F., PALUMBI S.R., SALA E., SELKOE K.A., 

STACHOWICZ J.J., WATSON R. (2006) - Impacts of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem 

services. Science, 314: 787-790. 

This work was supported by grants from the Oak Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trust. 


49



G. LAURIANO 1 , S. PANIGADA 1,2 

1Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, ISPRA, Via di Casalotti, 300 - 00166 Roma, Italia. 

giancarlo.lauriano@isprambiente.it 

2 Istituto Tethys, V.le G.B. Gadio, Milano, Italia. 

USO DELLA PIATTAFORMA AEREA PER IL MONITORAGGIO 

DI VERTEBRATI MARINI AI FINI DELLA GESTIONE 

DELLA BIODIVERSITÀ: IL CASO DEL SANTUARIO PELAGOS 

AERIAL SURVEY IN THE PELAGOS SANCTUARY FOR THE 

MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF THE PROTECTED SPECIES 

Abstract – Systematic monitoring of density and abundance of large vertebrates is among the priority 

actions listed in the Pelagos Sanctuary Management Plan, ACCOBAMS and by the Specially Protected 

Areas and Biodiversity Protocol under the Barcelona Convention. This paper presents the suitability of the 

aerial surveys methodology In studying protected species by means of data collected in two surveys 

conducted in the Pelagos Sanctuary in winter and summer 2009. 

Key-words: aerial surveys, cetaceans, population distribution. 

Introduzione - La conservazione della biodiversità non può prescindere dallo studio di 

parametri tra cui la dimensione delle popolazioni; tale esigenza è anche una 

obbligazione di legge secondo la Direttiva Habitat e la Convenzione sulla Biodiversità. 

Nonostante lo sforzo di ricerca per le specie di interesse conservazionistico, sono 

ancora molte le lacune conoscitive. Elasmobranchi, tartarughe e cetacei sono esempi di 

fauna protetta, le cui conoscenze sulle dimensione delle popolazioni sono ancora scarse 

o mancanti. Tra i cetacei, stime di abbondanza sono note per alcune aree del 

Mediterraneo (Tursiops truncatus - Lauriano et al., 2003; Bearzi et al., 2009 - Stenella 

coeruleoalba - Fortuna et al., 2007; Lauriano et al., in stampa; Panigada et al., 2009; 

Forcada et al., 1995; Balaenoptera physalus; Forcada et al., 1995; Notarbartolo di 

Sciara et al., 2003). Isolati censimenti sono stati effettuati per la Caretta caretta 

(Gomez de Segura et al., 2006), mentre poche informazioni si hanno sugli 

Elasmobranchi (Notarbartolo di Sciara et al., 2006). Inoltre, vi sono specie di scarso 

interesse commerciale, per le quali lo sforzo di ricerca è ridotto e le conoscenze (Pope 

et al., 2010) ricavate indirettamente - es. Mola mola. Alcuni motivi delle carenze 

conoscitive sono ascrivibili a difficoltà logistiche ed economiche insite nello studio di 

specie pelagiche, la cui presenza in superficie è difficilmente osservabile e aleatoria. 

Tra le tecniche di indagine della dimensioni delle popolazioni, il line-transect sampling 

è tra i più validi per taxa terrestri e marini (Buckland et al., 2001) e recentemente è 

stata promossa l’ applicazione con piattaforma aerea oltre alla navale, considerata uno 

strumento pratico per lo studio di specie su vaste aree (Hays et al., 2003; Pope et al., 

2010). 

Materiali e metodi - Area di studio. Comprende il Santuario Pelagos per i mammiferi 

marini (Fig. 1), la prima area marina protetta internazionale al mondo (Hoyt, 2005). 

All’origine dell’istituzione vi è la presenza di predatori pelagici, la promozione della 

ricerca e della legislazione in tema di protezione della biodiversità (Notarbartolo di 

Sciara et al., 2008). 


50



Metodo di studio - Per una copertura omogenea, 82 transetti separati tra loro di 10 km 

per totali 8,852.56 km, sono stati tracciati con il software dedicato Distance 5.0 

(Thomas et al., 2006). Il velivolo, un Partenavia P 68 equipaggiato con finestre a bolla 

per l’osservazione sulla verticale dell’aereo, volava a una quota (h) di 750 piedi e alla 

velocità di 100 miglia nautiche orarie. Tre ricercatori con esperienza nel 

riconoscimento delle specie e nel censimento erano a bordo; uno per l’inserimento dei 

dati in computer e due per l’ osservazione. Le informazioni registrate comprendevano 

la specie e la sua posizione, la dimensione dei gruppi, l’angolo (α) misurato dalla 

verticale (declinazione) e l’osservatore. Lo stato del mare, (Scala Beaufort), le 

condizioni soggettive di avvistamento e il grado di riflesso sul mare, erano registrate 

all’inizio dei transetti e nel caso di cambiamenti. L’angolo α, assieme a h, permettono 

di calcolare la distanza perpendicolare (x) dell’avvistamento dal transetto secondo 

x=h*tan (90°- α), misura essenziale nel calcolo dell’abbondanza e densità. 

Risultati - Un monitoraggio invernale e uno estivo sono stati realizzati nei periodi 11- 

31 gennaio - 18-22 febbraio e 21 luglio e 2 agosto 2009, su un’area di 88,267 km 2 . 

Sono stati percorsi 16,638 km di cui 8,144 in inverno e 8,494 in estate, per complessivi 

467 (131 invernali, 336 estivi) avvistamenti di cetacei e 443 (104 e 339) delle specie in 

tabella 1. La distribuzione delle specie è in figura 1. 

Tab. 1 - Specie osservate e range dei gruppi nelle due edizioni del censimento aereo. 

Specie observed during winter and summer surveys. 

Stagione (effort km) Inverno (8,144) (Panigada et al., 2009) Estate (8,494) 

Cetacei n [range] n [range] 

Balaenoptera physalus 1 24[1-3] 

Physeter macrocephalus 1 5[1-2] 

Stenella coeruleoalba 114[1-57] 280[1-170] 

Tursiops truncatus 7[1-6] 8[1-8] 

Grampus griseus 0 4[2-19] 

Globicephala melas 0 5[6-14] 

Ziphius cavirostris 1 4[2-3] 

Rettili 

Caretta caretta 9 174[1-2] 

Elasmobranchi 

Mobula mobular 0 76[1-3] 

Osteitti 

Mola mola 95[1-3] 89[1-3] 


51



Fig. 1 – La distribuzione degli avvistamenti per C. caretta (inverno – estate), M. mobular (inverno), 

M. mola (inverno - estate), B. physalus (estate) e S. coeruleoalba (inverno – estate). 

Sightings distributions of C. caretta (winter and summer), M. mobular (winter), M. mola 

(winter and summer), B. physalus (summer) and S. coeruleoalba (winter and summer). 

Conclusioni - Il line-transect sampling da aereo ha permesso di ottenere per la prima 

volta nel Santuario Pelagos, robuste informazioni sulla presenza e distribuzione dei 

cetacei e su M. mobular, C. caretta e M. mola a supporto della gestione. La principale 

assunzione nel metodo è che gli animali sul transetto vengano sempre avvistati [g(0) = 

1] (Buckland et al., 2001); tuttavia il loro comportamento può renderli indisponibili 

(availability bias) o l’avvistatore può non osservarli, per fattori meteo climatici o 

relativi alle proprie capacità (perception bias). Quest’ultimo si considera trascurabile 

per alcune specie di cetacei, mentre una correzione della presenza in superficie, con 

dati di telemetria, è necessaria per l’avaibility bias, sopratutto per le specie non legate 

alla superficie da esigenze respiratorie. Per la balenottera comune è stata riscontrata 

una riduzione numerica estiva rispetto a precedenti survey navali (Forcada et al., 1995), 

mentre è stato registrato un solo avvistamento invernale. Drastiche differenze tra 

inverno ed estate si sono rilevate per S. coeruleoalba, C. caretta e M. mobular. I 

vantaggi della piattaforma aerea, rispetto a quella navale possono venir sintetizzati in: 

cospicuo sforzo di ricerca in tempi ridotti, se paragonati al mezzo navale; 

esatto conteggio degli esemplari e precisa stima numerica degli animali; 

stime robuste con I.C. e C.V., più bassi; 

possibilità di sfruttare al meglio le condizioni meteomarine idonee a causa 

dell’elevata velocità di “trasferimento”; 


52



minimo disturbo agli animali e vantaggio per le stime che da questo fattore 

possono essere condizionate; 

impiego di tre unità di ricerca e quindi minori costi rispetto al mezzo navale; 

opportunità di osservare fauna non oggetto principale della ricerca con 

conseguente maggiore output scientifico. 

Bibliografia 

BEARZI G., FORTUNA C.M., REEVES R.R. (2009) - Ecology, behaviour and conservation of 

Common Bottlenose Dolphins Tursiops truncatus in the Mediterranean Sea. Mammal Review, 39 

(2): 92-123. 

BUCKLAND S.T., ANDERSON D.R., BURNHAM K.P., LAAKE J.L., BORCHERS D.L., 

THOMAS L. (2001) - Introduction to Distance Sampling: Estimating Abundance of Biological 

Populations. Chapman & Hall, New York, USA. 

GOMEZ DE SEGURA A., TOMAS J., PEDRAZA SN., CRESPO EA., RAGA JA. (2006) - 

Abundance and distribution of the endangered loggerhead turtle in Spanish Mediterranean 

waters and the conservation implications. Animal Conserv., 9: 199-206. 

FORCADA J., NOTARBARTOLO DI SCIARA G., FABBRI F. (1995) - Abundance of fin whales 

and striped dolphins summering in the Corso-Ligurian Basin. Mammalia, 59 (1): 127-140. 

FORTUNA C., CANESE S., GIUSTI M., REVELLI E., CONSOLI P., FLORIO G., GRECO S., 

ROMEO T., ANDALORO F., FOSSI M.C., LAURIANO G. (2007) - An insight into the status 

of striped dolphins (Stenella coeureoalba) of the southern-Tyrrhenian sea. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. 

U.K., 87: 1321-1326. 

HOYT E. (2005) - MARINE PROTECTED AREAS FOR WHALES, DOLPHINS AND PORPOISES: 492 PP. 

LAURIANO G., MACKELWORTH P., FORTUNA C.M., MOLTEDO G., NOTARBARTOLO DI 

SCIARA G. (2004) - Densità e abbondanza del tursiope (Tursiops truncatus) nel Parco 

Nazionale dell’Asinara, Sardegna. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 10 (2):717-720. 

LAURIANO G., PANIGADA S., CANNERI R., MANCA ZEICHEN M., NOTARBARTOLO DI 

SCIARA G. (in press) - Abundance estimate of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the 

Pelagos Sanctuary (NW Mediterranean Sea) by means of line transect survey. J. Cetacean Res. 

Manage. 

NOTARBARTOLO DI SCIARA G., SERENA F., MANCUSI C. (2006) - Mobula mobular. IUCN 

2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. 

 

NOTARBARTOLO DI SCIARA G., AGARDY T., HYRENBACH D., SCOVAZZI T., VAN 

KLAVEREN P. (2008) - The Pelagos sanctuary for Mediterranean marine mammals. Aquatic 

Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 18: 367-391. 

PANIGADA S., BURT L., LAURIANO G., PIERANTONIO N., DONOVAN G. (2009) - Winter 

absolute abundance of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the Pelagos Sanctuary (northwestern 

Mediterranean Sea) assessed through aerial survey. SC61/SM7 

POPE E.C., HAYS G.C., THYS T., DOYLE M.T.K.S., SIMS D.D., QUEIROZ V.N., HOBSON V.J., 

KUBICEK L., HOUGHTON J.D.R. (2010) - The biology and ecology of the ocean sunfish Mola 

mola: a review of current knowledge and future research perspectives. Reviews in Fish Biology 

and Fisheries, DOI: 10.1007/s11160-009-9155-9 

THOMAS L., LAAKE J.L., STRINDBERG S., MARQUES F.F.C., BUCKLAND S.T., BORCHERS 

D.L., ANDERSON D.R., BURNHAM K.P., HEDLEY S.L., POLLARD J.H., BISHOP J.R.B., 

MARQUES T.A. (2006) - Distance 5.0. Release “x”. Research Unit for Wildlife Population 

Assessment, University of St. Andrews, UK. http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/distance/ 

Il Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare ha finanziato gli studi. 


53



C. LOMBARDI, D. SAVINI 1 , A. OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI 1 , G. PAROLO 2 , F. GIACOMAZZI 3 

Agenzia Internazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l’Energia e lo Sviluppo Sostenibile ENEA, 

Laboratorio di Ecologia del Benthos, Via Forte Santa Teresa, Pozzuolo di Lerici (SP), Italia. 

chiara.lombardi@unipv.it 

1 Dip. di Ecologia del Territorio, Sez. di Ecologia, Università di Pavia, Via S. Epifanio, 14 – 27100 Pavia, Italia. 

2 Dip. di Ecologia del Territorio, Sez. di Botanica, Università di Pavia, Via S. Epifanio, 14 – 27100 Pavia, Italia. 

3 Cooperativa Natour, Fortezza della Brunella - 54011 Aulla (MS), Italia. 

CITIZIENS SCIENCE EDUCATION: 

A CHALLENGING TOOL FOR MONITORING MPAS 

BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 

L’EDUCAZIONE DEL CITTADINO ALLA SCIENZA: 

UNO STRUMENTO INNOVATIVO PER MONITORARE BIODIVERSITÁ 

E QUALITÁ AMBIENTALE DELLE AREE MARINE PROTETTE 

Abstract – The employment of volunteer amateur naturalists in scientific data collection is becoming a 

necessity worldwide due to the unwise lack of investment of the Human Society in exploring Nature in 

traditional ways (e.g. Species identification and description in their “pristine” environment). In this paper 

we report preliminary results of two Academic-based pioneering projects of people’s science education 

aiming at scientific data collection in Marine Protected Areas: For-Mare, AMP Isole Pelagie (AG); 

Seawatching Volunteer Monitoring Programme, AMP ‘Cinque Terre’, (SP). These experiences had positive 

implications in conservation, supporting biodiversity knowledge and extending scientific interest to the 

public. 

Key-words: Marine Parks, Biodiversity, Conservation 

Introduction – Marine protected areas (MPAs) represent the first real engagement of 

public administration to preserve marine biodiversity. There are 23 established MPAs 

in Italy, 2 submerged parks and 1 mammal sanctuary willing to protect about 

200,431.53 10 3 he of sea and about 700 km of littoral. MPAs are recognised by the 

scientific community as important study sites: remaining of pre-industrial ecosystems, 

good reference condition areas for understanding and monitoring marine ecosystems 

quality. Legal boundaries are far from being effective both against conventional 

anthropogenic pollutants (Montefalcone et al., 2009) or the more insidious menace of 

biological pollution (Olenin et al., 2007). However, alternative systems to prevent 

marine biodiversity loss are lacking. A key issue for increasing conservation efficacy 

of a protected area is the development and wise management of sustainable tourism. 

The experience of Participatory Monitory Programme organizations operating in 

several European countries reports a successful combination of data-gathering 

activities and social experience. They empathise the enthusiasm as the most important 

driver for the expansion and sustainability of volunteer participation and participant’s 

motivation represents the starting point for obtaining trust, respect, recognition, value 

and enjoyment for the environment (Bell et al., 2008). Along the UK coasts, 

‘Seasearch’ project (http://seasearch.wisshost.net) is an example of how volunteer sport 

divers can contribute in protecting the marine environment. In a country where there 

are very few MPAs, Seasearch and its volunteer and academic divers allowed to map 

out the various types of sea bed found in the near-shore zone, to recognize what lives in 

each area, to establish the richest sites for marine life and the sites which need 

protection around the whole of the Britain and Ireland. In Italy similar programs have 


54



been recently developed, including: the CEM project (Coastal Environment Monitoring 

Protocol), involving recreational scuba divers in monitoring activity all along the 

whole Italian littoral (www.progettomac.it); Seawatching Volunteer Monitoring 

Programme (SVMP) promoted by Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre 

(http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/) and the newly promoted project ‘For-Mare: 

training and research in marine protected areas’ (www.for-mare.eu) for university 

students, school teachers and citizens. Started in 2007, SVMP is the result of interest 

showed by the participants who took part to snorkelling week-ends for tourists and 

residents proposed by the Seawatching group. The regular participation of the same 

people for several years and their enthusiasm in learning about marine life gave birth to 

data-gathering activity involving volunteers who spend week-ends doing snorkelling 

and collecting data on habitat and species that characterize the MPA of ‘Cinque Terre’. 

For-Mare started in summer 2009 as a pilot project which involved students from the 

University of Pavia who took part to a summer stage in marine ecology and geobotany 

and developed scientifically relevant studies on population ecology of marine species 

(Raineri and Savini, 2010) and terrestrial flora (Di Silvestro, unpublished data) in the 

MPA of Isole Pelagie, AG. The aim of this paper is to report the experiences and 

preliminary results obtained from these last two mentioned projects (SVMP; For-Mare) 

by arguing their future development in the light of valuable scientific data collection. 

Materials and methods – (1) SVMP was conducted in ‘Cinque Terre’ MPA from July 

to September 2007, 2008 and 2009. Volunteers were organized to work in couple and 

each couple received an underwater board, pencil, waterproof-sheets for recognizing 

Mediterranean marine organisms (fishes, benthic organisms, algae and plants) and for 

evaluating cover (for benthic organism) and size (for fishes) classes. For each 

investigated site, couples reported the name of the site, locality, maximum depth, 

duration of the survey, visibility and seawater temperature. Habitats such as 

supralittoral, rocky shore, Posidonia oceanica meadow and cave were investigated and 

from 1 to 3 habitats were monitored during each survey. Data on both benthic and 

pelagic species for each habitat were collected. For benthic organisms, species’ names 

were reported and data of abundance (number of individuals) or cover range (%) were 

given using a quadrat (50×50 cm). Regarding pelagic species, visual-census techniques 

were applied: couple of volunteers looked at different directions and monitored an area 

of 5 m 2 for 5 minutes. 3 replicates were made by each couple. Name of the species, 

number of individuals and size classes (cm) were reported. For planktonic organisms 

(Ctenophora and Scyphoza) number of individuals and distances among them were 

recorded. (2) For-Mare pilot stage was conducted in June 2009. Nineteen participants 

followed a one-week summer course in Linosa Island- Isole Pelagie. Training was 

provided by a marine biologist, a geobotanist and a scuba diving instructor. The stages 

provided fundamental knowledge in marine biology and geobotany (taught courses), 

followed by field work activity (snorkeling and trekking). The first halve of the week 

students followed demonstrations concerning commonly non-destructive methods used 

for marine (bionomic transect, quadrats) and terrestrial (floristic surveys, morphometric 

analysis) census in population ecology studies. The second halve of the week students 

were requested to perform an original study by organising them in four working 

groups. Each groups developed experimental design, data collection, interpretation and 

presentation of results under teachers’ supervision. At the end of the stage the four 


55



studies were presented in a final open public assembly on the island with participation 

of tourists and stakeholders. Data quality control was guaranteed by a scientific 

steering committee of researchers and university professors that at the end of the 

season had the commitment of refereeing study outputs and help scientific 

dissemination in conferences and meetings. 

Results - (1) Data from SVMP surveys conducted between July and September 2009 

are reported. Monitoring in cave (Manarola) revealed the presence of Parazoanthus 

axinellae (cover: 10-30%.m -2 ) from 1.5 to 3 m of depth on the southern walls, 

Corallina comune covered the intertidal area (cover: 10-30 %.m -2 ) extended from the 

entrance to 3 m within the cave, mainly on the southern wall. Two juveniles of Octopus 

vulgaris (size: ~30 cm tentacles included) were found during the surveys. At the 

entrance of the cave several individuals belonging to Ctenophora taxon (number: 20 

indiv./5m 2 , distance: 100 ind.m -2 ) and Littorina sp. (>150 ind.m -2 ) 

were found on natural rock while lowest densities (30-50 ind.m -2 for both Balanus sp 

and for Littorina sp.) were found on anthropogenic substrate (concrete walls). The 

presence of Verrucaria (cover: 60-80 %.m -2 ) were also recorded on natural substrate 

starting from 1 m above the sea-level. Surveys conducted along the coast from the 

beach of Riomaggiore to Punta Montenero revealed the presence of Pelagia noctiluca 

(3 indiv./5m 2 , distance: 2m), one Balistes carolinensis (size: >30 cm), 3 individuals of 

Ephinepelus marginatus (size: 30-50 cm), 2 Dicentrarchus labrax (size: >30 cm), 2 

Sparus aurata (size: 10-20 cm), 2 Muraena helena (size: 1 m), shoals of Lithognathus 

mormyrus (number: 20, size: 10-20 cm), Diplodus sp. (number: >50/5 m 2 , size: 30-50 

cm) and Oblada melanura (number: >50/ 5 m 2 , size: 10-20 cm). (2) For-Mare pilot 

stage in Linosa Island provided original data on: a) distribution density and acclimation 

status of the tropical Atlantic crab Percnon gibbesi, which has been found distributed 

all along the 11 km littoral of the island from 0-4 m depth in a characteristic habitat 

made of large boulders covered with coralline algae (Mesophyllum sp, Amphiroa sp.). 

In these localities mean population density ranged from 30-50 ind. 10 m -2 . Maximum 

density values were recorded in one locality, Casotto (Casotto–DDD= 35.855440N; 

12.866664E; mean density=51±28 ind. 10 m); b) distribution and ecology of the 

actinian Cereus pedunculatus. The species is found in a very restricted bathymetrical 

range on the island (10-160 cm) with maximum densities reported in one locality, 

Casotto (Casotto–DDD= 35.855440N;12.866664E; mean density=6±2 ind. m -2 ). 

Biometrical comparisons (maximum diameter of the oral disc) between two 

subpopulations (Casotto, Pozzolana di Ponente) revealed that significant (ANOVA; 

p



will be tested performing also genetic analysis; d) floristic surveys confirmed the 

presence of species reported from literature of the island but also some autochthonous 

and alien species, new for the island, were found. 

Conclusions – Both projects provided original data on community composition and an 

population structure of marine and terrestrial (plants) organisms in the two study areas. 

Marine research activities, being conducted in snorkeling, focused on a particularly 

delicate zone of MPA: from 0-5 m depth - the supra, medium and superior infralittoral 

fringe - corresponding to the most impacted zone by bathers, and ecologically, to 

recruitment sites for many marine organisms. Snorkelers data supply provides a real 

added value to conventional scientific research that usually focus on the inferior 

infralittoral fringe (common methodologies involve scuba diving, scientific vessels and 

remote equipment, e.g. ROV) by completing data collection and conservation status 

assessment. Volunteer and students research activities can be structured both in order 

to monitor community composition (e.g. SVMP) or population structure of key species 

(e.g. invasive alien species, For-Mare). In conclusion, as already demonstrated by other 

experience (Dehrr et al., 2007; Bell et al., 2008), people science’s education programs 

for scientific purposes should be considered as useful research tools for conservation 

biology purposes in Italian MPAs. A well structured and integrated management of 

data output from volunteers programs could represent a clever system to fill gaps of 

knowledge caused by limited research funding, with the associated side-effect of 

developing people motivation for environmental protection and sustainable tourisms in 

MPAs. Taking into account the above considerations, the establishment of a national 

network of interest that guarantees scientific level and quality control of data output 

from such volunteer programs (see www.for-mare.eu aims and objectives) could be an 

important issue to discuss amongst SIBM. 

Acknowledgements: Area Marine Protetta delle ‘Cinque Terre’, Area Marina Protetta ‘Isole Pelagie’, Parco 

Naturale Regionale di Porto Venere, Polo Nord Diving, Gruppo Seawatching, Commissione Scientifica For-Mare, 

Associazione Culturale ‘Il Melograno’, Provincia e Comune di Pavia, Comune di Piacenza, Istituto 

omnicomprensivo L. Pirandello Lampedusa-Linosa, Centro Recupero Tartarughe, Scubapro, FIAS, Legambiente 

Liguria, Associazione Nomofazu-Lecce. 

References 

BELL S., MARZANO M., CENT J., KOBIERSKA H., PODJED D., VENDZINSKAITE D., 

REINERT H., ARMAITIENE A., GRODZINSKA-JURCZAK M., MURSIC R. (2008) - What 

counts? Volunteers and their corganizations in the recording and monitorino of biodiversity. 

Biodiv. Conserv., 17: 3443-3454. 

DEEHR R.A., BARRY D.B., CHAGARIS D.D., LUCZKOVICH J.J. (2007) – Using Scuba and 

snorkeling methods to obtain model parameters for an ecopath network model for Calabash 

Caye, Belize, Central America. In: Pollock N.W., Godfrey J.M. (eds), Proceedings of the 

American Academy of Underwater Sciences 26 th Symposium. Dauphin Island, AL: AAUS; 2007. 

LOJACONO M. (1909) - Flora Sicula o Descrizione delle Piante Vascolari Spontanee o Indigenate 

Sicilia. Palermo. 

MONTEFALCONE M., ALBERTELLI G., MORRI C., PARRAVICINI V., BIANCHI C.N. (2009) - 

Legal protection is not enought: Posidonia oceanica meadows in marine protected areas are not 

healthier than those in unprotected areas on the nortwest Mediterranean Sea. Mar. Poll. Bull., 58: 

515-519. 

OLENIN S., MINCHIN D., DAUNYS D. (2007) - Assessment of biopollution in aquatic ecosystems. 

Mar. Poll. Bull., 55: 379-394. 

RAINERI P., SAVINI D. (2010) - Percnon gibbesi (Milne Edwards, 1853) in Linosa island ten years 

later after its first record. Proceedings of 39 th CIESM Congress, Venice, Italy. 


57



C. MUNARI, S. COMO 1 , E. KEPPEL 2 , C. LARDICCI 3 , P. MAGNI 4 , 

M. MISTRI, M. SIGOVINI 2 , D. TAGLIAPIETRA 2 

Dept. of Biology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari, 46 - 44100 Ferrara, Italy. 

msm@unife.it 

1 CNRS-UMR 6250 Littoral, Environnement et Societes, University La Rochelle, 17000 La Rochelle, France. 

2 CNR-ISMAR, Riva Sette Martiri, 1364/a - 30122 Venice, Italy. 

3 Dept. of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Derna, 1 - 56126 Pisa, Italy. 

4 CNR-IAMC, Loc. Sa Mardini, Torregrande, Oristano, Italy. 

TOWARDS THE MANAGEMENT OF TRANSITIONAL WATERS: 

ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL OF BENTHIC TOOLS 

LA RISPOSTA DI INDICATORI BENTONICI PER LA VALUTAZIONE 

DELLA QUALITÀ NEGLI ECOSISTEMI COSTIERI DI TRANSIZIONE 

Abstract – In order to assist decision-makers towards the management of coastal transitional waters, we 

tested the potential of three benthic indices (AMBI, M-AMBI and BITS) in hundreds stations from Italian 

CTEs, from the Northern Adriatic to Sardinia. Our study highlights i) a high correlation between AMBI and 

BITS results, despite the different level of taxonomic identification needed, ii) a high correlation between 

M-AMBI and species’ diversity and richness, iii) that M-AMBI overweights the number of species since in 

its calculation they are counted twice, iv) that M-AMBI acts as a “diversity-corrected AMBI”, and, thus, v) 

it suffers of the reduction of species number along the transitional gradient. This study suggests that in such 

environments M-AMBI classification seems unable to capture some peculiarities of benthic assemblages in 

transitional waters. The unmodified use of these indices might impair accurate assessment of ecological 

quality status and decision-making on the managers’ point of view. 

Key-words: biodiversity, environmental management, coastal transitional ecosystems. 

Introduction - Italian coastal transitional ecosystems (CTEs) exhibit different and 

peculiar characteristics depending on their geographical, hydrodynamic and ecological 

features, and are characterised by progressive changes in several environmental 

variables, often mutually dependent or correlated. These variations generate composite 

gradients that involve salinity, marine water renewal (e.g. residence time), nutrients, 

turbidity and sediment structure. (Tagliapietra et al., 2009). CTEs also display 

distinctive features in terms of their extraordinary history of environmental 

management, the importance of their productivity and associated economical value, 

which is reflected on the peculiarity of their fauna (Cognetti and Maltagliati, 2008). 

Along Italian coasts there are almost 170 CTEs, but 140 of them have a surface area 



sample was averaged for each station at each sampling time, leading to a total number 

of over 400 stations. Three different biotic indices were calculated for each site, 

namely AMBI (Borja et al., 2000) and M-AMBI (Muxika et al., 2007), and BITS 

(Mistri and Munari, 2008). AMBI and M-AMBI were calculated using the freeware 

program available on www.azti.es. For M-AMBI, reference conditions were: status 

High, muddy habitats: AMBI=1.67, Diversity=3, Richness=37; sandy habitats: 

AMBI=1.54, Diversity=3.93, Richness=39; status Bad, all habitats: AMBI=6, 

Diversity=0, Richness=0. BITS was calculated using the freeware program available 

on www.bits.unife.it. Regression between indices was performed not using the EcoQ 

status but the numerical score of each index in each station. Significance was assessed 

through regression ANOVA. Finally, the relationships between different indices and 

benthic community attributes were also investigated by means of regression analysis 

and ANOVA. 

Results - Because of the physiographical characteristics of Italian CTEs (closed 

lagoons have no sandy bottoms, while in semi-closed lagoons sand is found only in 

proximity of seamouths), the majority of our stations were on mud. Annelida largerly 

dominated in both habitats: Polydora ciliata, Capitella capitata, Heteromastus 

filiformis, Streblospio shrubsolii, Prionospio caspersi, Spio decoratus, Neanthes 

succinea and Tubificoides vestibulatus were the most common taxa. Among Crustacea, 

Corophium insidiosum was often recorded with elevated dominance at stations 

characterized by freshwater inputs, and Gammaridea (Microdeutopus gryllotalpa, 

Gammarus insensibilis) were often found associated to macroalgae (mostly Gracilaria 

sp. and Ulva sp.). The snail Hydrobia ventrosa was often abundant on decaying 

macroalgal remnants. On mud, richness and diversity were lower, and generally fewer 

taxa resulted as dominant. Regression between indices allowed us to assess whether the 

different indices displayed similar tendency in the classification of sites, i.e. it 

permitted to assess if two indices ranked the sites from worst to best in the same way 

regardless of the precise classes of EcoQ. Linear regression of BITS and AMBI/M- 

AMBI accounted for 44% and 36% of the variability of the entire dataset, respectively, 

with quite a low degree of dispersion over the entire range of both indices. The 

ANOVA of both regressions was highly significant. It meant that the BITS, AMBI and 

M-AMBI indices basically ranked stations in the same way from worst to best 

ecological condition. Only M-AMBI evidenced a very strong relationship with 

diversity (Fig. 1) and richness, with a low degree of dispersion of points on the graphs. 

This observation may seem quite trivial, since diversity and richness are the two 

metrics, together with AMBI, used in the multivariate formulation of M-AMBI. On the 

other hand, BITS and, to a lesser extent, AMBI showed quite a clear “tendency” to 

increase (the former) and decrease (the latter) with increasing diversity and richness. 


59

H' 



3,5 4 

4,5 

2,5 3 

1,5 2 

0,5 

0 

1 

M-AMBI vs H' 

0 0,3 0,6 0,9 1,2 

M-AMBI 

0,5 

0 

1 


60 

H' 

3,5 4 

4,5 

2,5 3 

1,5 2 

BITS vs H' 

0 1 2 3 4 

Fig. 1 - Example of relationships between M-AMBI and BITS with diversity in the Po Delta stations. 

Esempio della relazione tra M-AMBI e BITS con la diversità nelle stazioni del Delta del Po. 

Conclusions – This study provides a good example from a comprehensive large 

dataset of the levels and ranges of benthic pattern which can be encountered in Italian 

coastal transitional ecosystems. The pattern of ecological quality status of Italian CTEs 

obtained by applying three benthic indices was not always concordant, depending to 

the index selected. In spite of their diversity, these indices are based on the same 

paradigm: disturbances are generating secondary successions during which tolerant 

species are at first dominant and then progressively replaced by sensitive species 

(Pearson and Rosenberg, 1978). In CTEs, an index to be useful should display some 

“plasticity” in considering anthropogenic or natural disturbance. Ruellet and Dauvin 

(2007) argued that the inclusion of Shannon diversity and species richness in M-AMBI 

computation gives too much weight to diversity. Results from this study confirm 

previous observations (Ruellet and Dauvin, 2007) in Adriatic CTEs, and add the 

hypothesis that M-AMBI robustness is reduced under low salinity conditions. 

Conversely, AMBI and BITS, giving no weight to diversity but considering only the 

ecological meaning of species (or families) produced different classifications respect 

M-AMBI. In transition environments, chemical-physical parameters can represent 

limiting factors for species. In particular, salinity plays the most important role, since 

the distribution of organisms can be established in relation to isohalines (Cognetti and 

Maltagliati, 2000). The steno and euhaline species living in these environments follow 

a gradient of resistance to the increasing environmental stress, and at a critical salinity 

level (5-10 psu) there is a sharp numeric drop in species richness (Cognetti and 

Maltagliati, 2000)). The distribution pattern of the benthic fauna is similar to that found 

in polluted waters, since diversity and richness tend to decrease towards the source of 

disturbance, according to the Pearson and Rosenberg (1978) paradigm. But, as 

remarked by Cognetti and Maltagliati (2000) the difference as compared to CTEs lies 

in the fact that the maximum critical point in polluted waters corresponds to 

disappearance of the fauna, while in CTEs to a community made up of few taxa better 

adapted to low (or very variable) salinity. M-AMBI classification is too much 

dependent on diversity and richness, and seems unable to capture some peculiarities of 

benthic assemblages in transitional waters. On the other hand, AMBI and BITS gave 

often similar classifications, despite the different level of taxonomic identification 

needed (at the species level for AMBI and at the family level for BITS). Our study 

highlights i) a high correlation between AMBI and BITS results, ii) a high correlation 

between M-AMBI and species’ diversity and richness, iii) that M-AMBI overweights 

BITS



the number of species since in its calculation they are counted twice, iv) that M-AMBI 

acts as a “diversity-corrected AMBI”, and, thus, v) it suffers of the reduction of species 

number along the transitional gradient. Finally, most benthic indices require the use of 

the species level as the level of identification. According to the taxonomic sufficiency 

principle it is possible to use the genus or the family level of identification, thus 

reducing the cost of obtaining results in routine monitoring programs. Despite the 

AMBI check-list contains the benthic taxa at the species level, the taxonomic 

sufficiency principle is already present in the list since it also provides the ecological 

status of most of the genus, families and also higher taxonomic levels (e.g. Hydroides 

dianthus, Hydroides sp., Serpulidae; Tubificoides swirencoides, Tubificoides sp., 

Tubificidae, Oligochaeta; Heterotanais oerstedi, Heterotanais sp., Tanaidacea; etc.). A 

genus or family level of identification for the WFD implementation in the benthic 

compartment of Italian CTEs might be sufficient for evaluating the status of such water 

bodies. 

References 

BORJA A., FRANCO J., PEREZ V. (2000) - A marine biotic index to establish the ecological quality 

of soft-bottom benthos within European estuarine and coastal environments. Marine Pollution 

Bulletin, 40: 1100-1114. 

COGNETTI G., MALTAGLIATI F. (2000) - Biodiversity and adaptive mechanisms in brackish 

water fauna. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40: 7-14. 

COGNETTI G., MALTAGLIATI F. (2008) - Perspectives on the ecological assessment of 

transitional waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 56: 607-608. 

MISTRI M., MUNARI C. (2008) - BITS: a SMART indicator for soft-bottom, non-tidal lagoons. 

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 56: 587-599. 

MUXIKA I., BORJA A., BALD J. (2007) - Using historical data, expert judgement and multivariate 

analysis in assessing reference conditions and benthic ecological status, according to the 

European Water Framework Directive. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 55: 16-29. 

PEARSON T.H., ROSENBERG R. (1978) Macrobenthic succession in relation to organic enrichment 

and pollution of the marine environment. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual 

Review, 16: 229–311. 

RUELLET T., DAUVIN J.C. (2007) - Benthic indicators: analysis of the threshold values of 

ecological quality classifications for transitional waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54: 1707– 

1714. 

TAGLIAPIETRA D., SIGOVINI M., VOLPI GHIRARDINI A. (2009) - A review of terms and 

definitions to categorise estuaries, lagoons and associated environments. Marine and Freshwater 

Research, 60: 497-509. 


61



L. RIBERO, F. ESPOSITO, R. MUSSAT SARTOR, N. NURRA, D. PESSANI 

Laboratorio di Zoologia e Biologia Marina, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell’Uomo, Università di Torino, 

Via Accademia Albertina, 13 – 10123 Torino, Italia. 

daniela.pessani@unito.it 

ASPECTS OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE INFRALITTORAL 

OF ENFOLA ISTMUS (ELBA ISLAND) 

ASPETTI DI BIODIVERSITÀ NELL’INFRALITORALE 

DELL’ISTMO DELL’ENFOLA (ISOLA D’ELBA) 

Abstract – The northern and southern areas of the Enfola istmus (Elba Island) are analyzed to evaluate the 

biodiversity and conservation status of sea environment. A high level of biodiversity is present, in particular 

in southern coast, above all in regard to Gastropods and Polychaetes community. The study puts in 

evidence in both the areas the presence of a wide, well preserved Posidonia oceanica meadow and 

numerous specimens of Pinna nobilis, mainly juvenile in the southern area of the istmus. 

Key-words: Gastropods, Polychaetes, Posidonia oceanica, Pinna nobilis, Elba Island. 

Introduction – The only established SIC (Site of Community Importance) in the Elba 

Island is the one named “Capanne Mountain and the Enfola Promontory”; it protects 

only the land environment. Enfola Promontory is joined to island by an istmus (Fig. 1) 

placed in N-S direction. At present, data relevant to the marine habitat of the 

Promontory do not exist. 

The aim of this research is to evaluate the health status of the marine environment in 

northern and southern areas of the istmus through a preliminary description of the: 1) 

benthonic community of mesolittoral and upper infralittoral hard bottom; 2) Posidonia 

oceanica meadow growing on soft bottom in the two areas. 

Fig. 1 – Site of the study: Elba Island and detail of Enfola istmus (source: Google Earth). 

Area di studio: Isola d’Elba e dettaglio dell’istmo dell’Enfola (fonte: Google Earth). 

Materials and methods – At first, data on biology, ecology, geomorphology and 

vegetation were collected. Then four sampling stations were located in each area (N 

and S): two on natural hard bottom (granitic and calcareus rocks) and two on artificial 

hard bottom (mole and quay). The sample and its replicate were collected at the 

maximum depth of 1 m, in spring (May) and autumn (September, 2008), by scraping of 


62



an area of 400 cm 2 (Bianchi et al., 2003). For each of the 16 samples (more 16 

replicates), the main macroalgal taxa were identified; Molluscs (Poliplacophora, 

Gasteropoda and Bivalvia), Polychaetes and Decapods were identified at specific level 

(Bianchi et al., 2003). The quantitative and qualitative results as well as the 

environmental factors, like seasonal hydrodynamism, wind exposition and substratum, 

were analyzed through Cluster Analysis, n-MDS Analysis, and Symper Analysis using 

Primer v6 β. The biodiversity level was assessed by means of Shannon-Weaver Index. 

As regard Posidonia oceanica beds, shoots density in upper, middle, and lower zones, 

maximum depth and type of the lower limit were analyzed (Buia et al., 2003). In 

addition, a Pinna nobilis population, present in upper zone of the southern meadow, 

was studied in detail; for each specimen, settlement depth was noted down, maximum 

width and length of the bigger valve were measured. 

Results – The northern coast is in front of the open sea and exposed to winter winds 

action (high hydrodynamism area); the southern coast is located inside the Viticcio 

Gulf and sheltered from these winds (low hydrodynamism area). Photophilic algae 

community is typical of mesolittoral and upper infralittoral hard substrata: Cystoseira 

spp., Padina pavonica, Stypocaulum scoparium, Rissoella verrucolosa, Acetabularia 

spp. are the main observed taxa. In N area 2591 specimens, belonging to 98 species (37 

Molluscs, 49 Polychaetes, and 12 Decapods), were identified compared to the 2201 

ones, belonging to 157 species (63 Molluscs, 73 Polychaetes and 21 Decapods), in S 

area. Thirty-eight species characterized N area, 93 species the S one; 64 species are 

common to both areas. In the southern part of the istmus, species typical of high 

hydrodynamic conditions, such as the Polychaetes Syllis armillaris and Perinereis 

cultrifera (Bellan, 1969), were found. 

In the two sites, Polychaetes are the richest taxon as regard the number both of species 

and specimens; a conspicuous quali-quantitative increase of this taxon is evident in 

September, more pronounced in respect to the other taxa. 

The total biodiversity level is high in all the stations: Shannon-Weaver Index shows 

noticeable values, especially as regard the samples relevant to the S area (Fig. 2). 

Fig. 2 - Shannon-Weaver Index. N area samples (sample and replicate), in black, S area samples (in 

grey). 

Indice di Shannon-Weaver per i campionamenti (campione e replica) nell’area N (in nero) e 

nell’area S (in grigio). 


63 

Legend 

RE = rocky bottom, E side, N area 

SE = rocky bottom, E side, S area 

RW = rocky bottom, W side, N 

area 

SW = rocky bottom, W side, S 

area 

BN = quay, N side, N area 

ME = mole, E side, S area 

BW = quay, W side, N area 

MW = mole, W side, S area 

-M = samples of May 

-S = samples of September



Results show that surface hydrodynamism is the main environmental factor of 

dissimilarity between the two areas, despite the scarce distance (less than 80 meters) 

which separates them. Benthonic community of northern area, exposed to winter winds 

action, is more heterogeneous; on the contrary, the community of the southern one 

seems to be more influenced by the type of substratum rather than by the 

hydrodynamism (Fig. 3). 

Fig. 2 – n-MDS Analysis. Samples relevant to N area, in grey; samples relevant to S area, in black. 

Continuous line separates the two areas, dashed line separates the two types of substratum. 

n-MDS Analysis. In grigio, i campioni relativi all’area N; in nero, i campioni relativi all’area 

S. La linea continua evidenzia la separazione tra le due aree, mentre il tratteggio separa i due 

tipi di substrato (area S). 

The abundance (number of specimens) of the species typical of the photophilic algae 

biocoenosis (Gastropods Bittium latreillii, Bittium reticulatum, Cerithium vulgatum, 

and Polychaetes Polyophthalmus pictus, Platynereis dumerilii and Syllis prolifera), 

present in both areas, is another of factors which differentiate the northern and southern 

benthonic community, such as Symper Analysis demonstrates. Dissimilarity is evident 

in Spring, when hydrodynamic conditions are more marked and different between 

areas. 

With respect to Posidonia oceanica, the study shows a progressive and deep lower 

limit (-35,7 m in N area, and -36 m in S area). Meadows are well-preserved, as shoots 

density data demonstrate in upper, middle and lower zones (Pergent, 1995 in Buia et 

al., 2003). Disturbance indices were observed in the upper zone of the both meadows, 

emphasized by sandy areas in which the plant is absent. It is possible to hypothesize 

that the disturbance is the consequence of high hydrodynamism in N area and the 

human impact in the S one. 

Pinna nobilis, present in both the meadows, constitutes a population in the S area, 

where 29 juvenile clams are counted. The length of biggest valve vary between 7,9 and 

26,7 cm, the width between 7,2 e 23,5 cm. The specimens are settled between -3,2 and 

-6,1 m. 

Conclusions – For the first time a preliminary analysis of the marine benthonic 

community of the Enfola istmus has been performed. In future, data on algal 

biodiversity, streams trend, and human impact need to be studied in detail as well as 

the communities of the lower infralittoral zone. Nevertheless, the presence of a rich 

biodiversity and species ascribed to Habitat Directive (Posidonia oceanica and Pinna 

nobilis) must be an incentive to preserve the marine areas. The Laboratory Zoology 


64



and Marine Biology of the Turin University has just asked to Environmental Ministry 

to include in the existing SIC area also the marine environment of the Enfola itsmus. 

References 

BELLAN G. (1969) - Polychaetes des horizons supérieures de l’étage infralittoral roucheux dans la 

région provençale. Tehtys, 1 (2): 349-366. 



SALVATI E., BENZONI F., CALCINAI B., CERRANO C., BAVESTRELLO G. (2003) - I 

fondi duri. Manuale di Metodologie di campionamento del benthos marino mediterraneo Cap. 6. 

Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 10 (Suppl.): 199-232. 

BUIA M.C., GAMBI M.C., DAPPIANO M. (2003) - I sistemi a fanerogame marine. Manuale di 

Metodologie di campionamento del benthos marino mediterraneo. Cap. 5. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 

10 (Suppl.): 145-198. 


65



F. ROGHI, V. PARRAVICINI, M. MONTEFALCONE, A. ROVERE, C. MORRI, A. PEIRANO 1 , 

M. FIRPO, C.N. BIANCHI, E. SALVATI 2 

DipTeRis, Department for the study of the Territory and its Resources, University of Genoa, 

Corso Europa 26 - 16132 Genoa, Italy. 

fiorenzaroghi@yahoo.it 

1 ENEA, Marine Environment Research Centre, C.P. 224 - 19100 La Spezia, Italy. 

2 ISPRA, Superior Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via V. Brancati, 48 - 00144 Rome, Italy. 

DECADAL EVOLUTION OF A CORALLIGENOUS ECOSYSTEM UNDER 

THE INFLUENCE OF HUMAN IMPACTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE 

EVOLUZIONE DECENNALE DI UN ECOSISTEMA CORALLIGENO 

SOTTO L’INFLUSSO DEGLI IMPATTI ANTROPICI 

E DEL CAMBIAMENTO CLIMATICO 

Abstract – Long-term change in the coralligenous community of Punta Mesco (Ligurian Sea) was evaluated 

merging qualitative information contained in descriptive papers since 1937 with quantitative data obtained 

from discontinuous photographic surveys since 1961. Increased sedimentation rate and surface-water 

temperature were responsible for the major changes observed in benthic assemblages. 

Key-words: coralligenous, long-term change, UW photography, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction - Marine coastal ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to global 

change. The best way to evaluate their decadal-scale variation is to monitor locations 

where long-term series are available (Bianchi and Morri, 2004). Yet, data sets encompassing 

time scales longer than a few years are scarce, especially for Mediterranean rocky benthic 

communities. Nevertheless it is possible to reconstruct the ecological history of an 

individual community revisiting a site where previous information is available, in the 

bibliography or in the archives of research institutes. This study explores such a 

possibility in the case of a coralligenous community, for which knowledge about 

vulnerability to human impacts and climate change is urgent (Ballesteros, 2006). 

Materials and methods - We attempted to assess a 50 years time-scale change of a 

coralligenous community located on a shoal off Punta Mesco, Ligurian Sea (Fig. 1), 

comparing biotic cover data collected in 1961, 1990, 1996 and 2008 through 

underwater photography at about 20 to 45 m depth. These quantitative data have been 

supplemented with qualitative information, gathered from the analysis of several 

descriptive studies carried out since 1937 (Tab. 1). Merging qualitative information and 

quantitative data allowed a conspicuous, although discontinuous, amount of 

information on the recent history of this coralligenous ecosystem to be analysed. 


66



Fig. 1 - Gross morphology of the shoal off Punta Mesco (from Salvati 1997, modified). 

Morfologia approssimativa della secca di Punta Mesco (da Salvati 1997, modificata). 

Tab. 1 Available information on Punta Mesco benthic assemblages. 

Informazioni disponibili sulle comunità bentiche di Punta Mesco. 

Year References Kind of data Notes 

1937 Tortonese and 

Faraggiana, 1937 

Qualitative description of 

the bottoms off Levanto 

1960 Rossi, 1961 Species list, qualitative 

data about gorgonian 

assemblages 

1960 Rossi, 1965 a Influence of 

environmental factors on 

gorgonian assemblages 

1960 Rossi, 1965 b Quantitative biotic cover 

data from underwater 

photographs 

1975 Associazione 

Subacquea 

Parmasub, 1976 

1978 Andreoli 

1979 

et al., 

Photographic 

documentation, qualitative 

data, species list 

Qualitative data on 

benthic communities off 

Levanto 

1985 Relini et al., 1986 Video of bottoms using a 

ROV, qualitative benthic 

assemblages description, 

comparison with Rossi, 

1965 a, b 


67 

Presence of Eunicella verrucosa, Paramuricea 

chamaleon and Petrosia dura 

At 20-25 m abundance of Eunicella stricta; at 30 m 

dominance of Paramuricea chamaleon, followed by 

Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Eunicella verrucosa, 

Gerardia savaglia 

Mud favours Eunicella verrucosa, Alcyonium 

coralloides, Cellaria fistulosa. Some bryozoans and 

corals are tolerant to mud while sciaphilic species thrive 

in shallower waters because of water turbidity 

Use of cover index and bottom classification based on 

slope and depth; abundance of gorgonians, especially 

Paramuricea chameleon, frequency of Gerardia 

savaglia 

Absence of pollution, clear water, scarce differences 

comparing to Rossi (1965 a, b) 

Good state of conservation of benthic assemblages, 

presence of Paramuricea clavata at depths shallower 

than usual 

Scarcity of Eunicella singularis, lack of Gerardia 

savaglia, and Paramuricea clavata reduction especially 

at depth; intense turbidity from 25 m depth and high 

sedimentation rate at the bottom



1988 Peirano and 

Tunesi, 1989 

Underwater photographs, 

quantitative data on 

anthozoans, comparison 

with Rossi, 1965 a, b 

1989 Tunesi et al., 1989 Visual survey, gorgonian 

assemblages distribution 

1990 Peirano and 

Sassarini, 1992 

1996 Peirano et al., 

2000; Bianchi et 

al., 2001; Morri 

and Bianchi, 2001 


quantitative cover data 



2008 Present work Underwater pictures, 



68 

Increased Paramuricea clavata and Leptopsammia 

pruvoti cover, and occurrence of the latter at shallow 

depths; reduction in the number of scleractinian corals 

Map of gorgonian assemblages, occurrence of Eunicella 

singularis 

Biotic cover percentage, abundance of Paramuricea 

clavata, Parazoanthus axinellae and Leptogorgia 

sarmentosa 

Slight differences with respect to Peirano and Sassarini 

(1992). Compared with Rossi (1965), lack of 

Lithophyllum frondosum, Peyssonnelia sp. and increase 

in Parazoanthus axinellae and Leptopsammia pruvoti 

cover: algae diminished, while anthozoans increased 

and were found at shallower depths. Observed change 

was related to water turbidity and temperature. 

See text 

Results and conclusions - Two major factors influenced the recent evolution of the 

benthic community: the increased sedimentation rate, and the rising surface-water 

temperature. Major alterations in species composition and abundance occurred 

withinthe 1990s mostly due to the increased siltation of the rocky substrates, favoured 

by coastal works and the appearance of turfs of filamentous algae (including the alien 

species Womersleyella setacea). This altered dramatically the species composition of 

the understorey assemblage (disappearance of massive sponges, change in bushy 

bryozoan species, etc.) and reduced gorgonian cover. Eunicella singularis has never 

been found again at shallow depth after the late 1980s, whereas cover and distribution 

of Paramuricea clavata has decreased; no significant change was observed for 

Leptogorgia sarmentosa. However, interpretation of results must be cautious, since 

quantitative data may differ because of change in photographic techniques 

(Rolleimarine to Nikonos), quantitative data gathering, inhomogeneous taxonomic 

resolution, and lack of replication in old surveys. The most evident recent changes, 

occurred between 1996 and 2008, were the dramatic reduction of Paramuricea clavata 

cover and the invasion by the tropical alien Caulerpa racemosa, especially in depth 

shallower than 35 m (see also Peirano et al., 2009). Both changes might be related to 

the increase of sea-water temperature: downward lifting of the summer thermocline 

massively killed gorgonians, while the new environmental conditions favoured the 

spreading and establishment of tropical aliens to the detriment of native species. 

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Gianni Roghi (1927-1967), pioneer in scuba diving and 

UW photography. 

References 

ANDREOLI M.G., LOPPEL S., ORSINI C. (1979) - Analisi di una ricerca. Il golfo di Levanto. Cassa 

di Risparmio di La Spezia. 

ASSOCIAZIONE SUBACQUEA PARMA SUB, SEZ. RICERCHE (1976) - Salviamo il mare. 

Documentazione scientifica e fotografica di Punta del Mesco. Grafiche “Step”, Parma: 59 pp. 

BALLESTEROS E. (2006) - Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages: a synthesis of present 

knowledge. Oceanography and marine Biology: an annual Review, 44: 123-195.



BIANCHI C.N., MORRI C. (2004) - Climate change and biological response in Mediterranean Sea 

ecosystems, a need for broad-scale and long-term research. Ocean Challenge, 2003, 13 (2): 32- 

36. 

BIANCHI C.N., PEIRANO A., SALVATI E., MORRI C. (2001) - Assessing interannual and decadal 

changes in marine epibenthic assemblages through UW photography: an example from Punta 

Mesco, Ligurian Sea. Archivio di Oceanografia e Limnologia, 22: 83-86. 

MORRI C., BIANCHI C.N. (2001) - Recent changes in biodiversity in the Ligurian Sea (NW 

Mediterranean): is there a climatic forcing? In: F.M. Faranda, L. Guglielmo, G. Spezie (eds), 

Mediterranean ecosystems: structures and processes. Springer-Verlag, Milan: 375-384. 

PEIRANO A., SALVATI E., BIANCHI C.N., MORRI C. (2000) - Long-term change in the subtidal 

epibenthic assemblages of Punta Mesco (Ligurian Sea, Italy) as assessed through underwater 

photography. Porcupine Marine Natural History Society Newsletter, 5: 9-12. 

PEIRANO A., SASSARINI M. (1992) - Analisi delle caratteristiche distributive di alcune facies di 

substrato duro dei fondali delle Cinque Terre (Mar Ligure). Oebalia, 17 (Suppl.): 523-528. 

PEIRANO A., SGORBINI S., CUPIDO R., LOMBARDI C., COCITO S. (2009) - Decadal 

monitoring of corralligenous and bioconstruction organisms in the eastern Ligurian sea (NW 

Mediterraean). Proceedings of the 1st Mediterranean Symposium on the Coralligenous and other 

calcareous bio-concretions of the Mediterranean Sea (Tabarka, 15-16 January 2009): 233-235. 

PEIRANO A., TUNESI L. (1989) - Modificazioni nella composizione del popolamento ad Antozoi 

del coralligeno di Punta Mesco (Mar Ligure di Levante) a 30 anni dalle prime osservazioni. 

Nova Thalassia, 10: 543-548. 

RELINI G., ARDIZZONE G.D., BELLUSCIO A. (1986) - Le biocenosi bentoniche costiere delle 

Cinque Terre (Mar Ligure Orientale). Bollettino dei Musei e degli Istituti Biologici 

dell’Università di Genova, 52 (Suppl.): 163-195. 

ROSSI L. (1961) - Sur une facies à Gorgonaires de la Pointe du Mesco (Golfe de Gênes). Rapports et 

Procès-verbaux des Réunions de la C.I.E.S.M., 16 (2): 517-521. 

ROSSI L. (1965a) - Il coralligeno di Punta Mesco (La Spezia). Annali del Museo Civico di Storia 

Naturale di Genova, 75: 144-180. 

ROSSI L. (1965b) - Influenza dei fattori ambientali delle facies a Gorgonacei di Punta del Mesco. 

Bollettino di Zoologia, 32 (2): 859-865. 

SALVATI E. (1997) - Studio del coralligeno di Punta Mesco (Mar Ligure orientale) tramite analisi 

di immagine e confronto con dati storici. Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", a.a. 

1996-1997: 112 pp. 

TORTONESE E., FARAGGIANA R. (1937) - Osservazioni biologiche nell’insenatura di Levanto 

(Riviera Ligure). Natura, 28: 51-72. 

TUNESI L., PEIRANO A., ROMEO G., SASSARINI M. (1989) - Distribuzione delle facies a 

Gorgonacei sui fondali costieri delle Cinque Terre (Mar Ligure di Levante). Nova Thalassia, 10: 

615-616. 

Research done within the frame of the project ‘The impacts of biological invasions and climate 

change on the biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea’ (Italy–Israel co-operation) funded by the Italian 

Ministry of the Environment. 


69



A. SCINTO, U. PANTALEO, G. SERLUCA, C.G. DI CAMILLO * , 

F. BETTI * , G. BAVESTRELLO * , C. CERRANO 

DipTeRis, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genova, Italia. 

alice.scinto@unige.it 

* DisMar, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italia. 

ANALISI COMPARATIVA DI POPOLAMENTI DI GROTTE 

SOTTOMARINE DIVERSAMENTE FREQUENTATE DALL’ATTIVITÀ 

SUBACQUEA 

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT MARINE CAVE ASSEMBLAGES 

CHARACTERIZED BY DIFFERENT INTENSITIES OF DIVING TOURISM 

Abstract – The benthic assemblages of three marine caves from the MPA of Capo Caccia (Sardinia, Italy) 

have been compared to evaluate the impact of diving tourism. The caves are characterized by three level of 

divers frequentation, not visited, visited and highly visited. Data evidenced that organisms with erect 

calcareous skeletons can be the most endangered by divers and the evaluation of skeletons in the bottom 

sediment a good indicator of the level of impact the cave is undergoing. 

Key-words: benthos, man-induced effects, caves, marine parks. 

Introduzione - Le grotte sottomarine, incluse tra gli habitat di interesse comunitario 

della Direttiva Habitat (Direttiva 92/43/CEE), rappresentano ambienti molto fragili e 

particolari (Pitruzzello e Russo, 2008). Affascinanti per le strutture geomorfologiche 

naturalmente generate e per gli intimi meccanismi della loro formazione, le grotte 

marine sono particolarmente interessanti anche per i processi che hanno portato 

all’evoluzione di endemismi e adattamenti spesso unici (Cicogna et al., 2003). Con lo 

sviluppo delle tecniche dell’immersione subacquea autonoma e successivamente con la 

diffusione del turismo subacqueo, le immersioni in grotta sono diventate 

particolarmente appetibili non solo per la bellezza dei paesaggi sottomarini ma anche 

per il senso di avventura che offrono ai subacquei più esperti. 

Le associazioni bentoniche insediate sulle pareti e sulle volte delle grotte sono 

principalmente composte da poriferi, madreporari, briozoi e policheti tubicoli (Di 

Geronimo et al., 2000). Questi organismi, caratterizzati da scheletri rigidi, in gran parte 

carbonatici, sono particolarmente fragili e subiscono gli effetti meccanici derivanti dal 

turismo subacqueo. 

La fragilità delle comunità di grotta e il loro elevato valore naturalistico e scientifico 

richiedono strumenti di valutazione dell’impatto allo scopo di mettere a punto gli 

elementi di una corretta gestione e fruizione. In questo lavoro, allo scopo di 

quantificare gli effetti dei subacquei sulla struttura dei popolamenti di grotta, sono state 

messe a confronto cavità frequentate con altre non frequentate utilizzando un tipo di 

campionamento conservativo attuato mediante l’utilizzo di video-transetti e la raccolta 

di sedimenti. Questi ultimi sono spesso ricchi di frazione organogena, in gran parte 

costituita dai resti scheletrici provenienti delle comunità sessili delle pareti (Di 

Geronimo et al., 2000). Il loro studio fornisce utili indicazioni sull’evoluzione delle 

associazioni faunistiche all’interno della grotta e sul livello di impatto al quale sono 

sottoposte. 


70



Materiali e metodi - Le attività sono state svolte nell’ambito del progetto “Studio 

degli Ambienti di Grotte Marine Sommerse (Codice Habitat 8330) nelle AMP di 

Pelagie, Plemmirio e Capo Caccia”. Nel presente studio sono state prese in 

considerazione alcune grotte marine localizzate all’interno dell’Area Marina Protetta di 

Capo Caccia caratterizzate da un diverso livello di impatto. 

La grotta Galatea, normalmente non frequentata da subacquei (impatto nullo), è 

caratterizzata da un’ampia apertura tra 3 e 9 m di profondità, raggiunge la profondità 

massima di 12 m ed una lunghezza totale di circa 70 m. La grotta Bisbe è 

sporadicamente frequentata da subacquei (impatto intermedio), presenta anch’essa 

un’ampia apertura tra 4 e 9 m di profondità e si sviluppa per circa 37 m raggiungendo 

la massima profondità di 10 m. Infine la grotta del Falco, normalmente frequentata da 

subacquei (impatto elevato) è una cavità caratterizzata da due ingressi separati da un 

largo costone, uno a 5 e l’altro a 12 m di profondità. La grotta si sviluppa per 60 m 

raggiungendo la profondità massima di 12 m. 

L’impatto dei subacquei sul benthos delle grotte è stato valutato tramite due diversi 

metodi in giugno e settembre 2009. 

Video transetti sono stati effettuati mediante utilizzo di videocamera digitale (Canon 

MVX2i) nella zona centrale di una parete e nel centro della volta di ogni grotta ad una 

distanza di circa 0,5 m. Durante la riproduzione del video ogni 10 secondi è stato 

operato un fermo immagine dal quale è stato ricavato il ricoprimento percentuale delle 

diverse specie e/o gruppi sopraspecifici presenti. In particolare sono stati presi in 

considerazione: poriferi, madreporari, briozoi (eretti) e serpulidi. 

Successivamente alle riprese video è stato effettuato il campionamento dei sedimenti 

con tre repliche per ciascuno dei tre settori. In laboratorio i campioni di sedimento sono 

stati seccati (in stufa a 60 °C per 48h) e separati mediante setacci di differente maglia 

(2 mm, 1mm). Si sono così ottenute e pesate tre frazioni (>2 mm; >1 mm 1 mm



frazione grossolana è rappresentata da frammenti di molluschi (32%) e da serpulidi 

(10%) mentre risultano completamente assenti i briozoi eretti. 

Nella grotta di Falco (impatto elevato) la parete presenta un elevato ricoprimento di 

poriferi lungo tutto lo sviluppo, madrepore soprattutto nel settore terminale, briozoi 

eretti e serpulidi che diminuiscono dall’esterno verso l’interno. La volta è caratterizzata 

da una presenza rilevante di madreporari principalmente nel settore intermedio, di 

serpulidi principalmente nella parte terminale e di poriferi in prossimità dell’ingresso. I 

briozoi sono rari. Il corallo rosso è presente solo nel settore intermedio e terminale 

della volta della grotta. Nei sedimenti domina (60%) la frazione >2 mm. Per quel che 

riguarda gli organismi a scheletro calcareo la frazione grossolana è rappresentata 

principalmente da madreporari (27%) e da frammenti di molluschi (20%) e, in misura 

minore da frammenti di colonie di briozoi eretti (5%) e corallo rosso (2%). 

Conclusioni- Il confronto tra le tre grotte ha evidenziato come l’analisi dei sedimenti 

consenta di definire alcuni possibili indicatori per la valutazione dello stato di fruizione 

delle cavità. Nella grotta di Falco, maggiormente impattata dal turismo subacqueo, i 

frammenti di organismi a scheletro calcificato rappresentano il 26,7% in peso del 

sedimento totale mentre nelle altre due grotte la percentuale è molto più bassa (2 e 

1,5% rispettivamente per le grotte Bisbe e Galatea). In questa grotta il maggiore 

apporto è dato dalle madrepore che contribuiscono al sedimento totale per oltre il 16%. 

Questo dato può essere solo parzialmente spiegato dalla maggior presenza di questi 

organismi sulla volta della grotta del Falco come messo in evidenza dai videotransetti 

(Fig. 1A, B). 

Anche i frammenti di serpulidi rappresentano un buon indicatore dell’impatto dei 

subacquei. Infatti, benché la loro abbondanza sia maggiore sulla volta dalla grotta di 

Falco, intermedia nella grotta Bisbe e minima nella grotta Galatea, la loro presenza nei 

sedimenti ha un andamento esattamente contrario (Fig. 1C, D). I briozoi eretti hanno 

una percentuale di ricoprimento bassa sulla volta delle grotte ma aumentano di 

importanza sulle pareti. Ciononostante il confronto tra Falco e Galatea indica che 

anche questo gruppo può rappresentare un utile indicatore (Fig. 1E, F). È probabile 

che, a causa dell’estrema fragilità del loro scheletro, i frammenti di briozoi nei 

sedimenti vengono rapidamente resi irriconoscibili. Per questo i briozoi potrebbero 

essere un indicatore di impatto recente mentre serpulidi e, soprattutto, madrepore, 

potrebbero meglio spiegare una pluriennale storia di impatto sofferta dalle grotte. 


72



Ricoprimento percentuale 

Frazione sedimentaria (%) 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

20 

18 

16 

14 

12 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

B 

Madrepore 

A 

Galatea Bisbe Falco 

Madrepore 




70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

0 

Serpulidi 


D 

Fig. 1 – A, C, E, percentuale media di ricoprimento dei principali gruppi di organismi sulle pareti 

(barre bianche) e sulla volta (barre grigie) delle tre grotte. B, D, F, percentuale media del 

sedimento totale rappresentata da frammenti degli scheletri degli stessi gruppi. 

A, C, E, average percent covering of the main groups of organisms on the walls (white bars) 

and on the roofs (grey bars) of the studied caves. B, D, F, average percent of the total 

sediment represented by the skeletal fragments of the same groups. 

È noto che gli organismi a scheletro carbonatico sono spesso attaccati da poriferi 

bioperforatori che contribuiscono a staccarli dalle pareti (Cerrano et al., 2001). Anche 

l’idrodinamismo può giocare un ruolo in questo fenomeno. Benché lo studio dei 

sedimenti in relazione alle comunità presenti sulla volta e sulle pareti delle grotta 

rappresenti un utile strumento nel valutare lo stato di sofferenza dovuto all’ingresso di 

subacquei è necessaria, in questa valutazione, una buona conoscenza dei processi 

biologici e idrologici che influiscono sulla composizione delle comunità delle singole 

cavità. 

Bibliografia 

CERRANO C., BAVESTRELLO G., BIANCHI C.N., CALCINAI B., CATTANEO-VIETTI R., 

MORRI C., SARÀ M. (2001) - The role of sponge bioerosion in the Mediterranean 

coralligenous accretion. In: F.M. Faranda, L. Guglielmo, G. Spezie (eds), Mediterranean 

Ecosystems: Structures and Processes. Springer-Verlag, Milano: 235-240. 

CICOGNA F., BIANCHI C.N., FERRARI G., FORTI P. (2003) - Grotte Marine. Cinquant'anni di 

ricerche in Italia. Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio: 505 pp. 

DI GERONIMO I., LA PERNA R., ROSSO A., SANFILIPPO R., TADDEI RUGGIERO E. (2000) – 

Associazioni bentoniche da sedimenti di grotte carsiche in Sicilia. Speleologia Iblea, 8: 97-102. 

PITRUZZELLO P., RUSSO G.F. (2008) – Particolarità ambientali di due grotte sottomarine dell’area 

marina protetta del Plemmirio (Siracusa, Sicilia). Biologi Italiani, 11: 41-47. 


73 

C 

Serpulidi 




8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

F 

Briozoi eretti 


Briozoi eretti 

E 

Galatea Bisbe Falco



A. SFRISO, C. FACCA 

Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Venice, Calle Larga, S. Marta, 2137, Venice, Italy. 

sfrisoad@unive.it 

MACROPHYTES AS BIOLOGICAL ELEMENT FOR THE ASSESSMENT 

AND MANAGEMENT OF TRANSITIONAL WATER SYSTEMS 

IN THE MEDITERRANEAN ECOREGION 

L’ELEMENTO BIOLOGICO MACROFITE PER LA VALUTAZIONE 

E LA GESTIONE DEGLI AMBIENTI DI TRANSIZIONE 

NELL’ECOREGIONE MEDITERRANEA 

Abstract – Macrophytes (macroalgae and angiosperms) are one of the biological quality elements (BQE) 

proposed by the European Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) to assess the ecological status 

of coastal waters and transitional systems. Here the application of the available indices (MaQI, Italy and 

EEI, Greece) set up to attempt to the WFD requirements for the Mediterranean Ecoregion are presented 

and applied to 5 Venice Lagoon areas of different ecological status. Indices are based on a different 

rationale but whereas MaQI can be used also in the presence of a single taxon with a negligible biomass 

coverage, EEI requires a coverage >30%. 

Key-words: Phytobenthos, aquatic plants, environmental monitoring, MaQI, EEI, Venice Lagoon. 

Introduction – The first studies that related macrophytes to some environment 

pollution events go back to the 1970s. Phytosociological studies and the 

Rhodophyceae/Phaeophyceae ratio (R/P) were the most interesting application of 

macrophyte vegetation in the coastal waters of Trieste, Marsiglia and in some Sardinia 

and Sicilia areas but only in the 2000s, under the WFD promotion, the first well 

structured phytobenthic indices were proposed (Giaccone & Catra, 2004). 

In 2001, some Greek researchers proposed the application of the Ecological Evaluation 

Index (EEI) based on the per cent coverage and macrophyte distinction in two 

functional groups: the late successional (ESG I) and the opportunistic (ESG II) species 

(Orfanidis et al., 2001, 2003). The index is applied both to coastal and transitional 

waters and now it is also accepted by Cipro, Slovenia and Croatia. In Italy, since the 

2002 (Sfriso et al., 2002), a strong relationship between the Rhodophyta/Chlorophyta 

ratio (R/C) and the environment ecological status was recorded and this index was 

employed for the assessment of both coastal waters and transitional systems. 

Concurrently, for transitional systems, a more precise methodology: the Macrophyte 

Quality Index (MaQI), both in an expert (E-MaQI) and rapid (R-MaQI) version was set 

up (Sfriso et al., 2007, 2009). In 2009 MaQI was accepted by Italy for the national 

transitional water assessment. 

At present an intercalibration exercise between the Mediterranean Geographycal 

Intercalibration Groups (Med-GIG) of each Mediterranean Member State is occurring 

by applying the national method of Greece (EEI) and the national method of Italy 

(MaQI). 

In this paper an example of their application in stations of different ecological status 

sampled in Venice Lagoon in 2008 is presented. 

Materials and methods – Fig. 1 shows the central part of the Venice Lagoon and the 5 

sampling sites. Each station has a ray of 15-20 m and it includes both soft and hard 


74



substrata. Macroalgae have been recorded in June and October 2008 by SCUBA 

divers. Concurrently, total macrophyte coverage was determined. The coverage of the 

dominant taxa was obtained by sorting and weighting the dominant taxa of 3-6 samples 

recorded by a rake according to ISPRA sampling methodologies (ISPRA, 2008) and 

their successive integration which is under publication. The reference EQR values are 

1.03 and 1.00 for euhaline and polyhaline stations, respectively (Sfriso et al., 2009). 

Fig. 1 – Central part of the Venice Lagoon and sampling stations. Assessment by MaQI application. 

Parte centrale della laguna di Venezia e stazioni di campionamento. Valutazione dello stato 

ecologico mediante l'applicazione dell'indice MaQI. 

Results – Total macrophytes ranged from 107 taxa (105 macroalgae and 2 

angiosperms) at St. 1 (San Nicolò) to 17 taxa at St. 5 (Marco Polo Airport) (Tab. 1). 

The numbers are the sum of the taxa recorded in June and October and, obviously they 

are higher than each single sampling. Seagrasses were recorded only at St. 1 (San 

Nicolò) and at St. 2 (Alberoni Ottagono). The R/C ratio, ranged from 1.8 at St. 1 to 0.4 

at St. 5. By normalising the values with the highest values recorded in the reference 

areas (2.21 and 2.00 for euhaline and polyhaline stations, respectively, Sfriso et al., 

2009) the station assessment is “High” for St. 1, “Good” for Sts. 2 (Alberoni Ottagono) 

and 3 (Lido watershed), “Poor” for St. 4 (San Giuliano) whereas at station 5 (Marco 

Polo Airport) the index is not applicable because of the number of species is lower than 

20. 


75



Tab. 1 - Check-List of macrophytes (macroalgae and angiosperms) recorded in some stations of the 

Venice Lagoon in June and October 2008 and indices of ecological status application. 

Lista delle macrofite (macroalghe e angiosperme) raccolte in alcune stazioni della laguna 

di Venezia in giugno ed in ottobre 2008 ed applicazione di indici di stato ecologico. 

Macrophytes 

EEI Assessment 

June 

St. 1 (S. Nicolò) 

October 

June + 

October 

June 


76 

St. 2 (Alberoni Ottagono) 

October 

Total taxa 89 91 105 66 65 88 56 49 75 30 25 40 14 9 17 

%Chlorophyta 29 30 31 33 35 35 45 43 41 47 52 53 71 89 71 

%Rhodophyta 60 59 58 59 60 58 52 57 56 50 48 45 29 11 29 

%Phaeophyceae 8 8 9 5 2 5 4 0 3 3 0 3 0 0 0 

R/C 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.4 

(R/C) / EQR 0.92 0.90 0.84 0.80 0.77 0.74 0.52 0.60 0.61 0.48 0.42 0.39 0.18 0.06 0.19 

R/C Assessment High Good Good Poor 

- 

E-MaQI score 0.90 0.96 0.96 0.84 0.77 0.82 0.55 0.56 0.58 0.39 0.31 0.37 0.21 0.00 0.12 

E-MaQI score / EQR 0.87 0.93 0.93 0.81 0.75 0.80 0.54 0.54 0.56 0.39 0.31 0.37 0.21 0.00 0.12 

E- MaQI Assessment High 

Good 

Moderate 

% Taxa Coverage 

Poor 

- 

Cymodocea nodosa 50 50 50 - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Nanozostera noltii 2.0 1.0 1.5 20 25 22.5 - - - - - - - - - 

Zostera marina + + + 60 70 65 - - - - - - - - - 

Total seagrass coverage 52 51 51.5 80 95 87.5 - - - - - - - - - 

Chaetomorpha linum 

Ulvaceae 

Cladophora spp. 

Gracilariaceae 

Polysiphonia-Neosiphonia 

Agardhiella subulata 

Others 

Total macroalgal coverage 

Number of high score taxa 

% macroalgal high score taxa 

R-MaQI score 

R- MaQI Assessment 

June + 

October 

June 

- - - 3 5 4 - - - - - - - - - 

15 12 13.5 10 18 14 53 45 49 8 5 7 1 + 0.5 

6 3 4.5 4 9 7 2 1 2 2 + 3 + - + 

18 10 14 7 12 10 13 24 19 6 3 5 + + + 

3 2 2.5 8 8 8 1 1 1 + + + + - + 

6 3 4.5 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 - + - - - 

6 4 5 6 4 5 5 3 4 + + + + + + 

54 34 44 40 57 49 77 75 76 17 8 14 1 0 0.5 

21 24 29 12 11 16 4 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 

24 26 28 18 17 18 7 6 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 

0.9 0.9 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.15 

High Good Moderate Poor Bad 

Moderate Good Bad - 

- 

The results obtained by applying E-MaQI are similar to the R/C assessment, except at 

St. 3 (Lido watershed) where the classification results to be “Moderate”. However, the 

normalised scores obtained by the two indices are very close one to the other and to the 

boundary classes. Also E-MaQI is not applicable at St. 5 (Airport) because of the low 

number of taxa. 

On the contrary R-MaQI can be applicable also if macrophytes are quite missing and 

St. 5 (Marco Polo Airport), as expected, is assessed as “Bad”. For all the other stations 

the environmental assessment is the same of that obtained by E-MaQI. 

St. 3 (Lido watersched) 

October 

June + 

October 

June 

St. 4 (San Giuliano) 

October 

June + 

October 

June 

St. 5 (Marco Polo Airport) 

October 

June + 

October



EEI is applicable only at Sts. 1, 2, 3 where macrophyte biomass was higher than 30%. 

However, the classification is the same only at St. 2 (Alberoni Ottagono) whereas the 

assessment of the other two stations differs even of two classes: St. 1 (S. Nicolò) is 

assessed as “Moderate” and St. 3 (Lido watershed) is assessed as “Bad”. In fact, that 

index is mainly based on macrophyte coverage whereas MaQI takes into consideration 

mainly the presence of high score taxa and their relationship with some environmental 

parameters and pollutants. 

Conclusions – Macrophytes are very sensitive to the ecological conditions of 

transitional waters and some indices can supply a very useful tool both in their 

monitoring and management. In fact, the presence/absence of high score taxa such as 

angiosperms and many macroalgae is strongly related to the environment trophic state 

and pollution level. Therefore, the preservation or restoring of angiosperm meadows 

should be the first objective for the transitional system management. 

References 

GIACCONE G., CATRA M. (2004) - Rassegna sugli indici di valutazione ambientale con 

macroalghe per definire lo stato ecologico delle acque costiere del Mediterraneo (Direttiva 

2000/60/CE). Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 11 (1): 57-67. 

ISPRA (2008) - Protocolli per il campionamento e la determinazione degli elementi di qualità 

biologica e fisico-chimica nell’ambito dei programmi di monitoraggio ex 2000/60/CE delle 

acque di transizione. El-Pr-TW-Protocolli Monitoraggio-03.05. Dicembre: 1-34. 

ORFANIDIS S., PANAYOTIDIS P., STAMATIS N. (2001) - Ecological evaluation of transitional 

and coastal waters: A marine benthic macrophytes-based model. Mediterranean Marine Science, 

2/2: 45-65. 

ORFANIDIS S., PANAYOTIDIS P., STAMATIS N. (2003) - An insight to the ecological evaluation 

index (EEI). Ecological Indicators, 3: 27-33. 

SFRISO A., LA ROCCA B., GODINI E. (2002) - Inventario di taxa macroalgali in tre aree della 

laguna di Venezia a differente livello di trofia. Lavori Soc. Ven. Sci. Nat., 27: 85-99. 

SFRISO A., FACCA C., LA ROCCA B., GHETTI P.F. (2006) - Set up of environmental quality 

indices based on seaweed taxonomic ratios for the assessment of transition marine areas: Venice, 

Lesina and Goro study cases. In: APAT (ed), Transition Waters Monitoring. Research and 

Institutional Monitoring. Comparison between different Experiences, Venice: 190-201. 

SFRISO A., FACCA C., GHETTI P.F. (2007) - Rapid Quality Index (R-MaQI), based mainly on 

macrophyte associations, to assess the ecological status of Mediterranean transitional 

environments. Chem. and Ecol., 23: 493-503. 

SFRISO A., FACCA C., GHETTI P.F. (2009) - Validation of the Macrophyte Quality Index (MaQI) 

set up to assess the ecological status of Italian marine transitional environments. Hydrobiologia, 

617: 117-141. 


77

Pre-print Volume - Posters 


I. LOCCI, M. ESPA, F. PALMAS, A.A. PENDUGIU, P. PESCI, A. SABATINI 

Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1 - 09126 Cagliari, Italy. 

ilocci@uniss.it 

BIODIVERSITY INDEX EVOLUTION 

IN SHALLOW WATER AREAS OF SARDINIAN SEAS (10-100 M) 

EVOLUZIONE DEGLI INDICI DI BIODIVERSITÀ 

NELLA FASCIA COSTIERA DEI MARI SARDI (10-100 M) 

Abstract – Biological diversity is considered an important factor for ecosystem stability. The aim of this 

study is to examine the temporal evolution of classical biodiversity indexes for shallow waters (10-100 m) 

demersal assemblages in specific locations of the Sardinian seas, which have been subject to different 

fishing pressure over the past 14 years (1994-2007). Our results indicate that fishing pressure appeared to 

affect the diversity of shallow waters species, showing different biodiversity index reactions on different 

levels of fishing effort. The validity and reliability of this index as a measure of environmental stress and its 

potential use for the monitoring of demersal ecosystem is then discussed. 

Key-words: demersal assemblages, Sardinia, biodiversity. 

Introduction - The high concentration of human population near coasts and the 

oceans’ productive coastal margins, strongly affects marine ecosystems and its 

resources (Halpern et al., 2008). Industrial fishing in particular can have both direct 

and indirect consequences on marine systems (Fogarty et al., 1998; Greenstreet and 

Hall, 1996), including effects on species diversity. Several studies have underlined the 

role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning (Worm et al., 2006; Hector and Bagchi, 

2007). In the light of the above, come out the importance of biological diversity, and 

the development of further tools for monitoring its status should be considered 

imperative. The aim of this study is to examine the answer of biodiversity indexes in 

consequence of fleet evolution, on shallow waters demersal assemblages. 

Materials and methods – Data were collected over 1994-2007 period, within the 

framework of the international MEDITS research programme. The year 2002 was 

excluded due to a sensible delay in starting the survey. Only the 10-100 m depth range 

were considered. Species abundances data were used to calculate Shannon’s index 

(H’), species richness (lnS) and Pielou’s evenness (J’). Fishing effort were evaluated 

by means of Regione Autonoma della Sardegna fleet archives. These data regarded the 

number of trawlers (



Fig. 1 - Location of the investigated areas and Shannon’s index trends. 

Localizzazione delle aree investigate e trends del’indice di Shannon. 

Conclusions – The use of biodiversity indexes as an instrument for assessing marine 

resources is a subject of continued debate (Ungaro et al., 1998). 

Our analysis on biodiversity, based on data from 14 annual trawl surveys, showed 

different temporal trends in the 8 areas considered. The varying intensity of 

exploitation described, enabled us to identify the effects that such disturbance has had 

on biodiversity, both positively correlated with fishery yield (Ungaro et al., 1998; 

Worm et al., 2006). 

According to our results evaluation of biodiversity trend evolution, allow us to detect 

environmental modifications that otherwise would pass unnoticed. Although further 

investigations are necessary, biodiversity indexes could be an important support to 

classical stock assessment methodologies. 

References 

FOGARTY M.J., MURAWSKI S.A. (1998) - Large-scale disturbance and the structure of marine 

systems: fishery impacts on Georges Bank. Ecological Applications, 8 (1 Suppl.): 6–22. 

GREENSTREET S.P.R., HALL S.J. (1996) - Fishing and the ground-fish assemblage structure in the 

North-western North Sea: an analysis of long-term and spatial trends. Journal of Animal 

Ecology, 65: 577–598. 

HALPERN B.S., WALBRIDGE S., SELKOE K.A., KAPPEL C.V., MICHELI F., D’AGROSA C., 

BRUNO J.F., CASEY K.S., EBERT C., FOX H.E., FUJITA R., HEINEMANN D., LENIHAN 

H.S., MADIN E.M.P., PERRY M.T., SELIG E.R., SPALDING M., STENECK R., WATSON 

R. (2008) - A Global Map of Human Impact on Marine Ecosystems. Science, 319: 948–952. 

HECTOR A., BAGCHI R. (2007) - Biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality Nature, 448: 188– 

191. 

UNGARO N., MARANO G., MARSAN R., OSTMANI K. (1998) - Demersal fish assemblage 

biodiversity as an index of fishery resources exploitation. Ital. J. Zool., 65 (Suppl.): 511-516. 

WORM B., BARBIER E.B., BEAUMONT N., DUFFY J.E., FOLKE C., HALPEN B.S., JACKSON 

J.B.C., LOTZE H. K., MICHELI F., PALUMBI S.R., SALA E., SELKOE K.A., 

STACHOWICZ J.J., WATSON R. (2006) - Impact of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem 

services. Science, 314: 787–790. 


79



M. PAPA, G.F. RUSSO 

DiSAm, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Parthenope”, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80134 - Napoli, Italia. 

marianna.papa@uniparthenope.it 

LONG-TIME CHANGES IN MACROALGAL BIODIVERSITY 

IN THE MPA OF GAIOLA (GULF OF NAPLES) 

CAMBIAMENTI DI LUNGO TEMPO NELLA BIODIVERSITÀ MACROALGALE 

NELL’AMP DI GAIOLA (GOLFO DI NAPOLI) 

Abstract - A recent study on the structure of the algal communities in the Marine Protected Area of Gaiola 

gave the opportunity to qualitatively compare 80 years old data with present ones. An evident decrease of 

biodiversity was recorded, with a rearrangement of species in the main chorographic group, due to both 

climatic and edaphic (anthropogenic) factors. The presence of a Marine Protected Area, by reducing the 

anthropogenic impact, may enhance local biodiversity in the future. 

Key-words: algology, biodiversity, marine parks. 

Introduction – Data on long-time changes of marine biodiversity in restricted and well 

defined localities are rare, because of the relatively recent development of studies on 

benthic associations in a systematic way. The Bay of Naples is one of the most studied 

areas since the origin of Mediterranean marine biology and the recovery of ancient data 

is possible and could be a useful tool to study long time changes in biodiversity. The 

first, and till now most accurate, description on the algal vegetation of the Gulf of 

Naples is the treatise published by Funk (1927). The Marine Protected Area of Gaiola, 

in the Gulf of Naples, is the smallest of Italy (41,6 ha; 2 Km of coastline), and is 

located along the coast of Posillipo, in the municipality of Naples (Fig. 1). From 

Funk’s times the city of Naples expanded including the Gaiola area. The structure of 

the algal communities in three different littoral environments of the Gaiola MPA 

(semi-submerged rocky platform, photophilic and sciaphilic hard bottom) was 

investigated in 2008, giving the opportunity to qualitatively compare ancient data with 

present ones. 


80 

Fig. 1 – Map of the Gaiola MPA. 

Mappa dell’AMP di Gaiola. 

Material and methods - Species data, coming from sites today included into the Gaiola 

MPA, were extracted from Funk’s treatise and a check-list was generated by updating their 

nomenclature. A database was then implemented in Microsoft Access, with information on 

systematic position and corological group affiliation of each species. After a preliminary 

survey, present associations were sampled in three sites (one for each environment) and in 

three times (April, July and October) during 2008. In each site, three replicates were 

performed on a 400 cm 2 surface and species determination and cover was assessed. 

Results - A total of 231 species were pull out from Funk’s treatise (Rhodophyta 61,5%,



Chlorophyta 17,7%, Ochrophyta 20,8%), while 169 species were identified in the today 

samples (Rhodophyta 73,6%, Chlorophyta 15,5%, Ochrophyta 10,9%). As shown in Fig. 2, 

in both data set the taxon Rhodophyta is the richest in species, with an increase after 80 

years. On the contrary, Chlorophyta and mainly Ochrophyta decrease. In particular, number 

of Ochrophyta species is halved after 80 years. 

Fig. 2 - Floristic comparison between 1927-2008. Fig. 3 - Comparision of corographyc groups between 1927-2008. 

Confronto floristico tra il 1927 e 2008. Confronto dei gruppi corografici tra 1927 e 2008. 

Only 40 species are shared by both the data set, being 191 the species exclusively found by 

Funk and 129 those exclusively present in today samples. Among the shared species, 5 are 

endemic (Balliella cladoderma, Halymenia floresia, Nithophyllum flabellatum, 

Nithophyllum punctatum, Peyssonnelia squamaria). Other endemic species are exclusive of 

single data set (33 in the Funk’s one, 26 in the today one). The allochthonous species are 

totally different in the two data-set: 2 in Funk’s (Acanthophora nayadiformis, Hypnea 

spinella) and 3 in the today one (Acrothamnion preisii, Asparagopsis armata, Caulerpa 

racemosa). The comparison of corographyc spectra is shown in Fig. 3. On the overall, the 

dominant corological groups are the same in both data-set, with the dominance of 

Mediterranean species, that slightly decrease in time. In general, an increase of warm water 

species (Tropical Atlantic-Boreal, Tropical Indo-Atlantic and Indo-Atlantic) and a decrease 

of cold water species (Atlantic-boreal, Atlantic-Pacific, Circum-Boreal and Circum- 

Austral) were recorded. 

Conclusions – Several differences arise from the comparison of the two data-set, 80 years 

distant in time. Probably, the lower number of species found today is due to a lower number 

of investigated samples and sites and to different collecting techniques; on the other side, 

modern direct sampling procedures are more efficient than ancient indirect ones. However, 

the increase of anthropogenic impacts cannot be excluded, also on the basis of a drastic 

decrease of Ochrophyta species, mainly of the genus Cystoseira (Serio et al., 2006), and of 

an increase of Rhodophyta, due to an increase of water column turbidity. The influence on 

the algal associations of the recent and invasive colonization by the allochthonous species 

Caulerpa racemosa could also be taken into account for these changes, but must be better 

studied in the future. The analysis of chorographic spectra also seems to sustain the 

anthropogenic disturbance hypothesis, together with co-occurring changes in climatic 

conditions, enhancing the presence of warm water species. In conclusion, an evident 

decrease of biodiversity was recorded in the Gaiola Marine Protected Area after 80 years, 

with a rearrangement of species in the main chorographic group, due to both climatic and 

edaphic (anthropogenic) factors. The presence of a Marine Protected Area, by reducing the 

anthropogenic impact, may enhance local biodiversity in the future. 

References 

FUNK G. (1927) - Die Algenvegetation des Golfs von Neapel. Pubb. Staz. Zoologica di Napoli, 7 (Suppl.): 1-320. 

SERIO D., ALONGI G., CATRA M., CORMACI M., FURNARI G. (2006) - Change in the benthic algal flora of 

Linosa Island (Straits of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea). Botanica Marina, 48: 135-144. 


81



G. PICCHETTI, A. CARAVELLO 1 , M. GHELIA 1 , V. DI MARTINO 2 

Comitato Pro Parco Marino di Pantelleria e Lega Navale Italiana, Sezione di Pantelleria, Italia. 

gpicchetti@libero.it 

1 Comitato pro Parco Marino di Pantelleria, Italia. 

2 ISAFOM/CNR, Catania, Italia. 

PROPOSTA PER IL PARCO NAZIONALE NELLO STRETTO DI SICILIA: 

LA A.M.P. DI PANTELLERIA 

PROPOSAL FOR THE NATIONAL PARK AREA OF SICILY CHANNEL: 

THE PANTELLERIA MARINE PROTECTED AREA 

Abstract – In the present paper the authors put forward a proposal for the future zonation of Pantelleria 

MPA’s, which provides both the protection of marine areas along the coast of the island as a portion of 

offshore sea area called “Bank of Pantelleria”. 

Key-words: Pantelleria, MPAs, Sicily Channel, biodiversity, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduzione – Da oltre un ventennio da più parti vengono avanzati modelli di 

zonazione per i fondali dell’Isola di Pantelleria in vista della istituzione della AMP che 

interessi il mare di questa isola nello Stretto di Sicilia. Il Ministero dell’Ambiente e 

della Tutela del territorio e del Mare, dopo aver approvato lo scorso anno l’istituzione 

del Parco Nazionale Isola di Pantelleria in quest’area, minacciata in questi ultimi tempi 

da interessi economici di varia natura (ricerche petrolifere, impianti eolici off-shore, e 

una pesca sempre più intensiva), ha recentemente stanziato la somma di circa mezzo 

milione di euro al fine di effettuare gli studi preliminari per la fattibilità della Amp e la 

istituzione della Amp, così da dar seguito a quanto previsto dalla legge quadro sulle 

aree protette nazionali n° 394/91. È in quest’ottica che, facendo seguito alle 

considerazioni scaturite da recenti studi di oceanografia biologica (Bianchi e Acri, 

2003a,b; Bianchi et al., 2004) oltre che alle indicazioni che vengono dagli operatori 

della locale marineria, gli Autori avanzano una proposta di zonazione un po’ fuori dalle 

righe. Tale rimappatura della AMP vede articolata l’area oggetto di protezione tra 

ambiente marino costiero e pelagico. 

Area di studio – L’area presa in esame interessa non solo il profilo costiero di 

Pantelleria, ma anche una vasta area sommersa a nord dell’isola conosciuta come 

Banco di Pantelleria. 

Lungo le coste di Pantelleria si propone di fare oggetto di protezione l’intero perimetro 

costiero dell’Isola sottoponendo a maggiori attenzioni il tratto di costa conosciuto come 

l’Arenella, posto a sinistra dell’area portuale, compreso tra Punta della Croce e Punta 

Fram. Quest’area, caratterizzata da bassi fondali rocciosi, riccamente colonizzati, ben si 

presterebbe, infatti, a divenire meta di visite guidate mediante l’istituzione di percorsi 

di snorkeling e di itinerari percorribili con i battelli a fondo trasparente. Il Banco di 

Pantelleria è costituito da un massiccio edificio vulcanico successivamente collassato 

caratterizzato da grandi fessurazioni e canyons ad orientamento N-S. La porzione 

orientale del Banco presenta acque meno profonde ed i suoi fondali sono caratterizzati 

da una notevole copertura vegetale a P. oceanica. In questa zona il Banco si eleva fino 

a 13 m dalla superficie e lungo il suo perimetro, particolarmente lungo il versante sud, 

è facile riconoscere le paleo-spiagge lungo cui si aprono, numerose, grotte sommerse 


82



che denunciano le antiche linee di costa allorquando l’intero edificio vulcanico 

emergeva dalle acque. L’area intorno le scogliere già descritte è costituita da fondali 

sedimentari che si estendono tra le batimetriche dei 50 e dei 70 m di profondità. Da 

questi fondali fangosi si elevano tre piccoli edifici rocciosi di straordinaria bellezza che 

rappresentano una vera e propria oasi di vita sottomarina. La zona centrale del Banco è 

più profonda (mediamente sui 40 m), e qui la posidonia diventa una vera e propria 

foresta raggiungendo valori di densità foliare elevati. La zona Ovest, caratterizzata da 

creste, pinnacoli ed enormi massi franati, è mediamente più profonda della zona Est (- 

30-40 m), e si spinge con un pinnacolo fino a 16,5 m dalla superficie. Il Banco è 

interessato da una corrente occidentale di origine atlantica, che trovando sulla propria 

strada questo grande edificio roccioso, è, in sua prossimità, soggetta ad una forte 

accelerazione per una sorta di effetto Venturi naturale. Cosa questa che contribuisce ad 

un notevole arricchimento in nutrienti delle acque circostanti l’area. 

Fig. 1 – Localizzazione delle aree da sottoporre a regime di protezione. 

Location of the future protected areas. 

Conclusioni – Ben consci che una tale proposta vuole essere tanto reale quanto 

provocatoria, gli Autori auspicano che le competenti autorità, MATTM in primis, 

vogliano prenderla seriamente in considerazione. La protezione di una porzione di 

mare aperto, infatti, presenta non poche difficoltà giuridiche che possono, comunque, 

essere superate se solo il mondo politico, oltre che accademico, prendono 

consapevolezza che tali proposte, provenienti dal “basso”, derivano dalle esperienze 

che da secoli le genti di mare si tramandano sotto forma un bagaglio di conoscenze non 

scritte che oggi stanno irrimediabilmente perdendosi. 

Bibliografia 

BIANCHI F., ACRI F. (2003a) - Distribuzione dell’idrochimica nelle acque costiere dell’isola di 

Pantelleria. Risultati preliminari. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 10 (2): 650-654. 

BIANCHI F., ACRI F. (2003b) - The Island of Pantelleria (Sicily Strait, Italy): towards the 

establishment of a marine protected area. First oceanographic investigations. Boll. Geof. Teor. 

Appl., 44: 3-9. 

BIANCHI F., ACRI F., BERNARDI AUBRY F., CAMATTI E. (2004) - Contributo allo studio 

dell’idrologia e del plancton nelle acque costiere dell’isola di Pantelleria. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 

11 (2): 683-686. 


83



J. SEWELL, J.D.D. BISHOP, R. SEELEY 

Marine Biological Association, Citadel Hill Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK. 

jase@mba.ac.uk; jbis@mba.ac.uk 

THROUGH THE PORTAL ― IMPROVING THE FLOW 

OF INFORMATION ON NON-NATIVE SPECIES IN GREAT BRITAIN 

‘THROUGH THE PORTAL’ ― MIGLIORANDO IL FLUSSO 

D’INFORMAZIONE SULLE SPECIE NON INDIGENE IN GRAN BRETAGNA 

Abstract - The Great Britain Non-Native Species Information Portal (GBNNSIP) is being established to 

collect and collate data on non-native species in Great Britain and make this and related information 

available online. A register of all known non-native species will be generated, and supplemented by 

detailed fact sheets for a sub-set of these species. Rapid reporting of new records of species will be 

supported, linked to a system of alerts and risk analyses to trigger rapid responses as appropriate. The 

Marine Biological Association of the UK is the GBNNSIP partner responsible for all marine non-native 

species within this scheme. 

Key-words: introduced species, distribution records, environment management, data collections. 

Introduction - A three-year (2009-2011) project funded by the UK Department for 

Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) will establish the Great Britain Non- 

Native Species Information Portal (GBNNSIP). The scheme will ensure the rapid and 

efficient flow of information concerning non-native species, from a wide variety of 

sources, onto the Web where it will be available to researchers, environmental 

managers, stakeholders and the public. The scheme is intended to allow the early 

recognition of potential threats to environmental and economic interests in Great 

Britain (GB) and to promote rapid response to new arrivals. It will also underpin the 

regular updating of a new index of environmental health based on the status of invasive 

non-native species in GB. In general, the data will be stored by the National 

Biodiversity Network (NBN) but accessed via the Web site of the GB Non-Native 

Species Secretariat (NNSS). Marine species data will be permanently and securely 

archived in the Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH). The 

GBNNSIP covers both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, with the Marine Biological 

Association (MBA) having responsibility for all marine taxa. The various components 

of the general scheme are outlined below, followed by a listing of the MBA’s 

responsibilities. 

Components of GBNNSIP 

Register of non-native species. This will provide basic information on all recognised 

non-native species, including: habitat, ecological role, region of origin, pathway of 

introduction, status in England, Scotland and Wales respectively, ecological and human 

impact, site and date of first occurrence, and key references. The register will update 

and build on the GB species list produced for the European DAISIE project. 

Species factsheets. The sheets will provide relatively detailed information on species’ 

ecology, pathways of introduction, management, and any relevant legislation, with 

links to appropriate risk assessments, identification information and images, plus 

information on any researchers or managers involved with a particular taxon. 

Factsheets will be available online, through the NNSS website. 


84



Distributional data online. Interactive distribution maps (as seen on the NBN 

Gateway, http://data.nbn.org.uk/) will be displayed on the NNSS website, using web 

services provided by the NBN. The scheme will ensure distributional data flows as 

smoothly as possible to the NBN Gateway, so that distributional information is as up to 

date and as comprehensive as possible. 

Improved flow of data from existing recording schemes and data sets. Data will be 

sought from local records centres, voluntary recording schemes, specialist groups, 

statutory bodies undertaking survey work, etc., and continued improved flow of new 

distributional data into the central repository will be encouraged. 

New recording schemes. The development of new voluntary recording schemes will 

be promoted to ensure that records of sightings are submitted rapidly to the appropriate 

authorities, and also to raise awareness of non-native species, and how and why to 

report them. 

Alerts and review of future threats. Mechanisms will be developed to ensure rapid 

reporting of high-risk species to trigger alerts and rapid response actions. The most 

probable arrivals in the near future will be determined, with information on likely new 

introductions detailed on the NNSS website. 

Analysis of trends. Data will be analysed to assess evidence of consistent change over 

time in the prevalence of non-native species within GB biota, and to enable early 

detection of significant change. Detected change will feed into Invasive Non-Native 

Species component of the UK’s biodiversity indicators of environmental status. 

Local Records 

Centres 

Volunteers, 

Recording 

Schemes and 

Societies 

Europe Global 

GBNNSIP 

Central 

Repository 

Statutory 

Bodies 

Information 

GB Non Native 

Species Secretariat 

GB Distribution Maps 

Natural History 

Museum NBN Species 

Dictionary 

Stakeholders 


85 

Fig. 1 – Flow of information through the 

Great Britain Non-Native Species 

Information Portal. 

Flusso di dati trasmessi attraverso il portale 

d’informazione sulle specie non indigene 

che si trovano in Gran Bretagna. 

Responsibilities of the MBA within GBNNSIP 

• Collate data on all GB non-native marine species for the species register 

• Contribute factsheets on 50 non-native marine species 

• Supply non-native species distributional data to the central repository for display 

via the NBN Gateway on the NNSS website 

• Search for and incorporate existing published and unpublished marine life data sets 

• Develop voluntary recording schemes through public outreach 

• Contribute to a system of alerts for rapid interception of new introductions 

• Conduct an annual search for and review of emerging threats 

• Report on significant changes in the distribution or abundance of non-native 

species 

References 

DEFRA (2008) - Invasive Non-native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain. Defra Report 

no: PB13075: 42 pp. 

www.marlin.ac.uk/marine_aliens; www.nonnativespecies.org



M. VALENTE 1,2 , F. MALTAGLIATI 2 , R. CUPIDO 1 , S. COCITO 1 , 

A. CASTELLI 2 , F.G. PANNACCIULLI 1 

1 ENEA – Marine Environment Research Centre, PO Box 224 - 19100 La Spezia, Italia. 

pannacciulli@enea.it 

2 Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via Derna, 1 – Pisa, Italia. 

ABSENCE OF GENETIC STRUCTURE IN THE GORGONIAN 

PARAMURICEA CLAVATA (CNIDARIA, OCTOCORALLIA), 

FROM THE NW MEDITERRANEAN, AS INFERRED BY THE COI GENE 

ASSENZA DI STRUTTURA GENETICA NELLA GORGONIA PARAMURICEA 

CLAVATA (CNIDARIA, OCTOCORALLIA), DAL MEDITERRANEO 

NORD OCCIDENTALE, COME EVIDENZIATO DAL GENE COI 

Abstract – Sequences of the subunit I of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c gene (COI) were gathered 

from samples of the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) from four 

locations of the NW Mediterranean. All sequences obtained were identical showing absence of 

polymorphism at this gene. A slow rate of mutation of the gene or an efficient repairing system of this 

species’ mtDNA may account for this result. 

Key-words: Paramuricea clavata, genetic structure, COI, NW Mediterranean. 

Introduction – Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826), a gorgonian endemic of the 

Mediterranean Sea (Carpine & Grasshoff, 1975), plays a central role in the structure 

and functioning of the coralligenous community, one of the most peculiar and diverse 

Mediterranean biogenic reef. Recently, in the NW Mediterranean, P. clavata was 

heavily damaged by repeated mortality events that occurred in conjunction with 

anomalous seawater warming (Cupido et al., 2008). Since information about gene flow 

in Mediterranean gorgonians is scarce, the aim of this study was to assess the 

population genetic structure of P. clavata in an area affected by mass mortality as a 

consequence of climate changes. Results on species’ genetic structure and population 

connectivity may provide a valuable contribution to the development of opportune 

conservation plans. 

To date, a single study investigated the genetic structure of this species (Calderón et 

al., 2006) by employing the mtDNA gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI). Results 

highlighted lack of genetic variability in the sequence of one individual from Marseille 

and two from the Medes islands (Fig. 1). Given the limited number of individuals and 

the restricted geographical area examined by Calderón et al. (2006), we decided to 

extend the analysis to a higher number of specimens and a broader spatial scale. 

Materials and methods – Specimens were gathered from three locations in the 

Tyrrhenian Sea: Elba Island (42°45’ N, 10°25’ E), Quercianella (43°27’ N, 10°21 E) 

and two sites at the Isle of Tinetto (44°02’ N, 9°85’ E), and from one location in the 

Catalan Sea, Palamós (41°49’ N, 3°05’ E) (Fig. 1). At least 30 samples were collected 

at each location. 


86




87 

Fig. 1 – Sampling locations of Calderón 

et al. (2006) (paddle) and of the present 

work (arrow). 

Località di campionamento di Calderón 

et al. (2006) (pagaia) e del presente 

lavoro (freccia). 

Each sample consisted of a 6-8 cm long fragment collected from the tip of a colony and 

preserved in 96% ethanol. Sampling was carried out only on those gorgonians that 

were at least 50 cm high. DNA was extracted from 20 polyps of each fragment using a 

Salting Out protocol modified from Aljanabi & Martinez (1997). The new protocol 

employed a highly concentrated lysing solution (EDTA 100 mM; Tris HCl 10 mM pH 

7.5; SDS 0.6%; NaCl 400 mM) in which tissue was incubated overnight. DNA was 

PCR-amplified using the COI primers reported in Calderón et al. (2006). 

(COI Cni F: 5’-GGYACTYTATATTTACTATTTGG-3’; COI Cni R: 5’- 

CCSGCAGGATCAAAGAAWGTTG-3’). Amplified products were then purified and 

sequenced by a commercial company. Two individuals were sequenced from each 

location and the obtained nucleotide sequences aligned using the software BioEdit 

vers. 7.0.9.0 (Hall, 1999). 

Results – PCR amplifications delivered fragments of 545 bp size. Nucleotide 

sequences were inserted in GenBank and they confirmed amplification of the COI 

region. All obtained sequences were identical to each other and to the one of P. clavata 

deposited in GenBank by Calderón et al. (2006) (GenBank access n°: AY827539.1). 

Conclusions – The genetic homogeneity at the COI locus of P. clavata, in individuals 

sampled at locations that were several hundred kilometers distant, confirms Calderón et 

al.’s (2006) results even after enlargement of the study area and use of a higher number 

of individual colonies. The lack of polymorphism at the COI region in P. clavata could 

be attributed to a slow rate of mutation of the gene or efficient repairing system of this 

species’ mtDNA. To fully accomplish the objective of this work the characterization of 

genetic markers with a sufficient degree of polymorphism is needed. 

References 

ALJANABI S.M., MARTINEZ I. (1997) – Universal and rapid salt-extraction of high quality 

genomic DNA for PCR-based techniques. Nucleic Acids Research, 25: 4692-4693. 

CALDERÓN I., GARRABOU J., AURELLE D. (2006) – Evaluation of the utility of COI and ITS 

markers as tools for population genetic studies of temperate gorgonians. Journal of Experimental 

Marine Biology and Ecology, 336: 184-197. 

CARPINE C., GRASSHOF M. (1975) – Les Gorgonaires de la Méditerranée. Bulletin de l'Institut 

Océanographique, 71: 1-140. 

CUPIDO R., COCITO S., BORDONE A., SGORBINI S., SANTANGELO G. (2008) – Response of 

a gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) population to mortality events: recovery or loss? Aquatic 

Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 18: 984-992. 

HALL T.A. (1999) – BioEdit: a user-friendly biological sequence alignment editor and analysis 

program for Windows 95/98/NT. Nucleic Acids Symposium Series, 41: 95-98.



Topic 2: MARINE ORGANISMS AND ECOSYSTEMS AS MODEL SYSTEMS 

MARINE ORGANISMS AND ECOSYSTEMS AS MODEL 

SYSTEMS 

ORGANISMI MARINI ED ECOSISTEMI QUALI SISTEMI 

MODELLO 


88

Pre-print Volume – Introductory lectures 


F. BOERO, G. BAVESTRELLO * , S. PIRAINO 

Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche e Ambientali, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italia. 

boero@unisalento.it 

* Dip. Sci. Mare, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche - 60131 Ancona, Italia. 

MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND UNEXPECTED EXPERIMENTAL 

MODELS: THE ROLE OF MARINE STATIONS 

LA BIODIVERSITÀ MARINA E MODELLI SPERIMENTALI INATTESI: 

IL RUOLO DELLE STAZIONI MARINE 

Abstract - Experimental organisms are used to elucidate basic processes regarding the manifold features of 

the structure and function of living beings. Each model satisfies the particular needs of specific fields of 

investigation. Suitability to experimental manipulation and easy reproduction under laboratory conditions 

are common features of experimental model systems. These features allow selection of genetically related 

strains and continuous availability of experimental organisms. These characteristics, however, are not 

common to most species being, on the contrary, rather exceptional. Animals like the zebrafish, Drosophila, 

Coenorabditis, Hydra and, of course, mice and rabbits, are exceptional, hence the paradox that we infer 

about rules from information obtained from exceptions! 

Marine stations, first of all the Zoological Station of Naples, were founded for two main reasons: study 

biodiversity, and provide organisms for experimental biology. These organisms do not need being kept 

under laboratory conditions, they can be obtained from natural populations in the vicinity of the station, as 

exemplified by two striking cases: the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata leading to the discovery of 

anaphylaxis, and the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, leading to the isolation of the Green Fluorescent Protein. 

Studies on both organisms led to Nobel Prizes, namely Richet in 1913 and Shimomura, Chalfie and Tsien in 

2008, respectively. In both cases large amounts of specimens were obtained from natural populations 

sampled in the surroundings of the Station Biologique de Roscoff in Brittany for Anemonia and of the 

Friday Harbor Laboratories, a Marine Station in Washington State, for Aequorea. In the end of the XIX 

century, August Weissman developed his general theory on the early segregation of the germ-line while 

working on colonies of the hydrozoan Eudendrium racemosum, continuously supplied by the fishery service 

at the Stazione Zoologica A. Dohrn. A similar case is the “immortal jellyfish”, Turritopsis dohrnii, a 

species with the unique ability of reversing its life cycle and, hence, a beautiful model for developmental 

biology. The species, however, is difficult to rear in the laboratory and is to be sampled from natural 

populations, during the months of medusa production. 

Salvatore Lo Bianco, an eminent naturalist at the Stazione Zoologica of Naples, in 1909 published a 

monograph covering the animal diversity of the Gulf of Naples, reporting, species by species, the locations 

where they occurred, the periods of both presence and sexual maturity. That monograph was the catalogue 

of experimental animals for the biologists visiting the Station, but is also a precious account on the 

biodiversity of the Gulf of Naples, covering also the phenology of the species. This information can become 

a benchmark for studies on the impact of global change. 

The use of a limited number of model animals is depriving experimental biology of organisms that might be 

conducive to important discoveries: the exploration of biodiversity and of the natural history of the species 

can lead to the unravelling of many biological questions, but this cannot be planned in advance. The limited 

diversity of model animals is to be implemented with new models, with mutual benefit of both biodiversity 

studies and experimental approaches. Many unexpected novelties are waiting to be discovered, if we only 

were able to look for them. 

Key-words: biodiversity, model organisms, experimental biology. 


89



C. BROWNLEE, G.L. WHEELER, A. CHRACHRI, A.R. TAYLOR, 

A. HIGHFIELD, F.J. VERRET, D. SCHROEDER. 

Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK. 

cbr@mba.ac.uk 

COCCOLITHOPHORE BIOMINERALIZATION: 

FROM MOLECULES TO GLOBAL PROCESSES 

BIOMINERALIZZAZIONE DEI COCCOLITOFORIDI: 

DALLE MOLECOLE AI PROCESSI GLOBALI 

Abstract – Coccolithophores are responsible for a major component of biogenic calcite formation in the 

oceans. Despite their biogeochemical importance, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of calcification 

are poorly understood. However, a deep understanding of the transport and biomineralization processes 

underlying coccolithophore biology is essential for understanding their ecological success and for 

predicting how they may be affected by or respond or adapt to future ocean acidification scenarios. 

Key-words: coccolithophores, calcification, genomics, cell biology. 

Introduction - Coccolithophores occur in all of the world’s oceans and are represented 

by many different unicellular species. They are characterized by the production of 

intricate calcium carbonate (calcite) scales (coccoliths) during at least one phase of 

their life cycle. Some species form massive seasonal blooms in temperate oceanic 

waters and the reflectance of the calcite in these blooms renders them visible from 

space. Estimates suggest that coccolithophores account for approximately half of 

global biogenic calcium carbonate production. This group of organisms thus plays an 

important role in the biogeochemical cycling of carbon in the oceans. A significant 

proportion of the carbon fixed into calcite sinks to the ocean floor where it may form 

sediments that give rise to chalk and limestone deposits. This represents a significant 

long-term sequestration of inorganic carbon. 

Coccolithophores are known to produce two types of calcite scales: Holococcoliths that 

have a simple crystal structure, and heterococcliths that are formed by interlocking 

calcite crystals made up of calcite crystal elements of complex shape. Significantly, 

heterococcolith production has been demonstrated to occur in an intracellular 

compartment - the coccolith vesicle (CV). This vesicle is derived from the Golgi body 

and encloses the forming coccolith in a membrane-bound isolated compartment, 

allowing the chemical composition to be regulated to promote the ordered deposition 

of the calcite crystals (Brownlee and Taylor, 2005). A wide rang of experimental 

studies have shown that external bicarbonate is the inorganic substrate for calcification. 

The intracellular precipitation of carbonate results in the production of protons. It 

follows that calcification requires transport of the substrates for calcification 

(bicarbonate and calcium) into the cell and removal of the ionic products (protons) 

from the cell. Our earlier work has shown that the magnitude of the fluxes involved in 

calcification is extremely large, since fixation of inorganic carbon by calcification can 

often occur at similar rates to the photosynthetic fixation of carbon. 

Some key questions relating to transport processes underlying calcification relate to the 

identification of membrane transporters. Do coccolithophore cells have calcificationspecific 

transport systems or does calcification recruit the cell’s normal transport 


90



machinery in bringing about the required fluxes? What are likely to be the effects of 

decreased ocean pH on the calcification process? Changes in ocean pH will potentially 

affect both the speciation of carbon in the ocean, the dissolution of calcite and the 

ability of cells to remove protons. Only by acquiring more detailed knowledge of 

transport processes and their regulation will we be able to address these fundamental 

questions. 

Results - We have adopted a combination of cell physiological, genomic and 

molecular approaches to try to understand the mechanisms underlying calcification. 

Our electrophysiological studies have shown some unique features of the coccolith 

membrane physiology and the presence of unexpected ion channels (Taylor and 

Brownlee, 2003). For example, coccolithophores have similar ion channels to those 

involved in generating action potentials in animals and indeed we have shown the 

occurrence of spontaneous action potentials in single coccolithophore cells (Taylor and 

Brownlee, 2003). More recently we have shown the presence of an ion conductance 

pathway in the plasma membrane that allows protons to efflux from the cell down their 

electrochemical potential gradient. Recent combination of genomic, imaging and patch 

clamp electrophysiology has shown for the first time in a non-animal cell the presence 

of the molecular counterpart of the proton channel that is able to perform this function. 

We have proposed that this is involved in short-term pH regulation and its activity is 

essential for calcification. 

We have also begun to characterize other transporters that genomics studies indicate 

are involved in calcification since their expression levels are strongly dependent on 

calcification. These include a putative calcium/proton exchanger and an anion 

exchanger that may be involved in inorganic carbon transport. 

Genomics studies are also beginning to allow an understanding of the genetic 

variability in populations of coccolithophores that will be important in understanding 

how these organisms may respond or adapt to changing seawater chemistry. One 

particular gene (GPA) that encodes a protein that is intimately associated with the 

coccolith crystals has been shown to vary in sequences that correlate with coccolith 

morphology. We are beginning to map the occurrence of different coccolith 

morphotypes at the molecular level to gain an understanding of the genetic variability 

in existing coccolith populations. Collaborations with the Sir Alistair Hardy 

Foundation for Ocean Science Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) are for the first 

time enabling the molecular composition of past coccolithophore populations to be 

reconstructed. 

Conclusions – Understanding the mechanisms of calcification at the molecular and 

cellular level, the variability between populations of the same species and, indeed, 

between different species will allow us to construct population-scale models of the 

fundamentally important geochemical processes of calcification. These will allow us to 

understand how coccolithophore populations may adapt to predicted changes in ocean 

chemistry that will inevitably occur over the coming decades to centuries. 

References 

BROWNLEE C., TAYLOR A.R. (2005) - Calcification in coccolithophores: a cellular perspective. 

In: H. Thierstein, J. Young (eds), Coccolithophores: from molecular processes to global impact. 

Springer, Berlin: 31-50. 


91



TAYLOR A.R., BROWNLEE C. (2003) - A novel Cl - inward-rectifying current in the plasma 

membrane of the calcifying marine phytoplankton Coccolithus pelagicus. Plant Physiology, 131: 

1391-1400. 


92



M.C. GAMBI 1 , J.M. HALL-SPENCER 2 , M. CIGLIANO 1 , S. COCITO 3 , C. LOMBARDI 3 , 

M. LORENTI 1 , F.P. PATTI 1 , L. PORZIO 1 , R. RODOLFO-METALPA 3,4 , M.B. SCIPIONE 1 , 

M.C. BUIA 1 

1 Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli, Italy. 

gambimc@szn.it 

2 Marine Institute, Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, University of Plymouth, U.K. 

3 ENEA - Marine Environment Research Centre, La Spezia, Italy. 

4 IAEA - Marine Environment Laboratories, Monaco, MC. 

USING VOLCANIC MARINE CO2 VENTS TO STUDY THE EFFECTS 

OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ON BENTHIC BIOTA: HIGHLIGHTS 

FROM CASTELLO ARAGONESE D'ISCHIA (TYRRHENIAN SEA) 

UTILIZZO DI EMISSIONI VULCANICHE MARINE DI CO2 PER LO STUDIO 

DEGLI EFFETTI DELL’ACIDIFICAZIONE SUL BENTHOS: 

ESPERIENZE AL CASTELLO ARAGONESE D’ISCHIA (MAR TIRRENO) 

Abstract – Current research into ocean acidification is mainly being carried out using short-term 

experiments whereby CO2 levels are manipulated in aquaria and enclosures. We have adopted a new 

approach in our studies of the effects of ocean acidification on Mediterranean marine biodiversity by 

using volcanic carbon dioxide vent systems as 'natural laboratories' as they cause long-term changes 

in seawater carbonate chemistry. A range of organisms, including macroalgae, seagrasses, 

invertebrates, and selected scleractinians and bryozoans have now been investigated in a shallow area 

located off the island of Ischia (Castello Aragonese, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). Our in situ observations 

give support to concerns, based on model predictions and short-term laboratory experiments, that 

ocean acidification will likely combine with other stressors (e.g., temperature rise) to cause a decrease 

in Mediterranean marine biodiversity and lead to shifts in ecosystem structure. 

Key-words: CO2 vents, ocean acidification, pH, benthic organisms, biodiversity. 

Introduction – Our seas currently absorb over 25 million tons of CO2 every day. 

This has caused surface waters to become 30% more acidic since wide-spread 

burning of fossil fuels began (Doney et al., 2009). As well as lowering pH, 

increased pCO2 levels are altering surface water chemistry with falling carbonate 

levels a major concern since these are the building-blocks of tests and skeletons for 

many marine organisms from tiny coccolithophores to giant coral reefs (Kleypas et 

al., 2006). Current research into ocean acidification is mainly being carried out 

using short-term experiments whereby CO2 levels are manipulated in aquaria and 

enclosure mesocoms (CIESM, 2008). We have adopted a new approach in our 

studies of the effects of ocean acidification on Mediterranean marine biodiversity 

by using volcanic carbon dioxide vent systems as 'natural laboratories' as they 

cause long-term changes in seawater carbonate chemistry (Hall-Spencer et al., 

2008). 

In this study system, volcanic vents occurred in shallow waters on the north and 

south sides of Castello Aragonese, island of Ischia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy), adjacent 

to a steeply sloping rocky shore emitting 1.4×10 6 1d -1 of gas comprising 90-95% 

CO2. At the south vent site, gas was emitted at mainly >5 vents m -2 whereas at the 

north vent site, gas was emitted at mainly



stations have been established along the pH gradient, where experimental 

transplants have been performed. Here we synthesise projects to date. Specific 

methods for each study can be found in the published papers (see references). 

Macroalgae, seagrasses, invertebrates, scleractinians and bryozoans have been 

investigated in collaboration between the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, the 

Plymouth University (UK), the IAEA-Monaco (MC) and the ENEA-CRAM (La 

Spezia, Italy). 

The most obvious effects on benthic plants and animals was that all calcifiers 

(coralline algae epiphytes on Posidonia oceanica leaves, molluscs, polychaete 

spirorbids, foraminifera) show an important reduction in abundance or are absent 

from the low pH areas (pH down to 6.6) reducing benthic biodiversity in the 

acidified zone (Hall-Spencer et al., 2008; Hall-Spencer & Rodolfo-Metalpa, 2008; 

Porzio et al., 2008; Martin et al., 2008; Cigliano et al., 2009 and unpublished data). 

A few species, including some macroalgae, crustacean peracarids and polychaetes 

were resilient to the low pH values predicted for the end of this century (Caldeira & 

Wickett, 2003), as well as lower values. While P. oceanica meadows survived in 

the vents areas, and shoot density remained high at low pH, the daily leaf growth 

rate was lower compared to plants growing at normal local pH and no difference in 

the photosynthetic performances was detected in comparison to normal pH exposed 

plants (Buia et al., 2009). 

Some experiments were conducted on selected scleractinians and on the calcitic 

bryozoan Myriapora truncata (Pallas) transplanted to normal, low, and extremely 

low pH conditions (Rodolfo-Metalpa et al., 2010). In extremely low pH (mean pH 

7.43) dead skeletons of both scleractinians and the bryozoan dissolved rapidly and, 

although the live bryozoans gained weight in these conditions, the net calcification 

rates of live specimens were significantly lower than at normal pH. Moreover, in 

the live specimens the organic tissue covering the skeleton was still present when 

exposed to the acidic conditions reflecting a possible role of organic tissues in 

protecting the skeleton (Rodolfo-Metalpa et al., 2010). Therefore, while the 

bryozoan seemed to be quite resilient to low pH, they died at the end of an 

unusually warm summer during the experiment in 2008, by the combination of 

both stressors. 

Overall, our in situ observations give support to concerns, based on model 

predictions and short-term laboratory experiments, that ocean acidification, 

especially when combined with other stressors (e.g., temperature rise), will cause a 

decrease in Mediterranean marine biodiversity and lead to shifts in ecosystem 

structure. Further studies are in progress on plant and animal species to test ecophysiological 

responses to increased pCO2. Although the CO2 venting sites, such 

as the Castello d’Ischia example, are not precise analogues of global-scale ocean 

acidification, due to their localised nature and relatively high temporal variability in 

pH, nonetheless they can provide information about the ecological effects of longterm 

exposures to high CO2 levels that encompass the life cycles of interacting 

macrobenthic organisms as they include the feedbacks and indirect effects that 

occur within natural marine systems (Hall-Spencer et al., 2008). 

Acknowledgements - Thanks to V. Rando and B. Iacono (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 

Napoli) for thorough and constant support at sea during field work at the vents. 


94



References 

BUIA M.C., FERRARA A., RODOLFO-METALPA R., LORENTI M., HALL-SPENCER J.M. 

(2009) - Effects of seawater acidification on Posidonia oceanica system. Proceedings 

Mediterranean Seagrass Workshop 2009, September 6-10 2009. Hvar, Croatia: 22. 

CALDEIRA K., WICKETT M.E. (2003) - Anthropogenic carbon and ocean pH. Nature, 425: 365. 

CIESM (2008) - Impacts of acidification on biological, chemical, and physical systems in the 

Mediterranean and Black Seas. Ciesm Workshop Monograph, 36: 1-124. 

CIGLIANO R., RODOLFO-METALPA R., PATTI F.P., HALL-SPENCER J.M., GAMBI M.C. 

(2009) - “Message in the bubble”. First data of water acidification effects on motile invertebrates 

under natural CO 2 vents conditions. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 16 (1): 254-255. 

DONEY S.C., FABRY V.J., FEELY R.A., KLEYPAS J.A. (2009) – Ocean acidification: the other 

CO2 problem. Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci., 1: 169-192. 

HALL-SPENCER J.M., RODOLFO-METALPA R., MARTIN S., RANSOME E., FINE M., 

TURNER S.M., ROWLEY S.J., TEDESCO D., BUIA M.C. (2008) - Volcanic carbon dioxide 

vents show ecosystem effects of ocean acidification. Nature, 454: 96-99. 

HALL-SPENCER J.M., RODOLFO-METALPA R. (2008) - Loss of Mediterranean marine 

biodiversity in a high-CO2 world. CIESM Workshop Monographs, 36: 61-64. 

KLEYPAS J.A., FEELY R.A., FABRY V.J., LANGDON C. et al. (2006) – Impact of ocean 

acidification on coral reefs and other marine calcifiers: a case guide for future research. NSF, 

NOAQA and US Geological Survey Workshop, (St. Petersburg, FL): 88 pp. 

MARTIN S., RODOLFO-METALPA R., RANSOME E., ROWLEY S., BUIA M.C., GATTUSO 

J.P., HALL-SPENCER J.M. (2008) - Effects of naturally acidified seawater on seagrass 

calcareous epibionts. Biol. Letters, 4 (6): 689-692. 

PORZIO L., HALL-SPENCER J.M., BUIA M.C. (2008) - Macroalgal community response to 

increasing CO 2. II International Symposium on the ocean in a high-CO 2 world. Monaco 6-9 

October 2008: 75. 

RODOLFO-METALPA R., LOMBARDI C., COCITO S., HALL-SPENCER J.M., GAMBI M.C. 

(2010) - Effects of ocean acidification and high temperatures on the bryozoan Myriapora 

truncata at natural CO 2 vents. Mar. Ecol. Evol. Persp. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0485.2009.00354.x 

Part of this research was carried out in the frame of VECTOR-FISR national project. C.L. was 

supported by the Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lombardia. R. Rodolfo-Metalpa was supported 

by the Prince Albert II Foundation and J,M, Hall-Spencer by the Save Our Seas Foundation. 


95



P.G. ALBANO, B. SABELLI, M. ADANI 1 , N. PINARDI 2 

Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica Sperimentale, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 3 - 40126 Bologna, 

Italia. 

pgalbano@iperbole.bologna.it 

1 Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Gruppo Nazionale di Oceanografia Operativa, Bologna, Italia. 

2 Centro Interdipartimentale di Scienze Ambientali, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto, 163 - Ravenna, Italia. 

THE TERMOPHILOUS SPECIES ECHINOLITTORINA PUNCTATA 

AS A NEW DESCRIPTOR OF TROPICALIZATION 

IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA – FIRST DATA 

LA SPECIE TERMOFILA ECHINOLITTORINA PUNCTATA: NUOVO 

INDICATORE DI TROPICALIZZAZIONE DEL MEDITERRANEO – PRIMI DATI 

Abstract – Data suggest that the prosobranch gastropod Echinolittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791) 

(Mollusca, Gastropoda) has extended its range northwards along the Italian coastline due to climate 

variability in marine conditions. Its ease of identification and mesolittoral habitat suggest this species may 

be a new practical indicator of Mediterranean Sea changing conditions, easy to monitor. 

Key-words: Mollusca, climatic changes, indicator species, intertidal environment, Italy. 

Introduction – The scientific investigations of the past decade demonstrated that the 

climate observational record contains warming trends. Small and semi-enclosed seas 

like the Mediterranean can react faster to the causes of these temperature trends and in 

turn the changes in temperature can force changes in the biota due to both by Non 

Indigenous Species (NIS), most of them of warm-water affinity, and by significant 

distribution shifts of autochthonous warm-water affinity Indigenous Species (IS). 

The effects of Non Indigenous Species lead to the “tropicalization” of the 

Mediterranean Sea, while the north-wards range expansion of autochthonous species 

leads to its “meridionalization”. However, Bianchi (2007) suggests that both 

phenomena respond in a similar way to the same drivers and could be treated as a 

single phenomenon. 

Echinolittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791) is an autochthonous Mediterranean 

prosobranch gastropod living on mesolittoral hard substrates. It used to be distributed 

mainly along the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean shores. Known for Sicilia since 

the mid-20 th century only (Antit et al., 2007), its range has extended northwards along 

the Tyrrhenian coastline and is now reported as north as Civitavecchia (P.G. Albano, 

unpublished data). New stations were reported from Puglia too (Albano & Trono, 

2008). 

The northward extension of the species along the Tyrrhenian coastline could be simply 

favored by the characteristic northward currents transporting planktonic larvae. 

However it is difficult to consider this as the main cause of northward displacement 

since the species were largely present only in the southern coasts until a decade ago. 

Therefore, a climate trigger could be taken into consideration to explain the northward 

shift. This hypothesis was reinforced by the seasonality of the reproductive cycle which 

takes place during the summer months (Palant & Fishelson, 1968) thus affecting the 

species recruitment. 


96



Our objective is to present the first data which support the hypothesis of the warm 

climate trend driven range extension of E. punctata, describing its potential as a 

practical indicator of Mediterranean Sea climate variability and tropicalization. 

Materials and methods – Records of E. punctata have been collected for a few years 

and organized in a database. Both data from literature and public and private 

collections were considered. The database contains 145 lots from the Italian coastline, 

representing 5982 specimens (but abundant populations were often greatly 

underestimated). Unfortunately, data derive from the occasional sampling effort of 

researchers and collectors and not from a planned monitoring. Therefore, it is possible 

that the discovery of new stations of E. punctata happened later than its real 

colonization. However, since the Italian coastline was searched for shells by private 

collectors with great intensity in the last decades, especially in the northernmost 

stations of Campania and Lazio, we suppose this bias does not affect our understanding 

of the phenomenon. A synthesis of the records along the Italian Tyrrhenian coastline is 

given in Tab. 1. 

Tab. 1 – First records of Echinolittorina punctata along a latitudinal transect from southern Sicilia to 

the Tyrrhenian Sea coastline. 

Prime segnalazioni di Echinolittorina punctata lungo un transetto latitudinale dalla Sicilia 

meridionale alla costa del Mar Tirreno. 

Locality Latitude N First records 

Agrigento 37.3 Mid 20 th century 

Catania 37.4 Mid 20 th century 

Messina 38.3 Late 20 th century 

Vibo Valentia 38.7 1997 

Napoli 40.8 2004 

Fiumicino 41.8 2007 

Sea Surface Temperature data comes from re-analysis dataset which combines in 

optimal way model and observations in order to obtain the most accurate estimates on 

regular spatial and temporal grid. The model has an horizontal resolution of about 6,5 

km and 72 unevenly spaced vertical levels. The dataset contains the most important 

physical features of the ocean circulation (i.e. temperature, salinity, current velocities, 

etc). 

A first qualitative correlation between distributional and temperature data was looked 

for through the analysis of the temporal temperature series of the March mean sea 

surface temperature. March was chosen since it is the very beginning of the 

reproductive cycle and therefore supposed to be the key month in the process. The 

mean SST in March in Agrigento was selected as a reference temperature for all 

stations, since in Agrigento the species has always been recorded in the analyzed time 

frame (1985-2007). This temperature was considered the minimum temperature needed 

for the reproduction of the species and then superimposed on the SST graph of other 

stations to see to which extent temperatures were above this level and how the presence 

of E. punctata could be correlated. 


97



Results – The mean March SST in Agrigento in 1985-2007 is 14.6 °C and this 

temperature was chosen as a reference temperature, characterizing the minimum 

temperature conditions needed by E. punctata to start its reproductive cycle. 

The SST series of Agrigento, Catania and Messina are similar in shape with the highest 

value in 1990, the peak of a period of temperatures above the reference level from 

1988 to 1991. Further peaks above the reference level are 1994, 1998 and then again 

2001. In Agrigento, Catania and Messina the species has been recorded for the whole 

considered time frame (despite data suggest that the colonization of Messina took place 

later than the other southern Sicilian localities). 

In Vibo Valentia, the temperature trend is similar in shape to the stations in Sicilia with 

slightly lower temperatures. The first record of E. punctata is in 1997 (D’Anna, 1997). 

The hypothesis is that the temperature peak in 1990 allowed the settling of 

reproductive populations along the Tyrrhenian coastline north of Sicilia and that 

populations slowly spread northwards until the first records in Vibo (almost 100 km 

from Messina). The time lag between the first evidence of adequate temperatures and 

the recording of populations depends on how far new stations are from already 

established ones and the time needed by larvae to travel, settle and develop 

reproductive populations. 

In Napoli, temperature peaks above the reference level happened in 1990, 1994, 1998 

and 2001 like for more southern stations but the first record of the species is in 2001 in 

Salerno (80 km coastline south of Napoli, Soppelsa et al., 2004) and 2004 in Napoli. 

Therefore, the temperature peak in 2001 allowed the colonization of this stretch of 

coastline. The explanation for the lack of records in the 1990s, despite adequate 

temperatures were present, could be explained with the time lag phenomenon described 

for Vibo Valentia: the settling of reproductive populations requires time since the 

colonization is a progressive phenomenon along the coastline. 

In Fiumicino the mean temperature in March is often close to the reference level, but it 

is never above it until 2007. The first records of E. punctata date to 2008 (P.G. Albano, 

unpublished data). The analysis of a longer time series may confirm the phenomenon 

already described for Vibo Valentia and Napoli. 

In Argentario and Livorno the mean temperature in March is never above the reference 

level and the species is, consistently, not recorded so far. 

A similar interesting phenomenon has taken place in Puglia, despite driven by different 

currents. In Gallipoli, the first peak above the reference level takes place in 2001, but 

already in 1998 and 1999 the temperature is close to the reference level. The first 

records of E. punctata can be traced back to 2000 (Albano & Trono, 2008). If a 

continuous flow of pelagic larvae from Greece could be hypothesized, then in the late 

1990s the temperature is close to the adequate one for colonization and the first records 

are consistently found in 2000. Otranto, despite closer to the supposed origin of Puglia 

populations, is colder than Gallipoli. There is a single temperature peak in 2001, but 

other years are well below the reference level. 

Conclusions – It is clear that the range expansion of E. punctata is driven by currents 

transporting pelagic larvae but that the establishment of reproductive populations need 

temperatures high enough to allow its reproductive cycle. 


98



This phenomenon has to be read not only as a new case of warm-water affinity species 

which extends its range north-wards. Its potential is of becoming a new indicator of 

Mediterranean Sea meridionalization characterized by cheap and easy monitoring. 

Its size and morphological characters allow easy identification. The species can’t be 

misidentified with others. It lives in the mesolittoral, most populations can be accessed 

without entering the water, therefore no special techniques nor any diving equipment is 

needed for observations and collections. However, its reproductive cycle which is the 

key factor in its distribution expansion is strictly associated to the sea water 

temperature. Last, but not least, the wide latitudinal range of the Italian coastline is 

perfect for the study of these phenomena. 

Our plans, funding pending, are to establish a richer database of presence data of E. 

punctata from the Italian coastline, obtain a wider SST time series, look for a formal 

correlation between distribution and temperature data, fully understand the biological 

reproductive mechanism of the species (comparing, for example, the time of the gonad 

maturation at different latitudes) and the origin of populations (with molecular 

markers), define a monitoring protocol and evaluate the possibility of a previsional 

model. 

References 

ALBANO P.G., TRONO D. (2008) – On the occurrence of Echinolittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791) 

(Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in Puglia, South-Eastern Italy. Boll. Malacol., 44 (9-12): 123-126. 

ANTIT M., GOFAS S., AZZOUNA A. (2007) – New records of upper shore Mollusca for the 

Tunisian coast: newcomers or overlooked? Mar. Biodiv. Rec., 1, published on-line doi: 

10.1017/S1755267207000206. 

BIANCHI C.N. (2007) – Biodiversity issues for the forthcoming tropical Mediterranean Sea. 

Hydrobiologia, 580: 7-21. 

D'ANNA G. (1997) – Segnalazione di Nodilittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791) per Zambrone (Vibo 

Valentia). Notiziario SIM, 15 (1-4): 20. 

PALANT B., FISHELSON L. (1968) – Littorina punctata (Gmelin) and Littorina neritoides (L.), 

(Mollusca, Gastropoda) from Israel: ecology and annual cycle of genital system. Isr. J. Zool., 17: 

145-160. 

SOPPELSA O., CROCETTA F., FASULO G. (2004) – Prime segnalazioni di Nodilittorina punctata 

(Gmelin, 1791) per il Golfo di Salerno, il Golfo di Napoli ed i litorali laziali (Tirreno centromeridionale). 

Boll. Soc. Naturalisti Napoli, Nuova Serie, 2 (2003-2004): 41-44. 


99



M. BO, C.G. DI CAMILLO, M. BERTOLINO, P. POVERO 1 , C. MISIC 1 , M. CASTELLANO 1 , 

A. COVAZZI HARRIAGUE 1 , G.P. GASPARINI 2 , M. BORGHINI 2 , K. SCHROEDER 2 , 

G. BAVESTRELLO 

1 DisMar, Università Politecnica delle Marche - 60131 Ancona, Italia. 

m.bo@univpm.it 

2 DipTeRis, Università degli Studi di Genova - 16132 Genova, Italia. 

3 CNR-ISMAR - 19036 La Spezia, Italia. 

THE MEGABENTHIC ASSEMBLAGES OF THE VERCELLI SEAMOUNT 

(NORTH TYRRHENIAN SEA) 

LE COMUNITÀ MEGABENTONICHE DEL VERCELLI SEAMOUNT 

(MAR TIRRENO SETTENTRIONALE) 

Abstract - The megabenthic assemblages of the Vercelli Seamount (North Tyrrhenian Sea) were studied 

through ROV imaging from 60 to 500 m depth and a peculiar benthos zonation was observed. The 

shallower rocky peak (60-100 m depth) hosted a very reach coralligenous community characterized, on the 

top by the kelp Laminaria rodriguezii, by gorgonian assemblages on the southern flank and by sponges-soft 

corals assemblages on the northern one. On the detritic bottom at the base of the peak, a very dense 

population of the crinoid Leptometra phalangium was observed. On the edge of the detritic plain, around 

180-200 m depth, a ring of the yellow scleractinian coral Dendrophyllia cornigera, mainly dead, was 

recorded. The rocky slopes from 200 to 500 m depth, covered by a thick iron-manganese crust, were very 

poorly colonized, mainly by encrusting sponges and serpulids. This research is the first detailed 

investigation, through ROV imaging, of megabenthic communities living on a Mediterranean seamount, 

representing therefore a study model for this peculiar ecosystem. 

Key-words: benthos, seamounts, Tyrrhenian Sea, ROV imaging. 

Introduction - Seamounts are considered to be hotspots of marine biodiversity being 

characterised by rich benthic suspension-feeding communities of hard substrates 

mainly composed of sponges, hydrozoans, scleractinians, antipatharians and 

gorgonians providing habitat for numerous smaller, mobile invertebrates and hosting 

an abundant and diversified ichthyofauna (e.g. Samadi et al., 2007). The Mediterranean 

seamounts have been relatively well investigated from the geological point of view 

(e.g. Zhuleva, 1988), but few data are available concerning the composition of their 

megabenthic assemblages. An example is the description of a rich algal community and 

the mollusc fauna on the top of the Amendolara Bank in the Ionian Sea by dredging 

program (from 20 m depth) (Cecere & Perrone, 1988). Also the benthic fauna of the 

top of the Eratosthenes Seamount (750 m depth) was studied by trawl and grab, to the 

south of Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Galil & Zibrowius, 1998). Recently 

ROV surveys were used to describe the coralligenous assemblages from 80 to 170 m 

depth on four seamounts along the Spanish coast (Aguiliar et al., 2009). Moreover, the 

biodiversity of several banks and shoals has been investigated along the continental 

shelf of the North Tyrrhenian Sea, Sicily Strait, and the Aegean Sea. Studies focusing 

on deep coral assemblages were made on some rocky shoals along the Calabrian 

mesophotic zone (Bo et al., 2009) and on the white coral reefs found in the Ionian Sea 

and mainly composed by the scleractinians Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata. 

The Tyrrhenian bathyal plain is spotted by at least 14 large and intermediate 

seamounts. Their peaks are generally several hundred metres beneath the surface of the 

sea, Vercelli Seamount however, together with Strabo Seamount, are shallow 


100



mountains and photosynthetic communities may develop on their tops. The 

megabenthic assemblages zonation along the Vercelli Seamount may represent a study 

model to describe, through ROV imaging, seamount ecosystems in the Mediterranean 

Sea. 

Materials and methods - Vercelli Seamount, rising from the flat muddy bottom of the 

Tyrrhenian Sea around 2000 m depth, is located at about 50 miles off Olbia, along the 

Sardinian coast (41°06.114’N - 10°53.979’E). The survey was conducted with an 

observer class Remotely Operated Vehicle, ROV Pluto (Gaymarine, Switzerland). The 

ROV was equipped with an underwater acoustic tracking position system (HDR made 

by Gaymarine ultrashort baseline operating with a 30kHz responder), providing records 

of its track along the seabed. Additionally it had a depth sensor, a compass, and two 

parallel laser beams providing a 10 cm scale for measuring the areas of the frames 

(approximately 1-2 m 2 ). The ROV, moving at about 1 m height from the seabed (about 

2 m of visual field), was equipped with a digital camera and a high definition video 

camera. To confirm the taxonomic determination of the specimens observed in the 

frames, we examined samples collected by dredging on the seamount (60-120 m depth) 

during an oceanographic campaign on board of the R/V Urania in May 2009. 

Results - The geomorphological characteristics of the Vercelli Seamount were 

previously studied by underwater photoprofiling (Zhuleva, 1988). The topography of 

the structure is characterised by steep rocky or detritic walls rising from the sea bottom 

and turning into flat coarse detritic planes gently sloping from 200-250 to 100 m depth 

where a rocky peak rises reaching its maximal elevation around 60 m depth (Fig. 1). 

The ROV observations indicated that the different portions of the rocky pinnacle 

(summit, from 60 to 70 m depth, SW flank and NE flank, from 70 to 100 m depth) 

hosted different coralligenous biocoenoses (Fig. 1). The top of the seamount showed a 

dense population of the kelp Laminaria rodriguezii covering almost 80% of the 

substratum. The substratum free from the algae was colonised by encrusting sponges. 

Many specimens of the crinoid Antedon mediterranea (on average 50 individuals m -2 ) 

occurred on the algal thalli. The two flanks of the peak were characterised by 

significantly different assemblages (Fig. 1). The southern side of the ridge was 

dominated by gorgonians which sometimes reached very high densities. On the rocky 

boundary close to the detritic bottom (90-100 m) the only large coral present was the 

gorgonian Eunicella cavolinii, and the more rare Paramuricea clavata. Specimens of 

Callogorgia verticillata, Corallium rubrum and the scleractinian Dendrophyllia 

cornigera were occasionally observed in the deepest part (90-100 m) of the pinnacle. 

Several specimens of Axinella verrucosa and Axinella damicornis were observed. 

Between 70 and 90 m the density of P. clavata progressively increased while that of E. 

cavolinii decreased. One colony of the arborescent antipatharian Antipathella 

subpinnata was observed at about 90 m depth. The northern side of the peak was 

characterised by the dominance of suspension feeding organisms. From the bottom to 

80 m depth we recorded a very large number of colonies of the blue soft coral 

Paralcyonium spinulosum, while Alcyonium palmatum was only occasionally 

observed. P. clavata and E. cavolinii were also present on the northern side but with 

lower densities. Specimens of Axinella spp. were observed at all depths while the 

dominant sponge species from 70 to 80 m depth was Tethya citrina here showing 


101



unusual densities. Other observed suspension feeding organisms, such as the colonial 

ascidian Diazona violacea and the polychaete Sabella pavonina, were extremely 

abundant on the northern flank while they were significatively less recorded on the 

southern one.The detritic bottom around the peak, between 140-150 m depth, was 

densely populated by the crinoid Leptometra phalangium with densities of up to 43 

specimens m -2 (Fig. 1). A part from this dense facies, crinoids were absent for the entire 

length of the slope (about 1 mile), where only some rare Cidaris sp. were recorded. On 

the edge of the detritic bottom (around 180-200 m depth) a wide belt of dead 

Dendrophyllia cornigera (yellow scleractinian coral) was recorded, with sparse living 

colonies (Fig. 1). The dead calyxes of this species were frequently covered by the blue 

sponge Phorbas tenacior. From 200 to 500 m depth the rocks, emerging from the 

coarse sand, were covered by a thick black crust of iron-manganese oxide (Zhuleva, 

1988). On this substratum the biocoenosis is particularly poor, composed by tubes of 

serpulids and rare encrusting specimens of the sponge Phorbas tenacior. 

Fig. 1 - Zonation of the megabenthic assemblages of the Vercelli Seamount (60-200 m). 

Zonazione delle comunità megabentoniche del Seamount Vercelli (60-200 m). 

Conclusions - The coralligenous assemblage recorded on the summit of the Vercelli 

Seamount is similar to those recorded on other seamounts along the Spanish coast 

(Aguilar et al., 2009) and to that of the Gorringe Bank (Atlantic Ocean) characterised 

by a dense assemblage of Paramuricea clavata and, on its upper portion, by a dense 

meadow of Laminaria ochroleuca (OCEANA, 2005). The composition of the benthic 

assemblages on the two sides of the seamount is in agreement with the hydrodynamic 

conditions of the area (Artale et al., 1994). In the northern area the upwelling 

conditions likely produce re-suspension of organic particles, but also can increase the 

phytoplankton biomass development in the euphotic layer, with a subsequent sinking 


102



of organic detritus to the bottom, favouring suspension feeding organisms. The very 

dense population of suspension feeding crinoids is clearly related to the sinking of 

organic matter produced on the upper pinnacle, in fact, when the distance from this 

structure increases, the biomass drastically decreases. This is the first ROV description 

of a Mediterranean seamount representing therefore an useful model of the benthic 

zonation of these peculiar geological structures. 

References 

AGUILIAR R., PASTOR X., DE LA TORRIENTE A., GARCÍA S. (2009) - Deep-sea coralligenous 

beds observed with ROV on four seamounts in the Western Mediterranean. In: Pergent-Martini 

C., Brichet M. (eds), Proceedings of the 1 st Mediterranean symposium on the conservation of the 

coralligenous and others calcareous bio-concretions, Tunis, UNEP-MAP-RAC/SPA: 147-149. 

ARTALE V., ASTRALDI M., BUFFONI G., GASPARINI GP. (1994) - Seasonal variability of gyrescale 

circulation in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea. J. Geophys. Res., 99: 14127-14137. 

BO M., BAVESTRELLO G., CANESE S., GIUSTI M., SALVATI E., ANGIOLILLO M., GRECO 

S. (2009) - Characteristics of a black coral meadow in the twilight zone of the central 

Mediterranean Sea. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 397: 53-61. 

CECERE E., PERRONE C. (1988) - First Contribution to the Knowledge of Macrobenthic Flora of 

the Amendolara Sea-Mount (Ionian Sea). Oebalia, 14: 43-67. 

GALIL B., ZIBROWIUS H. (1998) - First Benthos Samples From Eratosthenes Seamount, Eastern 

Mediterranean. Senck. marit., 28: 111-121. 

OCEANA (2005) - The seamounts of the Gorringe Bank. www.training.oceana.org: 39 pp. 

SAMADI S., SCHLACHER T., RICHER DE FORGES B. (2007) - Seamount benthos. In: Pitcher 

T.J. et al. (eds), Seamounts: Ecology, Fisheries & Conservation. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford: 

119-140. 

ZHULEVA E.V. (1988) - Submarine photoprofiling in a geological study of the Vercelli Seamount 

(Tyrrhenian Sea). Ocenol., 27: 808-815. 


103



C. BONAVIRI, C. PIPITONE 1 , P. GIANGUZZA, B. HEREU 2 

Dipartimento di Ecologia Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18 - 90123 Palermo, Italia. 

chiabon@libero.it 

1 CNR-IAMC, Sede di Castellammare del Golfo, Trapani, Italia. 

2 Department d’Ecologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain. 

PREDATION ON YOUNG PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS SETTLERS: 

IMPLICATIONS FOR MEDITERRANEAN ROCKY 

INFRALITTORAL STABILITY 

PREDAZIONE SU GIOVANILI DI PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS: 

IMPLICAZIONI PER LA STABILITÀ DEI SISTEMI INFRALITORALI ROCCIOSI 

MEDITERRANEI 

Abstract – Predation of young sea urchins settlers are often invoked as a key process in the control of sea 

urchins populations and therefore in the structure and stability of rocky infralittoral communities. In this 

study a number of decapod species were detected as predators of young settlers of the sea urchin 

Paracentrotus lividus and their predation rates estimated by laboratory experiments. Abundance of these 

predators also resulted significantly lower in barren than in macro algae forests, suggesting that lack of 

predation of juvenile sea urchins facilitates the stability of Mediterranean barren systems. 

Key-words: ecosystem stability, predator-prey interactions, sea urchin, crustaceans, hard bottoms. 

Introduction - In the last decades temperate infralittoral ecosystems have undergone a 

loss of habitat-forming algae. Erect macroalgae canopy can be massively reduced by 

perturbation (e.g., loss of top-down control of grazers, destructive harvesting) leading 

to a shift towards an alternative phase dominated by sea urchins and encrusting 

organisms named barren (Sala et al., 1998). Whether encrusting- and erect macroalgae 

dominated communities represent alternate stable states of rocky systems has not been 

proven (Knowlton, 2004). Sea urchins biomass and abundance maintain high in barren 

areas where few-months old individuals can be more numerous than in macro algae 

forests (Rowley, 1989). Echinoids are invertebrates with a planktonic larval phase and 

their population structure strictly depends on larval supply, settlement process and 

post-settlement mortality. Some authors suggest that mortality of young settlers could 

represent the bottleneck for sea urchin populations in erect macroalgae forests 

(Jennings & Hunt, 2010 and reference therein). Given that erect macroalgae are 

habitat-formers, they add physical complexity to the substratum by increasing species 

richness and functional diversity of mobile epifaunal organisms (Taylor, 1998). 

Density of small invertebrates is positively correlated with structural complexity of the 

habitat, being low in barrens and high in erect algae assemblages (Taylor, 1998). The 

fact that young settled sea urchins are vulnerable to predation by various small 

invertebrates (Scheibling & Robinson, 2008), may make erect algae systems less 

suitable for the survival of recruits. Mediterranean rocky littorals are characterized by 

either barren or macro algae forests (Sala et al., 1998). The sea urchin Paracentrotus 

lividus resides in both systems but displays always higher biomass and abundance in 

the former. Since the settlement of P. lividus is probably independent from the benthic 

assemblage (Hereu, 2004), the difference of the sea urchin population structure may 

depend on the post-settlement mortality between the two systems. Mortality of P. 

lividus recruits has been estimated to reach 75% during the first six months in a macro 


104



algae system (Sala & Zabala, 1996). In this light, considering the potential role of 

predation on P. lividus recruits in regulating their abundance, this study planned: (1) to 

individuate the predators of P. lividus recruits and evaluate their predation rates, (2) to 

compare the abundance of predators of early settled P. lividus in barren and erect 

macroalgae systems. 

Materials and methods – The study area included the Medes Island Marine Reserve 

and the nearby Montgri unprotected area (NW Mediterranean Sea) in summer 2009. 

The study was carried out on rocky bottoms at 5-8 m depth, characterized by two 

distinct types of algal assemblage state including: (1) Barren State (BS), dominated by 

encrusting corallines (Lithophyllum incrustans, Mesophyllum alternans, Spongites 

notarisii) and (2) Erect macroalgae state (EAS) dominated by a canopy of perennial 

(e.g. Cystoseira compressa, Codium vermillara) and seasonal (e.g.: Dictyota 

dichotoma, Asparagopsis armata) macroalgae and understorey species (e.g.: Corallina 

elongata, Rhodymenia ardissonei, Halopteris filicina). 

In order to individuate the potential predators of P. lividus juveniles and their predation 

rates, we exposed young sea urchin settlers to a variety of decapod crustaceans in the 

laboratory, based on our previous experiments and on the literature (Scheibling & 

Robinson, 2008). Decapods and sea urchin juveniles were collected by scraping off 

rocky substrates. In the laboratory, small decapods (



Clibanarius erythropus did not prey on the urchins (Tab. 1). Among 8 species of crabs 

presented to young settlers of P. lividus, the two Pilumnus species and Liocarcinus 

arcuatus resulted efficient predators, consuming almost all the sea urchins offered. The 

two Xantho species had a low predation rate (Tab. 1). The pistol shrimp Alpheus 

dentipes showed an intermediate predation rate (Tab. 1). 

Tab. 1 - Species used in the predation experiments. 

Specie usate negli esperimenti di predazione. 

Species Predation rate Size 

Mean ± SD mm n 

(n /10 in 48h) 

Hermit crabs 

Pagurus anachoretus 0.74 ± 0.23 1.5-5.5 16 

Calcinus tubularis 0.77 ± 0.24 1.5-5.5 16 

Cestopagurus timidus 0.00 ± 0.00 1.2-2.2 5 

Clibanarius erythropus 0.00 ± 0.00 1.3-3.3 16 

Crabs 

Pilumnus hirtellus 0.83 ± 0.17 3.9-12 16 

Pilumnus villosissimus 0.93 ± 0.10 4.8-19.5 4 

Xantho pilipes 0.13 ± 0.10 11-16.8 4 

Xantho poressa 0.20 ± 0.14 10-13.4 4 

Liocarcinus arcuatus 0.93 ± 0.10 3-4.5 4 

Sirpus zariquieyi 0.00 ± 0.00 3-3.7 4 

Acanthonyx lunulatus 0.00 ± 0.00 3-5.2 4 

Macropodia rostrata 0.00 ± 0.00 5-6.5 4 

Pistol shrimp 

Alpheus dentipes 0.34 ± 0.36 3-8.4 16 

Predators of P. lividus were abundant in EAS and almost absent in the BS, where only 

one individual of A. dentipes was found (Tab. 2). 

Tab.2 - ANOVA on the abundance of P. lividus predators. 

ANOVA sulle abbondanze dei predatori di P. lividus. 

Crabs Pistol shrimp 

Source of variation df MS F MS F 

State (BS vs EAS) 1 24.08 289.00** 36.75 441.00** 

Site (State) 2 0.08 0.05 n.s. 0.08 0.06 n.s. 

Residuals 8 1.83 1.50 

Total 11 

Conclusions – In the Mediterranean Sea, high densities of P. lividus may maintain 

coralline barrens state determining drastic changes on ecosystem functioning. 

Theoretical and empirical studies suggest that resilience of alternative community 

states can be enhanced by self-perpetuating process (Knowlton, 2004). Many authors 

suggest that post-settlement events, like predation, may strongly influence the 

abundance of sea urchins (Jennings & Hunt, 2010 and references therein). This study 

for the first time investigates predation on young settlers of P. lividus by small 

invertebrates. Our predation experiments provide laboratory evidence that different 


106



crustacean decapods voraciously consume few days-weeks old P. lividus. 

Unexpectedly, we found profound differences in predation rates among different 

hermit crabs and among different crabs. The difference in the predation patterns among 

species might depend on species-specific morphological and/or behavioural traits and 

may have profound repercussions on the mortality of early-post settlement sea urchins 

in natural conditions. As expected, predators were significantly more abundant in the 

erect macroalgae assemblage and almost absent in barren areas. Our findings strongly 

support the hypothesis that the absence of erect algae in a barren system may cause the 

reduction of predators of P. lividus young-settlers, thus enhancing sea urchin recruit 

survival and representing a self-perpetuating process for the stability of Mediterranean 

barren systems. This study suggests different and complementary roles of small 

invertebrate species in controlling the abundance of sea urchin recruits and underlines 

the importance of the functional diversity of small invertebrates in this process. We 

encourage future research aimed to understanding the factors involved in the 

interaction strength between sea urchin recruits and their small invertebrate predators. 

References 

HEREU B., ZABALA M., LINARES C., SALA E. (2004) - Temporal and spatial variability in 

settlement of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lmk). Mar. Biol ., 144: 1011-1018. 

JENNINGS L.B., HUNT H.L. (2010) - Settlement, recruitment and potential predators and 

competitors of juvenile echinoderms in the rocky subtidal zone. Mar. Biol ., 157: 307-316. 

KNOWLTON N. (2004) - Multiple “stable” states and the conservation of marine ecosystems. Prog. 

Oceanogr, 60: 387-3962. 

ROWELEY R.J. (1989) - Settlement and recruitment of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus spp.) in a sea 

urchin barren ground and a kelp bed: are populations regulated by settlement or post-settlement 

processes? Mar. Biol., 100: 485-494. 

SALA E., BOUDOURESQUE C.F., HARMELIN-VIVIEN M. (1998) - Fishing, trophic cascades, 

and the structure of algal assemblages: evaluation of an old but untested paradigm. Oikos, 82: 

425-439. 

SALA E., ZABALA M. (1996) - Fish predation and the structure of the sea urchin Paracentrotus 

lividus populations in the NW Mediterranean. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Se.r., 140: 71-81. 

SCHEIBLING R.E., ROBINSON M.C. (2008) – Settlement behaviour and early post-settlement 

predation of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 365: 59- 

66. 

TAYLOR R.B. (1998) - Density, biomass and productivity of animals in four subtidal rocky reef 

habitats: the importance of small mobile invertebrates. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 172: 37–51. 


107



C. CAROPPO, L. GIORDANO * , F. RUBINO, A.P. BISCI, T.S. HOPKINS * 

Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), 

Via Roma, 3 - 74100 Taranto, Italia. 

carmela.caroppo@iamc.cnr.it 

* IAMC-CNR, Calata Porta di Massa, Napoli, Italia. 

PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES AS INDICATORS 

OF ECOLOGICAL CHANGE IN THE ANTHROPOGENICALLY 

IMPACTED MAR PICCOLO OF TARANTO (IONIAN SEA) 

LE COMUNITÀ FITOPLANCTONICHE QUALI INDICATORI 

DELLE VARIAZIONI DI UN ECOSISTEMA SOGGETTO AD IMPATTO 

ANTROPICO: IL MAR PICCOLO DI TARANTO (MAR IONIO) 

Abstract – Preliminary results on phytoplankton community dynamics obtained by constructing a system 

based simulation model are here presented. This constitutes a component in a larger ecological model, 

which has been developed under the FP6 Integrated Project SPICOSA (Science and Policy Integration for 

Coastal Assessment). This model is aimed to quantify the main forcing due to human activities and 

environmental factors acting on the Mar Piccolo coastal system (Taranto, Italy) that is changing its 

response to these forcing. The succession of phytoplankton groups provides a useful indicator of system 

response to human perturbations, a calibration parameter for the species-specific growth, an indicator of 

trophic changes, and a control on the growth of mussels reared in Mar Piccolo. 

Key-words: coastal zone, indicators, model, phytoplankton, Ionian Sea. 

Introduction - Coastal lagoons and semi-enclosed seas have peculiar functional and 

structural characteristics due to their location at the interface between land and sea. 

They generally show large temporal and spatial variations in hydro-chemical 

characteristics and considerable biological diversity (Castel et al., 1996). By 

considering the dynamic nature of these ecosystems, there is an urgent need to develop 

sensitive and broadly applicable indicators for detecting water quality and ecosystem 

health. Phytoplankton, which conduct a bulk of primary production and can rapidly 

respond to a wide range of environmental perturbations, represent a sensitive and 

important indicator for detecting ecological change in coastal systems (Paerl et al., 

2009), like Mar Piccolo in Taranto. In this ecosystem, in the last fifty years, urban 

expansion and intensive agricultures have caused an increase in nutrients and organic 

matter levels, which are higher than the self-depurating capacities of the basin. Since 

2000, to improve the water quality, a depuration plan has been implemented in Mar 

Piccolo. In the framework of the Integrated Project, SPICOSA (Science and Policy 

Integration for COastal Systems Assessment), system-based models are being 

developed to provide higher-level information and decision-support tools for solving 

problematic issues in coastal zones. In this paper, we refer about the phytoplankton 

sub-model that is included into a more complex ecological model developed under the 

SPICOSA Mar Piccolo experiment. 

Materials and methods –The simulation model was developed considering a System 

Approach Framework and the principles of the Systems Theory (von Bertalanffy, 

1968). Globally, the System Theory states that complex, non-linear systems function 

differently in vivo than a separate scrutiny of their component parts might indicate. 


108



This requires the best-possible understanding of the processes and dynamics of a 

system. 

Geo-morphologically, the Mar Piccolo has two interacting basins with a double-layer 

stratification in which we simulated the main bio-geo-physical processes related to 

freshwater balance, salt budget, circulation exchange, vertical diffusion, light 

attenuation, oxygen budget, nitrogen, phosphate and silicate budget, total carbon 

regeneration and primary production. In this paper, we show and discuss the details of 

phytoplankton growth modelling inserted as a block into the more complex ecosystem 

model (Caroppo et al., 2010). The ecological modelling of Mar Piccolo is based on the 

simulation software EXTEND-Sim ”(http://www.extendsim.com/). 

In order to reconstruct the whole dynamics of Mar Piccolo phytoplankton communities 

we built a three-group phytoplankton box-model that fundamentally follows the 

modified formulation of the Villefranche Bay model (Ross & Nival, 1976). The 

purpose is to reproduce three major plankton groups dynamics (e.g. diatoms, 

dinoflagellates, and phytoflagellates) in order to simulate the normal seasonal 

succession observed into Mar Piccolo ecosystem. For this specific case, some 

approximations have been introduced adding linearly growth and light (mean daily 

values) coefficients and reproducing the succession as a reflection of the differences 

between groups’ maximum nutrients assimilation rates. The fundamental equation for 

phytoplankton growth (PP) is based on the main forcing variables (nutrients and light) 

taking into account death (Km), respiration (Kr), and a constant grazing parameter 

(Kg), as in the following form: 

PP 

2 

( t) 

= ( PP( 

t− 

1) 

∗( 

Mu+ 

Ligth( 

t) 

* KI) 

−( 

Km+ 

Kr) 

* PP( 

t−1) 

− Kg* 

PP( 

t−1) 

)) * dt + PP( 

t−1) 

Extend calculates the growth per time step (day) and integrates it over time. Nutrients 

uptake is based both on new and regenerated nitrogen concentrations into the top layer 

of the Mar Piccolo basin, such as: 

Mu = Mu + Mu 

Nnew 

in which Mu parameters follow the Michaelis-Menten kinetics both for regenerated and 

new nitrogen. The light-growth dependency is simulated introducing an attenuation 

parameter (KI) that depends on the Total Suspended Matter concentration into the 

upper layer of the basin. The mortality rate (Km) and respiration loss (Kr) are 

considered both population dependent and group-specific. Also the grazing coefficient 

(Kg) is here considered dependent on the population dynamic with a time delay that 

allows simulating a simplified predator-prey population response. All calculations into 

the model are expressed in grams of carbon per area. The results here reported are 

based on preliminary simulations of the Mar Piccolo model components, calibrated by 

using existing observational data directly collected by the IAMC-CNR of Taranto, or 

obtained from literature, and local Authorities. 

Results - The ecological model of Mar Piccolo is deterministic in the sense that it is 

driven by its external inputs of meteorology, light, external salinity variations. The land 

runoff, nutrient, and organic loading (BOD) are calculated using available observations 

of these and of the river and aquifer flows (years 2002-2003). The phytoplankton 

growth is driven by the light and nutrient conditions, modified by the circulation and 

Nreg 


109



diffusion. The general ecological model calibration on primary forcing showed a good 

level of accuracy compared primarily with the surface layer dataset (years 2002-2003) 

acquired by stations located in Seno II that gave an idea of the annual trend for nutrient 

loads (Fig. 1). 

Nitrogen (kg m -3 ) 

0.0016 

0.0014 

0.0012 

0.001 

0.0008 

0.0006 

0.0004 

0.0002 

0 

31-12-02 

14-01-03 

28-01-03 

11-02-03 

25-02-03 

11-03-03 

25-03-03 

08-04-03 

22-04-03 

06-05-03 

20-05-03 

SENO II-Nitrogen 


110 

03-06-03 

Time (days) 

Fig. 1 - The simulated total nitrogen concentration at the surface (solid line) and bottom (dashed line) 

layers, compared to the experimental data collected at the surface (triangles). 

I risultati del modello relativi alla simulazione della concentrazione di azoto totale nello 

strato superficiale (linea continua) e nello strato di fondo (linea tratteggiata) comparati con i 

dati di superficie determinati sperimentalmente (triangoli). 

The calibration of the phytoplankton community changes are based on observed data 

(years 2002-2003). The phytoplankton succession is complicated by a feedback with 

nutrient regeneration and grazing by predators (e.g. zooplankton and mussels). 

The succession of the three groups indicates that diatoms prevail in winter (with high 

runoff and consequently high new nitrogen load), dinoflagellates and phytoflagellates 

increase during summer (with higher ammonia values) (Fig. 2). 

The field data testify that throughout the years, a drastic reduction of the total 

phytoplankton and particularly of diatom abundance has been observed (Caroppo C., 

unpublished data). So, it seems that the qualitative composition of the communities is 

changing with a shift from diatoms to nano-phytoplagellates as dominant group in 

terms of cell densities. Probably, this last is an evidence of the change of system’s 

nutrient load due to the sewer discharge reduction occurred between 2000 and 2007 

(Caroppo et al., 2010). 

Conclusions – Historical studies of Mar Piccolo ecosystem are mostly limited only to 

models of circulation (Umgiesser et al., 2007) and to statistical studies on hydrology 

and chemico-physical features (Alabiso et al., 1997). 

17-06-03 

01-07-03 

15-07-03 

29-07-03 

12-08-03 

26-08-03 

09-09-03 

23-09-03 

07-10-03 

21-10-03 

04-11-03 

18-11-03 

02-12-03 

16-12-03 

30-12-03

Phytoplankton Groups 

kg C m -3 

3.00 

2.50 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 

31-12-02 

14-01-03 



28-01-03 

11-02-03 

25-02-03 

11-03-03 

25-03-03 

08-04-03 

22-04-03 

06-05-03 

20-05-03 


111 

03-06-03 

17-06-03 

01-07-03 

15-07-03 

diatoms dinoflagellates phytoflagellates 

Time (days) 

Fig. 2 - The modelled results of the three phytoplankton groups biomass (kg C m -3 ). 

I risultati del modello riferiti alla biomassa (kg C m -3 ) dei tre gruppi fitoplanctonici. 

Globally, the ecological model of Mar Piccolo developed under the SPICOSA 

experiment allowed us to reproduce the environmental conditions of such ecosystem: 

the fresh-water runoff, the water circulation, and the nitrogen budget that constitute the 

most important forcing factors for primary production. By considering the performed 

test simulations, the phytoplankton growth is driven by the light and nutrient 

conditions, and modified by the circulation and diffusion. The idea of simulating the 

regenerated-nitrogen growth allowed us to evaluate the feedback with nutrient 

regeneration that seems to be one of the most relevant aspects for phytoplankton 

groups succession and indicator of environmental stress. 

References 

ALABISO G., CANNALIRE M., GHIONDA D., MILILLO M., LEONE G., CACIORGNA O. 

(1997) - Particulate matter and chemical-physical conditions of an inner sea: the Mar Piccolo of 

Taranto. A new statistical approach. Mar. Chem., 58: 373-338. 

CAROPPO C, GIORDANO L, RUBINO F, PALMIERI N, BELLIO G, BISCI A.P. (2010) - 

“Scientific Report for Appraisal Step for deliverable D7.4”. SPICOSA Annual Report. 

http://www.spicosa.eu/ 

CASTEL J., CAUMETTE P., HERBERT R. (1996) - Eutrophication gradients in coastal lagoons as 

exemplified by the Bassin d’Ảrcachon and the Étang du Prévost. Hydrobiologia, 329: 9-28. 

PAERL H.W., ROSSIGNOL K.L., HALL S.N., PEIERLS B.L., WETZ M.S. (2009) - Phytoplankton 

Community Indicators of Short- and Long-term Ecological Change in the Anthropogenically and 

Climatically Impacted Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, USA. Estuaries and Coasts, DOI 

10.1007/s12237-009-9137-0. 

ROSS G.G., NIVAL P. (1976) - Plankton modelling in the Bay of Villefranche. J. Theor. Biol., 56: 

381-399. 

UMGIESSER G., SCROCCARO I., ALABISO G. (2007) - Mass exchange mechanisms in the 

Taranto Sea. Transit. Waters Bull., 2: 59-71. 

VON BERTALANFFY L. (1968) - General Systems Theory. George Braziller, New York: 295 pp. 

29-07-03 

12-08-03 

26-08-03 

09-09-03 

23-09-03 

07-10-03 

21-10-03 

04-11-03 

18-11-03 

02-12-03 

16-12-03 

30-12-03



S. CASABIANCA, E. PECCHIOLI * , C. VERNESI * , A. PENNA 

Department of Biomolecular Science, University of Urbino, Viale Trieste, 296 - 61121 Pesaro, Italia. 

silvia.casabianca@uniurb.it 

* CEA, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Trento, Italia. 

POPULATION GENETIC STRUCTURE OF THE TOXIC DINOPHYCEAE 

ALEXANDRIUM MINUTUM IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA: 

A CASE STUDY 

STRUTTURA GENETICA DI POPOLAZIONE DI ALEXANDRIUM MINUTUM 

(DINOFLAGELLATA) IN MAR MEDITERRANEO: UN CASO DI STUDIO 

Abstract – Alexandrium minutum (Dinophyceae) is a worldwide distributed species and is responsible for 

paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) outbreaks throughout the world. In the Western Mediterranean Sea, this 

species causes also high biomass events in many enclosed coastal sites with relevant negative implications 

on environment and economic activities. Using new molecular markers characterized by a higher 

mutational rate than ribosomal genes, as the microsatellite markers, it has been possible to investigate the 

population genetic structure on large scale in the Mediterranean basin to understand the 

phylogeographical dynamic dispersion of this species. 

Key-words: dinoflagellates, microsatellite, population genetic structure. 

Introduction – The occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in recent decades 

has particularly affected the coastal regions worlwide. In particular, the dinoflagellate 

Alexandrium minutum is widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea and is mainly 

responsible of high toxic biomass events producing the paralytic shellfish poisoning 

(PSP). This dinoflagellate is considered as one main representative species of HAB 

events in the Mediterranean Sea (Vila et al., 2005). 

Phylogenetic studies on the ribosomal DNA sequences of A. minutum from different 

geographical areas showed that Mediterranean and worldwide strains belonged to the 

same group forming a homogeneous clade, the Global clade (Lilly et al., 2005). This 

genetic information didn’t permit to resolve the potentially genetic diversity of A. 

minutum population in relation to the regional scale harmful blooms (Penna et al., 

2008). 

The microsatellite markers have been applied to several A. minutum isolates in order to 

understand evolutionary relationships within this species and to assess the genetic 

variability among A. minutum populations from different coastal areas of the 

Mediterranean Sea. 

Understanding population connectivity, the spread mechanisms, and the genetic 

structure of the toxic species A. minutum, is crucial for its capacity of dispersion and 

impact with potential harmful outbreaks in the Mediterranenan coastal environments. 

Materials and methods – A total of 116 A. minutum strains were isolated from field 

samples, collected in 6 different coastal areas, as northern western Adriatic Sea, Ionian 

Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Catalan Sea, Balearic Sea and eastern Atlantic (Spain). 

Total genomic DNA was extracted and purified using DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, 

Valencia, CA, USA) according to manufacturer’s instructions. The ribosomal 5.8S 

gene and ITS regions of each A. minutum isolate were amplified using ITSA and ITSB 

primers according to the protocol of Penna et al. (2008) and the PCR products were 


112



sequenced. Seven microsatellite loci (Nagai et al., 2006) were used to genotype all A. 

minutum isolates. Samples were amplified in an Applied Biosystems DNA Thermo 

Cycler 2720 (Applied Biosystems Inc., USA). Each PCR product was visualized on 

agarose gel 2.5% (w/v), analyzed by ABI PRISM 3100-Avant Genetic Analyzer 

(Applied Biosystem, USA) and finally sized by GeneMapper software ver. 4.0 

(Applied Biosystems Inc., USA). The global and pairwise genetic diversity and 

fixation indices (FST), and Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) among the 

different populations were calculated by the Arlequin software ver. 3.1 (Excoffier et 

al., 2005) and Fstat software ver. 2.9.3 (Goudet, 2001). The Principal Coordinate 

Analysis (PCoA) based on the genetic distance matrix was carried out by the Excel 

application GenAlEx ver. 6.1. Bayesian analyses were performed using Structure 

software ver. 2.2 (Pritchard et al., 2000). 

Results - The alignment of the 5.8S-ITS rDNA sequences showed a nucleotide 

sequence identity of 100% among all A. minutum isolates. The seven primers used for 

the PCR amplification of 7 microsatellite loci of A. minutum isolates provided PCR 

amplified products of the expected range size. The different genetic diversity indices 

within population of A. minutum (Tab. 1) indicated that all loci were polymorphic in all 

the sampling stations and showed a number of alleles ranging from 2 to 12. The allelic 

richness varied from 3.64±1.29 to 7.17±0.80 and the gene diversity from 0.62±0.17 to 

0.89±0.04. 

Tab. 1 – Genetic variability of A. minutum based on seven microsatellite loci. 

Variabilità genetica di A. minutum stimata per sette loci microsatelliti. 

N. ADRIATIC C. ADRIATIC IONIAN 

CLUSTERS 

TYRRHENIAN CATALAN BALEARIC ATLANTIC 

N 8.71±0.76 20.00±2.94 17.29±1.70 22.86±1.68 20.29±1.89 10.57±1.13 8.57±0.53 

Na 5.14±1.35 9.43±1.18 4.14±1.46 5.57±1.99 4.43±2.30 4.00±1.41 4.57±0.53 

GD 0.87±0.07 0.89±0.04 0.62±0.17 0.71±0.14 0.62±0.28 0.71±0.13 0.74±0.12 

Ar 5.07±1.37 7.17±0.80 3.64±1.29 4.57±1.57 3.68±1.64 3.84±1.39 4.49±0.54 

N, number of individuals; Na, number of alleles observed per locus; GD, gene diversity; Ar, allelic richness. 

N, numero di individui; Na, numero di alleli osservati per locus; GD, diversità genetica; Ar, ricchezza 

allelica. 

The global FST index, reached a value of 0.19 (p

Ancestry coefficient 

100% 

80% 

60% 

40% 

20% 

0% 



CLUSTERS 

Adriatic Ionian Algal isolats Tyrrhenian Catalan Balearic Atlantic 

Fig. 1 – Population structure based on 7 microsatellite loci in A. minutum. Assigment of 116 

individuals to 4 genetically distinct groups. Each individual is represented by a vertical bar 

coloured according to the assigned group. 

Struttura genetica di popolazione basata sull’analisi di 7 loci microsatelliti in A. minutum. 

Assegnazione di 116 individui a 4 gruppi geneticamente diversi. Ciascun individuo è 

rappresentato da una barra verticale colorata in base al gruppo di assegnazione. 

Conclusions – The results obtained by the screening of the microsatellite markers were 

different from those obtained by previous analyses of ribosomal markers (Penna et al., 

2008; Lilly et al., 2005) conferming that ribosomal DNA was not informative to 

estimate genetic diversity within A. minutum populations from different coastal areas. 

In the Mediterranean Sea, it has been possible to identify four distinct genetic clusters 

corresponding to 4 A. minutum populations through the analysis of 7 microsatellite 

loci. The results showed a strong phylogeographical structure probably due to the 

presence of physical and hydrographical barriers. Population isolation resulting from 

the limited connectivity leaded to a low gene flow among A. minutum populations. This 

isolation didn’t lead to a loss of variability (the gene diversity values were all above 

62%). The presence of allochtonous and mixed genotypes within each population could 

be explained (i) by assuming that the allochtonous genotypes can belong to original 

populations that have re-colonized the Mediterranean after the Messinian Salinity 

Crisis, or (ii) by both hypothesis of natural and/or human assisted way of dispersal, as 

ballast water or aquaculture (Casabianca et al., unpublished data). 

In this case study of the harmful microalgal species A. minutum, the application of the 

microsatellite markers were useful and more sensitive tool for diagnostic screening of 

different populations within this species that is responsible of potential harmful 

outbreaks, thus giving a tool for the improved control and management activities of the 

HAB events in the Mediterranean Sea. 

References 

EXCOFFIER L., LAVAL G., SCHNEIDER S. (2005) - Arlequin ver. 3.1: an integrated software 

package for population genetics data analysis. Evol. Bioinform. Online, 1: 47-50. 

GOUDET J. (2001) - FSTAT, a program to estimate and test gene diversities and fixation indices 

(version 2.9.3.2). 

LILLY E.L., HALANYCH K.M., ANDERSON D.M. (2005) - Phylogeny, biogeography, and species 

boundaries within the Alexandrium minutum group. Harmful Algae, 4: 1004-1020. 

NAGAI S., MCCAULEY L., YASUDA N., ERDNER D., KULIS D., MATSUYAMA Y., 

ITAKURA S., ANDERSON D.M. (2006) - Development of microsatellite markers in the toxic 

dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum (Dinophyceae). Mol. Ecol. Notes, 6: 756-758. 

PENNA A., FRAGA S., MASÒ M, GIACOBBE M.G., BRAVO I., GARCÉS E, VILA M., 

BERTOZZINI E., ANDREONI F., LUGLIÉ A.,VERNESI C. (2008) - Phylogenetic 

relationships among the Mediterranean Alexandrium (Dinophyceae) species based on sequences 

of 5.8S gene and Internal Transcript Spacers of the rRNA operon. Eur. J. Phycol., 43: 163-178. 


114 

Adriatic 

Ionian 

Catalan 

Tyrrhenian



PRITCHARD J.K., STEPHENS M., DONNELLY P. (2000) - Inference of population structure using 

multilocus genotype data. Genet., 155: 945-959. 

VILA M., GIACOBBE M. G, MASÒ M., GANGEMI E., PENNA A., SAMPEDRO N., AZZARO 

F., CAMP J., GALLUZZI L. (2005) - A comparative study on recurrent blooms of Alexandrium 

minutum in two Mediterranean coastal areas. Harmful Algae, 4: 673-95. 


115



L.A. CHESSA, M. SCARDI* 

Dipartimento di Protezione delle Piante– Ecologia – Facoltà di Agraria Università degli Studi di Sassari, 

Via De Nicola, 9 - 07100 Sassari, Italia. 

chessa@uniss.it 

*Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Roma Tor-Vergata, Italia. 

A MACHINE LEARNING APPROACH TO THE STUDY 

OF A RED CORAL CORALLIUM RUBRUM (L.) POPULATION 

UN’APPLICAZIONE DEL MACHINE LEARNING PER LO STUDIO 

DI UNA POPOLAZIONE DI CORALLO ROSSO CORALLIUM RUBRUM (L.) 

Abstract – This study deals with the application of a machine learning algorithm (a classification tree) to 

assess the weight of Corallium rubrum (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) ramifications on the basis of the number of 

apices. Our approach can be easily applied to obtain in situ estimates of weight and basal diameter of 

colonies. Future developments include the integration with image acquisition and processing hardware. 

Key-words: Corallium rubrum, biometry, machine learning. 

Introduction – Due to their trophic role, biomass and biogenic activities, long-lived 

species play a major role in benthic marine ecosystems (Garrabou & Harmelin, 2002). 

The Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum (L.) is certainly among these species, 

but it is also a heavily exploited species (Santangelo et al., 2007). This study aims at 

using red coral colonies as models for searching a non-destructive method for the 

assessment of weight and basal diameters of the ramifications based on the number of 

apices, using a machine learning approach (Fielding, 1999). This could be helpful for 

registered divers in order to prevent fishing colonies below the legal size. 

Materials and methods – The study area is located 7 nm SSW of Alghero (Italy) (40° 

23.668’ N - 8° 13.418’ E) at a depth of nearly 120 m. The fishing grounds of this area 

were already investigated (Cudoni & Chessa, 1991). The coral was fished by a 

registered professional diver. 123 colonies were used for model calibration, 63 for 

validation only. Linear models were computed for the following relationships: wet 

weight (W) vs. basal diameter (D), basal diameter vs. number of apices (A) and wet 

weight vs. number of apices. A Classification Tree (Breiman et al., 1984) was then 

trained to predict wet weight on the basis of the number of apices. This method allows 

to overcome some limitations that may hinder statistical models (e.g. normality, 

linearity, etc.). 

Results – The correlation between W and A was quite good (r=0.77**), while the one 

between D and A was somewhat weaker (r=0.50**). This could be due to the fact that 

the W vs. A correlation depends on colony shape, which in turn depends on D. This 

means that the relation that links A to the other parameters is not a simple one. The 

log-log linear correlation between W and D (W=0.4634·D 1.9125 , MSE=369.2) (Fig. 1), 

was a rather good one. According to it, the ramifications that can be fished on the basis 

of local regulations are those with a minimum weight of 37.9 g (10 mm diameter). 

Colonies of 24.7 g (8 mm diameter) can be fished with some limitations. The 

correlation between predicted and observed wet weight, based on the validation set, 

was r=0.76**, thus showing that using A to assess W was a viable solution for red 


116



coral colonies. Using the Classification Tree (see a sample branch in Fig. 2) not only 

provided slightly better weight estimates (MSE=355.7), 

Wet weight (g) 

180 

160 

140 

120 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

y = 0,4634x 1,9125 

R 2 = 0,524 

0 

0 5 10 15 20 25 

Basal diameter (mm) 

Fig. 1 – Regression of wet weight vs. basal diameter. 

Regressione del peso umido sul diametro basale. 

=14 

=20 

number of apices 

=27 >27 

>14 =23 

>20 

8 mm ≤ basal ∅ 23 

=25 >25 =56 >56 

17 g 26 g 31 g 36 g 40 g 55 g 99 g 


117



Conclusions – Our approach makes it possible to define a simple table that 

summarizes the apices vs. weight vs. basal diameter relationships, thus supporting the 

diver’s decision about which colonies can be harvested according to Sardinian 

regulations. This Machine Learning approach can be easily improved in case more 

predictive information is used (eg. exposition; depth; local ecological conditions). In 

particular, future work will be aimed at refining the Classification Tree for small 

colonies because the basal diameter estimates are critical for colonies that are close to 

the lower size limit for legal harvesting. Moreover, we aim at integrating our approach 

into a complete hardware solution for underwater image acquisition and real time 

processing. 

Acknowledgements - This work is dedicated to the memory of Tonino Paddeu who recently passed 

away while fishing red coral in Alghero. 

References 

BREIMAN L.F.J., OLSHEN R., STONE C. (1984) - Classification and regression trees. Chapman 

and Hall, New York. 

CUDONI S., CHESSA L.A. (1991) - Present and past distribution of Corallium rubrum (L.) along the 

northern and central Sardinian coasts. In: Boudouresque C.F., Avon M., Gravez V. (eds), Les 

Espèces Marine à Protéger en Méditerranée. GIS Posidonie publ., Fr.: 71-81. 

FIELDING A.H. (ed) (1999) - Machine learning methods for ecological applications. Kluwer 

Publishers, Boston-Dordrecth-London. 

GARRABOU J., HARMELIN G. (2002) - A 20-year study on life-history traits of harvested longlived 

temperate coral in the NW Mediterranean: insights into conservation and management 

needs. J. Anim. Ecol., 71: 966-978. 

SANTANGELO G., BRAMANTI L., IANNELLI M. (2007) - Population dynamics and conservation 

biology of the over-exploited Mediterranean red coral. J. Theor. Biol., 244: 416-423. 

This work was supported by a grant from the MiPAF. 


118



C.G. DI CAMILLO 1 , M. BO 1 , I. BARTOLUCCI 1 , F. BETTI 1 , B. CALCINAI 1 , C. CERRANO 2 , 

M. COPPARI 1 , M. MARTINELLI 1,3 , S. PUCE 1 , G. BAVESTRELLO 1 

1 DisMar, Università Politecnica delle Marche - 60131Ancona, Italia. 

c.dicamillo@univpm.it 

2 DipTeRis, Università degli Studi di Genova - 16132 Genova, Italia. 

3 CNR-ISMAR - 60131 Ancona, Italy. 

THE BENTHIC ASSEMBLAGE OF CONERO PROMONTORY: A MODEL 

FOR THE STUDY OF SEASONAL CYCLES IN THE NORTH ADRIATIC 

SEA 

LA COMUNITÀ BENTONICA DEL PROMONTORIO DEL CONERO: 

UN MODELLO PER LO STUDIO DEI CICLI STAGIONALI NEL NORD 

ADRIATICO 

Abstract – It is widely accepted that in the Mediterranean temperate waters several filter feeding organisms 

undergo a seasonal life cycle characterized by alternate active phases and starvation periods with 

production of resting stages. The warm season is considered as an adverse period for the majority of the 

filter-feeders due to the scarcity of plankton production resulting in a marked oligotrophy of the waters. 

The study of the seasonal cycle of several hard-bottom benthic species of the Conero Promontory (North 

Adriatic Sea) showed, on the contrary, that most of them are active during summer. This situation, probably 

representing a model for the entire North Adriatic hard-bottom communities, is due to extremely low winter 

temperatures, high plankton availability all around the year and exploitation, as food source, of 

meroplanktonic larvae mainly released during summer. 

Key-words: benthos, seasonal cycles, plankton, Adriatic Sea. 

Introduction - Marine benthic organisms of Mediterranean littoral areas show 

seasonal trends of abundance, growth and reproduction. In particular several species, 

mainly calcareous sponges, hydrozoans and ascidians, are active only during the 

favorable season while they go through the adverse periods as resting stages 

(Bavestrello et al., 2006). Studies conducted in the western Mediterranean Sea indicate 

that the majority of the seasonal taxa undergoes to a cycle of growth and expansion in 

winter while reduces the activity or enters to dormancy in summer. Although water 

temperature and irradiance variations are usually considered as the main factors 

triggering seasonal cycles, Coma et al. (2000) highlighted also the importance of food 

availability in determining the life strategy of benthic suspension feeders. Most of these 

species are active in winter-spring, when they exploit the plankton blooms, while they 

reduce their activity during the warm, oligotrophic season. The western side of North 

Adriatic Sea shows different geomorphological and hydrological characteristics respect 

to the rest of the Mediterranean Sea, such as the shallowness of the basin, the high 

sedimentation rate and the sharp thermal excursion between summer and winter. 

Moreover, this coastline receives 20% of the total Mediterranean river inputs, mainly 

from the Po river (Russo & Artegiani, 1996). The Italian coasts of the northern Adriatic 

Sea generally are sandy except for limited rocky areas, such as Colle S. Bartolo 

(Pesaro) and Conero Promontory (Ancona). These zones, together with scattered 

substrates of anthropic origin, break the continuity of the sandy coast and may 

represent important stepping stones for species dispersal. 

The peculiarity of this area impels to deepen the knowledge concerning the life 

histories of its benthic communities, still poorly studied. In this work the seasonal cycle 


119



of four of the most representative benthic species of the Conero Promontory is 

described. This study suggests that, in the North Adriatic Sea, the model describing the 

seasonal patterns generally accepted for the Western Mediterranean waters, is modified 

according to the peculiar conditions of this area. 

Materials and methods – The life cycles of four benthic organisms living along the 

Conero Promontory coasts (Ancona) were monthly studied from July 2006 to 

November 2009. The area includes natural rocky barriers, scattered rocks and artificial 

substrates hosting rich communities mainly composed of mussels, sponges and 

cnidarians. In particular we focused on the sponge Tedania anhelans (Lieberkühn, 

1859), the scyphozoan Aurelia aurita (L., 1758), the hydrozoan Eudendrium 

racemosum (Cavolini, 1785) and the stoloniferan Cornularia cornucopiae (Pallas, 

1766). In order to estimate the percentage cover of the sponge, seven squared areas 

50×50 cm were considered between 5 and 6 m depth and pictures of the specimens, 

taken with an underwater digital camera, were analysed with the Image J software in 

order to measure the sponge areas. 75 random replicates of a 20×20 cm frame were 

carried out to determine the density variation (in terms of number of colonies m -2 ) of 

the hydroid species, while the abundance of stoloniferans and scyphopolyps was 

determined with 5 replicates of 10×10 cm frames. 

Results – The Conero Promontory presents shallow bottoms, not exceeding 14 m 

depth, is continuously invested by currents and is characterized by high sedimentation 

rates. The sea temperature in this area reaches the lowest values between January and 

February (about 7 °C) while the peak is recorded in August (about 27 °C). Regarding 

the seasonal cycle, three pools of species can be recognized: a first group observed all 

around the year including several bivalves (mainly Mytilus galloprovincialis and 

Ostrea spp.) and massive sponges (Chondrosia reniformis, Ircinia variabilis, Aplysina 

aerophoba); a second group including organisms occurring only during the winter 

period (for example the hydroids Ectopleura crocea, Obelia dichotoma and Coryne sp. 

and the bryozoan Bugula sp.); the third and most important group is composed by 

spring-summer species (the sponges Oscarella lobularis and T. anhelans, the hydroids 

E. racemosum, Halocordyle disticha and Coryne eximia and the stoloniferan C. 

cornucopiae). A. aurita polyps are eurythermal, able to adapt to a wide range of 

environments, and at Conero Promontory they are observed throughout the year; while 

low temperatures trigger the strobilation in winter, there is a positive relation between 

polyp number and temperature increase in summer. 

Concerning the organisms studied in detail, T. anhelans (Fig. 1A) shows a marked 

seasonal cycle reaching maximum values of percentage covering in summer (20% ±3.5 

SE) and almost disappearing in autumn-winter. The species intensively reproduces 

asexually from April to August giving rise to simple or ramified propagules that detach 

from the sponge body. A. aurita (Fig. 1B) reaches density values higher than 45 polyps 

cm -2 in summer then decreases showing the minima between February and April (12-20 

polyps cm -2 ) (Di Camillo et al., 2010). E. racemosum (Fig. 1C) shows low densities 

during autumn (15-160 colonies m -2 ) then falls down to zero during winter when 

hydrorhizae act as resting stages. The colony density quickly increases in spring (22- 

200 colonies m -2 ) and reaches the maximum value in August (with an average of 

almost 400 colonies m -2 ). The reproduction also occurs in the warm season. C. 


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cornucopiae finally shows minimum densities in the coldest period, with a minimum of 

1840 polyps m -2 ±467.55 SE in February, and greater abundance in summer, with an 

August peak of 29620 polyps m -2 ±630.40 SE. Polyps reproduce from April to June 

with the 80% of fertile polyps in spring. The cnidarian gut content analyses revealed 

that the three considered species feed on Mytilus galloprovincialis pediveligers. In 

particular E. racemosum intensively feed on these and other meroplanktonic larvae 

showing an estimated predation rate of 2,400,000 prey items m -2 day -1 (Di Camillo et 

al., in press). 

Fig. 1 - Trends of density and % coverage of four benthic species of the Conero Promontory. A) T. 

anhelans; B) A. aurita; C) E. racemosum; D) C. cornucopiae. The dotted line shows the monthly 

average sea temperatures during the study periods (http://www.mareografico.it). 

Andamenti di densità e % di ricoprimento di quattro specie bentoniche del Promontorio del Conero. 

A) T. anhelans; B) A. aurita; C) E. racemosum; D) C. cornucopiae. La linea tratteggiata mostra 

l’andamento delle medie mensili della temperatura del mare durante i periodi di studio 

(http://www.mareografico.it). 

In this area the densities and the sizes of the studied organisms are perceptibly higher 

than the same species observed in other Mediterranean sites. E. racemosum, for 

example, shows densities six-fold higher than Medas Islands (Gili, 1982) while the 

common sponge C. reniformis may cover more than a squared metre surface. 

Conclusions – The filter-feeders assemblage of the Conero Promontory is composed 

by a large number of species, mainly sponges and cnidarians, with an evident seasonal 

cycle. Moreover contrarily to the western Mediterranean Sea (Coma et al., 2000; 

Bavestrello et al., 2006), the most conspicuous seasonal species typically occur in 

summer. 


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The high incidence of seasonal species in the Conero area is probably due to the sharp 

water temperature variations occurring during the year (7-27 °C vs 13-25 °C 

temperature ranges registered in the Adriatic and western Mediterranean basins 

respectively). In this environment only few eurythermal species are able to tolerate the 

drastic temperature variations. Moreover, while the summer water temperature is quite 

similar to that of western Mediterranean waters, the winter one is strongly lower and 

this fact enhances the number of species with an active phase during the warm season. 

In the western Mediterranean basin the number of summer species is strongly 

constrained by the decreasing of food available for filter feeders. On the contrary in the 

North Adriatic Sea the food availability is high all around the year, moreover we have 

shown that carnivorous filter feeders can be supported by a high production of 

meroplanktonic organisms, mainly veliger and pediveliger of bivalves that reach their 

maximal density during summer months. It is therefore probable that food supply is not 

a limiting factor in this area, consequently the seasonality of benthic species is mainly 

triggered by the physiological adaptations of each species to a restrict range of 

temperatures. This fact is supported by the strong correlation observed between the 

cycle of abundance of the studied species and that of water temperature. On the 

contrary, in the western Mediterranean Sea, these cycles are shifted suggesting the 

involvement of other possible cues (Boero & Fresi, 1986). 

References 

BAVESTRELLO G., PUCE S., CERRANO C., ZOCCHI E., BOERO N. (2006) - The problem of 

seasonality of benthic hydroids in temperate waters. Chem. Ecol., 22: 197–205. 

BOERO F., FRESI E. (1986) - Zonation and evolution of a rocky bottom hydroid community. 

P.S.Z.N.: Mar. Ecol., 7: 123-150. 

COMA R., RIBES M., GILI J.M., ZABALA M. (2000) - Seasonality in coastal benthic ecosystems. 

Trends Ecol. Evol., 15: 448-453. 

DI CAMILLO C.G., BETTI F., BO M., MARTINELLI M., PUCE S., BAVESTRELLO G. (2010) - 

Contribution to the understanding of seasonal cycle of Aurelia aurita (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) 

scyphopolyps in the northern Adriatic Sea. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. (in press doi: 

10.1017/S0025315409000848). 

DI CAMILLO C.G., BETTI F., BO M., MARTINELLI M., PUCE S., BAVESTRELLO G. (in press) 

- Life history of Eudendrium racemosum (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from the northern Adriatic Sea. 

Mar. Biol. 

GILI J.M. (1982) - Fauna de cnidaris de las illes Medes.Treb. Inst. Catalana Hist. Nat., 10: 1–175. 

NATIONAL TIDEGAUGE NETWORK WEBSITE - (http://www.mareografico.it). 

RUSSO A., ARTEGIANI A. (1996) - Adriatic sea hydrography. Sci. Mar., 60: 33-43. 


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N. RAUH 1,2 , C. BROWNLEE 2 , S.J. HAWKINS 3 , A.M. HETHERINGTON 2 

1 The Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, U.K. 

niauha@mba.ac.uk 

2 Universtiy of Bristol, United Kingdom. 

3 University of Bangor, Wales. 

HYPO-OSMOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE AMONG THREE INTERTIDAL 

FUCUS SPECIES: EFFECTS ON SURVIVAL, RECRUITMENT AND 

COMMUNITY COMPOSITION 

TOLLERANZA ALLO STRESS IPOOSMOTICO IN TRE SPECIE INTERTIDALI 

DI FUCUS: EFFETI SU SOPRAVIVENZA, RECLUTAMENTO E 

COMPOSIZIONE DELLA COMUNITÀ 

Abstract – These studies aimed to test the extent to which the distribution of fucoid algae is determined by 

recruitment and survival of early developmental stages (zygotes and embryos); in particular the influence 

of abiotic (osmotic) stress at early development stages on subsequent growth and survival. Comparative 

physiological experiments have been carried out on three dominant fucoid species native to the UK. A 

further investigation into the acute responses to hypo-osmotic treatment, has shown that embryos are 

susceptible to osmotic stress caused both by exposure to rainfall at low tide and re-immersion into seawater 

following periods of desiccation. This work has also shown that zygotes and embryos of the three most 

common fucoid species (Fucus spiralis, F. vesiculosus and F. serratus) display dramatically different 

physiological strategies for tolerating osmotic stress. 

Key-words: Ecological zonation, osmotic pressure, seaweed embryo. 

Introduction - Temperate rocky shore habitats comprise complex interacting physical 

gradients and show temporal fluctuations in a number of environmental variables 

(Stephenson & Stephenson, 1949; Lewis, 1964). The varying levels of stress associated 

with these gradients and fluctuations contribute to the competitive interactions between 

organisms in this habitat (Baker, 1909, 1910; Davison & Pearson, 1996). On the other 

hand, physical heterogeneity creates numerous potential ecological niches that may 

underlie both high biodiversity and biomass (Helmuth & Hofmann, 2001). Hypoosmotic 

stress is likely to be encountered with every tidal cycle, either through 

sporadic events of rainfall or re-immersion into seawater following periods of 

desiccation. The resistance to physical stress of fucoid algae has previously been 

demonstrated through adaptive mechanisms within established adult populations 

(Chapman, 1995; Davison & Pearson, 1996). However, this has not been fully 

examined in early developmental stages, such as zygotes and embryos that are 

potentially exposed to the same physical factors as adults and are likely to be more 

vulnerable to stresses. Higher shore levels experience exposure to emersion, 

specifically osmotic, stresses more frequently and for longer periods of time than lower 

shore levels (Stephenson & Stephenson, 1949). We have demonstrated that zygotes and 

embryos of Fucus species from higher shore levels display very different physiological 

strategies for tolerating osmotic stress than neighbouring species lower down the shore 

gradient. We have developed new approaches to monitor fucoid propagule supply and 

recruitment in situ. Field studies reveal that physiological tolerance mechanisms 

identified from laboratory experiments have real ecological relevance in terms of 

survival, recruitment, and community. 


123



Materials and methods – Experiments characterising physiological parameters were 

designed to examine individual tolerance, adaptive mechanisms and ecological 

relevance in the field. Tolerance: Cell burst assays recorded species survival following 

exposure to a severe (10‰ S) hypo-osmotic treatment throughout the first 48h of 

development. Species survival was assessed following a period of induced desiccation 

and re-immersion into natural seawater. Adaptive Mechanisms: Cell volume 

measurements monitored volumetric changes occurring at within zygotes during and 

immediately after mild (15‰ S) hypo-osmotic exposure. Sub-lethal effects of hypoosmotic 

exposure were tested by exposing zygotes to several dilute salinity 

concentrations over varying lengths of exposure time, measuring the ratio between 

length/width growth over seven days. Field studies: involved both manipulative and 

descriptive experiments. Manipulative experiments transplanted laboratory released 

zygotes to high, mid and low shore levels for 24h. Descriptive sampling monitored the 

supply of propagules versus percentage recruitment. Wild fucoid embryos were 

identified to species level using a pioneered technique relying on auto-fluorescence 

using confocal microscopy and ratio image analysis identification. 

Results – Tolerance: Resistance to hypo-osmotic shock varied throughout 

development in all three fucoid species. Inter-specific differences in tolerance were 

also apparent. Embryos of the high shore alga, Fucus spiralis, as expected burst 

significantly less than the mid shore, F. vesiculosus, and low shore, F. serratus, 

embryos respectively when given the same hypo-osmotic treatment. Fucoid embryos 

also encountered hypo-osmotic stress after a period of desiccation followed by reimmersion 

to seawater. Bursting was highest among embryos from the low shore (F. 

serratus) with survival increasing respectively in F. vesiculosus and then F. spiralis. 

Adaptive Mechanisms: To examine mechanisms, we looked at volume control during 

mild stress exposure the high shore alga, F. spiralis, exerted considerable control over 

its internal volume preventing rhizoid apex swelling. However, when re-immersed in 

natural (32‰ S) seawater, F. spiralis expressed ion loss as a function of drastic rhizoid 

shrinking. The mid shore species, F. vesiculosus, demonstrated negligible fluctuations 

to its internal volume both during exposure and following re-immersion to seawater, no 

significant swelling or shrinking. The low shore species, F. serratus, possessed little 

internal volumetric control, swelling considerably during exposure and once reimmersed 

returned to a volume comparable prior to exposure. Burst characterisation 

indicated that the mid shore species, F. vesiculosus, possesses a high internal pressure 

despite not swelling prior to bursting, suggesting that cell walls may be reinforced in a 

thickening process. Assessing the sub-lethal effects following various exposure 

regimes, higher shore species (F. spiralis and F. vesiculosus) exhibited a negative 

response in terms of length/width growth compared to low shore species (F. serratus). 

Field studies: Manipulative field sampling showed survival to be highest among higher 

shore species, F. spiralis and F. vesiculosus, and lowest survival recorded among low 

shore species, F. serratus at all shore levels. Wild embryos of all three Fucus species 

could be identified on the basis of their autofluorescence properties. Descriptive field 

sampling indicated a significant export of low shore species’ (F. serratus) propagules 

to higher shore levels; similarly higher shore species’ (F. spiralis and F. vesiculosus) 

propagules were also being supplied to lower shore levels. Higher shore species exhibit 


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a similar recruitment success at all shore levels. However, F. serratus (low shore) 

propagules exhibited a declining recruitment success with increasing shore height. 

Conclusions - Closely related fucoid species demonstrate very different osmotic 

strategies to optimise survival within natural shore position. The high shore fucoid, 

Fucus spiralis, possesses a higher tolerance to hypo-osmotic stress through the 

development of an intricate osmo-regulatory mechanism. This mechanism comes at a 

price to growth and competitive ability likely to be responsible for its inability to 

significantly colonise lower shore levels. The mid shore fucoid, F. vesiculosus, does 

not seem to possess an osmo-regulatory mechanism; instead it is likely to rely on 

structural reinforcement through thicker cell walls conferring tolerance. The low shore 

fucoid, F. serratus, a passive osmometer, invests little energy into tolerating hypoosmotic 

stress and as a result is less capable of recruiting outside its natural shore 

position on higher shore levels. There is an indication that greater exposure on higher 

shore levels contributes to a higher tolerance of fluctuations in the external osmotic 

environment. Hypo-osmotic stress is a likely significant selective pressure acting 

negatively on vulnerable early developmental stages in recruiting fucoid algae, 

contributing to community composition. 

References 

BAKER S.M. (1909) - On the causes of zonation of brown seaweeds on the seashore. New 

Phytologist, 8: 196-202. 

BAKER S.M. (1910) - On the causes of the zonation of brown seaweeds on the seashore II. The 

effect of periodic exposure on the expulsion of gametes and in the germination of the oospore. 

New Phytologist, 9: 54-67. 

CHAPMAN A.R.O. (1995) - Functional Ecology of Fucoid Algae - 23 Years of Progress. 

Phycologia, 34: 1-32. 

DAVISON I.R., PEARSON G.A. (1996) - Stress tolerance in intertidal seaweeds. J. Phycol., 32: 197- 

211. 

HELMUTH B.S.T., HOFMANN G.E. (2001) - Microhabitats, thermal heterogeneity, and patterns of 

physiological stress in the rocky intertidal zone. Biol. Bull., 201: 374-384. 

LEWIS J.R. (1964) - The ecology of rocky shores. Vol. English Universities Press, London. 

STEPHENSON T.A., STEPHENSON A. (1949) - The universal features of zonation between the 

tidemarks on rocky coasts. J. Ecol., 38: 289-305. 


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D. AGNETTA, C. BONAVIRI, P. GIANGUZZA, S. RIGGIO 

Department of Ecology, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18 – 90123 Palermo, Italia. 

davimaxit@yahoo.it 

THE MPA “ISOLA DI USTICA”: 

A MODEL OF BENTHIC COMMUNITY NATURAL CHANGES 

L’AMP “ISOLA DI USTICA”: 

UN MODELLO DI CAMBIAMENTI NATURALI DELLA COMUNITÀ 

BENTONICA 

Abstract – This study, aimed to evaluate the protection effects on Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula 

populations and benthic assemblage, spanned four years (2006-2009) at the MPA “Isola di Ustica”. 

Results showed a decrement of sea urchin abundance and a consequent recovery of erect macroalgae. 

Multiple factors like lack of sea urchin recruitment and natural predation have possibly promoted the 

observed pattern. 

Key-words: benthos, protected resources. 

Introduction – Rocky infralittoral benthic communities may be controlled by sea 

urchin abundance. At high densities, sea urchins eliminate erect macroalgae 

maintaining barrens (areas dominated by encrusting algae). In Mediterranean MPAs, 

fishing prohibition generally leads to the recovery of populations of sea urchin 

predators, such as seabreams (i.e. Diplodus sargus and D. vulgaris), thus promoting the 

growth of an erect macroalgae canopy via sea urchin control. The opposite trend has 

occurred at the MPA of Ustica Island (SW Italy) where, after the cessation of 

harvesting activities, urchin barrens formed due to a burst of the two co-occurring sea 

urchins Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula populations. The natural scarcity of 

the two seabream species has probably favoured this process (Bonaviri et al., 2009). 

Ustica MPA is characterized by a particular protection regulation; during the summer 

season, recreational fishing of the edible P. lividus is permitted exclusively in the take 

zone (zone C). It was demonstrated that recreational P. lividus fishing affects 

abundance of the species itself and has no effect on the co-occurring, non-edible 

species A. lixula in the fished sites of Ustica MPA (Gianguzza et al., 2006). In order to 

evaluate if this pattern maintains, the effect of protection on sea urchins abundance was 

monitored along four years. We expected that the potential differences in sea urchins 

abundance allow a different development of the benthic assemblages in zones A 

(integral protection) and C at Ustica MPA. According to these considerations we 

hypothesized: (1) higher abundance of P. lividus in the no-take zone (A), (2) similar 

abundance of A. lixula in the zones A and C, (3) a different pattern of benthic 

assemblage cover in relation to sea urchins abundance. We excepted that this pattern 

maintains along years. 

Materials and methods –During summers of the years 2006-2009, sea urchin density 

and benthic assemblage cover were estimated on rocky bottoms 2-6 m deep, in two 

sites for each A and C zones (Fig. 1). At each site and sampling time, sea urchins 

density was measured in ten independent random quadrates (1 m²). Thirty-two pictures 

of 400 cm² of the substrate were taken to characterize benthic assemblage cover, 

summarized in functional group according to Steneck & Dethier (1994) modified to 


126



include animal components. To assess differences in sea urchin density, a 

PERMANOVA analysis including Species (fixed, 2 levels: P. lividus and A. lixula), 

Year (fixed, 4 levels: ’06,’07,’08,’09) Protection (fixed, 2 levels A, C) and Site 

(random, 2 levels) factor was performed, while the PERMANOVA of benthic 

assemblage cover included Year, Protection and Site factor. 

A Zone 

A 1 

B Zone 

A 

C Zone 

1 Km 

Fig. 1 – Sampling sites at the MPA “Isola di Ustica”: A1, A2, C1 and C2. Siti di campionamento nell’AMP “Isola di Ustica”: A1, A2, C1 and C2. 2 


127 

N 

Ustica Island 

C 2 

Results – Density of both sea urchin populations was lower in 2009 than in 2006. P. 

lividus and A. lixula densities ranged between 4±0.5 ind./m 2 and 3.35±0.3 ind./m 2 , 

respectively, in 2006 and 0.5±0.1 ind./m 2 and 0.6±0.0 ind./m 2 in 2009. During this 

decrement of both sea urchins, a benthic algae shift from Corallinales (barren state) to 

erect macroalgae was observed. PERMANOVA showed only an important interaction 

between “Year x Site” terms of both sea urchin density and benthic assemblage. For 

every site, Pair-Wise tests confirmed the important effect Year on the studied variables. 

Conclusions – No protection effect on sea urchin abundance was detected. P. lividus 

and A. lixula showed a strong decrement within both take and no-take zones. Multiple 

natural control factors (like low sea urchin recruitment and natural predation) may 

have provoked the drop of sea urchins abundance. This change in sea urchin 

abundances likely promoted the flourishing of erect macroalgae in the upper 

infralittoral of Ustica MPA. These results offer new tips of reflection for a simple 

cascade trophic model in Mediterranean rocky infralittoral systems. 

References 

BONAVIRI C., FERNANDEZ T.V., BADALAMENTI F., GIANGUZZA P., DI LORENZO M., 

RIGGIO S. (2009) - Fish versus starfish predation in controlling sea urchins populations in 

Mediterranean rocky shores. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser., 382: 129-138. 

GIANGUZZA P., CHIANTORE M., BONAVIRI C., CATTANEO-VIETTI R., VIELMINI I., 

RIGGIO S. (2006) - The effects of recreational Paracentrotus lividus fishing on distribution 

patterns of sea urchins at Ustica Island MPA (Western Mediterranean, Italy). Fish. Res., 81: 37– 

44. 

STENECK R.S., DETHIER M.N. (1994) - A functional group approach to the structure of algal 

dominated communities. Oikos, 69: 476-498. 

C 1



A. CHRACHRI 1 , A.R. TAYLOR 1,2 , G.L. WHEELER 1,3 , H. GODDARD 1 , C. BROWNLEE 1 

1 The Marine Biological Association, the Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK. 

aacc@mba.ac.uk 

2 University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA. 

3 PML, Plymouth, UK. 

A VOLTAGE GATED H + -CONDUCTANCE 

UNDERLYING PH HOMEOSTASIS 

AND CALCIFICATION IN COCCOLITHOPHORIDS 

IL VOLTAGGIO “GATED” PER IL FLUSSO DI MEMBRANA 

DI IONI H+ COME BASE DELL’OMEOSTASI DEL PH 

DELLA CALCIFICAZIONE NEI COCCOLITOFORIDI 

Abstract – Intracellular precipitation of calcite in calcifying coccolithophorid such as Coccolithus 

pelagicus generate large amounts of H + load in cytosol. Therefore, these cells have a requirement for an 

efficient high capacity mechanism for H + excursion. In many animal tissues, it has been demonstrated that 

voltage-gated proton (H + ) channels play an important role in cellular defense against acidic stress. In this 

report, we have characterized a similar voltage dependent proton conductance in the calcifying 

coccolithophorid, Coccolithus pelagicus, using patch-clamp technique. We have also demonstrated that in 

voltage-clamp mode, depolarization of these cells from a holding potential of -50 mV to +70 mV caused an 

increase in pHi that was accompanied by a sizeable outward conductance. These findings are consistent 

with the existence of a conductive H + (equivalent) pathway. 

Key-words: coccolithophorid, Coccolithus pelagicus, patch-clamp technique, voltage-gated proton (H + ) 

channels, pH. 

Introduction - Coccolithophorids are photosynthetic marine microalgae that form 

extensive blooms in the surface waters of the world’s oceans and are considered to be 

the most significant producer of calcite on earth. It has been shown that in Coccolithus 

pelagicus calcification occurs in a specialized centrally located intracellular 

compartment, the coccolith vesicle, which is derived from the Golgi (Taylor et al., 

2007). The process of intracellular calcification requires efficient and energetically 

cost-effective ion transport to the coccolith vesicle as well as intracellular homeostasis 

of both Ca 2+ and H + . 

Materials and methods – Whole cell patch clamp recordings were conducted at 20 o C. 

In some experiments, decalcified cells were either loaded with 300 μM BCECF free 

acid in the patch clamp pipette. Changes in intracellular pHi were monitored using a 

Zeiss 510 confocal microscope. 

Results - Using the patch clamp technique, we characterized a conductance that is 

activated by depolarisation more positive than the equilibrium potential for H + . Tail 

current analysis revealed that the conductance reversed positively to EK + and ECl - , and 

closest to EH + . These data show that the biophysical characteristics of the outward 

conductance in C. pelagicus are consistent with those described for animal H + channels 

and led us to hypothesize a role in rapid H + efflux during pH homeostasis. 

Simultaneous patch clamp and pH imaging demonstrated that in cells that were 

clamped at voltages more negative of EH + no change in pHi was observed in response to 

sub-threshold depolarization, whereas significant reversible cytoplasmic alkalinisation 


128



(0.5 pH units) was induced by 10s depolarization that activated the H + conductance. 

These observations bear key similarities to results from animal cells in which H + 

currents are known to mediate pH homeostasis and charge balance. 

Conclusions – The calcifying coccolithophorid, Coccolithus pelagicus expresses an 

animal-like H + -selective conductance which is activated by depolarization. As with 

previously well-characterized animal H + channels, the properties of this H + 

conductance appear ideally suited to mediating rapid, energy-efficient H + efflux during 

metabolic acidosis. 

References 

TAYLOR A.R., RUSSELL M.A., HARPER G., COLLINS T., BROWNLEE C.B. (2007) - Dynamics 

of the formation and secretion of hetercoccoliths by Coccolithus pelagicus (ssp. Braarudii). 

Europ. J. Phycol., 42: 125-136. 


129



F. DEL PRETE 1 , A.L. LANGELLOTTI 1 , V. VITIELLO 1 , G. SANSONE 1,2 

Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II” 

1 CRIAcq (Centro interdipartimentale di ricerche per la gestione delle risorse idrobiologiche e per l’acquacoltura), 

Via Università, 100 – 80055 Portici (NA), Italia. 

2 Dip. delle Scienze Biologiche, Sez. di Fisiologia ed Igiene, Via Mezzocannone, 16 – 80134 Napoli, Italia. 

giovanni.sansone@unina.it 

SPARUS AURATA (L.) EMBRYOS AS 

MODEL ORGANISM FOR ECOTOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES 

EMBRIONI DI SPARUS AURATA (L.) QUALE 

ORGANISMO MODELLO PER STUDI ECOTOSSICOLOGICI 

Abstract – Sparus aurata (L.) embryos have been proposed as model organism for aquatic biosciences. 

Particularly the Authors propose eleutheroembryos for exceeding limitations presented in European laws 

for the management of experimental animals; these embryos are year-round available because this specie is 

commonly reared; moreover this model showed high sensitivity to xenobiotic substances in ecotoxicological 

tests. 

Key-words: Sparus aurata, fish embryos, aquatic model, ecotoxicology. 

Introduction – The gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (L.), one of the most important 

fish for aquaculture in Mediterranean countries, is becoming a model organism for 

marine teleosts as a result of its high commercial value and intensive research efforts 

from the European scientific community (Franch et al., 2006), such as the network of 

excellence Marine Genomics Europe (MGE) (www.marine-genomics-europe.org) 

(Rafael et al., 2006). The European Council Directive n. 88/609/EEC, transposed in 

Italy by Legislative Decree no. 116/1992, imposes strict rules on use of acute and 

chronic toxicity tests performed on teleost fishes. 

Recently, attention has focused on the use of fish embryos in ecotoxicological acute 

assays (Embry et al., 2010) as alternative method for environmental risk assessment. 

The large availability of seabream embryos is correlated to conditioning of the 

reproductive cycle and to the daily spawning, because the asynchronous gonads 

maturation. This work suggests the use of sea bream embryos as a model for aquatic 

ecotoxicology and more generally for aquatic biosciences. 

Materials and methods – Sparus aurata embryos, supplied by Mediterranean farms, 

were year-round used in the last ten years. The embryos, obtained from natural 

spawning, were collected at 1–2 cell stage and transported into the laboratory. 48h 

toxicity tests were performed with growing concentrations of CdCl2 (UNICHIM ring 

test reference toxicant) using 24h and 72h embryos post fertilization at the following 

conditions: T 19±1 °C, salinity 37±1‰, pH 8±0.5, O2 7±1 ppm, density 100 embryos/ 

25 ml. Survival was evaluated at the end of the exposure and after 48h from Cd 

removal. Statistical analysis was performed by t-Student test (n≥9) and significance 

p



Fig. 1 - Survival at endtest and after 48h of S. 

aurata embryos exposed to Cd. 

Sopravvivenza fine test e 48h post fine 

test degli embrioni di S. aurata esposti al 

Cd. 

Assessing survival 48h post-exposure period, pre-hatched embryos (24 h max aged) 

showed LOEL at 0.06 ppm and an EC50 to concentrations more than 0.5 ppm (Fig. 1). 

Post-hatched embryos (aged between 72h and 120h) showed higher sensitivity to the 

reference toxicant; LOEL value was at 0.007 ppm, with an EC50 less than 0.05 ppm 

(Fig. 2). 

Conclusions – The lower sensitivity of pre-hatched embryos is probably due to the 

presence of chorion. In relation to the large availability of Sparus aurata embryos, this 

model can be proposed for a general tool in aquatic biosciences; post-hatched embryos 

will be interesting model in ecotoxicological researches and related applications. 

References 

EMBRY M.R., BELANGER S.E., BRAUNBECK T.A., GALAY-BURGOS M., HALDER M., 

HINTON D.E., LÉONARD M.A., LILLICRAP A., NORBERG-KING T., WHALE G. (2010) - 

The fish embryo toxicity test as an animal alternative method in hazard and risk assessment and 

scientific research. Aquat. Toxicol., 97 (2): 79-87. 

FRANCH R., LOURO B., TSALAVOUTA M, CHATZIPLIS D., TSIGENOPOULOS C.S., 

SARROPOULOU E., ANTONELLO J., MAGOULAS A., MYLONAS C.C., BABBUCCI M., 

PATARNELLO T., POWER D.M., KOTOULAS G., BARGELLONI L. (2006) - A Genetic 

Linkage Map of the Hermaphrodite Teleost Fish Sparus aurata L. Genetics, 174: 851-861. 

RAFAEL M.S., LAIZÉ V., LEONOR CANCELA M. (2006). Identification of Sparus aurata bone 

morphogenetic protein 2: Molecular cloning, gene expression and in silico analysis of protein 

conserved features in vertebrates. Bone, 39: 1373–1381. 


131 

Fig. 2 - Survival at endtest and after 48h of S. 

aurata eleutherioembryos exposed to Cd. 

Sopravvivenza fine test e 48h post fine test 

degli eleuterioembrioni di S. aurata esposti 

al Cd.



M.C. GAMBI, F. BARBIERI*, S. SIGNORELLI, V. SAGGIOMO 

Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli,Italia. 

gambimc@szn.it 

*Palinuro Sub D.C., Palinuro (SA), Italia. 

MORTALITY EVENTS ALONG THE CAMPANIA COAST (TYRRHENIAN 

SEA) IN SUMMERS 2008 AND 2009 AND RELATION TO THERMAL 

CONDITIONS 

EVENTI DI MORTALITÀ LUNGO LE COSTE DELLA CAMPANIA (MAR 

TIRRENO) NELLE ESTATI 2008 E 2009 E RELAZIONI CON LE CONDIZIONI 

TERMICHE 

Abstract - Local mass mortality events mainly of Anthozoa were observed along the Campania coast 

(Tyrrhenian Sea) in late summer 2008 and 2009 and both related to high water surface temperatures. The 

gorgonian Eunicella cavolinii was the damaged species inside the cave “Grotta Azzurra” off Palinuro 

(Salerno) in late summer 2008, while in 2009 a strong mortality was observed along the coast off the island 

of Ischia, affecting the gorgonians Eunicella singularis, E. cavolinii and Paramuricea clavata, as well as for 

the first time the scleractinian Astroides calycularis and the bivalve Spondylus gaederopus. 

Key-words: Anthozoa, Bivalvia, mass mortality, summer thermal conditions, Tyrrhenian Sea. 

Introduction – Trans-phyletic mass mortality phenomena are frequent in the Western 

Mediterranean in the least decade due to global climate change and summer heat-waves 

(Garrabou et al., 2008). Along the Campania coast (Tyrrhenian Sea) such events have 

been documented in the Gulf of Naples in 2002 and 2003, this latter related to a large 

scale heat-wave (Garrabou et al., 2008), and in 2005 related to a local thermal anomaly 

(Cigliano & Gambi, 2007); both events affected the most common local Gorgonacea, 

Paramuricea clavata, Eunicella singularis and Eunicella cavolinii. In this paper we 

report two further mortality events along the Campania coast occurring in summers 

2008 and 2009, which affected key-organisms in areas of high ecological relevance, 

such as the marine cave with sulphur water springs “Grotta Azzurra” off Palinuro 

(Salerno) (Benedetti-Cecchi et al., 1998) and the coast of the island of Ischia. 

Materials and methods – The mass mortality event of the gorgonian Eunicella 

cavolinii was visually observed within the Grotta Azzurra off Palinuro in mid October 

2008, while quantitative monitoring was carried out during summer 2009. Three 

horizontal transects 20 m long were carried out at 15 m, 20 m and 25 m depth. In each 

transect six random 1 m 2 plots were considered for estimate of colony density and 

extent of tissue damage. Mortality of various Anthozoa and Bivalvia was observed off 

the island of Ischia during the first two weeks of September 2009, and visually 

estimated along the cliff off Sant’Angelo, one of the most pristine sites of the island. 

Results – In the Grotta Azzurra the gorgonian Eunicella cavolinii, one of the most 

abundant and conspicuous organisms inside the cave, was heavily affected by the 

mortality especially in the first 20 m depth. At 15 m depth a mean of 77% of the 

counted colonies were completely dead, while a mean of 8.5% had still all tissues alive 

(Fig. 1); at 25 m the trend was reversed (significant at the t-test, p>0.01) (Fig. 1). 

Whole alive colonies, at all studied depths, were represented by more than 80% by 


132



juveniles (>15 cm height). At the island of Ischia mass mortality was observed at the 

beginning of September 2009 in various sites around the island. Along the pristine cliff 

of Sant’Angelo we observed the gorgonians P. clavata, E. singularis and E. cavolinii 

with various extent of tissue necrosis (about 75% of all individuals) up to 25-28 m 

depth. Up to 15 m depth also the scleractinian Astroides calycularis and the bivalve 

Spondylus gaederopus were affected by mortality. A. calycularis showed about 20% of 

the colonies completely or partially dead, with white corallites, in an appearance similar 

to that of bleached corals. S. gaederopus appeared with the lower valves attached to the 

rocks and the upper valves most of the time detached on the bottom. Analysis of the 

surface water temperature profiles, revealed for both summers thermal anomalies with 

extremely high values in August and September: max up to 28 °C on the surface, and 

up to 25-26 °C at 30 m depth. For Palinuro the mortality event in summer 2008 

represents the first documented in this area, while for Ischia that in summer 2009 

represents the fourth mass mortality occurring since 2002, thus jeopardizing the local 

survivorship of some gorgonian species. In addition, to our knowledge this is the first 

time that the thermophilic A. calycularis is affected by mortality. 

n. colonies msq 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

Eunicella cavolinii (Grotta Azzurra) 

15 m 20 m 25 m 

depth 

Acknowledgements – Thanks to the staff of Palinuro Sub D.C., and of Nettuno Diving of Forio for 

support for SCUBA diving. 

References 

BENEDETTI CECCHI L., AIROLDI L., ABBIATI M., CINELLI F. (1998) - Spatial variability in 

the distribution of sponges and cnidarians in a sublitoral marine cave with sulphur water springs. 

J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K., 78: 43-58. 

CIGLIANO M., GAMBI M.C. (2007) - The long hot summer: a further mortality event of 

Gorgonians along the Phlaegrean islands (Tyrrhenian Sea). Biol. Mar. Mediter., 14 (2): 292-293. 

GARRABOU J.A, COMA R., BENSOUSSAN N. ET. AL. (2008) - A new large scale mass mortality 

event in the NW Mediterranean rocky benthic communities: effects of the 2003 heat wave. Glob. 

Change Biol., 15: 1090-1103. 

total 

dead 

alive 


133 

Fig. 1 - Mean density of total, dead and 

alive Eunicella cavolinii colonies 

at three depths within the Grotta 

Azzurra off Palinuro, after the 

mass mortality event in summer 

2008. Bars=s.d. 

Densità media totale e di colonie 

morte e vive di Eunicella 

cavolinii a tre profondità nella 

Grotta Azzura di Palinuro, a 

seguito della moria di massa 

dell’estate 2008. Barre=d.s.



G. PERRA, E. FANELLO, C. GUERRANTI, S. FOCARDI, F. ANDALORO * , T. ROMEO * 

Department of Environmental Science, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4 - Siena, Italia. 

perra@unisi.it 

* Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via dei Mille, 44 - Milazzo (ME), Italia. 

PRELIMINARY SCREENING OF PERFLUOROOCTANE SULPHONATE 

(PFOS) AND PERFLUOOCTANOIC ACID (PFOA) 

IN A FISH SPECIES (SERRANUS CABRILLA) 

FROM THE COAST OF SICILY (SOUTHERN TYRRHENIAN SEA) 

SCREENING PRELIMINARE DI PERFLUOROTTANO SULFONATO (PFOS) 

ED ACIDO PERFLUOROTTANICO (PFOA) IN UNA SPECIE ITTICA 

DELLA COSTA SICILIANA (SERRANUS CABRILLA) 

Abstract – Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) are environmental 

contaminants belonging to a chemical group known as perfluorinated compounds (PCFs). Extensive 

screening analyses of PFCs in biota samples from all over the world have identified perfluorooctane 

sulfonate (PFOS) as a global pollutant and have shown its behaviour similar to those of persistent 

compounds with regard to global biospheric distribution, bioaccumulation and biomagnification. In this 

study, a preliminary screening of PFOS and PFOA has been performed in liver samples of combers 

(Serranus cabrilla) from northern coast of Sicily. 

Key-words: PFOS, PFOA, Perfluorinated compounds, Marine environment, Sicily. 

Introduction - PFCs, typically epitomized by perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and 

perfluooctanoic acid (PFOA), comprise a diverse class of chemicals that are used in a 

wide range of commercial and consumer products, as surfactants, water repellents, 

lubricants, adhesives, additives and coatings, and in fire fighting foams. Because of the 

high-energy carbon-fluorine bond, PFOS and related fluorochemicals are stable in the 

environment and resist hydrolysis, photolysis and biodegradation. They are 

nonvolatile, have high molecular weights and can repel both water and oils (Kannan et 

al., 2001a). The toxicity of perfluorinated compounds has not been well characterized, 

but PFOS and PFOA have been found to exert endocrine disrupting effects in fish. In 

2001 it was discovered that fluorochemicals such as PFOS were accumulating in biota 

throughout the world (Kannan et al., 2001b). Perfluorinated compounds bind to blood 

proteins and accumulate in liver and gall bladder. The global distribution of PFOS and 

related fluorochemicals in fish, birds, marine and terrestrial mammals has been 

demonstrated by several studies from both North America, Europe and Asia. The 

present investigation reports the results from a screening of PFOS and PFOA in a fish 

species (comber, Serranus cabrilla) in order to provide a first clue to the levels of 

PFCs in the marine ecosystem off the northern coast of Sicily. 

Materials and methods – Twenty samples of liver were excised from comber 

specimens (Serranus cabrilla) used for the investigation and caught in September 2009 

by fishing off the northeastern coasts of Sicily (from Capo Peloro to the Gulf of 

Milazzo; Southern Tyrrhenian Sea). A fast sample treatment, followed by an LC–ESI– 

MS/MS method was followed (Corsolini et al., 2008) for identification and 

quantification of PFOA and PFOS in liver of fish. 


134



Results – In agreement with scientific literature on monitoring of perfluorinated acids 

in biota, PFOS was the predominant fluorochemical in the combers analyzed. PFOS 

was found at concentrations above LOD (0.5 ng/g wet weight) in 6 out of 20 samples. 

The greatest concentration of PFOS in liver of comber was 8.5 ng/g wet weight. PFOS 

levels are lower than the mean level (176.3±12.8 ng/g w.w.) found in liver of brown 

comber (Serranus hepatus) from the Augusta Gulf (Southeastern coast of Sicily) and 

higher than the concentration of PFOS in hepatic tissue (



A. TIMPANARO 1,2 , M. SINOPOLI 3 , M. GRISTINA 4 , C. CATTANO 1 , R. CHEMELLO 1 

1 Dipartimento di Ecologia, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 28 – 90123 Palermo, Italia. 

2 Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università di Parma, Viale G.P. Usberti, 11 – Parma, Italia. 

angelatimpanaro@gmail.com 

3 ISPRA Sede Tecnico Scientifica Palermo, Italia. 

4 CNR – IAMC, Sez. Territoriale di Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italia. 

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CHOICE 

OF NESTING SITE IN SYMPHODUS OCELLATUS (FORSSKAL) 

REQUISITI DI HABITAT PER LA SCELTA DEL SITO 

DI NIDIFICAZIONE IN SYMPHODUS OCELLATUS (FORSSKAL) 

Abstract – This study is aimed to assess the habitat requirements for nesting site in the fish Symphodus 

ocellatus (Forsskal) (Labridae). For this reason a set of biotic and abiotic variables has been collected in 

84 areas surrounding the nests during summer 2009 in a coastal area of southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Sicily). 

The influence of variables on the habitat requirements of nesting site was studied by Principal Coordinate 

Analysis (PCO). The result showed that presence of Dictyotales and high canopy algal forms represented 

the elective requirements for the choice of nesting site. 

Key-words: habitat selection, nesting, marine fish, Tyrrhenian Sea. 

Introduction - The choice of nesting site is a process that can have important effects 

on fitness of several animal species (Boulinier et al., 2008). Indeed, many abiotic and 

biotic factors have a strong influence on reproductive success. For marine fishes that 

build nest during the reproduction, the selection mechanisms of the site are quite 

unknown. The knowledge of habitat requirements for nesting is the first step in order to 

understand these mechanisms of selection. Several authors performed an evaluation of 

the habitat requirements for marine fishes, on various life history stages, by correlating 

different environmental variables with their abundance (La Mesa et al., 2002; 

Letourneur et al., 2003). The aim of this work is to evaluate the habitat requirements 

for the choice of nesting site in the Labridae fish Symphodus ocellatus (Forsskal) used 

as a model. 

Materials and methods - We performed runs of samplings during summer 2009 along 

the north-west Sicilian coast (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea). Data have been collected on 

84 nests using underwater observations according to a standard protocol. During 

sampling the following biotic and abiotic variables have been recorded: slope of the 

substrate; presence (%) of the most abundant algal taxa such as Dictyotales, Cystoseira 

sp. and Jania rubens; presence of sandy substrate; depth of nest (in meters); type of 

cavity used for nest building (crevice/hole); average algal canopy height surrounding 

the nest. We expressed all variables in numerical ranks and the influence of these 

variables on the habitat requirements of nesting site of the S. ocellatus have been 

studied by PCO (Principal Coordinate Analysis). 

Results - The results of the distribution patterns of the variables are plotted in Fig. 1. 

The first two axes explained 41.2% of the total variance (PCO1 23.9%; PCO2 17.3%). 

Presence of J. rubens, Dictyotales, Cystoseira sp. and canopy variables affect the most 

the distribution of samples. The results show that samples are concentrated principally 

around the Dictyotales and algal canopy variables. 


136



PCO2 (17.3 % of total variation) 

0.2 

0.1 

0 

-0.1 --0.1 

--0.1 

--0.1 

- 

-0.2 --0.2 

--0.2 

--0.2 

- 

-0.3 --0.3 

--0.3 

--0.3 

- 

Trasform: Square root 

Resemblance: D 16 squared distance 

% 

% Dictyotales 

Canopy 

Depth 

% Cystoseira sp. 

Inclination 

% Sand 

Crevice/Hole 

% Jania rubens 

-0.2 --0.2 --0.2 --0.2 - - -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 

PCO1 (23.9 % of total variation) 

Fig. 1 - Results of Principal Coordinate Analysis, distribution pattern of nests and variables. 

Risultati della PCO, modello di distribuzione dei nidi e delle variabili. 

Conclusions - The results of this study indicate that the presence of Dictyotales and 

high canopy algal forms are elective requirements for the choice of nesting site in S. 

ocellatus. The other variables seem not to have a significant role maybe because the 

samplings is not sufficient to explain a preference. This first analysis shows that the 

algal species at high canopy may provide protection to the nest. Further investigations 

will determine if this protection is related to a lower visibility of the nest by predators 

or if these erect algae have a role in the mitigation of wave-motion. 

Acknowledgements - We thank Dr. Andrea Catalano for helpful comments on this manuscript. 

References 

BOULINIER M., MARIETTE B., DOLIGEZ B., DANCHIN E. (2008) - Choosing where to breed: 

breeding habitat choice. In: Danchin E., Giraldeau L.A., Cezilly F.C. (eds), Behavioural Ecology 

An Evolutionary Perspective on Behaviour. Oxford University Press. 

LA MESA G., LOUISY P., VACCHI M. (2002) - Assessment of microhabitat preferences in juvenile 

dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) by visual sampling. Mar. Biol., 140: 175–185. 

LETOURNEUR Y., RUITTON S., SARTORETTO S. (2003) - Environmental and benthic habitat 

factors structuring the spatial distribution of a summer infralittoral fish assemblage in the 

Mediterranean Sea. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK, 83: 193-204. 


137



Topic 3: INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT 

INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT 

GESTIONE INTEGRATA DELLA ZONA COSTIERA 


138

Pre-print Volume – Oral presentations 


F. ANDALORO, T. ROMEO, M. GORACCI*, V. INCONTRO* 

High Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), STS of Palermo, Laboratory of Milazzo 

Via dei Mille, 44 - 98057 Milazzo (ME), Italia. 

franco.andaloro@isprambiente.it 

*Marine Protected Area of Plemmirio, Piazza Euripide, Siracusa, Italia. 

REDISCOVERING OLD FISHING TRADITIONS IN SICILY: 

HISTORY AND CULTURE OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERY 

RISCOPERTA DI ANTICHE TRADIZIONI IN SICILIA: 

STORIA E CULTURA DELLA PICCOLA PESCA 

Abstract – Fishermen’s knowledge and historical and archaeological information on the gear-use system 

and on the fishing cultural heritage of Sicilian small-scale fishery were investigated. The documentation 

and efforts to recover old fishing traditions and the application a sustainable development of, in 

accordance with the purposes of the integrated coastal zone management (ICZM). 

Key-words: small-scale fishery, historical heritage, fishing gears, Sicily. 

Introduction – Small-scale or artisanal fishery using harpoons, nets, hooks and more 

elaborate gears, was one of the human ancestral activities, based on a harmonious 

relationship between coast dwellers and marine environment. It has been slowly 

evolved by acquisition of basic technologies, improving boats and catch systems and 

also knowledge on preys’ ethology and ecology. As in other Mediterranean areas 

(Farruggio et al., 1993), Sicilian small-scale fishery greatly varies in space and time by 

adapting its strategies and systems to the circumstances and to the availability of 

different resources, so making this activity flexible, polyvalent and opportunistic. The 

thousands of related trades, the culture, the colours, the flavours and the rituals of this 

traditional activity contributed in creating the genius loci of many fisheries in islands, 

becoming in the collective consciousness, steeped in such literary works as I 

Malavoglia by Giovanni Verga, the very epitome of fishery. 

However, the present economic system, dominated by the tendency to maximize 

profits, has penalised the small-scale fishery driving it into a state of crisis, amplified 

by the co-existence of parallel organised activities such as industrial fishery and by the 

market globalization caused by foreign imports from all over the world. 

For this reason, since 1990 the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) has singled 

out the revival of small-scale fishery as a necessary step for a sustainable development 

of Mediterranean fishery, for its advantageous relation, as compared to industrial 

fishing, between costs, profits and environmental impact. The revival of small-scale 

fishery can only be undertaken as part and parcel of a wider governance of the coast 

which represents today one of the most important European aims and strongly urged by 

the Mediterranean action plan of the UNEP (the United Nations Environment 

Programme). 

Small scale fishery shows even now great potential not exclusively centred on catches, 

but also expressed through its social as well as cultural, historical, archaeological, 

ethnological, musicological and gastronomic significance intrinsic to this trade which 

represents the oldest primary activity of man in Sicily. 

The aim of this research was to explore the fisherman’s knowledge and the historical 

and archaeological data as source of information on the gear-use system and on the 


139



cultural heritage, in order to document old fishing traditions and to apply a sustainable 

development of Sicilian small-scale fishery, in accordance with the purposes of the 

integrated coastal zone management (ICZM). 

Materials and methods –The province of Syracuse in the south-eastern Sicily was 

chosen as the pilot area for the historic, ethno-anthropological and cultural revival of 

fishing and for the upgrading of sea produce. The choice of the province of Syracuse 

was linked to its historical importance, centred particularly on fishery and on the 

survival of a traditional body of related techniques rooted in the territory. Syracuse, 

Marzamemi and Portopalo of Capo Passero fisheries were then considered in the 

survey on cultural issues and fishing traditions. 

Data were collected during 2006-2008 by several investigation on Sicilian fisheries in 

order to acquire information on small-scale fishery. Equipment and using methods of 

traditional fishing gear as well as their main target species were recorded. 

Historical information on ancestral fishing activities were collected by iconographic 

images and ancient texts in order to link past and present history of Sicilian fishery. A 

census has been made of the architectural and archeological patrimony of the fishing 

areas as well as fishermen’s villages and ancient tonnare. Finally, a film on all 

documents and information was realized. 

Results – Since the Palaeolithic age, in the south-eastern Sicily fishery has represented 

one of the primary activities of man as witnessed by the numerous exhibits from the 

Corrugi Cave, some of which are housed in the Museum of Syracuse. In the upper 

Palaeolithic age fishing consisted mainly in gathering marine organisms, mainly 

molluscs and crustaceans, on the beaches, on the coastal rocks and in shallow waters, 

while fish remains in the geological deposits were rarely found. During transition from 

the Mesolithic age to the Neolithic one, the practice of fishing activities by hooks and 

harpoons was documented. Fishery gradually reached a role of great importance in 

Eastern Sicily, both economically and culturally, so much so that in the IV century BC 

Archestrato of Gela in the Hadypatheia (a gastronomic tretease) dedicates ample space 

to fish with appreciation for Syracusan culinary skill. Interest in the sea and fishery in 

Greek Syracuse is well represented in the iconography on coins, vases and drawings. 

Preservation and transformation of fishing products take on a role of extreme 

importance especially after the Roman conquest with the production of tharicos e 

salsamentum (salted fish) and garum muria (obtained from moray eel and sturgeon) in 

Syracuse and aematium (obtained from tuna) around Pachino. To this era belong the 

first installations of tonnare in eastern Sicily; from a description by Oppiano, we 

deduce that the techniques and practices of tuna fishing have remained unchanged until 

last century. From this time on, this type of fishing takes on a prominent role in the 

economy of Sicily. The relevance of tuna fishing to the economy of Sicily has 

determined, starting from the XVII century, the transfer to the local nobility of almost 

the entire property of the tonnare. 

Otherwise, small scale fishery enriched the food-producing tradition of the area, 

evolving several gastronomic customs, centred not just on tuna but on many other sea 

species and subtly blending the sea flavours with those of land. These traditions 

remained rooted in the culture of this territory. 


140



Nowadays, the abandonment of the tonnare and the shunning of small scale activities 

by new generations determined a loss of precious ethno-anthropological aspects of the 

sector. 

However, some old activities still survive in the area. This is the case of the FADs 

(Fish Aggregating Devises) fishery targeting the Coryphaena hippurus. Since ancient 

times fishermen looked for floating wrack, exploiting the behaviour of this gregarious 

species to gather in the shade of objects. The method consist to attract specimens near 

anchored floating objects (FADS or “cannizzi”) and surround and catch them by a net 

(Potoschi et al., 1999). Such practice is well documented in the 14th c. in Majorca, the 

18th c. in Malta and the 19th c. in Sicily and now it is practised by a large fleet. 

In spite of their abundance, C. hippurus together with other resources fished in the 

area, such as Thunnus alalunga, seem under-considered by markets and consumers. 

Conclusions – The research has drawn attention to the fact that in the eastern Sicily 

there persist elements of a fishing tradition pertaining to its gastronomy, ethnomusicology 

and anthropology as well as architectural vestiges, that could be recovered 

and included in what the place has to offer regarding its tourist and cultural image. 

Unfortunately, the social and economic marginalization of small scale fishing as well 

as the oral transmission of traditions from father to son determined a loss of equipment, 

fishing techniques, usages and customs. To revive today the fishing culture, before it is 

irretrievably lost, must be a priority of great cultural value that can no longer be 

postponed. The searching of new economic opportunities and the management of the 

fishing activities, according to a sustainable development, upgrading for example 

under-utilised and neglected species, can surely enhance the profile of the sector. 

Finally, by means of the film production, old magic spells have been rediscovered 

together with ancient tonnara shanties, historical documentations and iconographies, 

recipes and gastronomic habits. 

References 

FARRUGGIO H., OLIVER P., BIAGI F. (1993) - An overview of the history, knowledge, recent and 

future research trends in Mediterranean fisheries. Scientia Marina, 57 (2-3): 105-109. 

POTOSCHI A., CANNIZZARO L., MILAZZO A., SCALISI M., BONO G. (1999) - Sicilian 

dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) fishery. Scientia Marina, 63 (3-4): 439-445. 


141



V. CAPPANERA, M. CASTELLANO 1 , S. BAVA 2 , P. POVERO 1 , 

G. FANCIULLI, R. CATTANEO-VIETTI 1 

AMP Portofino, Viale Rainusso, 1 - 16038 S. Margherita Ligure (GE), Italia. 

v.cappanera@portofinoamp.it 

1 Dip.Ter.Ris., Università di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genova, Italia. 

2 AMP Isola di Bergeggi, Via De Mari - 17028 Bergeggi (SV), Italia. 

ANDAMENTI DELLE CATTURE E CONDIZIONI METEO-MARINE 

NELLA TONNARELLA DI CAMOGLI (MAR LIGURE) 

CATCH TRENDS AND METEO-MARINE CONDITIONS 

INSIDE THE CAMOGLI “TONNARELLA”(LIGURIAN SEA) 

Abstract – Herein the historical data catches of the Tonnarella of Camogli inside the Portofino MPA from 

1890 to 2008 are discussed in order to understand biological fluctuations in a context of continual 

environmental changes. 

Key-words: Tonnarella of Camogli, catches, fishing, Portofino MPA. 

Introduzione - In Liguria la piccola pesca, un’attività spesso praticata sottocosta con 

piccole imbarcazioni, occupa un posto di rilievo nell’economia di molti borghi costieri 

e assolve un ruolo sociale e culturale di primaria importanza. Tra queste attività, la 

Tonnarella di Camogli rappresenta uno dei rari esempi, ancora oggi economicamente 

attivi, di antichi impianti-trappola utilizzati in Mediterraneo per la cattura di pesci 

pelagici e di passo (Cattaneo-Vietti e Bava, 2009). Grazie al vortice di correnti che si 

crea nel Golfo Paradiso per l’incontro di masse d’acqua di provenienza opposta, molte 

specie pelagiche d’interesse commerciale, quali ricciole (Seriola dumerili), boniti 

(Auxis rochei), palamite (Sarda sarda) e sugarelli (Trachurus trachurus e T. 

mediterraneus), seguendo il gyre che si muove in senso orario, passano sottocosta e 

possono essere catturate in prossimità di Punta Chiappa. La Tonnarella di Camogli 

entra in funzione, ogni anno, nella Zona C dell’AMP Portofino, precisamente nelle 

acque sottostanti la Chiesa di S. Nicolò di Capodimonte tra aprile e settembre. Dati 

relativi alla qualità ed alla quantità del pescato vengono annotati per le 3 “levate” 

giornaliere dalla Cooperativa Pescatori di Camogli, fondata nel 1974 e che gestisce 

l’impianto. La disponibilità di questa ed altre serie storiche (Parona, 1898; Balestra et 

al., 1976; Relini, 2001) e di dati relativi alle principali variabili chimico-fisiche raccolti 

quindicinalmente (l’AMP è sito LTER, Long Term Ecological Research, dal 2007) 

permette di studiare le eventuali relazioni tra tipo ed entità delle catture ed alcuni dati 

meteo-marini pregressi, studi particolarmente importanti anche in un’ottica di una 

corretta gestione delle risorse. 

Materiali e metodi - Per verificare possibili variazioni quali-quantitative nel pescato 

sono stati presi in considerazione dati di fine ‘800 (Parona, 1898), dati relativi ai 

periodi 1950-74 (Balestra et al., 1976) e 1996-2000 (Relini, 2001) e quelli relativi al 

2004-2008, forniti all’Ente Gestore dell’AMP dalla Cooperativa Pescatori di Camogli. 

I dati relativi alla variabili meteorologiche sono stati acquisiti dalle serie storiche 

disponibili presso l’Osservatorio Meteorologico di Chiavari, il Dipartimento DICAT 

dell’Università degli Studi di Genova e l’archivio APAT. I dati relativi alle variabili 


142



oceanografiche si riferiscono alle indagini che il Dip.Te.Ris.-Università degli Studi di 

Genova effettua nell’area dagli anni ‘80. 

Risultati - L’andamento delle catture della Tonnarella di Camogli ha subito importanti 

variazioni quali-quantitative: i primi dati di fine 19° secolo (Parona, 1898) mostrano 

valori totali annuali mediamente più bassi (15-39 t/anno) rispetto alle medie dei periodi 

successivi, ma è probabile che a quel tempo non tutto il pescato venisse 

“ufficialmente” conteggiato e che la rete fosse meno “produttiva”. A partire dagli anni 

‘50 e fino al 1974, il pescato oscillava tra le 20 e le 50 t/anno (Balestra et al., 1976), 

mentre nel periodo 1996-2000, i valori variavano tra le 40 e le 70 t/anno (Relini, 2001). 

Negli ultimi cinque anni (2004-2008), le catture si attestano intorno a 40-44 t/anno. In 

generale, i quantitativi totali non sembrano aver subito, negli ultimi 50 anni, 

significative variazioni, mantenendosi mediamente intorno alle 40-50 t/anno, mentre si 

sono registrate forti oscillazioni annuali (Fig. 1), probabilmente legate alla variabilità 

delle condizioni meteo-marine stagionali. 

t 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

Catture totali 1890-2008 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1937 

1950 

1951 

1952 

1953 

1954 

1955 

1956 

1957 

1958 

1959 

1960 

1961 

1962 

1963 

1964 

1965 

1966 

1967 

1968 

1969 

1970 

1971 

1972 

1973 

1974 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

Fig. 1 - Andamento generale delle catture totali nei 4 periodi considerati. 

General trend of the total catches in the 4 considered periods. 

Un periodo di brutto tempo durante un cambio di luna o nel periodo d’avvicinamento 

del pesce alla costa può compromettere il pescato per tutto il mese, tenendo anche 

conto che il pesce di passo nel Mar Ligure ha un calendario annuale abbastanza ben 

definito: i sugarelli si avvicinano alla costa fino a maggio-giugno, le ricciole adulte 

scompaiono a fine luglio, la costardella (Scomberesox saurus) appare in agostosettembre, 

mentre con la luna piena di giugno si assiste ad una repentina caduta dei 

quantitativi del tombarello (Boero et al., 1980). Ad esempio, le anomalie della salinità 

e della temperatura verificatesi nel 2007 e nel 2008 (Figg. 2-3) sembrano correlabili ad 

un calo generale del pescato. I maggiori cambiamenti si sono verificati, tuttavia, a 

livello specifico: alcune specie si sono alternate ad altre nel corso degli anni, alcune 

sono del tutto scomparse ed altre comparse di recente. Il tonno, ad esempio, sembra 

ormai assente da tempo ed il suo peso nelle statistiche della tonnarella negli ultimi 50 

anni è sempre percentualmente irrilevante. In generale (Tab. 1) si assiste, dunque, ad 

una progressiva diminuzione degli sgombroidi (sgombri, tombarelli, tunnidi) ad 

esclusione della cavalla (Scomber colias) e della palamita, ed un aumento percentuale 


143



di carangidi (sugarelli, ricciole) e di specie tipiche delle acque meridionali come la 

lampuga (Coryphaena hippurus) e il barracuda atlantico orientale (Sphyraena 

viridensis). 

Tab. 1 - Le principali specie catturate nella Tonnarella di Camogli: medie quinquennali espresse in q. 

Main species catched by the Camogli tuna net: average data (q). 

1890-96 1950-54 1955-59 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 1996-2000 2004-08 

Auxis rochei ? 214 112 70 47 41 95 69 

Boops boops ? 40 30 11 14 29 40 21 

Oblada melanura ? .2 3 5 14 14 ? 5 

Sarda sarda .04 .02 .09 .02 .03 .03 29 24 

Sarpa salpa ? 7 14 30 87 141 15 3 

Scomber colias ? 2 2 3 .04 3 24 58 

Scomber scombrus .004 .003 .008 .01 .002 .005 2 0.00 

Scomberesox sauros ? 13 32 25 33 15 60 .03 

Trachurus spp ? 35 21 55 17 70 120 136 

Seriola dumerili ? 0 0 0 0 0 90 63 

Fig. 2 - Anomalia della temperatura dell’acqua di mare tra 0 e 50 m (serie storica dal 2000 al 2009). 

Seawater Temperature anomaly between 0 and 50 m (historical time series from 2000 to 

2009). 

Fig. 3 - Anomalia della salinità dell’acqua di mare tra 0 e 50 m (serie storica dal 2000 al 2009). 

Seawater Salinity anomaly between 0 and 50 m (historical time series from 2000 to 2009). 


144



Conclusioni - Forti fluttuazioni nelle catture della Tonnarella di Camogli sono sempre 

avvenute (Parona, 1898) e di tale importanza da determinare, tra l’altro, le vicissitudini 

gestionali ed economiche a cui la tonnarella andò incontro alla fine dell’800 (Cattaneo- 

Vietti e Bava, 2009). L’andamento generale delle catture è piuttosto costante nel 

tempo, ma l’analisi dei dati sembra ipotizzare un’influenza degli andamenti stagionali 

legati al più o meno ritardato riscaldamento degli strati superficiali: i massimi valori di 

cattura si hanno, infatti, nei periodi tardo-primaverili, prima del riscaldamento estivo; 

successivamente, anche se l’impianto resta attivo fino a settembre, intorno a metà 

luglio esaurisce quasi del tutto la sua potenzialità. Secondo Morri e Bianchi (2001), 

l’andamento generale del pescato nel periodo 1950-74 sembrerebbe correlabile alla 

temperatura dell’aria: negli anni in cui la temperatura invernale raggiunse i valori 

minimi, diminuì la pesca ed in particolare le catture di specie ad affinità calda, come il 

tombarello. L’ipotesi è confermata: appare evidente una relazione tra andamenti di 

pesca ed alcune anomalie termiche e saline, con un incremento negli ultimi anni delle 

catture di specie ad affinità calda (Seriola dumerili, Coryphaena hippurus, Sphyraena 

viridensis). In conclusione, lo studio degli andamenti annuali delle catture, specie per 

specie, correlati alle condizioni ambientali e meteo-marine del Mar Ligure, 

rappresenta, oggi, uno strumento di grande potenzialità per comprendere, oltre i cicli 

biologici delle singole specie, anche la variabilità dei processi ecologici che avvengono 

nel Mar Ligure ed è pertanto è sempre più evidente l’importanza di perseverare nella 

raccolta di long-term data non esclusivamente per il comparto ittico, ma anche per 

quello oceanografico e meteo-marino. Solo serie storiche lunghe potranno consentire di 

ricostruire determinate situazioni completamente sconosciute, fare previsioni a breve e 

lungo termine ed ipotizzare scenari futuri. 

Bibliografia 

BALESTRA V., BOERO F., CARLI A. (1976) - Andamento del pescato della tonnarella di Camogli 

dal 1950 al 1974. Valutazioni bio-statistiche. Boll. Pesca Piscic. Idrobiol., 31: 105-115. 

BOERO F., BELLONI S., CATTANEO-VIETTI R. (1980) - Influenza delle fasi lunari e dei cicli 

nictemerali sul pescato della Tonnarella di Camogli (Genova) in 25 anni (1950-74). Memorie di 

Biologia Marina Oceanografia, Messina, 10: 369-370. 

CATTANEO-VIETTI R., BAVA S. (2009) - La Tonnarella e la pesca artigianale a Camogli. 

Edizione Le Mani, MicroArt’s, Recco. 

MORRI C., BIANCHI C.N. (2001) - Recent changes in biodiversity in the Ligurian Sea (NW 

Mediterranean): is there a climatic forcing? In: F.M. Faranda, Guglielmo L., Spezie G. (eds), 

Mediterranean Ecosystems: structure and processes. Springer Verlag, Italia: 375-384. 

PARONA C. (1919) - Il tonno e la sua pesca. Reg .Comit. Talass. It. Venezia, Mem. LXVIII. 

RELINI M. (2001) - Changes in a north western Mediterranean fish coastal assemblage on the basis 

of the catches of the Camogli tuna trap. Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer Medit., 36: 314. 


145



E. CECERE, M. ACQUAVIVA, M. BELMONTE, F. BIANDOLINO, R.A. CAVALLO, R. LO NOCE, 

M. NARRACCI, A. PETROCELLI, P. RICCI, L. STABILI, G. ALABISO 

Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) – CNR, Via Roma, 3 – 74100 Taranto, Italia. 

ester.cecere@iamc.cnr.it 

SEAWEEDS AND AQUACULTURE: AN INDISPENSABLE ALLIANCE 

FOR THE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF COASTAL ZONE 

LE MACROALGHE MARINE E L’ACQUACOLTURA: UN CONNUBIO 

STRATEGICO NELLA GESTIONE INTEGRATA DELLA FASCIA COSTIERA 

Abstract – Seaweed cultivation in aquaculture plant effluents can reduce the impact of farming activities on 

coastal waters so making aquaculture an eco-sustainable activity. In this respect, the capability of nitrogen 

uptake, the fatty acid composition and the antimicrobial activity of six seaweeds from the Apulian coasts 

were investigated. They proved to be good bioremediators as well as a suitable feed for reared species due 

to the presence of essential fatty acids and the antimicrobial activity of their lipidic extracts. 

Key-words: ammonium uptake, antimicrobial activity, bioremediation, fatty acids, seaweeds. 

Introduction – Marine macroalgae can be successfully used to reduce the impact of 

aquaculture activities on the coastal zone; indeed, due to their capability to uptake 

phosphorus and nitrogen salts, these last even as ammonium, seaweeds can strongly 

reduce these salts concentrations in the fish farm effluents, where they are usually very 

high (Hernández et al., 2002). These wastes, when discharged into coastal waters, 

cause their eutrophication and the consequent undesirable well known phenomena (e.g. 

algal blooms, ipoxia, etc.). Moreover, macroalgal biomass resulting from the 

bioremediation process could be used for the preparation of innovative feeds (Valente 

et al., 2006), drugs and fertilizers thus resulting in an added value. Therefore, seaweeds 

could increase and diversify the income of aquaculture farms, making aquaculture an 

eco-sustainable activity (Neori, 2009). Despite this, abroad seaweeds were usually 

cultivated to this aim at a pilot plant level and, only rarely, at industrial scale in 

aquaculture plants (Hernández et al., 2002). In Italy, the interest for this kind of 

research has always been scarce (Cecere, 2006) and is still scarce even though at the 

end of the ‘70s, some researchers realized the potential importance of seaweeds as 

bioremediators (Giaccone et al., 1979). In this paper, we present the ongoing studies in 

the frame of a large multidisciplinary project for the exploitation of the macroalgae 

present along the Apulian coasts. One of the aim of the project is to realize integrated 

polyculture farms in order to make aquaculture a friendly environmental activity in the 

view of the integrated management of coastal zone. 

Materials and methods – The following 6 species: Gracilaria dura (C. Agardh) J. 

Agardh, G. gracilis (Stackhouse) Steentoft, L.M. Irvine et Farnham and Gracilariopsis 

longissima (S.G. Gmelin) Steentoft, L.M. Irvine et Farnham (Gracilariales, 

Rhodophyta), Cystoseira barbata (Stackhouse) C. Agardh (Cystoseiraceae, 

Ochrophyta), Cladophora rupestris (Linnaeus) Kützing and Chaetomorpha linum (O.F. 

Müller) Kützing (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta) from the Apulian coasts were examined 

to detect the: 1) ammonium uptake capability both in N-limited and N-replete status in 

lab tests (for methods see Alabiso et al., 2007, 2008); 2) lipidic and fatty acids 

composition of both winter and summer thalli to test suitability for feed (for methods 


146



see Biandolino et al., 2007); 3) in vitro antimicrobial activity of lipidic extracts against 

several pathogens for fish and humans recording the diameter of bacterial growth 

inhibition (Tab. 1) (for methods see Stabili et al., 2007, 2008). 

Results – 1) Ammonium uptake: all the examined species showed a high capability in 

removing N-NH4 + even when cultivated in N-replete status. In this last condition 

Gracilaria dura removed about 6 µmol g -1 fw h -1 (Alabiso et al., 2007); C. linum, G. 

gracilis and C. rupestris removed from 4 to 4.5 µmol g -1 fw h -1 ; finally, Gracilariopsis 

longissima (Alabiso et al., 2008) and C. barbata removed about 3 µmol g -1 fw h -1 . After 

one hour, the absorption capability of G. gracilis and C. barbata remained almost 

constant; on the contrary, the other four species still showed a slight increasing trend 

(Fig. 1). 

2) Lipidic and fatty acids composition: palmitic acid was the most abundant among 

saturated fatty acids in all the studied species, even though with different percentages; 

among the polyunsaturated fatty acids, the arachidonic acid (ARA) was the most 

abundant in G. gracilis and C. linum; the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and the 

docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were the most abundant in C. linum and G. dura (Fig. 2). 

The best values of ω3/ω6 ratio were found in G. dura (Biandolino et al., 2007) and 

Gracilariopsis longissima (Biandolino, unpublished data). 

3) Antimicrobial activity: Gracilariopsis longissima extract proved to be active against 

the highest number of the tested bacterial strains, probably due to the palmitic acid 

present in its lipidic extract with the highest percentage (Fig. 2) (see also Stabili et al., 

2010); however, all the species showed a good antimicrobial activity mainly against 

several Vibrio species (Tab. 1) (see also Stabili et al., 2007, 2008). 

µmol/g 

6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

Cystoseira barbata Gracilariopsis longissima 

Gracilaria gracilis Cladophora rupestris 

Chaetomorpha linum Gracilaria dura 

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 

time (minutes) 

Fig. 1 – Variation vs. time of N-NH 4 + removed by each species in N-replete status. 

Variazione nel tempo del N-NH 4 + rimosso da ciascuna specie. 


147

Fatty acids (%) 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 



14:0 myristic 16:0 palmitic 18:0 stearic 18:1ω9 oleic 18:2ω6 

linoleic 

Gracilaria dura Gracilaria gracilis 

Gracilariopsis longissima Cystoseira barbata 

Cladophora rupestris Chaetomorpha linum 

18:3ω3 

linolenic 

18:3ω6 γ 

linolenic 

Fig. 2 - Fatty acids composition of the studied species (C. linum data are from Biandolino and Prato, 

2006). 

Composizione in acidi grassi (per C. linum vedi Biandolino e Prato, 2006). 

Tab. 1 – Lipidic extracts antimicrobial activity. Numbers report the inhibition diameter in cm. 

Attività antimicrobica degli estratti. Il diametro di inibizione è riportato in cm. 

Microbial strains C. barbata G. gracilis Gs. longissima G. dura C. linum C. rupestris 

Candida albicans 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Candida famata 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Candida glabrata 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Pseudomonas aeruginosa 0.9 0 0 0 0 0 

Salmonella sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Enterococcus sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0.8 

Streptococcus agalactiae 0 0 0 0 0 0.8 

Vibrio salmonicida 0 0.8 0.8 0 0 0 

Vibrio fluvialis 0 0.8 0.8 0.8 0 0 

Vibrio vulnificus 0.6 0 1.5 0 1.2 0 

Vibrio cholerae non –O1 0 0.8 1.0 0.8 0 0.8 

Vibrio alginolyticus 3.5 0 2.5 1.0 0 0 

Conclusions –1) All the tested species are suitable for ammonium removal even when 

they are N-replete which would probably represent the usual conditions in aquaculture 

farm effluents; 2) The several health-promoting and essential fatty acids and the good 

levels of ω3 found in the studied seaweeds would produce fish rich in ω3 so 

contributing to balance the ω3/ω6 ratio in humans. 3) All the tested species extracts 

showed a high antimicrobial activity at least against one of the most common 

pathogenic Vibrio species tested including those which cause diseases in many farmed 

species. Fish, often stressed by the farming high density, fall in more easily; this causes 

high mortality which strongly affects production. The addition of the examined 

seaweeds to feed could reduce the administration of antibiotics so contributing to the 

reaching of a “biological aquaculture”. 


148 

20:4ω6 ARA 20:5ω3 EPA 22:6ω3 DHA



References 

ALABISO G., CECERE E., PETROCELLI A., RICCI P. (2007) – Ammonium uptake by Gracilaria 

dura (Rhodophyta, Gracilariales) from the Mar Piccolo of Taranto. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 14: 

116-117. 

ALABISO G., RICCI P., BELMONTE M., PETROCELLI A., CECERE E. (2009) - Ammonium 

uptake by Gracilaria gracilis (Stackhouse) Steentoft, Irvine et Farnham (Gracilariales, 

Rhodophyta) from the Mar Piccolo of Taranto. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 16: 246-247. 

BIANDOLINO F., PRATO E. (2006) - A preliminary investigation of lipids and fatty acids 

composition of Gammarus aequicauda (Crustacea: Amphipoda) and its main food source. J. 

Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK, 86: 345-348. 

BIANDOLINO F., PRATO E., DANIELI A., MAFFIA M., CECERE E. (2007) – Lipid and fatty acid 

composition of Gracilaria dura (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) from the Mar Piccolo of Taranto 

(Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea). 4 th European Phycological Congress, Oviedo 23-27 July 2007. 

Abstract Book: 153 (P3A-4). 

CECERE E. (2006) - The Seaweed Resources of Italy. In: Critchley A.T., Ohno M., Largo D.B. (eds), 

World Seaweed Resources, DVD: 1-19. 

GIACCONE G., PRINCI M., FEOLI E., COASSINI LOKAR L., RIZZI LONGO L., TORTUL V. 

(1979) - Valutazione delle risorse vegetali lagunari del basso Tirreno e sperimentazione di 

coltivazione controllata dell'alga rossa Gracilaria verrucosa e di altre agarofite in Sicilia. Atti 

del Convegno "Progetto Finalizzato Oceanografia e Fondi Marini". Roma, 5-7 marzo: 423-435. 

HERNANDEZ I., MARTINEZ-ARAGON J.F., TOVAR A., PEREZ-LLORENS J.L., VERGARA 

J.J. (2002) - Biofiltering efficiency in removal of dissolved nutrients by three species of 

estuarine macroalgae cultivated with sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) waste waters 2. 

Ammonium. J. Appl. Phycol., 14: 375-384. 

NEORI A. (2009) - Essential role of seaweed cultivation in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture farms 

for global expansion of mariculture: an analysis. J. Appl. Phycol., 20: 567-570. 

STABILI L., ACQUAVIVA M.I., CAVALLO R.A., CECERE E., NARRACCI M., PETROCELLI 

A. (2007) – Attività antibatterica in macroalghe del Mar Piccolo di Taranto. Biol. Mar. 

Mediterr., 14: 256-257. 

STABILI L., ACQUAVIVA M.I., CAVALLO R.A., CECERE E., LO NOCE R., NARRACCI M., 

PETROCELLI A. (2008) - Antibacterial activity of macroalgae collected in the Mar Piccolo of 

Taranto. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 15: 226-227. 

STABILI L., ACQUAVIVA M.I., BIANDOLINO F., CAVALLO R.A., CECERE E., LO NOCE R., 

NARRACCI M., PETROCELLI A. (2010) – Antibacterial activity of Gracilariopsis longissima 

(Rhodophyta, Gracilariales) lipidic extract. Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 39: in press. 

TROELL M., ROBERTSON-ANDERSSON D., ANDERSON R., BOLTON J., MANEVELDT G., 

HALLING C., PROBYN T. (2006) - Abalone farming in South Africa: an overview with 

perspectives on kelp resources, abalone feed, potential for on-farm seaweed production and 

socio-economic importance. Aquaculture, 257: 266-281. 

VALENTE L.M.P., GOUVEIA A., REMA P., MATOS J., GOMES E.F., SOUSA-PINTO I. (2006) - 

Evaluation of three seaweeds Gracilaria bursa-pastoris, Ulva rigida and Gracilaria cornea as 

dietary ingredients in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles. Aquaculture, 252: 

85–91. 

Some of these studies were performed within the Progetto Strategico Puglia 2007-2010 

ACTI.BIO.MAR. 


149



A. COSSU, V. PASCUCCI, G. CECCHERELLI, M. DELUCA, L.A. CHESSA* 

Department of Botany, Ecology and Geology, University of Sassari, Via Piandanna, 4 - 07100 Sassari, Italia. 

acossu@uniss.it 

*Department of Plant Protection, University of Sassari, Italia. 

CONTRIBUTION TO UNDERSTANDING 

THE EROSION PROCESSES IN ALGHERO COAST 

CONSIDERAZIONI SUI FENOMENI 

EROSIVI COSTIERI DEL LITORALE DI ALGHERO 

Abstract – The sandy shore comprised between Alghero and Fertilia (Alghero Gulf, NW-Sardinia) has been 

monitored through satellite and aerial images from 1977 to 2009 and uploaded in ARCGIS system. Results 

indicate that the area is suffering a severe erosion mainly due to the building of marina docks and 

breakwaters. 

Key-words: Coastal erosion, sediment distribution, coast, Mediterranean Sea, Alghero. 

Introduction – Over 20% of the European coasts have been subjected to erosion, an 

increasing phenomenon possibly linked to climate change. Therefore, Public 

Institutions have been involved in coastal conservation management, mostly stimulated 

by the economic importance of shores for tourism (EUROSION project., 2005). 

Coastal changes such as sediment transport and some rock-cliff collapse are occurring 

around Alghero Gulf, and in most cases in some of the highly visited seashores. All 

these changes are, therefore, producing negative economic, social and environmental 

effects. 

Materials and methods – Satellite images, air photos and maps of several years, from 

1977 to 2009, have been uploaded in ArcGis 9.3 - ESRI ArcMAP®. Coastal lines 

analyses have been performed using Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), v.3.2 

- USGS Woods Hole, Massachusetts (Thieler et al., 2005). Inter-annual image data have 

allowed to estimate the erosion rate through time. 

DSAS can automatically generate orthogonal transects to the coastal line and define the 

coastal variation occurred between two times. The base line has been created using the 

“cast” function with 100 m interval (Jones et al., 2008). The erosion rate has been 

calculated in 48 places, along a 4.5 km of sandy shore in 1977, 1989 and 2009. 

Twenty samples of sand have been treated to perform grain size analysis. The data 

were statically elaborated with SW Gradistat. 

Results - Alghero coastal area (Lido di S. Giovanni and Maria Pia, Fig. 1) is made of 

mesokurtic gently negative skewed sand deposits, composed of 70% siliciclastic and 

30% 


150



bioclastic grains. Mean grain size of the swash zone is between 296 μm (medium sand) 

in the northern Fertilia area, 256 μm (medium sand) in central Maria Pia (just north of 

Fig. 1 – Localizzazione dei 48 transetti e linea di riva; (nera tratteggiata, in erosione, bianca continua, 

in avanzamento). 

Alghero Gulf. Location of the 48 considered transects and shoreline (black line=erosion, 

white line=accretion). 

the Marine Hospital) and 145 μm (very fine sand) in the southern part (S. Giovanni). 

Next to Alghero marina (Fig. 1), along 450 m of coastal line, 6,868 m 3 of Posidonia 

oceanica beached debris have been estimated, they are spread over a surface area of 

10,932 m 2 with an average thickness of 0.62 m. In the opposite side, next to Fertilia 

marina, an additional 2,600 m 2 storage area of Posidonia oceanica has been found. 

For the area between 1 st and 14 th transects (Alghero marina), shoreline variation during 

1977-2009 (EPR data, Fig. 2) shows an overall increase of 1.2 m a -1 SD±0.88. 


151



Fig. 2 – Tasso di erosione del litorale espresso come End Point Rate (EPR). I valori indicano le 

variazioni delle linee di riva nei transetti rispettivamente nei periodi 1977-89, 1989-2009 e 

1977-2009; in ordinata i transetti come in Fig. 1. 

Erosional rate as derived by End Point Rate (EPR). Values are indicative to shoreline 

variations along the measured transect during 1977-89, 1989-2009 e 1977-2009 time 

interval; x-axis=transects of Fig. 1. 

Conversely, between 15 and 46 transects EPR is negative except for transect 35 where 

an average rate of -0.56 m a -1 SD±0.46 has been calculated. The highest values are 

found between 23 th and 27 th transects where values are all larger than 1 m a -1 . Next to 

Fertilia marina an increase of 0.8 m a -1 , SD±0.76 is found. During the considered time 

the Fertilia sandy shore covers an area of 11 ha: 5.5 are accreted and 5.4 are retreated. 

However, the retreating sandy shoreline is the most visited by tourists. During 1977-89 

EPR highlights the effects of the breakwater barrier, built in the 1983. Positive values 

are found between 1 th -18 th transects, where a strong erosion just N of the Marine 

Hospital occurs (22 th transect). During 1989-2009 EPR probably highlights the 

influence of the external marina Alghero dock. This shades winds coming from SW 

and allows accumulation of 4.5 ha of sand close to the eastern part of the marina. 

During this time period an evident erosion has occurred close to the Marine Hospital 

with an average EPR of -0.62 m a -1 (13 th -20 th transects), which is the highest rate we 

have estimated. This part during 1977-89 shoreline was, instead, increasing. Most 

likely, the causes of this strong erosion have to be found in both docks and 

breakwaters. Also the Posidonia oceanica meadow shows evidence of regression as the 

lower limit has become deeper with several matte discontinuities. 

Conclusions - A detailed estimation of erosion which has been occurring through the 

last decades in Alghero area seems the only tool allowing evaluation of the present 

erosion rate and the urgency of management interventions. An appropriate estimation 

of temporal variability of the sandy shores can address activities to buffer the negative 

effects. The data collected provide some important evaluation to forecast the 

importance of future changes of the shoreline and to drive urban plans as management 

actions and land use. In the Alghero area cement actions, excessive human 

frequentation with no protection of the dune system, marinas constructions and 

breakwaters are all factors responsible of the weakness of the sandy shores, especially 


152



in the most visited areas. This work contributes to a much wider study which is needed 

and still to develop to address any management actions aiming to protect and reestablish 

the shores quality. 

References 

EUROSION Project (2005) - Living with coastal erosion in Europe: Sediment and Space for 

Sustainability, European Communities. 

JONES B.M., HINKEL K.M., ARP C.D., EISNER W.R. (2008) - Modern erosion rates and loss of 

coastal features and sites, Beaufort Sea coastline, Alaska. Arctic., 61 (4): 361-372. 

THIELER E.R., HIMMELSTOSS E.A., ZICHICHI J.L., MILLER T.L. (2005) - Digital Shoreline 

Analysis System (DSAS) version 3.0: An ArcGIS extension for calculating shoreline change. U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005: 1304 pp. 


153



M. FALAUTANO, T. CILLARI, P. PERZIA, P. VIVONA, L. CASTRIOTA, F. ANDALORO 

ISPRA, High Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via S. Puglisi, 9 - 90143 Palermo, Italia. 

mfalau@tin.it 

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE 

MANAGEMENT: A CASE OF STUDY IN THE STRAIT OF SICILY 

APPROCCIO METODOLOGICO ALLA GESTIONE INTEGRATA DELLA 

FASCIA COSTIERA: UN CASO DI STUDIO NELLO STRETTO DI SICILIA 

Abstract - In the coastal area of Sciacca (Strait of Sicily), where delicate ecosystems (e.g. Posidonia 

oceanica meadows), fishery (small-scale, industrial and recreational), tourism, nautical and small 

industrial activities coexist, a study of integrated coastal management, focusing on sustainable development 

of artisanal fishery, was carried out. This study describes a methodological approach to ICZM through the 

analysis of territorial and anthropic data, the identification of strength points and limits to development, of 

the conflicts and of the potential in the study area, and the proposal of management suggestions. 

Key-words: integrated coastal management, artisanal fishery, cultural heritage, Sciacca. 

Introduction - The multifaceted approach to the management of coastal resources, 

currently known as Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), has been described 

as the process of combining all aspects of the human, physical and biological 

components of the coastal zone within a single management framework (Pernetta & 

Elder, 1993). In the Mediterranean, such a concept has been formalized in the ICZM 

Protocol signed in Madrid on 21 January 2008 within the framework of the Barcelona 

Convention. The main purpose of ICZM is the realization of a plan of environmental 

development aiming at increasing social and economical prosperity of coastal 

communities toward long-term, including interaction and resolution of conflicts 

between economical sectors, reaching sustainable use of natural coastal resources with 

maintenance of biodiversity (Clark, 1992). In the coastal area of Sciacca (southern 

Sicily) delicate ecosystems, sites of community importance (Fondali di Capo San 

Marco and Foce del Fiume Verdura), fishery, tourism, nautical and small industrial 

activities coexist. This area, therefore, is of huge interest for studies aiming at 

integrated coastal management. In the present study, a methodological approach to 

ICZM mainly focused on artisanal fishery is proposed. 

Materials and methods - The study was carried out from December 2005 to 

November 2007, in the coastal zone of Sciacca (Strait of Sicily), and was articulated in 

two main aspects: analysis of the territory and fishery characterization. The study was 

developed in three consecutive phases: 

a) cognitive phase to delineate the environmental situation and the main activities 

interacting within the coastal zone, using both available data and experimental ones; 

the methods applied are resumed in Tab. 1; 

b) identifying phase to individuate the limits to development, the conflicts and the 

potential of the area; 

c) proposing phase to define instruments aiming at removing limits, solving conflicts 

and increasing productive capacity. 


154



Tab. 1 – Methods used and parameters analysed within the Sciacca ICZM study. 

Metodi impiegati e parametri analizzati per lo studio di ICZM di Sciacca. 

COGNITIVE PHASE METHOD 

ICZM LEGISLATION Literature 

TERRITORY Demography 

Environmental components of coastal zone 

Anthropic activity 

Tourism 

Literature and surveys on 

the field 

CLIMATIC DATA Atmospheric temperature 

Agro-meteorological 

Total precipitation 

information system of 

Prevailing winds 

Sicily (SIAS) 

Sea surface temperature National tide-gauge station 

(ISPRA) 

GEOMORPHOLOGY Morphology 

Side Scan Sonar 

Cartography editing 

Bathymetry Singlebeam echo-sounder 

Cartography editing 

BIONOMY 

Bionomical study of the main bottom Scraping and box-corer by 

typologies 

SCUBA diving 

ARTISANAL 

FISHERY 

TRADITIONS 

GEOGRAPHICAL 

INFORMATION 

SYSTEM 

(GIS) 

Health state of Posidonia oceanica Phenological analysis 

(Giraud, 1977) 

Fishery fleet composition (Grosse Tonnage, 

engine power , vessel age). Harbour 

infrastructures supporting artisanal fishery 

Artisanal fishery characterization (gears in 

use, socio-demography of artisanal fishery 

operators, gears seasonality, fishing areas, 

target species, etc.) 


155 

Consultation of official data 

of Vessels Register and 

surveys on the field 

Fortnightly landings 

Interviews to fishermen 

Experimental fishery surveys Gillnet and longline 

Fishery traditions, trades and gears in disuse Literature 

Ethno-anthropologic traditions 

Interviews 

Thematic maps (territory, constraints, Literature 

population density, human pressure, land GEODATABASE and data 

use, hydrography, vulnerabilities, etc.) implementation ArcGIS 9.2 

(ARCINFO) ESRI 

Management of environmental and fishery GEODATABASE and data 

data 

implementation ArcGIS 9.2 

(ARCINFO) ESRI 

Results – Cognitive phase. The analysis of the territory evidenced a high-density 

population (214 inhabitants/km 2 ) in the study area. The coast shows a heterogeneous 

physiognomy, with alternation of rocky and sandy littorals, occurrence of buildings, 

coastal defence structures (artificial reefs, breakwaters) and one of the biggest harbours 

of southern Sicily. Two important tourist complexes are in the eastern side of the city, 

while seasonal bathing structures develop in the western one. Virgin coastal traits with 

wide beaches and dune complexes can be found mainly in the eastern area. Tourist 

occurrences were particularly concentrated in summer with a peak in August. Nautical 

tourism is also well developed. The meteorological analysis evidenced good climatic 

conditions for most of the year, with autumn months more rainy than winter ones and



collapse of pluviometric levels during summer. Prevailing and strongest winds are 

those from I and IV quadrants. The superficial sea temperature has a regular seasonal 

cyclical trend, typical of Sicilian coastal waters, with increasing temperatures from 

June to September. The geomorphological and bionomical surveys revealed high 

heterogeneity of coastal bottoms, for the co-occurrence of hard bottoms, soft (mainly 

silt-clay) bottoms and wide zones colonised by Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile which 

generally resulted in good state of health; benthic communities appeared qualitatively 

and quantitatively poor, due to high sedimentation (Perzia et al., 2010). The main 

human activities are small-scale fishery and tourism. The artisanal fleet (26 total active 

vessels) resulted in high contraction, compared with that (66 vessels) recorded in 1992. 

Trammel net was the most used gear during the whole study period; entangling net for 

capture of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) and drifting longline for capture 

swordfish (Xiphias gladius) are used seasonally; seine net for “bianchetto” (larvae of 

clupeiforms) is also a seasonal gear, according to regional authorizations; all the other 

gears (bottom longline, monofilament, purse seine) are very rarely utilized (Falautano 

et al., 2008). The principal target species of Sciacca artisanal fishery resulted Palinurus 

elephas, Diplodus spp, Sepia officinalis, M. merluccius (adult stage) and X. gladius. 

The data analysis by GIS revealed that the fishing areas mainly exploited by artisanal 

fishermen are displaced near the coast. The socio-demographic analysis showed an 

encouraging percentage of fishermen’s sons working with their own fathers and willing 

to go in for the paternal profession (Falautano et al., 2008). The analysis of cultural 

heritage showed the disappearance of some fishing metiers and the permanence of 

some cultural traditions linked to local fishery such as gastronomic traditions, folk 

songs, poetry, legends and architectonical elements typical of fishing villages 

(Falautano et al., 2008). 

Identifying phase. The environmental limits are ascribable to the occurrence of urban 

wastes, conspicuous coastal building and rubbish dispersed on the beaches and 

deposited on coastal bottoms which cause ecological alteration and may conflict with 

fishery activities. The factors limiting and impoverishing small-scale fishery in the 

study area are referable to the sector structure and to the use of resources and space. 

The artisanal vessels resulted old and poorly modernized, to the detriment of safety on 

board and product quality. Their limited engine power obliges most fishermen to 

operate only near the coast. Another structural limit is the inadequacy and paucity of 

harbour infrastructures supporting artisanal fishery: there are no reserved mooring 

areas for fishing vessels which are sparsely displaced in harbour areas at unhealthy 

sanitary conditions, nor fishing gear storages. The use of resources is limited by the 

well developed and uncontrolled recreational fishery, which operates in unfair 

competition with the artisanal fishery; also industrial fishery competes with artisanal 

fishery, illegally exploiting coastal resources, as evidenced by the traces of trawling 

observed by side scan sonar (Perzia et al., 2010). Terrritorial limits are represented by 

flourished nautical tourism which competes with artisanal fishery for spaces 

exploitation at sea and in the harbour. 

Proposal phase. The principal intervention activities to be actuated for overcoming the 

identified limits are: to promote behaviours and actions aiming at safeguarding the 

environment; to provide incentives for the modernization of artisanal vessels in order 

to improve safety and life quality onboard and product quality, also favouring fishing 

offshore; to improve harbour infrastructures supporting artisanal fishery; to regulate 


156



and to increase controls on recreational and industrial fisheries; to promote further 

scientific researches in this poorly studied area; to develop collaboration between 

small-scale fishery and tourism sectors, in order to introduce tourists to fishing activity 

in the field and to allow the reintroduction of disused fishing methods (e.g. bottom 

traps); to promote underexploited ichthyic products and local gastronomic traditions 

through the creation of structures and events focusing to divulge fishery culture. 

Conclusions - The analyses carried out allowed to define a general picture of the 

coastal area of Sciacca and of its human activities, in primis artisanal fishery. This 

study allowed to devise some management proposals for a sustainable use of resources 

in this coastal area analysing the strength points and the limits identified. The 

overcoming of such limits is a long and integrated process which needs the 

involvement of local administration, stakeholders, research institutes and surveillance 

bodies. Despite the described crisis, the artisanal fishery shows some strengths for a 

desirable reclamation, such as a high percentage of fishermen younger than 40 years 

old and many elements belonging to fishery culture that could be recovered, improved 

and employed as tourist and cultural attraction. The good climatic conditions for most 

of the year could favour the development of fishing tourism activities from spring to 

fall, contributing to deseasonalize tourist flux, currently concentrated in July-August. 

Suggestions aiming at the recovery of the small-scale fishery and at the valorisation of 

its traditions, may contribute to increase the social and economical prosperity of coastal 

communities and to maintain the culture biodiversity. In this context, fishing 

communities are really reservoirs of knowledge, experience and understanding of local 

fisheries that cannot be replicated in any other form (Symes & Phillipson, 2009). 

References 

CLARK J.R. (1992) - Integrated management of coastal zones. FAO Fisheries Tecnichal Paper. N° 

327. Rome FAO: 167 pp. 

FALAUTANO M., CILLARI T., PERZIA P., VIVONA P., CASTRIOTA L. (2008) - Study of 

fishery culture traditions in an area of the Strait of Sicily. In: A changing coast: challenge for the 

environmental policies. Proceedings of the 9th International Conference Littoral 2008. Venice 

(Italy), November 25-28, 2008. N. 185. 

GIRAUD G. (1977) - Contribution à la description et à la phénologie quantitative des herbiers de 

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Del. Thèse Doct. d’Etat Océanologie, Fr.: 150 pp. 

PERNETTA J.C., ELDER D.L. (1993) - Cross-sectoral integrated and coastal area planning 

(CICAP): guidelines and principles for coastal area development. A marine conservation and 

development report. Gland, Switzerland, IUCN in collaboration with WWF for Nature: 63 pp. 

PERZIA P., CILLARI T., FALAUTANO M., CASTRIOTA L., SCOTTI G., VIVONA P., 

TOCCACELI M., ANDALORO F. (2010) - Indagine geomorfologica e bionomica dei fondali di 

Sciacca (AG). Biogeographia (in press). 

SYMES D., PHILLIPSON J. (2009) - Whatever became of social objectives in fisheries policy? Fish. 

Res., 95: 1-5. 

This study was funded by Region of Sicily, Fishery Department of Cooperation Commerce 

Handicraft and Fishery Assessor ship, within of Regional Operative Plan 2000-2006 connected to the 

European Fishery Fund. 


157



P. GUIDETTI, M. PETRILLO 1 , G. DE BENEDETTO 2 , G. ALBERTELLI 1 

DiSTeBA, University of Salento - 73100 Lecce, Italy. 

paolo.guidetti@unisalento.it 

1 Dip.Te.Ris., University of Genoa, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132, Genoa, Italy. 

2 DBAS, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy. 

NATAL ORIGIN OF EUROPEAN ANCHOVY: A CASE STUDY 

IN THE LIGURIAN SEA (NW MEDITERRANEAN) 

ORIGINE NATALE DELL’ACCIUGA EUROPEA: UN CASO DI STUDIO 

IN MAR LIGURE (ITALIA, MEDITERRANEO NORD OCCIDENTALE) 

Abstract – Persistence of fishing stocks depends also on the supply of eggs and larvae. Here the natal 

origin of European anchovy in the eastern Ligurian Sea was investigated by using LA-ICPMS analyses on 

otolith cores. The indication of single or multiple natal origins was found to change year by year (i.e. for 

each annual cohort). These first results could involve a different risk of fluctuation or collapse (higher in 

the case of a single natal origin) of European anchovy stocks year by year. 

Key-words: larval origin, otolith core, LA-ICPMS, Engraulis encrasicolus, Ligurian Sea. 

Introduction – Small pelagic fish are essential in marine ecosystems for connecting 

lower and upper trophic levels (Palomera et al., 2007). Some species, in addition, like 

European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus L., represent valuable resources for fisheries 

in the Mediterranean Sea (Lleonard & Maynou, 2003). Fluctuations of pelagic fish 

stocks, therefore, may have relevant ecological impacts and socio-economic 

implications (Chavez et al., 2003; Palomera et al., 2007). 

Dynamics and persistence of fish populations strongly depend on production/supply of 

eggs and larvae (Fontes et al., 2009 and references therein) and the related mortality 

rates (La Mesa et al., 2009). In recent years, new approaches have been developed and 

proposed to investigate larval dispersal and to identify natal origin, which represent 

useful information for conservation and stock management purposes. Microchemical 

analyses of otoliths, from this perspective, are becoming more and more popular 

worldwide to investigate natal origin of fish (Panfili et al., 2002; Fontes et al., 2009). 

The technique is based on the fact that varying physico-chemical characteristics of 

seawater reflect in the otolith, forming a permanent record of past environmental 

conditions experienced by the fish (Panfili et al., 2002). 

The aim of this study is to assess the potential of the use of microchemical analyses of 

otolith cores of anchovy to investigate natal origin of individuals forming local stocks. 

Materials and methods – A number of 100 adult anchovies were collected at Sestri 

Levante (Genoa; eastern Ligurian Sea; Fig. 1) in August 2009. 


158

Genoa 

Sestri Levante 



Ligurian 

Sea 

15° E 

40° N 

Fig. 1 – Map of the sampling location. 

Localizzazione geografica del sito di campionamento. 

Sagittal otoliths were extracted under a stereomicroscope, cleaned and stored to dry. 

One otolith from each pair was aged, mounted on glass slide, and ground (with 3M 

Imperial lapping film) to expose the core. Otoliths were then rinsed, sonicated for 10 

min in de-ionized water, and analyzed using a LA-ICPMS (laser ablation inductively 

coupled plasma mass spectrometer) for 8 elements (Li, Mg, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba, Pb and Hg; 

the values of Mn and Hg were consistently below the detection limits and therefore 

excluded from the data analyses). The LA-ICPMS system was calibrated using 610 and 

612 glasses. Calcium was used as internal standard to take into account variation in 

ablation and aerosol efficiency. Three replicates from each core were sampled by three 

sequential pits vertically collected (Ruttenberg et al., 2008) using a spot size of ~28 

μm. Three additional pits were collected in the juvenile region (~40-50 μm far from the 

core; Cermeño et al., 2006) to assess potential differences in the microchemical 

composition of the otolith related to the ontogenetic development (Elsdon & 

Gillanders, 2005). Prior to analysis, samples were pre-ablated to remove any surface 

contamination (laser at 50% power). The putative differences between ‘core’ and 

‘juvenile’ otolith sectors, and among otoliths (using otolith × element matrices) were 

analysed using two-way permutational multivariate analysis of variance 

(PERMANOVA; Anderson, 2001). The sampling design consisted of 2 factors: “core” 

vs “juvenile” otolith sectors (C vs J; fixed factor with 2 levels) and ‘otolith’ (Ot; 

random and orthogonal). Multivariate analyses were based on dissimilarity matrices 

based on Euclidean distances and log(x+1) transformed data. nMDS of centroids for 

each otolith (separating cores and juvenile sectors) was used to visualize the pattern 

observed (Clarke & Warwick, 2001). The SIMPROF (similarity profile) test, 

associated to cluster analysis (PRIMER 6 package; Clarke & Gorley, 2006), was used 

to test the null hypothesis that our set of otolith cores, not a priori divided into groups, 

do not differ from each other in microchemical composition. The SIMPROF test was 

run after having split anchovy samples into age groups. Otoliths corresponding to 

specimens 3 (n=10) and 4 years old (n=3) were too scarce numerically and were 

excluded from the statistical analyses. 

Results - Otoliths of European anchovy from Sestri Levante showed different 

microchemical patterns when cores were compared with juvenile otolith sectors (Fig. 

2). PERMANOVA test revealed that cores and juvenile sectors were significantly 

different (d.f.: 1; pseudo-F: 1766.98; P



Fig. 2 – nMDS plot of chemical composition of European anchovy otoliths from Sestri Levante 

(Ligurian Sea). Centroids of each otoliths were plotted (C: core; J: juvenile sector). 

Grafico nMDS relative alla composizione microchimica degli otoliti di acciuga campionati 

a Sestri Levante (Mar Ligure). Sono riportati i centroidi di ogni otolite (C: ‘core’; J: 

settore giovanile dell’otolite). 

Otoliths from fish born in 2008 and 2007 (corresponding to anchovies 1 and 2 years 

old, respectively, having been sampled in 2009) showed different microchemical 

patterns. Otolith cores of anchovies born in 2008 (i.e. 1 year old anchovies; Fig. 3A) 

showed a quite homogeneous chemical composition (except from a single specimen) 

suggesting a single natal origin. Anchovies born in 2007 (i.e. 2 years old anchovies; 

Fig. 3B), instead, showed 5 statistically different groups (suggesting multiple natal 

origins). 

Fig. 3 – Classification of otolith cores of anchovy (A: born in 2008; B: born in 2007). Dashed lines 

indicate non-significantly different samples (SIMPROF, P>0.05). 

Classificazione dei campioni di otoliti (cores) di acciuga (A: nate nel 2008; B: nate nel 

2007). Le linee tratteggiate indicano campioni non significativamente differenti 

(SIMPROF, P>0.05). 

Conclusions – These first results suggest that: 

1) direct comparisons among different otolith regions may come out with significant 

differences. Such a general pattern can be attributed to both intrinsic differences in 

absorption of microelements among the different stages of the life cycle (Green et al., 

2009) or effective habitat/spatial changes experienced by fish during the ontogenetic 

development (Fontes et al., 2009 and references therein); 


160



2) LA-ICPMS analyses seem to be promising in elucidating patterns and processes that 

may help better understand the pluriannual dynamics of fish species relevant for 

fisheries; 

3) depending on the year considered (and probably the related oceanographic-climatic 

conditions), the natal origin of European anchovy stocks can be single or multiple. This 

outcome could involve a risk of fluctuations or collapses of natural populations and 

related fishing stocks that may change year by year. The risk of stock collapse, in fact, 

can be higher if/when local stocks depend on single sources of juveniles as their 

eventual failure in proving juveniles may seriously impact local stocks, especially of 

short-living species like European anchovy. 

References 

ANDERSON M.J. (2001) - A new method for non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance. Aust. 

Ecol., 26: 32–46. 

CERMEÑO P., MORALES-NIN B., URIARTE A. (2006) - Juvenile European anchovy otolith 

microstructure. Sci. Mar., 70: 553-557. 

CHAVEZ F.P., RYAN J., LUCH-COTA S.E., ÑIQUEN M.C. (2003) - From Anchovies to Sardines 

and Back: Multidecadal Change in the Pacific Ocean. Science, 299: 217–221. 

CLARKE K.R., WARWICK R.M. (2001) - Change in Marine Communities: An Approach to 

Statistical Analysis and Interpretation. PRIMER-E. Plymouth, UK. 

CLARKE K.R., GORLEY R.N. (2006) – PRIMER v6: User Manual/Tutorial. PRIMER-E, Plymouth. 

ELSDON T.S., GILLANDERS B.M. (2005) – Consistency of patterns between laboratory 

experiments and field collected fish in otolith chemistry: an example and applications for salinity 

reconstructions. Mar. Freshw. Res., 56: 609-617. 

FONTES J., CASELLA J.E., SHEEHY M.S., SANTOS R.S., WARNER R.R. (2009) – Natal 

signatures of juvenile Coris julis in the Azores: investigating connectivity scenarios in an 

oceanic archpelago. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 387: 51-59. 

GREEN B.S., MAPSTONE B., CARLOS G., BEGG G.A. (2009) - Tropical fish otoliths: information 

for assessment, management and ecology. Springer, New York. 

LA MESA M., DONATO F., GIANNETTI G., ARNERI E. (2009) – Growth and mortality of 

European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in the Adriatic Sea during the transition from larval 

to juvenile stages. Fish. Res., 96: 275-280. 

LLEONARD J., MAYNOU F. (2003) – Fish stock assessments in the Mediterranean: state of the art. 

Sci. Mar., 67: 37-49. 

PANFILI J., PONTUAL H., TROADEC H., WRIGHT P.J. (2002) - Manual of Fish 

Sclerochronology. IRD Ed., Paris. 

RUTTEMBERG B.I., HAMILTON S.L., WARNER R.R. (2008) - Spatial and temporal variation in 

the natal otolith chemistry of a Hawaiian reef fish: prospects for measuring population 

connectivity. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 65: 1181-1192. 


161



G. LA MESA, S. BAVA 1 , R. CATTANEO-VIETTI 2 , A. MOLINARI, L. TUNESI 

Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via di Casalotti, 300 - 00166 Roma, Italia. 

gabriele.lamesa@isprambiente.it 

1 Area Marina Protetta Portofino, Viale Rainusso, 1 - 16038 S. Margherita Ligure (GE), Italia. 

2 Dip.Te.Ris., Università di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 – 16132 Genova, Italia. 

GRADIENTS OF ABUNDANCE OF DIPLODUS SARGUS 

AND D. VULGARIS ACROSS THE RESERVE BOUNDARIES 

OF THE PORTOFINO MPA (LIGURIAN SEA) 

GRADIENTI DI ABBONDANZA DI DIPLODUS SARGUS E D. VULGARIS 

ATTRAVERSO I CONFINI DELL’AMP DI PORTOFINO (MAR LIGURE) 

Abstract – Gradients of abundance of the sea breams Diplodus sargus and D. vulgaris (Sparidae) across 

the reserve boundaries of the MPA of Portofino were assessed in order to determine reserve effect and to 

provide evidence of spillover. Fish was visually censused in shallow rocky habitat (4-7 m depth), within the 

MPA zones and in adjacent fished areas. Density and biomass of both species were usually higher within 

the reserve than outside, likely due to the enforcement of protection regime. The drastic drop of fish 

abundance just 100 m outside the MPA and its partial recovery at greater distance from the protected zone 

would suggest a moderate spillover across the eastern reserve edge. 

Key-words: spillover, sea breams, Portofino MPA. 

Introduction - One of the potential benefit of marine protected areas (MPAs) is to 

maintain or enhance adjacent fisheries through the net emigration of adult and juvenile 

fish to nearby fished areas (spillover effect) (Russ and Alcala, 1996; McClanahan and 

Mangi, 2000). Assessment of spillover has been usually carried out by monitoring 

catch rates and fish densities within and outside reserves (McClanahan and Mangi, 

2000). Negative gradients of fish density and biomass across reserve borders have been 

considered evidence of fish spillover (McClanahan and Mangi, 2000; Kaunda-Arara 

and Rose, 2004). Studies on fish movement by tagging methods indicated spillover to 

be usually limited to hundreds of meters to a few kilometers from the reserve boundary 

(McClanahan and Mangi, 2000). Moreover, the effect of export of adult fish biomass 

may require a lot of time (many years) to develop (Russ and Alcala, 1996). The 

presence of gradients is likely to concern species and size classes which are more 

vulnerable to local fishing activities. In Mediterranean rocky shore, the sea breams of 

the genus Diplodus are heavily targeted by fishers, due to their high commercial value. 

Nowadays very few investigations have attempted to collect experimental evidence of 

fish spillover through reserve boundaries of Mediterranean MPAs (Harmelin-Vivien et 

al., 2008). In the present study, the abundance and biomass of the sparids Diplodus 

sargus and D. vulgaris were quantified at many sites within and outside the Portofino 

MPA, in order to assess the presence of gradient across the reserve boundaries and to 

provide evidence of fish spillover. 

Materials and methods - The marine reserve of Portofino was formally established in 

1999, though a real enforcement occurred some years later. This MPA is characterized 

by one small (10 ha) “no entry-no take” area (A zone), two “entry regulated-take 

regulated” zones (B) and two buffer zones (C). Only local professional fishermen 

operating with traditional fishing gears are allowed to fish in the B and C zones. Sea 


162



breams were censused by SCUBA in November 2004 and September 2005. Fish 

density was evaluated along strip transects (25×5 m) in shallow (4-7 m) rocky habitat. 

During each period, eight replicated transects were surveyed at each of 18 sites: 6 

within the MPA (2 at each reserve zone) and 12 in nearby fished areas (6 beyond the 

western reserve boundary and 6 beyond the eastern boundary up to a distance of about 

3.6 km from the reserve edge) (Fig. 1). 

N 

1 

1 KM 

Fig. 1. - Map of the Portofino promontory (Ligurian Sea) showing the different zones (zone A=black; 

zone B=dark grey; zone C=light grey) of the marine reserve. The arrows show sampling sites 

location within and outside the MPA. 

Mappa del promontorio di Portofino (Mar Ligure) con le differenti zone (Zona A=nero; Zona 

B=grigio scuro; Zona C=grigio chiaro) della riserva marina. Le frecce indicano la posizione 

dei siti di campionamento dentro e fuori l’AMP. 

All sea breams along the transect were recorded and their total length estimated to the 

nearest 2 cm. Fish weights were estimated using published length-weight relationships 

(Froese and Pauly, 2003). To determine the relationships between mean fish abundance 

(density and biomass) and distance from the innermost reserve zone, we used a logistic 

function (Kaunda-Arara and Rose, 2004). The logistic decay model was fitted 

separately for the eastern and western reserve boundaries and only to data initially 

showing a significant linear decline across the reserve boundaries. 

Results - To evaluate the size distribution of the three species in the study area, each 

sample was divided into three size classes (small: 24 cm TL). Large individuals were recorded only within the MPA, whereas fish 

samples outside the reserve were dominated by small individuals. To assess gradient in 

fish density and biomass across the reserve boundaries only medium and large 

individuals (i.e. those most heavily targeted by fishery) were considered. A significant 

linear decrease in sea bream density and biomass across the reserve borders was always 

observed, except for biomass of D. vulgaris in September 2005, likely due to the 

occurrence of many large individuals in the eastern side of C zone. Density and 

biomass of both species were usually higher within the MPA zones than outside and in 

September 2005 with respect to November 2004 (Fig. 2). 


163

Density (individuals / 125 m 2 ) 

Biomass (gr) 

20 

16 

12 

8 

4 

0 

3200 

2400 

1600 

800 

0 



D. sargus 

Western boundary Eastern boundary 

D. sargus 

8200 6200 4200 2200 200 1800 3800 5800 7800 9800 11800 

Distance from A zone center (Km) 


164 

D. vulgaris 

Western boundary Eastern boundary 

D. vulgaris 

8200 6200 4200 2200 200 1800 3800 5800 7800 9800 11800 

Distance from A zone center (Km) 

Fig. 2. - Density and biomass (mean+SE) of sea breams across the MPA boundaries (broken vertical 

lines). Circles and squares (A zone=black; B-C zones=grey; unprotected areas=white) refer to 

sampling carried out in November 2004 and September 2005, respectively. 

Densità e biomassa (media+ES) dei saraghi dentro e fuori i confini (linee tratteggiate 

verticali) dell’area marina protetta. Cerchi e quadrati (zona A=nero; zone B-C=grigio; aree 

non protette=bianco) si riferiscono ai campionamenti effettuati in Novembre 2004 e 

Settembre 2005. 

Particularly steep gradient of sea breams density and biomass across the reserve 

boundaries were recorded in September 2005. Regardless to species, both density and 

biomass dropped sensibly just 100 m outside the reserve and remained close to zero in 

the westward sampling sites. Along the eastern coasts, sea bream density and biomass 

slightly recovered about 1 Km apart from the reserve boundary (Fig. 2). Density and 

biomass data of D. sargus fitted significantly a decay model across both reserve 

borders, but only during September 2005. In D. vulgaris, the fits for density were 

always significant (except eastward in November 2004), whereas a significant gradient 

of biomass was detected only in September 2005 across the eastern boundary. The 

inflection point (the distance at which mid-reserve density or biomass is halved) of the 

logistic decay model was usually located inside the AMP boundaries, within the B or C 

zone; in two cases only (both in D. vulgaris), it was outside the MPA borders. 

Conclusions - The higher density and biomass of sea breams as well as the larger size 

of the individuals within the Portofino MPA than in the adjacent unprotected areas 

demonstrated a positive effect of the protection on the sea breams populations. The 

very small size of the “no take” area and the low fishing pressure usually occurring in 

the B and C zones made all the protected area fairly homogeneous in terms of fish 

density or biomass. In the last decade, a number of species heavily targeted by fishing, 

such as the sparids D. sargus and D. vulgaris, benefitted from the enforcement of 

regulation on fishing activities in the B and C zones (Guidetti et al., 2008). The 

patterns of decrease in density and biomass of sea breams observed beyond the western



and eastern reserve edges were asymmetric and changed in time. The western side of 

the Portofino promontory is likely characterized by a bottom morphology and type of 

cover less suitable for sea breams than the eastern one. Furthermore, most of local 

artisanal fishermen, which typically exploit these fish species, operate preferentially 

along the western coasts. Despite the collected data evidenced negative gradients of sea 

bream abundance across the MPA boundaries, the presence of spillover seemed 

questionable, due to the very low abundance of sea breams outside the reserve. 

Nevertheless, the level of fishing outside the MPA boundaries could be high enough to 

prevent the development of a pattern of gradual decline in abundance. That is, spillover 

from the MPA might occur but fishers could deplete quickly any potential increase in 

abundance just outside the reserve. This hypothesis is corroborated by frequent 

observations of many people fishing close to reserve boundaries (a very common 

situation termed as “fishing the line”). Moreover, the slight recovery of fish abundance 

recorded along the eastern coasts in proximity to the harbour of S. Margherita would 

suggest a moderate spillover. An important issue derived for the present work to 

consider in future investigations concerns sampling effort. To gain more robust 

evidence of spillover, it would be advisable to relocate sampling effort so as to enhance 

the number of sampling sites close to the MPA boundaries, where a drastic change in 

fish abundance do occur. 

References 

FROESE R, PAULY D. (2003) - Fishbase. World Wide Web electronic publication. 

www.fishbase.org. 

GUIDETTI P., MILAZZO M., BUSSOTTI S., MOLINARI A., MURENU M., PAIS A., SPANÒ N., 

BALZANO R., AGARDY T., BOERO F., CARRADA G., CATTANEO-VIETTI R., CAU A., 

CHEMELLO R., GRECO S., MANGANARO A., NOTARBARTOLO DI SCIARA G., RUSSO 

G.F., TUNESI L. (2008) - Italian marine reserve effectiveness: Does enforcement matter? Biol. 

Conserv., 141: 699-709. 

HARMELIN-VIVIEN M., LE DIRÉACH L., BAYLE-SEMPERE J., CHARBONNEL E., GARCÍA- 

CHARTON J.A., ODY D., PÉREZ-RUZAFA A., REÑONES O., SÁNCHEZ-JEREZ P., 

VALLE C. (2008) – Gradients of abundance and biomass across reserve boundaries in six 

Mediterranean marine protected areas: Evidence of fish spillover? Biol. Conserv., 141: 1829- 

1839. 

KAUNDA-ARARA B., ROSE G.A. (2004) - Effects of marine reef National Parks on fishery CPUE 

in coastal Kenya. Biol. Conserv., 118: 1-13. 

MCCLANAHAN T.R., MANGI S. (2000) - Spillover of exploitable fishes from a marine park and its 

effect on the adjacent fishery. Ecol. Appl., 10: 1792-1805. 

RUSS G.R., ALCALA A.C. (1996) - Do marine reserves export adult fish biomass? Evidence from 

Apo Island, central Philippines. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 132: 1-9. 

This paper represents a contribution toward the aims of The “SPILLOVER” project funded by 

MIPAF, PNR - VI Piano Triennale della Pesca e dell’Acquacoltura. 


165



A. ROVERE, M. MONTEFALCONE, P. VASSALLO, C. PAOLI, M. VACCHI, C. MORRI, 

C.N. BIANCHI, M. FIRPO, G. ALBERTELLI, M. FABIANO 

Dip.Te.Ris., Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genoa, Italia. 

alessio.rovere@unige.it 

POSIDONIA OCEANICA THROUGH TIME: 

MODERN AND PALEOECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES 

FROM THE BERGEGGI - VADO LIGURE AREA (SV) 

POSIDONIA OCEANICA NEL TEMPO: PROSPETTIVE MODERNE 

E PALEOECOLOGICHE NELL’AREA BERGEGGI-VADO LIGURE (SV) 

Abstract - Diachronic cartography and one sediment core in the Bergeggi-Vado Ligure area (NW 

Mediterranean Sea) were used to assess, respectively, short-term and long term evolution of the Posidonia 

oceanica meadow. A preliminary evaluation of its economic value has been performed. 

Key-words: Posidonia oceanica, evolution, diachronic cartography, Ligurian Sea. 

Introduction - The endemic Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is the most abundant 

seagrass in the Mediterranean Sea, where it forms extensive meadows from the surface 

down to 40 m depth and plays major ecological roles for coastal ecosystems and 

generates important services for coastal population (Montefalcone, 2009 and reference 

therein). Geomorphology of the coast is influenced by P. oceanica meadows that damp 

the swell and form an obstacle to the movement of sediments on the bottom (Tigny et 

al., 2007; Vacchi et al., 2010). Meadows also contribute to water oxygenation, keeping 

the ecosystem healthy. The preservation of these functions implies economic benefits 

for coastal areas (e.g. fisheries, tourism) not necessarily perceived by society and 

ascribed by economy. Regression of P. oceanica meadows, due to both natural and 

human effects, has been surely accelerating in recent decades. In the Ligurian Sea, for 

instance, nearly 30% of the original meadow surface area has been lost in the 1960s, 

during the period of rapid urban and industrial development occurred along the 

Ligurian coast (Bianchi and Morri, 2000). The health and occurrence of P. oceanica 

meadows along the coastline, and their change over time, can be seen as one of the 

“reading keys” of the evolution of soft coasts: the diachronic cartography represents an 

important tool for measuring temporal changes in term of percentage gain or loss of 

meadow extension. Superimposed to short term changes, P. oceanica is believed to 

have had its climatic optimum around 6000±2750 years BP (Mateo et al., 1997). In this 

contribution we attempt to evaluate long (millennial) and short (decadal) term 

evolution of P. oceanica in the Bergeggi-Vado Ligure area (Ligurian Sea). This 

evolution has been tentatively translated in monetary terms aiming at making clear 

related economic outcomes. 

Materials and methods - The extension and typology of the P. oceanica meadows in 

the study area has been drawn in Bianchi and Peirano (1990), MSS-ENEA (1991), 

Diviacco and Coppo (2006) using Side Scan Sonar (SSS). Cartographic outputs have 

been vectorised at the same resolution scale (1:25000) and processed with GIS to 

obtain concordance maps. One core (V1) was made in the study area and different 

sections containing dead matte of P. oceanica have been dated through 14 C at Beta 


166



Analytic Laboratories. Radiocarbon dates were calibrated and corrected for the marine 

reservoir effect. All dates reported are expressed in years Before Present (BP). The 

monetary value has been assessed using emergy analysis (Odum, 1996). This 

methodology allows to quantify resources keeping a system or an eco-function. To 

evaluate the economic value of P. oceanica different functions have been considered: 

oxygen release, primary production, nursery role. 

Results - Cartography obtained from indirect and direct surveys between Bergeggi and 

Vado Ligure (Diviacco and Coppo, 2006) allowed to obtain the extension and typology 

of coverage of: P. oceanica, mosaic of P. oceanica and dead matte, dead matte. In 

1990 have been recognized exclusively areas characterized by the presence of P. 

oceanica, in 1991 the surveys allowed to map mosaic of P. oceanica and dead matte 

and a small percentage of dead matte (Fig. 1; Tab. 1). Spatial analyses allowed to 

assess that the three cartographies show extremely low percentages of concordance 

(Tab. 2). 

Fig. 1 - Study area, with the results of the vectorisation of the cartographies of 1990, 1991 and 2006. 

Area di studio, con i risultati della vettorializzazione delle cartografie del 1990, 1991 e 2006. 

Tab. 1 - Extension (ha) respectively of: Posidonia oceanica meadows, mosaic of P. oceanica and 

dead matte, dead matte in the three years of reference. 

Estensione (ettari) rispettivamente di: praterie di P. oceanica, mosaico e matte morta. 

Year 1990 1991 2006 

Posidonia oceanica 51,3 0,0 10,4 

Mosaic of P. oceanica and dead matte 0,0 24,0 0,9 

Dead matte 0,0 1,5 15,0 


167



Tab. 2 - Concordance (%) of coverage in the three years. A: Posidonia oceanica; B: mosaic of P. 

oceanica and dead matte; C: dead matte. 

Concordanza (%) del ricoprimento nei tre anni. A: P. oceanica; B: mosaico; C: matte 

morta. 

1990 

1991 2006 2006 

A B C A B C A B C 

A 0 37.2 0 

B 0 0 3.8 

C 0 

0 

3.7 

1990 

The V1 core (Fig. 2) is characterized by at least three continuous levels of dead matte 

of P. oceanica: 14 C datations have been coupled with relative sea level and bottom 

position obtained for the same area by Carobene et al. (2008) throughout the Holocene, 

allowing to reconstruct the millennial evolution of a section of P. oceanica meadow. 

1991 


168 

Fig. 2 - V1 core with 14 C dates. Depth of 

the bottom at a given time during 

Holocene (lines below the actual 

bottom, years BP) and the relative msl 

position have been derived from 

Carobene et al. (2008). 

Carota V1 e datazioni C 14 . La 

profondità del fondale Olocenico (linee 

al di sotto del fondale attuale, anni BP) 

e la relativa posizione del lmm sono 

state derivate da Carobene et al. (2008). 

The monetary value of P. oceanica has been summarized in Tab.3 and compared with 

a previous evaluation by Blasi (2009). 

Tab. 3 - Per square meter monetary values of some Posidonia oceanica eco-fuctions. 

Valori monetari per metro quadrato di alcune funzioni ecologiche di P. oceanica. 

Function Unit of measure This study Blasi, 2009 

0.177 (0.024) 1.66 (0.01) 

Primary production (of which carbon) €·m - ²·y -1 

Nursery role €·m - ²·y -1 0.026 - 

O release €·m - ²·y -1 0.007 14.21 

Conclusions - Three main conclusions can be drawn on the short-term and long-term 

evolution of P. oceanica in the study area and on its economical value trough time.



i) High discordances among cartographies realized in three different periods. As large 

differences in meadow extension and typology in a single year are unlikely, these are to 

be considered as due to errors in the positioning and/or interpretation of sonograms. 

Such large errors prevent any possibility to evaluate evolution of the meadows over 

short term time scales (i.e., between 1990-91 and 2006). A well definite protocol for 

the use of acoustic techniques when mapping seagrass is recommended, including the 

adoption of systematic ground truthing criteria and designs. 

ii) Superimposed to short term (i.e. decadal) time scale, P. oceanica meadows show a 

long-term (i.e. millennial) time scale evolution. The results obtained from core V1 call 

for integration with more spatially dispersed data, but suggest that long-term evolution 

of the meadow comprises periods of natural expansion and regression. Additional data 

are also needed to clarify the link between climatic events during Holocene and P. 

oceanica evolution. 

iii) discordances in meadows extension evaluation lead to variations of the economic 

value of Vado-Bergeggi meadow: 102460 €·y -1 (1990), 0 €·y -1 (1991), 20818 €·y -1 

(2006). It is compulsory to specify that these values probably represent an 

underestimation of P. oceanica value since they not include other services as, e.g., 

biodiversity source and coastal protection from erosion. 

References 

BIANCHI C.N., MORRI C. (2000) - Marine Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: situation, 

problems and prospects for future research. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40 (5): 367-376. 

BIANCHI C.N., PEIRANO A. (1990) - Mappatura delle praterie di Posidonia oceanica in Mar 

Ligure. Centro Ricerche Ambiente Marino ENEA, La Spezia: 146 pp. 

BLASI F. (2009) - Il valore economico delle praterie di Posidonia oceanica. Biologia Marina 

Mediterranea, 16 (1): 130-131. 

CAROBENE L, FIRPO M, ROVERE A. (2008) - Le variazioni ambientali nell’area di Vado Ligure 

dal neolitico ad oggi. Il Quaternario. Italian Journal of Quaternary Sciences, 21 (2): 433-456. 

DIVIACCO G., COPPO S. (2006) - Atlante degli habitat marini della Liguria. Catalogo dei beni 

naturali. Regione Liguria, Genova: 208 pp. 

MATEO M.A., ROMERO J., PÉREZ M., LITTLER M.M., LITTLER D.S. (1997) - Dynamics of 

millenary organic deposits resulting from the growth of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia 

oceanica. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 44 (1): 103-110. 

MONTEFALCONE M. (2009) - Ecosystem health assessment using the Mediterranean seagrass 

Posidonia oceanica: A review. Ecological indicators, 9: 595-604. 

MSS-ENEA (1991) - Indagine a mare per la mappatura ed il controllo dello stato di salute della 

Posidonia oceanica nel Mar Ligure (da Genova a Ventimiglia). Centro Ricerche Ambiente 

Marino ENEA, La Spezia. 

ODUM H.T. (1996) - Environmental Accounting. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 

TIGNY V., OZER A., DE FALCO G., BAROLI M., DJENIDI S. (2007) - Relationship between the 

evolution of the shoreline and the Posidonia oceanica meadow limit in a Sardinian coastal zone. 

Journal of Coastal Research, 23 (3): 787-793. 

VACCHI M., MONTEFALCONE M., BIANCHI CN., MORRI C., FERRARI M. (2010) - The 

influence of coastal dynamics on the upper limit of the Posidonia oceanica meadow. Marine 

Ecology, (in press). 

Work partially done under the aegis of the project ‘The impacts of biological invasions and 

climate change on the biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea’ (Italy–Israel co-operation, Italian 

Ministry of Environment). 


169

Pre-print Volume – Posters 


E. CECCHI, L. PIAZZI * 

ARPAT – Area Mare, Via Marradi, 114 – 57124 Livorno, Italia. 

e.cecchi@arpat.toscana.it 

* CIBM, Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina, Livorno, Italia. 

A NEW METHOD FOR THE ASSESSMENT 

OF THE ECOLOGICAL STATUS OF CORALLIGENOUS ASSEMBLAGES 

UN NUOVO METODO PER LA DETERMINAZIONE 

DELLA QUALITÀ ECOLOGICA DEI POPOLAMENTI CORALLIGENI 

Abstract – The paper proposed a new method for the assessment of ecological status of Mediterranean 

coralligenous assemblages. The proposal is based on data obtained from photographic samplings carried 

out by ARPAT in 5 locations along the coast and islands of Tuscany. Results showed that the proposed 

method allowed to clearly separate the studied locations, in agreement with other methods already used in 

monitoring survey. 

Key-words: coralligenous assemblages, environmental quality, Tuscany. 

Introduction – Coralligenous habitat represents one of the most important 

Mediterranean coastal systems in relation to its distribution, biodiversity and 

production (Ballesteros, 2006). The maintenance of this habitat is due to a balance of 

constructive and destructive forces and each impact can influence this balance. Thus, 

coralligenous assemblages are considered sensitive to disturbance and they can 

represent effective bio-indicators in monitoring programs (Balata et al., 2005; Piazzi et 

al., 2010). We proposed a new method for the assessment of Ecological Status of 

Coralligenous Assemblages (ESCA index) . 

Materials and methods – The proposal is based on data obtained from samplings 

carried out by ARPAT in 5 locations along the coast (Meloria Shoals, Livorno, Vada 

Shoals, Monte Argentario) and islands (Montecristo) of Tuscany. In each location, two 

sites were chosen and in each site two areas were sampled; in each area 15 

photographic samples of 1878 cm 2 were collected on vertical bottom at the depth of 30 

m. Images were analyzed by Image J to evaluate the cover of the main taxa or groups. 

An ecological values ranging between 1 and 10 was attributed to each taxon/group 

identified with photographic sampling (Tab. 1). 

Tab. 1 - Sensitivity levels of the taxa/groups identify with photographic sampling. 

Sensitivity levels dei taxa/gruppi identificati mediante campionamento fotografico. 

Taxa/group Sens. lev. 

Gorgonacea 10 

Halimeda tuna, Cystoseira spp. 9 

Flattened corticated Rhodophyta, erect Bryozoa, Madreporaria 8 

Large-size terete Rhodophyta with cortication 7 

Flabellia petiolata 6 

Zanardina typus, Hydrozoa, Tunicata, encrusting Bryozoa 5 

Peyssonnelia spp, Palmophyllum crassum, Valonia spp., Porifera, Polychaeta 4 

Encrusting Corallinales 3 

Dictyotales, articulated Corallinales 2 

Turf, Caulerpa spp. 1 


170



Three descriptors have been considered: ecological values of organisms (values 

attributed at each sample correspond to values of the organism with the highest 

sensitivity level present in the sample), number of organisms/groups, heterogeneity of 

assemblages (calculated through PERMDISP analysis; Anderson, 2006). Values of 

Environmental Quality (EQV) calculated from these three descriptors were divided 

from reference values (values obtained from Montecristo Island) to obtain the 

Environmental Quality Ratio (EQR’). The EQR of the water bodies was evaluated as 

the mean of the three EQR’. According to the European Water Framework Directive, 

five ecological status classes were defined (0-0.4 bad, 0.4-0.55 poor, 0.55-0.7 

moderate, 0.7-0.85 good, 0.85-1.0 high). 

Results – The application of the proposed method to the 4 locations sampled along the 

coast of Tuscany, showed that Monte Argentario resulted in high condition, while the 

other locations resulted in good condition (Tab. 2). 

Tab. 2 - Results of application of the new method to 4 locations of Tuscany coasts. 

Risultati dell'applicazione del nuovo metodo (E.S.C.A.) nelle quattro località toscane. 

Location EQR’ 

sensitivity 

level 

EQR’ 

Number of 

taxa/group 

EQR’ 

heterogeneity 


171 

EQR Ecological 

status 

Argentario Month 0.97 (high) 0.99 (high) 0.79 (good) 0.92 High 

Vada Shoal 0.92 (high) 0.89 (good) 0.66 (moderate) 0.83 Good 

Meloria Shoal 0.90 (high) 0.82 (good) 0.61 (moderate) 0.78 Good 

Calafuria (LI) 0.90 (high) 0.77 (good) 0.54 (moderate) 0.74 Good 

Conclusions – The proposed method allowed to clearly separate the studied locations, 

in agreement with results obtained with other methods already used in monitoring 

programs (eg. CARLIT). The three selected descriptors sowed similar patterns in the 

attributing ecological values at the five locations. The widest range of EQR values was 

related to the level of heterogeneity, that seems to represent a valid descriptor of 

ecological quality of coralligenous assemblages. The proposed method shows the 

advantages that it is not a destructive method, it does not require highly specialized 

taxonomists and it considers different ecological aspects of the assemblages. However, 

this method needs to be tested on a large set of data, in order to evaluate its 

effectiveness and to highlighted possible differences related to geographic areas. 

References 

ANDERSON M.J. (2006) - Distance-based test for homogeneity of multivariate dispersions. 

Biometrics, 62: 245-253. 

BALATA D., PIAZZI L., CECCHI E., CINELLI F. (2005) - Variability of Mediterranean 

coralligenous assemblages subject to local variation in sediment deposits. Mar. Environ. Res., 

60: 403-421. 

BALLESTEROS E. (2006) - Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages: a synthesis of present 

knowledge. Oceanog. Mar. Biol. Annu. Rev., 44: 123-195. 

PIAZZI L., BALATA D., CECCHI E., CINELLI F., SARTONI G. (2010) - Species composition and 

patterns of diversity of macroalgal coralligenous assemblages in the north-western 

Mediterranean Sea. J. Nat. Hist., 44: 1-22.



G. COSTANTINO, N. UNGARO, F. MASTROTOTARO * , D. BATTISTA * , M. BLONDA, 

A.M. PASTORELLI, R. CARLUCCI * , A. TURSI * 

ARPA Puglia - Regional Agency for the Environmental Protection and Prevention ARPA Puglia 

DAP, Via Oberdan, 18/E - 70126 Bari, Italia. 

g.costantino@arpa.puglia.it 

* Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona, 4 - 70123 Bari, Italia. 

RECENT DATA FROM THE MONITORING OF POSIDONIA OCEANICA 

IN TWO MARINE PROTECTED AREAS OF THE APULIAN COASTS 

(CENTRAL-EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA) 

DATI RECENTI SUL MONITORAGGIO DI POSIDONIA OCEANICA 

IN DUE AREE MARINE PROTETTE DELLE COSTE PUGLIESI 

(MEDITERRANEO CENTRO-ORIENTALE) 

Abstract – This paper reports recent bio-ecological data on the Posidonia oceanica meadows located in two 

Marine Protected Areas of the Apulia region, Tremiti Islands and Porto Cesareo, placed in the Southern 

Adriatic Sea and North-Eastern Ionian Sea, respectively. The main features of the meadows (morphoecology, 

phenology, lepidochronology) were estimated. Moreover, in situ (-15 depth) continuous recording 

of light intensity (Lux) and water temperature (°C) was carried out during the period Oct. 2008-Sept. 2009. 

Key-words: Posidonia oceanica, monitoring, MPAs, central-eastern Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction – European and National acts (Directive EC/2000/60, Italian Law Decree 

152/2006, Italian Ministry Decree 56/2009) strongly recommend the monitoring of 

phanerogams, including Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, as Biological Quality Element 

for the assessment of the environmental status of marine coastal waters. In the 

framework of the monitoring program in the Apulian region, two P. oceanica sites 

respectively located in the MPAs “Tremiti Islands (Adriatic Sea)” and “Porto Cesareo 

(Ionian Sea)” have been investigated (Oct. 2008 – Nov. 2009) in order to collect both 

biotic and abiotic data. 

Materials and methods – The two investigated P. oceanica meadows are located into 

distinct basins (Southern Adriatic Sea, North-Eastern Ionian Sea) (Fig. 1). The 

sampling plan, as well as the laboratory analysis protocol (phenology and 

lepidochronology), were standardized at national level (Cicero & Di Girolamo, 2001; 

ISPRA, 2009). In each meadow, n. 1 sampling stations were investigated by scuba 

divers at the fixed depth of 15 m (n. 9 counts in 40×40 cm square; n. 18 shoots 

sampled; morpho-ecological observations). At this depth a waterproof 

temperature/light data-logger was placed close to the sea floor for the continuous data 

recording (20’ time step). 

Results – The analytical results from the monitoring of both bio-ecological parameters 

and physical ones (annual trend of temperature and light intensity at -15 m depth) are 

reported in the Tab. 1 and in the Fig. 2. Higher values of “Density”,”Leaf Area Index” 

and “Leaf Standing Crop” have been estimated for the Porto Cesareo meadow, while 

higher values of “Epiphytes Biomass” resulted for the Tremiti meadow. The sea floor 

temperature highlighted the same annual trend in both the sites; the annual average 

values calculated over the Oct. 2008-Sept. 2009 period were 17.14 °C and 18.39 °C in 

the Tremiti and Porto Cesareo meadows respectively. At the same time interval the 

average value of light intensity was 82.86 lux in the Tremiti and 292.15 lux in the 

Porto Cesareo meadows. 


172



Conclusions – Preliminary results highlighted some differences between the two 

meadows, probably linked to the local environmental features. According to the well 

known role of the light for the distribution and growth of the species, the variation of 

some morpho-ecological and phenological traits in the two investigated P. oceanica 

sites can be mostly related to the different light intensity value as recorded at the 

respective -15 m depth stations. The water temperature, the average value higher in the 

Porto Cesareo meadow, can be another driver. The results agree with the information 

from the scientific literature, describing the Southern Adriatic Sea and the North- 

Eastern Ionian Sea quite different basins (oceanographic characteristics, trophic level) 

(Cardellicchio et al., 1993; Vilicic et al., 1995; Marano et al., 1998). Notwithstanding, 

the apparently stressed condition highlighted in the Tremiti Islands meadow needs 

further investigation on the impact of human activities occurring in marine areas under 

Tab. 1 - Bio-ecological data for the two P. oceanica investigated m eadow s 

Dati bio-ecologici relativi alle due praterie di P. oceanica indagate. 

C o o rd ina tes (° ' '' W G S 8 4 ) N42 07 01.2 E015 29 51.9 N40 12 21.5 E017 54 30.0 

Sam pling date 16 oct 2008 23 sept 2009 18 oct 2008 14 nov 2009 

Density (shoots m -2 ) 135 163 225 234 

Cover (% ) 60 70 80 70 

Low er limit depth (m ) 

Interm ediate leaf m ean leng th (cm ) 19.7 21.8 16.4 19.9 

Interm ediate leaf m ean w idth (cm ) 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 

A d ult leaf m ean len gth (cm ) 49.1 45.7 43.2 39.1 

Adult leaf m ean w idth (cm ) 0.9 1.0 0.9 0.9 

Sh ealts m ean leng th (cm ) 3.4 3.1 4.7 4.6 

To tal coeff. "A " (% ) 38.0 39.5 26.2 15.5 

Leaf surface (cm 2 shoot -1 ) 123.6 145.8 130.7 149.8 

Leaf biom ass (g d.w . shoot -1 ) 0.591 0.672 0.818 0.600 

Leaf A rea Index (L A I) (m 2 m -2 ) 1.7 2.4 2.9 3.5 

Leaf Standing Crop (LSC) (g d.w. m -2 ) 80.1 109.3 184.1 140.3 

Epiphytes biomass (g d.w. shoot-1) 0.152 0.333 0.044 0.012 

LFR (no. of leaves shoot -1 year -1 ) 6.0 6.1 5.6 6.5 

RhP (R hizom e Production g d.w . year -1 ) 0.083 0.064 0.080 0.073 

RhER (Rhizom e Elongation R ate cm year -1 ) 1.07 0.75 0.92 0.78 

R hizo m e m ean full length (cm ) 9.6 6.4 1 0.3 8.9 

No. lepidochronological years on average examinated 

Sediment analysis 

9 7 1 2 8 

T .O .C . (T ota l O rga n ic C a rb on m g .k g -1 Posidonia oceanica m onitoring station (-15m depth) 

Param eters 

T rem iti Islan ds P orto C esa reo 

(S. Domino - P.ta Spido) (S. Isidoro Tower) 

21 29 

) -



A. DE BIASI, L. PIAZZI, L. PACCIARDI, A. VANNUCCI 

Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata, Viale N. Sauro, 4 – 57128 Livorno, Italia. 

a.debiasi@cibm.it 

THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDITERRANEAN 

AQUACULTURE IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS 

LO SVILUPPO SOSTENIBILE DELL’ACQUICOLTURA 

NELLA AREE MARINE PROTETTE 

Abstract – The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the sustainability of fish farming activities in relation 

to marine protected area. Results of an environmental impact assessment of two farms in islands of a 

marine park suggested that small activities may be environmentally acceptable and socially equitable. 

Key-words: aquaculture, marine protected areas, sustainability. 

Introduction - According to the definition of sustainable development, a sustainable 

aquaculture should be environmentally acceptable, economically viable and socially 

equitable (Simard et al., 2008). The aim of the present paper is to evaluate if these 

requisites are respected when a fish farming takes place in a marine protected area. To 

fulfil this aim, macrobenthic communities and Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile 

epiphytes were chosen as descriptors to evaluate the possible effects of two different 

fish farms under the cages and in the surrounding areas. This paper, part of a 

multidisciplinary project, reports only some data as representative examples of the 

results of the project. 

Materials and methods –The study was carried out in 2009 during the summer period 

to investigate two fish farms located in Gorgona and Capraia islands included in the 

National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago. The Gorgona farm is constituted by 3 prefattening 

suspended cages (130 m 3 ) and 5 REFA TLC 800 (Tension Leg Cage) (4000 

m 3 ) and sited on a 16-18 m deep colonised by Posidonia oceanica. The Capraia farm is 

constituted by 5 units located on a sandy bottom at 30-32 meter depth. At both study 

farms, 5 sites were selected: one under the cages (T), two 300 m distant from the cages 

(I=intermediate sites), and further two at 1000 m from them (C=control sites). In each 

site two areas were chosen. 

In Gorgona, in each area, five haphazardly chosen shoots of P. oceanica were uprooted 

and the percentage cover of dominant taxa or morphological groups were estimated in 

the first 30 cm from the tip of the two external leaves; moreover, epiphytes were 

scratched with a razor blade and their biomass was evaluated as dry weight after 48 h 

at 60 °C. In Capraia five sediment samples for benthic community analyses, were 

collected, washed through 0.5 mm mesh sieve, sorted and the organisms were counted 

and classified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. 

Results – In Gorgona, biomass values of P. oceanica epiphytes were very high under 

the fish farm, but in intermediate areas were similar to those of controls. In particular, 

Dictyotales significantly increased in cover in the impacted meadow (Fig. 1). In 

Capraia a total of 3726 organisms belonging to 143 species were found. The highest 


174



values of abundances were detected under the cages and they sharply decrease already 

at 300 meters from them. An opposite pattern was observed for equitability (Fig. 1). 

0,7 

1,2 

500 

0,6 

1 

J N 

400 

0,5 

0,4 

g 

0,3 

0,2 

0,8 

J 0,6 

0,4 

300 

N 

200 

0,1 

0,2 

100 

0 

0 

0 

CSA2 CSA1 ISA1 ISA2 TA2 TA1 INA1 INA2 CNA2 CNA1 CS A1 CS A2 IS A1 IS A2 T A1 T A2 IN A1 IN A2 CN A1 CN A2 

Fig. 1 - Epiphyte biomass of Gorgona meadows (left) and abundance and equitability of 

macrozoobenthic assemblages (right). T=disturbed site; I=intermediate site; C=control site; 

A1, A2, areas. 

Biomassa degli epifiti nelle praterie di Gorgona (sinistra) e abbondanza ed equitabilità dei 

popolamenti macrobentonici di Capraia (destra). T=sito di impatto;I=sito intermedio; 

C=sito di controllo; A1, A2, aree. 

Conclusions – Results showed that the impact of these two farms can be clearly 

identified under the cages both on P. oceanica and unvegetated sediments. However, in 

both cases, the effects were very localized being already limited or absent even at 300 

meters from the cages. These data suggested that small activities can guarantee the 

environmental acceptability of farms also in marine protected areas. Thus, small 

displaced farms with low environmental impact located in healthy areas may be 

considered sustainable for the environment and they can offer the vantage of a local 

distribution of their products with an important role in sustaining local livelihoods and 

alleviating economic losses due to restrictions imposed by protection measures. 

References 

SIMARD F., OJEDA J., HAROUN R. (2008) – Then sustainable development of Mediterranean 

aquaculture: problems and perspectives. Options Méditerranéennes, 62: 113-124. 


175



F. DI STEFANO, G.F. RUSSO 

Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Napoli Parthenope 

Centro Direzionale, Isola C4 - 80143 Napoli, Italia. 

floriana.distefano@uniparthenope.it 

THE ROLE OF MARINE BIOLOGIST 

IN THE MARITIME SPATIAL PLANNING 

IL RUOLO DEL BIOLOGO MARINO 

NELL’AMBITO DELLA PIANIFICAZIONE DELLO SPAZIO MARITTIMO 

Abstract –The recent European regulations draws the fundaments for the application of a new instrument: 

the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) aimed at integrating the different territorial plans presently in force 

and at optimizing the usage of the maritime space to improve both economic development and marine 

environment. In the future the need for a more substantial “sea regulation plan” will become more and 

more crucial. The marine biologist role will have a fundamental importance to this respect. 

Key-words: ICZM, planning, management. 

Introduction – The main EU instruments for the promotion and Integrated Coastal 

Zone Management (ICZM) are represented by the “Recommendation” of the 

Parliament and of the European Council on the implementation of the ICZM in Europe 

(2002/413/CE, GU L 148 dated 6.6.2002) along with the “Protocol” on Mediterranean 

ICZM issued by the Barcelona Convention and acknowledged in GU L 34/19 dated 

04.2.2009. 

A new pulse towards the ICZM was given by the recent European laws, with the issue 

of “Marine Strategy Framework Directive” (2008/56/CE, GU L 164 dated 25.6.2008), 

aimed at the adoption of necessary measures for the maintaining of a good 

environmental state of the marine habitats within 2020, and with the implementation of 

the “integrated maritime policy, IMP” (COM, 2007: 575 – The Blue Book), defining 

the strategical framework of the whole sector “sea/coast”. The ICZM is considered by 

the European Council (2009/89/CE, GU L34/17 del 4.2.2009) an essential component 

of IMP, that should be integrated with the “Maritime Spatial Planning” (MSP) as in the 

“action plan” of IMP (COM, 2008: 791). MSP, therefore, represents a fundamental 

instrument along with ICZM, helping the authorities ‘in force’ to coordinate their 

actions towards a better maritime economy and marine environmental quality. Thus, 

marine biologists must play a fundamental role in IMP. 

Materials and methods – The Cilento coastal area was chosen as study area. It 

extends for about 130 Km, within Salerno province, from Agropoli (North) to Sapri 

(South). Present and future of this area is strictly linked to the sea. It shows a high 

population density and trading and production activities, with maritime and tourist 

connotations, along with a network of marine and terrestrial protected areas. In this 

area, an analysis of the coastal territorial planning instruments was performed, taking 

into account both National and local laws, underlining adequacies and inadequacies. 

Results – The results are very heterogeneous and scattered due to the lack of National 

general address lines determining the creation of different regulation plan with 

different and also contrasting planning instructions (Tab. 1). With the Law L.R. 


176



n.13/08, regulating the Regional Territorial Plan (RTP), Campania Region applied a 

planning instrument defining criteria, lines and the strategic contents of the regional 

planning through which the local authorities shall sinergically operate to update and 

produce new integrated planning instruments, according to European regulation. 

Including the MSP guidelines in RTP ‘proposal’ would be essential to this scope. 

p g 

Piano stralcio di Assetto Idrogeologico ‐ PSAI ADOTTATO con Del. n. 55 del 12/06/2002 (BURC n. 40 del 26/08/2002) 

Piano Stralcio Erosione Costiera ‐ PSER ADOTTATO con Del. n. 52 del 21/12/2006 (BURC n. 29 del 28/05/2007) 

Piano di Tutela delle Acque ‐ PTA ADOTTATO con D.G.R. n.1220 del 20/08/2007 (BURC n. 46 del 20/08/2007) 

Piano Territoriale Regionale ‐ PTR Legge Regionale n. 13 del 13/10/2008 (BURC n. 45 Bis del 10/11/2008). 

Piano Territoriale Paesistico Cilento Costiero – PTP 

23 gennaio 1996 (G.U. 80 del 4.4.96) 4 ottobre 1997 (G.U. 35 del 12.2.98) Annullato dal TAR 

Campania con sentenza 950/96, e successivamente riapprovato 

Piano del Parco ‐ PNCVD Approvato con DGR n.617 del 13/04/2007 (BURC n.9 del 27/01/2010) 

Piano Territoriale di Coordinamento della Provincia di Salerno ‐ PTCP APPROVATO con DGP n. 16 del 26/01/2007 In fase di aggiornamento (L.R.n.13/08) 

Piano delle Comunità Montane dell’Alento e Monte Stella e del Lambro e Mingardo (legge regionale 6/1998) 

Piani Regolatori Generali – PRG 15 comuni costieri su 9 

Regolamento della Zona a Tutela Biologica di Santa Maria di Castellabate D.M. 25/8/1972 

7 Piani di Gestione per i per i SIC e ZPS a carattere prevalentemente marino e costiero. In fase di realizzazione 

Regolamento dell’AMP di Santa Maria di Castellabate (In fase di istituzione) Regolamento non ancora approvato 

Regolamento dell’AMP di Costa Infreschi e della Masseta (In fase di istituzione) Regolamento non ancora approvato 

Tab. 1 – Tools for the Cilento coastal planning and management. 

Strumenti di pianificazione e gestione della fascia costiera cilentana. 

The aim of MSP is to establish the realistic destination of maritime space according to 

the local tradition in order to avoid conflict amongst different activities (MPAs and 

aquaculture plants, recreational fishing and boating, local traditional fishing and marine 

tourism, etc…) (Russo, 2010). Marine biologists, therefore, may have a central role in 

establishing the natural destination of a marine territory and in the implementation of 

ecological classification techniques, within the Geographic Information System (GIS), 

integrating all environmental and socio-economic data (Russo et.al., 2010). 

Conclusions – The recent European Marine Strategy Framework Directive represents 

an ideal reference point to solve the inadequacies amongst the different territorial plans 

presently in force. In the future the need for a more substantial “sea regulation plan” 

will be more and more important and the cultural role of marine biologists role will 

become crucial. 

References 

RUSSO G.F. (2010) - Il “Piano regolatore” delle acque marine costiere. Uomo e Natura, 1: 9-11. 

RUSSO G.F., ONORI L., DI STEFANO F. (eds) - Applicazione della procedura di Analisi 

Multicriteri per un modello di Gestione Integrata delle Coste: il caso studio del Cilento. 

Rapporto tecnico ISPRA: in stampa. 


177



C. MANCUSI, E. CECCHI, L. PIAZZI*, M. RIA, R. SILVESTRI* 

ARPAT – Area Mare, Via Marradi, 114 – 57124 Livorno, Italia. 

c.mancusi@arpat.toscana.it 

* CIBM - Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina, Livorno, Italia. 

THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ECOLOGICAL QUALITY 

OF COASTAL WATER THROUGH THE CONCURRENT USE 

OF DIFFERENT BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS 

LA VALUTAZIONE DELLA QUALITÀ ECOLOGICA 

DELLE ACQUE COSTIERE ATTRAVERSO L’UTILIZZO CONTEMPORANEO 

DI DIFFERENTI INDICATORI BIOLOGICI 

Abstract – The paper aimed to compare values of ecological quality of coastal water obtained for 3 

locations sited along the Tuscany coasts through the concurrent use of different biological indicators. 

Results showed that Monte Argentario resulted in high condition, while the other locations resulted in good 

condition. An interesting result of the study was a general correspondence among values of different 

indicators. 

Key-words: biological indicator, monitoring, environmental quality, Tuscany. 

Introduction – The assessment of the ecological quality of coastal water, such as 

required by the European Framework Directive 60/2000, implies the use of different 

biological indicators. The ecological status has to be evaluated as ratio (Ecological 

Quality Ratio, EQR) between values of biological elements observed in a determinate 

water body and reference values. Five classis of ecological status have to correspond to 

intervals of this ratio (high, good, moderate, poor, bad). Several studies has been 

carried out to test methods used for particular habitats (Mangalajo et al., 2007; Lopez y 

Rojo et al., 2010). 

In this paper, we compared values of EQR obtained for 3 locations sited along the 

Tuscany coasts through the concurrent use of different biological indicators. 

Materials and methods – The data used for comparison were obtained from 

samplings carried out by ARPAT in 3 locations along the coast of Tuscany: Livorno, 

Piombino and Monte Argentario. Both CARLIT approach for rocky shore macroalgal 

assemblages (Ballesteros et al., 2007) and BiPo approach for Posidonia oceanica (L.) 

Delile meadows (Lopez y Rojo et al., 2010) were used. Moreover, a new proposed 

approach for coralligenous assemblages was added (Cecchi et al., 2010). Reference 

values to calculate EQR were those suggested by Ballesteros et al. (2007) and Lopez y 

Royo et al. (2010) for CARLIT and BiPo respectively; values detected at Montecristo 

Island were used as reference values for coralligenous assemblages. The EQR for each 

location was calculated as the mean of EQR obtained from all the habitats present in 

the location and reported to an arbitrary scale with class ranges of 0.2 (0-0.2 bad, 0.2- 

0.4 poor, 0.4-0.6 moderate, 0.6-0.8 good, 0.8-1 high). 

Results – Values of EQR of Posidonia oceanica meadows are reported in Tab. 1. In 

Tab. 2 are shown the EQR values calculated as a mean among EQR of the three 

habitats. The use of different biological indicators showed that Monte Argentario 

resulted in high condition, while the other locations resulted in good condition (Tab. 2). 


178



Tab. 1 - Values of EQR for Posidonia oceanica meadows. Density=shoots m -2 ; SLsurface=Shoot 

Leaf surface (cm 2 shoot -1 ); LLdepth=Lowel Limit depth (m); Type=type of limit. 

Valori di EQR relativi alle praterie di Posidonia oceanica. Densità=fasci m -2 ; 

SLsurface=Superficie foliare per fascio (cm 2 fascio -1 ); LLdepth=profondità del limite 

inferiore (m); Type=Tipo di limite. 

Location EQR’density EQR’SL 

surface 


179 

EQR’LLdepth EQR’type EQR 

Piombino 0.77 (good) 0.81 (high) 0.36 (moderate) 0.44 (moderate) 0.60 (good) 

Livorno 0.62 (good) 0.64 (good) 0.44 (moderate) 0.89 (high) 0.65(good) 

Tab. 2 - Values of ecological status of 3 locations of Tuscany coasts obtained with the use of different 

biological indicators. 

Valori relativi allo stato ecologico delle tre località della costa toscana ottenuti con tramite 

l'applicazione di diversi indicatori biologici. 

Location EQR 

P. oceanica 

meadows 

EQR 

Macroalgal 

assemblages 

EQR 

coralligenous 

assemblages 

EQR Ecological 

status 

Monte Argentario - 0.96 (high) 0.92 (high) 0.925 High 

Piombino 0.60 (good) 0.71 (good) - 0.670 Good 

Livorno 0.65 (good) 0.69 (good) 0.74 (good) 0.716 Good 

Conclusions –The present paper allowed to compare values of ecological quality of 

coastal water obtained through the use of different biological indicators and to evaluate 

the effectiveness of the concurrent study of more habitats to determine the ecological 

status of a determinate water body. This approach is important in relation to the high 

variability of natural systems and the possibility that differences among assemblages 

could be due to causes others than anthropogenic disturbance. A synthesis of results 

obtained through a higher number of indicators may allow to make adequate 

comparisons. An interesting result of the study was a general correspondence among 

values of different indicators. 

References 

BALLESTEROS E., TORRAS X., PINEDO S., GARCIA M., MANGIALAJO L., DE TORRES M. 

(2006) – A new methodology based on littoral community cartography dominated by macroalgae 

for the implementation of the European Framework Directive. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 55: 172-180. 

CECCHI E., PIAZZI L. (2010) – A new method for the assessment of the ecological status of 

coralligenous assemblages. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 17 (1): (submitted) 

LOPEZ Y ROJO C., CASAZZA G., PERGENT-MARTINI C., PERGENT G. (2010) – A biotic 

index using the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (BiPo), to evaluate ecological status of coastal 

waters. Ecol. Indicators, 10: 380-389. 

MANGIALAJO L., RUGGIERI N., ASNAGHI V,. CHIANTORE M,. POVERO P., CATTANEO- 

VIETTI R. (2007) – Ecological status in the Ligurian Sea: the effect of coastline urbanization 

and the importance of proper reference sites. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 55: 30-41.



L. NICOLETTI, E. VALENTINI, M. TARGUSI, P. LA VALLE, A. FORNARI, A. TARAMELLI 

ISPRA, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Via di Casalotti ,300 - 00166 Roma, Italia. 

luisa.nicoletti@isprambiente.it 

CHARACTERISATION OF POSIDONIA OCEANICA MEADOWS USING 

BOTH HYPERSPECTRAL AND LIDAR DATA: A NEW APPROACH 

CARATTERIZZAZIONE DELLE PRATERIE DI POSIDONIA OCEANICA 

ATTRAVERSO L’USO DI DATI IPERSPETTRALI E LIDAR: 

UN NUOVO APPROCCIO METODOLOGICO 

Abstract – ISPRA has started an environmental characterization study in two Latium coastal areas using 

both hyperspectral and LIDAR data. This study regards emerged and submerged portion of the coastal 

zone. In this paper we describe a new approach aimed at mapping the Posidonia oceanica meadows. 

Key-words: Posidonia oceanica meadow, spectra mixing analysis, LiDAR, data fusion, Tyrrhenian Sea. 

Introduction – Integrated costal zone management is calling to develop and apply data 

fusion techniques to combine active and passive remote sensing data for mapping 

shallow-water and coastal environments. The present research is developed in the 

framework of the Regione Lazio funding program and regards both emerged and 

submerged portion of the coastal zone. The aim of this paper is to combine 

hyperspectral MIVIS (Multispectral Infrared and Visible Imaging Spectrometer) 

resolution data with LiDAR (Ligth Detection and Ranging) detection data in order to 

characterize the Posidonia oceanica meadows present in two studied areas of the 

Latium coast. 

Materials and methods – The northern study area extends from the regional boundary 

of Tuscany and S. Agostino (VT) and the southern one between Capo Portiere (LT) 

and San Felice Circeo (LT). Airborne remotely sensed survey, carried out in May 

2009, has provided two stretches for a total of 100 Km 2 hyperspectral (MIVIS) and 

LiDAR (Hakw-eye) data. The MIVIS dataset ground resolution at nadir for an average 

flight height of 1500 m is of 3 m. The LiDAR dataset acquired in slant range for an 

average flight height of 500 m is of 2 m. Analysis of the shallow water and coastal 

environment is done in the context of the spectral mixing space defined by the low 

order principal components of the spectra (Small, 2004). Basically the works focuses 

primarily on nonlinear mixing arising from intimate mixtures, then to test the validity 

of the spectral mixing model we use the low dimensional parameter space defined by 

the Principal Components in order to select the representative P. oceanica endmebers. 

Our analysis combines the use of the first 20 MIVIS bands (atmospherically 

normalized), so that radiance were converted into reflectance. A mask of land area was 

applied to minimized the variability in digital numbers, increasing the contrast in the 

study area. The contemporary acquisition of LiDAR data highlights bathymetry 

morphological characterization and intensity data (Red and Near-InfraRed) to detect 

the presence of P. oceanica meadows, rocks and sandy substrata. 

Results – MIVIS hyperspectral sensor reached 10 m depht in both of areas and signal 

accurrancy decrease with depth and turbidity increase. Normalization of sensor 


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irradiance does not influence mixing space shape and endmembers selection. 

Reflectance information within visible and infrared regions, from 0,433 µm and 0,833 

µm, allows the identification of P. oceanica meadows upper limits (Fig. 1) and their 

coverage. The accuracy of the classification results was assessed using a second dataset 

of ground-truth data. Validation polygons were compared with the final classification, 

and statistics were summarized in the form of a confusion matrix. Based on the above 

the backscatter signal of seabottom roughness was finally used in order to fit the 

optical data results. 

Conclusions - The combined use of both MIVIS and LiDAR remote data produced a 

novel paradigm in order to map P. oceanica meadows. Results highlight the need of a 

more controlled field based spectral profiles acquisition in order to obtain a more 

detailed characterization of different typologies of P. oceanica meadows based on the 

different effects on reflectance media. 

Fig. 1 - An example of Posidonia oceanica meadow upper limit visualization through a linear 

unmixing classification (black=masked land; light grey=P. oceanica meadow). 

Un esempio di visualizzazione del limite superiore della prateria di Posidonia oceanica 

mediante classificazione di linear unmixing (nero=parte emersa; grigio chiaro=prateria di 

P. oceanica). 

References 

SMALL C. (2004) - The Landsat ETM+ Spectral Mixing Space. Remote Sensing of Environment, 

93:1-17. 


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A. PETROCELLI, E. CECERE 

Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) – CNR, Via Roma, 3 – 74100 Taranto, Italia. 

ester.cecere@iamc.cnr.it 

BIODIVERSITY AND MOLLUSC TRANSFER: NEED OF OBSERVANCE 

OF THE LAWS TO AVOID ALIEN SEAWEEDS INTRODUCTION 

MACROALGHE ALLOCTONE E IMPORTAZIONE DI MOLLUSCHI 

Abstract – The seaweeds Undaria pinnatifida, Codium fragile, Grateloupia turuturu and Ascophyllum 

nodosum were accidentally introduced into the Taranto seas probably by means of pacific oysters both as a 

packing material and as microscopic life stages settled on mollusc valves. Therefore, the need is 

highlighted of making mussel farmers and fishmongers aware of risks coming from alien species 

introduction and of severe control measures. 

Key-words: alien species, Crassostrea gigas, introduced species, Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction – Taranto seas are particularly subject to the introduction of alien species 

(Gravili et al., 2010). Despite the numerous laws issued by the European Commission 

to regulate the transfer of molluscs (e.g. 2003/804 and 2007/158) and, in particular, of 

exotic species for aquaculture purposes (2008/535), in Taranto the number of 

introduced species is more and more increasing due to the lack of both sense of 

responsibility and controls. In the present paper we deal with four introduced seaweeds 

and their more probable vector. 

Materials and methods – The Mar Piccolo of Taranto is an enclosed where many 

mussel farms are present. Monthly surveys, also by SCUBA diving, were carried out 

since 1998 in this basin, along the dock of the old town which houses many fish-shops 

and mollusc import-export firms, to early detect possible alien seaweeds. Specimens of 

the suspicious species were brought to the lab for taxonomic identification. Inquiries 

were performed among mussel farmers and fishmongers to know their possible vector. 

Results – First finding of each species follows: in 1998 Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) 

Suringar (Ochrophyta, Laminariales) (Fig. 1a), in 2001 Codium fragile (Suringar) 

Hariot (Chlorophyta, Bryopsidales) (Fig. 1b) and in 2007 Grateloupia turuturu 

Yamada (Rhodophyta, Halimeniales) (Fig. 1c) specimens were found settled on the 

dock (Cecere and Petrocelli, 2009). In 2009, floating thallus fragments of Ascophyllum 

nodosum (Linnaeus) Le Jolis (Ochrophyta, Fucales) (Fig. 1d) were observed, by 

chance, outside the Mar Piccolo basin, near a mussel culture farm (Cecere, personal 

communication). 

Conclusions – U. pinnatifida, C. fragile and G. turuturu are native from Japan and are 

present along the Atlantic French coasts where they were probably introduced by 

Crassostrea gigas Thunberg specimens to be reared. A. nodosum is native from 

northern Atlantic. Great quantities of oysters are usually imported to Taranto from 

northern France. Since it was already demonstrated that oyster transfer is one of the 

main vector for unintentional macroalgal introductions (Hewitt et al., 2007), we 

hypothesized that C. fragile was probably introduced as microscopic life stages settled 

on oyster valves; A. nodosum as a packing material to keep oysters fresh and the other 


182



two species in both ways. Oyster valves and packing thalli or even thallus fragments 

were surely thrown into the sea. These events highlight that mussel farmers and 

fishmonger are still unaware of the problems of alien/invasive species introduction. 

Based on our experience, we suggest: 1) to perform necessarily widespread 

information campaigns in easy parlance to increase awareness and sense of 

responsibility of each worker and to teach him correct practices to avoid aliens 

introduction; 2) to make more frequent controls and to apply sanctions for not correct 

practices if necessary; 3) to monitor risk zones (e.g. import/export firms, unloading 

zones) frequently for early findings; and last but not least 4) to continue to train 

taxonomists since they are the only ones who are able to recognize alien species. 

a 

Fig. 1 – Undaria pinnatifida (a) (1 cm=13.8 cm), Codium fragile (b) (1 cm=4.6 cm), Grateloupia 

turuturu (c) (1 cm=10.6 cm), Ascophyllum nodosum (d) (1 cm=6.8 cm). 

References 

CECERE E., PETROCELLI A. (2009) – The Mar Piccolo of Taranto. In: Cecere E., Petrocelli A., 

Izzo G., Sfriso A. (eds), Flora and vegetation of the Italian transitional water systems. CORILA 

Multigraf Spinea, Venezia: 195-227. 

GRAVILI C., BELMONTE G., CECERE E., DENITTO F., GIANGRANDE A., GUIDETTI P., 

LONGO C., MASTROTOTARO F., MOSCATELLO S., PETROCELLI A., PIRAINO S., 

TERLIZZI A., BOERO F. (2010) – Non-indigenous species (NIS) along the Apulian coast, Italy. 

Chem. Ecol., 26: (in press). 

HEWITT C.H., CAMPBELL M.L., SCHAFFELKE B. (2007) - Introductions of seaweeds: accidental 

transfer pathways and mechanisms. Bot. Mar., 50: 326-337. 

Part of the present study was performed within the VECTOR Project. 


183 

b 

c d



M. PONTI, F. FAVA, G. FABI 1 , O. GIOVANARDI 2 

CIRSA, Università di Bologna, Via S. Alberto, 163 - 48123 Ravenna, Italia. 

massimo.ponti@unibo.it 

1 ISMAR-CNR, Largo Fiera della Pesca - 60125 Ancona, Italia. 

2 ISPRA, Loc. Brondolo c/o Mercato Orticolo - 30015 Chioggia, Italia. 

BENTHIC ASSEMBLAGES ON ARTIFICIAL PYRAMIDS 

ALONG THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ADRIATIC ITALIAN 

COASTS 

POPOLAMENTI BENTONICI SU PIRAMIDI ARTIFICIALI 

LUNGO LE COSTE ITALIANE CENTRO E NORD ADRIATICHE 

Abstract – Benthic assemblages living on Tecnoreef® pyramids off Scardovari (Po river delta, Veneto 

region) and Pedaso (Marche region) were investigated three years after their deployment. Even though 

analysed artificial reefs had same material, depth and age, their benthic assemblages were significantly 

different. Scardovari assemblages were characterised by Sabellaria spinulosa and Epizoanthus sp. which 

could take advantage of the high water turbidity, sedimentation rate and nutrient load due to the closeness 

of the Po river mouth. Besides, Mytilus galloprovincialis could provide habitat for Corophium acherusicum 

on Pedaso reefs. 

Key-words: artificial habitats, fouling, zoobenthos, Adriatic Sea. 

Introduction - Sessile and motile species colonise artificial reefs according to complex 

ecological processes affected by seasonal larval supply, water circulation, turbidity and 

nutrients, depth, orientation and material of the substrata (Ardizzone et al., 1989; 

Turner and Todd, 1993; Rodriguez et al., 1993; Relini et al., 1994; Nicoletti et al., 

2007). 

Starting from the ’60 more than 70 artificial reef complexes, built of different 

materials, were deployed along the Italian coasts. In the present study benthic 

assemblages colonizing concrete pyramids were investigated in two central and 

northern Adriatic sites: Scardovari and Pedaso, 120 nm apart. 

Materials and methods - At each study site, artificial reefs include few dozen of 

Tecnoreef® pyramids (2 and 3 floors, 1.8 and 2.4 m height), made by ‘sea-friendly’ 

certified reinforced concrete, manufactured using only natural components without 

synthetic additives, deployed at 13-15 m in depth. Pedaso (AP, Marche region, 43°05'N 

13°54'E) reefs were deployed in the summer 2005, while those of Scardovari (RO, 

Veneto Region, 44°54'N 12°33'E) were deployed in autumn 2006. Macrobenthic 

assemblages were investigated in august, 3 years after the deployment, by scraping off 

4 replicate samples of 40x40 cm using hammer and chisel. Species were identified to 

the lowest possible taxonomic level and their abundance was estimated as number of 

individuals per square decimetre. Differences between sites were assessed by uni- and 

multivariate permutational analysis of variance (PERMANOVA, Anderson and ter 

Braak, 2003). 

Results - On overall, 61 taxa were identified, 25 common between the two sites. 

Corophium acherusicum was the most abundant species, followed by Sabellaria 

spinulosa, and Polydora ciliata, all of them present at both sites. Assemblages 

appeared significantly different between sites (PERMANOVA P



assemblages are reported in Tab. 1. In particular, Corophium acherusicum, often 

associated with the mussels, was significantly more abundant at Pedaso, while 

Sabellaria spinulosa characterised the Scardovari assemblages. Mean species richness 

didn’t differ between sites while Shannon diversity and Pielou evenness resulted 

significantly higher at Scardovari. 

Tab. 1 - Taxa that better explain the observed Bray-Curtis dissimilarity between Scardovari and 

Pedaso assemblages (mean abundance, ind. dm -2 ±s.e., individual and cumulative 

contribution). 

Taxa che maggiormente spiegano la dissimilarità di Bray-Curtis tra i popolamenti di 

Scardovari e Pedaso (abbondanza media, ind. dm -2 ±e.s., contributo individuale e 

cumulativo). 

Taxa Scardovari Pedaso Contrib% Cum.% 

Corophium acherusicum 26.17 ± 8.17 167.42 ± 59.97 15.82 15.82 

Ericthonius punctatus 0.00 ± 0.00 15.28 ± 6.20 8.11 23.93 

Sabellaria spinulosa 22.45 ± 10.00 1.53 ± 0.73 7.79 31.72 

Elasmopus rapax 0.00 ± 0.00 10.47 ± 4.97 6.58 38.29 

Epizoanthus sp. 5.30 ± 1.71 0.00 ± 0.00 5.24 43.53 

Actinaria ind. 3.80 ± 1.30 15.81 ± 5.02 4.69 48.22 

Polydora ciliata 3.42 ± 0.83 16.61 ± 7.17 4.67 52.89 

Anomia ephippium 2.56 ± 1.12 9.50 ± 5.04 3.60 56.49 

Mytilus galloprovincialis 0.09 ± 0.06 3.02 ± 1.52 2.89 59.37 

Serpula vermicularis 2.06 ± 0.28 0.13 ± 0.04 2.84 62.21 

Stenothoe valida 0.00 ± 0.00 2.09 ± 1.43 2.45 64.66 

Pomatoceros triqueter 4.64 ± 0.71 7.84 ± 3.98 2.25 66.91 

Modiolarca subpicta 1.22 ± 0.64 0.91 ± 0.35 1.69 68.60 

Conclusions - Even though the two artificial reefs had same typology, material, and 

depth and were sampled at the same age (three years after the deployment), the benthic 

assemblages found at Scardovari and Pedaso were well differentiated. Species 

characterizing Scardovari assemblages included Sabellaria spinulosa and Epizoanthus 

sp. which could benefit of the higher water turbidity, sedimentation rate and nutrient 

load due to the closeness of the Po river mouth. Moreover Sabellaria spinulosa 

produces secondary substrate that could increase substratum heterogeneity and 

therefore species diversity. 

References 

ANDERSON M.J., TER BRAAK C.J.F. (2003) - Permutation tests for multi-factorial analysis of 

variance. J. Statist. Comput. Simul., 73: 85-113. 

ARDIZZONE G.D., GRAVINA M.F., BELLUSCIO A. (1989) - Temporal development of 

epibenthic communities on artificial reefs in the central Mediterranean Sea. B. Mar. Sci., 44: 

592-608. 

NICOLETTI L., MARZIALETTI S., PAGANELLI D., ARDIZZONE G.D. (2007) - Long-term 

changes in a benthic assemblage associated with artificial reefs. Hydrobiologia, 580: 233-240. 

RELINI G., ZAMBONI N., TIXI F., TORCHIA G. (1994) - Patterns of sessile macrobenthos 

community development on an artificial reef in the Gulf of Genoa (Northwestern 

Mediterranean). B. Mar. Sci., 55: 745-771. 

RODRIGUEZ S.R., OJEDA F.P., INESTROSA N.C. (1993) - Settlement of benthic marineinvertebrates. 

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 97: 193-207. 

TURNER S.J., TODD C.D. (1993) - The early development of epifaunal assemblages on artificial 

substrata at two intertidal sites on an exposed rocky shore in St Andrews Bay, NE Scotland. J. 

Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 166: 251-272. 

Research funded by Consorzio di Bonifica Delta Po Adige and Regione Marche. 


185



A. POTOSCHI, F. LONGO, A. POTOSCHI JR, S. IARRERA, L. RECUPERO TROVATO 

Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia Marina Università di Messina, 

Salita Sperone, 31 – 98166 S. Agata, Messina, Italia. 

apotoschi@unime.it 

CARATTERIZZAZIONE DEL PESCATO E DELLE BIOCENOSI 

BENTONICHE IN UNA ZONA COSTIERA TIRRENICA SICILIANA 

(CAPO PELORO-ISOLE EOLIE-CAPO RAISIGERBI) 

CHARACTERISATION OF CATCH AND OF THE BENTHIC 

BIOCENOSIS IN A SICILIAN COASTAL TYRRENIAN ZONE 

(PELORO CAPE-EOLIAN ISLANDS-RAISIGERBI CAPE) 

Abstract – This study makes a further contribution to the knowledge of the composition of yields of bottom 

trawl at depths between 20-150 m, distributed along the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily including Aeolian 

Islands. For each investigated area the biocenosis associated with fish populations have been identified. 

Key-words: bottom trawl, catch, benthic biocenosis, southern Tyrrhenian Sea. 

Introduzione - La densità e la struttura dei popolamenti ittici e macrobentonici sono 

aspetti molto importanti per lo studio dell’ecologia delle comunità marine; a tale scopo 

sono molteplici gli strumenti di campionamento, quali benne, draghe, box corer, 

carotatori, prelievi subacquei e la pesca. La stima delle specie ittiche in relazione alla 

superficie campionata, può essere eseguita attraverso l’utilizzo di reti a strascico 

(trawl-surveys), che rappresentano lo strumento maggiormente utilizzato per valutare 

l’entità e lo stato delle risorse (La Mesa e Vacchi, 2003). Lo scopo dell’indagine è stato 

quello di definire il grado di biodiversità ittica dell’area e valutare gli insediamenti 

bentonici associati. 

Materiali e metodi – I campionamenti sono stati distribuiti nell’area compresa tra 

Capo Peloro e Capo Raisigerbi, comprendendo l’arcipelago delle Eolie. L’area è stata 

suddivisa in 5 zone (A, B, C, D, E) (Fig. 1). 

Tra settembre 2008 e maggio 2009, sono 

state eseguite 2 campagne di pesca in mare 

utilizzando un M/P di 20,7 m LFT, 43,95 

TSL con potenza motore di 221Kw ed una 

rete a strascico di tipo italiana con maglia 

del sacco di 20 mm di lato. Sono state 

effettuate un totale di 65 cale, della durata di 

1h ciascuna, su livelli batimetrici compresi 

tra 20-150 m. 

Fig. 1 – Area of investigation. 

Area d’indagine. 

Il pescato è stato suddiviso in frazione commerciale, scarto, sporco e rifiuti. L’aliquota 

dello sporco è stata opportunamente separata per le analisi mirate alla stima 

quantitativa e qualitativa delle specie componenti i popolamenti bentonici. 


186



Results – Dalla Tab.1 si evince come i valori (%) del commerciale per zona siano 

costituiti da poche specie significative (Pagellus erythrinus L., 1758, Mullus barbatus 

L., 1758 ed Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797); solo nella zona B si ha un aumento del 

numero di specie commercialmente valide. Le biocenosi associate per la zona B sono 

rappresentate da Celenterati: Alcyonum palmatum Pallas, 1766, Pennatula rubra (Ellis, 

1764), Pteroides spinosum (Ellis, 1764). Nei fondali della zona E predomina la specie 

Stylocidaris affinis (Philippi, 1845) tipica delle biocenosi di fondo detritico costiero. 

Tab. 1 – Percentages of catch for each zone and associated biocoenosis. 

Aliquota percentuale di pescato per zona e biocenosi associate. 

Aree di pesca 

ZONA A 

C. Peloro - C. 

Milazzo 

ZONA B 

C. Milazzo - C. 

Calavà 

ZONA C 

C. Calavà - C. 

D’Orlando 

ZONA D 

C. D’Orlando - C. 

Raisigerbi 

ZONA E 

Isole Eolie 

Aliquote pescato (%) Specie commerciali (%) Biocenosi associate 

Rifiuto 

Sporco 

Scarto 

Commerciale 

C. lastoviza 

L. vulgaris 

M. merluccius 

M. barbatus 


187 

M. surmuletus 

O. vulgaris 

25 32 17 26 6 56 13 9 X X 

P. acarne 

26 16 25 33 5 6 22 16 14 X X 

26 14 28 32 12 15 10 X X 

24 25 21 30 10 11 17 8 X X 

2 85 3 10 19 37 7 X X X 

Conclusioni – La rete a strascico si è rivelata un metodo di campionamento piuttosto 

valido per definire e caratterizzare lo status dei fondali della zona indagata. I bassi 

rendimenti di pesca ottenuti evidenziano un notevole grado di sfruttamento cui tali 

fondali sono soggetti, soprattutto per le specie tradizionalmente importanti per l’area. 

Solo la zona B, ricadente in un’area a parziale protezione, presenta ancora una discreta 

stabilità produttiva, come osservato in precedenti lavori (Greco et al., 2003; Potoschi et 

al., 2006; Rinelli et al., 1998). Deludente è apparsa la situazione delle risorse rinvenute 

nei fondali delle Eolie, solitamente caratterizzati da notevole ricchezza faunistica. 

Bibliografia 

GRECO S., RINELLI P., GIORDANO D., ROMEO T., BOTTARI T., FLORIO G., CONSOLI P., 

BUSALACCHI B., FABRONI F. (2003) - Valutazione delle risorse demersali. Relazione per il 

triennio 2000-2002. MIPAF: 142 pp. 

LA MESA G., VACCHI M. (2004) - La fauna ittica bentonica In: Gambi M.C., Dappiano M. (eds), 

Manuale di metodologie di campionamento e studio del benthos marino mediterraneo. Biol. Mar. 

Mediterr., 10 (Suppl.): 638 pp. 

POTOSCHI A., BATTAGLIA P., RINELLI P., PERDICHIZZI F., MANGANARO A., GRECO S. 

(2006) - Variazioni dei rendimenti con rete a strascico in un’area a parziale protezione nel Golfo 

di Patti (Sicilia settentrionale) in 20 anni di monitoraggio. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 13 (1): 149-157. 

RINELLI P., SPANÒ N., GIORDANO D., PERDICHIZZI F., GRECO F. (1998) - Organismi 

bentonici e fauna demersale in un’area del Tirreno meridionale. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 8 (1): 80- 

89. 

Questo lavoro è stato prodotto nell’ambito di un Progetto POR Sicilia 2000/2006 denominato 

“Pelorias”. 

P. erythrinus 

P. pagrus 

S. officinalis 

A. palmatum 

L. racemus 

N. cochlear 

O. texturata 

S. affinis, 

Asteroidei 

Pennatulacei



T. ROMEO, P. BATTAGLIA, S. ANCORA * , V. ESPOSITO, N. BIANCHI * , F. ANDALORO 

ISPRA, High Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Milazzo, 

Via dei Mille, 44 - 98057, Milazzo (ME), Italia. 

teresa.romeo@isprambiente.it 

*University of Siena, Department of Environmental Sciences, Via Mattioli, 4 - 53100 Siena, Italia. 

DPSIR MODEL AS TOOL FOR AN INTEGRATED COASTAL 

MANAGEMENT IN THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS 

MODELLO DPSIR COME STRUMENTO PER UNA GESTIONE INTEGRATA 

DELLA FASCIA COSTIERA NELLE ISOLE EOLIE 

Abstract – The application of the DPSIR model (Driving Forces-Pressures-State-Impact-Response) to 

Aeolian fishery chain and coastal areas permitted to well understanding troubles and strong points of this 

fishery and provided suggestions to a better coastal zone management. Responses provided by the model 

application could be useful tools to target the realization of objectives scheduled by the Council Regulation 

(EC) No 1198/2006 on the European Fisheries Fund. 

Key-words: Aeolian Islands, Mediterranean Sea, fishery, coastal zone management, DPSIR model. 

Introduction - The Aeolian Islands are an archipelago located in the southern 

Tyrrhenian Sea, declared a UNESCO Human Heritage site in 2001 thanks to their 

ecological, biological and landscape relevance and also proposed as a Marine Protected 

Area (Italian Law 979/82, Art. 31). Fishery is the most important economic activity, 

after tourism. In the past, a large part of revenues for fishing boats were coming from 

offshore driftnet fishery. Nevertheless, the ban of “spadara” driftnet targeting 

swordfish (EC Regulation 1239/98, executive in the 2002) led to a greater polyvalence 

and seasonality of fishing activities, exacerbating competition among fishermen in 

coastal areas and contrast between fishermen and government Institutions (Battaglia et 

al., 2010). Moreover, the increment of volcanic activity after a critical event in 2002, 

determined an increase of hydrothermal emissions, representing a potential source of 

natural pollution for the whole marine ecosystem. The application of the DPSIR model 

(Driving Forces-Pressures-State-Impact-Response) to the Aeolian costal areas targets 

the final objective to provide management suggestions, particularly in response of 

troubles of fishery chain and of the potential contamination of fish resources. 

Materials and methods – Within the DPSIR model several indicators related to the 

area were examined. Human population density, the number of fishermen, the tourist 

flux, socioeconomic data of fishery activities were considered as “driving forces”. 

“Pressure” indicators were the characteristic of fleet, CPUEs for main gears and 

species, aquaculture and other productive activities in the area. The water quality 

(concentration of chlorophyll a) represented a “status” indicator, while the potential 

harmful trace elements (PHE) (mercury Hg, cadmium Cd, lead Pb, arsenic As) were 

assigned to the “impact” indicator category and were analyzed in the muscle of two 

benthic fish species: Helicolenus dactylopterus and Serranus cabrilla. 

Results – Overall 13,000 inhabitants were censed in the Aeolian Islands in 2007 

(human density=112.84 inhabitants/km 2 ), 240 of which were fishermen. A percentage 

of 92% of them was associated in 11 fishing cooperatives. Fleet census recorded 157 


188



polyvalent boats. In spite of the presence of 5 wholesalers, there are no fish markets. 

The tourist flux (88.78 visitors/inhabitants per year) provided good incomes for 

Aeolian people specially in summer season, but the fishing tourism was still poorly 

considered (only 3 fishing boats carried out this integrative activity). All fishing 

activities had high costs and low yearly net incomes (mean: 4,670 € for trammel net, 

7,653 € for squid hand-jig line, 6,979 € albacore drifting longline), related to the low 

ex-vessel prices of the main large pelagic fishes. The most abundant commercial 

species were Thunnus alalunga (CPUE=2,898.2 kg/1000 hook*day) and Todarodes 

sagittatus (1,509.9 kg/day). The level of trace elements in fish species recorded high 

values for mercury (mean: 2.669 mg/g d.w. for H. dactylopterus; 1.167 mg/g d.w. for 

S. cabrilla). 

Conclusions – The application of DPSIR model allowed to specify some management 

actions that could improve the actual status of Aeolian fishery sector and coastal areas: 

the institution of a MPA or no take zones in nursery areas, the reduction of fishing 

effort in coastal areas, the shift of fishing effort towards offshore areas targeting 

pelagic resources with an underexploited stock (es: T. alalunga, Coryphaena hippurus, 

Ommastrephes bartramii), the valorization of the Aeolian historical and cultural 

fishing heritage, a better valorization of fishing products by the quality certification and 

by fish preserving (i.e.: smoking, canning, salting), a periodic monitoring of trace 

element in fishing products, the building of a fish market, the shortening of the fishery 

chain by deleting superfluous intermediate steps, the improvement of tourism-fishery 

interaction by a direct involvement of fishermen in fishing-tourism activities or whalewatching. 

These management suggestions could be useful tools to target the realization 

of objectives scheduled by the Council Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 on the 

European Fisheries Fund. 

References 

BATTAGLIA P., ROMEO T., CONSOLI P., SCOTTI G., ANDALORO F. (2010) - Characterization 

of the artisanal fishery and its socio-economic aspects in the central Mediterranean Sea (Aeolian 

Islands, Italy). Fisheries Research, 102: 87-97. 


189



N. UNGARO, A.M. PASTORELLI, T. DI FESTA, I. GALISE, C. ROMANO, 

G. ASSENNATO, M. BLONDA, V. PERRINO 

ARPA Puglia, Corso Trieste, 27 - 70126 Bari, Italia. 

n.ungaro@arpa.puglia.it 

ANNUAL TREND OF THE DINOFLAGELLATE OSTREOPSIS OVATA 

IN TWO SITES ALONG THE SOUTHERN ADRIATIC COAST 

ANDAMENTO ANNUALE DEL DINOFLAGELLATO OSTREOPSIS OVATA 

IN DUE SITI LUNGO LA COSTA ADRIATICA MERIDIONALE 

Abstract – The annual trend of the benthic and potentially toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis ovata was studied 

in two sites along the Apulian Adriatic coast. The monthly monitoring highlighted a well defined annual 

trend of the O. ovata population and the potential relationships among the dinoflagellate occurrence and 

the seasonal variation of some physical-chemical parameters in the sea waters. 

Key-words: benthic microalgae, Ostreopsis ovata, HABs, marine coastal area, Adriatic Sea. 

Introduction – The benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis ovata Fukujo is mainly 

distributed in tropical and sub-tropical geographical areas where it is considered as 

potentially toxic (Yasumoto et al., 1987). Blooms of the species, as well as palytoxinlike 

compounds in the O. ovata cells, have been recorded in the last years in different 

Italian locations (Congestri et al., 2006) (Ciminiello et al., 2008). O. ovata has been 

reported since the year 2000 along the Apulian coasts (Ungaro et al., 2008), where it 

was supposed the main cause of syndromes affecting people on the sea-shore during 

summer (Gallitelli et al., 2005). 

Materials and methods – Two coastal sites characterised by rocky bottoms and 

located at north and south of the town of Bari (Fig. 1) were monitored each month from 

October 2007 to September 2008 to follow the annual trend of the O. ovata population. 

Fig. 1 – Location of the sampling stations (grey squares) for the annual monitoring of Ostreopsis 

ovata. 

Localizzazione delle stazioni (quadrati grigi) per il monitoraggio annuale di Ostreopsis ovata. 

In the two sites some chemical-physical parameters as water surface temperature, 

conductivity, pH, macronutrients and a-chlorophyll were also measured. Water 

samples were collected close to the coast (0.5-1 m bathymetry), sampling by means of 

a bottle in the sub-surface layer (-0.4/-0.8 m depths). Moreover, a bottom water sample 

was collected close to the seabed using a 50 ml syringe (three replicates) for the 

quantification of O. ovata. The results from the analysis were elaborated in order to 

investigate about the potential relationships among O. ovata and abiotic parameters. 


190



Results – Both the investigated sites highlighted a seasonal trend according to the O. 

ovata occurrence. The species was found during October 2007 and from June to 

September 2008 in the sampling station named “Giovinazzo-Riva del Sole”, the 

abundance ranging from 6.400 to 1.945.600 cell/l in the in the bottom water samples. 

In the station named “Torre a Mare-ex Motel Agip”, O. ovata was recorded during 

October-November 2007 and from July to September 2008, the abundance ranging 

from 320 to 2.496.000 cell/l. The peaks of abundance were recorded in the August- 

September period in both the sites, when values ranged between 2.000.000 and 

2.500.000 cell/l. Very low abundance values were recorded in the months of October 

and November, while no findings were reported in the period December 2007-May 

2008. The species abundance and the chemical-physical parameters measured data 

were analyzed using univariate statistical approach (correlation matrix, Spearman 

coefficient). Results from the statistical analysis highlighted a significant (α=0.05) 

positive correlation among O. ovata abundance and water temperature (0.66) (Fig. 2), 

conductivity (0.52), pH (0.45), a-chlorophyll (0.45), N-NO3/N-NO2 ratio (0.41), N- 

NO3/N-NH4 ratio (0.41), while negative correlation with N-NO2 (-0.51). No significant 

correlation was found among O. ovata abundance and N-NH4, N-NO3, N-tot., P-PO4, 

P-tot., SiO2. 

Conclusions – The preliminary results highlighted a well defined annual trend of the 

O. ovata population in both the sites, with peaks of abundance in the summer-autumn 

months and the depletion in the winter-spring period. Potential relationships among the 

dinoflagellate occurrence and the water quality parameters came from the correlation 

study. The seasonal variation of some chemical-physical parameters (i.e. increase of 

water temperature) can be assumed as the main driver for the presence and abundance 

of O. ovata, although it needs to be better investigated by an appropriate and more 

extensive monitoring programme. 

References 

CIMINIELLO P., DELL’AVERSANO C., FATTORUSSO E., FORINO M., TARTAGLIONE L., 

GRILLO C., MELCHIORRE N. (2008) - Putative palytoxin and its new analogue, ovatoxin-a, 

in Ostreopsis ovata collected along the Ligurian coasts during the 2006 toxic outbreak. J. Amer. 

Soc. Mass Spec., 19: 111-120. 

CONGESTRI R., PENNA A., ZINGONE A. (2006) - BENTOX-NET, a Research and management 

initiative on Ostreopsis spp. an other benthic microalgal blooms on the Italian coast. Harmful 

Algae News, 32: 11-12. 

GALLITELLI M., UNGARO N, ADDANTE L.M, GENTILONI N., SABBÀ C. (2005) - Respiratory 

illness as a reaction to tropical algal blooms occurring in a temperate climate. JAMA, 239: 2599- 

2600. 

YASUMOTO T., SEINO N., MURAKAMI Y., MURATA M. (1987) - Toxins produced by benthic 

dinoflagellates. Biol. Bull., 172: 128-31. 

UNGARO N., PASTORELLI A.M., BLONDA M., ASSENNATO G. (2008) - Il monitoraggio di 

sorveglianza delle fioriture di Ostreopsis ovata nei Mari Pugliesi: approccio metodologico e 

risultati nella stagione estiva 2007. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 15 (1): 62-64. 


191



Topic 4: THE ELASMOBRANCHS 

THE ELASMOBRANCHS 

GLI ELASMOBRANCHI 


192

Pre-print Volume –Invited presentations 


G. RELINI, A. MANNINI, S. DE RANIERI 1 , I. BITETTO 2 , M.C. FOLLESA 3 , 

V. GANCITANO 4 , C. MANFREDI 5 , L. CASCIARO 2 , L. SION 6 

Centro Biolmar - DIP.TE.RIS., Università di Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3 - 16132, Genova, Italia. 

biolmar@unige.it 

1 CIBM - Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina, Viale N. Sauro, 4 - 57128 Livorno, Italia. 

2 COISPA Tecnologia & Ricerca, Stazione sperimentale per lo studio delle risorse del mare, 

Via dei Trulli, 18/20 - 70126 Torre a mare (BA), Italia. 

3 Dipartimento Biologia Animale ed Ecologia, Università di Cagliari, Viale Poetto, 1 - 09126 Cagliari, Italia. 

4 IAMC-CNR, Sezione Territoriale di Mazara, Via L. Vaccara, 61 - 91026 Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italia. 

5 Laboratorio di Biologia Marina e Pesca di Fano, Dip.to B.E.S., Univ. di Bologna, 

Viale Adriatico, 1/N - 61032 Fano (PU), Italia. 

6 Dipartimento di Zoologia, Università di Bari, Via Orabona, 4 - 70125 Bari, Italia. 

CHONDRICHTHYES CAUGHT DURING THE MEDITS SURVEYS 

IN THE ITALIAN WATERS 

I PESCI CARTILAGINEI PESCATI DURANTE LE CAMPAGNE MEDITS 

NELLE ACQUE ITALIANE 

Summary 

Data on Chondrichthyes fished during 16 surveys of MEDITS project carried out from 

1994 to 2009 on trawlable bottom up to 800m depth in all seas around Italy are 

presented and discussed. 

From the overall 7 GSAs involved during the 16 years surveys (10255 hauls) 40 

elasmobranch species including 23 rays and skates, 16 sharks and 1 chimaera have 

been identified (Tab.1). 

Only 9 species of which 5 sharks, occurred in all GSAs, and other 10 were present in 

85,7% of GSAs (6 on a total of 7). 

The highest number of species was found in Sicily Channel (30 species) the lowest (20 

species) in the South Adriatic Sea. Ten species of which 1 shark were found only in 

one GSA and five of them during one year only: they are Galeorhinus galeus (GSA10, 

1995 and 2001), Dasyatis centroura (GSA19, 2002) Pteroplatytrygon violacea 

(GSA10, 2000 and 2002), Gymnura altavela (GSA19, 2006) Pteromylaeus bovinus 

(GSA17, ten years), Dipturus batis (GSA9, 1996) Leucoraja melitensis (GSA16, all 

years excluding 1994 and 2003), Raja radula (GSA17, 1994), Rostroraja alba 

(GSA16, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and Rhinoptera marginata 

(GSA17, 1994). 

The number of species caught per year was 30 in 1995 and decreased to 23 in 1997 

than increased with some oscillation to 31 in 2008 and 2009. 

In each GSA and in each stratum the species with more than 20% occurrence (number 

of hauls in which the species was fished against the total hauls in the stratum 

considered) have been selected for data dealing with kg/km 2 , n/km 2 and mean weight 

(g). In GSA9 only 4 species have been considered Galeus melastomus showed biomass 

up to 100kg/km 2 and 850 n/km 2 . Lower catch were reached in GSA10. At GSA11 ten 

species were selected of which 6 are rays; Raja clavata reached 120 kg/km 2 and 130 

n/km 2 . Also GSA16 is rich in species (12) and rays (6) with quite high values of 

biomass and density. In GSA17 there were 4 species no rays, with low values. In 

GSA18 three species were selected Chimaera monstrosa, Etmopterus spinax and G. 

melastomus (up to 80 kg/km 2 ). In GSA19 only 3 species with lower values. 


193



There is not an univocal trend in total biomass catch of Chondrichtyes in the 7 GSA. 

Only in GSA16 (Sicily Channel) there is an increasing trend after 2001 with catch up 

to 160 kg/km 2 in 2008 while from 1994 to 1999 the biomass was about 50 kg/km 2 . 

Similar values were obtained in Sardinia (GSA11) but the 160 kg/km 2 was reached in 

2001 and in 2008 the biomass caught was 50 kg/km 2 . 

Tab. 1 – Chondrychthyes caught during MEDITS surveys (1994-2008) in the 7 Italian GSAs. 

Pesci cartilaginei catturati durante le campagna MEDITS (1994-2008) nelle 7 GSA italiane. 

Species 9 10 11 

GSAs 

16 17 18 19 Total % GSA 

Chimaera monstrosa Linnaeus, 1758 * * * * * * 6 85.7 

Galeus melastomus Rafinesque, 1810 * * * * * * * 7 100.0 

Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758) * * * * * * * 7 100.0 

Scyliorhinus stellaris (Linnaeus, 1758) * * * * * * * 7 100.0 

Galeorhinus galeus (Linnaeus, 1758) * 1 14.3 

Mustelus asterias Cloquet, 1821 * * * 3 42.9 

Mustelus mustelus (Linnaeus, 1758) * * * * * * 6 85.7 

Mustelus punctulatus Risso, 1826 * * 2 28.6 

Heptranchias perlo (Bonnaterre, 1788) * * * * 4 57.1 

Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788) * * * * 4 57.1 

Centrophorus granulosus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) * * * * * 5 71.4 

Centrophorus uyato (Rafinesque, 1810) * * * 3 42.9 

Dalatias licha (Bonnaterre, 1788) * * * * * * * 7 100.0 

Etmopterus spinax (Linnaeus, 1758) * * * * * * * 7 100.0 

Oxynotus centrina (Linnaeus, 1758) * * * * * * 6 85.7 

Squalus acanthias Linnaeus, 1758 * * * * * * 6 85.7 

Squalus blainvillei (Risso 1826) * * * * * * 6 85.7 

Dasyatis centroura (Mitchill, 1815) * 1 14.3 

Dasyatis pastinaca (Linnaeus, 1758) * * * * * * 6 85.7 

Pteroplatytrygon violacea (Bonaparte, 1832) * 1 14.3 

Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758) * 1 14.3 

Myliobatis aquila (Linnaeus, 1758) * * * * * * 6 85.7 

Pteromylaeus bovinus (Geoffroy St-Hilarie, 1817) * 1 14.3 

Rhinoptera marginata (Geoffroy st-Hilarie, 1817) * 1 14.3 

Dipturus batis (Linnaeus, 1758) * 1 14.3 

Dipturus oxyrinchus (Linnaeus, 1758) * * * * * 5 71.4 

Leucoraja circularis (Couch, 1838) * * * * * 5 71.4 

Leucoraja fullonica (Linnaeus, 1758) * * * * 4 57.1 

Leucoraja melitensis (Clark, 1926) * 1 14.3 

Raja asterias Delaroche, 1809 * * * * * * * 7 100.0 

Raja brachyura Lafont, 1873 * * 2 28.6 

Raja clavata Linnaeus, 1758 * * * * * * 6 85.7 

Raja miraletus Linnaeus, 1758 * * * * * * * 7 100.0 

Raja montagui Fowler, 1910 * * * * * * 6 85.7 

Raja polystigma Regan, 1923 * * * * * 5 71.4 

Raja radula Delaroche, 1809 * 1 14.3 

Rostroraja alba Lacépède, 1803 * 1 14.3 

Torpedo marmorata Risso, 1810 * * * * * * * 7 100.0 

Torpedo nobiliana Bonaparte, 1835 * * * * * * * 7 100.0 

Torpedo torpedo (Linnaeus, 1758) * * * * * * 6 85.7 

Total species caugth (40) 26 26 25 30 25 20 23 


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G. RELINI, F. SERENA 1 , M. BOTTARO 2 

SIBM e Centro di Biologia Marina del Mar Ligure, Genova, Italia. 

biolmar@unige.it 

1 ARPAT, LIVORNO, ITALIA. F.SERENA@ARPAT.TOSCANA.IT 

2 GRIS-SIBM, ISPRA, ROMA, ITALIA. MASSIMILIANO.BOTTARO@ISPRAMBIENTE.IT 

IL PROGETTO ELASMOIT 

ELASMOIT PROJECT 

L’Italia, avendo firmato le diverse convenzioni internazionali, si è impegnata a 

migliorare la protezione degli elasmobranchi anche nel più ampio contesto del 

mantenimento della biodiversità, attuando specifici piani di azione per la cui 

realizzazione sono indispensabili adeguate conoscenze. In questo contesto la Direzione 

Protezione della Natura e del Mare (DPNM) del Ministero dell’Ambiente e della 

Tutela del Territorio e del Mare (MiATTM) ha voluto affidare alla SIBM un primo 

studio dal titolo “Elementi per la valutazione dello stato di sfruttamento e di 

conservazione degli elasmobranchi dei mari italiani” (ELASMOIT). L’obiettivo 

principale del progetto è quello di valutare lo stato di sfruttamento e le misure di 

conservazione dei pesci cartilaginei dei mari italiani, con particolare riguardo alla 

frazione pelagica. Sulla base dei dati esistenti e della letteratura scientifica disponibile, 

il progetto si prefigge anche di riunire l’informazione reperibile e creare nel tempo 

stesso i presupposti per la costituzione di una rete di raccolta dati a livello nazionale. 

Tale rete potrebbe rappresentare in futuro un sicuro punto di riferimento per fornire 

utili indicazioni sulla gestione degli elasmobranchi, nonché nodo essenziale per futuri 

piani d’azione nazionali ed internazionali per la protezione dei pesci cartilaginei. 

Per il raggiungimento degli obiettivi sopra indicati sono state attuate due attività: una 

da svolgere in sede, consistente nell’analisi ed elaborazione dei dati disponibili, ed una 

seconda di campo, con rilevamenti nei luoghi di sbarco (anche mercati ittici) ed a 

bordo di natanti. 

La prima attività ha previsto le seguenti iniziative: 

1. creazione di un database per l’archiviazione delle referenze bibliografiche, dei 

lavori scientifici e della letteratura grigia, dei piani di azione per la protezione 

e delle normative riguardanti la pesca e la protezione e conservazione degli 

elasmobranchi; 

2. produzione cartografica della distribuzione delle principali specie con 

indicazioni (ove possibile) sulla frequenza/abbondanza. Si è ritenuto 

importante inserire anche la cartografia relativa ad alcune specie demersali 

maggiormente sbarcate quali ad es. i Rajidae; 

3. raccolta dei parametri biologici disponibili per le diverse specie; 

4. raccolta dei dati relativi alla pesca (specie target, statistica delle catture 

commerciali, mestieri impiegati) nel tentativo di stimare il by-catch; 

5. revisione critica dei piani di azione del RAC/SPA, della FAO e di quello 

proposto qualche anno fa da un gruppo di lavoro coordinato dall’ICRAM (ora 

ISPRA), nonché delle valutazioni IUCN sullo stato di conservazione delle 

specie in Mediterraneo. Normative; 


195



6. produzione di linee guida al fine di sviluppare una proposta di Piano Nazionale 

Italiano e supporto scientifico al MiATTM per la eventuale futura stesura del 

Piano stesso. 

La seconda attività è consistita nell’esame dello sbarcato in alcuni porti campione e 

nelle osservazioni, ospiti a bordo di motopesca adibiti alla cattura di grandi pelagici. 

L’attenzione è stata concentrata sulle specie pelagiche perché minori sono i dati delle 

loro catture e perché molte sono specie in grave pericolo. Sulla base delle conoscenze 

sulla pesca degli elasmobranchi in Italia e dell’esistenza di gruppi di ricerca con 

esperienza pluridecennale nella pesca dei grandi pelagici (in particolare tonno e pesce 

spada), sono stati scelti porti di sbarco in Liguria, Sardegna, Sicilia e Puglia. 

In Liguria l’attività è stata svolta dal gruppo del DIP.TE.RIS. dell’Università di 

Genova, coordinato dalla prof.ssa Lidia Orsi Relini, in Sardegna è intervenuto il 

gruppo del prof. Angelo Cau (Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia, 

Università di Cagliari), in Sicilia il dott. Antonio Di Natale (Aquastudio, Messina), in 

Puglia il prof. Gregorio De Metrio (Dipartimento di Sanità e Benessere Animale, Fac. 

Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Bari). 

L’attività di monitoraggio è stata condotta seguendo due linee diverse: 

a) rilevamenti dello sbarcato in alcuni porti campione, riguardanti il prodotto 

commerciale della pesca pelagica, della pesca a strascico e della piccola pesca costiera 

artigianale; 

b) osservazioni compiute direttamente a bordo delle unità della pesca professionale, 

soprattutto natanti con palangari di superficie per la cattura di tonno, alalunga e pesce 

spada. 

In sintesi i risultati ottenuti sono qui riportati. È stata iniziata una raccolta di dati 

bibliografici, compresa letteratura grigia, per un totale di oltre 400 citazioni, inerenti 9 

macroaree tematiche (biogeografia, biologia, conservazione, ecologia, ecotossocologia, 

paleontologia, parassitologia, pesca, tassonomia). Sono state preparate diverse 

tipologie di cartine di distribuzione delle principali specie, nonché una raccolta dei dati 

sui parametri biologici disponibili in letteratura, informazioni per un totale di 83 specie 

(quindi non solo quelle italiane) e, per 10 di queste che rappresentano quelle di 

maggior interesse conservazionistico e gestionale in ambito pelagico, è stata preparata 

una scheda. Sulla base dei dati IREPA e FAO è stata preparata una sintesi sulle 

conoscenze relative allo sbarcato di selaci in Italia con un cenno alle regioni. 

Dai dati forniti dall’IREPA, relativi all’anno 2008, risulta che la flotta da pesca italiana 

ha dichiarato catture ufficiali di condritti per un totale di oltre 1375 tonnellate, in 

massima parte Squaliformi; tutte le quantità si riferiscono a quantità sbarcate e 

commercializzate, non a catture effettive, che sono certamente molto più elevate, visto 

che diverse specie vengono ributtate in mare, in quanto poco commerciabili, talvolta in 

base alle caratteristiche del mercato delle varie località. 

Le specie maggiormente catturate, secondo i dati statistici, sono Raja clavata (23,87%, 

paria a 328 t), Mustelus punctulatus (20,12%, pari a 277 t), Raja spp. (19,28%, pari a 

265 t), Prionace glauca (15,14%, pari a 208 t) e Scyliorhinus canicula (8,49%, pari a 

117 t). Le quantità delle altre specie sono decisamente minori, mentre 10 specie su un 

totale di 19 hanno evidenziato quantità inferiori, ognuna, all’1% del totale. Il sistema di 

pesca che mostra le catture più elevate di condritti è lo strascico, con circa il 62% del 

totale dei condritti sbarcati, pari a circa 852 t, soprattutto Rajiformi. 


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Le reti da posta sono una vasta categoria di attrezzi che catturano circa il 25.5% dei 

Condritti, pari a circa 350 t. I palangari nel loro complesso mostrano sbarchi 

equivalenti a circa l’11,8% del totale dei condritti, pari a circa 162 t, con prevalenza 

della verdesca (Prionace glauca), con oltre 153 t. 

Viene documentato, sulla base dei dati FAO, il crollo delle catture in Italia degli 

squaliformi dopo il 1995 da 10.000 t a meno di 1.000 t nel 1998, e dei raiformi dalle 

5.000 t del 1998 a qualche centinaio di t nel 2000. 

Per quanto riguarda il punto 5 è stata fornita una revisione critica dei piani di azione 

della FAO IPOA-sharks, dell’UNEP-MAP RAC/SPA di quello preparato alcuni anni fa 

dall’ICRAM (ora ISPRA), nonché delle raccomandazioni dell’UE. È stata anche fatta 

una panoramica sugli strumenti normativi riguardanti la tutela delle specie di 

Elasmobranchi nei paesi del Mediterraneo e le valutazioni dell’IUCN. 

Per quanto riguarda il punto 6 sono state elaborate le linee guida essenziali per un 

Piano d’Azione Nazionale per la Conservazione e Gestione dei pesci Cartilaginei. 

Questo documento, oltre a radicarsi nel quadro della Convenzione di Barcellona e nel 

Contesto più ampio della Convenzione UNCLOS e del suo Accordo per le Specie 

Transzonali e Altamente Migratorie delle Nazioni Unite (vedi Accordo Straddling 

Stock, Appendice A), trova inoltre ragion d’essere nel contesto internazionale 

promosso dalla FAO e dalla U.E. 

Questo documento si compone di tre Parti e otto Temi per un totale di 21 Azioni. Per 

ciascuna di queste Azioni è indicato il grado di priorità (A, B e C) in funzione 

dell’urgenza richiesta e del tempo di realizzazione. 

Per quanto riguarda le attività di campo riportiamo solo alcuni dei dati più salienti per 

lo strascico, i palangari pelagici e per le osservazioni fatte a bordo di natanti con 

palamiti di superficie e ferrettara. Nello sbarcato dello strascico sono state rilevate 17 

specie. La maggior ricchezza specifica risulta in Sardegna, dove le razze raggiungono il 

43-45% dei selaci. Incredibilmente basso è il numero di specie a Lampedusa ed a 

Gallipoli. Nello sbarcato dei palamiti pelagici le specie sono ridotte a 6 e la percentuale 

dei selaci nel pescato sbarcato oscilla da 2 a 23%. Il numero di specie si riduce a 4 (5 

se si tiene conto della ferrettara) nelle catture osservate a bordo dei natanti che usano il 

palamito di superficie. La specie maggiormente catturata è P. violacea, che fa alzare di 

molto la percentuale dei selaci rispetto al pescato totale. 

In conclusione il progetto ELASMOIT ha contribuito a migliorare le conoscenze sui 

condroitti presenti nei mari italiani, con particolare riguardo agli squali pelagici. 

Nel confronto preliminare tra i dati storici e quelli ottenuti dalle attività di campo 

emergono alcune criticità che confermano l’attuale stato di depauperamento di questa 

importante frazione del popolamento ittico dei nostri mari, sia in termini di numero di 

specie, sia di abbondanza. Nei casi in cui è possibile valutare la struttura della 

popolazione, di solito si registrano preoccupanti diminuzioni della taglia media. 

Nel 2009 l’UE ha approvato le linee guida del Piano d’Azione Europeo per la tutela e 

gestione dei pesci cartilaginei, primo passo verso una specifica Direttiva in materia. In 

questo contesto l’Italia, con i risultati del progetto ELASMOIT, benché preliminari, 

risponde prontamente all’orientamento dell’UE, dimostrando sensibilità e concretezza. 

In tal senso l’Italia si è dotata di specifiche linee guida che mostrano le matrici più 

sensibili, le quali dovranno essere approfondite al fine di consentire la formulazione di 

un reale Piano Nazionale di Azione. 


197

Pre-print Volume –Oral presentations 


Y. ARTIOLI, E. VISENTIN 1 , A. BARAUSSE 2 , C. MAZZOLDI 1 

Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Western Hoe, PL1 3DH, Plymouth, UK. 

1 Dept of Biology, University of Padova, Italy. 

carlotta.mazzoldi@unipd.it 

2 Environmental Systems Analysis Lab, University of Padova, Italy. 

WHAT HISTORICAL DATA AND PREDICTIVE MODELS CAN TELL US 

ABOUT ELASMOBRANCH FUTURE IN THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC 

SEA 

CONSIDERAZIONI SUL FUTURO DEGLI ELASMOBRANCHI NEL NORD 

ADRIATICO INTEGRANDO DATI DI PESCATO E MODELLI PREDITTIVI 

Abstract – With the aim to assess elasmobranch fishery status and predict future trends with different 

management scenarios, in this study long term landing data (1945-2008) of Chioggia, the major fishing 

fleet of the Northern Adriatic Sea, were analysed; surveys at the fish market were performed to assess 

elasmobranch catch composition; an individual based model was developed for two species, Mustelus 

mustelus and Scyliorhinus canicula. Landing data highlighted a dramatic decline in elasmobranch landing, 

particularly for skates and Scyliorhinus spp. Landings presented periodic fluctuations, correlated in skates 

with climate indices (NAO and WeMO). At present, elasmobranch composition of landing includes 13 

species, with M. mustelus representing more than 60% of the total. A high proportion of landed males were 

sexually immature. Model results predicted that, without management, in the next 50 years M. mustelus 

population would decrease of 80%, and S. canicula of more than 90%. A management approach aimed to 

protect juveniles performed far better than the fishing effort reduction. The results of this study highlight 

the urgency to develop management actions for elasmobranch conservation and suggest a feasible and 

promising management approach. 

Key-words: shark fisheries, conservation, models. 

Introduction - Elasmobranchs are exploited worldwide, and their fishery is increasing 

as response to the growing demand and the accessibility of new areas to fishing boats. 

Elasmobranchs are recognized to be highly vulnerable, due to their life history 

characteristics (Bonfil, 1994). And indeed, even if data on elasmobranch landing and 

stock status are often poor (Bonfil, 1994), several elasmobranch populations, in 

particular those of large predatory species, show dramatic decline or collapse in 

different areas (Dulvy et al., 2008; Ferretti et al., 2008). Moreover, elasmobranchs 

often constitute bycatch of fisheries targeting other more abundant or valuable 

resources (Bonfil, 1994) and, consequently they are not subject to economic extinction 

prior to get close to local extinction. The decline of several elasmobranch stocks, their 

high vulnerability to fishery, and the lack of data for several species and areas, call for 

the improvement of international actions for the management of sharks and their 

relatives. This study aims to forecast elasmobranch fishery in the Northern Adriatic Sea 

(NA) analyzing and integrating: time series of landing statistics (1945-2008) from the 

fish market of Chioggia; data of the present (2006-2007) elasmobranch landing 

composition; results of a demographic model to predict population trends under 

different management scenario based on data collected for Mustelus mustelus and 

Scyliorhinus canicula. 

Materials and methods – Fishing fleet consisted in 2007 of ca. 389 boats, using 

different fishing gears. Official annual elasmobranch landings for the capture fisheries 

of Chioggia from 1945 to 2008 were obtained from the Chioggia fish market (in 


198



kilograms live weight) and divided into three categories: “Asià” (all sharks but 

Scyliorhinus spp.); “Gattucci” (Scyliorhinus spp.); “Razze” (all skates). Landings of 

1945-2008 were compared with annual mean sea water temperature at 2 m depth in 

Trieste; annual mean Po river discharge (m 3 s -1 ) at Pontelagoscuro (Ferrara); the annual 

mean North Atlantic Oscillation index (NAO), positively correlated to surface 

temperature in the NA; the December to February Western Mediterranean Oscillation 

index (WeMO), related to temperature and salinity in the NA.Time series of landings 

and environmental variables were tested for temporal trends with the non-parametric 

Mann-Kendall test (Z), and slopes computed with Sen’s robust estimator. Inter-annual 

landing periodicities were identified through spectral analysis based on Fast Fourier 

transform. Correlations between environmental variables (lagged and non-lagged) and 

the three landing categories were tested with Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient rs 

after applying Bonferroni correction. At the fish market a total of 79 samplings were 

performed once or twice a week from October 2006 to July 2007. Catch composition 

(species) was estimated; sex was assessed (based on the presence of claspers); total 

length was measured to the nearest mm; the percentage of sexually mature males was 

estimated (those presenting claspers rigid, due to calcification, and at least 1.5 cm 

longer than the pelvic fins). This method, the only feasible given that fish market 

elasmobranchs are eviscerated, can overestimate the number of mature males (Capapé 

et al., 2008; Saïdi et al., 2008). To simulate present trends of populations, an 

Individual-Based Model (IBM) was set up to simulate present and future trends of M. 

mustelus and S. canicula, using a stochastic approach (Rose et al. 1999). For each 

female specimen, at each time step (month), the following processes have been 

simulated: growth, with the VBGF (parameters from Froese and Pauly, 2010); 

reproduction (data from Capape’ et al., 2008; Saidi et al., 2008); natural mortality (data 

from Frisk et al., 2001); fishing mortality (data inferred by best fitting between 

observed trends in the last 10 years, when Mustelus species are categorized in a 

separate group than other sharks, and simulated population trends). Population 

dynamics has been inferred by simulating every single specimen and relative offspring 

for 50 years. Uncertainty has been estimated averaging 20 runs of the model. Two 

management scenarios have been considered: a “minimum catch size” scenario, where 

it was assumed that any individual caught before maturity is discarded and survives; 

and a day-off scenario, where the fishing effort was recalculated assuming that 

fishermen work just for 4 days at week instead of 5. 

Results - Elasmobranch landing declined significantly from 1945 to 2008 (Z = -6.90, p 

< 0.0001, Sen’s slope = -1 755.9 kg y -1 , Fig. 1), with a reduction of 85.6% in the last 

five years compared to the ‘40s. Skates showed the most dramatic reduction, 97.9% (Z 

= -8.44, p < 0.0001, Sen’s slope = -1 584.6 kg y -1 ), while Scyliorhinus spp. showed a 

reduction of 93.8% compared to the ’40s (Z = -6.50, p < 0.0001, Sen’s slope = -268.4 

kg y -1 ). The category “Asià”, including all the other sharks, showed a weak increase (Z 

= 3.68, p < 0.001, Sen’s slope = 303.2 kg y -1 ), but a strong decline after 1993 (Z = - 

3.51, p < 0.001, Sen’s slope = -1 947.9 kg y -1 ). All the three categories exhibited 

periodic peaks in landings during 1945-2008. Spectral analyses highlighted a principal 

period of 7 years for skates, 13.5 for Scyliorhinus spp. and 9 for “Asià”. For skates and 

Scyliorhinus spp., oscillations disappeared when landing decreased consistently. 

Landing peaks of skates correlated with WeMO (rs = 0.38, p = 0.0019) and NAO (rs = 


199



0.34, p = 0.0064), while no correlations emerged for Scyliorhinus spp. and “Asià” 

group with any environmental variable (sea water temperature, annual mean Po river 

discharge, NAO, WeMO). 

During the surveys at the fish market, 2770 individuals were sampled, 2339 sharks and 

431 skates, belonging to 13 species: Alopias vulpinus, Galeorhinus galeus, Mustelus 

asterias, M. mustelus, M. punctulatus, Scyliorhinus canicula, S. stellaris, Squalus 

acanthias, S. blainville, Raja asterias, R. clavata, R. miraletus, Myliobatis aquila. The 

smooth-hound, M. mustelus, represented 61.15% of the samples, while A. vulpinus, G. 

galeus, M. asterias, S. stellaris, S. blainville, R. miraletus and M. aquila, were 

sporadically recorded. The attribution of sexual maturity to males highlighted, for the 

most frequent species, that from 33.9% (R. clavata) to 86.7% (S. canicula) of sampled 

males were sexually immature. 

The developed demographic models were able to fit well landing data from 1997 to 

2008, setting the fishing mortality at 0.23 for M. mustelus, and 0.39 for S. canicula. 

Without management, the models forecast a reduction of 80%, for M. mustelus, and 

90%, for S. canicula, in the next 50 years. From these models, a management strategy 

that reduces fishing effort of one day a week stabilizes the population of M. mustelus 

and significantly slows down the decline of S. canicula. A management measure 

banning the landing of immature individuals allowed a significant increase of the 

populations of both species. 

Fig. 1 - Yearly landing data for the three categories reported at Chioggia’s fish market from 1945 to 

2008. 

Dati annuali di sbarcato presso il mercato ittico di Chioggia dal 1945 al 2008. 

Conclusions – The analyses of fishery data highlighted an impressive decline in 

landing, particularly for skates and Scyliorhinus spp., and the negative trend was even 

stronger in the last fifteen years. The data presented here mirror the worldwide scenario 

of decline or even collapse of elamobranch fishery (Bonfil, 1994), including the 

Mediterranean (Jukic-Peladic et al., 2001; Ferretti et al., 2008). The documented 

decrease in landings likely reflects real population decrease, given that elasmobranchs 

represent mainly by-catch, market demand did not substantially change and fishermen 

did not change their fishing grounds. Variations in environmental conditions are not 

able to fully explain landing trends, even for skates whose landings correlated with 

environmental factors, namely WeMO and NAO. Such correlations can reflect species 

migration, likely to the southern Adriatic, due to the occurrence of unfavorable 

conditions. The surveys at the fish market showed how elasmobranch catch is 


200



dominated by just one species, M. mustelus, with the other poorly represented. A 

relative increase in M. mustelus and decrease in R. clavata and S. canicula has been 

already observed in the Adriatic Sea (Jukic-Peladic et al., 2001), however in the fish 

market surveys presented here some of the species previously reported for the Adriatic 

were never found. At the fish market, a remarkable high proportion of the recorded 

males were sexually immature. All these data together strongly indicate the nonsustainability 

of elasmobranch fishery. The demographic models confirmed the 

observed trends, predicting such a reduction of populations of M. mustelus and S. 

canicula to be close to local extinction. However the models indicate also which 

management strategy could give the best results. Banning the fishery of immature 

individuals could, indeed, promote the recovery of the two populations. Such strategy 

is feasible for elasmobranch: even if they are usually bycatch, in general high survival 

rates of discarded individuals have been proved in different species. 

References 

BONFIL R. (1994) - Overview of world elasmobranch fisheries. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 

341: 158 pp. 

CAPAPÉ’ C., VERGNE Y., REYNAUD C., GUÉLORGET O., QUIGRAND J.P. (2008) - Maturity, 

fecundity and occurrence of the small sposttes catshark Scyliorhinus canicula (Chondrichthyes: 

Scyliorhinidae) off the Languedocial coast (Southern France, North-Western Mediterranean). Vie 

et Milieu, 58: 47-55. 

DULVY N.K., BAUM J.K., CLARKE S., COMPAGNO L.J.V., CORTÉS E., DOMINGO A., 

FORDHAM S., FOWLER S., FRANCIS M.P., GIBSON C., MARTÍNEZ J., MUSICK J.A., 

SOLDO A., STEVENS J.D., VALENTI S. (2008) - You can swim but you can’t hide: the global 

status and conservation of oceanic pelagic sharks and rays. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and 

Freshwater Ecosystems, 18: 459-482. 

FERRETTI F., MYERS R.M., SERENA F., LOTZE H.K. (2008) - Loss of large predatory sharks 

from the Mediterranean sea. Conservation Biology, 22: 952-964. 

FRISK M.G., MILLER T.J., FOGARTY M.J. (2001) - Estimation and analysis of biological 

parameters in elasmobranch fishes: a comparative life history study. Canadian Journal of 

Fishery and Aquatic Science, 58: 969-981. 

FROESE R., PAULY D. (2010) - FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. 

www.fishbase.org, version (01/2010). 

JUKIC-PELADIC S., VRGOC N., KRSTULOVIC-SIFNER S., PICCINETTI C., PICCINETTI- 

MANFRIN G., MARANO G., UNGARO N. (2001) - Long-term changes in demersal resources 

of the Adriatic Sea: comparison between trawl surveys carried out in 1948 and 1998. Fisheries 

Research, 53: 95-104. 

ROSE K.A., COWAN JR J.H., CLARK M.E., HOUDE E.D., WANG S.-B. (1999) - An individualbased 

model of bay anchovy population dynamics in the mesohaline region of Chesapeake Bay. 

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 185: 113-132. 

SAÏDI B., BRADAÏ M.N., BOUAÏN A. (2008) - Reproductive biology of the smooth-hound shark 

Mustelus mustelus (L.) in the Gulf of Gabès (south-central Mediterranean Sea). Journal of Fish 

Biology, 72: 1343-1345. 


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A. LIGAS, D. BERTOLINI, C. MANCUSI * , B. REALE, M. RIA * , P. SARTOR, M. SBRANA, 

F. SERENA * , A. VOLIANI * , S. DE RANIERI 

Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata “G. Bacci”, 

V.le N. Sauro, 4 - 57128 Livorno, Italia. 

ligas@cibm.it 

* A.R.P.A.T., Area MARE - 57126 Livorno, Italia. 

TEMPORAL EVOLUTION OF LANDINGS 

OF ELASMOBRANCHS IN TUSCANY (MEDITERRANEAN SEA) 

EVOLUZIONE TEMPORALE DELLO SBARCATO 

DI ELASMOBRANCHI NEI MARI TOSCANI 

Abstract – The time series of landings per unit of effort of some elasmobranch species/category by the 

Porto S. Stefano and the Viareggio bottom trawl fleets were analyzed by means of Min/Max Autocorrelation 

Factor Analysis. This approach was useful to highlight the increasing trend of such species 

during the investigated period (1991-2008). The trends were positively affected by the reduction of fishing 

effort in both Porto S. Stefano and Viareggio trawl fleets. The effects of the environmental variables were 

significant as well. 

Key-words: bottom trawling, shark fisheries, landings, time series, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction – Sharks and rays appear to be particularly vulnerable to fishing 

exploitation. The biological characteristics of elasmobranchs, such as low fertility, low 

growth rate and late maturity, make them vulnerable to drastic increases in mortality 

rates. Shark depletion, however, often goes unnoticed and the capture may continue for 

many years, as fisheries are sustained by the more productive target fishes). Given the 

mainly artisanal and semi-industrial aspects of Mediterranean fisheries, and the 

relatively low economic value of elasmobranchs, fishery statistics are rarely adequately 

reported (Ferretti et al., 2005). Notwithstanding these problematics, previous studies 

carried out in different Mediterranean areas highlighted that shark species diversity and 

biomass have decreased in the last century due to fishing pressure (Abella & Serena, 

2002; Ferretti et al., 2005). 

The present study aims to investigate the temporal variations of landings per unit of 

effort (LPUE) of elasmobranchs in Tuscany through the analysis of the time series of 

data obtained from landing and effort monitoring surveys. In addition, the temporal 

evolution of LPUEs was related to three explanatory variables: overall fishing effort 

indices, superficial seawater temperature (SST) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) 

index. 

Materials and methods – During the period 1991-2008, landing and effort data were 

collected monthly at the auctions of Porto S. Stefano and Viareggio. Monthly landings 

per unit of effort (LPUE) were calculated (as kg/day/vessel) for the Black mouth 

catshark, Galeus melastomus, the Small-spotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula, the 

Longnosed skate, Dipturus oxyrinchus, and for the commercial category “Rays” from 

the Porto S. Stefano data. As concerns Viareggio data, the LPUE were computed (as 

kg/h) for the Black mouth catshark, the Small-spotted catshark, and the Starry ray, 

Raja asterias. To investigate the effect of hydrological conditions on LPUEs, mean 

monthly values of SST (°C) and NAO index were collected from www.pfeg.noaa.gov 


202



archives. Overall trawl fishing effort indices were computed as days at sea per month 

(Porto S. Stefano), and hours at sea per month by shelf and slope (Viareggio). Data 

exploration and analysis were performed using the software package Brodgar 2.6.6 

(www.brodgar.com). All the time series were standardized and explored by means of 

the auto- and cross-correlation functions to highlight the presence of cyclic patterns in 

time series and to highlight potential relationship between two variables. Cyclic 

patterns were removed from the data through the seasonal decomposition by Loess 

smoothing. The trends obtained were further analysed through Min/Max Autocorrelation 

Factor Analysis (MAFA) (Solow, 1994), which extracts trends from 

multiple time series. In MAFA, the first axis has the highest auto-correlation with time 

lag 1, thus it represents the main pattern in the data: a trend is associated with high 

auto-correlation with time lag 1. Correlations between the variables and the trends were 

computed to evaluate the significance of their relationship. 

Results – The time series of the elasmobranchs LPUEs and the explanatory variables 

are summarized in Figs. 1 and 2. The fishing effort by the Porto S. Stefano fleet 

highlighted a general decreasing pattern, while the effort by the Viareggio fleet showed 

two scenarios: a decrease on the shelf and an increase on the slope. The presence of 

cyclical components with time lag 12 was found using the auto-correlation function; 

thus, the series were deseasonalized. 

a 

kg/day/vessel 

b 

kg/h 

16 

14 

12 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

G. melastomus 

S. canicula 

D. oxyrinchus 

Rays 

Jan-91 Jan-93 Jan-95 Jan-97 Jan-99 Jan-01 Jan-03 Jan-05 Jan-07 

4 

months 

G. melastomus 

3 

2 

1 

0 


months 

S. canicula 

R. asterias 

Fig. 1 – Porto S. Stefano (a) and Viareggio (b): time series plot of the mean monthly LPUE 

(kg/day/vessel and kg/h, respectively). 

Porto S. Stefano (a) e Viareggio (b): serie temporali di LPUE (kg/giorno/barca e kg/h, 

rispettivamente). 


203

days at sea 

800 

700 

600 

500 

400 

300 

200 

100 

0 

30 

25 

20 

°C 15 

10 

5 

0 



days at sea (Porto S. Stefano) hours at sea (shelf, Viareggio) 

hours at sea (slope, Viareggio) 


months 

Fig. 2 – Time series plot of the mean monthly values of the explanatory variables. 

Serie temporali delle variabili esplicative. 

From the Porto S. Stefano data set, an increasing common trend was extracted by 

means MAFA, positively correlated to all the response variables and SST, and 

negatively correlated to the fishing effort (Fig. 3). As concerns Viareggio, two trends 

were computed: the first trend significantly related to S. canicula, R. asterias, and the 

fishing effort, the second to G. melastomus and the NAO index (Fig. 4). 

Conclusions – The application of MAFA highlighted the presence of three trends 

underlying in the multi-species data sets. The available evidence suggests that the 

reduction of fishing effort should have mainly driven these trends. The trawl fleet 

capacity in Porto S. Stefano decreased of almost 50% since 1990s (Sbrana et al., 2006). 

This reduction was mainly due to the Common Fishery Policy. The Viareggio trawl 

fleet suffered a less sharp decrease in capacity, whereas the fishing effort showed a 

sharp shift from the continental shelf to the slope. The reduction of fishing effort on the 

shelf favoured the biomass increase of S. canicula and R. asterias. The trend of the 

deep-water species G. melastomus was influenced by the NAO index. The influence of 

NAO on marine resources has been already highlighted (Solow, 2002). The SST was 

positively correlated to the evolution of LPUEs of Porto S. Stefano fleet. A warming 

process of the upper and intermediate water layers of the western Mediterranean 

occurred since 1950s (Briand, 2000; Vargas-Yánez et al., 2009), and it may favoured 

the population biomass increase. Further investigations are requested to combine 

different sources of data (surveys, landings, log-books, interviews, etc.), in order to 

face with an accurate scenario of the spatial and temporal evolution of chondrichthyan 

communities, and to get suitable protection and conservation measures. The depletion 

of the elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean could be largely underestimated and 

requires an immediate large scale reassessment (Ferretti et al., 2005). 


204 

SST 

NAO 

8000 

7000 

6000 

5000 

4000 

3000 

2000 

1000 

0 

5 

3 

1 

-1 

-3 

-5 

NAO 

hours at sea



Fig. 3 – Porto S. Stefano: trend estimated with MAFA and correlations between variables and trend 

(significant correlations are in bold, p



C. PINTO, A. MANNINI, G. RELINI 

Centro Biolmar 

DIP.TE.RIS., Università degli Studi di Genova, V.le Benedetto XV, 3 – 16132 Genova, Italia. 

pinto.cecilia85@gmail.com 

REMARKS ON GALEUS MELASTOMUS 

IN THE NORTHERN LIGURIAN SEA 

OSSERVAZIONI SU GALEUS MELASTOMUS NEL NORD DEL MAR LIGURE 

Abstract – Galeus melastomus (Chondrichthyes, Scyliorhinidae) is a deep sea elasmobranch that is fished 

as a by-catch species of the bottom trawl fishery targeted to norway lobster and red shrimps. The mapping 

of its distribution shows that adults and juveniles occupy bottoms at different depths. Analyses of 

abundance doesn’t show significant trends in MEDITS while a decrease is detected in GRUND surveys. 

Key-words: Galeus melastomus, Selachians, trawl surveys, GIS, Ligurian Sea. 

Introduction – The study of by-catch species is considered significant in those kinds 

of fisheries that capture a wide range of species, as bottom trawling fishery does. 

Elasmobranchs are often part of by catch species and are reckoned as more vulnerable 

than other species, due to their biological and reproductive characteristics (Walker, 

1998). This group is characterised by a slow growth, late attainment of sexual maturity 

and long life spans (Stevens et al., 2000), moreover they are often top predators in the 

trophic web, that is why they are taken in account as good indicator, both, of the “topdown” 

effect of the trophic chain, and of populations variations due to overfishing 

(Carbonell et al., 2003; Serena et al., 2002; Baum et al., 2003). The main objective of 

this work is the identification of areas of distribution of a deep sea elasmobranch, 

Galeus melastomus, in the northern Ligurian Sea, dividing the population into adults 

and juveniles to verify if the last ones have preferential habitats. Having a 15 years 

time series of data derived from seasonal bottom trawl surveys, we got the chance to 

observe the trend of abundance, biomass, mean weight and lengths distribution, to 

determine the population status of adults and juveniles. This species has been studied 

in the past, in the same area, concerning reproduction and feeding patterns (Orsi Relini 

and Wurtz, 1975). 

Materials and methods - The study area is the Northern Ligurian Sea, from the 

French borderline to the North Gorgona Isle (belonging to Tuscany Archipelago). The 

dataset used was made taking data from GRUND (autumn season) and MEDITS 

(spring season) scientific trawling campaigns based on a random stratified sampling 

scheme, using a dataset of 15 years, from 1994 to 2008. A total number of 248 and 213 

hauls were carried out on bathyal grounds respectively in GRUND and MEDITS 

surveys. To realize the cartography representing the species distribution, we used mean 

points of trawling transects, representing them through ArcGIS 9.2. To have a more 

robust representation of the distributions using abundances of species, we put together 

abundances of all the 15 years for each fishing point and then realized an interpolation 

through the IDW technique building different maps for adults and juveniles (when data 

were available). Our interpolation has been limited to fishing points comprised 

between 200 m and 80 0m, since this species has never been found in shallower waters. 

We built trends to observe fluctuations of the population trying to assess the population 


206



status. We divided the dataset between epibathyal and mesobathyal layers to identify 

differences of depth in the distribution of the species, specifically among juveniles and 

adults. From those data we obtained graphs of the abundance, the biomass and the 

mean weight. With length measures we built a length frequency distribution to realize a 

box plot graph to observe the median, the minimum and the maximum trends. Having 

total lengths we choose a cut off of 25cm to identify juveniles on the basis of literature 

(Tursi et al., 1993) and of the observations of modes of length frequency distributions. 

Time series of all those parameters have been tested by SYSTAT programme through 

the non parametric correlation Spearman test with a significance level of 0.05 and 

freedom degree equal to n° of observations minus 2. 

Results – The cartographic representation of abundances related to fishing points, 

shows that G. melastomus is distributed mostly in the south-east part of our study area. 

Specifically the population occupies the north area of the S. Lucia bank (Fig. 1), with 

juveniles concentrating between 200m and 500m (Fig. 2). 

Fig. 1 – Galeus melastomus. Abundance distribution of adults and juveniles. GRUND (1994-2008). 

Galeus melastomus. Distribuzione dell’abbondanza degli adulti e dei giovanili. GRUND 

(1994-2008). 

Fig. 2 – Galeus melastomus. Abundance distribution of juveniles. GRUND (1994-2008). 

Galeus melastomus. Distribuzione dell’abbondanza dei giovanili. GRUND (1994-2008). 


207



Observing trends obtained by the GRUND dataset we can see that they are clearly 

negative (Fig.3), specifically abundance undergoes a half of values starting with 965 

N/km 2 in 1994 to 400 N/km 2 in 2008. At the same time biomass undergoes a 

significant decline until 2006 with a small increase in 2008 that is given by the biomass 

of the mesobathyal layer. As a matter of fact both in abundance and biomass is the 

epibathyal layer that shows the greatest decline with values that from 2003 are 

negligible. 

kg/km 2 

160 

140 

120 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

y = -7,0791x + 122,9 

R 2 = 0,5511 

Fig. 3 – G. melastomus. Biomass and abundance trends in 200-800 m depth. GRUND (1994 -2008). 

G. melastomus. Andamento della biomassa e dell’abbondanza tra 200-800 m di profondità. 

GRUND (1994-2008). 

On the contrary mean weight has a positive trend (Fig.4) with values that increase of 

the double starting from 0.09 kg/N in 1994 to 0.18 kg/N in 2008, specifically the 

increase is effective in the mesobathyal layer while the epibathyal layer is influenced 

by the lack of organisms fished. Analyzing the abundance of juveniles we observed 

that they are the part of the population that most suffer in decline, in fact starting from 

2003 they almost disappear both in the epibathyal and mesobathyal layer. Looking at 

box plot graphs, both for females (Fig.4) and males (not shown) there is a significant 

increase in the median length of almost 10 cm from 1994 to 2008. 

LT (cm) 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 

anni 

- min - max(99%) - LT mediana 

0 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 

anni 

Fig. 4 – Galeus melastomus. Trends of median length of females and total mean weight trend in 200- 

800 m depth. GRUND (1994-2008). 

Galeus melastomus. Tendenza della mediana delle femmine e peso medio della popolazione 

totale tra 200-800 m di profondità. GRUND (1994-2008). 

All those parameters have been tested through the Spearman test resulting each one 

significant in their trends. Moreover correlations between abundance and biomass, and 

between median (males+females) and total mean weight have resulted positive with a 

high statistical significance. Although since 2003 the number of GRUND hauls were 

halved, the decrease in both abundance and biomass indexes started between 1996- 

1997, meaning that the decrease seems not affected by the sampling scheme. 

Concerning MEDITS results (not shown), any significant trend has been detected. As a 

matter of fact we found out that the MEDITS net has a 3-4 times lower catch efficiency 


208 

kg/N 

N/km 2 

0,35 

0,30 

0,25 

0,20 

0,15 

0,10 

0,05 

0,00 

3500 

3000 

2500 

2000 

1500 

1000 

500 

0 

y = -111,88x + 1482,2 

R 2 = 0,4645 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 

anni 

y = 0,0117x + 0,0669 

R 2 = 0,4466 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 

anni



of bottom species in respect to the GRUND one. This means that MEDITS dataset are 

not so suitable to describe some aspects of the dynamic population of G. melastomus in 

our study area. 

Conclusions – If we should observe only GRUND results we would say that G. 

melastomus population (both adult and juvenile fraction) of the northern Ligurian Sea 

could be undergoing a decline in the last decade. It is important to underline that during 

the last years the juvenile component has significantly deceased, specifically on 

preferential bathyal grounds. This become even more concerning if we think that 

generally in G. melastomus only 25% of the total population is represented by 

reproductive adults (Rey et al., 2005). From the maps it is possible to observe that 

juveniles never distribute over the line of 500m of depth, while adults are more 

concentrated between 500m and 800m of depth. This has been verified both, in the 

GRUND and MEDITS campaigns. Moreover the decrease of juveniles is confirmed 

also by the increase of the median length of both, males and females and the increase 

of the total mean weight. This means that we are fishing bigger animals loosing the 

juvenile component and underlines the need to deepen the monitoring of the population 

status. 

References 

BAUM J.K., MYERS R.A., KEHLER D.G., WORM B., HARLEY S.J., DOHERTY P.A. (2003) - 

Collapse and conservation of shark populations in the Northwest Atlantic. Science, 299: 289- 

392. 

CARBONELL A., ALEMANY F., MERELLA P., QUETGLAS A., ROMAN E. (2003) – The bycatch 

of sharks in the western Mediterranean (Balearic Islands) trawl fishery. Fish. Res., 61: 7- 

18. 

ORSI RELINI L., WURTZ M. (1975) – Osservazioni sulla alimentazione di Galeus melastomus 

(Chondrichtyes, Scyliorhinidae) dei fondi batiali liguri. Quad. Lab. Tecnol. Pesca, 2 (1): 17-36. 

REY J., DE SOLA L., MASSUTI’ E. (2005) – Distribution and biology of the blackmouth catshark 

Galeus melastomus in the Alboran Sea (Southwestern Mediterranean). J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci., 

35: 215-223. 

SERENA F., VACCHI M., RELINI G., MÒ G., COSTANTINI M., NOTARBARTOLO DI SCIARA 

G. (2002) – Status of the application of the IPOA-SHARKS to the Mediterranean and proposal 

of co-ordinated initiatives aimed at further developments. Biol. Mar. Mediterr, 9 (1): 836-851. 

STEVENS J.D., BONFIL R., DULVY N.K., WALKER P.A. (2000) – The effects of fishing on 

sharks, rays and chimaeras (chondrichtyans), and the implications for marine ecosystems. ICES 

Journal of Marine Science, 57: 476-494. 

TURSI A., D’ONGHIA G., MATARRESE A., PISCITELLI G. (1993) - Observations on population 

biology of the blackmouth catshark, Galeus melastomus (Chondrichthyes, Scyliorhinidae), in the 

Ionian Sea. Cybium, 17: 187-196. 

WALKER T.I. (1998) – Can shark resources be harvested sustainable? A question revisited with 

review of shark fisheries. Marine and Freshwater Research, 49 (7): 553-572. 


209



P. SARTOR, I. ROSSETTI * , G. BALDUCCI * , M. LARICCIA * , M. SBRANA, S. DE RANIERI 

C.I.B.M. – Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata “G. Bacci”, 

V.le N. Sauro, 4 – 57128 Livorno, Italy. 

psartor@cibm.it 

* Consorzio Unimar S.c.r.l., Roma, Italy. 

FISHERMEN PERCEPTIONS ON THE ELASMOBRANCH ABUNDANCE 

EVOLUTION OVER TIME IN THE ITALIAN TRAWL FISHERIES 

EVOLUZIONE TEMPORALE DELL’ABBONDANZA 

DEGLI ELASMOBRANCHI NELLA PESCA A STRASCICO ITALIANA 

SECONDO LE PERCEZIONI DEI PESCATORI 

Abstract - This paper examines the long-term evolution in elasmobranch catches by Italian trawl fishery 

from 1940 to the present. Historical data on catches and species composition were collected by fishermen 

interviews. The results, validated by the available scientific literature, show an evident temporal decline for 

many species and, in some cases, the complete disappearance from the catches. 

Key-words: trawling, elasmobranchs, depletion, temporal variation. 

Introduction - Recent studies show that the population abundance of sensitive marine 

species, such as elasmobranchs, decreased during the XX century in the Mediterranean 

Sea (Ferretti et al., 2008). Demersal sharks like Squatina spp. and Mustelus spp. were 

relatively abundant until the 1950s and locally were the target of small-scale fisheries; 

these species have at present practically disappeared from the commercial catches and 

are only occasionally caught through experimental surveys (Aldebert, 1997). 

The present study is targeted to provide a picture on the temporal evolution of 

elasmobranchs abundance in different Italian trawl fisheries starting from the 1940’s, 

according to information collected by interviews to old or retired fishermen. 

Fishermen perception can be a source of information complementary to scientific data. 

According to Freire and Garcia Allut (1999), traditional ecological knowledge of 

fishermen (TEK), could add new data in marine ecology and fisheries biology. If 

interviews to fishermen are performed through a standardised approach with well 

structured questionnaires, not only qualitative, but also quantitative or semiquantitative 

data could be gathered (Bergmann et al., 2004). At present, this approach 

has been applied only in small Mediterranean areas (Sardà and Maynou, 1998). 

Materials and methods - In the framework of the UE project “EVOMED (“The 20 th 

Century evolution of Mediterranean exploited demersal resources under increasing 

fishing disturbance and environmental change” (Sartor, 2010), 50 interviews to old or 

retired fishermen were realised in different Italian Mediterranean areas: Ligurian Sea, 

northern and central Tyrrhenian Seas (GFCM-FAO GSA 9) and northern Adriatic 

(GFCM-FAO GSA 17). 

In the selection of the fishermen to interview, preference was given to vessel Captains. 

Information has been collected according to a standardised questionnaire and interview 

protocol. The main contents of the questionnaire concerned information on vessels 

characteristics, fishing gears and fishing grounds, as well as on catches (main target 

species, discards, etc). The questionnaire was designed to gather information for three 


210



main time periods, in order to facilitate the estimation of eventual changes over time: 

from 1940’s to 1960’s, from 1960’s to 1980’s and from 1980’s to present. 

As concerns elasmobranchs, specific questions were made to ask for trends over time, 

as well as on catches, economic importance and eventual disappearance or rarefaction 

of species. The collected information was entered in a standardised data base: data 

were analysed to obtain quantitative or semi-quantitative results. 

Results - Thirty five interviews were realized in these ports of GSA 9: Viareggio and 

Livorno (Ligurian Sea), Castiglione della Pescaia, Porto Santo Stefano and Porto 

Ercole (northern Tyrrhenian Sea), Civitavecchia and Fiumicino (central Tyrrhenian 

Sea). 

According to what reported by the fishermen, the importance of elasmobranchs, both in 

terms of abundance and commercial value, was higher in the past that at present. The 

main species caught in the past were rays (Raja spp.), small spotted catshark 

(Scyliorhinus canicula), smoot hound (Mustelus spp.) and spiked dogfish (Squalus 

spp.). Sixty four percent of the interviewed fishermen reported that Elasmobranch 

catches in the earlier period (from 1940’s to 1960’s) were more abundant (at least two 

times) than those of the present (Fig. 1). This percentage decreases in the comparison 

with the second period (51%) and it is very low for the most recent one (6%). Many 

fishermen declared that from the 1980’s the catches of elasmobranchs were more or 

less the same than those of the present and 14-30% of fishermen was not able to 

evaluate the temporal trend of abundances. The percentage contribution of 

elasmobranchs to the total catch showed a decrease over time as well (Tab. 1). 

100% 

75% 

50% 

25% 

0% 

1940-1959 vs 

present 

1960-1979 vs 

present 

1980-2008 vs 

present 

Less abundant 

The same 

More abundant (two times) 

Much more abundant (more than three times) 

Not able to evaluate 

Fig. 1 – GSA 9, fishermen interviews. Comparisons of the elasmobranch catches of different time 

periods with those of the present. 

GSA 9, interviste ai pescatori. Comparazione delle catture di elasmobranchi di diversi 

periodi con quelle attuali. 


211



Tab. 1 – GSA 9, fishermen interviews. Percentage contribution of elasmobranchs to the total catch 

over time. 

GSA 9, interviste ai pescatori. Variazione nel tempo del contributo percentuale degli 

elasmobranchi alle catture totali. 

Mean % Elasmobranch 

contribution to the total catch 

From 1940’s 

to 1960’s 

From 1960’s 

to 1980’s 


212 

From 1980’s to 

present 

14.2 (±13.4) 10.3 (±11.4) 5.3 (± 4.8) 

The decrease reported by fishermen was observed especially for some species, like 

Mustelus spp., Squalus spp. and Squatina spp. In particular, it was noticed that in the 

fishing grounds of GSA9 the abundance of species like Squatina spp. was already 

reduced in the earlier period (1940-1960). The last catches of Squatina spp. were dated 

to the end of 1970’s, while many fishermen reported that Mustelus spp. have been 

caught abundantly until the middle of 80’s. 

A total of 15 interviews were performed in Civitanova Marche, central Adriatic Sea 

(GSA 17). The main species caught over time by the interviewed fishermen were the 

same of those reported by the fishermen contacted in GSA 9. 

Also in Civitanova Marche an evident decrease of catches of elasmobranchs over time 

was reported. About 95% of interviewed noticed that the catches of sharks and rays 

observed until the 1980’s were more abundant than those at present (Fig. 2). On the 

other hand, it emerged that the catches of the more recent period did not show evident 

differences with those of the present. A similar pattern results from the temporal 

evolution of the percentage contribution of elasmobranchs to the total catch (Tab. 2). 

100% 

75% 

50% 

25% 

0% 

1940-1959 vs 

present 

1960-1979 vs 

present 

1980-2008 vs 

present 

Less abundant 

The same 

More abundant (two times) 

M uch more abundant (more than three times) 

Not able to evaluate 

Fig. 2 – GSA 17, Fishermen interviews. Comparisons of the elasmobranch catches of different time 

periods with those of the present. 

GSA 17, interviste ai pescatori. Comparazione delle catture di elasmobranchi di diversi 

periodi con quelle attuali.



Tab. 2 – GSA 17, fishermen interviews. Percentage contribution of Elasmobranchs to the total catch 

over time. 

GSA 17, interviste ai pescatori. Variazione nel tempo del contributo percentuale degli 

elasmobranchi alle catture totali. 

Mean % Elasmobranch 

contribution to the total catch 

From 1940’s 

to 1960’s 

From 1960’s 

to 1980’s 


213 

From 1980’s to 

present 

12.7 (±11.3) 10.9 (±6.3) 5.8 (± 4.7) 

As concerns single species, from 1960’s a notable decrease of species like Squalus spp. 

and Raja spp was reported. In some cases also a decrease of Mustelus spp. was noticed. 

The latest abundant catches of Squalus spp. were reported until the middle of 1970’s. 

Conclusions - The results of the interviews performed in both areas closely agreed in 

showing a decrease in the catches of elasmobranchs over time. This reduction has been 

noticed particularly for some species like Mustelus spp., Squalus spp. and Squatina 

spp. As a matter of fact, these species have been included as critically endangered, 

endangered or vulnerable species in the IUCN red lists (Cavangh and Gibson, 2007). In 

many cases it was reported their complete disappearance. It seems that species like 

Mustelus spp. were notably more abundant at the beginning of last Century and in 

some areas, as in GSA9, where they were also targets of a specific fishery, until 

1960’s. In certain areas, however, an evident decrease of elasmobranchs was already 

observed immediately after the Second World War. 

Even though these results can be qualified as anecdotal or lacking of scientific value, 

this anthropological information could contribute to improve the historical picture of 

the fisheries and associated fish communities. On the other hand, the results obtained 

from the interviews are validated by several researches and scientific papers (e.g. 

Aldebert, 1997; Ferretti et al., 2008). 

References 

ALDEBERT Y. (1997) – Demersal resources of the Gulf of Lion (NW Mediterranean). Impact of 

exploitation on fish diversity. Vie Milieu, 47 (4): 275-284 

BERGMANN M., HINZ H., BLYTH R., KAISER M.J., ROGERS S.I., ARMSTRONG M.J. (2004) - 

Using knowledge from fishers and fisheries scientists to identify possible roundfish 'Essential 

Fish Habitats'. Fish. Res., 66: 373–379. 

CAVANGH R.D., GIBSON C. (2007) - Overview of the Conservation Status of Cartilaginous Fishes 

(Chondrichthyans) in the Mediterranean Sea. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Malaga, Spain. Vi 

+ 42 pp. 

FERRETTI F, MYERS R.A., SERENA F., LOTZE H.K. (2008) - Loss of large predatory sharks from 

the Mediterranean Sea. Conserv. Biol., 22 (4): 952 -964. 

FREIRE J., GARCÍA-ALLUT A. (1999) - Integration of fishers’ ecological knowledge in fisheries 

biology and management. A proposal for the case of the artisanal coastal fisheries of Galicia 

(NW Spain) ICES CM 1999/S: 07. 

SARDÀ F, MAYNOU F (1998) - Assessing perceptions: do Catalan fishermen catch more shrimp on 

Fridays?. Fish. Res. 36:149-157. 

SARTOR P. (2010) – The 20 th Century evolution of Mediterranean exploited demersal resources 

under increasing fishing disturbance and environmental change. EU EVOMED project, Interim 

Report.



F. SERENA, M. BARONE, C. MANCUSI 

Regional Agency for the Environmental Protection in Tuscany, Via Marradi, 114 - 57126 Livorno, Italy. 

f.serena@arpat.toscana.it 

MEDITERRANEAN CARTILAGINOUS FISHES: 

25 YEARS OF ITALIAN RESEARCH 

I PESCI CARTILAGINEI DEL MEDITERRANEI: 25 ANNI DI RICERCA 

ITALIANA 

Abstract – A brief historical overview of the actions related to management and data collection on 

cartilaginous fishes in Italy is presented. A table summarises the main events of the past 25 years. 

Key-words: research programmes, monitoring, shark fisheries, Mediterranean, Italian seas. 

Introduction – In the last 25 years several projects aimed at the assessment of the 

stocks exploitation have been carried on in Italy. Our country is always present in these 

kind of research even because the fisheries represent an important sector of the Italian 

economy. The most important project is perhaps represented by the GRUND (GRUppo 

Nazionale risorse Demersali) started in 1985. A national expert group coordinating the 

project was build up and Italy became the Mediterranean country with the longest time 

series of demersal resources. In 1994 also the UE project MEDITS (MEDIterranean 

Trawl Survey) started and several UE countries joined the collection of data. The 

GRUND and MEDITS projects allowed the collection of a huge number of data on 

cartilaginous fishes, for example on their biology, spatial distribution, trophic relations 

etc. Moreover, other specific projects on cartilaginous fishes were conducted in this 

period. The collection of data about large cartilaginous fishes stared in Italy since 1985 

as the LEM project (Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring). Starting from 2002 the project 

became the MEDiterranean Large Elamobranchs Monitoring programme (MEDLEM) 

and has been provided an updated source of information on large cartilaginous fishes 

for national and international organizations involved in the management and the 

conservation of these fish in the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, in 2006 the DG 

Fisheries and Maritime Affairs of the European Commission financed the project 

“Status of rays populations in the Mediterranean Sea and advices for sustainable 

exploitation of the stocks”, aimed to analyse and discuss data on skates captures 

collected during MEDITS surveys, giving to Italy the coordination of the project. 

Finally, the project “Elements for the Assessment and Protection of Elasmobranchs in 

the Italian Seas” (ELASMOIT), an Italian project with a primary goal to collect 

information on the status of exploitation and conservation of elasmobranches in the 

Italian Seas. The project started in February 2009 and was completed in April 2010. 

The ELASMOIT project especially focued on the pelagic species, and the output was 

also the proposal of guidelines supporting the Ministry for the Environment, Land and 

Sea (MiATTM) in the compilation of the future Italian Action Plan. In the Table 1 the 

main events of the past 25 years are summarised. 

Overview on the MEDLEM project - The MEDLEM has the objective of recording 

data on by-catch, sighting, stranding or bibliographic references and allows the search 

for species, country and gear. The MEDLEM protocol was more and more refined in 


214



order to obtain a standard and easy field sheet for fishers and common people, 

representing also a valid reference for the collection of morphometric data. 

Tab. 1 - List of the main actions related to management and direct (D) or collateral (C) data collection 

on cartilaginous fishes in Italy. 

Elenco delle principali azioni legate alla gestione diretta (D) o indiretta (C) della raccolta 

dei dati relativa ai pesci cartilaginei nei mari italiani. 

YEAR 

1985 

1985 

1994 

1995 

1999 

2000 

2000- 

2002 

2002 

2003 

Action PROGRAMMES and 

other ACTIVITIES 

C 

GRUND project – 

Demersal trawl survey 

in Italian seas 

D 

C 

D 

D 

MEDLEM project – 

MEDiterranean Large 

Elasmobranch 

Monitorning 

MEDITS - 

International Bottom 

Trawl Survey in the 

Mediterranean 

GRIS – Gruppo 

Ricercatori Italiani 

sugli Squali, razze e 

chimere 

IPOA Shark – 

International Plan of 

Action for the 

conservation and 

management of Sharks 

D FAO - Identification 

Field Guide to Sharks 

and Rays of the 

Mediterranean and 

Black Sea 

D 

D 

D 

Italian Action Plan for 

the conservation and 


Mediterranean Action 

Plan for the 

conservation and 


IUCN Shark Specialist 

Group – Workshop in 

San Marino 

General objectives and activities related 

to cartilaginous fishes 

Collection of information on demersal 

resources in the Italian seas, trough a 

common standardized sampling 

methodology. 

Monitoring programme on the captures and 

sightings of the large cartilaginous fishes 

occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. 

Historical and present data on rare and 

vulnerable species of elasmobranches. 

Collection of information on demersal 

resources in the Mediterranean Sea, trough a 

common standardized sampling 

methodology. Important time series (1994) 

of data of elasmobranch species. 

Italian group of experts on elasmobranch 

fishes representing Italy in the European 

Elasmobranch Association (EEA). 

Aims to ensure the conservation and 

management of sharks and their long-term 

sustainable use, through the development 

and the implementation of subregional, 

regional and national plan of action. It is 

voluntary but all the States are encouraged 

to implement it. 

Aims at providing a fully illustrated field 

guide for the identification of the sharks and 

rays most relevant to the fisheries of the 

Mediterranean 

A technical framework was created by 

Italian shark specialists for the development 

of the Italian Action Plan for the 

conservation and management of Sharks. 

The Mediterranean Action Plan for the 

Conservation of Chondrichthyan Fishes 

constitutes a proposal for regional strategies, 

pointing out priorities and actions to be 

undertaken at national and regional levels. 

Aimed to the assessment of the 

Mediterranean elasmobranches species for 

the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 


215 

Notes and links 

Important time series 

(1985-2008) of data of 

elasmobranch species. 

(Serena et al. 2006) 

www.arpat.toscana.it/ 

medlem 

www.sibm.it/SITO%20 

MEDITS/ 

principaleprogramme.h 

tm 

GRIS belongs to the 

“Necton e Pesca” 

committee of the 

Italian Society of 

Marine Biology. 

www.fao.org/fishery/ip 

oa-sharks/en 

The field guide was 

promoted by FAO- 

COPEMED (Serena, 

2005). 

Promoted by ICRAM 

RAC/SPA Tunis 

assigned the 

development of the 

Action Plan to two 

experts: one Italian and 

one French 

UNEP MAP RAC/SPA 

(2003) 

An Italian expert 

become Co-chair for 

the Mediterranean. The 

output of the workshop 

were published in 2007 

(Cavanagh and Gibson, 

2007)

YEAR 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

Action PROGRAMMES and 

other ACTIVITIES 

D 

MEDLEM project at 

the GFCM/SAC Sub- 

Committee on Marine 

Environment and 

Ecosystems 

D 

Update of the checklist 

on cartilaginous fishes 

in the Italian seas 

C Status of rays 

population in the 

Mediterranean Sea and 

advice for sustainable 

exploitation of the 

stocks Project 

FISH/2004/03-41 

D Technical workshop on 

the status, limitation 

and opportunities for 

improving the 

monitoring of shark 

fisheries and trade 

D 

D,C 

D 

European Action Plan 

for the conservation 

and management of 

Sharks 

ELASMOIT 

Workshop on Sexual 

Maturity Staging of 

Elasmobranches 



General objectives and activities related 

to cartilaginous fishes 

GFCM/SAC/SCMEE reiterated the 

importance of a wider use of the MEDLEM 

protocols and information system already 

adopted by a number of regional bodies to 

favour timely exchange of information on 

Large Elasmobranchs. D 

Essential tool for the knowledge and 

conservation of the marine biodiversity in 

the Italian seas. 

Aimed to update biology, dynamics and 

exploitation status of Rajidae, analysing data 

from scientific trawl surveys in the 

Mediterranean (MEDITS). A first example 

in Mediterranean of data sharing for the 

assessment of a group of species. C 

Considered global and country specific 

information on shark fisheries and trade to 

identify limitation and strategies for 

improving their monitoring. 

To contribute to the objective of the FAO 

IPOA SHARKS by ensuring the rebuilding 

of many depleted stocks fished by the 

Community fleet within and outside 

Community waters. 

Primary objectives were a critic revision and 

implementation of the National Action Plana 

and a periodic monitoring of landings at the 

main harbors of the selected regions 

(Liguria, Sardinia, Sicily and Apulia). C 

Agree on a common maturity scale for 

Elasmobranches (sharks and rays) across 

laboratories comprising a comparison of 

existing scales and standardization of 

maturity determination criteria 


216 

Notes and links 

(FAO, 2005) 

Promoted by the 

Ministry for the 

Environment, Land and 

Sea (MiATTM) and 

coordinated by Prof. 

Giulio Relini. 

www.sibm.it/CHECKL 

IST/principalechecklist 

fauna.htm 

Promoted by the 

European Commission 

(DG Fisheries and 

Maritime Affairs). 

Promoted by FAO 

(Serena et al, 2009b) 

Italian experts 

participated to the 

consultation of 

stakeholders for the 

development of this 

Action Plan 

This project is 

promoted by the 

Ministry for the 

Environment, Land and 

Sea (MiATTM) and 

coordinated by the 

Italian Society for the 

Marine Biology 

(SIBM) with the 

participation of the 

Italian group for the 

research on sharks, 

skates and chimaeras 

(GRIS) 

Promoted by ICES 

Malta, 11-15 October 

2010 

In the last years the MEDLEM programme has been presented and discussed several 

times in the framework of the GFCM. Other international organization, IUCN 

(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and EEA 

(European Elasmobranch Association), also endorsed the project showing a great



interest and a positive appreciation of the concept. From the 2007 the MEDLEM 

Database Application has been freely accessible at the website: 

http://www.arpat.toscana.it/progetti/medlem (Serena et al., 2006). The background and 

the update of the programme is consultable in two papers presented at the GFCM-SAC 

Transversal workshop on selectivity improvement and by-catch reduction held in 

Rome in 2008 and in Tunis in 2009 (Serena et al., 2009a). A total of 1224 records have 

been registered so far. 17 research institutes, from corresponding Mediterranean 

countries, participate in the MEDLEM programme. The greater proportion of data 

come from Italy followed by Croatia and Spain. However, it is worth noting that 

records from Croatia and Spain are mainly referred to bibliography. About 50% are 

records of the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), but some records are referred to 

species rarely observed, such as Squatina squatina and S. oculata, representing in 

prospective an important source of information for the distribution, behaviour and 

biology of these species. 

References 

CAVANAGH R.D., GIBSON C. (2007) - Overview of the Conservation Status of Cartilaginous 

Fishes (Chondrichthyans) in the Mediterranean Sea. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Malaga, 

Spain. vi + 42 pp. 

FAO (2005) - FAO/General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. Report of the seventh 

session of the Scientific Advisory Committee. Rome, 19-22 October 2004. FAO Fisheries 

Report No. 763. Rome, FAO: 83 p. 

SERENA F. (2005) - Field identification guide to the sharks and rays of the Mediterranean and Black 

Sea. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Rome, FAO. 2005: 97 p. 11 colour 

plates + egg cases. 

SERENA F., BARONE M., MANCUSI C., MAGNELLI G., VACCHI M. (2006) - The MEDLEM 

database Application: a tool for storing and sharing the large shark‘s data collected in the 

Mediterranean countries. In: Basusta N., Keskin C., Serena F., Seret B. (eds), The Proceedings 

of the Workshop on Mediterranean Cartilaginous Fish with Emphasis on Southern and Eastern 

Mediterranean. Turkish Marine Research Foundation. Istanbul-Turkey, 23: 118-129. 

SERENA F., BRADAI M.N., MANCUSI C., BARONE M. (2009a) - The MEDLEM database 

application: a tool for storing and sharing data about by-catch, sightings and stranding of large 

cartilaginous fishes in the Mediterranean basin. (Data update to September 2009). Paper 

presented at the GFCM/SAC (SCMEE/SCSA/SCESS). Transversal workshop on selectivity 

improvement and by-catch reduction.. Tunis, Tunisia, 23 -25 September 2009. 

SERENA F., BAINO R.T., MANCUSI C., BARONE M., RIA M., ABELLA A.J., VOLANI A. 

(2009b) - Country report: Italy. Report of the Technical Workshop on the Status, Limitations and 

Opportunities for Improving the Monitoring of Shark Fisheries and Trade. Rome, 3–6 

November 2008. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report. No. 897. Rome, FAO. 2009: 152 p. 

UNEP MAP RAC/SPA (2003) – Action Plan for the Conservation of Cartilaginous Fishes 

(Chondrichthyans) in the Mediterranean Sea. Ed. RAC/SPA, Tunis: 56 pp. 


217

Pre-print Volume –Posters 


M. CAMMARATA, V. MANGANO, M.G. PARISI, G. BENENATI, N. PARRINELLO 

Department of Animal Biology, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18 - 90123 Palermo, Italy. 

camat@unipa.it 

PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN F-TYPE LECTIN 

FROM SMALL-SPOTTED CATSHARK (SCYLIORHINUS CANICULA) 

SERUM 

ISOLAMENTO E CARATTERIZZAZIONE DI UNA NUOVA LECTINA DI TIPO F 

DAL SIERO DEL GATTUCCIO (SCYLIORHINUS CANICULA) 

Abstract – The “F-type” lectins has been recently characterized by an unique sequence motif and a 

characteristic structural fold. Here we describe the purification and characterization of a 87 kDa F-type 

lectin (ScFBL) from a small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) serum. This is the first evidence of the 

F-lectin presence in elasmobranchs. 

Key-words: F-type lectin; Scyliorhinus canicula; Teleost; Serum hemagglutinins. 

Introduction - Sugar binding proteins (lectins) and free or cell surface-bound sugars 

constitute an evolutionary conserved recognition system involved in innate immunity. 

Lectins are multivalent proteins that recognize and bind carbohydrate moieties through 

specific domains (CRDs). Because most lectins may display CRDs in combination 

with other domains, they not only recognize carbohydrates on the surface of potential 

pathogens, but also mediate several effector functions including agglutination, 

immobilization, and opsonization of microbial pathogens. They are involved in 

complement pathway and phagocyte activation. Soluble lectins exhibit considerable 

structural diversity, and have been described in various tissues, mucus, serum and eggs 

of marine and freshwater fish. They participate in various biological processes, 

including innate and adaptive immune responses. On the contrary, the chondrichthyan 

lectins, despite of their key phylogenetic position, have been poorly studied. The 

described structure of the fucose-binding European eel agglutinin revealed a novel 

lectin fold (the “F-type” lectin fold) shared with other carbohydrate-binding proteins as 

well as with apparently unrelated proteins from prokaryotes to vertebrates. An unique 

fucose-binding sequence motif is present in this invertebrate and cold-blooded 

vertebrate lectin family. 

Materials and methods – Fish were anesthetized in sea water containing 0.02% 3aminobenzoic 

acid ethyl ester (MS222) and bled by caudal vessel puncture. The blood 

was allowed to clot at room temperature for 1 h and the serum was separated by 

centrifugation (10 min, 800×g, 4 °C). To perform hemagglutination assay (HA), rabbit 

erythrocytes were suspended at 1% in Tris buffer 0.1% gelatin, and used in a microtitre 

plate. The hemagglutinating titre (HT) was evaluated after 1 h incubation at 37 °C. 

Purification on a fucose agarose column and characterization of serum fucose-binding 

lectin were done following Cammarata et al. (2007). 

Results - As reported for other F-type lectins, the fucose-binding properties of the S. 

canicula lectin enabled us to isolate it through a fucose–agarose column in a single 

affinity chromatography step. Electrophoretic mobility of the purified fraction revealed 

apparent molecular weights of 87 and 102 kDa under reducing and non-reducing 


218



conditions, respectively (Fig. 1). Agglutinating activity towards rabbit erythrocytes at 

37 °C was not significantly modified by calcium or EDTA addition, was decreased by 

preincubation at 70 °C, and fully inactivated at 90 °C. As shown by western blot 

analysis, ScFBP disclosed intense cross-reactivity with antibodies raised to the sea bass 

(Dicentrarchus labrax) fucose-binding lectin (data not shown). Since the 

electrophoretic micro heterogeneity was revealed by reducing conditions the possibility 

exists that isoforms of this molecule were present (Fig. 1). 

R NR 

STH 1 2 STL 3 4 

205- 

116- 

97- 

85- 

66- 

66- 

55- 

45- 

45- 

36- 

36- 

29- 

24- 

Fig. 1 - SDS-PAGE of S. canicula purified lectin. STH: Standard High (kDa) Lanes: 1 & 3, purified 

Dicentrarchus labrax lectin; 2 & 4, purified S. canicula lectin; STL: Standard Low; lectin; R: 

reducing conditions; NR: Non reducing conditions. 

SDS-PAGE della lectina purificata di S. canicula. STH: Standard ad alto peso molecolare 

(kDa) Linea: 1 & 3, lectina purificata di Dicentrarchus labrax; 2 & 4, Lectina purificata di S. 

canicula; STL: Standard a basso peso molecolare; R: Condizioni ridotte; NR: Condizioni non 

ridotte. 

Conclusions – Lectins play important roles in the immune response of invertebrates 

and vertebrates either by recognizing exposed glycans of potential pathogens or by 

their immunoregulatory roles through the binding to carbohydrates on the surfaces of 

immunocompetent cells. In this study we show, for the first time in elasmobranches, the 

presence of an F-lectin isolated from serum of the small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus 

canicula), a representative of the largest order of extant sharks. Due to the relatively 

small size, wide distribution in the Mediterranean sea and easy maintenance in 

aquarium, S. canicula could be an interesting model for lectin study. 

References 

CAMMARATA M., BENENATI G., ODOM E., SALERNO G., VIZZINI A., VASTA G.R., 

PARRINELLO N. (2007) - Isolation and characterization of a fish F-type lectin from gilt head 

bream (Sparus aurata) serum. Biochimica et Biophisica Acta, 1770: 150-5. 

20- 

16- 


219



R. CARLUCCI, F. CAPEZZUTO, D. BATTISTA, M. PANZA, L. SION 

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona, 4 - 70125 Bari, 

Italia. 

r.carlucci@biologia.uniba.it 

OCCURRENCE OF JUVENILES OF SCYLIORHINUS CANICULA 

AND MUSTELUS MUSTELUS IN THE NORTH-WESTERN IONIAN SEA 

RINVENIMENTO DI GIOVANILI DI SCYLIORHINUS CANICULA 

E MUSTELUS MUSTELUS NEL MAR IONIO SETTENTRIONALE 

Abstract - Occurrence of juveniles of Scyliorhinus canicula (Chondrichthyes: Scyliorhinidae) and 

Mustelus mustelus (Chondrichthyes: Triakidae) was investigated as part of trawl surveys carried out from 

1994 to 2009 in the North-western Ionian Sea. Two main finding areas were observed for juveniles of S. 

canicula and one of M. mustelus. 

Key-words: juveniles, elasmobranchs, Scyliorhinus canicula, Mustelus mustelus, Ionian Sea. 

Introduction - Elasmobranchs show slow growth rate, late age at maturity and low 

fecundity, resulting highly vulnerable to overfishing as well as to the reduction and 

modification of habitats in the Mediterranean Sea (Vacchi and Notarbartolo di Sciara, 

2000; Serena et al., 2005). In this note, the authors provide information on the 

occurrence of Scyliorhinus canicula (Linneus, 1758) and Mustelus mustelus (Linneus, 

1758) juveniles in the North-western Ionian Sea. 

Materials and methods - Data were collected from 1994 to 2009 in the framework of 

national (GRUND) and international (MEDITS) research projects on the assessment of 

demersal resources in the Mediterranean Sea (Bertrand et al., 2000; Relini et al., 2000). 

The study area was the North-western Ionian Sea (GSA19). The total length (TL in 

mm) was measured for S. canicula and M. mustelus providing length/frequency 

distributions (LFDs). The sex was recorded and the maturity of gonads was observed 

according Stehmann (1998). All the immature specimens (stage 1), with size less than 

300 and 540 mm TL, were considered juveniles in S. canicula and M. mustelus 

respectively, according to Capapé et al., (2008) and Saїdi et al., (2008). For both 

species, the density indices (N/km 2 ) of juveniles was estimated for each sampling haul. 

The spatial distribution of juveniles was carried out by means of Arcview GIS 3.2 

(Esri). 

Results - During the investigated period both S. canicula and M. mustelus were rarely 

caught throughout the study area. The former species was captured between 115-634 m 

and the latter between 12-357 m depth. The minimum and maximum sizes were 

respectively 88 and 558 mm TL in S. canicula and 250 and 1620 mm TL in M. 

mustelus (Fig. 1). The bulk of the sampled population consisted of juveniles (79% in 

the former and 74% in the latter species). The main concentration of S. canicula 

juveniles occurred with temporal continuity southward S. Maria di Leuca and Siracusa 

on the upper continental slope. The maximum density value was recorded during 

autumn 2003 (513 N/km 2 ). The greatest number of M. mustelus juveniles was observed 

with persistency southward Catania, within 50 m depth. The maximum density value 

was recorded during summer 2007 (781 N/km 2 ). 


220

15 

% Scyliorhinus canicula 

12 

GRUND = 165 

9 

6 

3 

0 

MEDITS = 193 

81-100 

121-140 

161-180 

201-220 

241-260 

281-300 

321-340 

361-380 

401-420 



441-460 

481-500 

521-540 

561-580 

Total length (mm) 


221 

15 

12 

9 

6 

3 

0 

241-260 

% Mustelus mustelus 

361-380 

481-500 

601-620 

721-740 

841-860 

961-980 

1081-1100 

1201-1220 

GRUND = 23 

MEDITS = 97 

Fig. 1 - Length/frequency distribution of Scyliorhinus canicula and Mustelus mustelus in the Ionian 

Sea from 1994 to 2009. 

Distribuzione lunghezza/frequenza di Scyliorhinus canicula e Mustelus mustelus nel Mar 

Ionio dal 1994 al 2009. 

Conclusions - The sampled population of S. canicula and M. mustelus in the Northwestern 

Ionian Sea mostly consisted of juveniles, probably due to the overexploitation 

of adult specimens. In particular, for M. mustelus the size distribution appears to be 

typically truncated probably in relation to its distribution in shallower waters where 

trawling is more concentrated. On the other hand, adults of S. canicula seem to take 

advantage from some refuge areas or habitats. The greater number of specimens 

collected of both species in the Sicilian and S. Maria di Leuca areas could be due to 

particular environmental conditions, as high trophism and the narrowness extend of the 

continental shelf. In addition, the protection areas and measures developed in Sicily 

could provide lower impact to adults enhancing the production of offspring. 

References 

BERTRAND J.A., GIL DE SOLA L., PAPACONSTANTINOU C., RELINI G., SOUPLET A. 

(2000) - An international bottom trawl survey in the Mediterranean: the MEDITS programme. 

Actes de Colloques IFREMER, 26: 76-93. 

CAPAPÉ C., VERGNE Y., REYNAUD C., GUÉLORGET O., QUIGNARD J.P. (2008) - Maturity, 

fecundity and occurrence of the smallspotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula (Chondrichthyes: 

Scyliorhinidae) of the Languedocian coast (Southern France, North-western Mediterranean). Vie 

et Milieu. Life and Environment, 58 (1): 47-55. 

RELINI G. (2000) - La ricerca sulla pesca: le risorse demersali. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 7 (4): 13-45. 

SAΪDI B., BRADAΪ M.N., BOUAΪN A. (2008) - Reproductive biology of the smooth-hound shark 

Mustelus mustelus (L.) in the Gulf of Gabès (south-central Mediterranean Sea). Journal of Fish 

Biology, 72: 1343-1354. 

SERENA F., BAINO R., REY J., PAPACOSTANTINOU C., RELINI G. (2005) - Catch composition 

and abundance of deep-sea elasmobranchs based on the MEDITS trawl survey. FAO Fish. Rep., 

772: 395-408. 

STEHMANN M. (1998) - Revised maturity scale for sharks, rays and chimaerids. EC FAIR Project 

CT 95-0655 n. 40: 17-21. 

VACCHI M., NOTARBARTOLO DI SCIARA G. (2000) - I pesci cartilaginei nei mari italiani, una 

risorsa che richiede urgenti misure di tutela. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 7 (1): 296-311. 

1321-1340 

1441-1460 

1561-1580 

1681-1700



E. DE SABATA, S. CLÒ 

MedSharks, Via Ruggero Fauro, 82 - 00197 Roma, Italia. 

CTS, Roma, Italia. 

info@medsharks.org 

PUBLIC SIGHTING SCHEME REVEALS 

THE SEASONAL PRESENCE OF CETORHINUS MAXIMUS 

AROUND NORTH SARDINIA, ITALY 

UN PROGETTO DI AVVISTAMENTO PUBBLICO 

RIVELA LA PRESENZA DI CETORHINUS MAXIMUS 

NELLE ACQUE DELLA SARDEGNA SETTENTRIONALE 

Abstract – This study aims to contribute data on the presence, distribution and seasonal changes in 

numbers of basking sharks Cetorhinus maximus (Chondrichthyes) around North Sardinia (Central 

Mediterranean sea). Thanks mainly to a public sighting record scheme begun in 2005, 55 records of 99 

basking sharks were collected in an area where only 14 individuals had previously been recorded. This 

ongoing public sighting scheme has significantly improved scientific understanding as well as public 

awareness of this species. 

Key-words: Basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus, Mediterranean, Sardinia, Marine Protected Area. 

Introduction - The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus Gunnerus, 1765) is a very 

large, filter-feeding cold-water pelagic species named from its habit of ‘basking’ on the 

surface in good weather conditions, usually singly or in small groups. It is a migratory 

and widely distributed species, but only regularly seen in a few favored coastal 

locations. Much of the basking shark’s life history, movements, population dynamics 

and general ecology have not yet been described. 

Up to 2002 only 14 out of 535 basking sharks recorded in the MEDLEM program on 

captures and sightings of large cartilaginous fishes, which provides a general picture of 

the distribution of this species in the Mediterranean, were from Sardinian waters 

(Mancusi et al., 2005). In 2005 Operazione Squalo Elefante (OSE) was launched to 

gather general data on basking sharks in Sardinian waters, to identify particular areas 

for future investigations and to raise public awareness of the species, mainly through a 

public sighting recording scheme. Such schemes have been successfully used to gather 

simple, non-effort related data on basking sharks in several regions of the world 

(Speedie, 2003; Clò et al., 2002). 

Materials and methods – Data Collection. In 2005 a network of observers was 

established - that included the Coast Guard, personnel of Marine Protected Areas 

(Asinara, La Maddalena, Tavolara), biologists, recreational and professional fishermen, 

dive centre operators, yachtsmen and journalists - to report sightings and captures of 

basking sharks. 

In order to avoid overestimating shark numbers, in case of multiple sightings over a 

period up to 10 days in the same area we considered only one entry – selecting the one 

with the highest number of sharks seen at the same time. Pictures and video were also 

collected when available. Furthermore, a review of scientific and reliable grey 

literature yielded several entries dating from 1910. 


222



Results – Only 55 of the 75 overall sightings and captures 

reported were considered, yielding a total of 99 basking sharks 

(73 sighted, 26 captured) mainly from North Sardinia. Size 

ranged from 240 cm to 800 cm. Aggregations of up to 11 

individuals were recorded. Sightings peaked between January and 

March. Three ‘hotspots’ emerge: most sightings fall within the 

Pelagos Sanctuary and/or three marine protected areas: Asinara, 

la Maddalena, Tavolara (Fig. 1). 

On the basis of these sightings, dedicated searches by aircraft and 

boat were conducted, which resulted in the tagging of one 

individual with NMFS tags; a photo-ID project was started and 

tissue samples were also collected from dead animals for further 

DNA analysis. All sightings were shared with MedLem. 

Conclusions – These reports suggest that basking sharks are 

regular seasonal visitors in coastal waters of North Sardinia. The 

sharp increase in numbers since the public sighting scheme was 

launched in 2005 – from 20 between 1910-2004 to 79 between 

2005-2010 -- is most likely due to greater public awareness rather than a growth in 

population of this shark, which is listed by IUCN as Endangered in the Mediterranean. 

These reports are of a casual nature and have a more limited value than sightings 

reported from properly structured effort-related surveys. However they can provide at a 

low cost general information on the distribution and relative abundance of this species. 

The enthusiastic participation of members of the public in Operazione Squalo Elefante 

has not only significantly increased our current knowledge on the presence of the 

basking shark in Italian waters, but it generated considerable public awareness. Such 

sighting schemes should therefore be encouraged in other potential basking shark 

hotspots. 

Acknowledgements – This work would not have been possible without the cooperation of the many 

people who reported their sightings; our sincere thanks go to all and to the Italian Coast Guard 

personnel; the La Maddalena Park, Tavolara, and Asinara Marine Protected Areas, and Tethys and 

ISPRA for the aerial survey. 

References 

CLÒ S., AFFRONTE M., BIANCHI I., VACCHI M. (2002) - Remarkable presence of basking 

sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) in the Adriatic sea. Poster to the 6th Annual European 

Elasmobranch Association scientific meeting, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 6-8 October 2002. 

MANCUSI C., CLÒ S., AFFRONTE M., BRADAI M., HEMIDA F., SERENA F., SOLDO A., 

VACCHI M. (2005) - On the presence of basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) in the 

Mediterranean Sea. Cybium, 29 (4): 399-405. 

SPEEDIE C. (2003) – The value of public sightings recording schemes in relation to the basking 

shark in the United Kingdom. Cybium, 27 (4): 255-259. 


223 

Fig. 1 - Sightingscaptures. 

Siti di avvistamenti e 

catture.



C. GAMBARDELLA 1,2 , L. GALLUS 2 , S. FASULO 1 , G. TAGLIAFIERRO 2 , 

M. VACCHI 3 , S. FERRANDO 2 

1 Dip. di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia Marina, Università di Messina, 

Salita Sperone, 31 – 98166 Messina, Italia. 

2 LIBiOM, Dip. di Biologia, Università di Genova, Italia. 

chiara.gambardella@unige.it 

3 ISPRA, c/o National Antarctic Museum, Università di Genova, Italia. 

FIRST REPORT ON LEPTIN IN A CARTILAGINOUS FISH 

PRIMA EVIDENZA DELLA LEPTINA IN UN PESCE CARTILAGINEO 

Abstract - Leptin is a hormone involved in food intake. It is conserved through evolution, but no studies that 

have focused on its presence in cartilaginous fish are available to date. Here we report the presence of 

leptin-like immunoreactivity in the gut of the cartilaginous fish Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus,1758) using 

Western Blot and immunohistochemical analyses. A 16 kDa band, corresponding to leptin, was detected in 

the homogenate of the stomach, while no immunoreactivity was observed in the intestine. 

Immunohistochemistry of the gastric mucosa revealed leptin-like staining localized to mucous-secreting 

cells and endocrine cells. This is the first report on the presence of a leptin-like peptide in a cartilaginous 

fish. 

Key-words: fish, histochemistry, stomach, hormones. 

Introduction - Leptin is a 16 kDa circulating hormone produced by the ob gene 

identified in mammalian adipose tissue (Zhang et al., 1994) that plays a key role in the 

regulation of food intake and energy balance (Schwartz et al., 2000). The leptin gene 

has been sequenced in mammals, birds, amphibians and bony fish (Zhang et al., 1994; 

Doyon et al., 2001; Kurokawa et al., 2005) but no information on leptin is available in 

cartilaginous fish. Leptin expression has been reported in adipose tissue, liver and gut 

of many vertebrates (Johnson et al., 2000; Muruzàbal et al., 2002; Kurokawa et al., 

2005; Gambardella et al., in press). Among fish, most studies on leptin have been 

restricted to bony fish, therefore we attempted to verify the presence of leptin in the 

small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) as a representative cartilaginous fish, 

since it has often been used as a model species in the study of vertebrate evolution. 

Materials and methods - Five adult specimens of S. canicula were collected in the 

Ligurian Sea, anesthetized, killed and then dissected to collect the gut. For 

immunohistochemistry, the stomach and the intestine were fixed in 4% 

paraformaldehyde in a 0.1 mol/L phosphate-buffered solution (pH 7.4) at 4 °C, 

embedded, and cut into 5-μm thick sections. Immunohistochemical labeling was 

performed using rabbit polyclonal antiserum against leptin (LEP) (1:200; Santa Cruz 

Biotechnology Inc.). Reactions were visualized by immunofluorescence and by 

immunoperoxidase, using DAB (di-amino-benzidin, Sigma). Negative controls were 

performed by neutralising LEP primary antiserum with its antigen (1:200; Santa Cruz 

Biotechnology Inc.). For Western Blot analyses stomach and intestine homogenates 

were prepared according to the Laemmli method (Laemmli, 1970) on a 10%-23% 

gradient SDS-polyacrylamide gel. 

Results - Leptin-like immunoreactivity (ir) was only observed in the gastric mucosa. 

Leptin-like ir cells showing two different morphological aspects were located in the 


224



gastric pits: scattered open-type neuroendocrine ciliated cells were found in the neck 

zone and mucous-secreting cells were identified in the basal gastric pits. All controls 

for antibody specificity generated negative results. Further, no leptin-like ir was 

detected in the nervous elements. Western Blot analysis showed a single 

immunoreactive band of 16±1 kDa (mean±SD) only in the stomach homogenate. 

Conclusions - Here we reported for the first time the presence of LEP-like ir in the gut 

of S. canicula. Western Blot analysis showed ir with a band close to 16 kDa in the 

small-spotted catshark stomach, in according to previously reports on LEP in bony fish 

(Gambardella et al., in press). Immunohistochemical results confirm Western Blot 

analysis, showing a specific localization of LEP in the gastric portion. Thus stomach, 

and in particular gastric mucosa, may be considered the common location for LEP 

production in non mammalian vertebrates, as reported by multiple authors (Muruzàbal 

et al., 2002), even if further investigations are required to support this hypothesis. 

References 

DOYON C., DROUIN G., TRUDEAU V.L., MOON T.W. (2001) - Molecular evolution of leptin. 

Gen. Comp. Endocrinol., 124: 188–198. 

GAMBARDELLA C., FERRANDO S., FERRANDO T., RAVERA S., GALLUS L., FASULO S., 

TAGLIAFIERRO G. (in press) - Immunolocalisation of leptin in the digestive system of juvenile 

European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Ital. J. Zool. 

JOHNSON R.M., JOHNSON T.M., LONDRAVILLE R.L. (2000) - Evidence for Leptin Expression 

in Fishes. J. Exp. Zool., 268: 718–724. 

KUROKAWA T., UJI S., SUZUKI T. (2005) - Identification of cDNA coding for a homologue to 

mammalian leptin from pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes. Peptides, 26: 745–750. 

LAEMMLI U.K. (1970) - Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of 

bacteriophage T4. Nature, 227: 680–685. 

SCHWARTZ M.W., WOODS S.C., PORTE J.D., SEELEY R.J., BASKIN D.G. (2000) - Central 

nervous system control of food intake. Nature, 404: 661–671. 

MURUZÀBAL F.J., FRUHBECK G., GÒMEZ-AMBROSI J., ARCHANCO M., BURRELL M.A. 

(2002) - Immunocytochemical detection of leptin in non-mammalian vertebrate stomach. Gen. 

Comp. Endocrinol., 128: 149–152. 

ZHANG Y., PROENCA R., MAFFEI M., BARONE M., LEOPOLD L., FRIEDMAN J.M. (1994) - 

Positional cloning of the mouse obese gene and its human homologue. Nature, 372:425–43. 


225



A. GIOVE, M. MINERVA, P. MAIORANO, G. D’ONGHIA, A. TURSI 

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Bari, 

Via E. Orabona, 4 - 70125 Bari, Italia. 

agnese.giove@gmail.com 

ELASMOBRANCH ASSEMBLAGES IN THE IONIAN SEA 

ASSOCIAZIONI DI ELASMOBRANCHI NEL MAR IONIO 

Abstract – Multivariate analysis was applied to the abundance of elasmobranch species collected in the 

Ionian Sea during eleven trawl surveys carried out from 1996 to 2008. Two main assemblages were 

detected: one regarding the northern sites of the study area, almost exclusively characterized by Galeus 

melastomus and Etmopterus spinax, and the other constituted by the Southern-Calabria and Eastern- 

Sicilian sites, characterized by a greater number of elasmobranch species. 

Key-words: Chondrichthyes, geographical distribution, multivariate analysis, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction - In the Ionian Sea elasmobranch species have been investigated with 

respect to their occurrence, depth distribution and biology (e.g. Sion et al., 2004) while 

very little is known on their geographic distribution pattern. This work provides the 

first contribution to the knowledge on the elasmobranch assemblages in the Ionian Sea. 

Materials and methods - Data were collected between 1996 and 2008 during eleven 

experimental bottom trawl surveys carried out in the North-Western Ionian Sea as part 

of the GRU.N.D. program (Relini, 1998). Catch data of elasmobranches coming from 

470 tows were standardized to the swept area and grouped according to geographic 

zones; replicates for each site were represented by the different surveys in the resulting 

density matrix (N/km 2 ). In order to reduce the effect of extreme data, the matrix was 

fourth root-transformed and Bray-Curtis similarities were estimated between samples. 

Non-metric Multi Dimensional Scaling ordination was applied in order to identify 

groups of sites that could correspond to some geographic distribution pattern. The 

ANOSIM test was applied to evaluate the differences among groups identified. The 

individual species contributions to discriminate and typify the groups were examined 

by means of the PRIMER SIMPER routine (Clarke and Warwick, 2001). 

Results - The MDS ordination of the samples of elasmobranch abundance data 

revealed the presence of two distinct groups (Fig. 1): one corresponding to the sites 

located in the northern region of the study area and another constituted by the 

Southern-Calabria and Eastern-Sicilian sites. The discrimination of these groups was 

confirmed by ANOSIM test (R=0.82; p=0.01). The main contribution to the separation 

of the identified elasmobranch assemblages was due to Galeus melastomus (63.21% 

contribution to dissimilarity) followed by Etmopterus spinax (24.94%). G. melastomus 

proved to be not only the major discriminator of the assemblages, but also the most 

abundant species in both the assemblages, although with a different contribution to 

their intra-group similarities (Fig. 1). The Southern Calabria-Sicilian assemblage, in 

fact, resulted to be characterized by a greater number of elasmobranch species. 


226



Fig. 1 - MDS ordination of the elasmobranch density data and the corresponding zonation of 

assemblages, with indication of the species percentage cumulative contribution to their 

similarity. 

Ordinamento mediante MDS dei dati di densità degli elasmobranchi e zonazione delle 

associazioni corrispondenti, con indicazione del contributo percentuale cumulato alla loro 

similarità. 

Conclusions - A broader spectrum of elasmobranch species was found to characterize 

the southernmost assemblage in the NW Ionian Sea. This result is in agreement with 

previous studies along the Italian coasts (Relini et al., 2000) and could be linked to the 

local environmental conditions, in terms of sea-water temperature, water mass 

circulation and the steep and narrow slope that reduces the extension of trawlable 

bottoms, leading to a lower level of exploitation. These characteristics, coupled with 

the protection areas developed in the last years, seem to favour a higher presence of 

sensitive species as those of the elasmobranches. 

References 

CLARKE K.R., WARWIK R.M. (2001) - Change in marine communities: An approach to statistical 

analysis and interpretation, 2 nd ed. PRIMER-E: Plymouth: 172 pp. 

RELINI G. (1998) - Valutazione delle risorse demersali. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 5: 3-19. 

RELINI G., BIAGI F., SERENA F., BELLUSCIO A., SPEDICATO M.T. RINELLI, P. FOLLESA 

M.C., PICCINETTI C., UNGARO N., SION L., LEVI D. (2000) - I Selaci pescati con lo 

strascico nei mari italiani. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 7: 347-384. 

SION L., BOZZANO A., D’ONGHIA G., CAPEZZUTO F., PANZA M. (2004) - Chondrichthyes 

species in deep waters of the Mediterranean. Sea. Sci. Mar., 68 (3): 153-162. 


227



N. HUMPHRIES, D.W. SIMS 

Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The laboratory, Citadel Hill Plymouth PL1 2PB, England. 

nicmph@mba.ac.uk 

HUNTING FOR PREY IN THE OPEN OCEAN: 

SEARCH PATTERNS OF MARINE PREDATORS 

LA CACCIA DELLA PREDA NELL'OCEANO APERTO: 

I MODELLI DI RICERCA DEI PREDATORI MARINI 

Abstract – An optimal search theory known as the Lévy flight foraging hypothesis predicts predators should 

adopt search strategies known as Lévy flights where prey is sparse and distributed unpredictably. 

Empirical studies have generated controversy because less accurate methods have been used to identify 

Lévy behaviour; consequently whether foragers exhibit Lévy flights in the wild remains unclear. We present 

results from a study using robust statistical methods to test for Lévy flight behaviour from the largest 

dataset of animal movements assembled for this purpose from 19 species of open-ocean predator. 

Key-words: Lévy flight, searching, marine predators. 

Introduction – When searching for sparsely and unpredictably located prey a 

specialised random walk known as a Lévy flight has been shown in theoretical studies 

to be the most efficient movement pattern (Viswanathan et al., 2008). A Lévy flight 

has move step lengths drawn from a power law distribution where the probability of a 

step of length l is defined by P(l)~l -μ , with 113 million move steps. Animals were 

tagged in the NE Atlantic and N Pacific in a range of coastal and off-shore habitats. 

Time series of vertical move displacements were analysed by using rank-frequency 

plots to test goodness of fit and maximum likelihood estimation (Clauset et al., 2009) 

to derive exponents. Movement patterns with Lévy characteristics have exponents (μ) 


228



between 1 and 3. Modelling studies indicate that optimal Lévy flight search patterns 

occur with μ~2 (Viswanathan et al., 1999, 2000). 

Results - While some final analyses are still being drawn together, it is clear from our 

early results on basking shark, bigeye tuna, blue sharks, white tip sharks, leatherback 

turtle and Magellanic penguin that Lévy behaviour is present. We found exponents for 

individuals of these species with μ close to the optimum of 2. Although the analysis is 

not yet complete some interesting differences have been identified between species. In 

particular the billfish and the bigeye thresher shark have Lévy exponents close to 1. 

These species perform diel vertical migrations (Sedberry and Loefer, 2001; Nakano et 

al., 2003), resulting in long vertical displacements as they travel to and from deep 

water which produce low Lévy exponents. It is an interesting confirmation of the 

statistical methods that these known behavioural differences have been correctly 

identified. 

Conclusions – Using electronic tag data recording the diving movements of large 

marine predators such as sharks and tunas, we show evidence for the presence and 

diversity of Lévy behaviour. This provides the most comprehensive and convincing 

support for the idea that organism search strategies evolved to exploit optimal Lévy 

searches. 

References 

BRADSHAW C.J.A., SIMS D.W., HAYS G.C. (2007) - Measurement error causes scale-dependent 

threshold erosion of biological signals in animal movement data. Ecological Applications, 

17:628-638. 

CLAUSET A., SHALIZI C.R., NEWMAN M.E.J. (2009) - Power-Law Distributions in Empirical 

Data. Siam Review, 51: 661-703. 

NAKANO H., MATSUNAGA H., OKAMOTO H., OKAZAKI M. (2004) - Acoustic tracking of 

bigeye thresher shark Alopias superciliosus in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Marine Ecology- 

Progress Series, 265: 255-261. 

SEDBERRY G.R., LOEFER J.K. (2001) - Satellite telemetry tracking of swordfish, Xiphias gladius 

off the eastern United States. Marine Biology, 139: 355-360. 

SIMS D.W., RIGHTON D., PITCHFORD J.W. (2007) - Minimising errors in identifying Lévy flight 

behaviour of organisms., 76: 222-229. 

SIMS D.W., SOUTHALL E.J., HUMPHRIES N.E., HAYS G.C., BRADSHAW C.J.A., 

PITCHFORD J.W., JAMES A., AHMED M.Z., BRIERLEY A.S., HINDELL M.A., MORRITT 

D., MUSYL M.K., RIGHTON D., SHEPARD E.L.C., WEARMOUTH V.J., WILSON R.P., 

WITT M.J., METCALFE J.D. (2008) - Scaling laws of marine predator search behaviour. 

Nature, 451: 1098-1102. 

VISWANATHAN G.M., AFANASYEV V., BULDYREV S.V., HAVLIN S., DA LUZ M.G.E., 

RAPOSO E.P., STANLEY H.E. (2000) - Lévy flights in random searches. Physica, A 282: 1-12. 

VISWANATHAN G.M., BULDYREV S.V., HAVLIN S., DA LUZ M.G.E., RAPOSO E.P., 

STANLEY H.E. (1999) - Optimizing the success of random searches. Nature, 401: 911-914. 

VISWANATHAN G.M., RAPOSO E.P., DA LUZ M.G.E. (2008) - Lévy flights and superdiffusion in 

the context of biological encounters and random searches. Physics of Life Reviews, 5: 133-150. 


229



C. MANFREDI, E. CIAVAGLIA, C. PICCINETTI, N. VRGOČ * 

Laboratory of Marine Biology and Fisheries of Fano, University of Bologna, Viale Adriatico, 1 – 16132 Fano, 

Italy. 

chiara.manfredi3@unibo.it 

* Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split. 

TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF SOME ELASMOBRANCHS 

IN THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ADRIATIC SEA 

DISTRIBUZIONE SPAZIO-TEMPORALE DI ALCUNI ELASMOBRANCHI 

IN ALTO E MEDIO ADRIATICO 

Abstract – Data collected from trawl survey, carried out in the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea, were 

analysed in order to know about the spatial distribution of Myliobatis aquila, Mustelus mustelus, and 

Squalus acanthias. Different distribution patterns between two seasons were detected. 

Key-words: Elasmobranchs, Adriatic Sea, geographical distribution. 

Introduction - Myliobatis aquila (L., 1758), Mustelus mustelus (L., 1758) and Squalus 

acanthias (L., 1758) are three demersal elasmobranchs species widely distributed in the 

Mediterranean. In the Adriatic Sea the smooth-hound lives on sandy and muddy-sandy 

bottom of the continental shelf up to 200 m depth. The spiny dogfish lives in shallow 

waters, especially at 10-200 m depth, but exceptionally it can be also found up to 900 

m. The eagle ray lives on sand and soft substrates up to 100 m in depth, but most often 

down to 50 m (Jardas, 1984). The aim of this work is to analyse their spatial 

distribution and to consider possible seasonal changes. 

Materials and methods – Data were collected in the Northern and Central Adriatic 

from 2001 to 2007; in summer in the framework of the MEDITS project (Bertrand et 

al., 2002) and in autumn-winter in the framework of GRU.N.D. project (Relini, 2000) 

and FAO/AdriaMed Trawl Surveys Program. The sampling gear was an experimental 

bottom trawl in summer surveys and an Italian commercial gear in autumn surveys. In 

both surveys, the sampling design followed a depth-stratified random scheme. Catches 

data were standardised per km 2 . In both seasons abundances per stratum in the three 

sub-area (North Adriatic, Central Adriatic and North East Adriatic-Croatia), as 

provided in the Medits project, were calculated. Statistical comparison of catches were 

carried out per stratum by means of the non-parametric test of Kruskal-Wallis; in the 

event of the H0 hypothesis being refused, a pairwise comparison procedure (test of 

Mann-Whitney) was used to check significant differences between strata. Seasonal 

distribution area was also mapped by means of geostatistical analysis using the 

Indicator Kriging method. All spatial analysis and variography studies were carried out 

using GStat; Arcview GIS 3.2a (Esri) was used for maps production. 

Results – M. aquila was found up to 90 m depth. In summer, highest abundance 

indices were estimated in the stratum 10-50 Croatia; catches in this stratum were 

significantly higher respect to catches in the strata 10-50 North Adriatic and 50-100 

Croatia (posthoc Mann-Withney test, p



up to 170 m. In summer, highest abundance indices were recorded in the stratum 10-50 

Croatia, followed by the 10-50 North Adriatic; catches deeper than 50 m occurred only 

in Croatia. Catches of stratum 10-50 Croatia were significantly higher than other 

positive strata (posthoc Mann-Withney test, p



C. PORCU, A. MULAS, S. CABIDDU, A. GASTONI, M.C. FOLLESA 

Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1 - 09126 Cagliari, Italia. 

cporcu@unica.it 

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE BLONDE RAY RAJA BRACHYURA 

(CHONDRICHTHYES: RAJIDAE) IN SARDINIAN SEAS 

BIOLOGIA RIPRODUTTIVA DI RAJA BRACHYURA 

(CHONDRICHTHYES: RAJIDAE) NEI MARI SARDI 

Abstract – The reproductive biology of Raja brachyura (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) in Sardinian waters was 

analysed. A total of 839 specimens (431 males and 408 females) were collected at depth of 30-175 m in 

2005-2009. Females ranged from 131 to 1055 mm in Total Length and males from 156 to 965 mm. No 

significant differences in size distribution among sexes were detected. Mature females and males were 

found during spring and summer and from winter to summer respectively. Spent specimens were found in 

all seasons except in autumn for females and spring for males. 

Key-words: Rajidae, Raja brachyura, reproduction, Sardinian seas. 

Introduction - The typical low fecundity and late maturity of rajid species make them 

particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure and over exploitation. However, little is 

known about their reproductive biology. The blonde ray Raja brachyura Lafont, 1873 

shows a clear preference for sandy sea bottoms in the upper continental shelf (Serena, 

2005). Generally, it is considered an uncommon species in the Mediterranean (Serena, 

2005), but the observations from Follesa et al. (2003, 2010), Catalano et al. (2007) and 

Ragonese et al. (2003) indicate that the Sardinian coasts and the western Sicily 

represent a zone of the basin where R. brachyura is relatively abundant. 

In the last years, few reproductive data were collected (Catalano et al., 2007). This 

paper provides new and more complete information about the reproductive biology of 

the blonde ray in the Sardinian seas (central western Mediterranean). 

Materials and methods - Specimens of R. brachyura were caught during experimental 

trawl surveys MEDITS and GRUND carried out between 30 and 175 m depth in 2005- 

2009 in Sardinian waters. Each specimen was identified, measured (Total Length, TL 

and Disc Width, DW, mm), and weighted (TW, g). The fishes were sexed following 

the maturity scales of elasmobranchs reported in Relini et al., 2008. In males, the 

length of the claspers (CL, mm) were recorded. 

Results – The length distribution of the blonde ray showed a range in size between 131 

and 1055 mm TL. The females (N=408) ranged between 131 and 1055 mm (329±147, 

mean±SD), while the males (N=431) between156 and 965 mm TL (323±124, 

mean±SD). No significant differences in size distribution among sexes were found 

(Kolmogorov Smirnov, P>0.05). 

The slope of the logarithmic relationship TW-TL among sexes was not significantly 

different (t-test, P>0.01) (Tab. 1). At the same TL, females had higher DW than males 

(linear relationship among sexes was found statistically different (t-test, P



Tab. 1 - Morphometric and reproductive data for males and females of Raja brachyura. 

Dati morfometrici e riproduttivi per maschi e femmine di Raja brachyura. 

MALES FEMALES 

DW and TL 

DW=0.7406*TL-21.847 (R 

relationship 

2 = DW and TL relationship DW=0.7332*TL-16.372 (R 

0.98) 

2 = 

0.99) 

Smallest mature male 845 mm TL Smallest mature female 925 mm TL (with egg cases) 

Largest immature male 710 mm TL Largest immature 

female 

755 mm TL 

TW and TL relationship TW=6*10 -7 *TL 3.3622 (R 2 = 0.98) TW and TL relationship TW=5*10 -7 *TL 3.3962 (R 2 = 0.97) 

The overall SR (males: females) was 1.06:1, not significantly different from the 

expected sex ratio of 1: 1 (χ 2 =0.09; P



H. RACZ LORENZ, G. POLIZZI 1 , B. ZAVA 1 , F. FIORENTINO 2 

South Arenal Grande 2082 - 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay. 

1 Wilderness studi ambientali, Palermo, Italia. 

2 CNR-IAMC Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italia. 

fabio.fiorentino@iamc.cnr.it 

NEW MAXIMUM LENGTHS 

FOR THE STRIPED SMOOTH-HOUND 

MUSTELUS FASCIATUS (GARMAN, 1913) 

(CARCHARHINIFORMES, TRIAKIDAE) 

NUOVE TAGLIE MASSIME 

PER IL MUSTELUS FASCIATUS (GARMAN, 1913) 

(CARCHARHINIFORMES, TRIAKIDAE) 

Abstract – Two valuable specimens (a female of 177 cm total length and a male of 162 cm total length) of 

the striped smooth-hound Mustelus fasciatus were caught by artisanal fisheries off Uruguay coasts in 2007 

and 2009. These specimens reached the largest sizes of the species reported in literature. 

Key-words: Triakidae, Mustelus fasciatus, maximum length, Uruguay, South Western Atlantic. 

Introduction – The Striped smooth-hound Mustelus fasciatus (Garman, 1913) is a 

shark endemic to a restricted area of the inner continental shelf (South Brazil to 

Argentina) in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. High fishing pressure on this species is 

reported in the southern Brazil. In Uruguay M. fasciatus is sporadically caught by local 

fisherman with gillnets and trawlers. This specie was described by Garman in 1913 on 

the basis of juvenile individuals. The first adult specimen was collected in the 

Uruguayan waters (Sadowsky, 1977), and later, a few adult specimens were sited from 

Uruguay and the southern and northern coasts of State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 

(Soto, 2001a). This note reports the largest specimens documented in literature. 

Materials and methods – The two specimens reported in this note were identified 

according to Compagno (1984). The first specimen, a female, was caught on October 

15 th 2007, by trammel net of the fishing boat Lina Valeria III off S. E. Punta del 

Diablo, Rocha, Uruguay (approximate coord. 34°10'S-53°16'W on sandy-muddy 

bottom at 18 m depth (Fig.1a-c). This specimen is stored in a Belgian private 

collection. The second shark, a male, was caught in Pozo de Fango off La Paloma, 

Rocha, (approximate coord. 34°47’50S-53°48’50W) by a trammel net, on November 

15 th 2009, at 70 m depth (Fig. 1d). This specimen will be taxidermies and stored in the 

“Wilderness Studi Ambientali” collection in Palermo. Both specimens were measured 

as total length (cm) and weighted as total weight (kg). Other biometries were taken 

only in female. 

Results – M. fasciatus female was 177 cm total length and 29,7 kg weight. Other 

significant biometries were: Head (41 cm), Trunk (54 cm), Tail (82 cm), Caudal fin 

length (36 cm), Second dorsal fin length (23 cm), Interdorsal space (52 cm), Pectoral 

fin length (25 cm), Precaudal tail (47 cm), Precaudal height (5.5 cm), Dorsal fin base 

(25 cm), Dorsal fin height (14 cm), Pectoral fin base (11 cm), Internasal distance (5.0 

cm), Preoral length (12 cm), Mouth width (12 cm). More than 30 large yolk follicles 


234



were present in the ovary (see Fig. 1b). The male was 162 cm total length; and 17,5 kg 

weight. Both sharks showed a dorsal surface grey-brown, ventral surface light. Brown 

vertical bars are present although not evident as in juveniles. 

Conclusions – The species lives on shelf bottom over a restricted area (1,500 km of 

coastline) of the Southwest Atlantic. Neonates are typically found off beach between 1 

and 5 m depth, juveniles are found in inshore waters between 15 and 50 m, and adults 

are found down to 50 m up to 250 m (Soto, 2001b). According to the literature gravid 

females migrate to the coast at less than 20 m depth to give birth in October-December. 

After they reach depth between 20 and 50 m, where mature males occur for mating. 

The gestation period lasts 11-12 months. This endemic species occurs at low densities. 

Trawl surveys carried out in north Argentina and Uruguay showed that biomass indices 

decreased by 96% from 1994 to 1999. There is serious concern regarding further 

declines in the absence of conservation and enforced management measures. In 2002 

M. fasciatus was classified as a species threatened with extinction. The maximum size 

reported for M. fasciatus are 147 cm TL in males and 158 cm TL in females (Soto, 

2001a; Soto and Mincarone, 2004). The sizes of the specimen reported in this note are 

the largest of the literature (female 177 cm, male 162 cm). The findings of very large 

individuals just three years ago seem in contrast with the much depleted status assessed 

for the stock. This contrasting result might be interpreted as the effect of an increase in 

fishing efficiency to explore/exploit wider and wider fishing-grounds. 

Aknowledgements - We are grateful to the following fisherman: Carlos Sena, Julio Sevallos, Nestor 

and Danubio Oliveira, Punta del Diablo, Rocha, Uruguay. We also thank to Mr. Wilson Enrique 

Veiga who provided the first specimen. 

References 

COMPAGNO L.J.V. (1984) – FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the World. An annoted and 

illustrated catalogue of shark species know to date. Part 2. Carcharhiniformes FAO Fish. Synop. 

(125), 4, 2: 251-655. 

SADOWSKY V. (1977) – Primeiro registro de ocorrencia de especimes adultos de cação-malhado, 

Mustelus fasciatus (Garman, 1913). Ciencia e Cultura (Suppl.), 29 (7): 801. 

SOTO J.M.R. (2001a) – Annotated systematic checklist and bibliography of the coastal and oceanic 

fauna of Brazil. I. Sharks. Mare Magnum, 1 (1): 51-120. 

SOTO J.M.R (2001b) – Distribution and reproductive biology of the Striped smooth-hound Mustelus 

fasciatus (Garman, 1913) (Carcharhiniformes, Triakidae). Mare Magnum, 1 (2): 129-134. 

SOTO J.M.R., MINCARONE M.M. (2004) – Collections of the Museu Oceanografico do Vale do 

Itajai: 1 Catalog of Cartilaginous Fishes. (Mixini, Cephalaspidomorphi, Elasmobranchii, 

Holocephali). Mare Magnum, 2 (1-2): 1-125. 


235



W. ZUPA, M. DONNALOIA, P. GAUDIO, S. INTINI, P. CARBONARA 

COISPA Tecnologia e Ricerca s.c.r.l., Via dei Trulli, 18-20 - 70126 Torre a Mare (BA), Italia. 

zupa@coispa.it 

OCCURRENCE OF LEUCORAJA FULLONICA (LINNAEUS, 1758) 

IN THE SOUTH ADRIATIC SEA 

RITROVAMENTO DI LEUCORAJA FULLONICA (LINNAEUS, 1758) 

NELL’ADRIATICO MERIDIONALE 

Abstract – Ten specimens of Leucoraja fullonica (Rajidae) 3 males and 7 females, were caught during the 

trawl surveys conducted in the South Adriatic Sea in autumn 2008 (GRUND) and spring 2009 (MEDITS). 

Length and weight were comprised respectively from 230 to 760 mm and from 41.5 to 2300 g. Specimens 

were caught in a depth range of 297 and 574 m. 

Key-words: Leucoraja fullonica, South Adriatic Sea, trawl surveys. 

Introduction – In the Mediterranean Sea, skates commonly represent a low valued bycatch 

of the demersal fisheries (Ragonese et al., 2003). However, species of this group 

have generally an important ecological role, as they are top predators. Moreover, lifehistory 

traits, such as large size at first maturity and low fecundity, make the 

populations particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure (Serena, in press). Some of the 

skate species living in restricted areas (Ragonese et al., 2003), such as Leucoraja 

fullonica (Linnaeus, 1758) are actually considered rare in the Mediterranean (Serena, in 

press). 

Materials and methods – Specimens of L. fullonica (Fig. 1) were collected during 

trawl surveys (GRUND, autumn 2008; MEDITS, spring 2009) carried out in the South 

Adriatic Sea (GSA 18). Skates were classified following the guidelines reported by 

Serena (in press), and the following measures were taken: total length (TL), body 

weight (TW), sex and maturity stage. 

Fig. 1 – Female of Leucoraja fullonica caught in the South Adriatic Sea. 

Femmina di Leucoraja fullonica catturata nell’Adriatico meridionale. 

Results – During the two trawl surveys ten specimens of L. fullonica were caught in 

ten different hauls located on the western and eastern side of the South Adriatic Sea at 

297-574 m depth (Tab. 1). Individual length and weight ranged from 230 to 760 mm 

and from 41 to 2300 g. Only three specimens were males, the other seven were 

females. 


236



Conclusions – L. fullonica is generally distributed in the Western Mediterranean Sea 

and in the Atlantic Ocean from Iceland to Madeira and northern Morocco (Stehmann 

and Bürkel, 1984) In the Italian seas, this species was occasionally found in the Strait 

of Sicily (Ragonese et al., 2003), in the South Ligurian and North Tyrrhenian (Serena 

et al., 2003) and in the north-western Ionian Sea (Sion et al., 2003). No occurrence of 

L. fullonica was recorded in the South Adriatic Sea (Marano et al., 2003). This finding 

represents the first record in our area of L. fullonica, a species easily misidentified with 

Leucoraja circularis Couch, 1838 (Serena, in press). Both juveniles and adults were 

found at a bathymetric distribution similar to that reported by other Authors 

(Stehmann, 1990; Serena, in press). Further morphometric and genetic analyses will be 

carried out to better elucidate the phylogenetics of Leucoraja species. 

Tab. 1 – Information on the specimens of Leucoraja fullonica caught in the South Adriatic Sea . (* 

the measure refers to the disc length). 

Informazioni circa gli individui di Leucoraja fullonica catturati nell’Adriatico 

meridionale.(* la misura si riferisce alla lunghezza del disco). 

Geographic coordinates Survey Month Year Weight (g) Length (mm) SEX Maturity Depth (m) 

42°10.32’N – 16°56.76’E GRUNDS December 2008 41 230 M 1 387 

40°00.70’N – 16°59.75’E MEDITS June 2009 191 356 M 1 531.5 

40°22.56’N – 18°36.91’E MEDITS June 2009 200 405 F 1 378 

40°40.80’N – 18°59.69’E MEDITS June 2009 250 190* F 1 522.5 




40°34.69’N – 18°31.43’E GRUNDS December 2008 871 562 F 2 - 

40°06.92’N – 17°00.39’E GRUNDS December 2008 1251 635 M 2 551.5 

41°32.17’N – 17°09.78’E GRUNDS December 2008 2300 760 F 2 554.5 

References 

MARANO C.A., MANFRIN PICCINETTI G., PASOLINI P., TINTI F., UNGARO N. (2003) – 

Annotated checklist of the skates (Chondroichthyes, Rajidae) in the Adriatic sea. Biol. Mar. 

Mediterr., 10 (2): 856-862. 

RAGONESE S., CIGALA F., BIANCHINI M.L., NORRITO G., SINACORI G. (2003) – Annotated 

check list of the skates (Chondrichthyes, Rajidae) in the strait of Sicily (central Mediterranean). 

Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 10 (2): 874-881. 

SERENA F. (2010) - Field identification guide to the rays of the Mediterranean Sea. Guide lines for 

data collection and analysis. Biol Mar. Mediterr., in press. 

SERENA F., MANCUSI C., AUTERI R. (2003) - Annotated check list of the skates (Chondrichthyes, 

Rajidae) in the south Ligurian and north Tyrrhenian sea. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 10 (2): 918-926. 

SION L., D’ONGHIA G., TURSIA., MATARRESE A. (2003) - Annotated check list of the skates 

(Chondrichthyes, Rajidae) in the North-Western Ionian sea. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 10 (2): 935- 

940. 

STEHMANN M., BÜRKEL D.L. (1984) - Rajidae. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. 

Hureau, J. Nielsen, E. Tortonese (eds), Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. 

UNESCO, Paris, 1: 163-196. 

STEHMANN M. (1990) - Rajidae. In: J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post, L. Saldanha (eds), 

Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic. Junta Nacional de Investigaçao Cientifica 

e Tecnológica, Lisbon, Portugal, 1: 29-50. 

Data used in this paper were collected in the Data Collection Framework supported by the Italian 

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policy (MiPAAF) and by the European Commission. 


237


AQUACULTURE COMMITEE 


COMITATO ACQUACOLTURA 


238



A. ADDIS, B. DÍAZ LÓPEZ, S. RABINO, F. FABIANO, J.A. BERNAL SHIRAI 

The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI), V. Diaz, 4 - 07020 Golfo Aranci (OT), Italia. 

alberto.addis@hotmail.it 

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN PRESENCE IN A MARINE FISH FARM 

FROM THE NORTH WESTERN COAST OF SARDINIA 

PRESENZA DEL TURSIOPE PRESSO UN IMPIANTO DI MARICOLTURA 

NELLA COSTA NORD OCCIDENTALE DELLA SARDEGNA 

Abstract – The objective of this study was to determine the main variables that can influence presence and 

abundance of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus Montagu, 1821) near an offshore marine fish farm 

of the North western coast of Sardinia (Gulf of Alghero, Italy). Based on the results obtained in this study, 

we can evidence that same factors influence the seasonal presence of dolphins in offshore fish farm: water 

temperature, water transparency and anthropogenic impact (presence of recreational boats). 

Key-words: marine mammals, aquaculture, habitat use, behaviour. 

Introduction – Mariculture, in particular intensive fish farming, is an activity that has 

grown considerably in the Mediterranean sea over the last twenty years 

(UNEP/MAP/MED POL, 2004). As a consequence, new habitats have been created 

causing a dispersal of organic waste and nutrients that attract numerous predators. 

Several studies have examined the effects of inshore and offshore marine fish farms on 

bottlenose dolphin populations (Diaz Lopez et al., 2005; Watson-Capps & Mann, 

2005; Diaz Lopez & Shirai, 2007). The objective of this study was to identify the main 

variables that can influence presence and abundance of the bottlenose dolphin 

(Tursiops truncatus Montagu, 1821) in proximity of an offshore fish farm located in 

the Gulf of Alghero (North western Sardinia, Italy). 

Materials and methods – This research was carried out from August 2008 to May 

2009 using a 5.10 m motor boat at the fish farming facilities of “La Maricoltura 

Alghero s.n.c.” located in the Gulf of Alghero (40°33.671’ Nord - 008°16.144’ Est; 

Fig. 1). Observations were carried out at intervals of 20 minutes for a total sampling 

effort of 100 hours. The variables considered were: dolphins presence/absence, water 

temperature (°C), water transparency (m), wind speed (m/s), recreational boats and 

gillnets. Data were analyzed with Non-Parametric Multivariate Analysis of Variance 

(NPMANOVA) to test if there were significant differences between presence and 

absence of the bottlenose dolphins in the neighbouring of the fish farm. Principal 

components analysis (PCA) was than used for finding variables which accounted for 

much of the variance. Statistical analyses were performed using Palaentological 

Statistics (PAST) Version 1.35. 

Results – During this study 300 groups of observations (25 during the morning, 25 in 

the afternoon and 25 in the evening, corresponding to 75 samples × season) were 

selected at random among those carried out in total. Dolphins where observed year 

round during the study period in the 22% of the samples analyzed, but there was a clear 

seasonal trend in their occurrence. NPMANOVA detected significant differences and 

PCA showed that the presence of dolphins was related with lower values of water 


239



temperature, water transparency and number of recreational boats (source of 

anthropogenic impact). 

Fig. 1 – Marine offshore fish farm in the Gulf of Alghero. 

Impianto di maricoltura offshore nel Golfo di Alghero. 

Conclusions – This study evidenced the presence of bottlenose dolphins near an 

offshore fish farm in the Gulf of Alghero. Two main factors influenced the seasonal 

occurrence of Tursiops truncatus specimens in the neighbouring of the fish farm: 

environmental variables (i.e. temperature and transparency of the water) and 

anthropogenic impact (i.e. presence of recreational boats). The peak of dolphin 

abundance and their interaction with the fish farm observed during the fall-winter 

seasons could be related to the low availability of food in the Gulf of Alghero. On the 

other hand, higher marine traffic observed during the summer months could negatively 

influence the presence of dolphins in this area. These results can be compared with 

similar studies carried out along the North eastern coast of Sardinia once more 

confirming that bottlenose dolphins can frequently capitalize on aquaculture activities 

in Sardinia Island (Diaz Lopez et al., 2005; Diaz Lopez & Shirai, 2007). 

Acknowledgments - We specially thank “La Maricoltura Alghero s.n.c.” fish farm for fundamentally 

logistic and technical support. 

References 

DIAZ LOPEZ B., BERNAL SHIRAI J.A. (2007) - Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) presence 

and incidental capture in a marine fish farm on the north-eastern coast of Sardinia (Italy). J. Mar. 

Biol. Assoc. U.K., 87: 113-117. 

DIAZ LOPEZ B., MARINI L., POLO F. (2005) - The impact of a fish farm on a bottlenose dolphin 

population in the Mediterranean Sea. Thalassas, 21 (2): 65-70. 

UNEP/MAP/MED POL (2004) - Mariculture in the Mediterranean. MAP Technical Reports Series. 

Athens: UNEP/MAP, 140: 1-80. 

WATSON-CAPPS J.J., MANN J. (2005) - The effects of aquaculture on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops 

sp.) ranging in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Biol. Conserv., 124 (4): 519-526. 


240



G. CARUSO, G. MARICCHIOLO, U. MUGLIA 1 , L. GENOVESE, M.G. DENARO 2 

Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC), CNR, Spianata S. Raineri, 86 – 98122 Messina, Italia. 

gabriella.caruso@iamc.cnr.it 

1 Department of Morphology, Biochemistry, Physiology and Animal Production, University of Messina, Italia. 

2 Department of Life Sciences “M. Malpighi”, University of Messina, Italia. 

CHANGES IN SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF RED PORGY 

PAGRUS PAGRUS DURING A FASTING-REFEEDING EXPERIMENT 

VARIAZIONI DEI PARAMETRI FISIOLOGICI IN PAGRUS PAGRUS 

SOTTOPOSTO A DIGIUNO E RIALIMENTAZIONE 

Abstract – A fasting-refeeding experiment was carried out in red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (Teleostei, Sparidae) 

to assess the effect of a 21 day- starvation period on some physiological parameters. Both haematological 

and biochemical parameters and digestive enzyme patterns were considered. Results showed that starvation 

resulted in a general, although not significant, decrease of digestive enzyme levels, with a recovery to 

initial values after refeeding. No significant changes were observed in both haematological and 

biochemical parameters. 

Key-words: starvation, stress, enzymes, Pagrus pagrus. 

Introduction – Red porgy is a promising species for aquaculture diversification. It is 

known that unbalanced feeding or starvation can result in a stress condition, so the 

study of physiological responses to starvation in farmed species is interesting to 

develop proper management practices (Caruso et al., 2008). Different aspects of the 

physiology of red porgy are unexplored especially those related to stress and digestive 

physiology. This study aimed at investigating the physiological responses of red porgy 

to a short starvation period, followed by re-feeding. The conventional stress indicators 

(cortisol, glucose and haematocrit) and digestive enzymes were monitored up to 15 

days after re-feeding, in order to evaluate the possible recovery of the physiological 

parameters to the pre-fasting levels. 

Materials and methods – Adult red porgy (n=30) (mean weight: 366.0±36.1 g) were 

obtained by a Sicilian fish farm and kept at the IAMC aquaculture plant. After 

acclimation (21 days), fish were divided into two groups, one of which was kept 

starved while the other was fed “ad libitum” with commercial feed. At T0 and T1 

(before and 10 days after starvation, respectively) three fish from each group were 

collected after euthanasia in a lethal dose of MS-222. The starved group was further refed 

up to 20 days; during this period, two other samplings were performed, 7 and 15 

days after re-feeding (T2 and T3, respectively). At each sampling, blood was drawn 

from the caudal vein for the determination of serum cortisol and glucose by 

commercial kits based on ELISA immunoassay and enzymatic colorimetric method 

(GOD-POD), respectively; the haematocrit was determined by a microcentrifugation 

method. Enzyme activities (total proteases, pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, 

carboxypeptidases A and B, amylase, lipase) were measured along the digestive tract 

(stomach, proximal gut, midgut and distal gut), excepting the stomach for lipase only 

(Caruso et al., 2009). Enzyme values were reported as specific enzyme activities 

(U/mg protein). All data were analysed by Student’ t test. 


241



Results and conclusions – Starvation caused a general, although not significant, 

decrease of digestive enzymes, with an earlier recovery (on T2) to initial values for 

total proteases in the midgut and delayed (on T3) for amylase and lipase (Tab. 1). 

Reversibility was also observed in Atlantic salmon (Krogdahl & Bakke-McKellep, 

2005) and in sturgeon and in trout (Furné et al., 2008). No significant changes in 

haematological and biochemical parameters were observed. This suggested the good 

resistance of red porgy to short-term starvation. 

Tab. 1 - Specific digestive enzyme activities (U/mg protein) of Pagrus pagrus. 

Attività specifica (U/mg proteina) degli enzimi digestivi di Pagrus pagrus. 

Starved - refed group Fed group 

Times Stomach Proximal Midgut Distal gut Stomach Proximal Midgut Distal gut 

gut 

gut 

Total proteases 

T0 0,583 0,739 0,336 0,778 

T1 0,468 0,320 0,440 0,465 0,879 1,079 1,041 0,724 

T2 0,617 0,266 0,668 0,430 1,936 1,155 1,145 1,997 

T3 

Amylase 

1,045 0,802 0,911 0,511 2,004 1,676 2,269 2,601 

T0 0,129 0,205 0,026 0,061 

T1 0,021 0,063 0,034 0,007 0,124 0,104 0,040 0,025 

T2 0,017 0,104 0,029 0,018 0,113 0,201 0,044 0,109 

T3 

Lipase 

0,031 0,186 0,026 0,065 0,230 0,297 0,049 0,147 

T0 0,006 0,0008 0,0009 

T1 0,001 0,0002 0,0007 0,001 0,0007 0,0014 

T2 0,001 0,0005 0,0011 0,003 0,0014 0,0071 

T3 0,004 0,0007 0,0036 0,010 0,0101 0,0070 

References 

CARUSO G., DENARO M.G., GENOVESE L. (2009) - Digestive enzymes in some Teleost species 

of interest for Mediterranean aquaculture. The Open Fish Sci. J., 2: 74-86. 

CARUSO G., MARICCHIOLO G., MICALE V., GENOVESE L., CARUSO R., DENARO M.G. 

(2008) - Physiological responses to starvation in European eel (Anguilla anguilla): effects on 

haematological, biochemical, non-specific immune parameters and skin structure. Fish Physiol. 

Biochem. DOI 10.1007/S10695-008-9290-6. 

FURNÈ M., GARCIA-GALLEGO M., HIDALGO M.C., MORALES A.E., DOMEZAIN A., 

DOMEZAIN J., SANZ A. (2008) - Effect of starvation and refeeding on digestive enzymes 

activities in sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii) and trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Comp. Biochem. 

Physiol. Part A, 149: 420-425. 

KROGDHAL A., BAKKE-MCKELLEP A.M. (2005) - Fasting and re-feeding cause rapid changes in 

intestinal tissue mass and digestive enzyme capacities of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). 

Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part A, 141: 450-460. 


242



P. CASTALDI, M. SILVETTI, S. SABA * , R. RUBATTU * , S. DEIANA, A. PAIS * 

Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali Agrarie e Biotecnologie Agroalimentari (Di.S.A.A.B.A.), 

Università degli Studi di Sassari, Viale Italia, 39 – 07100 Sassari, Italia. 

* Sez. di Acquacoltura e Gestione delle Risorse Acquatiche, Dip. di Scienze Zootecniche, Università di Sassari, 

Italia. 

pais@uniss.it 

SEDIMENT FEATURES AND HEAVY METAL LEVELS 

IN FOUR AREAS OF SARDINIA DEVOTED TO BIVALVE CULTURE 

CARATTERISTICHE DEI SEDIMENTI E LIVELLI DI METALLI PESANTI IN 

QUATTRO AREE DELLA SARDEGNA IDONEE ALL’ALLEVAMENTO DEI 

BIVALVI 

Abstract – Sediment characteristics and Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn concentrations were assessed in the 

lagoons of Marceddì, Calich and Porto Pozzo, and in the inner part of the Gulf of Olbia. Sediment of the 

zones examined were quite similar, except for the Calich lagoon that showed the higher content of total 

organic carbon. High values of Cd, Pb and Zn were detected in the sediments of the Marceddì lagoon, 

while remarkable levels of Cu and Mn were found in the Calich lagoon and in the Gulf of Olbia. 

Key-words: sediment pollution, heavy metals, mollusc culture, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction - Bivalve mollusc culture has greatly increased in Italy during the last 

years. Along the Sardinian coasts, besides natural bivalve populations of commercial 

interest, there are a number of areas historically devoted to the mussel (Mytilus 

galloprovincialis) culture (e.g. the Gulf of Olbia; Bussani, 1983), and several other 

zones in which the culture of other bivalve species has been tested (Rossi & Cannas, 

1992). Due to the increasing importance of these aquaculture practices, the purpose of 

this study was to determine heavy metal concentrations in the sediments of some areas 

of Sardinia devoted to bivalve culture. 

Materials and methods – Sediment from four zones in which bivalve molluscs are 

usually fished and/or cultured (i.e. the lagoons of Marceddì, Calich and Porto Pozzo, 

and the inner part of the Gulf of Olbia, respectively) were studied in July 2009. Three 

samples from each location were collected by driving a polycarbonate cylinder (Ø=5.5 

cm) about 30 cm into the bottom soil and retrieving the sediment cores that were then 

frozen and stored for subsequent analysis. Particle size measurements were carried out 

following the method of Gee & Bauder (1986), the pH and electric conductivity (EC) 

values were determined in 1:25 ratio of sediment/distilled water, and total organic 

carbon (TOC) was assessed using the method of Walkley & Black (1934). The total 

concentration of selected heavy metals (i.e. Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn) was determined by 

drying the sediments overnight at 105 °C and digesting them with HNO3 and HCl 

(ratio 1/3) in a microwave Milestone MLS 1200. The heavy metal concentrations were 

detected using a Perkin Elmer Analyst 600 flame atomic absorption spectrometer 

equipped with a HGA-600 graphite furnace. 

Results – General features and heavy metal levels of the sediments examined are 

reported in Tab. 1. Soil features of the four zones were quite similar, except for the 

Calich lagoon that showed the higher values of EC and TOC, and a silty-sand texture. 

The higher concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn were detected in the sediments of the 


243



Marceddì lagoon, followed by those observed in the Calich one. In this latter area, as 

well as in the Gulf of Olbia, remarkable levels of Cu and Mn were also found. Finally, 

in the sediments of the Porto Pozzo lagoon heavy metal concentrations were always 

low. 

Tab. 1 – Sediment features and heavy metal levels (mean±SD) in the four areas examined. 

Caratteristiche dei sedimenti e livelli di metalli pesanti (media±DS) nelle quattro aree 

studiate. 

Marceddì Calich Porto Pozzo Olbia 

pH 8.57±0.04 7.61±0.04 7.60±0.08 8.12±0.15 

EC (mS cm -1 ) 5.59±0.69 18.10±0.79 8.75±0.45 6.67±0.49 

TOC (% DM) 0.15±0.01 1.52±0.06 0.36±0.04 0.26±0.02 

Texture sandy-silt silty-sand sandy-silt sandy-silt 

Cd (mg kg -1 DM) 1.39±0.55 0.10±0.01 0.08±0.02 0.09±0.02 

Cu (mg kg -1 DM) 2.63±0.72 9.56±0.76 1.42±0.39 4.23±0.35 

Mn (mg kg -1 DM) 7.86±0.70 95.58±3.67 18.50±2.15 41.69±4.36 

Pb (mg kg -1 DM) 17.10±3.12 9.86±0.79 2.24±0.51 5.96±0.88 

Zn (mg kg -1 DM) 239.36±27.67 26.80±7.96 - 19.02±1.92 

Conclusions – The results of this study evidenced different sedimentological 

conditions in four Sardinian areas devoted to bivalve culture. In particular, the 

sediments of the Calich lagoon showed the higher level of TOC and Cu, probably due 

to sludge accumulation from wastewater treatment and/or agricultural practices in 

adjacent zones (Ghiglieri et al., 2009). Conversely, the higher concentrations of Cd, Pb 

and Zn recorded in the Marceddì lagoon were almost certainly caused by mine tailings 

and flotation sludges containing critical amounts of heavy metals from a neighbouring 

mining area (Garau et al., 2007). Additional research is therefore needed to evaluate 

heavy metal levels in autochthonous burrowing bivalves of economic importance (e.g. 

Ruditapes decussatus) from these polluted areas. 

References 

BUSSANI M. (1983) - Guida pratica di mitilicoltura. Edagricole, Bologna: 232 pp. 

GARAU G., CASTALDI P., SANTONA L., DEIANA P., MELIS P. (2007) - Influence of red mud, 

zeolite and lime on heavy metal immobilization, culturable heterotrophic microbial populations 

and enzyme activities in a contaminated soil. Geoderma, 142 (1-2): 47-57. 

GEE G.W., BAUDER J.W. (1986) - Particle-size analysis. In: Klute A. (ed), Methods of soil analysis. 

Part 1. Agron. Monogr. 9, 2 nd ed. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI, USA: 383-411. 

GHIGLIERI G., BARBIERI G., VERNIER A., CARLETTI A., DEMURTAS N., PINNA R., 

PITTALIS D. (2009) - Potential risks of nitrate pollution in aquifers from agricultural practices 

in the Nurra region, north-western Sardinia, Italy. J. Hydrol., 379 (3-4): 339-350. 

ROSSI R., CANNAS A. (1992) - Gli stagni sardi dalla pesca tradizionale all’uso di nuove tecnologie. 

Oebalia, 17-2 (suppl.): 1-10. 

WALKLEY A., BLACK I.A. (1934) - An examination of the Detjaref method for determining soil 

organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci., 37 

(1): 29-38. 

Research supported by Fondazione Banco di Sardegna 2009. 


244



A. DI BIASE, M. PIRINI, O. MORDENTI 

Corso di Laurea in Acquacoltura ed Igiene dei Prodotti Ittici (DIMORFIPA), Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, 

Università di Bologna, Viale Vespucci, 2 – 47042 Cesenatico (FC) Italia. 

oliviero.mordenti@unibo.it 

PROVE DI SOMMINISTRAZIONE DI ALIMENTO COMMERCIALE 

SU MYTILUS GALLOPROVINCIALIS IN FASE DI FINISSAGGIO 

TESTS ON COMMERCIAL FEEDING 

MYTILUS GALLOPROVINCIALIS DURING FINISHING 

Abstract – The aim of this research was to obtain specific information about lipid and PUFA content in 

Mytilus galloprovincialis fed in captivity with commercially available products. The product used in the 

trial has been selected among the most commonly algae based feed used in the hatcheries of euryhaline 

fishes. The analyses conducted on the edible part concerned the pre and post feeding quantitative and 

qualitative aspects of lipidic profiles of mussel. The results of the analyses on the lipidic portion of the 

mussels showed a real ability of Mytilus galloprovincialis to digest and metabolize the administered food. 

Key-words: Mytilus galloprovincialis, feeding experiments, lipids, PUFA. 

Introduzione – La molluschicoltura rappresenta la principale voce produttiva 

dell’acquacoltura nazionale ed è basata principalmente sull’allevamento di vongole 

(Ruditapes decussatus e R. philippinarum) e mitili (Mytilus galloprovincialis). Ad 

oggi, a livello commerciale, non è presente alcun mollusco bivalve che abbia una 

composizione nutrizionale pregiata, indotta con pratiche d’allevamento specifiche, tale 

da poterne favorire una collocazione su di un mercato che abbia target ben definito: 

quello dei consumatori di alimenti funzionali che risultano essere in continua 

espansione. In tale ottica, lo sviluppo di un prodotto ittico che in virtù delle proprie 

qualità possa incrementare il reddito del produttore risulta di estrema importanza. Le 

qualità a cui si fa riferimento sono soprattutto quelle di carattere nutrizionale e, nello 

specifico, al contenuto di quella classe di acidi grassi comunemente conosciuta come 

ω-3 (Garrido e Medina, 2002; Pagnucco et al., 1996). A tale proposito, la 

sperimentazione di seguito descritta si propone di mettere a punto una tecnica in grado 

di produrre M. galloprovincialis con caratteristiche nutrizionali esaltate, con 

riferimento al maggior contenuto di PUFA (acidi grassi polinsaturi) e in special modo 

di ω-3. 

Materiali e metodi – Per la prova sono stati predisposti 2 impianti indipendenti di 

piccole dimensioni (capacità 300 l), costituiti ciascuno da 2 vasche in vetro della 

capacità di 150/cad,, un sistema di aerazione ed un sistema di ricircolo esterno. Le 4 

vasche sono state collocate all’interno di un impianto più grande allo scopo di 

condizionare i molluschi alla medesima temperatura di stabulazione, pur mantenendoli 

in ambienti separati. 

In ciascun acquario sono stati posizionati 5 kg di mitili (Mytilus galloprovincialis) 

mantenuti nelle medesime condizioni ambientali (Temperatura dell’acqua di 15 °C e 

salinità del 28‰) per un periodo di acclimatazione di 2 giorni. Successivamente, la 

sperimentazione ha previsto la somministrazione dell’alimento (1% p.v.) in 2 vasche 

(Gruppo A) mentre i mitili stoccati nelle 2 rimanenti (Gruppo C) sono stati mantenuti a 

digiuno per tutta la durata della prova. L’alimento somministrato è stato reperito in 


245



commercio orientando la scelta fra i prodotti a base algale ricchi di PUFA (proteine 

gregge 54%; grassi greggi 15%; HUFA n-3 20mg/g DW) usati dagli aquacoltori nei 

protocolli di alimentazione degli stadi larvali di pesci eurialini. Al termine della fase di 

acclimatazione, e ad intervalli di 12, 24 e 36 ore dalla somministrazione del prodotto 

commerciale, da tutte le vasche sono stati prelevati campioni di molluschi sui quali 

sono state effettuate analisi quali-quantitative della porzione edule. Nello specifico, è 

stata quantificata la frazione lipidica e, mediante gas-cromatografia (Pirini et al., 2002, 

2007), è stata effettuata la valutazione qualitativa del profilo in acidi grassi. 

Risultati – I risultati delle analisi effettuate sulla porzione edule dei mitili hanno 

evidenziano un’effettiva capacità dei molluschi di assimilare l’alimento somministrato. 

Gli esemplari di Mytilus galloprovincialis alimentati (Gruppo A), infatti, rispetto agli 

animali di controllo hanno fatto registrare dopo 24 ore un sensibile incremento del 

contenuto lipidico, da 1.62% a 2.34% (pari al 45% circa), seguito nei periodi successivi 

da aumenti più contenuti, da 1.34% a 1.68% (pari al 25%) dopo 48 ore e da 1.15% a 

1.53% (pari al 33%) dopo 36 ore. 

Tuttavia lo spettro degli acidi grassi non mostra variazioni di rilievo per quanto 

riguarda le percentuali di acidi grassi polinsaturi a lunga catena come EPA e DHA, i 

cui valori pari rispettivamente a 11% e 21% si mantengono costanti nonostante i 

rilevanti apporti dietetici. 

Ciò nonostante si può ritenere che, a seguito delle accresciute quote lipidiche presenti 

negli animali in toto sottoposti ad alimentazione col mangime suddetto, anche il 

quantitativo totale di questi acidi grassi abbia subito un proporzionale aumento, 

assicurando un arricchimento del prodotto importante per la salute umana. 

Conclusioni – La sperimentazione effettuata, seppur di carattere preliminare, ha messo 

in evidenza come Mytilus galloprovincialis sia in grado di assimilare l’alimento 

commerciale somministrato in condizioni di cattività. La tesaurizzazione del contenuto 

lipidico, da cui verosimilmente possono scaturire nell’animale “in toto” maggiori 

quantitativi di PUFA, sembra pertanto rivelare come una tecnica di alimentazione 

controllata possa essere applicata su molluschi bivalvi allo scopo di ottenere alimenti 

funzionali sempre più richiesti dai consumatori maggiormente esigenti. 

References 

GARRIDO J.L., MEDINA I. (2002) - Identification of minor fatty acids in mussels (Mytilus 

galloprovincialis) by GC-MS of their 2-alkenyl-4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives. Anal. Chim. 

Acta, 465 (1-2): 409-416. 

PAGNUCCO C., ARTUSI R., SERRAZANETTI G.P. (1996) - Seasonal variations of lipids and fatty 

acids in samples of Mytilus galloprovincialis and Tapes philippinarum from the Emilia- 

Romagna coastal. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 3 (1): 643-645. 

PIRINI M., MANUZZI M.P., PAGLIARANI A., TROMBETTI F., BORGATTI A.R., VENTRELLA 

V. (2007) - Changes in fatty acid composition of Mytilus galloprovincialis fed on microalgal and 

wheat germ diets. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B: Biochem. Mol. Biol., 147 (4): 616-626. 

PIRINI M., VENTRELLA V., PAGLIARANI A., TROMBETTI F., MANUZZI MP., BORGATTI 

A.R., TRIGARI G. (2002) - NMID fatty acids in bivalve molluscs: which role? Biol. Mar. 

Mediterr., 9 (1): 693-695. 


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A. FABBROCINI, R. D’ADAMO 

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine, UOS Lesina, Via Pola, 4 - 71010 Lesina (FG), 

Italia. 

adele.fabbrocini@fg.ismar.cnr.it 

HISTOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE GONADS OF 

PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS (LMK, 1816) FROM THE SOUTHERN 

ADRIATIC COAST 

ANALISI ISTOLOGICA DELLE GONADI DI PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS 

(LMK, 1816) PROVENIENTI DALLE COSTE DELL’ADRIATICO MERIDIONALE 

Abstract – The histological evaluation of the gonads of Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) 

has been carried out from April to November on specimens sampled along the mid-to-low Adriatic coast. 

The % of individuals with gonads in active gametogenesis never decreased until 50% also in summer 

months, when a resting period would be expected. This continuous presence of individuals with an active 

gametogenesis is very useful in order to set up rearing protocols for a short-term induction of gonad yield 

and gamete maturation. 

Key-words: sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, gonad histology, Gonad Index, reproduction. 

Introduction - In the last years the interest in developing cost-effective ways of 

culturing sea urchins has increased as the world’s wild stocks of many species have 

been affected by unregulated exploitation and by other anthropic activities (Guidetti et 

al., 2003); this is particularly true for Paracentrotus lividus (Lmk, 1816), a macroalgivore 

sea urchin commonly living along the North Atlantic coasts and throughout 

the Mediterranean sea (Sánchez-España et al., 2004), highly valued for its edible 

gonads and whose gametes and embryos are commonly used as a model in 

developmental biology research and as test-species in ecotoxicological bioassays. 

Rearing protocols for the short-term induction of gamete maturation need to take into 

account the different initial reproductive conditions of the sea urchin specimens. As the 

pattern of gonadal growth of P. lividus living in relatively contiguous areas has been 

reported to differ in relation to food availability (Byrne, 1990), aim of this work was 

the histological evaluation of the gonadal growth of P. lividus from the Southern 

Adriatic coast, in order to identify the period in which specimens having early 

developing gametes may be collected for an easier induction of the resumption of 

gametogenesis by manipulating food quality and quantity under controlled rearing 

conditions. 

Materials and methods – Twenty P. lividus adult specimens (horizontal diameter >35 

mm) were hand-collected with the aid of Scuba from the rocky seabed near Termoli 

(41°54’N; 16°10’ E), on the southern Adriatic coast at 6 wk interval from April to 

November. On their arrival in laboratory, urchins were allowed to drip for 5min, 

weighed (0.2 mg accuracy) and then dissected; the gonads were extracted and fresh 

weighed for Gonad Index evaluation: GI = gonads wet weight (g)/urchin wet weight 

(g) ×100. One of the five gonads of each animal was fixed in 10% formalin, embedded 

in paraffin, sectioned at 7 µm and stained with Mayer’s Haemalum/Eosin; the 

reproductive stage was assigned to each using the nomenclature of Spirlet et al., 1998: 

stage I (spent with relict gametes), stage II (spent empty), stage III (recovery), stage 


247



IV (growing), stage V (premature), stage VI (mature), stage VII (partly spawned), 

stage VIII (post spawned). 

Results – As shown in Fig. 1A, the percentage of individuals with gonads in which 

developing gametes were found (stages III to VIII, grey background patterns) was 

more than 90% on April and never decreased until 50% also in summer, when a resting 

period would be expected; on September the percentages of pre-mature and mature 

individuals (V-VII) which had decreased on summer, increased again, being more than 

70% on November. The Gonad Index (Fig. 1B) reflected the gonad conditions, being 

higher on April and September, when gonad ascini were filled of both nutritive 

phagocytes and mature gametes. 

100% 

80% 

60% 

40% 

20% 

0% 

A 

St-I St-II St- III St-IV 

St-V St-VI St-VII St-VIII 

April May July Sept Nov 

0 

B 


248 

14 

12 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

April May July Sept Nov 

Fig. 1 – Gonad reproductive condition (A) and Gonad Index (B) for each sampling time. 

Stadio riproduttivo delle gonadi (A) ed indice gonadico (B) ai vari tempi di campionamento. 

Conclusions – The populations of P. lividus in the Mediterranean area remain mature 

all year, with a brief resting period (stages I-II) from July to September (Sánchez- 

España et al., 2004), being able to “skip” the resting period in presence of high 

availability of food (Byrne, 1990; Spirlet et al., 1998). The specimens here analyzed, 

taken from the mid-to-low Adriatic, exhibit a similar reproductive pattern; the almost 

continuous presence of individuals with an active gametogenesis and the ability of the 

sea urchin gonads in quick responding to abrupt variations in the availability and 

quality of food is of crucial importance in order to set up rearing protocols for a shortterm 

induction of gonad yield and of gamete maturation in controlled conditions. 

References 

BYRNE M. (1990) - Annual reproductive cycles of the commercial sea urchin P. lividus from an 

exposed intertidal and sheltered subtidal habitat on the west coast of Ireland. Mar. Biol., 104: 

275-289. 

GUIDETTI P., FRASCHETTI S., TERLIZZI A., BOERO F. (2003) - Distribution patterns of sea 

urchins and barrens in shallow Mediterranean rocky reefs impacted by the illegal fishering of the 

rock-boring mollusc Lithophaga lithophaga. Mar. Biol., 143: 1135-1142. 

SÁNCHEZ-ESPAÑA A.I., MARTINEZ-PITA I., GARCÌA F.J. (2004) - Gonadal growth and 

reproduction in the commercial sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) 

(Echinodermata: Echinoidea) from Southern Spain. Hydrobiologia, 519: 61-72. 

SPIRLET C., GROSJEAN P., JANGOUX M. (1998) - Reproductive cycle of the echinoid 

Paracentrotus lividus: analysis by means of the maturity index. Invert. Reprod. Develop., 34 (1): 

69-81. 

Research supported by MIUR (Decr. 09.10.02; grant n.143 to dott.ssa A. Fabbrocini).



G. MARICCHIOLO, T. CARUSO, G. CARUSO, L. GENOVESE, S. MIRTO 

Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC), CNR, Spianata S. Raineri, 86 - 98122 Messina, Italia. 

giulia.maricchiolo@iamc.cnr.it 

REARING CONDITIONS AND WELFARE IN DICENTRARCHUS LABRAX: 

A COMPARISON BETWEEN SUBMERGED AND SURFACE CAGES 

VALUTAZIONE DEL BENESSERE IN SPIGOLE (DICENTRARCHUS LABRAX) 

ALLEVATE IN GABBIE DI SUPERFICIE E SOMMERSE 

Abstract – The aim of this study is to investigates growth, haematological, biochemical and immunological 

parameters of European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (Teleostei, Moronidae) farmed in submersible and 

surface cages in order to compare physiological status under different rearing conditions. Results obtained 

suggest mariculture in submerged cages a promising system that allows to minimize stress and that, hence, 

promotes fish welfare. 

Key-words: aquaculture, submergence, sea-cage, fish welfare. 

Introduction – Offshore submersible cages play an important role for Mediterranean 

aquaculture expansion solving several of the substantial operational challenges that 

exist in surface-based fish farming such as those related to heavy storms, algal and 

jellyfish blooms, sea lice infestations, unsuitable temperatures, and biofouling of net 

cages. Moreover, the high concentration of fish confined in surface net cages causing 

repeated attacks by predators (i.e., cormorants) determine death, injury and expose fish 

to a stressful condition. Therefore, we expected submergence may have a positive 

effect on fish welfare. 

Subsurface technologies have been tested in several production experiments but the 

growth and behaviour of fish in submerged cages relative to standard surface systems 

is however largely unknown; objective comparisons of fish performance in 

commercial-scale submerged cages vs. surface cages have only been undertaken for 

short-term, shallow submergences (Dempster et al., 2008, 2009), or for long-term in 

Atlantic salmon (Korsøen et al., 2009). 

The aim of this study is to investigate haematological, biochemical and immunological 

parameters of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) farmed in submersible and 

surface cages in order to compare physiological status under different rearing 

conditions and to validate the efficacy of submersible technology. 

Materials and methods – The study was conducted from January to December 2008 

in the Castellammare Gulf (NW-Mediterranean Sea) in four fish cages (two submerged 

and two surface). The fish cages (2000 m 3 ) were filled, on January 2008, with 75.000 

specimens of D. labrax (initial weight: 28.2±4.3 gr), for each cage. The fish were 

manually fed with a commercial diet twice a day according to the estimated live weight 

and water temperature. 

During the trial, fish were randomly collected on a monthly basis, and total and 

standard length and wet weight were immediately recorded for each specimen, to test 

growth performance, by calculation of the daily specific growth rate (SGRW%) and the 

relative condition factor (Kn, Le Cren, 1951). At three sampling time (February, June, 

September), samples of fish (n=40) were taken to investigate haematological, 

biochemical and immunological parameters. Individuals were taken from the cages and 


249



immediately anaesthetized using 0.1 g/l of tricaine methanesulphonate; careful netting 

and handling were implemented to minimize stress. 

Biochemical parameters were carried out using commercial kits: cortisol: (ELISA 

method); glucose (GOD-POD method); lactate: (LOD-POD method). Haematocrit was 

determined by microhaematocrit capillary tube method by centrifugation at 14000 g for 

5 min. Haemagglutinating activity against sheep erythrocytes were determined in 

serum samples according to Caruso et al. (2005). Lysozyme content was measured, on 

samples of mucus, plasma and kidney, according to plate diffusion method (Ossermann 

and Lawlor, 1966). 

Results and conclusions – No significant differences were shown in specific growth 

rate between the two groups, even if fish cultured in submerged cage reached the 

largest size. 

Main results of this study underline a clear relation between observed changes in 

physiological parameters commonly used as stress and immunocompetence indicators 

in fish (Weendelar Bonga, 1997; Tort et al., 1996) and the cage type. Submergence 

seems to be a favourable condition for sea bass culturing, as evidenced by growth, 

haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters. Particularly, in 

submerged sea bass, serum cortisol and glucose and haematocrit value appeares 

significantly lower than those of surface cages indicating a more welfare. Moreover 

fish of submerged cages also show significant higher value in non-specific haemolytic 

activity and mucus lysozyme, highlighting a positive effect of submergence some 

components of innate immune system. 

References 

CARUSO G., GENOVESE L., MARICCHIOLO G., MODICA A. (2005) – Haematological, 

biochemical and immunological parameters as stress indicators in Dicentarchus labrax and 

Sparus aurata farmed in off-shore cages. Aquaculture International, 1-2: 67-73. 

DEMPSTER T., JUELL J.E., FOSSEIDENGEN J.E., FREDHEIM A., LADER P. (2008) – 

Behaviour and growth of atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) subjected to short-term submergence 

in commercial scale sea-cages. Aquaculture, 276: 103-111. 

DEMPSTER T., KORSØEN O., FOLKEDAL O., JUELL J.E., OPPEDAL F. (2009) – Submergence 

of atlantic salmon (Salmo salar I.) in sea-cages; a potential short-term solution to poor surface 

conditions. Aquaculture, 288: 254-263. 

KORSØEN O.J., DEMPSTER T., FJELLDAL P.G., OPPEDAL F., KRISTIANSEN T.S. (2009) – 

Long-term culture of atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in submerged cages during winter affects 

behaviour, growth and condition. Aquaculture, 276: 103-111. 

LE CREN E.D. (1951) – The length-weight relationship and seasonal cycle in gonad weight and 

condition in the perch (Perca fluviatilis). J. Anim. Ecol., 20: 201-219. 

OSSERMANN E.F., LAWLOR D.P. (1966) – Serum and urinary lysozyme (muramidase) in 

monocytic and monomyelocytic leukaemia. J. Exper. Med., 124: 921-951. 

TORT L., SUNYER J.O., GÓMEZ E., MOLINERO A. (1996) – Crowding stress induces changes in 

serum haemolytic and agglutinating activity in gilthead seabream Sparus aurata. Vet. Immunol. 

Immunopathol., 51: 179-188. 

WEENDELAR-BONGA S.E. (1997) – The stress response in fish. Physiol. Rev., 77: 591-625. 


250



A. PAIS, S. SERRA 1 , S. SABA, F. RAGAZZOLA 2 , A. COSSU 2 

Sezione di Acquacoltura e Gestione delle Risorse Acquatiche, Dipartimento di Scienze Zootecniche, 

Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via E. De Nicola, 9 – 07100 Sassari, Italia. 

pais@uniss.it 

1 AGRIS Sardegna, Dip. per la Ricerca nelle Produzioni Animali, Servizio Risorse Ittiche, Loc. Bonassai (SS), 

Italia. 

2 Dip. di Scienze Botaniche, Ecologiche e Geologiche, Università di Sassari, Italia. 

VARIATIONS OF BIOFOULING COMMUNITIES IN AN OFF-SHORE 

FISH CAGE FARM FROM NORTH-WESTERN SARDINIA 

VARIAZIONI DEL BIOFOULING IN UN ALLEVAMENTO ITTICO IN GABBIE 

OFF-SHORE DELLA SARDEGNA NORD-OCCIDENTALE 

Abstract – Biofouling variations were studied in a fish farming facility near Alghero (Italy) between 

November 2007 and November 2008. Net panels suitable for the settlement of encrusting organisms were 

immersed in cages in which large and small gilthead seabream specimens were reared. Significant 

differences in biofouling biomass and coverage were observed between cages containing fish and controls. 

The results obtained revealed that gilthead seabream can exert a crucial role in controlling biofouling 

growth, independently from its size. 

Key-words: fouling organisms, marine aquaculture, Sparus aurata, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction – Biofouling is a major problem for submerged surfaces (Wahl, 1989), in 

particularly in aquaculture activities (Porter, 1981). These encrusting organisms can 

also be considered as an indicator of fish farming impact (Sarà et al., 2007), even if 

they can be predated (and consequently reduced in biomass and covering percentage) 

by some grazer species (Lodeiros & García, 2004). The present study, therefore, aimed 

to describe variations of biofouling on cage nets of an off-shore fish farm by 

comparing its growth in cages where gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) specimens 

were reared. We postulated that the grazing activities of different-sized fish could 

affect the structure of biofouling. 

Materials and methods – The study was carried out at a fish farming facility in 

Alghero Bay (North western Sardinia, Italy), where custom-made panels (suitable for 

biofouling settlement) were installed on the nets of floating cages in which gilthead 

seabreams of different size were reared. The panels were immersed inside 4 fish 

rearing cages [2 of which containing large (i.e. >150 g, LF) and 2 containing small (i.e. 



inside the cages containing LF, SF and Cs, and Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test was 

performed for post-hoc comparisons (Zar, 2009). 

Results – ANOVA evidenced significant differences in wet weight increment of 

biofouling for ‘Fish size’ and ‘Cage’, as well as for the interaction of both these factors 

with ‘Time’ (Tab. 1). Furthermore, SNK test detected significant differences (pLF=SF 

Conclusions – This study evidenced significant variations of both biomass and 

coverage percentage of biofouling communities in an off-shore Mediterranean fish 

farming facility. In particular, the results obtained revealed that gilthead seabream can 

play a fundamental role in controlling the development of biofouling communities, 

independently from its size. Therefore, the presence of several specimens of Sparus 

aurata inside the rearing cages of a non-grazer fish species (e.g. Dicentrachus labrax) 

could be useful to mitigate the proliferation of biofouling organisms on the cage nets. 

References 

ABRAMOFF M.D., MAGELHAES P.J., RAM S.J. (2004) - Image Processing with ImageJ. 

Biophotonics Int., 11 (7): 36-42. 

LODEIROS C., GARCÍA N. (2004) - The use of sea urchins to control fouling during suspended 

culture of bivalves. Aquaculture, 231 (1-4): 293-298. 

PORTER C. (1981) - Cage culture of gilthead bream (Sparus aurata) at an exposed site on the Red 

Sea. Eur. Maricult. Soc. Spec. Publ., 6: 15-24. 

SARÀ G., LO MARTIRE M., BUFFA G., MANNINO A.M., BADALAMENTI F. (2007) - The 

fouling community as an indicator of fish farming impact in Mediterranean. Aquac. Res., 38 (1): 

66-75. 

WAHL M. (1989) - Marine epibiosis. I. Fouling and antifouling: some basic aspects. Mar. Ecol. 

Prog. Ser., 58: 175-189. 

ZAR J.H. (2009) - Biostatistical analysis. 5 th ed., Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ: 944 pp. 


252



L. PANE, E. GIACCO, G.L. MARIOTTINI, M. FELETTI*, M. STURLA, A. MANDICH 

Dipartimento di Biologia (DIBIO), Università di Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 5 - 16132 Genova, Italia. 

pane@unige.it 

*Regione Liguria, Dip. Agricoltura – Protezione Civile, Ufficio Produzioni Agroalimentari - 16121 Genova, Italia. 

ACCRESCIMENTO DI APHIA MINUTA MEDITERRANEA 

DE BUEN, 1931 IN CONDIZIONI DI LABORATORIO 

GROWTH OF APHIA MINUTA MEDITERRANEA 

DE BUEN, 1931 IN THE LABORATORY 

Abstract – The transparent goby Aphia minuta mediterranea is a neritic species catched through special 

fishery and much in demand on the local market; for this reason, it was recently studied in order to ready 

rearing methodologies in laboratory conditions. In this paper the results obtained during a research 

carried out in the framework of the SFOP - innovative actions - Project are reported. A. minuta was 

observed to grow in captivity, and to reach gonad maturation starting from immature specimens; 

furthermore, the effectiveness of an experimental diet to support fish growth was verified. 

Key-words : Aphia minuta mediterranea, growth, feeding experiments. 

Introduzione – Aphia minuta mediterranea, comunemente nota come rossetto, 

costituisce un’importante risorsa (La Mesa et al., 2005) per la piccola pesca costiera 

ligure (Relini et al., 1998). Questa specie compie il ciclo di sviluppo in acque neritiche 

(Iglesias e Morales-Nin, 2001) e viene catturata utilizzando una rete a maglia fine 

denominata “sciabica”; tale attività, che rientra tra le “pesche speciali”, è autorizzata 

esclusivamente a livello locale e stagionale. L’elevato valore commerciale di A. minuta 

mediterranea ha stimolato recenti ricerche indirizzate alla messa a punto di 

metodologie per il suo allevamento in condizioni controllate di laboratorio (Hervás 

Reina e López Jaime, 2003; Pane et al., 2006), al fine di poter disporre di questa specie 

per un periodo di tempo più ampio rispetto a quello permesso dalla normativa ed anche 

allo scopo di ottenere forme giovanili a fini di ripopolamento. 

Materiali e metodi – Gli esemplari di Aphia minuta mediterranea utilizzati nella 

sperimentazione sono stati catturati, con l’ausilio di imbarcazioni autorizzate, davanti 

alla costa di Sori (Golfo di Genova, Mar Ligure) alla profondità di circa 10 metri. I 

pesci sono stati successivamente trasferiti in laboratorio dove si è proceduto con la fase 

sperimentale di mantenimento degli esemplari sopravvissuti. Per il mantenimento dei 

rossetti sono stati approntati appositi acquari da 200 litri contenenti acqua di mare, la 

cui temperatura è stata gradualmente aumentata da 13±0,5 °C fino ad un massimo di 

20±0,5 °C (valore prossimo all’optimum per la specie). Gli esemplari sono stati 

alimentati utilizzando inizialmente una dieta a base di fitoplancton (Tetraselmis 

suecica, Chlorella minutissima) e di mangime per acquacoltura (Fish Starter Diet P4, 

∅=500-800 μm, Salt Creek City, Utah, USA). È stata inoltre sperimentata una dieta a 

base di nauplii del crostaceo fillopode Artemia salina ed adulti del copepode Tigriopus 

fulvus. 

Risultati – Il trasporto dei rossetti in laboratorio ha causato un’elevata mortalità con 

una sopravvivenza a 10 giorni di circa il 10%; in particolare, due individui sono 

sopravvissuti 51 e 118 giorni rispettivamente. Per l’esemplare sopravvissuto 118 giorni 


253



è stato possibile apprezzare un significativo aumento della lunghezza totale da circa 3,7 

a 4,1 mm e del peso umido da 0,120 a 0,199 g; l’incremento ponderale ha seguito 

quello della temperatura dell’acqua di allevamento. Per quanto riguarda 

l’alimentazione, il mangime commerciale impiegato è risultato idoneo per lo 

svezzamento e l’ingrasso degli avannotti mentre tra i crostacei solo i nauplii di Artemia 

salina, somministrati ad libitum, si sono dimostrati efficaci nell’alimentazione di A. 

minuta mediterranea che ha acquisito progressivamente la sua pigmentazione 

caratteristica. Non sono state osservate malformazioni né a livello della vescica 

natatoria (che ha mostrato un regolare sviluppo) né a livello della colonna vertebrale 

che è risultata normorettilinea con le caratteristiche vertebre “a clessidra” tipiche della 

specie. Per quanto riguarda la maturazione delle gonadi, l’esemplare sopravvissuto 118 

giorni presentava gonadi maschili costituite da lobuli seminiferi ben organizzati e 

delimitati da tessuto connettivo e da piccoli vasi sanguigni; la presenza di numerosi 

spematogoni, spermatociti, spermatidi e di un ridotto numero di spermatozoi liberi nel 

lume dei lobuli indicava che le gonadi erano in via di maturazione. 

Conclusioni – Gli individui mantenuti in allevamento hanno mostrato sempre un 

comportamento vivace ed attivo, per quanto riguarda la capacità natatoria e la ricerca 

del cibo, ed un soddisfacente accrescimento ponderale e dimensionale in funzione della 

temperatura dell’acqua di allevamento. Inoltre, si è confermata la possibilità di impiego 

di cibo vivo per lo svezzamento e si è dimostrata l’adeguatezza del cibo artificiale 

impiegato per la crescita (Hervás Reina e López Jaime, 2003). 

Bibliografia 

HERVÁS REINA J.A., LÓPEZ JAIME J.A. (2003) - El Chanquete (Aphia minuta), Antecedentes, 

Biología y Cultivo Experimental en Málaga. Aula Del Mar De Málaga. CEDMA ED., Málaga, 

España: 1-146. 

IGLESIAS M., MORALES-NIN B. (2001) - Life cycle of the pelagic goby Aphia minuta (Pisces: 

Gobiidae). Sci. Mar., 65 (3): 183-192. 

LA MESA M., ARNERI E., CAPUTO V., IGLESIAS M. (2005) - The transparent goby, Aphia 

minuta: review of biology and fisheries of a paedomorphic European fish. Rev. Fish Biol. Fish., 

15 (1-2): 89-109. 

PANE L., MARIOTTINI G.L., GIACCO E., STURLA M., BERNI P., COSTA M. BAVA S. (2006) - 

Progetto di ricerca “Prove sperimentali di allevamento in cattività di Aphia minuta mediterranea 

De Buen, 1931, allo scopo di studiarne la biologia” (2006) - Relazione - Progetto SFOP – 

Regione Liguria - Strumento Finanziario di Orientamento della Pesca Misure Innovanti: 1-85. 

RELINI G., PALANDRI G., RELINI M., GARIBALDI F., TORCHIA G., CIMA C., MASSARO E., 

PICCONE A., BELLINGERI M. (1998) - Pesca sperimentale del rossetto in Liguria. Biol. Mar. 

Mediterr., 5 (3): 487-502. 


254



I. TRAVERSI, A. MANDICH, A. CEVASCO, E. FATTORE * , C. GENEROSO * , A. MASSARI 

Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Genova, viale Benedetto XV, 5 - 16132 Genova, Italia. 

traversiilaria@gmail.com 

* Istituto Mario Negri, Via Giuseppe La Masa, 19 - 20156 Milano, Italia. 

MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSES 

TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS IN FARMED 

AND WILD EUROPEAN SEABASS (DICENTRARCHUS LABRAX) 

RISPOSTE MORFOLOGICHE E BIOCHIMICHE A CONTAMINANTI 

AMBIENTALI 

IN SPIGOLA (DICENTRARCHUS LABRAX) ALLEVATA E SELVATICA 

Abstract – The presence of environmental pollutants in both wild and cultured fish is cause of concern. The 

European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L., Teleostei, Moronidae) represents one of the most diffused 

marine species cultured in the Mediterranean areas. Aim of this study was to investigate the relationships 

of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (PCDDs and PCDFs), dioxin-like and non dioxinlike 

polychlorinated biphenyl (DL and NDL-PCBs) levels in the muscle of wild and cultured sea bass with 

morphological and enzymatic activities as biochemical biomarkers of exposure. In farmed fish, levels of 

contaminants were lower than those detected in other studies. The low level of contamination was 

confirmed both by enzymatic activities and by gonad, liver and gill morphology showing absence of chronic 

alterations. 

Key-words: environmental pollutants, biomarker, seabass, aquaculture. 

Introduction – Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) 

and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent contaminants widespread in the 

environment and animal tissues (Toft et al., 2003). The integrated use of chemical 

analysis and morphological/biochemical markers of exposure makes it possible to 

study the impact of anthropogenic contaminants and to compare the effects on wild and 

reared fish. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between PCDDs, 

PCDFs, DL-PCBs, NDL-PCBs levels, morphological endpoints in gonads, liver and 

gills and glutathione S-tranferase (GST) and Catalase (CAT) activities as biomarkers of 

exposure (Van der Oost et al., 2003) in wild (Wsb) and farmed (Fsb) European sea 

bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, selected as bioindicator species 

Materials and methods – Farmed D. labrax (n=20; 327.13±57.62 g) were collected, 

from an off-shore fish farm located in the Ligurian sea, while wild specimens (n=8, 

714.7±58.3), were captured nearby the Cinque Terre National Park,both in February- 

March 2009. Fish were measured and weighted and the condition factor (CF: body 

weight (g) ×100/length 3 (cm)) and the hepatosomatic index (HSI; liver weight (in 

g)/body weight (g) ×100) were calculated. Gonad, liver and gill fragments were 

Bouin’s fixed and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. Two series of 4 μm thick sections 

were analyzed for presence/absence of alteration of connective stroma, granulocyte and 

melanomacrophage centres (MMCs) infiltration, haemorrhages, gamete atresia and 

oocytes in testis, for gonads; granulocyte and MMCs infiltration, and lipid deposit in 

hepatocytes, for liver; alteration of primary lamellae and respiratory lamellae, 

haemorrhages, and relative number of chloride cells and mucous cells, for gills. 

Chloride cells were identified by using the mouse raised monoclonal ab-Na, K- 


255



ATPase, 1:100. PCDDs, PCDFs, DL-PCBs and NDL-PCBs were measured in muscle 

with high resolution gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution spectrometry. 

GST and CAT activities were determined in liver (Ferreira et al. 2010). 

Results – The sum of the six NDL-PCB indicators (∑6NDL-PCBs), was 6.28±1.67 and 

2.64±2.48, ng/g whole weight (Ww) in Fsb and Wsb, respectively. The TEQ (2006) DL- 

PCBs (pg/g -1 Ww) in Fsb and Wsb was 0.28±0.22 and 0.68±0.47, respectively. The 

∑TEQ-PCDD/F (pg/g Ww) in Fsb and Wsb were 0.17±0.13. Mean CF (1.5±0.03) and HSI 

(2.38±0.46) values were higher in Fsb than in Wsb (0.98±0.03; 0.97±0.05). All tissues 

were well structured, even if weak increase of the connective stroma texture in the 

testis, moderate increase of lipid vesicles in the hepatocytes and areas with reduction of 

respiratory lamellae in the gills were described in Fsb. Catalase activity measured in 

Fsb was 93 μmol/min/mg protein, higher than in Wsb. No significant differences were 

described for GST among Fsb and Wsb (77.64 and 68.35nmol/min/mg protein, 

respectively). 

Conclusions – The PCB concentrations in Fsb were in the range of those detected in 

other investigations in the Mediterranean Sea. TEQ (2006) DL-PCBs, values were 

significantly lower than the maximum levels allowed by the European Commission 

(EC, 2006) and lower than those measured in Carubelli et al. (2007), whereas the 

∑6NDL-PCBs were comparable. ∑TEQ-PCDD/F were of the same order than that measured in 

Çakıroğulları et al. (2010). CF and HSI were higher in Fsb than in Wsb as expected, 

while no significant differences were described for morphological parameters in Fsb in 

off-shore cages. GST activity in Fsb was not significantly different from that measured 

in Wsb but significantly higher than in other farmed sea bass (Ferreira et al., 2010). 

CAT activity in Fsb was higher than that measured in other farmed sea bass (Ferreira et 

al., 2010), denoting an efficient antioxidant answer. All together, these data confirm 

that currents and water deep are the key factors that increase the quality of the rearing 

environment, facilitating water exchange inside the cages, reducing the organic matter 

sedimentation under the farm and avoiding self-pollution. 

References 

ÇAKIROĞULLARI G.C., KILIÇ D., UÇAR Y. (2010) - Levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins, 

dibenzo-p-furans and polychlorinated biphenyls in farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus 

labrax) and sea bream (Sparus aurata) from Turkey. Food Control, 

doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2010.02.010 

CARUBELLI G., FANELLI R., MARIANI G., NICHETTI S., CROSA G., CALAMARI D., 

FATTORE E. (2007) – PCB contamination in farmed and wild sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax 

L.) from a coastal wetland area in central Italy. Chemosph., 68: 1630-1635. 

EC (2006) – Commission Regualtion (EC) No 199/2006 of 3 February 2006. 

FERREIRA M., CAETANO M., ANTUNES P., GIL O., COSTA J., GIL D., BANDARRA N., 

POUSAO-FERREIRA P., VALE C., REIS-HNRIQUES M. A. (2010) – Assessment of 

contaminants and biomarkers of exposure in wild and farmed sea bass. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf, 

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2010.01.019 

TOFT G., EDWARDS T.M., AATRUP E., GUILLETTE L.J. (2003) – Disturbed sexual 

characteristics in male mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) from a lake contaminated with 

endocrine disruptors. Environ. Health. Perspect., 111: 695-701. 

VAN DER OOST R., BEYER J., VERMEULEN N. P. E. (2003) – Fish bioaccumulation and 

biomarkers in environmental risk assessment: a review. Envir. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 13: 57-149. 


256


BENTHOS COMMITEE 


COMITATO BENTHOS 


257



G. ACCOGLI, F. SEMPRUCCI 1 , R. D’ADDABBO 2 , R. SANDULLI 3 , M. BALSAMO 1 , M. GALLO 2 

Dipartimento di Sanità e Benessere Animale, Università di Bari, 

S.P. per Casamassima km 3 - 70010 Bari, Italia. 

gaccogl@tin.it 

1 Università di Urbino ‘Carlo Bo’, Campus Scientifico, Loc. Crocicchia - 61029 Urbino, Italia. 

2 Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ambientale, Università di Bari, Via Orabona, 4 – 70125 Bari, Italia. 

3 DiSAm, Università di Napoli ‘Parthenope’, Centro Direzionale Is. C4 - 80143 Napoli, Italia. 

BETA-DIVERSITY ON TARDIGRADE FAUNA OF MALDIVIAN 

ISLANDS 

BETA-DIVERSITÁ SULLA FAUNA A TARDIGRADI DELLE ISOLE MALDIVE 

Abstract –The present study was carried out with the aim of improving the knowledge on tardigrade fauna 

of Maldives Archipelago through the analysis of beta diversity. The present results show that Maldivian 

Islands represent an interesting study area for the very rich tardigrade fauna represented by a total record 

of 28 species. The estimation of beta-diversity highlights a high turnover of diversity in the atolls of the 

Maldives and confirms that sediments type may play a key role in determining the species composition of 

the tardigrade fauna. 

Key-words: meiofauna, Tardigrada, beta-diversity, Maldives. 

Introduction –A joint research project on the biodiversity and ecology of meiofauna 

from Maldive Islands has been carried out since 2004 with the aim of widening their 

scanty and fragmentary knowledge (Gallo et al., 2007; Sandulli et al., 2009; Semprucci 

et al., 2009 and references therein). Beta-diversity estimate is largely applied for 

macrofauna assemblages, but quite neglected for the meiofauna ones (Gray, 2000). In 

this study we report the results of a first survey of the beta-diversity of the Maldivian 

tardigrades in order to estimate the turnover in the diversity composition at different 

level (i.e. between the different atolls and sediment types). 

Materials and methods – Overall, 32 stations were sampled at North Ari and South 

Malé Atolls from 0.5 m to 53 m depth. Samples were collected by means of SCUBAdivers 

via hand-coring (corer surface area: 6.2 cm 2 ). Meiofauna were anaesthetized 

with a MgCl2 solution and preserved with 5% neutralized formalin-seawater. Animals 

were extracted from the sediment by decantation technique and all individuals were 

sorted and counted per taxa under a stereomicroscope. Tardigrades were individually 

studied under a compound microscope. The β-diversity (i.e. turnover diversity, 

estimated as % Bray-Curtis dissimilarity; Gray 2000) was calculated using SIMPER 

test (cut-off 50%) and the significance of the differences detected was analysed using 

the Analysis of Similarities (ANOSIM). 

Results and conclusions – Overall, 28 species of tardigrades belonging to 4 families 

and 14 genera were found. ANOSIM showed a significant difference between the 

assemblages of tardigrades of the two atolls (R 2 =0.28; p=0.001) with an overall 

dissimilarity value of 83% (SIMPER). The species that mainly contributed to the 

differences between atolls were Halechiniscus greveni, Batillipes philippinensis, 

Dipodarctus subterraneus, Florarctus hulingsi and Styraconyx nanoqsunguak, which 

were more abundant at South Malé, whereas Batillipes n. sp. and Florarctus n. sp were 

only found at Ari North. Significant differences were detected also when the sediment 


258



types were considered (ANOSIM, R 2 =0.15; p=0.02): in particular the pairwise 

comparisons showed significant differences only between medium-fine vs. coarse 

sands (R 2 =0.20; p=0.02) and fine vs. coarse sands (R 2 =0.20; p=0.04). The species that 

contributed mainly to the differences between fine vs. coarse sands were B. 

philippinensis, S. nanoqsunguak, H. greveni (more abundant in fine sands) and D. 

subterraneus, and Florarctus n. sp. (more abundant in coarse sands). In this study, fine 

sands, that normally does not show very high number of species and individuals, 

showed an unexpected abundance of tardigrades. Instead, the species that especially 

contributed to the differences between medium-fine vs. coarse sands were Batillipes 

n.sp. (more abundant in medium-fine sands), H. greveni, D. subterraneus, Florarctus 

n.sp (more abundant in coarse sands). The finding of H. greveni in all types of 

sediment confirms that this species has a wide adaptability. These results show clearly 

that the β–diversity of tardigrades is more influenced by larger spatial scale than other 

meiofaunal groups such as free-living nematodes (Raes et al., 2007). Conversely, 

tardigrades appeared less affected by small sedimentological variations than 

nematodes, even if significant differences of species composition in relation to this 

environmental parameter were found (Semprucci et al., 2008). The first record of 

Pseudostygarctus rugosus, Tanarctus helleouetae, B. philippinensis, B. dicrocercus 

and B. similis in the Indian Ocean is very remarkable. 

The results of this study show that the composition of tardigrade fauna of Maldive 

Archipelago was generally comparable to those observed in previous studies. These 

islands represent an interesting study area with a total of 28 species found until now. 

Furthermore, β-diversity analysis highlights a high turnover of diversity in Maldive 

Islands and confirms that sediment type may play a key role in determining the species 

composition of the tardigrade fauna. 

References 

GRAY J.S. (2000) - The measurement of marine species diversity, with an application to the benthic 

fauna of the Norwegian continental shelf. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 250: 23-49. 

RAES M., DE TROCH M., NDARO S.G.M., MUTHUMBI A., GUILINI K., VANREUSEL A. 

(2007) - The structuring role of microhabitat type in coral degradation zones: a case study with 

marine nematodes from Kenya and Zanzibar. Coral Reefs, 26: 113-126. 

GALLO M., D’ADDABBO R., DE LEONARDIS C., SANDULLI R., DE ZIO GRIMALDI S. 

(2007) - The diversity of Indian Ocean Heterotardigrada. J. Limnol., 66: 60-64. 

SANDULLI R., D’ADDABBO R., GALLO M., SEMPRUCCI F., COLANTONI P., BALDELLI G., 

BALSAMO M. (2009) - Meiofaunal distribution in relation to different types of habitats (North 

Ari Atoll, Maldive Arcipelago). Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 16 (1): 302-303. 

SEMPRUCCI F., SBROCCA C., BALDELLI G., COLANTONI P., BALSAMO M. (2008) - 

Meiofauna 

biodiversity and ecology of some Maldive lagoons. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 15 (1): 290-291. 

SEMPRUCCI F., SBROCCA C., COLANTONI P., BALDELLI G., SANDULLI R., BALSAMO M. 

(2009) - Meiofauna of three back-reef sandy platforms in Maldive Islands. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 

16 (1): 308-309. 


259



R. BEDINI*, B. BOCCIA, F. BATISTINI, M. PERTUSATI, J. PISTOLESI 

Istituto di Biologia ed Ecologia Marina, Piazza Bovio - 57025 Piombino, Italia. 

museomare@biomare.it 

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY 

OF CRUSTACEA ASSEMBLAGES OF POSIDONIA OCEANICA 

MEADOWS OF NORTHERN TUSCANY 

VARIABILITÀ SPAZIALE E TEMPORALE DEI POPOLAMENTI 

A CROSTACEI DELLE PRATERIE DI POSIDONIA OCEANICA 

DELLA TOSCANA SETTENTRIONALE 

Abstract – The present paper reports data about a study carried out along the northern coasts of Tuscany. 

Crustacea assemblages were sampled four times throughout one-year period at two depths. Results showed 

an interaction between depth and date to determine the composition and abundance of assemblages. 

Key-words: Crustacea, depth, Posidonia oceanica, Tuscany. 

Introduction – Vagile fauna represents an important component of seagrass ecosystem 

(Ledoyer, 1966, 1968). In fact, meadows offer refuge and nutriment to a lot of taxa that 

contribute to create complex trophic nets. Vagile fauna could be highly variable in 

space and time. In fact, vagile fauna normally shows a temporal dynamic related both 

to life cycles of organisms and to changes in the structure of meadows. Patterns of 

spatial variability may be related to depth or other gradients of environmental factors 

acting in the meadows. Crustacea are one of the main taxa of vagile fauna associated to 

seagrasses (Mazzella et al., 1989). The aim of the present paper is to show results of a 

study performed to evaluate patterns of spatial and temporal variability of Crustacea 

assemblages of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadows of Tuscany. 

Materials and methods – The study was carried out along the northern coasts of 

Tuscany, (north-western Mediterranean Sea). Two depth ranges were considered: 5-10 

m (corresponding to the upper limit of meadows) and 20-25 m (corresponding to the 

lower limit of meadows). Samplings were carried out at 4 dates during one-year period. 

For each depth and date, 3 sites were sampled and 3 replicated samples were collected 

in each site. Organisms were sampled by hand-towed net (Gambi & Dappiano, 2003). 

For each sample, taxa were determined and the abundance of each taxon was expressed 

as number of organisms. Data were analyzed by PERMANOVA analysis (Anderson, 

2001) with Depth (shallow vs. deep) as fixed factor, Date (4 levels) as random factor 

crossed to Depth, Site (3 levels) as random factor nested in the interaction between 

Depth and Date. SIMPER test was used to detect species responsible to multivariate 

patterns. 

Results – A total of 85 taxa of Crustacea was found in the meadows. PERMANOVA 

analysis showed a significant interaction between Depth and Date (pseudo-F=2.256, 

P(perm)=0.007). In fact, differences between depths were significant only in springsummer 

dates and differences between dates were significant only in shallow 

assemblages. The SIMPER test showed that Hippolyte inermis, Gnathia maxillaris, 

Palaemon xiphias, Copepoda and Misidiacea were the main taxa contributing to 


260



separate shallow and deep meadows and to create differences between dates. Values of 

the total abundance of organisms per sample were higher in shallow meadows only in 

dates corresponding to spring-summer period; in deep assemblages, no important 

differences were detected among dates. 

50 

45 

40 

35 

30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

S1 S2 S3 S4 D1 D2 D3 D4 

Fig. 1 - Abundance of Crustacea in P. oceanica medows. S=shallow, D= deep; numbers are referred 

to the sampling dates. 

Abbondanza di crostacei nelle preterie di P. oceanica. S=limite superiore, D=limite inferiore; 

i numeri si riferiscono alle date di campionamento. 

Conclusions – The present study confirms the importance of Crustacea assemblages in 

the vagile fauna of Posidonia oceanica meadows. Results showed that assemblages 

changed in relation to a depth gradient, in agreement with previous studies carried out 

in different geographical areas (Mazzella et al., 1989; Gambi et al., 1992); however, 

this pattern was not consistent among different periods within one year. Moreover, 

deep assemblages appeared steady throughout the year, while significant differences in 

species composition and abundance were highlighted in shallow assemblages. 

References 

ANDERSON M.J. (2001) - A new method for a non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance. 

Austr. Ecol., 26: 32-46. 

GAMBI M.C., DAPPIANO M. (2003) – Manuale di metodologie di campionamento e studio del 

benthos marino mediterraneo. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 10 (Suppl.): 1-638. 

GAMBI M.C., LORENTI M., RUSSO G.F., SCIPIONE B., ZUPO V. (1992) – Depth and seasonal 

distribution of some groups of the vagile fauna of the Posidonia oceanica leaf stratum: structural 

and trophic analyses. PSZNI Mar. Ecol., 13: 17-39. 

LEDOYER M. (1966) – Ecologie de la faune vagile des biotopes méditerranées accessibles en 

scaphandre autonome II Données analytiques sur les herbiers de Phanérogames. Rec Trav. St. 

Mar. Endoume, 57: 135-295. 

LEDOYER M. (1968) – Ecologie de la faune vagile des biotopes méditerranées accessibles en 

scaphandre autonome IV Synthèse de l’étude écologique. Rec Trav. St. Mar. Endoume, 60: 125- 

295. 

MAZZELLA L., SCIPIONE B., BUIA M.C. (1989) – Spatio-temporal distribution of algae and 

animal communities in a Posidonia oceanica meadow. PSZNI Mar. Ecol., 10: 107-129. 


261



F. BELCI, R. MUSSAT SARTOR, N. NURRA, D. PESSANI 

Laboratory of Zoology and Marine Biology, Department of Animal and Human Biology, Torino University, Via 

Accademia Albertina, 13 - 10123 Torino, Italia. 

fabio.belci@unito.it 

POPULATION BIOLOGY OF THE HERMIT CRAB 

CESTOPAGURUS TIMIDUS IN TWO POSIDONIA OCEANICA BEDS 

BIOLOGIA DI POPOLAZIONE DEL PAGURO CESTOPAGURUS TIMIDUS 

IN DUE PRATERIE DI POSIDONIA OCEANICA 

Abstract – Two populations of the hermit crabs C. timidus were analyzed as regards population structure, 

sex ratio, size, presence of ovigerous females and juveniles. The specimens were collected in two beds, one 

off Punta Manara (Ligurian sea), the other off Capo Stella (Elba Island), in three periods of the year and at 

seven depths. A direct connection between the status of the bed and the structure of the population is 

hypothesized. The hermit crabs live preferentially in the shallower stations and occupy Bittium latreillii 

shell. 

Key-words: decapods, seagrass bed, population structure, Ligurian Sea, Elba Island. 

Introduction - Inside the hermit crab group living associated with the foliar stratum of 

Posidonia oceanica bed, Cestopagurus timidus (Roux 1830) is considered the most 

abundant species (Borg & Schembri, 2000), even if this little crab lives also on rocky 

bottoms. The relationships between the hermit crab and the P. oceanica environment 

have been already studied by Zupo et al. (1989) and Belci et al. (2010). The aim of this 

work is to analyze the population biology of C. timidus in two posidonia beds, 

similarly exposed but in a different status of health and conservation. 

Materials and methods – The hermit crabs were collected in a P. oceanica bed off 

Punta Manara (P.M.) (Ligurian Sea) and in another off Capo Stella (C.S.) (Elba 

Island), by means of the hand-towed net semi-quantitative technique, in three periods 

(early spring, ES; late spring, LS; autumn, AU), at 7 different depths (from the upper to 

the lower limit). In each station, a sample and its replicate were collected. 

Results – Actually the P.M. bed extends from -5 to -21 m, showing a strong reduction 

of the surface and the withdrawal of the lower limit, now of regressive type. Shoot 

density values are low along the bed, which shows zones of dead matte and increasing 

turbidity. On the contrary, C.S. bed, extending from -5 m to -30 m, shows a progressive 

lower limit and good values of shoot density, especially at the upper limit and the 

intermediate zone. In P.M. bed, 738 specimens were collected, 354 adults (47%), and 

384 juveniles (sex not detectable, 53%). The adult population is made mainly by nonovigerous 

females which in AU reach the 87% of the collected hermit crabs; the 

ovigerous females are present in LS (41% of the hermit crabs) and AU and on the 

whole represent the 11% of all the specimens collected. The males (on the whole 

representing 7% of both communities) are almost absent in ES and LS. In respect to 

depth, the hermit crabs are numerous at -5, -9 (shallower stations) and -15 m 

(intermediate zone of the bed), almost absent near the lower limit (-21 m). The nonovigerous 

females have the least mean size (cephalotoracic shield length) (1.02 mm, 

n=291) compared with males (1.12 mm, n=25) and the ovigerous females (1.30 mm, 


262



n=38); the size differs significantly among the three groups of adults (ANOVA, 

F=38.99, d.f.=2, p



M. BURGASSI, G. PARDI 1 , I. MALVASO 1 , F.S. RENDE, M.L. GRIPPA 2 , F. CINELLI 1 

A.C.S.D.I.S.S.D “Anna Proietti Zolla”, Via Monte Grappa, 28 - 01100 Viterbo, Italia. 

burgamari@hotmail.com; 

1 Department of Biology, Pisa University, Italia. 

2 Url CoNISMa, Department of Biology, Pisa University, Italia. 

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE EPIPHYTIC COMMUNITY 

OF TRANSPLANTED POSIDONIA OCEANICA (L.) DELILE SHOOTS 

STUDIO PRELIMINARE DELLA COMUNITÀ EPIFITA 

DI FASCI TRAPIANTATI DI POSIDONIA OCEANICA (L.) DELILE 

Abstract – In October 2006 an experiment on Posidonia oceanica (Angiospermae) cuttings was undertaken. 

In March 2009, several transplanted cuttings were removed to study if the epiphytic community of 

transplanted shoots and autochthonous shoots seemed different. In this paper we show the preliminary 

results. 

Key-words: epiphytic community, Posidonia oceanica, restoration. 

Introduction - In October 2006, an experiment on new materials for marine restoration 

with Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile was undertaken. Several transplantation devices 

were placed in Cavo Bay (Elba Island), for each device about 20 cuttings of P. 

oceanica were taken away from the nearby natural meadow and placed overtop (Cinelli 

et al., 2007). 

Materials and methods – In March 2009, several transplanted cuttings of P. oceanica 

were removed to study in the laboratory the shoots’ epiphytic community and to verify 

if the epiphytic community of transplanted shoots and autochthonous shoots were 

different. 

In the same site at 7 m deep, 6 areas were selected at random: 3 areas in natural 

meadow of P. oceanica and 3 areas in the transplantation devices. In each area, 3 

vertical shoots were collected at random by SCUBA diving and preserved in 4% 

formalin seawater until the time of examination in the laboratory. 

The whole internal and external faces of the two external leaves per shoot were 

observed utilizing a dissecting microscope and a binocular stereomicroscope. 

All the organisms (both animal and vegetal ones) were identified at species level where 

possible and the coverage for each species was expressed as percentage cover. 

Analysis of variance (2 way ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis that the 

percentage cover of the most abundant species (percentage cover >1%) and richness of 

species differed between transplanted shoots and autochthonous shoots. 

Multivariate analysis of variance based on permutations (PERMANOVA) (Anderson, 

2001) was used to test the hypothesis that epiphytic assemblages differed between 

transplanted shoots and authocthonous shoots. A graphical representation of 

multivariate patterns was obtained by non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS). 

Results - A total of 34 macroalgae (7 Heterokontophyta, 3 Clorophyta, 24 

Rhodophyta) and 23 sessile animal taxa (3 Anellida, 3 Foraminifera, 7 Cnidaria, 8 

Bryozoa, 1 Tunicata, 1 Porifera) were found. 


264



The most abundant macroalgae species were the Phaeophyceae Ascocyclus orbicularis 

(J. Agardh) Kjelman and Sphacelaria sp., the Rhodophyta Acrothamnion preissii 

(Sonder) E.M. Wollaston and Gayliella flaccida (Harvey ex Kutzing) T.O. Cho & L.J. 

McIvor; the most abundant species among the fauna were the Hydrozoa Plumularia 

obliqua (Johnston, 1847), the Bryozoa Electra posidoniae (Gautier, 1957), 

Fenestrulina malusii (Audouin, 1826) and Tubulipora flabellaris (O. Fabricius, 1780) 

and the Foraminifera . 

Concerning the red encrusting algae, it was very difficult to define the percentage 

cover of each present species (Hydrolithon boreale (Foslie) Y.M. Chamberlain, 

Hydrolithon cruciatum (Bressan) Y.M. Chamberlain, Hydrolithon farinosum (J.V. 

Lamouroux) D. Penrose & Y.M. Chamberlain, Pneophyllum fragile (Kutzing, 1843), 

so we defined one group (Hydrolithon- Pneophyllum spp.) which included all species 

of both genera (Giovannetti et al., 2006). 

The results showed that the macroalgal epiphytic assemblage (specific percentage 

cover) is more developed on transplanted shoots than on natural shoots; the result was 

opposite for the animal epiphytic assemblage. Concerning the epiphytic assemblage in 

its totality, the results highlighted that the specific richness was more abundant on 

transplanted shoots. 

ANOVA analysis showed a significant difference between natural and transplanted 

shoots only for Foraminifera and Electra posidoniae. 

PERMANOVA analysis showed a significant difference among natural and 

transplanted shoots and the nMDS ordination of epiphytic assemblage showed 2 

separate groups. 

Conclusions – The results illustrated a possible difference in the structure of 

assemblages of P. oceanica epiphytes between natural and transplanted shoots. 

However, it is necessary to highlight the different shoot density in the two studied 

conditions. Competition for light plays an important role in structuring marine 

communities and there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that light is a primary 

factor influencing algal recruitment and growth (Trautman & Borowitzka, 1999): it is 

likely that the reduced shoot density of artificial meadow (20 shoots/m 2 ) has permitted 

a higher irradiation on the transplanted shoots, which may have influenced the 

epiphytic algal community’s abundance and composition. 

The results obtained suggest that future studies aimed at detecting epiphytic 

community’s difference between natural and transplanted shoots should specifically be 

focused on density shoots and seasonality of sampling. 

References 

ANDERSON M.J. (2001) - A new method for a non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance. 

Aust. Ecol., 26: 32-46. 

CINELLI F.L., BOCCALARO F., CINELLI F., BURGASSI M., PIAZZI L., RENDE F., ZANELLA 

M. (2007) - Utilizzo sperimentale in mare di sistemi tecnici già impiegati dall'ingegneria 

naturalistica terrestre. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 14 (2): 342-343. 

GIOVANNETTI E., MONTEFALCONE M., BIANCHI C.N., MORRI C., ALBERTELLI G. (2006) 

- Structural variability of the epiphytic community in a Posidonia oceanica meadow (Ligurian 

Sea, NW Mediterranean). Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 13 (4): 145-148. 

TRAUTMAN D.A., BOROWITZKA M.A. (1999) - Distribution of the epiphytic organisms on 

Posidonia australis and P. sinuosa, two seagrasses with differing leaf morfology . Mar. Ecol. 

Prog. Ser., 179: 215-229. 


265



S. CARONNI, G. CECCHERELLI 1 , A. NAVONE 2 , A. OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI, 

P. PANZALIS 2 , S. PINNA 1 , N. SECHI 1 

Dipartimento di Ecologia del Territorio, Sezione di Ecologia, Via S. Epifanio, 14 - 27100 Pavia, Italia. 

sarah.caronni@unipv.it 

1 Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche, Ecologiche e Geologiche, Sassari, Italia. 

2 Area Marina Protetta di Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo, Olbia, Italia. 

DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY OF THE BENTHIC MICROALGA 

CHRYSOPHAEUM TAYLORII LEWIS & BRYAN 

FROM NORTHERN TO CENTRAL-EASTERN SARDINIAN COASTS 

DISTRIBUZIONE E DENSITÀ DELLA MICROALGA BENTONICA 

CHRYSOPHAEUM TAYLORII LEWIS & BRYAN DALLE COSTE NORD 

A QUELLE CENTRO ORIENTALI DELLA SARDEGNA 

Abstract – In August 2009 the distribution and density of the alien microalga Chrysophaeum taylorii Lewis 

& Bryan (Pelagophyceae) were investigated on hard benthic substrates in seventeen sites from northern to 

central-eastern Sardinia, in order to estimate the distribution and abundance of this species in the area. 

Key-words: algal blooms, distribution, introduced species, phytobenthos. 

Introduction – Chrysophaeum taylorii Lewis & Bryan is a benthic microalga, typical 

of coral reefs (Schaffelke, 2004), responsible for the production of mucilaginous 

material. In the summer of 2007 hard benthic substrates in Tavolara-Punta Coda 

Cavallo Marine Protected Area (TPCC MPA) and in La Maddalena Marine National 

Park (LM NP) were affected by the first C. taylorii bloom recorded in the 

Mediterranean Sea (Lugliè et al., 2008). Although monitoring activities carried out in 

2008 at TPCC MPA confirmed the presence of the species in this area (Caronni et al., 

2009), no data were available for the rest of the coast, LM NP included. The aim of this 

study is to estimate the occurrence of C. taylorii across several hundreds of kilometres 

of coasts, from LM NP southward along the central-eastern costs of Sardinia. 

Materials and methods – In August 2009, seventeen sites were selected along the 

coast from La Maddalena Archipelago to Arbatax Gulf. At each site two microbenthos 

samples were collected by sucking water and biological material with a cut-off syringe 

from a rocky surface (15 cm 2 ), according to Abbate et al. (2007). All samples were 

collected at 1,5 m of depth, where the highest C. taylorii cell density had been 

previously recorded, and fixed with Lugol’s solution. Cells identification and count 

were performed in two subsamples for each sample according to Utermöhl’s 

sedimentation method (Abbate et al., 2007). A two-way ANOVA (GMAV 5) was used 

to investigate for differences due to the site (17 levels) and to the sample (2 levels) 

nested within site (n=2). 

Results – C. taylorii was found in thirteen of the seventeen investigates sites. The 

microalga was not found in Santo Stefano, Capo Comino, Isolotto Ogliastra and La 

Caletta samples while the highest average densities of the species were recorded in 

Moneta, Porto Ottiolu and Sos Aranzos samples (98343 cells cm -2 ; 80045 cells cm -2 ; 

77937 cells cm -2 respectively). Data about distribution and density of C. taylorii in the 

study area are reported in detail in Tab. 1. 


266



Tab. 1 – C. taylorii densities in the two analysed subsamples (SS) of each sample (S) collected in the 

seventeen study sites. 

Densità di C. taylorii nei due subcampioni (SS) analizzati di ciascun campione (S) raccolto 

nei diciassette siti di campionamento. 

C. taylorii densities (cells cm -2 ) 

S1 S2 

Study site SS1 SS2 SS1 SS2 

Moneta 98251 98134 98511 98476 

Cala Coticcio 34072 34105 33892 33929 

Santo Stefano - - - - 

Porto Palma 943 961 902 913 

Isola delle Bisce 3497 3484 3521 3539 

Li Nibari 21978 21956 21991 21971 

Scoglio dei poveri 6310 6286 6234 6335 

Mortorio 34822 34846 34986 34932 

Marinella 58212 58236 58148 58364 

Sos Aranzos 77983 77948 77895 77921 

Porto San Paolo 6732 6751 6521 6601 

Porto Ottiolu 80104 80158 79821 80095 

La Caletta - - - - 

Capo Comino - - - - 

Cala Gonone 91 85 78 86 

Cala Luna 411 427 459 442 

Isolotto Ogliastra - - - - 

The performed two way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences in the 

microalgae cell densities both between samples (ANOVA, F17,34=6.5 P



S. CARONNI, A. NAVONE * 

Dip.to di Ecologia del Territorio, Sezione di Ecologia, Via S.Epifanio, 14 - 27100 Pavia, Italia. 

sarah.caronni@unipv.it 

* Area Marina Protetta di Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo, Olbia, Italia. 

DENSITY AND SIZE OF THE FAN MUSSEL PINNA NOBILIS 

(LINNEO, 1758) IN TWO DIFFERENTLY PROTECTED ZONES 

OF TAVOLARA-PUNTA CODA CAVALLO MARINE PROTECTED AREA 

DENSITÀ E TAGLIA DEL BIVALVE PINNA NOBILIS 

(LINNEO, 1758) IN DUE ZONE DIVERSAMENTE PROTETTE 

DELL’AMP DI TAVOLARA-PUNTA CODA CAVALLO 

Abstract – In the summer months of 2009 the abundance and the total shell size of the endangered bivalve 

Pinna nobilis (Linneus, 1758) (Mollusca: Bivalvia) were investigated in a partial reserve zone and in a 

general reserve one of the marine protected area of Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo (N-E Sardinia) in order 

to assess the usefulness of stricter environmental protection. 

Key-words: environmental protection, marine parks, rare species, marine molluscs, density. 

Introduction – During the last decades the population of Pinna nobilis (Linneo, 1758), 

the largest Mediterranean bivalve, has been consistently declining (Vicente and 

Moreteau, 1991) as a result of collection by divers (Zavodnik et al., 1991) and 

incidental killing by trawling and anchoring (Centoducati et al., 2007). Consequently 

this fan mussel has been listed as an endangered species and is nowadays under 

protection, according to the European Council Directive 92/43/EEC. The aim of this 

work is to improve the knowledge on the distribution of P. nobilis in the Tavolara- 

Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area and to verify if stricter protection rules 

positively affect the density and the size of this species. 

Materials and methods – Two areas of approximately 500 m 2 near Molara and 

Isolotto Rosso islands, situated respectively in a partial reserve zone (B) and in a 

general reserve (C) one, were chosen for the study because of substrate similarities. In 

each site a 100 m long transect line was drown from the shore perpendicularly to the 

shoreline (Šiletić and Peharda, 2003) and all bivalves in two 2,50 m corridors on either 

side of the transect line were recorded. For each specimen the unburied length and the 

width at sediment level were measured with a multi-calliper similar to the one 

proposed by García-March et al. (2002) and total shell lengths were estimated with 

García-March and Ferrer’s equation (1995). Statistical analyses (MINITAB Student 

Release 12) allow the comparison between the recorded specimens in the two sites. 

Results – In both study sites P. nobilis specimens were found on sandy and cobbled 

substrates, in particular among sea grass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile patches. In the 

summer months of 2009, 29 bivalves were totally counted in the study area; 11 along 

the transect near Isolotto Rosso island (RI) and 18 along the one near Molara island 

(MI). Data about density and total shell length of specimens along the two transects are 

shown in Tab. 1. 


268



Tab. 1 - Sample size (N), density (D), minimum, maximum and mean (with standard deviation) total 

shell length (Lt) of recorded specimens along transects RI (Isolotto Rosso island) and MI 

(Molara island). 

Numero (N), densità (D), lunghezza totale (L t) minima, massima e media (con deviazione 

standard) dei bivalvi individuati nei due transetti RI (Isolotto Rosso) e MI (Isola di Molara). 

Transect N D (ind/m 2 ) Lt min (cm) Lt max (cm) Lt mean + st. dev. (cm) 

RI 11 0,02 8,70 47,33 19,23 + 11,37 

MI 18 0,04 8,86 50,14 31,32 + 15,60 

Statistically significant differences in number and in total shell length of P. nobilis 

specimens along the surveyed transects were shown by the performed unpaired T-test 

(T=-3,36, df=27, P=0,010 and T=2,23, df=27, P=0,034 respectively). 

Conclusions – The presence of juveniles - specimens with a total shell length



B. CRISTO, M. CASU, A. FLORIS 1 , G. CECCHERELLI 2 

Dipartimento di Zoologia e Genetica Evoluzionistica, Università di Sassari, Via F. Muroni, 25 - 07100 Sassari, 

Italia. 

bencris@alice.it 

1 Servizi Generali Presidenza facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Sassari, Via Vienna - 07100 Sassari, 

Italia. 

2 Dip. Scienze Bot., Ecol. e Geol., Università di Sassari, Via F. Muroni, 25 - 07100 Sassari, Italia. 

CONDIZIONE ECOLOGICA DI RUDITAPES DECUSSATUS (VENERIDAE) 

E SUA PRESENZA IN AREE DI RACCOLTA NEL GOLFO DI OLBIA 

ECOLOGICAL STATUS AND OCCURRENCE OF RUDITAPES DECUSSATUS 

(VENERIDAE) IN HARVESTED SITES WITHIN THE GULF OF OLBIA 

Abstract – A pilot study was performed in order to evaluate the ecological status of the clam Ruditapes 

decussatus and its occurrence in specific harvested areas within the Gulf of Olbia. Indeed, since 1998, 

stocks of this clam seems to be decreased, due to intense human harvesting. 

Key-words: Ruditapes decussatus, harvesting. 

Introduzione - Nel Golfo di Olbia lo sfruttamento del lamellibranco fossorio, 

Ruditapes decussatus è sempre stato considerato un lavoro marginale (Chessa et al., 

2005). Con rare eccezioni “l’arte del rampino” non ha mai ricondotto ad una regolare 

professione, bensì ad una estensione al mezzo acqueo di quell’effimera economia di 

raccolta, che, impegnando un’apprezzabile quantità di lavoratori, nella città ha 

contribuito a caratterizzare e consolidare il tessuto sociale. Dal 1998, gli operatori del 

settore (arsellatori), lamentano un progressivo calo nei prelievi, attribuendo le cause al 

sovrasfruttamento relativo all’eccessiva presenza nel numero delle unità operatrici in 

situ. 

A questo proposito, viene qui descritto uno studio preliminare effettuato per stimare la 

condizione ecologica di R. decussatus e la sua presenza relativa alle specifiche aree di 

arsellatura nel Golfo di Olbia. 

Materiali e metodi – Sono state considerate le storiche 21 aree di prelievo del Golfo 

interno di Olbia a partire dall’estremità della fascia costiera nord, seguendo un percorso 

antiorario verso sud. 

Le osservazioni effettuate e i dati raccolti, affrontano l’argomento su due fronti. Il 

primo considera l’intervallo di tempo che dal 1987 si conclude nel 1990. Il secondo 

fronte di indagine è invece relativo al 2009. Ogni area è stata misurata a definire: 

• le presenze delle unità operatrici sia storicamente che attualmente (arsellatori) 

• la quantità storica (1987-1990) prelevata in un’ora di lavoro 

• la quantità attuale (2009) prelevata in un’ora di lavoro 

La raccolta delle arselle è stata effettuata, mediante l’uso manuale del rastrello 

(rampino), con maglia rettangolare 2×1 cm. I dati raccolti, suddivisi in modo da 

considerare 14 giornate (repliche) di ogni mese per ciascun anno considerato, sono 

utilizzati per valutare un eventuale calo della popolazione di R. decussatus nelle aree 

soggette a prelievo. A tale scopo è stata fatta una ANOVA a due fattori (random) 

“mese” e “anno” e un’altra ad un fattore “anno” (4 livelli) per valutare differenze 


270



nell’abbondanza di R. decussatus nel mese di settembre tra le serie storiche con quella 

più recente. 

Risultati – Dalle analisi effettuate per le serie storiche è emersa una differenza 

significativa tra anni (F3,16=5,40 p=0,000) e tra mesi (ANOVA, F16,260=14,36, p=0,000) 

anche se test a posteriori non hanno evidenziato ipotesi alternative. Al contrario, nel 

confronto dell’abbondanza della specie nei mesi di settembre tra anni è emersa una 

significativa differenza (ANOVA, F3,52 =62,14, p=0,0000) supportata poi da un test 

SNK che ha evidenziato una significativa diminuzione nell’ultimo anno considerato. 

Conclusioni – Le osservazioni anche se preliminari effettuate in questo studio, 

suggeriscono che il progressivo decremento nei prelievi di R. decussatus nel golfo 

interno di Olbia, presenta in realtà un quadro estremamente complesso manifestante la 

presenza di numerosi fattori disturbanti che persistono negli anni. Più che 

nell’eccessivo numero di arsellatori, le osservazioni implicano gli impatti nelle 

discutibili attività umane che hanno alterato l’aspetto della ria, realizzando nel tempo 

una conformazione tendente alla riduzione degli spazi acquei. Inoltre, la cospicua 

sedimentazione, apportata dai dragaggi del canale naturale che determina la zona 

assiale del Golfo e alla realizzazione di numerosi banchinamenti, aumentando la 

concentrazione nell’acqua di materiale sospeso, hanno comportato un’ulteriore 

mutamento della quantità della luce che raggiunge i fondali con effetti negativi sul 

pabulum. La presenza della specie alloctona ed antagonista R. philippinarum, la cui 

presenza è stata rinvenuta in tutte le aree di studio con una percentuale media del 4%, è 

ritenuta un ulteriore fattore biotico di disturbo unitamente (Chessa et al., 2005), a 

Musculista senhousia (Mytilidae) bivalve, anch’esso alloctono (Munari et al.,2004). 

Bibliografia 

CHESSA L., PAESANTI F., PAIS A., SCARDI M., SERRA S., VITALE L. (2005) – Perspectives 

for development of low impact aquaculture in a Western Mediterranean lagoon: the case of the 

carpet clam T. decussatus. Aquaculture International, 13: 147-155. 

MUNARI C., CANNAS A., ROSSI R., MISTRI M. (2004) - Musculista senhousia (Bivalvia, 

Mytilidae): elemento strutturante o destrutturante la comunità macrobentonica? 14 th Meeting of 

the Italian Society of Ecology, 4-6 October 2004, Siena. 


271



F. ESPOSITO, L. RIBERO, R. MUSSAT SARTOR, N. NURRA, D. PESSANI 

Laboratorio di Zoologia e Biologia Marina, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell’Uomo, Università di Torino, 

Via Accademia Albertina, 13 – 10123 Torino, Italia. 

daniela.pessani@unito.it 

GASTROPODS AND POLYCHAETES IN THE UPPER 

INFRALITTORAL ZONE OF ENFOLA ISTMUS (ELBA ISLAND): 

NEW RECORDS AND REVIEW OF NOMENCLATURE 

GASTEROPODI E POLICHETI NELL’INFRALITORALE 

DELL’ISTMO DELL’ENFOLA (ISOLA D’ELBA): 

NUOVE SEGNALAZIONI E REVISIONE DELLA NOMENCLATURA 

Abstract – Two species of Gastropods, Alvania pagodula and Rissoa decorata, never reported in Northern 

Tirrhenyan Sea, have been collected at Enfola istmus (Elba island) on hard substratum (meso- and upper 

infralittoral). Besides, the work proposes the review of the nomenclature in regard to the Polychaetes 

Eulalia viridis and Nereis zonata. 

Keywords: Gastropods, Polychaetes, biodiversity, Elba Island. 

Introduction – Enfola Promontory is connected to Elba Island by an istmus, with sides 

arranged in direction N-S. The aim of the work is the census of Gastropods and 

Polychaetes of the benthic community in mesolittoral and upper infralittoral of 

northern and southern sides of the istmus. 

Materials and methods – The methodology used for the study of the hard bottom 

benthic communities is the scraping sampling on a standard area (400 cm 2 ). A sample 

and its replicate were collected at a maximum depth of 1 m, in 4 stations, in May and 

September 2008, in the northern and southern side of the itsmus obtaining on the whole 

sixteen samples (and 16 replicates). 

Results – The northern area is facing directly the open sea (high hydrodinamism); the 

southern one is located into Viticcio Gulf (low hydrodinamism). 

In the hard bottom biocoenosis of photophilous algae, 37 species of Mollusca and 49 of 

Polychaetes for the northern area and 63 species of Mollusca and 73 of Polychaetes for 

the southern one were collected. 

In the northern area the finding of 3 specimens of Alvania pagodula (September) and 2 

of Rissoa decorata (September) is noticeable: the species are not present in the 

checklist of the Italian marine fauna (Oliverio et al., 2008) for the biogeopraphical 

sectors 1 and 2. The specimens belonging to the two species were photographed and 

measured (L=lenght, w=width; sL=stoma lenght; sw=stoma width). 

Alvania pagodula Philippi 1846. Specimen 1: L=2.0 mm, w=1.1 mm, sL=0.8 mm, 

sw=0.5 mm. Specimen 2: L=2.4 mm, w=1.0 mm, sL=0.7 mm, sw=0.6 mm. Specimen 

3: L=2.1 mm, w=1.0 mm, sL=0.8 mm, sw=0.7 mm. 

Rissoa decorata (Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1884). Specimen 1: L=2.8 mm, 

w=1.1 mm, sL=1.2 mm, sw=0.9 mm. Specimen 2: L=2.0 mm, w=1.1 mm, sL=0.8 mm, 

sw=0.6 mm. 

In September 2008 also 6 specimens of the Polychaete Phyllodocide Eulalia viridis 

(sensu Fauvel, 1923) were found, 3 in the northern area, 3 in the southern one. This 


272



species is absent in the checklist of the Italian marine fauna (Castelli et al., 2008) in the 

sectors 1 e 2. The species has been already reported in Elba area, for instance by 

Bianchi et al. (2003) and Lardicci et al. (1990). According to Bonse et al. (1996) 

Eulalia viridis proved to be a complex of semispecies: E. viridis, E. clavigera and E. 

aurea. The careful observation of the Enfola specimens allows to attribute them to E. 

clavigera, a Mediterranean species: on the contrary E. viridis is considered typical of 

the Northern Europe seas. 

Five specimens of the Nereididae Nereis zonata were sampled in the northern area and 

44 in the southern one, in May and September. This species is considered today a 

synonym of Nereis pulsatoria (Viétez et al., 2004), absent instead in the checklist of 

the Italian marine fauna (Castelli et al., 2008). 

Conclusions – As regards the two species of Gastropods, their presence in northern 

sector of the Mediterranean sea can be attributed to the temperature increase of the 

shallow waters. 

With respect to the Polychaetes the review of nomenclature and the adjustment of the 

checklist of the Italian marine fauna would be advisable, to avoid possible confusion. 

References 

BIANCHI C.N., CEPPODOMO I., NICCOLAI I., ALIANI S., DE RANIERI S., ABBIATI M., 

DELL’AMICO F., MORRI C. (2004) - Benthos dei mari Toscani II: Isola d’Elba - Montecristo 

(Crociera ENEA 1986). In: Arcipelago Toscano. Studio oceanografico, sedimentologico, 

geochimico e biologico. Serie studi ambientali (ENEA): 291-315. 

BONSE S., SCHMIDT H., EIBYE-JACOBSEN D., WESTHEIDE W. (1996) - Eulalia viridis 

(Polychaeta:Phyllodocidae) is a complex of two species in northern Europe: results from 

biochemical and morphological analysis. Cah. Biol. Mar., 37: 33-48. 

CASTELLI A., BIANCHI C.N., CANTONE G., CINAR M.E., GAMBI M.G., GIANGRANDE A., 

IRACI SARERI D., LANERA P., LICCIANO M., MUSCO L., SANFILIPPO R., SIMONINI R. 

(2008) - Annelida Polychaeta. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 15 (Suppl.): 323-373. 

FAUVEL P. (1923) - Faune de France 5. Polychètes errantes. Fédération française de Sciences 

Naturalles. Office central de faunistique, Paris: 488 pp. 

LARDICCI C., MORRI C., BIANCHI C.N., CASTELLI A. (1990) - Considerazioni biogeografiche 

sui Policheti delle coste Toscane: nota preliminare. Oebalia (Suppl.), 16 (1): 123-131. 

OLIVERIO M., GIANNUZZI-SAVELLI R., GIOVINE F., MANGANELLI G., PUSATORI F., 

SABELLI B., SPADA G. (2008) - Gastropoda Prosobranchia. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 15 (Suppl.): 

235-278. 

VIÉTEZ J.M., ALÓS C., PARAPAR J., BESTEIRO C., MOREIRA J., NÚÑEZ J., LABORDA A.J., 

SAN MARTÍN G. (2004) - Fauna iberica, Annelida, Polychaeta I. Vol. 25. Museo Nacional de 

Ciencias Naturales. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid: 530 pp. 


273



A. FALACE, G. ALONGI 1 , A. SPAGNOLO 2 , G. FABI 2 

Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Univ. Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 10 - 34127 Trieste, Italia. 

falace@univ.trieste.it 

1 Dip. di Botanica, Univ. Catania, Via A. Longo, 19 - 95125 Catania, Italia. 

2 CNR-ISMAR Ancona Largo Fiera della Pesca - 60125 Ancona, Italia. 

SEGNALAZIONE DI MACROALGHE NON-INDIGENE 

NEL PORTO DI ANCONA (MEDIO ADRIATICO) 

RECORDS OF NON-INDIGENOUS MACROALGAE 

IN THE ANCONA HARBOUR (MIDDLE ADRIATIC) 

Abstract – The first record of Antithamnion hubbsii E.Y. Dawson, Grateloupia turuturu Yamada and 

Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt in the Ancona Harbour (Middle Adriatic) is reported. These nonindigenous 

macroalgae have colonized the hard substrata of the harbour, probably introduced by 

international shipping, in the ballast water or by hull-fouling. At the moment there is not evidence of their 

occurrence on surrounding natural rocky substrata. 

Key-words: non-indigenous species, Antithamnion hubbsii, Grateloupia turuturu, Sargassum muticum, 

middle Adriatic. 

Introduzione - Il rinvenimento di specie non-indigene (NIS) in ambienti confinati e 

aree portuali è una forma di inquinamento biologico ormai ricorrente in tutto il mondo 

(Zenetos et al., 2005). I principali vettori di introduzione sono il trasporto navale, 

l’acquacoltura e il ripopolamento e le conseguenze associate alla loro introduzione 

sono la riduzione della biodiversità e le alterazioni del funzionamento degli ecosistemi 

e delle attività produttive (Boudouresque e Verlaque, 2002). 

Nel presente lavoro viene riportata la segnalazione di tre NIS nuove per il Medio 

Adriatico: Antithamnion hubbsii E.Y. Dawson, Grateloupia turuturu Yamada e 

Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt. Queste specie sono state segnalate per la prima 

volta in Italia nella laguna di Venezia, rispettivamente da Curiel et al. (1996) come A. 

pectinatum (Montagne) Brauner ex Athanasiadis et Tittley, Solazzi et al. (1991-1994) 

come G. doryphora (Montagne) M. Howe e Gargiulo et al. (1992), e sembra che 

abbiano come principale vettore di introduzione la molluschicoltura (Cormaci et al., 

2004). Finora la loro distribuzione è stata limitata alla Laguna veneta, ad eccezione di 

G. turuturu recentemente segnalata anche nel Mar Piccolo di Taranto (Cecere e 

Petrocelli, 2007). 

Materiali e metodi – Nel maggio 2009, nell’ambito di uno studio di caratterizzazione 

del Porto di Ancona, sono stati effettuati rilievi biologici mediante grattaggi (20×20 

cm), presso 8 banchine scelte in modo casuale. A seconda della profondità, sono stati 

raccolti campioni in uno o due siti per banchina, conservati in formaldeide diluita al 

5%. 

Risultati – In totale sono stati censiti 39 taxa macroalgali (26 Rhodophyta, 7 

Ochrophyta e 6 Chlorophyta); tra questi viene segnalata per la prima volta nel Medio 

Adriatico la presenza di A. hubbsii, G. turuturu, e S. muticum. Gli esemplari di A. 

hubbsii sono stati campionati in 4 stazioni a profondità compresa tra -0,2 e -4 m. I talli 

di G. turuturu sono stati raccolti su gusci di mitili e substrati duri in una stazione 

riparata del porto a -1 m di profondità. Gli esemplari, pur presentando elevato 


274



polimorfismo, erano caratterizzati da lamine a margini interi o comunque con poche 

proliferazioni e dimensioni medie di 30 cm. I talli di S. muticum, alcuni dei quali 

densamente epifitati, sono stati ritrovati su un fondo fangoso, tra i massi di una 

scogliera di un molo esterno, alla profondità -9 m. Non sono stati osservati talli fertili. 

Conclusioni – Il ritrovamento di queste NIS nel Porto di Ancona, dove probabilmente 

sono state introdotte mediante le carene di imbarcazioni e le acque di zavorra, sembra 

indicare un ampliamento dei loro areali di distribuzione. Sarebbe interessante valutare 

se la presenza di queste specie è limitata ad ambienti confinati e aree portuali o se sono 

più ampiamente diffuse in aree limitrofe il porto o sui substrati naturali del Conero. 

L’assenza di studi floristici recenti ed estensivi nel Medio Adriatico non consente di 

affermare o escludere con certezza tale ipotesi. Ulteriori indagini sono dunque 

necessarie per comprendere se queste specie siano stabilmente insediate nel bacino 

portuale e/o nelle aree limitrofe e per studiarne la fenologia morfologica e riproduttiva. 

Bibliografia 

BOUDOURESQUE C.F.,VERLAQUE M. (2002) - Biological pollution in the Mediterranean Sea: 

invasive versus introduced macrophytes. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 44: 32-38. 

CECERE E., PETROCELLI A. (2007) - Prima segnalazione di Grateloupia turuturu nel Mar Piccolo 

di Taranto. Riunione Annuale del Gruppo di Lavoro per l'Algologia della Società Botanica 

Italiana: 43. 

CORMACI M., FURNARI G., GIACCONE G., SERIO D. (2004) - Alien Macrophytes in the 

Mediterranean Sea: A rewiew. Recent Research Development Environmental Biology, 1: 153- 

202. 

CURIEL D., MARZOCCHI M., BELLEMO G. (1996) – First report of fertile Antithamnion 

pectinatum (Ceramiales, Rhodophyceae) in the North Adriatic sea (Lagoon of Venice, Italy). 

Bot. Mar., 39: 19-22. 

GARGIULO G.M., DE MASI F., TRIPODI G. (1992) – Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt 

(Phaeophyta, Fucales) is spreading in the lagoon of Venice (Northern Adriatic Sea). Giorn. Bot. 

Ital., 126: 259. 

SOLAZZI A., CURIEL D., CHIOZZOTTO E. (1991/94) – Flora macroalgale di fondali mobili 

(paludi e velme) della laguna di Venezia. Nova Thalassia, 12: 59-68. 

ZENETOS A., CINAR M.E., PANCUCCI-PAPADOPOULOU M.A., HARMELIN J.G., FURNARI 

G., ANDALORO F., BELLOU N., STREFTARIS N., ZIBROWIUS H. (2005) – Annotated list 

of marine alien species in the Mediterranean with records of the worst invasive species. Medit. 

Mar. Sci., 6: 63-118. 


275



M.C. MANGANO, A. COSENTINO, F. DE DOMENICO, N. SPANÒ 

Dip.to di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia Marina, Università di Messina, Salita Sperone, 31 - 98166 Messina, Italia. 

mmangano@unime.com 

ANTEDON MEDITERRANEA (ECHINODERMATA: CRINOIDEA) AS 

HOST OF COMMENSAL SUBADYTE PELLUCIDA (ANELLIDA: 

POLYCHAETA) 

ANTEDON MEDITERRANEA (ECHINODERMATA: CRINOIDEA) OSPITE 

DEL COMMENSALE SUBADYTE PELLUCIDA (ANELLIDA: POLYCHAETA) 

Abstract – The Mediterranean endemic comatulid Antedon mediterranea (Echinodermata: Crinoidea) is 

herein reported as host for symbiotic Subadyte pellucida (Annelida, Polychaeta: Polynoidae). Three adult 

specimens were found on two crinoids, positioned on the oral surface or on the brachial pinnules. A mating 

couple was confirmed by presence of cohesive egg masses in the mid parapodial region of the smaller 

specimen; some potential implications of reproductive strategy for this ectosymbiotic scaleworm are 

discussed. 

Key-words: Polynoidae, Comatulidae, symbiosis, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction – Symbiotic relationships involving echinoderms are well known and 

supported by a wide litterature. Physical protection, exploitation of new substrates and 

alternative trophic pathways related to the different habitats of the hosts may favour the 

establishment of these associations (Coppard and Campbell, 2004). Although 

Asterophylia, Hololepidella, Paradyte and Subadyte, are known to be associated to 

crinoids (Barel and Kramer, 1977; Martin and Britayev, 1998), the knowledge of these 

associations in the Mediterranean Sea is scanty. In this paper some information on 

Antedon mediterranea (Lamarck, 1816) and Subadyte pellucida (Ehlers, 1864) 

association, from Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, were reported. 

Materials and methods – Four A. mediterranea were collected in Capo d’Orlando 

(Sicilian coasts, Southern Tyrrhenian Sea) by trammel net at 59 meters of depth in 

autumn 2008 and two of them were found hosted by S. pellucida. The crinoids were 

fixed with ethanol 70°. The life position of scaleworm specimens on the crinoid host 

and their main morphological characters were subsequently assessed by means of light 

microscope equipped with micrometric ocular. 

Results – Three adults of S. pellucida were found on two A. mediterranea. Two 

incomplete polynoids (18 and 11 segments respectively) were found on the same host 

at the level of pinnules. The larger specimen showed a marked colouration pattern (Fig. 

1A); the smaller was an ovigerous female, with compact sub-spherical egg masses 

attached on the dorsal parapodial surface, beneath the elytrae (Fig. 1B and 1C) at least 

on some parapodia. The two individuals probably constituted a mating couple. The 

third smaller specimen was recorded alone on its host, positioned on its oral surface; it 

was also incomplete (30 segments) and almost colourless. The occurrence of a mature 

couple is a not common feature in polychaetes, and in polynoids particularly (Martin 

and Britayev, 1998). Some polynoids are known to bring embrios beneath elitrae 

(Daly, 1972). The peculiar external position of egg mass let to suppose that fertilized 

eggs may be preciously brooded by females, but this hypothesis needs more accurate 


276



investigations on live specimens, also to exclude possible artefacts of sampling and 

preservation. This aspect besides demonstrated that crinoids behave not as simple 

support for feeding or mimetic refuge, but as a basibiont wherein facultative or more 

specialized symbiotic worms develops their own biological cycle. 

Fig. 1 - Subadyte pellucida: A) Colour pattern of the larger specimen. B) Egg mass attached to the 

upper notopodial surface (female, XII chaetiger). C) Magnification of the egg mass showing 

an oocyte nucleus (top arrow) and the attaching ‘peduncle’ (down arrow) (photo Andrea 

Potoschi). 

Subadyte pellucida: A) Colorazione caratteristica dell’esemplare più grande. B) Massa 

ovigera attaccata alla superficie superiore dei notopodi (femmina, XII setigero). C) 

Ingrandimento della massa ovigera che mostra un nucleo dell’ovocita (freccia in alto) ed il 

peduncolo d’attacco (freccia in basso). 

Conclusions – This is the first record of the association between Antedon mediterranea 

and Subadyte pellucida regarding to Italian seas. Moreover, this note aims to 

emphasize the presence of a reproductive couple of the polynoid S. pellucida on the 

same A. mediterranea host. The possible external brooding of (fertilized) eggs may 

constitute an adaptation for a more specialized ectosymbiotic life habit. 

References 

BAREL C.D.N., KRAMERS P.G.N. (1977) - A survey of the echinoderm associates of the North- 

East Atlantic area. Zoologische Verhandelingen, Leiden: 1-159. 

COPPARD S.E., CAMPBELL A.C. (2004) - Organisms associated with diadematid echinoids in Fiji. 

In: Heinzeller T., Nebelsick J.H. (eds), Echinoderms. London, Taylor and Francis Group: 171- 

175. 

DALY J.M. (1972) - The maturation and breeding biology of Harmothoë imbricata (Polychaeta: 

polynoidae). Marine Biology, 12: 53-66. 

MARTIN D., BRITAYEV T.A. (1998) - Symbiotic polychaetes: review of known species. 

Oceanography and Marine Biology: an Annual Review, 36: 217-340. 


277



M.C. MANGANO, E. PORPORATO, F. DE DOMENICO, A. PROFETA*, B. BUSALACCHI*, N. 

SPANÒ 


mmangano@unime.com 

*Istituto Sperimentale Talassografico – CNR, Spianata San Ranieri, 86 - 98122 Messina, Italia. 

LEPTOMETRA PHALANGIUM (J. MÜLLER, 1841) 

FIELDS FROM THE SOUTHERN TYRRHENIAN SEA: 

PRELIMINARY DATA ON THE ASSOCIATED FAUNA 

FAUNA ASSOCIATA AI CAMPI A LEPTOMETRA PHALANGIUM 

(J. MÜLLER, 1841) NEL MAR TIRRENO MERIDIONALE: DATI PRELIMINARI 

Abstract – The crinoid Leptometra phalangium (Echinodermata: Crinoidea) is considered as an indicator 

of highly productive areas along the continental shelf capable to sustain large biomasses of benthopelagic 

fish. The presence of L. phalangium fields was recently recorded in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea and the 

demersal associated fauna was identified. These results, according to other Authors, provide further 

evidence on the importance of this facies in structuring demersal communities and in enhancing the habitat 

heterogeneity, confirming the importance of L. phalangium field as essential fish habitat. 

Key-words: Leptometra phalangium, demersal fauna, southern Tyrrhenian Sea. 

Introduction – The suspension feeder crinoid Leptometra phalangium (J. Müller, 

1841) represents a typical component of the Mediterranean benthic community of the 

continental shelf (DL, Pérès and Picard 1964), where can locally reach very high 

density (Kallianotis et al., 2000; Colloca et al., 2003). The aggregation zones of this 

species are considered able to sustain large biomasses of benthopelagic fish also 

playing an important role for their recruits (Colloca et al., 2004). In this note some 

information on demersal species associated with L. phalangium facies in the Southern 

Tyrrhenian Sea are reported. 

Materials and methods – Data were collected during a trawl survey carried out with 

CNR vessel “Dallaporta” in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea in spring 2009. The hauls 

were performed using a trawl net having a 20 mm mesh size cod-end between 20 and 

133 meters of depth from Brolo (ME) to Capo Raisigerbi (PA). All species collected 

were identified, counted and weighed. Data were elaborated in accordance with swept 

area of each haul to obtain the Density (n/km 2 ) and Biomass (kg/km 2 ) indices. 

Results – The presence of L. phalangium in facies was recorded in two localities: off 

Santo Stefano di Camastra (ME) from 128 to 133 meters, presenting a density of 1650 

ind./Km 2 and off Finale di Pollina (PA) from 113 to 117 meters, with density of 2220 

ind./km 2 . A total of 33 demersal species was collected: 23 Osteichthyes, 1 

Chondrychthyes, 8 Mollusca and 1 Crustacea. The most abundant species (>3%) are 

reported in table 1. 

In this bottom we found typical demersal species already known for the L. phalangium 

fields from other areas of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Colloca et al., 2004; Reale et al., 2005). 

Conclusions – Although the L. phalangium bottoms are not rare in the Tyrrhenian Sea, 

this is the first official record of this facies along the Sicilian Tyrrhenian coasts. Our 


278



results are not comparable with other L. phalangium fields, from other areas, in term of 

occurrence, density and extension, nevertheless the associated demersal species seem 

to be very similar. These preliminary results provide further evidence on the 

importance of this facies in structuring demersal communities and in enhancing the 

habitat heterogeneity (Gili and Coma, 1998; Colloca et al., 2004). Moreover, the 

knowledge about an essential fish habitat, as L. phalangium field, should be considered 

priority in fisheries management of the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea. 

Tab. 1 – List of most frequent species and their density and biomass values in the 3C and 31C 

stations. 

Lista delle specie più frequenti e loro valori di densità e biomassa nelle stazioni 3C e 31C. 

3 C 31 C 

SPECIES kg/km 2 n/km 2 kg/km 2 n/km 2 

Aspitrigla cuculus (Linnaeus, 1758) 0,25 33,33 3,20 60,00 

Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) 8,67 100,00 1,20 20,00 

Cepola macrophthalma (Linnaeus, 1758) 1,00 50,00 0,20 20,00 

Lepidotrigla cavillone (Lacepède, 1801) 0,17 16,67 24,80 2140,00 

Lophius budegassa (Spinola, 1807) 0,00 0,00 10,00 60,00 

Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758) 0,17 83,33 0,00 0,00 

Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) 33,33 1766,67 12,40 440,00 

Mullus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758) 3,33 83,33 43,20 760,00 

Pagellus acarne (Risso, 1826) 8,00 116,67 0,00 0,00 

Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758) 10,83 50,00 0,00 0,00 

Phycis blennoides (Brünnich, 1768) 2,67 33,33 0,80 20,00 

Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1766) 0,17 33,33 0,00 0,00 

Spicara flexuosa (Rafinesque, 1810) 12,67 283,33 14,80 180,00 

Spicara smaris (Linnaeus, 1758) 0,00 0,00 3,20 100,00 

Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus, 1758) 63,33 1550,00 19,00 2100,00 

Zeus faber (Linnaeus, 1758) 0,33 16,67 0,00 0,00 

Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) 0,25 50,00 16,00 40,00 

Alloteuthis media (Linnaeus, 1758) 15,00 1133,33 7,60 800,00 

Alloteuthis subulata (Lamarck, 1798) 0,08 33,33 0,40 160,00 

Eledone cirrhosa (Lamarck, 1798) 0,42 100,00 0,00 0,00 

Illex coindetii (Verany, 1839) 31,67 116,67 2,40 20,00 

Scaeurgus unicirrhus (Orbigny, 1840) 0,00 0,00 0,40 40,00 

Sepia elegans (Blainville, 1827) 0,50 66,67 0,40 100,00 

Sepia orbignyana (Férussac, 1826) 0,25 66,67 0,00 0,00 

References 

COLLOCA F., CARDINALE M., BELLUSCIO A., ARDIZZONE G. (2003) - Pattern of distribution 

and diversity of demersal assemblages in the central Mediterranean Sea. Estuar. Coast. Shelf 

Sci., 56: 469-480. 

COLLOCA F., CARPENTERI P., BALESTRI E., ARDIZZONE G.D. (2004) - A critical habitat for 

Mediterranean fish resources: shelf-break areas with Leptometra phalangium (Echinodermata: 

Crinoidea). Mar. Biol., 145: 1129-1142. 

GILI J.M., COMA R. (1998) - Benthic suspension feeders: their paramount role in littoral marine 

food webs. Trends Ecol. Evol., 13: 316–321. 

KALLIANOTIS A., SOPHRONIDIS K., VIDORIS P., TSELEPIDES A. (2000) - Demersal fish and 

megafaunal assemblages on the Cretan continental shelf and slope (NE Mediterranean): seasonal 

variation in species density, biomass and diversity. Progr. Oceanog., 46: 429-455. 

PÉRÈS J.M., PICARD J. (1964) - Nouveau manuel de bionomie benthique de la mer Méditerranée. 

Recl. Trav. Stn. Mar. Endoume, 31: 1-137. 

REALE B., SARTOR P., LIGAS A., VIVA C., BERTOLINI D., DE RANIERI S., BELCARI P. 

(2005) – Demersal species assemblage on the Leptometra phalangium (J. Müller, 1841) 

(Echinodermata; Crinoidea) bottoms of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 12 

(1): 571-574. 


279



M. MEREU, P. MASALA, A. MACCIONI, D. STACCA, AL. CAU, D. CUCCU 

Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1 – 09126 Cagliari, Italia. 

cuccu@unica.it 

TAGGING OCTOPUS VULGARIS (OCTOPODA: OCTOPODIDAE) 

IN AN AREA OF CENTRAL WESTERN SARDINIAN WATERS 

MARCATURA DI OCTOPUS VULGARIS (OCTOPODA: OCTOPODIDAE) 

IN UN’AREA DELLA SARDEGNA CENTRO OCCIDENTALE 

Abstract – Preliminary data on growth and movements of Octopus vulgaris wild populations of the 

Mediterranean Sea recorded during a tagging program in the central western Sardinian waters were 

reported and compared with literature. 

Key-words: Octopus vulgaris, tagging, growth, movements, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction - Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 has a world-wide distribution in 

tropical, subtropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific oceans and 

Mediterranean Sea (Guerra, 1992). It inhabits continental shelf and slope waters, 

occupying diverse habitats (Guerra, 1992). Age and growth of O. vulgaris were studied 

using indirect or direct methods (Semmens et al., 2004). In particular, within direct 

methods, mark-recapture experiments in wild represented useful tools to estimate age, 

growth, and lifespan and also to obtain information on the movements of the species 

(e.g. Domain et al., 2000; Nagasawa et al., 1993). Taking into account this, for the first 

time in Mediterranean an experimental tagging program for O. vulgaris was performed 

in the central western Sardinian waters. In this note, preliminary results on growth and 

movements of O. vulgaris were reported. 

Materials and methods - Octopus vulgaris specimens caught from May to October 

2009 by crab-traps off the central western Sardinia coast at depth of 20 to 40 m were 

tagged with Petersen discs on 3 rd left arm and release into the same fishing areas. For 

each specimen dorsal mantle length (ML, to the nearest mm), total weight (TW, to the 

nearest g) and sex were recorded before release and after recapture. Maturity stage was 

determined in the recaptures, using for both sexes, the scale of Silva et al. (2002) 

modified (1, immature; 2, maturing; 3, mature; 4, spawning; 5, post-spawning). 

Geographical positions of release and recapture were recorded and the straight distance 

between release and recapture was calculated. Interval of freedom (DF, in days) and 

specific growth rates (SGR) according to Domain et al. (2000) were also determined. 

Results - On the whole 132 males (ML: 32.0-130.0 mm; TW: 30-1400 g), 137 females 

(ML: 32.0-145.0 mm; TW: 30-1230g) and 16 undetermined (ML: 18.0-64.0 mm; TW: 

20-350 g) of Octopus vulgaris were tagged. Overall, 9 octopuses tagged were 

recaptured by traps and 2 tags were found attached in a trammel net for lobster fishing, 

both during the commercial fishery (Tab. 1). Four SGR positive values were recorded 

for octopuses recaptured after 8-25 days. As shown in Table 1 the remaining 5 

recaptures (DF: 18-30) had null or negative SGR-values. The straight distance between 

release to recapture ranged from 411 to 1200 meters for males and was 20 meters for 

the only female recovered. 


280



Tab. 1 - Octopus vulgaris: data of the specimens recaptured (*tags recovered in trammel nets). 

Octopus vulgaris: dati relativi agli individui ricatturati (*marche rinvenute nei tramagli). 

Specimens 

Code 

Weight at 

release (g) 

Weight at 

recapture (g) 

DF Sex 

Maturity 

stage 

SGR 

Straight distance from release 

to recapture (meters) 

146 600 900 25 Male 3 0.0162 520 

213 520 600 8 Male 3 0.0179 1200 

238 259 400 12 Male 3 0.0241 1200 

204 329 455 20 Female 1 0.0162 20 

183 620 620 18 Male 4 0.0000 1200 

223 470 460 20 Male 4 -0.0011 510 

180 390 370 30 Male 4 -0.0018 510 

191 690 630 30 Male 4 -0.0030 1200 

196 590 530 30 Male 4 -0.0036 1200 

157* 700 - 42 Male - - 616 

163* 1000 - 42 Male - - 411 

Conclusions – The low number of recaptures highlights the need to carry out this kind 

of experiment in fishing banned areas, probably with greater success. This could also 

avoid that specimens tagged may lose their tag in an attempt to wriggle by the nets, as 

we have observed. However, even if preliminary, our data are the first for the 

Mediterranean. The SGRs recorded are in agreement with the high rates of growth and 

within the large variability of this species, as well as zero or negative rates are due the 

weight loss linked with the senescence (Domain et al., 2000). The recorded movements 

do not seem linked with days of freedom but could be due to available food, and or to 

the need to choose safe shelters where to spend daylight hours. However, they suggest 

for the species, a more sedentary behavior in our area than that reported for Japan Sea 

(48 km, see Nagasawa et al., 1993). 

References 

DOMAIN F., JOUFFRE D., CAVERIVIÈRE A. (2000) - Growth of Octopus vulgaris from tagging 

in Senegalese waters. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K., 80: 699-705. 

GUERRA A. (1992) - Mollusca, Cephalopoda. In: Ramos M.A., Alba J., Bellés X., Gosálbez J., 

Guerra A., Macpherson E., Martín F., Serrano J., Templado J. (eds), Fauna Iberica, vol. 1. 

Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid: 235-236. 

NAGASAWA K., TAKAYANAGI S., TAKAMI T. (1993) - Cephalopod tagging and marking in 

Japan: a review. In: Okutani T., O’Dor R.K., Kubodera T. (eds), Recent Advances in Fisheries 

Biology. Tokai University Press, Tokyo: 313-329. 

SEMMENS J.M., PECL G.T., VILLANUEVA R., JOUFFRE D., SOBRINO I., WOOD J.B., RIGBY 

P.R. (2004) - Understanding octopus growth: patterns, variability and physiology. Mar. Freshw. 

Res., 55: 367-377. 

SILVA L., SOBRINO I., RAMOS F. (2002) - Reproductive biology of the common Octopus, 

Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) in the Gulf of Cadiz (SW Spain). 

Bull. Mar. Sci., 71 (2): 837-850. 


281



P. PANETTA, F. MASTROTOTARO, F. CAPEZZUTO, G. SASSANELLI, M. TAVIANI * 

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona, 4 - 70125 Bari, Italia. 

f.mastrototaro@biologia.uniba.it 

* ISMAR-CNR, Bologna, Via Gobetti, 101 - 40129 Bologna, Italia. 

SIZE EVALUATION OF DELECTOPECTEN VITREUS 

(MOLLUSCA, BIVALVIA) FROM SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA 

DEEP-WATER CORAL SITE (IONIAN SEA) 

OSSERVAZIONI SULLA TAGLIA DI UNA POPOLAZIONE 

DI DELECTOPECTEN VITREUS (MOLLUSCA, BIVALVIA) PROVENIENTE 

DAL SITO A CORALLI PROFONDI DI SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA (MAR IONIO) 

Abstract – The size of a Mediterranean population of the deep sea pectinid Delectopecten vitreus 

(Mollusca, Bivalvia) is discussed with respect to Atlantic counterparts. The Mediterranean specimens 

collected in the Ionian Sea at the Santa Maria di Leuca deep water coral site are characterized by a size 

smaller than Atlantic stocks. 

Key-words: Delectopecten vitreus, population, deep coral epifauna. 

Introduction – Delectopecten vitreus (Gmelin, 1791) is a quasi-cosmopolitan pectinid 

bivalve distributed in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean, from infralittoral down to 

abyssal depths (e.g., Schein, 1989). D. vitreus is characterized by a planktotrophic 

development (Dijkstra and Gofas, 2004) and its long-lasting meroplanktonic life 

ensures its wide geographic dispersion. The species is rather frequent in the 

Mediterranean Sea and living specimens were found byssate on a variety of substrates 

(e.g, Smriglio, 2005; Mastrototaro et al., 2010). D. vitreus commonly occurs in the 

deep-water Pleistocene record of the Mediterranean basin and this includes also 

submerged situations datable to the last glacial epoch (Taviani and Colantoni, 1984; Di 

Geronimo et al., 2005). The biology and population structure of Mediterranean D. 

vitreus stocks are poorly known. In this contest the size distribution of D. vitreus 

specimens collected alive in the Santa Maria di Leuca (SML) deep water coral site 

(Ionian Sea) is discussed. 

Materials and methods – All live specimens considered in this study were sampled 

during various missions of RV Urania and Universitatis, devoted to the study of the 

SML coral site (Mastrototaro et al., 2010); they were measured with an electronic 

calliper (Total length=TL and total height=TH in mm). The size-frequency distribution 

was elaborated considering size classes of 2 mm. The relationship between total length 

and total height was tested by means of linear regression. Stereomicroscopic 

observations of the external shell morphology were aimed at examining microsculpture 

features. 

Results – A total of 181 specimens were living-collected, from 451 to 1100 m depth, 

either on both artificial substrates (mostly entangled fishing lines or plastic litter) or 

dead on scleractinian coral colonies off the Santa Maria di Leuca (SML) deep water 

coral site. Such shells are equipped with fragile valves marked by concentric rows of 

small scales and vesicles as reported by Schein (1989) as typical for the subspecies D. 

vitreus vitreus. The TL ranged from 6 to 16 mm. The length and height were highly 


282



correlated (Fig. 1). The size distribution (TL) showed a bimodal trend with a modal 

component of 9-10 mm (19% of the specimens collected) and another of 13-14 mm 

(16%) (Fig. 2). 

Total height (mm) 

y = 0,9393x + 0,2774 

r 2 17 

16 

15 

14 = 0,9442 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

8 

7 

6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

p



E. PORPORATO, M.C. MANGANO, F. DE DOMENICO, N. SPANÒ 


eporporato@unime.it 

DISTRIBUTION OF THE MAIN BIOCENOTIC COMPONENTS 

OF THE GIARDINI NAXOS GULF (MEDITERRANEAN SEA) 

DISTRIBUZIONE DELLE PRINCIPALI COMPONENTI BIOCENOTICHE 

NEL GOLFO DI GIARDINI NAXOS (MAR MEDITERRANEO) 

Abstract – In this paper the biocenotic map of the Giardini Naxos Gulf and its nearby (Strait of Messina) is 

reported. Data were collected using exclusively non-destructive sampling methods. A heterogeneous area 

probably due to the interaction of a lot of factors was highlighted. 

Key-words: biocoenoses, benthos, GIS, Side Scan Sonar. 

Introduction – The distribution of the main marine biocoenoses can play a 

fundamental role in the conservation, monitoring and management of the coastal 

marine environment (Somaschini et al., 1998; Diviacco et al., 2000; Piazzi et al., 

2000). In these contexts, the possibility to draw a bionomical map using non 

destructive sampling methods is to considered preferable. This paper provides a 

bionomical map of the benthic communities from the Giardini Naxos Gulf (Strait of 

Messina). 

Materials and methods – The survey was carried out in the Giardini Naxos Gulf and 

its nearby (Strait of Messina, Mediterranean Sea) from 2 to 183 m of depth in the 

framework of a regional project (SFOP 2004 - POR 2000-2006). Data were collected 

by Side Scan Sonar (SSS) and by direct and indirect Visual census methods (Scuba 

diving, ROV) and were put into a GIS to produce the cartography of the area. 

Results – A map at 1:20.000 scales of the investigated area, reporting the main 

biocenotic features, was produced (Fig. 1). The most part of the area consisted of soft 

bottoms, mainly represented by muddy biodetritic bottoms (DE, Pérès and Picard, 

1964), most abundant off the Gulf and at the deeper depths, and by SFBC biocoenoses 

(sensu Pérès and Picard, 1964), well-represented into the Gulf, within 50 m of depth. 

As shown in the figure, zones characterized by AP-HP, PE and VTC biocoenoses 

(sensu Pérès and Picard, 1964) were also observed. Furthermore, the presence of wide 

local aggregations of Pennatulaceans, Cidarids and Ditrupa arietina (O.F. Müller, 

1776) (Annelida: Polychaeta) was recorded. 

Conclusions – The studied area appeared considerably heterogeneous probably as a 

consequence of the interaction of a lot of factors. In fact, the area is affected by strong 

bottom currents, irregular continental input and abundant suspended particles captured 

by suspension feeders which locally can reach high biomasses, as also witnessed by the 

pennatulacean aggregations (AA.VV., 2007). 


284



Fig. 1 – Biocenotic map of the Giardini Naxos Gulf. 

Mappa biocenotica del Golfo di Giardini Naxos. 

References 

AA.VV. (2007) – Individuazione e messa a punto di un modello per lo sviluppo sostenibile e per la 

Gestione Integrata della Fascia Costiera nell’Area di Giardini Naxos. Relazione finale POR 

SICILIA 2000-2006. 

DIVIACCO G., TUNESI L., IANNIRUBERTO M., PICCIONE M.E. (2000) - Rappresentazione 

cartografica delle informazioni biocenotiche disponibili per la fascia costiera della provincia di 

Savona (Mar Ligure). Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 7 (1): 488-494. 

PÉRÈS J.M., PICARD J. (1964) - Nouveau manuel de bionomie benthique de la mer Méditerranée. 

Rec. Trav. Stat. Mar. Endoume, 31 (47): 1-137. 

PIAZZI L., ACUNTO S., CINELLI F. (2000) - Mapping of Posidonia oceanica beds around Elba 

Island (western Mediterranean, Italy) with integration of direct and indirect methods. 

Oceanologica Acta, 23 (3): 339–346. 

SOMASCHINI A., MARTINI N., GRAVINA M.F., BELLUSCIO A., CORSI F., ARDIZZONE G.D. 

(1998) - Characterization and cartography of some Mediterranean soft-bottom communities 

(Ligurian Sea, Italy). Scientia Marina, 62 (1-2): 27-36. 


285



M. PREVIATI, M. PALMA 1 , G. LANDI 1 , U. PANTALEO 1 , 

A. SCINTO 2 , M. BERTOLINO 3 , F. FAVA 2 , M. PONTI 2 , C. CERRANO 

DIP.TE.RIS., Università di Genova, C.so Europa, 26- 16132 Genova, Italia. 

m.previati@email.it 

1 UBICA srl., Progetto UNI.T.I., Spin-off Università di Genova, Italia. 

2 CIRSA, Università di Bologna, Italia. 

3 DI.S.MAR., Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche Monte Dago - 60100 Ancona, Italia. 

SYMBOLS TO REPRESENT MEDITERRANEAN 

SEABED TYPOLOGIES AND FOCAL BENTHIC SPECIES 

SIMBOLI PER RAPPRESENTARE LE TIPOLOGIE DI FONDALE 

E LE SPECIE BENTONICHE COSPICUE 

Abstract - A set of effective symbols, suitable to represent 11 substrata typologies, 68 focal taxa and 

mucilage aggregates distribution, both on 2D/3D maps and along seabed profiles, was provided. 

Key-words: methodology, map graphics, ocean floor, biocoenosis, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction - Understanding diversity and ecological processes occurring in coastal 

marine habitats, as well conservation and management of marine biological resources 

and natural heritages, require proper representation of seabed typologies, biocoenosis, 

and benthic species distribution at a wide range of spatial scales. Most of the attention 

is generally paid on focal species, which include indicators, keystones, umbrellas, and 

flagships species (for definition see Zacharias and Roff, 2001). The distribution of 

these taxa can be obtained by scientific SCUBA divers along transects (Bianchi et al., 

2004) and reproduced as graphic profiles which describe, for examples, changes along 

gradients. Benthic cartography (including maps of the biocoenoses, emergencies, 

degradations and risks), requires standardised symbols (Meinesz et al., 1983) and/or 

textual codes (Bianchi, 2007). The aim of the present study was to provide a set of 

effective symbols, suitable to represent Mediterranean substrata typologies and focal 

species distribution both on 2D/3D maps and along seabed profiles. 

Materials and methods - Main substrata typologies and focal taxa list were obtained 

reviewing the literature on Mediterranean habitats classification (see RAC/SPA, 2006 

and references therein), European Community directives and international conventions. 

Taxa list were reduced unifying species with similar shape, reproducible by the same 

symbol but different colours and/or size. For each selected typology and taxon the 

stylised shape was freehand drawn. All the freehand drawing were digitalised and 

converted in a custom font using dedicated software. The effectiveness of digitalised 

symbols was tested on thematic maps and transects profiles based on field data. 

Results - 80 symbols, representing 11 bottom typologies, 68 taxa and mucilage 

aggregates, were drawn and stored in a custom font. These symbols were effectively 

used to represent focal species distribution within the “Secche di Tor Paterno” marine 

protected area. 

Conclusions - Simple and easily distinguishable symbols are useful for both benthic 

cartography and graphic profile which could allow spatial and temporal analyses. 


286



Fig. 1 – Proposed symbols for the most relevant seabed typologies and benthic taxa. 

Simboli proposti per le tipologie di fondale e per i taxa bentonici più rilevanti. 

References 

BIANCHI C.N. (2007) - Dalla cartografia bionomica alla cartografia territoriale, ovvero dalla 

conoscenza alla gestione delle aree marine protette. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 14 (1): 22-51. 



SALVATI E., BENZONI F., CALCINAI B., CERRANO C., BAVESTRELLO G. (2004) - Hard 

bottoms. In: Gambi M.C., Dappiano M. (eds), Mediterranean marine benthos: a manual of 

methods for its sampling and study. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 11 (Suppl. 1): 185-216. 

MEINESZ A., BOUDOURESQUE C.F., FALCONETTI C., ASTIER J.M., BAY D., BLANC J.J., 

BOURCIER M., CINELLI F., CIRIK S., CRISTIANI G., DI GERONIMO I., GIACCONE G., 

HARMELIN J.C., LAUBIER L., LOVRIC A.Z., MOLINIER Z., SOYER J., VAMVAKAS C. 

(1983) - Normalization des symboles pour la représentation et la cartographie des biocénoses 

benthiques littorales de Méditerranée. Ann. Inst. océanogr., 59: 155-172. 

RAC/SPA (2006) - Classification of benthic marine habitat types for the Mediterranean region. 

Available online http://www.rac-spa.org. Tunis: 14 pp. 

ZACHARIAS M.A., ROFF J.C. (2001) - Use of focal species in marine conservation and 

management: a review and critique. Aquat. Conserv., 11: 59-76. 


287


MANAGEMENT OF THE COASTAL ZONE COMMITEE 


COMITATO GESTIONE E VALORIZZAZIONE DELLA 

FASCIA COSTIERA 


288



F. BLASI, B. CAVALLETTI* 

L.go T. Solera, 10 - 00199 Roma, Italia. 

blasifilippo@gmail.com 

*Dipartimento di Economia e Metodi quantitativi, Via Vivaldi, 5 - 16126 Genova, Italia. 

UN TASSO DI SCONTO PER LE PRATERIE DI POSIDONIA OCEANICA 

A DISCOUNT RATE FOR THE POSIDONIA OCEANICA MEADOWS 

Abstract – The discount rate for ecosystem services should be low. In this study we propose a model for 

identifying an appropriate discount rate for the Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile services on the basis of the 

speed of growth of a Posidonia meadow. Our results show that a low discount rate could be justified. 

Key-words: Posidonia oceanica, economic analysis, environmental protection. 

Introduzione – La biodiversità sta andando incontro, su scala globale, a una 

progressiva riduzione. Con lo scopo di arginare la perdita della biodiversità risulta 

sempre più necessario integrare ecologia, economia e etica ambientale, con l’obiettivo 

di implementare concettualizzazioni e strumenti volti a supportare decisioni che 

consentano di gestire gli ecosistemi in modo sostenibile. 

Il proposito di questo lavoro è di presentare un modello volto a individuare un 

opportuno tasso per l’operazione di sconto da applicare al valore economico dei servizi 

ecosistemici forniti dalle praterie di Posidonia oceanica. Quando si considera il valore 

monetario dei servizi ecosistemici è necessario tenere presente che essi rappresentano 

soltanto il ritorno annuale dai relativi processi ecosistemici. Dal momento che un 

ecosistema fornisce i servizi in modo perpetuo è opportuno considerare, nel calcolo del 

valore economico della biodiversità, anche i benefici futuri dei servizi. Per questa 

ragione è necessario applicare ai valori annuali l’operazione di sconto. Il tasso di 

sconto tiene conto dell’orizzonte temporale considerato. Quando l’operazione di sconto 

viene applicata ai servizi ecosistemici deve essere scelto un tasso opportunamente 

basso, capace di tenere in considerazione la capacità di recupero degli ecosistemi dalle 

perturbazioni indotte dall’attività antropica (de Groot, 1994). Abbiamo sviluppato un 

modello volto a definire un tasso di sconto appropriato per le praterie di Posidonia 

oceanica. 

Materiali e metodi –Per il nostro studio abbiamo preso in considerazione una ricerca 

di Meinesz e Lefevre sulla rigenerazione di una prateria distrutta da una bomba 

(Meinesz e Lefevre, 1984). Nel loro lavoro i due autori descrivono, sulla “matte” 

morta, numerose superfici di prateria in accrescimento orizzontale. Per il nostro 

modello ipotizziamo che vi sia una sola superficie di prateria in accrescimento della 

dimensione di un ettaro, e che non avvengano nuove colonizzazioni di talee. 

Risultati – Se poniamo la condizione teorica che una prateria si accresca 

orizzontalmente, a partire da un punto, in modo uniforme in tutte le direzioni, 

descrivendo una superficie di geometria circolare che si incrementa col tempo, 

possiamo definire il seguente tasso di accrescimento: 


289



i = 

St+1 – St 

Se: St = (3,14) (rt) 2 ; St+1 = (3,14) (rt+1) 2 e chiamiamo k l’accrescimento orizzontale 

medio annuo: rt+1 = rt + k , si ottiene la seguente: 

i = 


290 

St 

2 (rt) (k) + (k) 2 

Dallo studio di Meinesz e Lefevre sappiamo che la crescita media orizzontale di una 

prateria è di 3,75 cm yr -1 (k = 0,0375 m yr -1 ) (Meinesz e Lefevre, 1984). Se 

ipotizziamo che la superficie distrutta (circa 2,5 ha) si ricostituisca a partire da una 

prateria intatta di 1 ha (rt=56,43 m), il tasso che si ottiene è: i1 = 0,13%. 

Quando alternativamente consideriamo un raggio di 1 m o un raggio di 89,23 m (2,5 

ha) si ottiene un tasso rispettivamente i2=7,6% e i3=0,084%. 

Sulla base delle considerazioni compiute è possibile applicare con un tasso appropriato 

l’operazione di sconto al valore economico totale dei servizi ecosistemici forniti dalle 

praterie, che è stato valutato in 2243,7943 € m -2 yr -1 (Blasi, 2009). Utilizzando il tasso 

i1 e considerando che una superficie distrutta di una prateria di 2,5 ettari impiega per 

essere nuovamente colonizzata 120 anni (T=120) (Meinesz e Lefevre, 1984), si ottiene 

un valore capitale attualizzato delle praterie di Posidonia oceanica di 89 647 € m -2 . 

Conclusioni – Il nostro modello rappresenta uno studio innovativo in questo campo. 

Esso mostra che, nella prospettiva dell’antropocentrismo debole, è eticamente 

giustificabile l’uso di un tasso di sconto basso per i servizi ecosistemici delle praterie di 

Posidonia oceanica, in ragione del tasso al quale le praterie recuperano dalle 

perturbazioni. 

Il modello proposto, che consente di tenere conto del valore delle praterie a una scala 

temporale significativamente ampia, può rappresentare un utile contributo agli 

strumenti di decisione, al fine di conservare la biodiversità degli ecosistemi marini 

costieri a favore delle generazioni future. 

Ringraziamenti - Lo studio rappresenta la sintesi di una parte della tesi di laurea in Scienze 

Ambientali Marine presso l’Università di Genova. Desidero ringraziare i relatori: Prof. Giulio Relini e 

Prof. Barbara Cavalletti. 

Bibliografia 

BLASI F. (2009) – Il valore economico delle praterie di Posidonia oceanica. Biol. Mar. Mediterr.,16 

(1): 130-131. 

DE GROOT R.S. (1994) – Environmental functions and the economic value of natural ecosystems. 

In: Jansonn A.M., Hammer M., Folke C., Costanza R. (eds), Investing in Natural Capital: The 

Ecological Economics Approach to Sustainability. Island Press, Washington: 151-168. 

MEINESZ A., LEFEVRE J.-R. (1984) – Régénération d’un herbier de Posidonia oceanica quarante 

années après sa destruction par une bombe dans la rade de Villefranche (Alpes-Maritimes– 

France). In: Boudouresque C.F., Jeudy de Grissac A., Olivier J. (eds), International Workshop 

Posidonia oceanica Beds. GIS Posidonie publ., Fr., 1: 39-44. 

(rt) 2



S. BUSSOTTI, P. GUIDETTI 

Lab. di Zoologia e Biologia Marina, DiSTeBA, Univ. del Salento, Via Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni - 73100 Lecce, 

Italia. 

simona.bussotti@unisalento.it 

FISH FAUNA OF MARINE CAVES 

IN FOUR ITALIAN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS 

FAUNA ITTICA DI GROTTA 

IN QUATTRO AREE MARINE PROTETTE ITALIANE 

Abstract – In this study the fish fauna associated with submerged caves was investigated using visual 

census in 14 marine caves located within 4 Marine Protected Areas. Species richness varied between 21 

and 5 species within each cave, which could reflect the non negligible variability among the investigated 

caves in terms e.g. of morphology, length and presence/absence of light in the innermost portions. This 

study stresses that fish assemblages hosted inside marine caves are fairly variable, but they often contribute 

to increase local diversity. 

Key-words: fish fauna, caves, biodiversity, marine parks, Mediterranean Sea. 

Introduction - Marine caves are among the few marine habitats protected by the 

European Community (Habitat Directive 92/43EEC) due their uniqueness and fragility 

(see Cicogna et al., 2003; Bussotti et al., 2006; Parravicini et al., 2010). Mediterranean 

marine caves host several fish species (e.g. Abel, 1959; Riedl, 1966; Bussotti & 

Guidetti, 2009) that include both cryptic and shy species typical of caves, and species 

that are also associated with rocky reefs outside. This study aims at evaluating 1) the 

variability in fish species richness in 14 marine caves at 4 Italian Marine Protected 

Areas (MPAs) and 2) the contribution of such environments to local fish diversity. 

Materials and methods - Fish sampling was carried in September-October 2009 in 14 

submerged caves at 4 MPAs: Capo Caccia (SS), 6 caves (between ~5 and 18 m depth); 

Lampedusa (AG), 2 caves (~10-19 m depth); Plemmirio (SR), 4 caves (~18-30 m 

depth); Porto Cesareo (LE), 2 caves (~8-10 m depth). The investigated caves were 

blind or with several openings and varied remarkably in terms of morphology and 

length, presence/absence of the ceiling and characteristics of the bottom (e.g. rocky vs 

muddy). Fish abundances and size were estimated using a modified transect visual 

census method (Bussotti & Guidetti, 2009): transects were 10 to 35 m long (in relation 

to shape and morphological discontinuities of each cave, like walls, ceiling, bottom) 

and 2 m wide. 

Results and conclusions - A total of 37 species was recorded considering all 14 

investigated caves: 27 species at Capo Caccia, 18 at Porto Cesareo, 16 at Plemmirio 

and 15 at Lampedusa. The highest number of species (n=21) was found inside the 

Nereo cave at Capo Caccia MPA and the lowest number (n=5) at Plemmirio MPA 

inside the Mazzare cave (Fig. 1). A higher number of species was usually associated to 

cave walls compared to ceilings or bottoms. The complete darkness in the innermost 

cave portions was a condition necessary but not sufficient to host the strictly 

speleophilic fish Grammonus ater. Apogon imberbis was found in all caves. The 

speleophilic gobids Corcyrogobius lichtensteini and Thorogobius ephippiatus were 


291



recorded in 12 caves, while Gammogobius steinitzi and Didogobius splechtnai in 7 and 

4 caves, respectively. It is worth noting the presence, inside some caves, of fish 

inserted in the IUCN Red List (http://www.iucnredlist.org), like Epinephelus 

marginatus and Dasyatis centroura (exclusively found at the Lampedusa MPA). 

Fig. 1 – Number of species of fish species inside each cave at the four MPAs. 

Numero di specie ittiche all’interno di ciascuna grotta nelle quattro AMP. 

This study suggests that: 1) differences in morphology and other structural 

characteristics of marine caves may remarkably affect the species richness and 

composition inside them and, therefore, 2) it is quite difficult to define a ‘typical’ fish 

assemblage of cave habitats. Fish living in marine caves (e.g. speleophilic gobids or 

threatened species) may actually contribute to local diversity, with implications for 

conservation and management. 

References 

ABEL E.F. (1959) - Zur Kenntnis der Beziehungen der Fische zu Ho¨hlen im Mittelmeer. Pubbl. 

Staz. Zool. Napoli, 30: 519-528. 

BUSSOTTI S., TERLIZZI A., FRASCHETTI S., BELMONTE G., BOERO F. (2006) - Spatial and 

temporal variability of sessile benthos in shallow Mediterranean marine caves. Mar. Ecol. Progr. 

Ser., 325: 109-119. 

BUSSOTTI S., GUIDETTI P. (2009) - Do Mediterranean fish assemblages associated with marine 

caves and rocky cliffs differ? Est. Coast. Shelf Sci., 81: 65-73. 

CICOGNA F., BIANCHI C.N., FERRARI G., FORTI P. (2003) - Grotte marine: cinquant’anni di 

ricerca in Italia. CLEM, Ministero dell’Ambiente e della tutela del Territorio: 505 pp. 

PARRAVICINI V., GUIDETTI P., MORRI C., MONTEFALCONE M., DONATO M., BIANCHI 

C.N. (2010) - Consequences of sea water temperature anomalies on a Mediterranean submarine 

cave ecosystem. Est. Coast. Shelf Sci., 86: 276-282. 

RIEDL R. (1966) - Biologie der Meereshohlen. Paul Parey, Hamburg and Berlin: 636 pp. 

The study was done in the framework of the project 'Studio degli ambienti di grotte marine sommerse 

(codice Habitat 8330) nelle Aree Marine Protette di Pelagie, Plemmirio e Capo Caccia', funded by the 

'Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare'. 


292



A. CANNAS, M. TRENTADUE, S. MANCA, L. MURA, N. FOIS 

Agris Sardegna, Località Bonassai – Olmedo (SS), Italia. 

alessandra.cannas@tiscali.it 

INSEDIAMENTO DI RUDITAPES PHILIPPINARUM (ADAMS & REEVE) 

NEL GOLFO DI OLBIA (SARDEGNA, ITALIA) E DISTRIBUZIONE 

IN RAPPORTO A RUDITAPES DECUSSATUS (L.) 

SETTLEMENT OF RUDITAPES PHILIPPINARUM (ADAMS & REEVE) 

IN THE OLBIA GULF (SARDINIA, ITALY) IN RELATION 

WITH RUDITAPES DECUSSATUS (L.) 

Abstract – In the Olbia Gulf (Sardinia, Italy) lives the native species Ruditapes decussatus and the 

allochthonous species Ruditapes philippinarum (Mollusca: Bivalvia) recently appeared (2008). The rate of 

R. philippinarum changes in the different seasons between 12% and 19% of the two species total 

abundance. The length distribution is heterogeneous for both species. 

Key-words: population abundance, molluscs, Sardinia, settlement. 

Introduzione – Il Golfo di Olbia è tradizionalmente utilizzato per lo sfruttamento dei 

banchi naturali di vongola verace Ruditapes decussatus, attualmente sottoposti ad una 

pesca indiscriminata. Nel corso di questa ricerca si è riscontrato l’insediamento della 

specie alloctona Ruditapes philippinarum, come già avvenuto nel mare Adriatico 

(Breber, 1985). In questo studio si riportano i risultati preliminari sulla distribuzione 

delle due specie. 

Materiali e metodi – I campionamenti sono stati compiuti stagionalmente nel 2008- 

2009 in 8 stazioni (5 repliche casuali) nelle principali aree di raccolta dei molluschi 

(Fig. 1). Il prelievo avveniva con un rastrello manuale per molluschi munito di una rete 

di 3 mm di lato capace di raccogliere 14 l di sedimento su una superficie di 11 dm 2 . Il 

sedimento raccolto veniva lavato in laboratorio utilizzando setacci a maglia 

decrescente e le vongole presenti sono state classificate e misurate (lunghezza asse oroaborale). 

Fig. 1 - Golfo di Olbia: stazioni di prelievo di Ruditapes decussatus e Ruditapes philippinarum. 

Olbia Gulf: sampling stations of Ruditapes decussatus and Ruditapes philippinarum. 

I dati sono stati sottoposti ad analisi statistica applicando il test binomiale e il test di 

Kruskal-Wallis. Per R. philippinarum sono state utilizzate le sole stazioni con n. >10. 


293



Tab. 1 - Densità (n. *m -2 ) di R. decussatus (Rd) e R. philippinarum (Rp) (nr: non rilevato). 

Densities (n.*m -2 ) of R. decussatus (Rd) and R. philippinarum (Rp) (nr: undetected). 

AUTUNNO INVERNO PRIMAVERA ESTATE 

Staz. Rd Rp Rd Rp Rd Rp Rd Rp 

1 72 ± 70 1 ± 3 55 ± 60 2 ± 3 226 ± 159 26 ± 12 63 ± 21 9 ± 11 

2 132 ± 223 - 252± 369 26 ± 53 363 ± 237 106 ± 83 148 ± 39 11 ± 15 

3 42 ± 14 9 ± 6 28 ± 23 6 ± 12 109 ± 72 13 ± 8 157 ± 102 50 ± 44 

4 76 ± 342 17 ± 10 87± 179 11 ± 20 122 ± 56 9 ± 11 256 ± 103 76 ± 46 

5 108 ± 138 8 ± 12 80 ± 27 7 ± 12 128 ± 103 11 ± 12 13 ± 11 - 

6 95 ± 64 87 ± 88 55 ± 58 60 ± 44 31 ± 32 6 ± 8 46 ± 57 6 ± 12 

7 nr nr 41 ± 34 4 ± 8 41 ± 19 - 22 ± 25 4 ± 5 

8 nr nr 17± 28 6 ± 8 487 ± 368 41 ± 43 24 ± 14 6 ± 5 

Risultati – Le due specie sono presenti in tutte le stazioni; sono stati rinvenuti 

complessivamente 2004 R. decussatus e 374 R. philippinarum. R. decussatus è più 

abbondante nella stazione 2, situata all’interno di una peschiera, mentre R. 

philippinarum si distribuisce in modo diverso nelle varie stagioni privilegiando, tranne 

che nel periodo estivo, le stazioni più lontane dal mare. Il numero di R. philippinarum è 

variato, rispetto al totale delle due specie, tra il 12% in primavera e il 19% in autunno. 

Solo in primavera questo valore risulta essere significativamente diverso rispetto a 

quelli nelle altre stagioni (Test binomiale, P



M. CASSOLA, C. CUNEO 1 , S. COPPO 2 , V. PARODI 3 , M. COSTA 3 , T. COSMAI, 

P. MORETTO 1 , R. BERTOLOTTO 1 , A. MOLINARI 

R.S.T.A. scrl, Via XX Settembre, 29/5 - 16121 Genova, Italia. 

segreteria@rsta.info 

1 ARPAL, Genova, Italia. 

2 Settore Ecosistema Costiero, Regione Liguria, Italia. 

3 O.L.P.A., Genova, Italia. 

IMPLEMENTATION OF A GEOREFERRED UNDERWATER TOWED 

CAMERA SYSTEM IN A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE 

MONITORING OF POSIDONIA MEADOWS IN LIGURIA, ACCORDING 

TO THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (WFD) 2000/60/EC 

IMPLEMENTAZIONE DI UN SISTEMA BASATO SU TELECAMERA 

SUBAQCUEA GEORIFERITA NELL’APPROCCIO METODOLOGICO 

AL MONITORAGGIO DELLE PRATERIE DI POSIDONIA IN LIGURIA, 

AI SENSI DELLA DIRETTIVA QUADRO SULE ACQUE 2000/60/CE 

Abstract – In the last two years (2008-2009) a new instrument based on a georeferred underwater towed 

camera system, called Tritone, was applied coupled with traditional scuba diving methods for the 

monitoring program of P. oceanica meadows in Liguria according to the WFD. This innovative approach 

allowed for the collection of all data, that the application of the most biological quality indices requires, 

with less work time and staff effort. 

Key-words: Posidonia oceanica, underwater towed camera, georeferenced video transects, biological 

quality element, water framework directive. 

Introduction – Referring to Water Framework Directive 2000/60/CE (WFD) criteria, 

each water body has to be classified, using information from monitoring, and 

management politics have to be adopted, in order to achieve or maintain a good water 

status by 2015. 

The ecological status required by the WFD is defined by some Biological Quality 

Elements (BQE) and Posidonia oceanica, because of its sensitivity to anthropogenic 

pressures, was chosen for the Mediterranean area as the angiosperm BQE. In Liguria P. 

oceanica meadows are present in 16 water bodies on the whole 26 considered by the 

marine environment monitoring program, according to the WFD. Two different but 

integrated ways of monitoring meadows are applied: traditional, based on visual 

observations and sampling by scuba divers; innovative, based on the recording of 

images of P. oceanica meadows by an underwater towed camera, called “Tritone 

System”. This double method allows for the recovery of the major pieces of 

information with no excessive economic and resources effort. Although underwater 

video-cameras were often implemented in sea-grass and benthic monitoring (Bianchi et 

al., 2003; Rooper & Zimmermann, 2007), also in the Ligurian Sea (Piazzi et al. 2000; 

Diviacco & Coppo, 2006), this is the first attempt for a standardization of a such 

technology in a regional activity of water classification. 

Materials and methods – Tritone is a new integrated system developed by OLPA- 

RSTA with the purpose of conceiving a fast methodology to investigate coastal seabottom 

and benthos assemblages, integrating Eco-sounder information and DGPS 

positioning technology to georeferencing filmed transects in real time. Tritone was 

developed, in relationship with the project “Interreg IIIB: “POSIDONIA”, with the 

objective of elaborate the products of traditional underwater video-cameras monitoring 


295



systems in order to be consulted and queried by GIS software. After the cartographic 

elaboration, performed using GIS MapInfo®, a specific video-player software allows 

surfing interactively trough the map and get information of the meadows, by the 

videos. In summers ’08 and ’09, respectively 9 and 2 water bodies were monitored (on 

the 5 expected in 2009, survey in progress). Tritone system was applied carrying 

underwater videos conducted along transects perpendicular to the shoreline and 

crossing the sampling points and the lower limit. Video-transects have been settled 

down in order to implement traditional data, acquired by scuba divers (operating in 2 

points settled at 15m depth in each meadow) and to obtain data on lower limit 

descriptors, such as limit type and limit depth. 

Results –Tritone was applied in 19 transects in 2008 and 3 transects in 2009, 

concerning respectively 13,000 m and 3,500 m total length, (part of 7,000 m planned 

for 2009). The whole recording time, considering all videos, is about 4 hrs, so the 

average velocity is about of 2.2 knt. On the whole the mean depth for the lower limit is 

21 m, with the shallower one obtained at Cogoleto (18.1 m) and the deepest obtained at 

Imperia (32.1 m). Among the 18 meadows monitored in the 11 water bodies, 9 

meadows had sharp limit, 5 regressive and 4 progressive. 

Conclusions – The Tritone System provides information about lower limit, for deeper 

and wider surface as well, where scuba diving study is critical and too expensive. It 

allows also getting more data at 15m depth, in addiction or correction to data acquired 

by diving. This new approach, coupled with traditional monitoring activities, allows in 

less time and money, the collect of the data required for the application of all biological 

indices, actually proposed by scientific institutions, such as the PosWare (Buia et al., 

2005), the BiPo (Lopez Y Royo, 2008) and the PREI (Gobert et al., 2009). One of 

them should be chosen as the official one, to be applied by Italy and maybe by other 

Mediterranean European countries, for future monitoring activities. 

References 

BUIA M.C., SILVESTRE F., IACONO G., TIBERTI L. (2005) - Identificazione delle biocenosi di 

maggior pregio ambientale al fine della classificazione della qualità delle acque costiere. 

Metodologie per il rilevamento e la classificazione dello stato di qualità ecologico e chimico 

delle acque, con particolare riferimento all’applicazione del decreto legislativo 152/99. APAT, 

Roma: 269-303. 

DIVIACCO G., COPPO S. (2006) – Atlante degli habitat marini della Liguria. Descrizione e 

cartografia delle praterie di Posidonia oceanica e dei principali popolamenti marini costieri. 

Catalogo dei beni naturali: 205 pp. 

GOBERT S., SARTORETTO S., RICO-RAIMONDINO V., ANDRAL B., CHERY A., LEJEUNE 

P., BOISSERY P. (2009) – Assessment of the ecological status of Mediterranean French coastal 

waters as required by the Water Frame Directory using the Posidonia oceanica Rapid Easy 

Index: PREI. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 58: 1727-1733. 

LOPEZ Y ROYO C. (2008) – Utilisation de Utilisation de Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile comme 

outil de gestion de la qualité écologique du milieu marin. PhD Thesis, Université de Corse: 1- 

242. 

PIAZZI L., ACUNTO S., CINELLI F. (2000) - Mapping of Posidonia oceanica beds around Elba 

Island (NWMediterranean) with integration of direct and indirect methods. Oceanologica Acta, 

23: 339-346. 

ROOPER C.N., ZIMMERMANN M. (2007) - A bottom-up methodology for integrating underwater 

video and acoustic mapping for seafloor substrate classification. Continental Shelf Research, 27: 

947-957. 


296



B. CRISTO, G.L. DEDOLA, T. LAI, P. COSSU, D. SANNA, C. CIRCOSTA, 

M. CURINI-GALLETTI, C. MELONI * , M. CASU 

Dipartimento di Zoologia e Genetica Evoluzionistica, Università di Sassari, Via F. Muroni, 25 - 07100 Sassari, 

Italia. 

marcasu@uniss.it 

* Prov. Olbia-Tempio, Settore Ambiente e Sostenibilità, Via A. Nanni, 17/19 – 07026 Olbia, Italia. 

ANALYSIS OF THE GENETIC VARIABILITY OF PATELLA FERRUGINEA 

GMELIN, 1791 (GASTROPODA: PATELLIDAE) POPULATIONS 

FROM THE NORTH-EAST SARDINIA 

ANALISI DELLA VARIABILITÀ GENETICA IN POPOLAZIONI 

DI PATELLA FERRUGINEA GMELIN, 1791 (GASTROPODA: PATELLIDAE) 

PROVENIENTI DALLA SARDEGNA NORD-ORIENTALE 

Abstract - The mollusc Patella ferruginea (Gastropoda, Patellidae), endemic to the Mediterranean, is the 

most endangered marine species on the list of the European Council Directive 92/43/EEC and it is 

presently under serious risk of extinction. This research was aimed to unravel the genetic variability of 

some Sardinian populations sampled on the North-Eastern coast, in order to shed light on their status of 

conservation. 

Key-words: rare species, exploitation, population genetics. 

Introduction - Human impact on coastal habitats have led to the extinction of local 

populations of invertebrates (Little and Kitching, 1996). The intertidal zone is being 

progressively squeezed between encroaching onshore developments (Raffaelli and 

Hawkins, 1996) and consequently many sedentary species inhabiting rocky shores may 

disappear. Among them, the limpet, Patella ferruginea, endemic to the Mediterranean 

Sea, is the most endangered marine species on the list of the European Council 

Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and 

Flora, 1992 (Ramos, 1998), and it is presently under serious risk of extinction 

(Templado and Moreno, 1997). This work, performed by Inter-Simple Sequence 

Repeat (ISSR) markers, was aimed to shed some light on the genetic variability and 

level of gene flow among samples from different protected and non-protected sites, 

subjected to high level of onshore development from the Sardinian North-Eastern 

coasts. 

Materials and methods – 37 specimens were collected from North-East Sardinia, in 

Cala Greca (CGR, n.8), Pittulongu (PIT, n.6) and Punta li Francesi (PLF, n.10), and 

from two sites located in the National Park of Arcipelago di La Maddalena 

(Madonnetta, MAD, n.10, and Nido d’Aquila, NAQ, n.3). The non-lethal protocol of 

tissue sampling, sequence of the 7 ISSR primers used (IT1, IT2, IT3, SAS1, SAS3, 

UBC811, UBC827), PCR reaction mixtures, amplification program, electrophoresis 

conditions and gel staining are reported in Casu et al. (2006). Genetic relationships at 

interpopulation level were investigated using the software Splitstree (available on-line), 

performing a maximum parsimony analysis with a heuristic search with TBR (Tree 

bisection–reconnection) branch swapping and random addition of sequences, and building a 

consensus network from the equally parsimonious trees. The software Genalex (available 

on-line) was used to perform the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA, 1,000 


297



permutation) and calculate the value of ΦPT. The partitioning of genetic variation (ΔK) was 

estimated applying the Bayesian method implemented in the software BAPS (available online). 

Results - Network analysis based on 32 polymorphic loci, evidenced two main clusters 

without any evident geographical structuring (NAQ+PLF and CGR+MAD+PIT). 

Consistently, i) AMOVA pointed out that the differentiation among these clusters is 

significant, with a value of ΦPT =0.287 (P



L. PETRONE, F. STEFANIZZI, V.A. CAVARRETTA, P. FORTESE, E. CELLINI 

ARPACAL, Dip. Provinciale di Crotone, Servizio Biotossicologico, Via E. Fermi – 88900 Crotone; Italia. 

e.cellini@arpacal.it 

VALUTAZIONE TOSSICOLOGICA MEDIANTE BATTERI 

BIOLUMINESCENTI DELLE FOCI DELLA COSTA CROTONESE: 

RISULTATI PRELIMINARI 

TOXICOLOGICAL APPROACH USING BIOLUMINESCENT BACTERIA 

OF CROTONESE COAST: PRELIMINARY RESULTS 

Abstract - In this work we have reported the analytical results of the toxicological tests (bioassay with 

Vibrio fischeri Lehmann e Neumann 1986) performed on marine sediments and on the water of the river’s 

mouths which flow along the coast side of the province the Crotone. The results show high values of toxicity 

in the sediments in all the studied mouths. 

Key-words: Vibrio fischeri, sediments, toxicity, Ionian Sea. 

Introduzione - La presente indagine, di durata annuale ed articolata in quattro 

campagne stagionali, si inquadra nell’ambito delle attività di controllo e monitoraggio 

condotte dall’ARPACAL in applicazione dei dettami previsti dal D.Lgs. 152/06 “Testo 

unico ambientale”. Lo scopo del lavoro è quello di presentare i risultati preliminari 

relativi alla campagna invernale (dicembre 2009/febbraio 2010) di uno studio di 

valutazione dello stato tossicologico delle foci degli 8 corpi idrici superficiali presenti 

lungo la fascia costiera della Provincia di Crotone, mediante saggio biologico con 

Vibrio fischeri condotto su sedimenti marini ed acque. 

Materiali e metodi - Lungo la fascia costiera della Provincia di Crotone sono state 

individuate, per ciascuna foce, tre stazioni di campionamento: acqua centro foce 

(ACF), sedimento superficiale argine destro (SDX) e sedimento superficiale argine 

sinistro (SSX) per un totale di 72 campioni. I sedimenti sono stati prelevati mediante 

l’uso di box corer mentre per i campioni d’acqua si è fatto ricorso alla bottiglia di 

Niskin. Per la determinazione della tossicità acuta con batteri bioluminescenti sono 

stati utilizzati i test Microtox ® Solid-Phase-Test per il sedimento centrifugato e Basic 

Test per elutriato e acqua (Azur Environmental, 1994). I risultati del saggio SPT sono 

stati espressi in TU (Toxicity Units), quale reciproco aritmetico della EC50, al fine di 

consentire una correlazione diretta tra tossicità e concentrazione del campione. I 

risultati dei saggi condotti sulle matrici acquose sono stati espressi come % di effetto 

misurato alla massima concentrazione. Per l’elaborazione dei risultati del presente 

lavoro si è fatto riferimento ai livelli di tossicità proposti nella Appendice 2 – 

Valutazione della tossicità naturale nel saggio Microtox ® in fase solida: la 

normalizzazione pelitica – Metodologie analitiche di riferimento – ICRAM (2001). 

Risultati - In Fig. 1 è riportato il valore medio percentuale di effetto misurato alla 

massima concentrazione nella matrice acquosa (acqua centro foce ed elutriato) per 

singola foce; i risultati mostrano livelli di tossicità assente per 2 foci (Nicà ed Esaro), 

assente/lieve per 1 foce (Lipuda), lieve per 4 foci (Neto, Passovecchio, Vorga e Tacina) 

e lieve/media per 1 foce (Puzzofieto). In Fig. 2 è riportato il valore medio di TU50 della 

fase solida (sedimento centrifugato) per singola foce; i risultati mostrano livelli di 


299



tossicità equamente distribuita tra le classi molto tossico (Nicà, Lipuda, Neto e 

Passovecchio) ed estremamente tossico (Esaro, Vorga, Puzzofieto e Tacina). 

Fig. 1 - Valore medio % di effetto misurato alla massima concentrazione nella matrice acquosa (acqua 

centro foce ed elutriato) per singola foce. 

Average value of highest % effect in the Liquid Phase (water middle mouth) for each mouth. 

Fig. 2 - Valore medio di TU 50 nella fase solida (sedimento centrifugato) per singola foce. 

Average value of TU 50 in the Solid Phase ( centrifuged sediment) for each mouth. 

I risultati ottenuti per la fase solida mostrano l’esistenza di un gradiente di tossicità 

dei sedimenti lungo l’asse Nord- Sud della costa, con un deciso incremento a partire 

dall’area urbana di Crotone. 

Conclusioni - A differenza della matrice acquosa che ha presentato valori di tossicità 

assente o lieve, le prove effettuate sulla fase solida mostrano una situazione generale di 

evidente tossicità, interessando la totalità dei campioni analizzati. Ciò descriverebbe 

un’area fortemente compromessa per la probabile presenza di miscele di contaminanti 

biodisponibili e potenzialmente mobili verso la colonna d’acqua. È ragionevole 

presupporre che i contaminanti, verosimilmente presenti nei sedimenti in elevate 

concentrazioni, restino legati al sedimento per la loro natura chimica, idrofobicità, 

adsorbimento e grado di complessazione con la sostanza organica (Ennas et al., 2002). 

Di sicuro interesse e possibile riscontro saranno gli esiti delle indagini 

ecotossicologiche, già programmate per le successive campagne stagionali, nel corso 

delle quali saranno determinati i contaminanti chimici presenti nei sedimenti (metalli 

pesanti, IPA, PCB, composti organo clorurati e pesticidi). 

Bibliografia 

AZUR ENVIRONMENTAL (1994) – Microtox ® M500 Manual (a toxicity testing handbook). 

AZUR ENVIRONMENTAL (1994) – Microtox ® Acute Toxicity Solid-Phase Test: 20 pp. 

AZUR ENVIRONMENTAL (1994) – Microtox ® Acute Toxicity Basic-Test Procedures: 63 pp. 

AA.VV. (2001) – Metodologie analitiche di riferimento. Programma di monitoraggio per il controllo 

dell’ambiente marino-costiero (triennio 2001-2003). Ministero Ambiente e Territorio - ICRAM. 

DECRETO LEGISLATIVO 152/06 

ENNAS C., MUGNAI C., KOZINKOVA L., BIGONGIARI N., PELLEGRINI D. (2002) – 

Applicazione di una batteria di saggi biologici per la valutazione della tossicità di sedimenti 

portuali contaminati da metalli pesanti. Atti Associazione Italiana Oceanologia Limnologia, 15: 

53-62. 


300



E. RAMBALDI, L. LANNI*, P. PELUSI, F. BINDA, S. CERASI, A. POGGI, E. UKMAR, P. 

AVETRANI 

Consorzio Mediterraneo Scarl, Via A. Guattani, 9 - 00161 Roma, Italia. 

rambaldi@mediterraneo.coop 

*Ist. Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e della Toscana, V ia Appia Nuova, 1411 – 00178 Roma, 

Italia. 

VALUTAZIONE DEI BANCHI NATURALI DI MOLLUSCHI BIVALVI 

EDULI (TELLINE, DONAX TRUNCULUS, E CANNOLICCHI, ENSIS 

SILIQUA) LUNGO LA FASCIA COSTIERA DELLA PROVINCIA DI 

LATINA E INDICAZIONI GESTIONALI PER UNA PESCA SOSTENIBILE 

EVALUATION OF NATURAL BIVALVE STOCKS (TRUNCATE DONAX, 

DONAX TRUNCULUS, AND SWORD RAZOR SHELL, ENSIS SILIQUA) 

ALONG THE PROVINCE OF LATINA COASTAL ZONE 

AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES 

Abstract - The study investigated the status of bivalve stocks in the Province of Latina, central Tyrrhenian 

Sea, following the creation of the new management consortium Co.Ge.Mo. of Gaeta and the resumption of 

commercial fishing on truncate donax resource in the northern area. It has 'been implemented the new 

classification of health areas for harvesting of bivalve shellfish according to the Regional Control Plan. 

Key-words: Bivalve, stock assessment, Tyrrhenian Sea, sustainable fisheries. 

Introduzione - Il litorale della provincia di Latina si estende per una lunghezza di circa 

150 Km, dalla località di Foce Verde (nord) fino alla foce del fiume Garigliano (sud), 

al confine con la Regione Campania, ed è in gran parte caratterizzato da fondali 

sabbiosi e fango-sabbiosi idonei per la vita dei molluschi bivalvi fossori in banchi 

naturali. In questo tratto di costa il crollo delle rese di pesca per il cannolicchio e per la 

tellina (Costa et al., 1987; Mariani et al., 2002) è stato seguito da situazioni di 

instabilità dei popolamenti, che non hanno mai più recuperato quella consistenza 

numerica che negli anni passati consentiva l’operatività di numerose imbarcazioni 

professionali. Il presente studio ha inteso valutare la consistenza dei popolamenti dei 

due principali bivalvi eduli di interesse commerciale lungo il litorale di Latina, a 

seguito della costituzione del nuovo Consorzio di Gestione Molluschi Co.Ge.Mo. di 

Gaeta e della ripresa della pesca alla risorsa tellina nell’area a nord della provincia di 

Latina. Si è proceduto, inoltre, alla nuova classificazione delle zone destinate alla 

raccolta dei molluschi bivalvi per il consumo umano, secondo quanto indicato nel 

Piano di Controllo Regionale. 

Materiali e metodi – Il disegno di campionamento è stato definito individuando le 

aree di interesse, in base alle indicazioni fornite dai pescatori ed all’inventario delle 

fonti inquinanti di origine umana e animale presenti lungo la fascia costiera: queste 

ultime costituiscono una potenziale fonte di pericolo per il prodotto pescato per il 

consumo umano diretto. L’insieme dei dati raccolti ha consentito di definire 6 

differenti aree di pesca, 2 per la risorsa tellina e 4 per il cannolicchio, per complessivi 

24 transetti perpendicolari alla costa sui quali sono state effettuate, tra luglio 2008 e 

gennaio 2009, un totale di 123 pescate con turbosoffiante tipo “cannellara”. I dati 

acquisiti sono stati trasferiti su un GIS per la rappresentazione cartografica. 


301



Risultati – L’attività sperimentale ha evidenziato una discontinuità dei rendimenti di 

pesca in senso spaziale, con presenza dei cannolicchi nell’area sud tra Terracina e 

Scauri-Minturno, rese comprese tra 2 e 14 g/m 2 , mentre banchi naturali di telline sono 

stati segnalati nell’area nord tra Sabaudia e Latina Lido, con rese comprese tra 2 e 6 

g/m 2 . Le analisi microbiologiche, condotte sui molluschi raccolti, hanno consentito di 

classificare come Zona Classe “A” ampi tratti di costa da destinare alla raccolta di 

molluschi per il consumo umano. In diversi tratti di costa si sono evidenziati impatti 

negativi sui banchi naturali dovuti alle azioni di ripascimento delle spiagge. 

Conclusioni – I dati hanno evidenziato un generale decremento dei banchi naturali 

rispetto a quelli rilevati da Mariani nel 2001 (Mariani et al., 2002). Le analisi sul 

prodotto hanno posto in evidenza la necessità di controlli in concomitanza con 

condizioni meteo marine sfavorevoli, soprattutto in concomitanza a piogge persistenti, 

in grado di riversare potenziali inquinanti dall’entroterra verso le zone classificate. 

Infine il confronto tra consistenza dei banchi naturali e le azioni di ripascimento delle 

spiagge ha evidenziato forti alterazioni ambientali anche a carattere persistente 

(presenza di breccia e ghiaia), con gravi conseguenze sulla risorsa molluschi bivalvi e 

la biocenosi delle sabbie fini ben calibrate (SFBC). 

Bibliografia 

COSTA C., BIANCHINI M., CECCARELLI P., ORECCHIA P., RAMBALDI E., VOLTERRA L. 

(1987) - Indagine sui molluschi bivalvi di interesse commerciale (telline, cannolicchi e vongole) 

delle coste della Toscana, del Lazio e della Campania, 1985-1987. Quad. Ist. Idrobiol. 

Acquacolt. G. Brunelli, 7: 58 pp. 

MARIANI A., MACCARONI A., DELL’AQUILA M., DE ANGELIS P., D’AMBRA R., 

RAMPACCI M., FUSARI A. (2002) - Valutazione della consistenza e distribuzione dei 

molluschi bivalvi d’interesse commerciale nei Compartimenti Marittimi di Roma, Gaeta, Napoli 

e Salerno. Ministero delle Risorse Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali (Quinto Piano Triennale della 

Pesca e dell'Acquicoltura). Rapporto finale. 


302



G. RIZZO, T. MARČETA, V. MATOZZO, M. BRESSAN, M.G. MARIN 

Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi, 58/B – 35121 Padova, Italia. 

mgmar@bio.unipd.it 

NEW INSIGHT ON CLAM POPULATION (CHAMELEA GALLINA) IN THE 

CHIOGGIA DISTRICT: MORPHOMETRIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA 

CHAMELEA GALLINA NEL COMPARTIMENTO MARITTIMO DI CHIOGGIA: 

DATI MORFOMETRICI E FISIOLOGICI DI POPOLAZIONE 

Abstract – The population of the clam Chamelea gallina (Mollusca, Bivalvia) was studied in two sites of the 

Chioggia district, Caleri and Chioggia, from June 2009 to February 2010. Some preliminary results 

concerning spatial and temporal distribution, mortality, physiological and reproductive condition, 

recruitment and growth rate are presented. 

Key-words: Chamelea, Chioggia, North Adriatic, fisheries. 

Introduction – In the early 1980’s, Chamelea gallina landings were up to 100,000 t/yr 

along the western Adriatic Sea coasts (Froglia, 1989). Overexploitation, recruitment 

failure and mortality outbreaks have severely depleted clams stocks, leading to a 

reduction in total catches in Chioggia district, from almost 3000 t in 2007 to about 850 

t in 2009 (CO.GE.VO., unpubl.). In this context, the research project “CLODIA” 

(Sviluppo sostenibile degli ambienti costieri) funded by Regione Veneto aims at 

providing new insight on spatial and temporal distribution, mortality, physiological and 

reproductive condition, recruitment and growth rate of the species, potentially useful 

for resource restocking and management. Some preliminary results are presented. 

Materials and methods – Clams were monthly sampled (from June 2009 to February 

2010) along a 250 m transect parallel to the coast at Caleri (45°06.214 N; 12°20.660 E) 

and Chioggia (45°10.590 N; 12°19.670 E). A conventional dredge provided with a 

bag-shaped sampling mesh with a rigid mouth (40 cm width, 20 cm height) and a 9 mm 

mesh size was used to collect both juveniles (25 mm). Size frequency distribution in the dredged area was obtained 

measuring (antero-posterior axis), counting and weighting clams. Clam mortality was 

tentatively estimated by measuring weight percentage of empty shells. Percentages of 

mature animals were obtained by microscopic observation of smears of gonadal tissue. 

The condition index (CI), expressed as meat dry weight x 100/shell dry weight, was 

determined, and the survival-in-air test was performed. 

Results – In Tab. 1, C. gallina morphometric data are reported. On average, juveniles 

were more abundant at Caleri (49 clams per m 2 ) than at Chioggia (18 clams per m 2 ), 

whereas commercial size clams were less than 10 animals per m 2 at Caleri, and 5 

animals per m 2 at Chioggia. A new age class (0+, mode=5 mm) was recruited at Caleri 

starting from September, with a mode shift to 7 mm in February. Clams of 15-22 mm 

shell length were the most abundant at Chioggia (1+, putatively). Average percentages 

of empty shells were 27% at Caleri and 33% at Chioggia, with a peak for both sites in 

January (53%). As for CI, no influence of the sampling site was recorded (mean 

CI=5.5), whereas a statistically significant influence of the sampling time (Kruskall- 

Wallis, p



similar for clams from both sites, except for animals collected in July (Gehan- 

Wilcoxon test, p


NECTON AND FISHERY COMMITEE 


COMITATO NECTON E PESCA 


305



D. CUCCU, M. MEREU, P. MASALA, A. CAU, P. JEREB* 

Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1 – 09126 Cagliari, Italy. 

cuccu@unica.it 

*ISPRA ex-ICRAM, Roma, Italy. 

FIRST RECORD OF STOLOTEUTHIS LEUCOPTERA 

(CEPHALOPODA: SEPIOLIDAE) IN THE SARDINIAN WATERS 

PRIMO RINVENIMENTO DI STOLOTEUTHIS LEUCOPTERA 

(CEPHALOPODA: SEPIOLIDAE) NELLE ACQUE SARDE 

Abstract – Morphometric and meristic data of two mature females of Stoloteuthis leucoptera 

(Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae) from the Sardinian waters are reported. These are the first records of the 

species in the Sardinian seas and they add important information to our still poor knowledge on the species 

in the Mediterranean Sea. 

Keywords: Stoloteuthis leucoptera, Mediterranean Sea, Sardinian seas, bottom trawling, fishery surveys. 

Introduction - The leucoptera bobtail squid, Stoloteuthis leucoptera (Verril, 1878), is 

distributed in the Western Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of St Lawrence to the Straits 

of Florida and in the Eastern Atlantic, in the Bay of Biscay and in the Benguela Current 

off Namibia (Reid and Jereb, 2005). Only a few records exist for the Mediterranean 

Sea, where the species may be of recent introduction (Orsi Relini and Massi, 1991). As 

for the Italian waters, S. leucoptera was caught in the Ligurian Sea, in the northern and 

southern Tyrrhenian Sea and off the Gorgona Island (Reid and Jereb, 2005). Here, the 

first findings of the species in the Sardinian waters are reported and some 

morphometric and meristic data are presented. 

Materials and methods - Stoloteuthis leucoptera specimens were collected during the 

scientific trawl surveys MEDITS (Bertrand et al., 2000) and GRUND (Relini, 1998) 

carried out in the Sardinian waters during summer 2005 and winter 2007, respectively. 

Fresh specimens were measured (ML, to the nearest 1 mm) and weighted (TW, to the 

nearest 0.01 g); sex was determined and maturity stages were established using a 3 

stages maturity scale (Bertrand et al., 2000). Measurements and abbreviations used are 

those given in Roper and Voss (1983). The mandibles were removed and for each one, 

the upper crest (UCL), upper hood (UHL), upper rostral (URL), lower crest (LCL), 

lower hood (LHL) and lower rostral (LRL) measurements were taken (Clarke, 1986). 

Oocytes and spermatangia were measured along their major axis. 

Results - Two specimens of S. leucoptera (ML: 10.4 and 14.5 mm) were recorded, in 

the north-eastern Sardinian waters (N41°12,720' E9°55,880'-N41°12,830' E9°55,800') 

at a mean depth of 550 meters, and in the Gulf of Cagliari (N39°08,020' E9°20,780'- 

N39°06,800' E9°24,000') at 360 meters, along with other sepiolids. Both were mature 

females; their mantle cavity was filled mostly by the ovary and the white creamy 

nidamental glands. Oocytes in the ovary were reticulate and ranged in length between 

0.1 and 3.5 mm; oocytes in the oviducts were smooth, their size ranging between 3.5 

and 3.8 mm. Six spermatangia of about 0.5 mm length were found on one female (ML 

14.2 mm), embedded in the tissue above the left eye. Main morphometric and meristic 

data of the two specimens are given in Tab. 1. 


306



Tab. 1 - Stoloteuthis leucoptera: details of captures and measurements of the two mature females. 

Stoloteuthis leucoptera: dettagli sulle catture e misure delle due femmine mature. 

Specimen Specimen 



1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

Data 29/06/2005 20/02/2007 HL (mm) 9.6 11.1 

UCL 

(mm) 

3.99 4.68 

Depth (m) 529–558 280–401 

HW 

(mm) 

13.4 15.3 

UHL 

(mm) 

2.22 2.93 

ML (mm) 10.4 14.5 FL (mm) 9.8 12.9 

URL 

(mm) 

1.11 1.40 

VML (mm) 13.1 19.3 FW (mm) 6.7 9.8 LCL (mm) 2.36 2.74 

MW (mm) 12.2 18 TtL (mm) 41.7 56.2 

LHL 

(mm) 

1.03 1.31 

TW (g) 1.66 3.92 TL (mm) 61.7 81.8 LRL (mm) 0.93 0.99 

Conclusions - The finding of S. leucoptera in the Sardinian waters allows to update the 

cephalopods checklist in this area (Cuccu et al., 2003) and widens the fragmentary 

geographical distribution known for the species in the Mediterranean Sea. The depth of 

capture is in agreement with the bathymetric distribution reported for the species (Reid 

and Jereb, 2005), and both specimens were collected along with other sepiolids, as 

observed in other Mediterranean areas (in Boletzky, 1995). The fact that both 

specimens captured were mature may indicate an extended reproductive period. The 

combined presence of oocytes of different size, only the larger and smooth of which 

were found in the oviducts, suggests that S. leucoptera is a multiple spawner. The 

presence of spermatangia deeply implanted into unmodified tissue of the females, as 

occurs in other deep-waters cephalopods, supports a sperm storage strategy useful to 

prolonged spawners. Present observations are in favour of the existence of stable 

populations of this species in the Mediterranean Sea, as future findings on reproductive 

aspects may confirm. 

References 

BERTRAND J.A., GIL DE SOLA L., PAPACONSTANTINOU C., RELINI G., SOUPLET A. 

(2000) - An international bottom trawl survey in the Mediterranean: the MEDITS programme. 

In: Bertrand J.A, Relini G. (eds), Demersal resources in the Mediterranean. IFREMER, 

Plouzané: 76-93. 

BOLETZKY S. (1995) – Mediterranean Sepiolidae. Les Sépioles de Méditerranée. Bull. Inst. 

Océanogr. (Monaco), n. special 16: 104 pp. 

CLARKE M.R. (1986) - A handbook for the identification of cephalopod beaks. Clarendon Press, 

Oxford, UK: 275 pp. 

CUCCU D., ADDIS P., DAMELE F., MANFRIN PICCINETTI G. (2003) - Primo censimento della 

teuthofauna dei mari circostanti la Sardegna. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 10 (2): 795-798. 

ORSI RELINI L., MASSI D. (1991) – The butterfly squid Stoloteuthis leucoptera in the 

Mediterranean. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K., 71 : 47-51. 

REID A., JEREB P. (2005) - Family Sepiolidae Leach, 1817. In: Jereb P., Roper C.F.E. (eds), 

Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known 

to date. Vol. 1. Chambered Nautiluses and Sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, 

Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae). FAO, Rome: 153-203. 

RELINI G. (1998) - Valutazione delle risorse demersali. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 5: 3-19. 

ROPER C.F.E., VOSS G.L. (1983) - Guidelines for taxonomic descriptions of cephalopod species. 

Mem. Nat. Mus. Vict., 44: 49-63. 


307



M. DONNALOIA, P. GAUDIO*, I. BITETTO*, L. CASCIARO*, 

W. ZUPA*, S. INTINI*, M.T. SPEDICATO* 

Dipartimento di Produzione Animale, Università di Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via G. Amendola, 165/A - 70126 Bari, 

Italia. 

*COISPA Tecnologia e Ricerca s.c.r.l., Via dei Trulli, 18-20 - 70126 Torre a Mare (BA), Italia. 

zupa@coispa.it 

SEXUAL MATURITY OF THE HORNED OCTOPUS 

ELEDONE CIRRHOSA (LAMARCK, 1798) 

MATURITA’ SESSUALE DEL MOSCARDINO BIANCO 

ELEDONE CIRRHOSA (LAMARCK, 1798) 

Abstract – Data collected from the commercial landings in the central-southern Tyrrhenian Sea (GSA 10) 

and in the South Adriatic Sea (GSA 18) allowed to estimate the size at first maturity of both sexes of 

Eledone cirrhosa (GSA10: female 9.1±0.11 cm; male 8.8±0.09 cm, GSA18: female 9.7±0.06 cm; male 

7.8±0.05 cm). Analyses of the maturity cycle in the GSA 18 indicated that the reproduction period was 

occurring in the summer season. 

Key-words: E. cirrhosa, maturity, South Adriatic, central-southern Tyrrhenian. 

Introduction – The horned octopus Eledone cirrhosa (Lamarck, 1798) is common in 

whole Mediterranean Sea, where it represents one of the most important resource of the 

demersal fisheries mainly caught by bottom trawlers. This species shows a very wide 

bathymetric distribution with a higher occurrence within 300 m depth (Belcari et al., 

2002). The reproductive biology is characterized by a single reproductive event during 

the whole life span (semelparous species) (Cuccu et al., 2003; Orsi Relini et al., 2006). 

Materials and methods – Samples of E. cirrhosa were collected during the Data 

Collection Framework (DCF, EU Reg. 1543/2000, 1639/2001 and 1581/2004) in two 

geographical sub-areas: the central-southern Tyrrhenian Sea (GSA 10; data series: 

2006-2008) and the south Adriatic Sea (GSA 18; data series 2007-2008). In each 

specimen mantle length (ML, in cm) and sex were recorded; the maturity stage was 

determined following the MEDITS maturity scale (Relini et al., 2008). In order to 

estimate the length at first maturity of females (GSA 10, n=473; GSA 18, n=1845) and 

males (GSA 10, n=497; GSA 18, n=1453), the specimens were considered mature 

whether classified as 2b, 3a and 3b, whilst immature ones were those classified as 1 

and 2a. The length at first maturity (ML50%) and the maturity range (MR=ML75%- 

ML25%) were estimated using an ogive model: M(L)= [e (a+bL) / 1+e (a+bL) ]; where M(L) 

is the proportion of mature individuals and L the length class. To fit the model to the 

data the coefficients a and b of the logistic curve were first obtained from a linear 

regression: ln[M(L)/ 1 - M(L)]= a + b(L) and then used as seed values to maximize the 

ln-likelihood estimator: Σ {nL1 ln (M(L)) + nL2 ln[1 - M(L)]}. The monthly 

distributions of the maturity stages for both females and males were calculated only for 

GSA18, where data were more regularly distributed along the year. 

Results – The monthly percentages of maturity stages in the South Adriatic Sea 

showed the dominant presence of immature individuals during the autumn-winter 

period (62-100% from October to May for females; 66-95% from October to January 

for males), while in spring-summer the occurrence of mature or maturing individuals 

was higher (89-100% from June to August for females; 74-97% from March to August 


308



for males). The lengths at first maturity of females and males were respectively 

9.1±0.11 (MR=0.9±0.11 cm) and 8.8±0.09 cm (MR=1.2±0.12 cm) in the centralsouthern 

Tyrrhenian Sea, whilst in the south Adriatic the estimates for females and 

males were respectively 9.7±0.06 (MR=1.5±0.07 cm) and 7.8±0.05 cm (MR=1.4±0.07 

cm) (Fig. 1). 

Conclusions – The reproductive period observed in this work agrees with the findings 

in other Mediterranean areas (e.g. Cuccu et al., 2003; Orsi Relini et al., 2006). The 

sexual maturation (stage 2b onwards) occurs early in males (from November) than in 

females (April). The peak of spawning takes place in summer, while during autumn 

there are few mature and large specimens defined as “late spawners” (Cuccu et al., 

2003; Orsi Relini et al., 2006). The size at first maturity estimated for the GSA10 is 

greater than that reported by Cuccu et al. (2003), whilst the ML50% estimated in the 

GSA 18 is smaller than that reported by Soro and Piccinetti Manfrin (1989). These 

differences might be ascribed to the diverse methods applied for the size at first 

maturity estimation. Due to the semelparous sexual biology of this species, it is 

important to take into account not only the size at first maturity, but also the Maturity 

Range, in order to assess the percentage of spawning biomass to be preserved for a 

sustainable management of this resource. 

p 

1.0 

0.8 

0.5 

0.3 

0.0 

E. cirrhosa - GSA10 

Females 

ML 50% =9,1 ± 0,11 cm 

MR = 0,9 ± 0,11 cm 

Males 

ML 50% =8,8 ± 0,09 cm 

MR = 1,2 ± 0,12 cm 

0 5 10 15 20 

ML (cm) 

p 

1.0 

0.8 

0.5 

0.3 

0.0 


309 

E. cirrhosa - GSA18 

Females 

ML 50% =9,7 ± 0,06 cm 

MR = 1,5 ± 0,07 cm 

Males 

ML 50% =7,8 ± 0,05 cm 

MR = 1,4 ± 0,07 cm 

0 5 10 15 20 

ML (cm) 

Fig. 1 - Maturity ogives of females (---; ○ ) and males (─;• ) of E. cirrhosa (GSA 10 and GSA18). 

Ogive di maturità di femmine (---; ○ ) e maschi (─;• ) di E. cirrhosa (GSA10 and GSA18). 

References 

BELCARI P., TSERPES G., GONZALES M., LEFKADITOU E., MARCETA B., PICCINETTI 

MANFRIN G., SOUPLET A. (2002) - Distribution and abundance of Eledone cirrhosa 

(Lamarck, 1798) and E. moschata (Lamarck, 1798) (Cephalopoda: Octopoda) in the 

Mediterranean Sea. Sci. Mar., 66 (suppl.2): 143-155. 

CUCCU D., DAMELE F., FOLLESA M.C., MURENU M., CAU A. (2003) - Aspetti biologici di E. 

cirrhosa (Cephalopoda Octopoda) nei mari circostanti la Sardegna. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 10 (2): 

119-126. 

ORSI-RELINI L., MANNINI A., FIORENTINO F., PALANDRI G., RELINI G. (2006) - Biology 

and fishery of Eledone cirrhosa in the Ligurian Sea. Fish. Res., 78: 72-88. 

RELINI G., CARPENTIERI P., MURENU M. (2008) - Manuale di istruzioni MEDITS Versione 5 

rev. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 15 (Suppl. 2): 1-78. 

SORO S., PICCINETTI MANFRIN G. (1989) - Biologia e pesca di Cefalopodi in Adriatico. Nova 

Thalassia, 10 (1): 493-498. 

Data used in this paper were collected in the Data Collection Framework and supported by the 

Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policy (MiPAAF) and the European Commission.



V. GANCITANO, C. BADALUCCO, P. RIZZO, S. GANCITANO, G. SIELI, 

S. CUSUMANO, F. FIORENTINO 

National Research Council (CNR) – Insitute for Costal Marine Enviromnent (IAMC) 

Via Luigi Vaccara, 61 – 91026 Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy. 

vita.gancitano@iamc.cnr.it 

DIFFERENCES IN GROWTH OF COMMON PANDORA, PAGELLUS 

ERYTHRINUS (L., 1758) (PISCES: SPARIDAE), CAUGHT BY DIFFERENT 

FISHING GEARS IN THE STRAIT OF SICILY 

DIFFERENZE NELLA CRESCITA DEL PAGELLO FRAGOLINO, PAGELLUS 

ERYTHRINUS (L., 1758) (PISCES: SPARIDAE), CATTURATI DA DIVERSI 

ATTREZZI DA PESCA NELLO STRETTO DI SICILIA 

Abstract – The von Bertalanffy growth curves (VBGC) of Common pandora, Pagellus erythrinus (L., 1758) 

were estimated using data from commercial trawling and artisanal fisheries. The difference in VBGC 

checked by the Chen‘s test was significant, confirming that the two métiers exploit different fractions of the 

stock. This difference suggests to be cautious in adopting growth parameters for stock assessment purposes 

and in integrating information coming from different sources in a proper way. 

Key-words: Common pandora, growth, fishing gears, Strait of Sicily. 

Introduction - The Common pandora, Pagellus erythrinus (L., 1758), is one of the 

most important demersal resources in the Strait of Sicily (GSA 16). According to 

IREPA data, during the last three years the mean annual yields amount to 43 t and 467 

t, by artisanal and trawl fisheries respectively. Andaloro & Giarritta (1985) described 

firstly the growth of the species in the area on the basis of trawling catches. Orsi Relini 

& Romeo (1985) reported difference in growth patterns between specimens caught by 

trawling and those caught by long lines. Therefore one of the aims of this study is to 

check the existence of differences in growth curves of P. erythrinus in GSA 16 based 

on data from commercial trawling and artisanal fisheries (trammel net and long lines). 

Materials and methods – Biological sampling of landings were carried out monthly 

from 2002 to 2008 in GSA 16 (Italian National Program of DCR - Module H). Each 

specimen was measured as total length (TL, cm) and total weight (g) and the sex was 

assigned. A total of 2647 otoliths (1073 from trawling; 944 from artisanal fisheries) 

was sampled. Age was estimated by readings of whole sagitta under transmitted light. 

Since this species is a protogynous hermaphroditic species (Giordano et. al., 1999), the 

von Bertalanffy growth curves (VBGC) were estimated by combined sex and separate 

métiers using the “Length at Age” routine as implemented in Fisat II. Differences in 

growth curves between métiers were checked by means of the Chen’s test (Chen et al., 

1992), which is based on the analysis of the residual sum of the squares (ARSS). 

Results and conclusions – The difference in VBGC by métier (Tab. 1) was significant 

(p



Tab. 1 – Growth parameters of P. erythrinus by single and combined métiers. 

Parametri di crescita di P. erythrinus per sistemi di pesca singoli e combinati. 

TL (cm) 

45 

40 

35 

30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

Growth 

parameters 

Trawling Artisanal Combined 

métiers 

N 1703 944 2647 

L ∞ 23.23 49.57 46.69 

se( L ∞ ) 0.91 6.07 9.37 

k 0.52 0.1 0.1 

se(k) 0.18 0.03 0.06 

t 0 -1.0 -2.0 -2.36 

se( t 0 ) 0.78 0.76 1.67 

Artisanal Tra wling 

VB GC tra wling VB GC a rtis a nal 

VB GC C o m bined m é tie rs 

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 

Age (years) 

Fig. 1 – Length at age and VBGC of P. erythrinus by single and by combined gears. 

Lunghezza – età e VBGC di P. erythrinus per mestieri di pesca singoli e combinati. 

References 

ANDALORO F., GIARRITTA P.S. (1985) – Contribution to the knowledge of the age, growth and 

feeding of pandora, Pagellus erythrinus (L., 1758) in the Sicilian Channel. FAO Fish. Rep., 336: 

85-87. 

CHEN Y., JACKSON D.A., HARVEY H.H. (1992) – A comparison of von Bertalanffy and 

polynomial functions in modelling fish growth data. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 49: 1228-1235. 

GIORDANO D., GRECO S., RINELLI P. (1999) – Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758). In: Relini 

G., Bertrand J., Zamboni A. (eds), Sintesi delle conoscenze sulle risorse da pesca dei fondi del 

Mediterraneo centrale (Italia e Corsica). Biol Mar. Mediterr., 6 (Suppl. 1): 427-433. 

ORSI RELINI L., ROMEO G. (1985) – Vertical distribution, age, growth and mortality of Pagellus 

erythrinus on trawled areas of Ligurian Sea. Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer Médit., 29 (8): 103-106. 


311



A. INDENNIDATE, R. CARLUCCI, P. MAIORANO, L. SION, G. D’ONGHIA 

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Bari, Via E. Orabona, 4 - 70125 Bari, Italia. 

a.indennidate@biologia.uniba.it 

FISHING EFFORT AND CATCH COMPOSITION ON THE BOUNDARIES 

OF SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA DEEP-WATER CORAL BANK 

SFORZO DI PESCA E COMPOSIZIONE DELLE CATTURE AI MARGINI 

DEL BANCO A CORALLI PROFONDI DI SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA 

Abstract - As part of EU-FP7 CoralFISH project, the “Observers’ Program” activity has been carried out 

to investigate on the fishing effort and catch composition from longline and bottom trawl fishing carried out 

near the Santa Maria di Leuca (SML) coral bank (North Western Ionian Sea). 

Key-words: fishing effort, catch composition, deep-water coral reefs, Mediterranean. 

Introduction - The Santa Maria di Leuca (SML) coral bank is characterized by living 

Lophelia-Madrepora-bearing coral mounds, widespread in an area of about 900 km 2 , 

between 350 and 1100 m depth, in the northern Ionian Sea (southern Italy) (Taviani et 

al., 2005, D’Onghia et al., 2010). The bank represents a Mediterranean deep-water 

biodiversity “hotspot” (Mastrototaro et al., 2010) which could also play an important 

role as nursery and spawning area for demersal species (D’Onghia et al., 2010). In this 

work, information on fishing effort and catch composition observed on the boundaries 

of this deep-water coral bank is provided. 

Materials and methods - Data were collected from June to October 2009 within the 

Observer Program, carried out in the framework of the EU-FP7 CoralFISH project. 

Fishing effort and catch composition data were collected from longline and bottom 

trawl. In particular, the following data were recorded: date and hour of fishing, set time 

and number of hooks (if longliner), haul time (if trawler), sea-weather conditions; 

fishing zone with indication of depth, latitude and longitude; catch composition (both 

commercial and discard species) with number and weight; by-catch of corals and 

sponges (and other invertebrates). 

Results - Seven trawlers and one longliner usually fished on the boundaries of SML 

deep-water coral bank. Both the number of fishing days per month (Tab. 1) and 

geographic distribution of fishing hauls (Fig. 1) varied largely throughout the 

investigated period according to the sea-weather conditions. Sometime trawlers fished 

inside the northward limit of the coral area. Catches from trawling mostly consisted in 

Merluccius merluccius, Illex coindetii, Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Aristeus 

antennatus while those from longline were mainly made of Chelidonichthys lucerna, 

M. merluccius and Conger conger (Fig. 2). 

Tab. 1 - Fishing days per month and gear recorded in SML fishery during the “Observer Program”. 

Giornate di pesca per mese e attrezzo registrate nella marineria di SML durante l’Observer 

Program. 

June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 

trawl net 32 (4) 46 (7) 29 (6) closed season 18 (3) 

longline 16 (1) 12 (1) 8 (1) 15 (1) 5 (1) 

* in brackets the number of recorded vessels. 


312



Longline 

Trawl net 

N. norvegicus 

P. longirostris 

P. martia 

C. monstrosa 

E. spinax 

G. melastomus 

Fig. 1 - Distribution of the fishing hauls recorded in SML fishery during the “Observer Program”. 

Distribuzione delle cale di pesca registrate nella marineria di SML durante l’Observer 

Program. 

Fig. 2 - Catch composition from longline and trawl net recorded in SML fishery during the 

“Observers’ Program”. 

Composizione delle catture ottenute con palangaro e strascico nella marineria di SML 

durante l’Observer Program. 

Conclusions - Fishing operations of both longliner and trawlers occurred close or even 

inside the northward limit of the coral area, indicating the occurrence of the “fishing 

the line” phenomenon (Roberts and Hawkins, 2000). This occurs with the aim of 

obtaining greater catches and larger specimens. Catch composition showed that, apart 

from M. merluccius and P. blennoides, the two types of gears select different resources. 

C. lucerna, fished with the greatest abundance by longline, was never collected inside 

the coral area being distributed in shallower waters. Some other species, such as M. 

merluccius, P. blennoides and H. dactylopterus, were collected with greater abundance 

inside the coral bank than outside (D’Onghia et al., 2010). For some of them a spillover 

effect, providing benefit to SML fishery, might occur. Although the present 

results did not show any particular fishing pressure on this Mediterranean coral habitat, 

a fishermen self-regulation appears to be fundamental even considering the new legal 

category of “Deep-sea fisheries restricted area” created by the GFCM for the SML 

deep-water coral bank. 

References 

D’ONGHIA G., MAIORANO P., SION L., GIOVE A., CAPEZZUTO F., CARLUCCI R., TURSI A. 

(2010) - Effects of deep-water coral banks on the abundance and size structure of the megafauna 

in the Mediterranean Sea. Deep-Sea Research II, 57: 397-411. 

MASTROTOTARO F., D’ONGHIA G., CORRIERO G., MATARRESE A., MAIORANO P., 

PANETTA P., GHERARDI M., LONGO C., ROSSO A., SCIUTO F., SANFILIPPO R., 

GRAVILI C., BOERO F., TAVIANI M., TURSI A. (2010) - Biodiversity of the white coral 

bank off Cape Santa Maria di Leuca (Mediterranean Sea): An update. Deep-Sea Research II, 57: 

412-430. 

ROBERTS C.M., HAWKINS J.P. (2000) - Fully-protected marine reserves: a guide. WWF 

Endangered Seas Campaign, 1250 24 th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA and 

Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD: 131 pp. 

TAVIANI M., REMIA A., CORSELLI C., FREIWALD A., MALINVERNO E., MASTROTOTARO 

F., SAVINI A., TURSI A. (2005) - First geo-marine survey of living cold-water Lophelia reefs 

in the Ionian Sea (Mediterranean basin). Facies, 50: 409-417. 

H. griseus 


313 

E. cirrhosa 

I. coindetii 

A. foliacea 

A. antennatus 

P. glauca 

C. lucerna 

C. conger 

H. dactylopterus 

H. mediterraneus 

L. budegassa 

M. merluccius 

M. merluccius 

P. bogaraveo 

P. erythrinus 

P. blennoides 

P. blennoides 

X. gladius 

2 1 0 1 2 3 4 

Longline (kg/100 hooks) 

Trawl net (kg/h)



S. INTINI, P. GAUDIO, L. CASCIARO, I. BITETTO, M. DONNALOIA, W. ZUPA, P. CARBONARA 

COISPA Tecnologia e Ricerca s.c.r.l., Via dei Trulli, 18/20 – 70045 Torre a Mare (BA), Italia. 

intini@coispa.it 

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE GROWTH OF ENGRAULIS 

ENCRASICOLUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) IN THE WESTERN IONIAN SEA 

OSSERVAZIONI PRELIMINARI SULLA CRESCITA DI ENGRAULIS 

ENCRASICOLUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) NEL MAR IONIO OCCIDENTALE 

Abstract – Sagittae of European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) have been collected from fish sampled in 

the Western Ionian Sea (GSA 19) and aged to estimate the parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth curve 

(VBGC). The VBGCs of females and males were not significantly different, thus a combined curve was 

estimated with the following parameters: L∞=174.13 mm, k=0.31; t0=-1.76. 

Key-words: European anchovy, von Bertalanffy, otoliths, back-calculation. 

Introduction - The European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) is a widely distributed 

fish (North eastern and Central Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Seas), mostly 

captured by purse seine and pelagic trawls along the Italian coasts. In the western 

Ionian Sea (GSA 19), it is also caught by the artisanal fishery using a small net named 

“menaide”. Despite the importance of the European anchovy fishery (Basilone et al., 

2003) there is no information available on the length-age key and growth in the study 

area. 

Materials and methods – The sampling has been carried from the commercial 

landings in 2007 and 2008. Total length (TL), nearest 0.5 cm, was measured and sex 

determined for each specimen. Unsexed specimens were split according to the sex ratio 

estimated by length class, using the value of the first fully sexed class (9.0 cm). 

Sagittae were removed from a sub-sample of five specimens for each 0.5 cm length 

class by sex. The ageing was conducted on 322 pairs of sagittae, using the criteria 

reported in Giannetti & Donato (2003): the birthday was set at June 1 st , consequently 

the age assigned to the fish caught in the first part of year was equal to the observed 

number of hyaline rings (excluding the edge) plus 0.5, whereas for the fishes caught 

during the second part of the year the age corresponded to the number of hyaline rings. 

For the back-calculation the following metrics for each sagitta (295 measurements) 

were registered: total length (AB), length of antirostrum (AO) and the distance 

between the core and each hyaline ring in the antirostrum area. Morphometric 

relationships AO vs AB and AB vs LT were used to back-calculate the length at 

hyaline ring deposition considered for the aging (Hunt, 1979). The linear relationships 

were then tested by the analysis of variance of the regression. Length-at-age obtained 

by the back-calculation were compared with observed age-at-length only of the 

specimens (n=178) caught during the winter (deposition period of hyaline ring) to 

corroborate the estimated age (Morales-Nin, 2000). Growth parameters of females and 

males were estimated using the von Bertalanffy growth function. The growth curves 

(VBGC) were fitted using length at age pairs and minimizing the sum of the squared 

residuals between observed and expected values (solver, Microsoft Excel®). The two 

VBGCs were compared using the Chen test (Chen et al., 1992). 


314



Results - The 322 analyzed sagittae were collected from specimens ranged between 7.5 

to 16 cm (respectively 0.5-5.5 years old), caught all year round. 

Sagitta growth was proportional and significantly correlated (p F0.05=3.87); AB=1.8123·AO+0.2822 (R 2 = 0.92; Fobserved=3486.43 > 

F0.05=3.87). The mean length at age obtained by direct age readings and that backcalculated 

are reported in Tab. 1. The growth parameters, estimated for females and 

males are respectively: L∞=177.55 mm, k=0.31, t0=-1.69; L∞=171.87 mm, k=0.3, t0=- 

1.83. According to the Chen test, the two VBGCs were not significantly different 

(p>0.05). A combined curve was thus derived using the pooled data: L∞=174.13 mm, 

k=0.31, t0=-1.76. 

Tab. 1 – Mean length, standard deviation (SD) and number of specimens (n) for each age class 

(observed and back-calculated). 

Lunghezza media, deviazione standard (SD) e numero di individui (n) per classe di età in 

base all’età osservata e alla back-calculation. 

Age 

Observed 

Length (mm) SD n 

Back-calculated 

Length (mm) SD n 

0.5 86.85 10.20 27 86.56 5.22 295 

1.5 109.46 8.32 28 106.53 4.85 205 

2.5 124.38 9.38 48 121.52 4.96 118 

3.5 140.13 6.73 38 130.91 5.93 49 

4.5 148.97 6.18 37 135.06 7.20 3 

Conclusions – The growth pattern did not show significant differences between sexes. 

The high value of t0 is the consequence of the lack of aged 0 fish in our sample. Both 

the length observed and that obtained by the back-calculation were very close for the 

ages from 0.5 to 2.5, whilst the differences in length observed in the older individuals 

might be due to different causes as the low number of measurements, the reading 

difficulties in order to recognize univocally the rings and finally the divergence 

between somatic and otolith growth (Panfili & Tomás, 2001) in the older hyaline ring. 

The growth parameters obtained for sex combined were comparable with those 

reported by Basilione et al. (2004) for the southern Sicilian coasts (L∞=18.6 cm; k=0.3; 

t0=-1.81). 

References 

BASILONE G., GUISANDE C., PATTI B., MAZZOLA S., CUTITTA A., BONANNO A., 

KALLIANIOTIS A. (2004) - Linking habitat conditions and growth in the European anchovy 

(Engraulis encrasicolus). Fish. Res., 68: 9-19. 

CHEN Y., JACKSON D.A., HARVEYH. H. (1992) - A comparison of von Bertalanffy and 

polynomial functions in modelling fish growth data. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 49: 1228-1235. 

GIANNETTI G., DONATO F. (2003) - Age Determination Manual. AdriaMed training course on 

fish age determination by otolith reading. GCP/RER/010/ITA/OP-08, AdriaMed Occasional 

Papers 8: 13 pp. 

HUNT J.J. (1979) - Back-calculation of length-at-age from otoliths for silver hake of the Scotian 

shelf. Sel. Pap. ICNAF, 5: 11-17. 

MORALES-NIN B. (2000) - Guidelines for validation studies. EFAN Report 4-2000: 8 pp. 

PANFILI J., TOMÁS J. (2001) - Validation of age estimation and back-calculation of fish length on 

otolith microstructures in tilapias (Pisces, Cichlidae). Fish Bull., 99: 139-150. 

Data used in this paper were collected in the Data Collection Framework and supported by the Italian Ministry of 

Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policy (MiPAAF) and the European Commission. 


315



S. MODUGNO, K.B. HOLTHAUS*, F. GELLI*, A. RINALDI 

Fondazione Centro Ricerche Marine, Viale Amerigo Vespucci, 2 - 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italia. 

moder1976@gmail.com 

*ARPA EMR Sezione Prov.le di Ferrara, Italia. 

APPLICAZIONE DELL’INDICE DI ARGENTINIZZAZIONE 

IN DUE LAGUNE ITALIANE COME STRUMENTO DI MONITORAGGIO 

E TUTELA DELLO STOCK DI ANGUILLE 

APPLICATION OF SILVERING INDEX IN TWO ITALIAN LAGOONS 

AS MONITORING INSTRUMENT FOR CARE OF EEL'S STOCK 

Abstract – The European Eel stock is undergoing a dramatic decline: nowadays it's probably outside of 

biological limits. We provide a characterization of size, age structure, sex ratio and somatic growth for 

eels' population in two north-east Italian lagoons. Effects of silvering process were tested on a large 

number of eels in order to find a no-killing tool to assess the eels' population composition. 

Key-words: Anguilla anguilla, Italy, lagoon, valliculture. 

Introduzione – Dati recenti evidenziano scenari drammatici per gli stock selvatici di 

anguilla europea, Anguilla anguilla L., 1758 (EelReport, 2005) ,con riduzioni fino al 

90% per tutti gli areali tipici, tanto che l'anguilla è stata inserita nella Lista Rossa 

IUCN (Freyhof e Kottelat, 2008). Nel presente lavoro è stato applicato il Silvering 

Index SI (Durif et al., 2005), come nuovo strumento di monitoraggio no-kill per 

studiare popolazioni di anguille residenti in due lagune italiane (Valli di Comacchio 

VC, in Emilia Romagna e Val Noghera VN, in Friuli Venezia Giulia). Il processo 

d'argentinizzazione corrisponde ad una metamorfosi graduale che avvia la pubertà, 

provocando modificazioni fisiologiche e morfologiche necessarie per il ritorno al mare 

e poi la migrazione. 

Materiali e metodi – I prelievi sono stati effettuati nei periodi tipici di pesca (Natale e 

Quaresima) dal 2008 al 2010: in inverno è stato utilizzato il lavoriero (strumento di 

pesca tradizionale), in primavera sia le reti che il lavoriero. In totale sono state pescate 

235 anguille in VN e 169 in VC. Tutti i soggetti, previa anestesia, sono stati misurati 

per rilevare le biometrie necessarie al calcolo del SI: peso totale (PT), lunghezza totale 

(LT), diametro dell'occhio (DO), diametro del corpo (DC), lunghezza della pinna 

pettorale (LP). Il SI divide il processo argentino in stadi, 5 per le femmine (FI–FV) e 2 

per i maschi (MI, MII), basandosi su parametri morfologici (Durif et al., 2006) ed è 

calcolato attraverso specifici algoritmi, che prendono in considerazione le misure 

biometriche sopra menzionate. L’età, determinata tramite l’analisi delle scaglie, è stata 

validata tramite l’analisi degli otoliti. L’integrazione dell’età delle anguille con lo 

stadio di SI, è utile per individuare quando un esemplare è pronto per la migrazione e 

per completare la maturazione sessuale (Durif et al., 2005). 

Risultati – Le misure morfometriche con le quali è stato possibile calcolare il SI sono 

riportate in Tab. 1. Il SI è stato calcolato per ciascun individuo campionato e misurato. 


316



Tab. 1 – Valori medi delle misure biometriche (± dev. st.) con le quali è stato calcolato il SI. 

Mean values (± st.dev) of the biometric parameters used to calculate the SI. 

Sito/anno LT (cm) PT (g) DO (cm) DC (cm) LP (cm) Sesso Stagione Metodo pesca 

VC 2008 79,92±5,56 1155,30±23,67 1,04±0,09 2,80±0,16 3,87±0,37 ♀ inverno lavoriero 

VC 2008 41,24±3,05 117,25±17,26 0,67±0,07 2,05±0,13 2,21±0,18 ♂ inverno lavoriero 

VN 2009 67,72±6,03 458,84±19,92 0,84±0,16 2,31±0,17 3,31±0,37 ♀ primavera reti+lavoriero 

VN 2010 64,67±5,84 461,79±16,95 0,86±0,15 2,98±0,20 3,46±0,28 ♀ primavera reti+lavoriero 

VN 2010 42,31±2,80 21,80±16,55 0,79±0,13 2,13±0,18 2,67±0,19 ♂ primavera lavoriero 

Sulla base dei risultati ottenuti con l’applicazione del SI, per le sole femmine, il 

popolamento di anguille argentine di VC nell'inverno 2008 era costituito dal 62,8% di 

migranti, caratterizzate da grandi dimensioni e dal 37,2% di pre-migranti; il 

popolamento di VN nella primavera 2009 era composto da migranti solo per il 30,44% 

e dal 69,56% di anguille in stadio pre-migratorio (con le reti si è raccolto qualche 

esemplare in stadio residente). Nella primavera 2010, il popolamento di VN, pescato 

con lavoriero, è apparso completamente diverso: 80% di migranti e solo il 13% di premigranti. 

Per le anguille migranti l'età era compresa tra 8 e 13 anni, per quelle premigranti 

è tra 6 e 9 anni. 

Conclusioni – Il fatto di aver trovato quasi esclusivamente anguille femmine e pochi 

maschi evidenzia le modificazioni ecologiche in atto negli ambienti vallivi dove esse si 

accrescono. Le anguille di VN mostrano un buono-sufficiente stadio argentino 

(EelReport, 2005a,b), nonostante le dimensioni medie ridotte rispetto quelle di 

Comacchio. Le anguille di VC hanno un ottimo stadio argentino e dimensioni talvolta 

considerevoli, perciò mature sessualmente e pronte alla migrazione. In inverno, il 

popolamento prelevato con lavoriero mostra percentuali maggiori di esemplari 

argentini, dato che i pesci cercano la strada per il mare spontaneamente, mentre con le 

reti si possono prelevare anguille non ancora pronte. Si elegge, quindi, il lavoriero 

come strumento idoneo al prelievo scientifico in quanto permette una pesca selettiva. 

Si sottolinea inoltre l'utilità del SI come strumento di analisi no-kill del popolamento di 

anguille, in grado di mettere in evidenza la condizione di maturità sessuale e una stima 

estrapolabile riguardo il flusso migratorio. 

Bibliografia 

DURIF C., DUFOUR S., ELIE P. (2005) - The silvering process of the eel: a new classification from 

the yellow resident stage to the silver migrating stage. Journal of Fish Biology, 66: 1025-1043. 

DURIF C., DUFOUR S., ELIE P. (2006) - Impact of silvering stage, body size and condition on 

reproduction potential of the European eel. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 327:171-181. 

EELREP (2005a) - Estimation of the reproduction capacity of European eel. Final report. 

http://www.fishbiology.net/eelrepsum.html 

EELREP (2005b) - Estimation of the reproduction capacity of European eel. Summary & 

recommendations. http://www.fishbiology.net/eelrepsum.html 

FREYHOF J., KOTTELAT M. (2008) - Anguilla anguilla. IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened 

Species. Versione 2009.2 


317



S. MONTANINI 1,2 , M. STAGIONI 1,2 , M. VALLISNERI 1 

1 Department of Evolutionary Experimental Biology, University of Bologna, 

Via Selmi, 3 - 40126 Bologna, Italy. 

2 Laboratory of Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Bologna, Italy. 

ste.montanini@gmail.com 

ELLIPTIC FOURIER ANALYSIS OF OTOLITHS OF TRIGLIDAE 

IN THE NORTH-MIDDLE ADRIATIC SEA 

ANALISI ELLITTICA DI FOURIER DEGLI OTOLITI DEI TRIGLIDI 

IN ALTO-MEDIO ADRIATICO 

Abstract - The sagittal otoliths of specimens belonging to seven species of triglids collected in the northmiddle 

Adriatic Sea were investigated by means of the Elliptic Fourier Analysis method (EFA). The EFA 

method was proved to be a suitable tool for the separation of species showing intra-interspecific 

differences. Thus, it could provide useful information in phylogenetic and eco-morphological studies. 

Key-words: otolith, shape analysis, Elliptic Fourier Analysis, Triglidae, Adriatic Sea. 

Introduction - Fish otolith shape analysis is an important way for describing and 

characterizing mathematic otolith outlines. It is used with multiple goals, for example, 

species phylogeny and stock discrimination (Lombarte et al., 2006). In particular the 

Elliptic Fourier Analysis (EFA) represents one among the most valuable and timeefficient 

method since data are automatically normalised in relation to the first 

harmonic and consequently they become invariant to size, rotation, and starting point 

(Iwata and Ukai, 2002). In this study the EFA method was applied on otoliths collected 

from 7 species of triglids (Aspitrigla cuculus, Chelidonichthys lastoviza, C. lucerna, 

Eutrigla gurnardus, Lepidotrigla cavillone, L. dieuzeidei and Trigla lyra) (Teleostei, 

Scorpaeniformes) distribuited in the north-middle Adriatic Sea. The aim of this study is 

to verify the existence of intra and interspecific differences associated with endogenous 

and exogenous factors. 

Materials and methods - A total of 240 specimens were selected from samples 

collected during bottom trawl surveys carried out in 2007 and 2008 along the Italian 

coasts from the Gulf of Trieste to the Tremiti Islands. For each specimen total length 

(TL, mm), weight (W, g) and sex were recorded. The left sagitta was removed, cleaned 

in ultrasounds bath and kept dry for later analysis. For each species otoliths selected 

from adult (males and females) individuals and from juvenile (undetermined) ones 

were analyzed. Digital images were collected using a NIKON P5100 digital camera 

linked to a Leica MZ6 stereomicroscope. Each sagitta was photographed with the 

sulcus acusticus facing up and the rostrum to the right. The SHAPE program was used 

to extract the contour shape of the sagitta and to assess the variability of shapes by 

means of the study of principal component analysis (PCA). The statistical analysis of 

the collected data was carried out by means of the R software (R Development Core 

Team, 2010). 

Results - About 99% of variation in otolith shape was explained by a maximum of 20 

harmonics. The first 4 discriminated over 80% of the variance. In most samples, the 

first component discriminated better the different widths of otoliths; the second was 


318



better related to different shape of excisura ostii; the third and fourth were better 

related to different shape of rostrum and antirostrum. The interspecific comparison of 

adult specimens showed the Genus Lepidotrigla and C. lastoviza phylogenetically 

close, while L. dieuzeidei was discriminated by the Genera Aspitrigla and Eutrigla. The 

interspecific variability of juvenile specimens showed that C. lucerna and T. lyra were 

widely discriminated. This finding is probably due to individual genetic factors 

(Gauldie and Crampton, 2002) and to the different depths of their trophic niches. In 

fact, during their life cycle, triglids in Adriatic show a differential migration pattern to 

greater depths and away from the Italian to the Croatian coast (Montanini et al., 2008). 

The intraspecific variability of adult specimens was higher for C. lucerna and E. 

gurnardus while it was lower for the Genera Aspitrigla and Lepidotrigla. Intraspecific 

comparison between juveniles and adults showed that in all species there was an 

increase in otolith shape variability linked to growth and to environmental conditions. 

Conclusions - According to these results, the EFA method was proved to be a suitable 

tool for supporting phylogenetic and eco-morphological investigations and assessing 

affinities among the investigated triglids species. It allowed to find similarity between 

Lepidotrigla sp. and C. lastoviza; distance between C. lucerna and T. lyra and an 

increase in the variability of otolith shape from juveniles to adults. However, in order 

to facilitate correct biological interpretation of data, the EFA method should be 

correlated with appropriate sampling plans (Farias et al., 2009; Stagioni et al., 2009). 

References 

FARIAS I., VIEIRA A.R., GORDO L.S., FIGUEIREDO I. (2009) - Otolith shape analysis as a tool 

for stock discrimination of the black scabbardfish, Aphanopus carbo Lowe, 1839 (Pisces: 

Trichiuridae), in Portuguese waters. Sci. Mar., 73 (2): 47-53. 

GAULDIE R.W., CRAMPTON J.S. (2002) - An eco-morphological explanation of individual 

variability in the shape of the fish otolith: comparison of the otolith of Hoplostethus atlanticus 

with other species by depth. J. Fish Biol., 60 (5): 1204-1221. 

IWATA H., UKAI Y. (2002) - SHAPE: A computer program package for quantitative evaluation of 

biological shapes based on elliptic Fourier descriptors. J. Hered., 93: 384-385. 

LOMBARTE A., CHIC O., PARISI-BARADAD V., OLIVELLA R., PIERA J., GARCIA-LADONA 

E. (2006) – A web-based environment for shape analysis of fish otoliths. Sci. Mar., 70 (1): 147- 

152. 

MONTANINI S., STAGIONI M., VALLISNERI M. (2008) - Note sulla biologia di Chelidonichthys 

lucernus (Teleostei: Triglidae) nell’Alto-Medio Adriatico. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 15 (1): 340-341. 

R DEVELOPMENT CORE TEAM (2010) - R: A language and environment for statistical 

computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. http://www.R-project.org 

STAGIONI M., MONTANINI S., VALLISNERI M. (2009) - Analisi Ellittica di Fourier degli otoliti 

del genere Lepidotrigla (Teleostei: Triglidae) nel mare Adriatico. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 16 (1): 

368-369. 


319



L. ORSI RELINI, L. LANTERI, F. GARIBALDI 

Centro di Biologia Marina del Mar Ligure (BIOLMAR) 

Corso Europa, 26 – 16132 Genova, Italia. 

largepel@unige.it 

MEDUSIVOROUS FISHES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. 

A COASTAL SAFETY SYSTEM AGAINST JELLYFISH BLOOMS 

PESCI MEDUSIVORI DEL MEDITERRANEO. 

UN BALUARDO CONTRO LE MEDUSE 

Abstract – More than twenty species of medusivorous fishes are present in the Mediterranean Sea: they can 

be grouped in a coastal and an offshore assemblage. Seven species of the former group resulted as top 

species in terms of CPUE (catches per fishery season) at the Camogli tuna trap since a long time; given 

their relevance as biomass, we consider these species as a “safety system” against jellyfish invasions. 

Offshore medusivorous fishes are less known. During recent blooms of Pelagia noctiluca we have observed 

the jellyfish consume in five species (three of the coastal group) in which the gut was coloured by medusa 

pigments. 

Key-words: medusae, pigments, fish predation, Ligurian Sea. 

Introduction – Jellyfish blooms being in the spotlight (see for instance JMBA Global 

Marine Environment issue 11, 2010), we consider worth of attention a related subject, 

that is medusivorous fish. Investigating the reason of the blooms, attention to predators 

and/or competitors of medusae, helps to indicate gaps of knowledge and subjects for 

future research. The present note correlates the general subject of the fishes which 

occasionally or regularly feed on medusae with observations carried out monitoring 

fishing activities in the Ligurian Sea: the result underlines the importance of 

medusivorous fish. 

Results and conclusions - From general reviews about jellyfish consumers including 

medusivorous fishes (Ates, 1988; Arai, 1988, 2005) we have selected the species living 

in the Mediterranean. Adding some cases observed in the Ligurian Sea (Orsi Relini, 

2010; Orsi Relini et al., 2010a), a total of twenty species, plus some casual ones, can be 

listed (Tab. 1). A first group (1-11) are deep living fish, both demersal on the slope or 

mesopelagic in their adult phase. A second group of species (12 onward) live in neritic 

coastal waters and in the Ligurian Sea was studied in temporal series of catches at the 

Camogli tuna trap. This trap, located on the western side of the Portofino Promontory, 

on a water column of about 40 m, produces about 50t of landings per fishing season 

(April-September), including more than 40 species. Annual total landings are 

considered CPUE as for large tuna traps, that is proxies of abundance indices. 

Temporal series of such data are available for the periods 1950-1974 and 1996-2000 

(Balestra et al., 1976; Relini, 2001) and regard the ten species most important in terms 

of biomass (called also ten top species); in the above indicated periods they included 

the sunfish Mola mola (Orsi Relini et al., 2010b), which was later on banned as food 

by EC; at present this fish, if caught, is released alive. It is easily verified that the top 

ten species coincide, in 7 cases of 10, with medusivorous species, those numbered 12 

to 18 in Tab. 1. The quantitative pattern of catches (CPUEs) and the persistence of the 


320



listed fish assemblage during at least half century, allow us to indicate such assemblage 

as a safety system against jellyfish blooms. 

Tab. 1 – Medusivorous fishes in the Mediterranean (*alien fish of occasional presence). 

Pesci medusivori del Mediterraneo (*pesci alieni di presenza occasionale). 

Condrichthyes 1 Squalus acanthias Osteichthyes 12 Scomberesox saurus 

2 Etmopterus spinax 13 Boops boops 

3 Centroscymnus coelolepis 14 Oblada melanura 

Osteichthyes 4 Alepocephalus rostratus 15 Trachurus trachurus 

5 Luvarus imperialis 16 Scomber colias 

6 Centrolophus niger 17 Scomber scombrus 

7* Hyperoglyphe perciformis 18 Mola mola 

8 Schedophilus medusophagus 19 Coryphaena hippurus 

9 Psenes pellucidus 20 Sparus aurata 

10 Cubiceps gracilis 21 Stromateus fiatola 

11* Cubiceps capensis 22 Ranzania laevis 

During recent blooms of Pelagia noctiluca, one of the most studied jellyfish in the 

world, also on the basis of a two centuries time series (Goy et al., 1989), some of the 

listed fish species (Tab. 1; numbers 6, 8, 14, 15, 16) showed evident signs of the 

massive consume of P. noctiluca, having the gut coloured by the jellyfish pigments 

(Avian and Rottini Sandrini, 1988; Orsi Relini et al., 2010a; Garibaldi & Orsi Relini, 

2010). Such observation occurred by chance, in the framework of routine biological 

sampling (CAMPBIOL) and/or fish purchase for personal use. Having not planned 

such observations, we don’t know if other fish species had the same behaviour. There 

is a large amount of work for the next jellyfish bloom, in particular regarding 

specificity, if any, of jellyfish consume. 

References 

ARAI M.N. (1988) - Interactions of fish and pelagic coelenterates. Can. J. Zool., 66: 1913-1927. 

ARAI M.N. (2005) - Predation on pelagic coelenterates: a review. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K., 85: 523- 

536. 

ATES R.M.L. (1988) - Medusivorous fishes, a review. Zool. Meded., 62: 29-42. 

AVIAN M., ROTTINI SANDRINI L. (1988) – Fishery and swarmings of Pelagia noctiluca in the 

Central and Northern Adriatic Sea: middle term analysis. Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 31 

(2): 231. 

BALESTRA V., BOERO F., CARLI A. (1976) - Andamento del pescato della Tonnarella di Camogli 

dal 1950 al 1974.. Valutazioni bio-statistiche. Boll. Pesca, Pescicolt. Idrobiol., 31: 105-115. 

GARIBALDI F., ORSI RELINI L. (2010) - Medusivorous fishes of the Ligurian Sea 2. The 

specialist, Schedophilus medusophagus. Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 39: accepted. 

GOY J., MORAND P., ETIENNE M. (1989) - Long-term fluctuations of Pelagia noctiluca (Cnidaria, 

Scyphomedusa) in the western Mediterranean Sea. Prediction by climatic variables. Deep-Sea 

Res., 36 (2): 269-279. 

ORSI RELINI L. (2010) - Non native marine fish in Italian waters. In: Golani-Appelbaum B. (eds), 

Fish invasions of the Mediterranean Sea: changes and renewal. Pensoft, Sofia-Moscow: 267- 

292. 

ORSI RELINI L., GARIBALDI F., LANTERI L., RELINI M. (2010a) - Medusivorous fishes of the 

Ligurian Sea 1. Chub mackerels and other pelagic fish species sometimes “have the medusa” 

Pelagia noctiluca. Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 39: accepted 

ORSI RELINI L., PALANDRI G., RELINI M. (2010b) - Medusivorous fishes of the Liguria Sea 3. 

The young giant, Mola mola, at the Camogli tuna trap. Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 39: 

accepted. 

RELINI M. (2001) - Changes in a north western Mediterranean fish coastal assemblage on the basis 

of the catches of the Camogli tuna trap. Rapp. Comm.int. Mer Médit., 36: 314. 


321



M. SBRANA, C. MARAVELIAS 1 , A. MARIANI 2 , F. MAYNOU 3 , M. SARTINI 2 , P. SARTOR 

Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata “G. Bacci” (CIBM), 

V.le N. Sauro, 4 - 57128 Livorno, Italy. 

msbrana@cibm.it 

1 Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Athens, Greece. 

2 Consorzio UNIMAR, Rome, Italy. 

3 Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC CMIMA), Barcelona, Spain. 

EVOMED PROJECT: FISHERMEN INTERVIEWS AS SOURCE 

OF INFORMATION TO RECONSTRUCT THE EVOLUTION 

OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FISHERIES IN THE 20 TH CENTURY 

PROGETTO EVOMED: INTERVISTE AI PESCATORI COME FONTE 

DI INFORMAZIONE PER RICOSTRUIRE L’EVOLUZIONE 

DELLA PESCA MEDITERRANEA NEL CORSO DEL XX SECOLO 

Abstract – The fishermen interviews performed through EVOMED project constituted the first attempt to 

collect information in such a way on a wide geographical scale in the Mediterranean. A total of 107 

interviews have been carried out in the investigated areas applying a common methodology. Interesting 

results have been collected on the fishing capacity indicators, fishing capacity and fishing pattern. 

Quantitative variations over time in the commercial landing, abundance of benthic and critical species have 

been even investigated. 

Key-words: Mediterranean fisheries, management, development, baseline studies, historical account. 

Introduction – The present picture of the state of fisheries and marine resources in the 

Mediterranean is essentially based on the quantitative information of the last twentyfive 

years; the knowledge on the historical evolution of the exploited populations and 

marine ecosystems in the last century is still scarce and limited to restricted areas. 

It is difficult to generate realistic hypotheses about the dynamics of fisheries only from 

the understanding of the present, since all ecosystems have likely changed over time. 

Identifying baselines is fundamental to set up correct recovery strategies, not only 

directed at biological and ecological goals but also at the preservation and the 

improvement of the socio-economic benefits and ecosystem goods and services. The 

historical evolution knowledge of the exploited marine populations is fundamental to 

reduce the risk of a shifting baseline for management (Pauly, 1995). Defining a 

baseline for the Mediterranean resources is a difficult task as exploitation has endured 

for millennia, even though its intensive development fully started after the Second 

World War. 

The main objective of EVOMED project (EU Contract. N° SI2 539097) is to provide 

information on the evolution, over the past 100 years, of the Mediterranean demersal 

fisheries and exploited populations. One of the main tasks of this study is to collect, 

from old (mainly retired) fishermen, information on fishing patterns, as well as on 

yields and discards and to evaluate its reliability. According to Freire and Garcia Allut 

(1999), fishermen’s traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) should constitute a 

complementary source to get new knowledge in fisheries biology and marine ecology. 

Materials and methods – Particular attention has been devoted to the preparation of 

the questionnaire used to register all the information coming from the interviews. 

Appropriated and targeted questions have been selected, in order to extract the more 


322



reliable information possible. If interviews are performed following a standardised 

approach with well structured questionnaire, both qualitative information and 

quantitative or semi-quantitative data could be obtained (Bergmann et al., 2004). The 

main contents of the questionnaire concerned fishing practices and fishing grounds, as 

well as characteristics of vessels and gears, main target species, catches and discards. 

Specific questions dedicated to species of particular interest (marine mammals and 

elasmobranches) have been included. The questionnaire was planned to collect 

information for three main time periods: 1940’s - 1960’s, 1960’s - 1980’s, and 1980’s - 

present. 

Results and conclusions - 107 interviews have been carried out in the investigated 

areas (Catalan Sea, Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Sea, Adriatic Sea and Ionian and Aegean 

Sea). The aspect that more clearly emerged is the notable increase over time of all the 

indicators of fishing capacity. The vessels used at present are notably different in size 

and in technological equipment to those employed in the past. Technological 

innovations have improved the fishing efficiency and the working standards. The high 

frequency of problems with the gear and the large amount of time for maintenance and 

preparation of the gear were other factors which decreased the fishing capacity in the 

earlier period. 

Another aspect emerging from the interviews is the reduction observed in the catches 

over time of some faunistic groups, principally Elasmobranches. Another indicator of 

changes occurred over time in the marine environment was the decrease of the benthic 

species in the catch. Also for cetaceans, Monk seal and sea turtles, a general decrease, 

even though in lesser extent, of incidental catches and sightings over time was noticed. 

The questions about the quantitative estimation of the catch has undoubtedly been the 

more difficult, in order to obtain realistic estimates. The perception about the amount 

of the catch over time could be biased by several factors, as the different discard rate 

throughout the years and the different gear selectivity. Probably the most important 

factor that embedded such perception is the confounding of the evolution in fishing 

power of the trawl vessels. The interviews performed through EVOMED project 

constituted the first attempt to collect information in such a way on a wide 

geographical scale in Mediterranean. It is natural that both the interview protocol and 

the questionnaire structure require a revision to be improved in the future, to increase 

the data standardisation and to obtain the more realistic possible results. However, the 

collected results are an important starting point of information, with several interesting 

aspects for many kinds of future applications. 

References 

BERGMANN M., HINZ H., BLYTH R., KAISER M.J., ROGERS S.I., ARMSTRONG M.J. (2004) - 

Using knowledge from fishers and fisheries scientists to identify possible roundfish 'Essential 

Fish Habitats'. Fish. Res., 66: 373–379. 

FREIRE J., GARCÍA-ALLUT A. (1999) - Integration of fishers’ ecological knowledge in fisheries 

biology and management. A proposal for the case of the artisanal coastal fisheries of Galicia 

(NW Spain) ICES CM 1999/S: 07. 

PAULY D. (1995) - Anecdotes and the shifting baseline syndrome of fisheries. Tree, 10 (10): 430. 


323



M. STAGIONI 1,2 

1 Department of Evolutionary Experimental Biology, University of Bologna, Italy. 

2 Laboratory of Marine Biology and Fisheries of Fano, University of Bologna, Italy. 

marco.stagioni3@unibo.it 

CONSIDERATIONS ON MINIMUM COMMERCIAL SIZE 

OF CHAMELEA GALLINA (L.) 

CONSIDERAZIONI SULLA TAGLIA MINIMA COMMERCIALE 

DI CHAMELEA GALLINA (L.) 

Abstract – Sorting sieve selectivity experiments were carried out on a hydraulic dredge fishery exploiting 

the clam, Chamelea gallina (Mollusca: Veneroida, Linneus, 1758). Six sieves (from 20 to 23 mm) were 

tested. The material collected shows that all sieves capture undersized clams. As it is impossible, with 

current sorting techniques, to avoid presence of undersized clams, the alternative approach “number per 

kilogram” has been proposed. The result of the study shows in 220 the allowed number of clams per 

kilogram. 

Key-words: Chamelea gallina, clam fisheries, size-limit regulations, imaging techniques. 

Introduction – The clams fishermen complain about the practical impossibility to 

observe the minimum landing size in force for Chamelea gallina, 25 mm of maximum 

diameter (Annex IV art. 15 EC Reg. 1967/06). Therefore the Laboratory of Marine 

Biology and Fisheries of Fano carried out experimental surveys to evaluate selectivity 

of sieves with different diameter used by the local hydraulic dredge fishery. 

Materials and methods – C. gallina samples were collected on February 4 th and 9 th 

2010 onboard of a commercial hydraulic dredger, in the maritime compartment of 

Pesaro, Adriatic sea. During the experimental survey three vibrating and sorting sieves 

per day were tested, on three different hauls: 20.5, 21.5, 23 mm the first day; 20, 21, 22 

mm the second day. Subsamples of clams collected from each sieve (about 10 kg) were 

taken to laboratory and immediately weighed (1 g), sorted to remove bycatch, broken 

shells and onshell epifauna, photographed by backlight illumination, counted and 

measured with magnification of 10 pixel/mm (0.1 mm) by proprietary macro image 

analysis program developed on ImageJ (Rasband 2010). A further set of tests 

considered the weight loss of 5 kg subsample for three sieves (20, 21, 22 mm), since 

arriving in the laboratory after fishing for three days, storing at 5 °C and re-weighting 

every day. 

Results – Results are summarized in Tab. 1. The selection curves (not showed) show 

that there is always a capture range of clams less than 25 mm, albeit with low 

percentage. The weight loss after three days storage reaches a maximum of 2% and 

ANOVA analysis on transformed data (arcsine of root percentage) do not shown 

significant differences between sieves (F2,6=0.22 p=0.8088), but shows significant 

differences between hauls (F2,6=8.9913, p=0.01566). 

Conclusions – In all tests (at the ideal slope of the vibrating sieve and with calm sea), 

the regular dredges carry on a large number of undersized clams. Using the dredge 

prescribed by the current law, high rates of undersized clams are caught, according to 


324



Froglia, 1981. An average size greater than 25 mm was obtained with sieves ≥21.5 

mm, but the presence of undersized clams was however detected, its importance 

varying according to the different fishing grounds. As it seems not feasible to avoid the 

catch of undersized clams, in order to comply with the EC Reg. 1967/06, a “number 

per kilogram” system, like that in use for anchovies and sardines, can be proposed. 

Taking into account the average weight at different sizes (not shown), as well as the 21 

mm sieve selectivity and the weight loss before sale, it could be established in 220 

specimens per kg the allowed landing value. Another indication could be the use of 

sieves with 21.5 mm minimum holes. Digital image acquisition and processing is 

sufficiently precise (Vaccarella, 1998) and fast, allowing the processing of 

approximately 20,000 clams per person per day. 

Tab. 1- Summary results of caught clams. CFS = cumulative frequency size. 

Riassunto dei dati delle vongole catturate. CFS = taglia della frequenza cumulata. 

Haul Sieve 

mm 

Gross 

weight 

kg 

Discard 

kg 

Net 

weigth 

kg 

N N/kg Min 

size 

mm 

Mean 

size 

mm 

Max 

size 

mm 


325 

CFS 

25% 

mm 

CFS 

50% 

mm 

CFS 

75% 

mm 

1 20.0 12.400 0.178 12.222 3044 249 19.2 23.9 27.8 23.5 23.9 24.4 

2 20.0 11.400 0.115 11.285 2715 241 19.9 23.7 27.9 23.2 23.7 24.2 

3 20.0 8.500 0.241 8.259 2029 246 17.7 23.5 28.3 23.0 23.6 24.0 

1 20.5 10.510 0.110 10.400 2509 241 16.2 24.2 30.0 23.6 24.4 25.0 

2 20.5 9.690 0.170 9.520 2304 242 18.9 23.9 27.7 23.2 24.0 24.7 

3 20.5 9.520 0.120 9.400 2190 233 18.3 24.2 27.7 23.7 24.3 24.9 

1 21.0 12.300 0.156 12.144 2639 217 20.0 25.0 32.3 24.4 25.0 25.6 

2 21.0 11.800 0.085 11.715 2492 213 22.3 25.0 30.3 24.4 24.9 25.5 

3 21.0 10.200 0.226 9.974 2140 215 20.8 24.8 31.7 24.2 24.8 25.4 

1 21.5 11.700 0.200 11.500 2431 211 19.4 25.3 33.7 24.6 25.5 26.2 

2 21.5 9.220 0.100 9.120 1807 198 20.1 25.7 29.5 25.1 25.8 26.4 

3 21.5 9.260 0.110 9.150 1850 202 19.3 25.3 30.3 24.7 25.4 26.1 

1 22.0 13.300 0.136 13.164 2348 178 23.6 26.8 37.0 26.0 26.7 27.4 

2 22.0 11.500 0.075 11.425 2074 182 22.7 26.5 32.6 25.7 26.4 27.2 

3 22.0 11.400 0.163 11.237 1943 173 23.0 26.9 34.1 25.9 26.8 27.8 

1 23.0 7.000 0.070 6.930 1069 154 23.3 28.2 35.0 27.3 28.1 28.8 

2 23.0 8.380 0.050 8.330 1333 160 24.5 27.8 34.2 27.1 27.7 28.4 

3 23.0 12.660 0.110 12.550 2012 160 24.6 27.7 34.4 26.9 27.6 28.4 

References 

FROGLIA C., GRAMITTO M.E. (1981) – Considerazioni sulla selettività dei dispositivi di 

setacciatura utilizzati nella pesca delle vongole (Venus gallina L.). Quad. Lab. Tecnol. Pesca, 3 

(1): 37-46. 

RASBAND W.S. (2010) – IMAGEJ U.S. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. 

http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/ 

VACCARELLA R. (1998) – Length estimation of baby clam (Chamelea gallina) by using an image 

analysis system. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 5 (1): 855-858.



M. VALLISNERI 1 , M. STAGIONI 1,2 , S. MONTANINI 1,2 , S. TOMMASINI 1 

1 Department of Evolutionary Experimental Biology, University of Bologna, 

Via Selmi, 3 – 40126 Bologna, Italy. 

maria.vallisneri@unibo.it 

2 Laboratory of Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Bologna, Italy. 

COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF TRIGLIDAE OTOLITHS 

FROM THE NORTH-MIDDLE ADRIATIC SEA 

MORFOLOGIA COMPARATIVA DEGLI OTOLITI DEI TRIGLIDI 

IN ALTO-MEDIO ADRIATICO 

Abstract – The sagittal otoliths of Triglidae family from the Adriatic Sea (north-eastern Mediterranean) 

were described using morphological and morphometric characters. The morphological descriptions were 

based on the otolith shape, outline and sulcus acusticus features. The morphometric parameters determined 

were expressed in terms of 5 shape indices. Otolith shape intra-inter specific changes have been described 

providing informations about species identification, fish size, sex and phylogenesis. 

Key-words: otolith reading, shape, Triglidae. 

Introduction - Triglidae (Teleostei, Scorpaeniformes) are known for their sound 

producing ability in agonistic contexts related to territorial defense, reproduction and 

competitive feeding (Amorim et al., 2004). In the Adriatic Sea (north-eastern 

Mediterranean) triglids are represented by 7 species: Aspitrigla cuculus (ASPICUC), 

Chelidonichthys lastoviza (TRIPLAS), C. lucerna (TRIGLUC), Eutrigla gurnardus 

(EUTRGUR) Lepidotrigla cavillone (LEPTCAV), L. dieuzeidei (LEPTDIE), Trigla lyra 

(TRIGLYR), poorly discussed for the Mediterranean Sea (Vallisneri et al., 2010). 

Otolith shape and sulcus acusticus features, related to genetic and environmental 

factors, might be an important key for species identification. The aim of this study was 

to analyze interspecific and intraspecific shape differences in sagittal otoliths of triglid 

species. 

Materials and methods – Samples of seven Triglidae species were collected during 

several bottom trawl surveys in the north-middle Adriatic Sea, from the Gulf of Trieste 

to the Tremiti Islands in 2007 and 2008. For each specimen total length (TL, mm), 

weight (W, g) and sex were recorded. A total of 634 sagittal otoliths were removed, 

washed and weighed to 0.01 mg. The sagittae were photographed under a microscope 

(Leica MZ6-Nikon P5100). The images were processed with ImageJ (Rasband, 2008) 

to calculate five shape indices (aspect ratio, roundness, rectangularity, ellipticity, 

circularity). Shape indices for which “species-length” interactions were significant 

(P



TRIGLUC; LEPTCAV-TRIGLUC; TRIPLAS-TRIGLUC; LEPTCAV-TRIGLYR; 

LEPTDIE-TRIGLYR.; for “circularity” LEPTDIE-LEPTCAV; LEPTDIE-TRIPLAS; 

LEPTCAV-TRIPLAS. Otoliths morphologically more different, defined by three shape 

indices, were those belonging to L. cavillone and C. lucerna. The results were in 

agreement with the analytical key about the family (FAO, 1987) that placed these two 

species at the extremes. 2) MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS (MANOVA): Intraspecific 

comparison were analyzed by multivariate analysis. The otolith outline shape indices 

changed with size (between juveniles and adult) and sex for some species. In particular, 

intraspecific comparison showed significant differences between juveniles and adults 

for A. cuculus, C. lucerna, L. dieuzeidei and between females and males for L. 

dieuzeidei. Therefore, about the intraspecific relationship, L. dieuzeidei was the species 

more diversified. 3) SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (SEM): otolith shape 

of triglids were approximately oval. Preliminaries analyses showed interspecific 

variations in the morphology and ultrastructure of the sulcus acusticus, about shape, 

size, direction of crystalline arrangement and crystalline surface. Intraspecific variation 

appeared relate to growth and environmental factors. These results were in agreement 

to Tuset et al. (2003) and Jitpukdee (2009) for other families. 

Conclusions - These results suggested: similarity between species belonged to the 

same genus; differences between species phylogenetically distant (e.g. L. cavillone and 

C. lucerna); intraspecific differences between juveniles and adults (e.g. A. cuculus, C. 

lucerna, Lepidotrigla dieuzeidei); similarity between species belonged to different 

genera (Lepidotrigla spp. and C. lastoviza). These methods (geometric morphometrics 

and ultrastructure analysis) constitute an important instrument for species identification 

using sagittal otoliths collected in feeding remains of bony fish predators, in 

fossiliferous layers, in archaeological sites. 

References 

AMORIM M.C.P., STRATOUDAKIS Y., HAWKINS A.D. (2004) - Sound production during 

competitive feeding in the grey gurnard. J. Fish Biol., 65: 182-194. 

JITPUKDEE S. (2009) - Crystalline structure of sagittal otoliths from 8 fish species in different 

habitats. J. Micro. Soc. Thai., 23 (1): 57-61. 

R DEVELOPMENT CORE TEAM (2010) - R: A language and environment for statistical 

computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. http://www.R-project.org. 

RASBAND W.S. (2008) - IMAGEJ.U.S. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. 

http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/. 

TUSET V.M., LOMBARTE A., GONZALEZ J.A., PERTUSA J.F., LORENTES M.J. (2003) - 

Comparative morphology of the sagittal otolith in Serranus spp. J. Fish. Biol., 63: 1491-1504. 

VALLISNERI M., MONTANINI S., STAGIONI M. (2010) - Length-weight relationships for the 

family Triglidae in the Adriatic Sea, northeastern Mediterranean. J. Appl. Ichthyol., 26 (1-3). 


327



M. ZAMMIT-MANGION, A. DEIDUN* 

Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, University of Malta. 

*Physical Oceanography Unit, University of Malta. 

alan.deidun@um.edu.mt 

MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION 

OF THREATENED APHANIUS FASCIATUS NARDO POPULATIONS 

FROM TWO WETLANDS IN THE MALTESE ISLANDS 

RACCOMANDAZIONI PER LA GESTIONE E LA CONSERVAZIONE DI DUE 

POPOLAZIONI DI APHANIUS FASCIATUS NARDO DALLE ISOLE MALTESI 

Abstract - The Aphanius fasciatus populations at the two Maltese wetlands of Simar and Ghadira were 

monitoired during the May-October 2008 period for signs of pathogenesis and in terms of sex ratio and 

individual morphology. The putative impact of a number of abiotic factors on populaiton structure was also 

assessed. The study concludes that the percentage of juveniles within the two killifish populations is highest 

during the July-August period, and that reproductive activity resumes in October at the end of the dry 

season which coincides with a stalling of reproductive activity and with a high juvenile mortality. 

Recommendations for the amplification of killifish-specific monitoring protocols are also made. 

Key-words: wetlands, Aphanius fasciatus, Maltese Islands, pathogenesis, monitoring. 

Introduction - The euryhaline cyprinodontid Aphanius fasciatus Nardo is currently 

distributed in the saline coastal waters of the central and eastern Mediterranean, in salt 

flats and also occasionally in inland fresh water (Wildekamp, 1993). The species’ 

distribution on the Maltese Islands has regressed in recent times, with the species 

having been extirpated from a number of locations due to a variety of anthropogenic 

pressures. Ghadira and Simar are the only two RAMSAR wetland sites from the 

Maltese Islands, being also designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC’s, under 

the Habitats Directive) and as Special Protection Areas (SPA’s, under the Birds 

Directive). The current study aimed to collect morphological, sex ratio and 

phenological data for the A. fasciatus populations from these two sites, pursuant to 

investigating the influence of the abiotic environment on the population structure and 

on the occurrence of pathogenesis in the species, with the ultimate aim of improving 

conservation and management strategies for the species. 

Materials and methods - Sampling was carried out between May-October 2008 at two 

wetlands in the Maltese Islands. At the Simar wetland, quadrangular handheld sweep 

nets (40×40 cm, mesh size 8 mm) were used to sieve the water. Traps (40 cm in 

diameter, 8 mm mesh size) were used in the deeper areas of Simar and at the Ghadira 

site. The traps were baited and positioned two metres from the shoreline. After 15 

minutes, the traps were opened and the fish were checked for any signs of 

pathogenesis. For each individual, the total length and sex were recorded in situ. All 

fish were then released back into the water body. Juveniles were defined as all killifish 

individuals up to a maximum size of 2.8 cm, below which the typical colouration of the 

adult fish was absent. A total of 1079 fish were monitored in this way. 

Results - This study illustrates that, as the summer progressed, the two wetlands were 

exposed to extreme abiotic conditions, including a rapid increase in the salinity of the 


328



habitat, a decrease in oxygen concentration (down to 2.19 mg/l), a sharp increase in 

aquatic temperature (from 23.0 ºC at the end of May to over 33.0 ºC by the end of 

August) and a decrease in the depth of the water (50% decrease in water depth at the 

Ghadira wetland and a 25% decrease at Simar). Females were more abundant than 

males at both sites (3:1 at Ghadira and 2:1 at Salina, Zammit-Mangion et al, in press), 

with the overall number of males at the Ghadira site decreasing by 8.8% as the summer 

progressed. The results also showed that a significant number of the population were 

juveniles (75% and 46.3% of the populations at Ghadira and Simar respectively) 

(Zammit-Mangion et al., in press). At the Ghadira site, juvenile abundances peaked in 

August, with juveniles exhibiting a fairly uniform mean size (mean length=26.3 mm, 

+/-1.8 mm). At Simar, the juvenile abundances peaked in June, exhibiting a mean 

length of 21.5 mm (+/-2.6 mm). Juvenile mortality was high, with juveniles showing 

sharp declines in abundance by the end of summer, with over 80% and 60% decline in 

juveniles at Ghadira and Simar, respectively. Abiotic stress during late July and early 

August had a negative effect on reproductive success, on the number of males recorded 

at Ghadira and on reproductive activity. However, once the water temperature 

decreased, and dissolved oxygen increased, the female killifish individuals resumed 

reproductive effort, with 33% of females studied in October at the Ghadira site 

exhibiting the swollen bellies characteristic of pregnant fish. 

No signs of pathogenesis were found on the particular sampling days. 

Conclusions - This study indicated that the two A. fasciatus populations at the two 

wetlands, especially at the Ghadira site, were exposed to extreme abiotic conditions 

during the peak summer months. These factors, coupled with the physical and genetic 

isolation of the two populations, constitute perennial constraints to the long-term 

viability of the species and justify the need for a constantly high conservation priority 

being assigned to the species. The authors propose that targeted management measures 

should be adopted immediately if the populations at the two wetlands are to be 

effectively conserved. These include i) increasing protective measures during the 

reproductive and recruitment periods through late March to May ii) starting a reintroduction 

programme at sites previously known to support Aphanius species (strictly 

monitoring the haplotypes of introduced individuals) and iii) introducing a water 

monitoring programme. 

References 

WILDEKAMP R.H. (1993) - The genus Aphanius Nardo. In: Watters B.R. (ed), A World of killies, 

atlas of the oviparous cyprinodontiform Fishes of the world, Vol I. American Killifish 

Association, Hishawaka Indiana: 19–67. 

ZAMMIT-MANGION M., GAUCI M., GAUCI C. (in press) - Studies on the Biology of Aphanius 

fasciatus at the Ghadira wetland in the Maltese Islands. Proceedings of the 39 th CIESM 

Congress, Venice, Italy, 10-14 th May 2010. 


329



B. ZAVA, F. FIORENTINO* 

Wilderness studi ambientali, Palermo, Italia. 

*CNR-IAMC UOS di Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italia. 

fabio.fiorentino@iamc.cnr.it 

CATTURE DEL RONDONE DI MARE CHEILOPOGON HETERURUS 

(RAFINESQUE, 1810) (OSTHEICHTHYES, EXOCETIDAE) 

IN UN’AREA MARINA PROTETTA LUNGO LE COSTE 

SETTENTRIONALI DELLA SICILIA 

CATCHES OF FLYING FISH CHEILOPOGON HETERURUS (RAFINESQUE, 

1810) (OSTHEICHTHYES, EXOCETIDAE) INSIDE A MARINE PROTECTED 

AREA OFF THE NORTHERN SICILIAN COAST 

Abstract – The size structure, length weight relationship and gonado somatic index of specimens of 

Cheilopogon heterurus caught by an artisanal fishery targeting pelagic fishes in the MPA “Capo Gallo- 

Isola delle Femmine” (Northern Sicily) were presented. The catch was exclusively formed by adult and 

mature specimens with size. close to the maximum reported for the species. 

Key-words: Cheilopogon heterurus, MPA, southern Tyrrhenian, artisanal fisheries, size structure, maturity. 

Introduzione – Il rondone di mare Cheilopogon heterurus (Rafinesque, 1810) è una 

specie subtropicale ed epipelagica che frequenta le acque costiere nella tarda 

primavera-estate in occasione della riproduzione. La marineria di Isola delle Femmine 

sita nella Area Marina Protetta “Capo Gallo-Isola delle Femmine”, effettua una pesca 

tradizionale con due attrezzi da posta chiamati “pusticedda” e “palamitara” che 

combinano i vantaggi del tramaglio e della schietta. Le due reti, che differiscono 

esclusivamente per la larghezza della maglia, hanno come principale bersaglio 

individui adulti e maturi di specie pelagiche come la palamita Sarda sarda, il tonnetto 

Euthynnus alletteratus, l’aguglia maggiore Tylosurus acus imperialis ed il rondone di 

mare Cheilopogon heterurus (Fiorentino e Zava, 2007). In questa nota sono riportate le 

informazioni salienti sulla caratteristiche biologiche degli esemplari di Cheilopogon 

heterurus raccolti con i suddetti attrezzi di pesca. 

Materiali e metodi - Quarantasette individui di C. heterurus sono stati raccolti presso 

la marineria di Isola delle Femmine nei mesi di giugno 2006 e giugno-luglio 2007. 

Trasportati in laboratorio gli esemplari sono stati misurati (LT, cm) e pesati (PT = peso 

totale, g; PS = peso somatico, g). Inoltre, sono stati inoltre rilevati il sesso, l’aspetto ed 

il peso delle gonadi (PG, g). L’indice gonado somatico è stato calcolato come IGS = 

PG/(PS-PG)*100, con PS=PT-PG. 

Risultati e conclusioni – La distribuzione in taglia degli individui campionati è 

riportata in Fig. 1. Il range di taglia (LT) è stato 35-39 cm nei maschi e 34-41 cm nelle 

femmine. I parametri della relazione taglia-peso a sessi combinati sono risultati 

a=0,0022 e b=3,2735, con r 2 =0,8301. Le gonadi apparivano in avanzato stato di 

maturazione. In particolare dieci femmine presentavano uova idratate distribuite su 

lunghe striature longitudinali e ben visibili attraverso la tunica ovarica (IGS medio 

delle femmine con uova idratate =18,68±4,87. Nessun maschio fluente è stato 

osservato nel campione. Le taglie e la condizione di maturità rilevate evidenziano che 


330



gli attrezzi utilizzati sono selettivi per la specie. Infatti, la taglia massima riportata in 

letteratura per questa specie è di 40-45 cm LT (Maigret e Ly, 1986; Parin, 2002). 

N° di individui 

12 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

totali N=47 

femmine N=18 

maschi N=24 

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 


331 

LT(cm) 

Fig. 1 - Distribuzione in taglia degli esemplari di C. heterurus campionati. 

Length frequency distribution of C. heterurus. 

Nella ricerca di nuove strategie di pesca sostenibile che valorizzino gli aspetti del 

sapere tradizionale delle marinerie siciliane, “i pusticeddi” e “’i palamitari” di Isola 

delle Femmine costituiscono un esempio di mestieri ecocompatibili da valorizzare per 

rilanciare la pesca in un contesto di nuovo sviluppo culturale e turistico dei borghi 

marinari. 

Ringraziamenti – Siamo grati ai pescatori di Isola delle Femmine (Pa) Salvatore e Orazio Aiello, 

Antonino, Salvatore, Giuseppe e Andrea Nevoloso. Un particolare ringraziamento va infine 

all’Ammiraglio (CP) Vincenzo Pace, Responsabile dell’AMP “Capo Gallo – Isola delle Femmine” 

per aver finanziato il Progetto S.E.P.I.A. 

Bibliografia 

FIORENTINO F., ZAVA B. (2007) – Pusticedde e Palamitare. In Aiello G., Fiorentino F., Pace V., 

Zava B. (eds) Pusticedde e Palamitare. Istituto per lo Sviluppo del Mediterraneo e Wilderness 

studi ambientali. Tipo & Lito, Palermo: 65 pp. 

MAIGRET J., LY B. (1986) - Les Poissons de mer de Mauritanie. Science nat. F 60200 Compiègne: 

213 pp. 

PARIN N.V. (2002) - Exocoetidae. In: Carpenter K.E. (ed), The living marine resources of the 

Western Central Atlantic. Vol. 2: Bony fishes part 1 (Acipenseridae to Grammatidae). FAO 

Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes and American Society of Ichthyologists and 

Herpetologists Special Publication No. 5. Rome, FAO: 1116-1129.


PLANKTON COMMITEE 


COMITATO PLANCTON 


332



C. BATTOCCHI, C. TOTTI 1 , M. VILA 2 , M. MASÒ 2 , S. CAPELLACCI, S. ACCORONI 1 , 

A. RENÉ 2 , M. SCARDI 3 , A. PENNA 

Dep. of Biomolecular Science, University of Urbino, Viale Trieste, 296 - 61121 Pesaro, Italia. 

c.battocchi@campus.uniurb.it 

1 DISMAR, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italia. 

2 ICM-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain. 

3 Dep. of Biology, University of Roma “Tor Vergata”, Italia. 

MONITORING OF TOXIC MICROALGA 

OSTREOPSIS (DINOFLAGELLATE) SPECIES 

IN MEDITERRANEAN COASTAL WATERS USING 

THE PCR BASED-ASSAY COMBINED WITH LIGHT MICROSCOPY 

MONITORAGGIO DELLA MICROALGA POTENZIALMENTE TOSSICA 

OSTREOPSIS (DINOFLAGELLATA) IN AREE COSTIERE MEDITERRANEE 

CON IL METODO MOLECOLARE DI PCR E MICROSCOPIA OTTICA 

Abstract – A molecular PCR based-assay was developed and applied to macrophyte and seawater samples 

containing mixed microphytobenthic and phytoplanktonic assemblages in order to detect toxic Ostreopsis 

species in the Mediterranean Sea. The PCR allowed rapid detection of Ostreopsis cells, even if their 

abundances are below the light microscopy’s detection limit. Species-specific identification was possible 

only by PCR-based assay, due to the inherent difficulty of morphological identification in field samples. 

During the monitoring of the toxic Ostreopsis blooms PCR based methods proved to be effective tools 

complementary to microscopy for rapid and specific detection of Ostreopsis in marine coastal waters. 

Key-words: coastal waters, Mediterranean Sea, monitoring, Ostreopsis, PCR. 

Introduction – Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) occur frequently in coastal waters 

throughout the world causing negative impact on environmental quality, human health 

and economical activities. HAB species include Ostreopsis, a benthic/epiphytic genus 

known to produce palytoxin-like compounds. Two Ostreopsis species, as O. ovata and 

O. cf. siamensis, are being found with increasing frequency in the Mediterranean Sea 

(Battocchi et al., 2010; Totti et al., 2010). Correct identification of these two species is 

quite difficult by microscopy analyses but it is particular important given that the two 

species can produce different toxins, which are a potential risk to humans and other 

organisms. In this study, an efficient PCR based assay was applied to environmental 

samples in order to monitor the presence of Ostreopsis species in Mediterranean 

coastal areas, and to compare molecular data with microscopy determinations. 

Materials and methods – A total of 125 samples of macrophytes, net and surface 

water samples were collected from April to November 2007 at 20 sites distributed in 

northern Adriatic Sea and Catalan Sea where blooms of Ostreopsis have never been 

detected before or commonly occur, respectively. Subsamples were settled for 24h in 

Sedgwick-Rafter or Utermöhl chambers and Ostreopsis spp. were counted under 

inverted microscopes (Axiovert 40 CFL and Axiovert 135H, Zeiss, Germany or a Leitz 

DM-II, Germany) at 200× or 400× magnification on the half or entire sedimentation 

chamber. Pellets obtained from macrophyte and seawater samples were used for total 

DNA extraction and purification according to Battocchi et al. (2010). Genus and 

species-specific primers were designed in the 5.8S rDNA-ITS regions. PCR reactions 

were carried out directly using these primers or by following two steps: an initial PCR 


333



using eukaryotic primers targeting the ITS-5.8S gene followed by a second PCR using 

genus- or species-specific primers (i.e. nested PCR) as described in Battocchi et al. 

(2010). 

Results – All the environmental samples analyzed contained mixed microphytobenthic 

assemblages including target taxa. The PCR method detected the presence of 

Ostreopsis spp. cells even when target cells were not observed by microscopy 

examination. The positive detection by PCR assay was higher than microscopy 

determinations by 19% for the macrophye samples and 32% for the net and surface 

seawater samples. Moreover, the PCR-based assay identified the two species O. ovata 

and O. cf. siamensis, while species-specific identification of Ostreopsis cells was quite 

difficult using LM microscopy. Using the PCR based assay, O. ovata cells were 

detected at a rate of 67% and 66% in macrophyte and seawater samples, respectively, 

and O. cf. siamensis cells were detected at the lower rates of 16% and 29%, 

respectively (Fig. 1). 

100% 

80% 

60% 

40% 

20% 

0% 

a) b) c) 

Macrophyte 

samples 

Sea water 

samples 

%-PCR/-Micro 

%-PCR/+Micro 

%+PCR/-Micro 

%+PCR/+Micro 

100% 

80% 

60% 

40% 

20% 

0% 

O. ovata O. cf. siamensis 

Fig. 1. a) Analyses of positive and negative PCR amplifications of Ostreopsis spp. compared with the 

corresponding positive and negative microscopy analyses of the environmental samples 

collected in 2007. PCR analysis of macrophyte (b), and net and surface seawater (c) samples 

for detecting O. ovata and O. cf. siamensis. Data are expressed as percentages of the total PCR 

positive and negative determinations. 

a) Confronto dei dati di positività e negatività ottenuti con le due diverse tecniche applicate a 

campioni ambientali raccolti nel 2007. Analisi di PCR dei campioni di macrofite (b) e retinate 

e acqua di mare superficiale (c) per l’identificazione di O. ovata e O. cf. siamensis. I dati sono 

espressi come percentuale sul totale dei campioni analizzati. 

Conclusions –The PCR technique developed in this study efficiently identified both 

species of Ostreopsis and it was more sensitive in detecting Ostreopsis spp. than 

microscopy analyses. As for the statistical evidence, the proportions of false negatives 

by microscopy relative to PCR-based data were found to be significantly larger than 

the expectation under the hypothesis of equal power for microscopy and PCR-based 

identification, thus showing that the latter method is significantly more reliable. 

References 

BATTOCCHI C., TOTTI C., VILA M., MASÓ M., CAPELLACCI S., ACCORONI S., REÑÉ A., 

SCARDI M., PENNA A. (2010) - Monitoring toxic microalgae Ostreopsis (dinoflagellate) 

species in coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea using molecular PCR-based assay combined 

with light microscopy. Mar. Pollut. Bull. (in press). 

TOTTI C., ACCORONI S., CERINO F., CUCCHIARI E., ROMAGNOLI T (2010) – Ostreopsis 

ovata bloom along the Conero Riviera (northern Adriatic Sea): relationship with environmental 

conditions and substrata. Harmful Algae, 9: 233-239. 


334 

100% 

80% 

60% 

40% 

20% 

0% 

O. ovata O. cf. siamensis 

-PCR/-Micro 

+PCR/-Micro



G. BOTTINELLI, T. DI FESTA, A.M. PASTORELLI, N. UNGARO, M.R. VADRUCCI * 

ARPA Puglia – Regional Agency for the Environmental Protection and Prevention, Dipartimento Provinciale di 

Bari, Via Oberdan, 18 - 70126 Bari, Italia. 

a.pastorelli@arpa.puglia.it 

* ARPA Puglia, Dipartimento Provinciale di Lecce, Via Miglietta, 2 - 73100 Lecce, Italia. 

NUMERICAL ABUNDANCE AND NUMBER OF TAXA 

IN PHYTOPLANKTON SAMPLES: PRELIMINARY COMPARISON 

BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT COUNTING STRATEGIES 

DETERMINAZIONE DELLA DENSITÀ CELLULARE E DEL NUMERO DI TAXA 

IN CAMPIONI DI FITOPLANCTON: CONFRONTO PRELIMINARE 

TRA DUE STRATEGIE DI CONTEGGIO 

Abstract – The comparison between two different counting procedures for the analysis of phytoplankton 

samples was reported in this study. The comparison was made on 10 seawaters samples, collected monthly 

from October 2009 to December 2009 in the marine coastal waters of the Apulia region (southern Italy). 

The samples were analyzed according to the Utermöhl’s method using two counting procedures of the 

sedimentation chambers: counting random field and counting sectors. The results showed significant 

differences between the two counting procedures. 

Key-words: phytoplankton, counting procedures, Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea. 

Introduction – Phytoplankton is one of the Biological Element considered suitable for 

the assessment of the environmental status of marine coastal waters, as it was stated by 

the Water Framework Directive (EC/2000/60) and other National Acts. As a 

consequence, the monitoring of phytoplankton guilds (abundance and composition) is 

currently carried out by the Regional Agency for the Environmental Protection and 

Prevention (ARPA) along the Apulia marine coastal areas. Phytoplankton guilds were 

analyzed following the Utermöhl’s method (1958), currently certified by UNI-EN 

15204 (2006). In this study, preliminary results about the statistical comparison 

between two different counting procedures are reported. 

Materials and methods – Seawater samples were collected monthly from October 

2009 to December 2009 in 7 stations, 5 located along the Adriatic coast (Ofanto river 

mouth, Bari, Monopoli, San Cataldo and Alimini lagoon mouth) and two along the 

coast of the Ionian Sea (Porto Cesareo and Ugento). Seawater samples were collected 

by means of a Niskin bottle in the sub-surface layer (0.5 m), kept in PET dark bottles, 

fixed with Lugol's solution and analyzed within one month from the sampling. The 

comparison of the two counting procedures was carried out only on 10 seawater 

samples collected for phytoplankton analysis. After cell settlement, in 25 ml or 10 ml 

sedimentation chambers, each sample was counted by means of two different counting 

procedures envisaged by the Utermölh’s method: 1) counting on random fields; 2) 

counting on portions of the sedimentation chambers (sectors). 

For the former counting procedure, a number of random fields were counted until a 

total of 400 cells were reached (corresponding to 5-10% accuracy). On the contrary, 

the second counting procedure is a modification of counting the whole chamber 

procedure, considered more appropriate for water samples with low phytoplankton 

densities (EN 15204). The whole sedimentation chamber was divided into 8 sectors. 


335



The cells were counted in a number of sectors until reaching at least 400 cells and, in 

any case, until the end of the sector or sectors included in the analysis. The cell 

densities was calculated according to the formula: N=(n*1000/v)*f, where: N = 

number of cells per unit volume; n= number of cells counted; v=volume of 

sedimentation chambers; f=total sectors/number of the counted sectors. In both 

procedures, rare species were counted on the whole chamber. The results of total cell 

density and number of taxa obtained using the two alternative methods were compared 

using the regression analysis. 

Results –Cell density values showed significant differences between the two counting 

methods. Cell density values observed using the “fields” counting procedure appeared 

to be higher than those obtained by counting phytoplankton cells on “sectors”. 

Regression analysis was positive and highly significant: r=0.999, p



M. CABRINI, D. FORNASARO, M. LIPIZER, B. GUARDIANI 

Dip. Oceanografia Biologica, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale, 

Via A. Piccard, 54 – 34010 Trieste, Italia. 

mcabrini@ogs.trieste.it 

FIRST REPORT OF OSTREOPSIS cf. OVATA BLOOM 

IN THE GULF OF TRIESTE 

PRIMA SEGNALAZIONE DI UNA FIORITURA DI OSTREOPSIS CF. OVATA 

NEL GOLFO DI TRIESTE 

Abstract –The first abundant occurrence of Ostreopsis cf. ovata was observed along the rocky coasts in the 

Gulf of Trieste at the end of September 2009. This species has been already sporadically recorded in this 

area since September 2006 but no toxic effect on human health has been registered yet. The maximum value 

reached in this period was 13×10 6 cells l -1 and it was found on rocks in shallow waters. The results of 

sampling carried on macroalgae in two coastal sites were also reported in order to compare the growth on 

different substrata. 

Key-words: benthic dinoflagellate, Gulf of Trieste, Ostreopsis cf. ovata, toxic species. 

Introduction – The Italian coasts have been seasonally interested by plankton blooms 

since 1970 and bloom events caused by benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis ovata have 

been recently recorded in 2005 along Ligurian coasts (Abbate et al., 2007; Mangialajo 

et al., 2008). This toxic species lives on different substrata, such as macroalgae and 

rocks. Ostreopsis cf. ovata was observed in the Gulf of Trieste in September 2006 

(Monti et al., 2007), while the first bloom was recorded in September 2009 along the 

rocky coast in shallow waters. In this study, we report the first bloom of O. ovata and 

the results of a monitoring programme of the associated microphytobenthic 

community. 

Materials and methods - From May to October 2009 three samples from two 

macroalgal species with their surrounding water were collected at the depth of about 

2m in a sheltered site (SCI) and in an exposed one (SCE). To check the presence of 

Ostreopsis, the rinsing water from dripped thalli was fixed with neutralised formalin 

and analyzed according to Utermöhl method. In order to express the concentration of 

benthic dinoflagellate in cells g -1 fw, cells g -1 dw as well as in cells cm -2 , the fresh and 

dry weight of the thalli and the thallus surface were determined according to Totti et al. 

(2010). In both stations, water samples were collected by net, and fixed and analyzed to 

evaluate the distribution of all toxic dinoflagellates along the water column. 

Environmental parameters (T, salinity, PAR, dissolved oxygen) were determined to 

characterize both sites. From September 29 th to October 8 th in another site, 900 m far 

from the monitored sites along the shore, samples of waters containing visible mat 

were collected through syringe to assess the abundance of Ostreopsis ovata in the 

benthic community (method under investigation). 

Results and conclusions - From May to August the benthic toxic dinoflagellates 

Prorocentrum lima, Coolia monotis and Amphidinium cartarae were reported on 

macrophyte samples at low concentrations: at the SCI they were always lower than 

5000 cells g -1 fw, while in the SCE they were always lower than 8000 cells g -1 fw. O. 

cf. ovata was observed since the beginning of September in both coastal sites on 

Dictyota dichotoma and Padina pavonia. The highest concentration in SCE (Fig. 1) 

was recorded in the sample collected on September 21 st when it reached 3.3×10 5 cells 

g -1 fw (corresponding to 1.6×10 6 g -1 dw and 5.2×10 3 cm -2 ), while in SCI (Fig. 1) O. cf. 


337



ovata was observed on October 5 th at lower abundance (2.8×10 5 cell g -1 fw 

corresponding to 1.4×10 6 g -1 dw and 2.6×10 3 cm -2 ). 

SCI 

cell g -1 fw 

4.0E+05 

3.0E+05 

2.0E+05 

1.0E+05 

0.0E+00 

06/05/09 

08/06/09 

24/06/09 

06/07/09 

20/07/09 

Dictyota 1.1 Dictyota 1.2 Dictyota 1.3 

Ulva 1.2 Ulva 1.3 Ulva 1.1 

03/08/09 

25/08/09 

07/09/09 

21/09/09 

05/10/09 

21/10/09 

Fig. 1 – Abundance of Ostreopsis cf. ovata on thalli expressed as cells g -1 fw in SCI and SCE sites. 

Abbondanza di Ostreopsis ovata sui talli espressa come cells g -1 pf nei siti SCI e SCE. 

Along the water column, O. cf. ovata was recorded at both stations with a 

concentration of 120-280 cells l -1 on September and October. On September 29 th in an 

enclosed bay, 900 m far from the regular monitoring sites, a bloom event of O. cf. 

ovata occurred on rocks in absence of macrophytes. In the mat covering the rocks 

along the littoral, O. cf. ovata was present with a maximum of 13×10 3 cells ml - 

1 (syringe sample). The day after, the concentration of O. cf. ovata in the mat decreased 

to 3×10 3 cells ml -1 and it gradually lowered until October 8 th when it was absent. 

During the bloom event, temperature and salinity of the water were 22.5 °C and 36.6, 

respectively; on October 7 th both values decreased to 20.9 °C and 30.6. In conclusion, 

in the Gulf of Trieste, O. cf. ovata confirms its occurence in late September. In the 

same period of the bloom on the mat, Ostreopsis was also associated with Dictyota 

dichotoma and Padina pavonia. From these preliminary observations, the bloom 

seemed gradually to disappear with the decrease of temperature and salinity. In the 

Gulf of Trieste, as well as in the Conero Riviera (Totti et al., 2010), hard substrata, 

sheltered conditions and scarce hydrodynamism seem to favour the bloom of 

Ostreopsis. Anyway, in the Gulf of Trieste noxious effects on human health were not 

associated with the bloom. The monitoring of this benthic species may be considered a 

basic parameter, which should be integrated in future water quality programme 

considering that the investigated area is a recreational site during the summer. 

References 

ABBATE M., BORDONE A., CERRATI G., LISCA A., PEIRANO P.J. (2007) – Variabilità della 

distribuzione e densità di Ostreopsis ovata nel Golfo della Spezia. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 14: 286- 

287. 

MANGIALAJO L., BERTOLOTTO R., CATTANEO-VIETTI R., CHIANTORE M.C., GRILLO C., 

LEMEE R., MELCHIORRE N., MORETTO P., POVERO P., RUGGIERI N. (2008) – The toxic 

benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis ovata: quantification of proliferation along the coastline of 

Genoa, Italy. Mar. Poll. Bull., 56: 1209-1214. 

MONTI M., MINOCCI M., BERAN A., IVESA L. (2007) First record of Ostropsis cf. ovata on 

macroalgae in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Mar. Poll. Bull., 54: 598-601. 

TOTTI C., ACCORONI S., CERINO F., CUCCHIARI E., ROMAGNOLI T. (2010) – Ostreopsis 

ovata bloom along the Conero Riviera (northern Adriatic Sea): Relationship with environmental 

conditions and substrata. Harmful Algae, 9: 233-239. 

SCE 

4.0E+05 

3.0E+05 

2.0E+05 

1.0E+05 

0.0E+00 


338 

cell g -1 fw 

06/05/09 

08/06/09 

24/06/09 

06/07/09 

20/07/09 

Dictyota 1.1 Dictyota 1.2 Dictyota 1.3 

Padina 1.1 Padina 1.2 Padina 1.3 

03/08/09 

25/08/09 

07/09/09 

21/09/09 

05/10/09 

21/10/09



C. FACCA, D. BILANICOVA, G. POJANA, A. MARCOMINI, A. SFRISO 

Dep. of Environmental Sciences, University Ca’ Foscari Venice, 

Calle Larga Santa Marta, 2137 - 30123 Venezia, Italia. 

facca@unive.it 

COUPLING TAXONOMIC AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES 

TO MONITOR HARMFUL ALGAE OCCURRENCE IN LAGOONS 

(VENICE AND PO DELTA SYSTEM, ITALY) 

ANALISI TASSONOMICHE E CHIMICHE PER IL MONITORAGGIO 

DELLE ALGHE TOSSICHE NELLE LAGUNE (VENEZIA E DELTA DEL PO) 

Abstract – Harmful algae occurrence was monitored in the Venice lagoon and in the Po Delta lagoons by 

taxonomic identification with optical microscopy, and chemical determination of toxins by HPLC coupled 

with High Resolution Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (HR-TOF-MS). These techniques were coupled in 

order to verify the potential of a developing protocol overcoming the current anti-ethical and expensive 

Yasumoto test on mice. The abundance of potentially toxic cells resulted negligible, but toxins were anyway 

analytically detected and structurally confirmed by the high accuracy of the MS detector employed. 

Key-words: Dinophysis, harmful algae, biotoxins, lagoons. 

Introduction – The risks due to Harmful Algae (HA) proliferation are well known 

worldwide and numerous research and sanitary institutions are currently involved in 

the monitoring of their occurrence. The methods dedicated to the identification of HA 

are numerous and involve different approaches (taxonomy, genetics, toxicology, 

chemistry, biochemistry). However, the method, the one recognized by national 

regulations to prevent risk to human health, is the Yasumoto’s test on mice. It is often 

coupled with taxonomic identification, but it results anti-ethic, poorly accurate and 

rather expensive. To overcome such limitations our research group is proposing to 

integrate the taxonomic investigation with analytical chemistry analysis in order to 

correctly identify and quantify the toxin presence and occurrence. As already reported 

by literature, the presence of such harmful species is not necessarily correlated to the 

occurrence of poisoning events, so this approach wants to combine routine taxonomic 

monitoring activity with accurate chemical identification of toxins (Okadaic Acid, 

DTX1, DTX2, Domoic Acid, PTX2) to highlight the real risk for human health due to 

the microalgal proliferations. 

Materials and methods – Seawater samples were collected 12 times from June to 

August 2009 in the Venice lagoon and in a couple of lagoons in the Po Delta system, 

where clam farming is the main economical resource. Phytoplankton cell abundance 

and taxonomic composition were determined under the inverted light microscope 

according to the Utermöhl’s method (1958), settling 25 ml of sample in order to 

identify also species-specific low abundances. Qualitative observations were carried 

out on 20 µm mesh net samples. Seawater was filtered on GF/F Whatman filters to 

extract toxins from microalgal cells. Solvent mixture (80:20 vol methanol:water) was 

sonicated, and then 10-times concentrated to 1 ml by evaporation and centrifugation 

(Blanco et al., 2007; Fernández et al., 2006). Aliquots of 10 µl of the supernatant were 

injected in an Agilent 1200 High Performance Liquid Chromatography system using an 

Agilent G1329B autosampler. The chromatographic separation of lipophilic toxins 


339



(Okadaic Acid, DTX1, PTX2) was performed using a Fusion stationary phase (100×2 

mm, 1.8 μm) by Phenomenex (Torrance, CA, USA), while analysis of domoic acid in 

samples extracts was instead performed on a 150×2 mm, 2.5 μm Phenomenex Gemini 

reversed-phase stationary phase. Detection and quantification of toxins were performed 

using an Agilent G1969A High Resolution Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer. 

Analytes were identified automatically by means of the Data Analysis software Mass 

Hunter. ® 

Results – Total phytoplankton abundance varied between 1.0 to 5.0×10 6 cells l -1 . 

Except for a sporadic occurrence of Noctiluca scintillans, among potentially HA, only 

Dinophysis caudata, D. mitra and D. sacculus were recorded in the areas where the 

influence of seawaters was the most direct. On the sea side of the Lido inlet (Venice 

lagoon) the cell abundance of D. sacculus was 100 cells l -1 , but it decreased below 40 

cells l -1 moving toward the lagoon waters and completely disappeared in the inner 

stations, where the residence time and the water turbidity are generally higher. The 

HPLC-MS determination highlighted the presence in trace of PTX2 molecule in cell 

extracts collected at the Lido inlet. Due to the Dinophysis low abundance and PTX2 

trace concentration, it was not possible to correlate the species occurrence with the 

toxin. However, no other potentially HA was recorded in the site where PTX2 was 

detected. In the Po Delta system lagoons, the results were quite similar, as Dinophysis 

spp. were recorded only in seawaters, with abundances even lower (



G. RUGGERI, M. BORGHINI 1 , A. RIBOTTI 2 , M. MILICI, M. PAPALE, 

R. SORGENTE 2 , M. DE DOMENICO, E. DE DOMENICO 

Dip. Biologia Animale ed Ecologia Marina, Università di Messina, Salita Sperone, 31 – Messina, Italia. 

edd@unime.it 

1 Istituto di Scienze Marine (ISMAR - CNR), Pozzuolo di Lerici (SP), Italia. 

2 Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC-CNR), Loc. Sa Mardini, Torregrande (OR), Italia. 

LUMINOUS MARINE BACTERIA AND WATER MASSES 

DISTRIBUTION IN THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN SEA 

(CRUISE SICILY09) 

DISTRIBUZIONE DI BATTERI LUMINOSI E MASSE D’ACQUA 

NEL MAR MEDITERRANEO CENTRALE (CROCIERA SICILY09) 

Abstract – To evaluate quantitative and qualitative luminescent bacteria (LB) distribution, 421 seawater 

samples from 38 stations of the Central Mediterranean Sea were analysed during November 2009. LB plate 

counts showed a patchiness bacterial distribution with increase near the bottom. An ARDRA analysis on 

isolated strains was carried out to evaluate the microbial diversity of the luminous communities. 

Key-words: bacteria, distribution, luminous organisms, water masses. 

Introduction - To date, a wide literature on the systematic, metabolic features, 

biochemical pathways and ecology of luminous bacteria (LB) is available. Conversely, 

their distribution and role in marine environment show a lack of knowledge. During 

last years, we have deeply studied marine LB in different basins of the Mediterranean 

Sea by using various approaches, as viable counts, phenotypic assays and genotypic 

techniques (De Luca et al., 2009; Gentile et al., 2009). Marked differences in viable 

counts and bacterial genera distribution, in the surveyed areas of the Mediterranean 

Sea, were observed. De Luca et al. (2009) found higher values on surface waters (0- 

200 m) in the western Mediterranean Sea and at 800-1200 m depth in all 

Mediterranean surveyed areas. Genera distribution also varied with depth. The Central 

Mediterranean Sea hydrology is characterised by a really complex bottom topography 

directly influencing water exchanges between E and W Mediterranean basins. The 

Sicily Strait is characterised by two narrow passages giving strong limits to the 

exchanges with the E Mediterranean Sea. The Tyrrhenian Sea is linked with E 

Mediterranean Sea through a shallow channel permitting the inflow of Levantine 

Intermediate Water (LIW) and transitional Eastern Mediterranean Deep Water 

(tEMDW) that, sinking at the entrance of this sub-basin, origins the Tyrrhenian Deep 

Water (TDW), then moving over the Western Mediterranean Deep Water (WMDW), 

as referred by Astraldi et al. (2002). 

Materials and methods – From 30/10 to 23/11/2009 a multidisciplinary cruise 

(SICILY09) was carried out on board the R/V Urania of the CNR in the central and 

western Mediterranean basins. Water samples were collected, from surface to 10m 

above the bottom, by a Rosette sampler equipped with 12L Niskin bottles. A CTD 

probe 911plus SeaBird was employed for conductivity, temperature, pressure, 

dissolved oxygen and fluorescence measurements. LB were counted on Millipore 

filters (0.45 μm) placed on Sea Water Complete (SWC) agar plates. Counts from 

various filtered volumes and duplicate plates, were normalized to 100 ml. ARDRA 


341



analysis were performed on a portion of isolated strains to evaluate diversity of the 

luminous microbial communities. 

Results - We refer about 421 seawater samples from 38 stations along 5 key sections 

localized inside and on the board of the studied area. Along surveyed sections, 

abundance values ranged from 0 to 21 (Section 1: Sardinia-Sicily), 0-68 (Sec. 2: Sicily- 

Tunisia), 0-73 (Sec. 3: Sicily-Pantelleria-Tunisia), 0-117 (Sec. 4: Sicily-Malta-Libya) 

and 0-28 (Sec. 5: Ionian Sea) CFU 100 ml -1 , respectively. LB showed a wide range of 

values along the water column, whereas near the bottom they increased up to 117 CFU 

100 ml -1 . Coastal samples near the bottom of Sicily Strait showed always the highest 

counts. From plates, 384 strains of LB were isolated and 122 (31.7%) grown under 

laboratory condition. ARDRA analysis, performed on 100 strains, showed 4 OTUs 

(Operational Taxonomic Units) for each of two restriction enzymes employed (HHAI 

and RSAI), according to previous research carried out in this area (De Luca et al., 

2007). Under the hydrological conditions, the area shows the typical 3-layer systems 

characterized by Modified Atlantic Water (MAW) at the surface (37.7-37.8 psu), LIW 

at intermediate depth (38.6-38.7 psu) and deep waters (tEMDW, TDW and WMDW) 

that occupy the areas below LIW or mix with LIW at the entrance of the Tyrrhenian 

Sea along western Sicilian coast. 

Conclusions – The results obtained in this study were comparable with those 

previously reported for other areas of the Mediterranean Sea; LB show a patchiness 

distribution with an appreciable increase in viable counts generally observed near the 

bottom. LB values in the seawater samples from the Sicily Strait were higher than in 

the Tyrrhenian and Ionian samples and lower than in the Gibraltar Strait and Alboran 

Sea, probably due to richness of nutrients and organic matter. The distribution pattern 

of LB, as a function of depth and distance from the coast previously assumed for 

several areas of Mediterranean Sea (De Luca et al., 2009), can be also confirmed for 

this area. 

Aknowledgements: A special thank to Captain Vincenzo Lubrano Lavadera of the R/V Urania vessel 

and its crew and technicians onboard. 

References 

ASTRALDI M., GASPARINI G.P., VETRANO A., VIGNUDELLI S. (2002) - Hydrographic 

characteristics and interannual variability of water masses in the central Mediterranean: a 

sensitivity test for long-term changes in the Mediterranean Sea. Deep Sea Res. I, 49: 661-680. 

DE LUCA M., DE DOMENICO M., RUGGERI G., MINISSALE M.C., DE DOMENICO E. (2007) - 

Distribuzione di batteri luminosi nello Stretto di Sicilia. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 14 (2): 378-379. 

DE LUCA M., CALDARONE B., DE DOMENICO M., DE DOMENICO E. (2009) - Studio della 

comunità microbica luminosa nel Mar Mediterraneo Centro-Occidentale. 19° Congresso Ass. 

Italiana Oceanologia e Limnologia (AIOL), Venezia, 22-25 Settembre 2009: 23. 

GENTILE G., DE LUCA M., DENARO R., LA CONO V., SMEDILE F., SCARFÌ S., DE 

DOMENICO E., DE DOMENICO M., YAKIMOV M.M. (2009) - PCR-based detection of 

bioluminescent microbial populations in Tyrrhenian Sea. Deep Sea Res. II, 56: 763–767. 

This work is funded by: Messina University (PRA 2004); EU IP-MyOcean project (contract FP7- 

SPACE-2007-1) and EU IP-ECOOP project (contract 036355-2). 


342



G. SOCAL, F. BERNARDI AUBRY, D. BON 1 , S. CEOLDO 2 , A. DE LAZZARI, 

C. FACCA 2 , S. FINOTTO, S. RIZZARDI 1 , A. SFRISO 2 

Istituto di Scienze Marine CNR, Castello, 1364/A - 30122 Venezia, Italia. 

giorgio.socal@ismar.cnr.it 

1 Agenzia Regionale per la Prevenzione e la Protezione Ambientale, Padova, Italia. 

2 Dept. Environmental Sciences, University Ca’ Foscari, Venezia, Italia. 

SEASONAL AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PHYTOPLANKTON 

IN THE VENETO LAGOONS (CAORLE AND PO DELTA LAGOONS, 

ITALY) 

DISTRIBUZIONE STAGIONALE E SPAZIALE DEL FITOPLANCTON 

NELLE LAGUNE VENETE (LAGUNE DI CAORLE E DEL DELTA DEL PO) 

Abstract – Seawater samples were seasonally collected in 20 sites in the lagoons of the north western 

Adriatic Sea in order to determine the phytoplankton abundance and taxonomic composition. Data showed 

persistent blooming conditions (>10 7 cell l -1 ) from February 2008 to August 2008 in the Po Delta lagoons 

and scarce abundance in the Caorle lagoons. Also community compositions appeared significantly different 

in the two lagoon systems. 

Key-words: phytoplankton, diatoms, lagoons, Italy. 

Introduction – The north western coast of the Adriatic Sea is a complex system of 

wetlands and lagoons. Due to its historical and socio-economical importance, most of 

the studies have always focused on the Venice lagoon. Nevertheless, the Po Delta 

lagoon system covers an area of 786 km 2 only in the Veneto area and represents an 

important naturalistic oasis and an economical resource for more than 1500 employees 

in the aquaculture and clam farming. The scientific literature dedicated to such area and 

the Caorle lagoon is scarce and mainly focused on fish and birds. Even if 

phytoplankton has a key environmental role and represents the food basis for mussels 

and clams, no studies are available in such areas in terms of cell abundance and species 

composition. The need to know the ecological status and, hence, the trophic conditions 

of the considered areas, has recently gained relevance due to the regulations in the 

Water Framework Directive 2000/60 (WFD). As a consequence, the local authorities 

started to promote studies for all the water bodies, which ecological status should be at 

least “good” by 2015. The present paper describes the first seasonal surveys of 

phytoplankton distribution and taxonomic composition in the Caorle and Po delta 

lagoons. 

Materials and methods – In February, May, August, October and November 2008, 

seawater samples were collected in 3 and 17 stations located in the Caorle and Po Delta 

lagoons, respectively. For each station, hydrological parameters were measured, and 

phytoplankton, nutrients and chlorophyll a samples were collected. The phytoplankton 

analysis was performed with inverted light microscope according to the Utermöhl’s 

method (1958). Nutrients and chlorophyll a were measured according to Strickland and 

Parson (1972) and Holm-Hansen et al. (1965), respectively. 

Results – On the basis of salinity values, two of the 3 sites in Caorle lagoon were 

classified as oligohaline (



polyhaline (18-30). Both reactive phosphorus (RP) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen 

(DIN) concentrations displayed high values with minima in May and a significant 

increase in autumn (October - November 2008), when chlorophyll a concentrations 

were relatively low (0.5-7.6 µg l -1 ). The highest value of chlorophyll a was measured in 

February (57.8 µg l -1 ). The lagoon of Caorle showed always lower chlorophyll a values 

than the Po Delta lagoons, where, the concentrations were often >10 µg l -1 from 

February to August. In the Caorle lagoon, phytoplankton community was dominated by 

diatoms in May 2008, with the highest mean abundance (22.0×10 6 cells l -1 ). Flagellates 

were dominant or abundant as diatoms, represented by the pennate forms, which are 

typical of benthic habitats. Centric diatoms were represented by the pelagic 

Thalassiosira spp., even if it has been frequently recorded in the sediments (Facca and 

Sfriso, 2007). Except for May 2008, during the other observations, the mean 

abundance did not exceed 4.0×10 6 cells l -1 . Conversely in the communities of the Po 

Delta lagoons centric colonial and pelagic diatoms often were found. The main bloom 

was recorded in February 2008 due to Skeletonema marinoi (up to 77.0×10 6 cells l -1 ). 

However, so far in May and August 2008 the mean cell abundance remained in the 

order of 10 7 cells l -1 , even though the contribution was mainly due to Chaetoceros spp. 

(May and August) and Cerataulina pelagica (May). The only exception was a 

punctiform dinoflagellate bloom with value of 13.7×10 6 cells l -1 dominated by a 

mixture of armoured and naked forms. In autumn, the abundance drastically decreased 

being in the order of 10 6 cells l -1 . In such period, the contribution of diatoms became 

almost negligible and the community was mainly constituted by flagellates, such as 

cryptophytes. 

Conclusions – Nutrient concentrations were high enough to guarantee phytoplankton 

blooms, which were mainly driven by temperature, light availability, water column 

turbidity and hydro-dynamism. Thus the enriched nutrient Po Delta lagoons, for most 

of the year, were in persistent blooming conditions, due to pelagic colonial diatoms, as 

it is normally observed in the coastal belt of the Adriatic Sea (Bernardi Aubry et al., 

2004), whereas the trophic level of the Caorle lagoon was generally lower and the 

community was dominated by resuspended benthic diatoms. Such data represented the 

first description of the phytoplankton in the area and may be used to verify the WFD 

requirements. 

References 

BERNARDI AUBRY F., BERTON A., BASTIANINI M., SOCAL G., ACRI F. (2004) – 

Phytoplankton succession in a coastal area of the NW Adriatic over a 10-years sampling period 

(1990-1999). Cont. Shelf Res., 24/1: 97-115. 

FACCA C., SFRISO A. (2007) – Epipelic diatom spatial and temporal distribution and relationship 

with the main environmental parameters in coastal waters. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci., 75: 35-49. 

HOLM-HANSEN O., LORENZEN C.J., HOLMES R.W., STRICKLAND J.D.H. (1965) - 

Fluorometric determination of chlorophyll. J. Cons. Explor. Mer., 30: 3-15. 

STRICKLAND J.D.H., PARSON T.R. (1972) – A Practical Handbook of Seawater Analyses. Fish. 

Res. Bd. Canada, Bull. No. 167, Ottawa: 310 pp. 

UTERMÖHL H. (1958) - Zur Vervollkomnung der quantitativen Phytoplankton-Methodik. Mitt. Int. 

Verein. Limnol., 9: 1-38. 


344


VARIOUS TOPICS 


SESSIONE VARI 


345



V. ARIZZA, M. CELI, G. CALANDRA, G. SARÀ 1 , G. BUSCAINO 2 , 

D. PARRINELLO, V. FERRANTELLI 3 , M. VAZZANA 

Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18 - 90123 Palermo, Italia. 

vazmir@unipa.it – arizza@unipa.it 

1 Dipartimento di Ecologia Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18 - 90123 Palermo, Italia. 

2 U.O. Capo Granitola dell’Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero, CNR, Via del Faro, 4 - 91021 Granitola (TP), 

Italia. 

3 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia 'A. Mirri', Palermo, Italia. 

EFFETTI IN VIVO DELLE ONDE SONORE (200 HZ 100 KHZ) 

SULL’ESPRESSIONE DELL’HSP70 NELLE CELLULE DEL SANGUE 

DI CHROMIS CHROMIS (PERCIFORMES) 

IN VIVO EFFECT OF SOUND WAVES (200 HZ 100 KHZ) ON HSP70 

EXPRESSION IN BLOOD CELLS OF CHROMIS CHROMIS (PERCIFORMES) 

Abstract – The widespread of anthropic activities and the technological development have increased in the 

last decades the exposure of organisms to noise pollution so evoking a great interest about their influence 

on biological and mainly in immune system. In the present work the expression of Hsp70 in Chromis 

chromis blood cells has been investigated following the exposure to 200, 300 Hz and pinger. 

Key-words: Chromis chromis, Hsp70, noise pollution. 

Introduzione – È noto che negli ultimi 40 anni il disturbo sonoro in ambiente marino è 

aumentato di un fattore 10 e la causa sembra attribuibile all’intenso traffico 

commerciale e portuale. Gli ambienti di maricoltura sembrano essere particolarmente 

“rumorosi” a causa delle attività legate alle pratiche di allevamento. In tali ambienti, la 

fauna ittica è caratterizzata da specie come la castagnola (Chromis chromis), 

particolarmente abbondante nel Mediterraneo. Le condizioni di disturbo sonoro 

possono indurre uno stato di stress nelle specie ittiche sia selvatiche sia in quelle di 

allevamento. Questo effetto è stato evidenziato con lo studio della Hsp70, che come 

noto in letteratura (Basu et al., 2002; Iwama et al., 1998), rappresentano un valido 

indice per studiare lo stress cellulare e vengono considerate bioindicatori molecolari di 

stress. Il ruolo fondamentale della Hsp70 è quello di riparare i danni alle proteine a 

seguito di stress acuto, svolgendo così un ruolo chiave nella citoprotezione. Nei pesci 

l’induzione di Hsp dovuta a stress è stata studiata in linee cellulari e in vari organi da 

animali stressati. In questo studio, è stata valutata l’espressione della Hsp70 di Chromis 

chromis, specie frequente attorno alle gabbie di maricoltura, al variare di suoni 

somministrati simili a quelli originati dall’azione antropica. 

Materiali e metodi – Nell’estate del 2008, nei mesocosmi dello IAMC-CNR di Capo 

Granitola sono state effettuate varie sessioni sperimentali con gruppi indipendenti di 

circa 20-35 esemplari Chromis chromis a cui venivano somministrati suoni con una 

frequenza di 200 Hz e 300 Hz, e con un pinger suoni compresi tra i 70 e 150 kHz. Gli 

esperimenti hanno previsto una fase di acclimatazione, quindi lo start sperimentale cui 

seguivano due fasi: la fase pre-somministrazione sonora (controlli), e la fase post. La 

misurazione dei livelli di espressione della Hsp70 è stata valutata nelle cellule del 

sangue intero. I prelievi di sangue per puntura cardiaca sono stati effettuati su 5 

individui di controllo, e 5 individui della fase post-somministrazione (200, 300 Hz e 

pinger). Per l’SDS-PAGE, sono sati utilizzati 20 µg di ciascun campione. Dopo la 


346



migrazione, il pattern proteico è stato analizzato tramite la tecnica del western-blot 

(Towbin, 1979) utizzando un antisiero monoclonale specifico per la Hsp70. L’analisi 

dei pesi molecolari e la densitometria sono state condotte con il software 

AlphaEaseFC. I dati di densitometria sono stati espressi come la media dei valori di tre 

differenti esperimenti e indicati come valore di densità integrata (IDV arbritary unit). 

45 

40 

35 

30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

IDV arbritary unit. 

A 

c 200 Hz 300 Hz pinger 

*** 

Fig. 1 – A) Livelli di espressione di Hsp70 (% IDV) nelle cellule del sangue di Chromis chromis in 

funzione del disturbo acustico 200, 300 Hz e pinger dopo 2 ore di trattamento. I valori sono le 

medie ±SD di tre esperimenti separati. Valori significativi comparati ai controlli 

(***=p



V. ARIZZA, F.T. GIARAMITA, D. PARRINELLO, M. VAZZANA, D. VICARI*, N. PARRINELLO 

Dip. di Biologia Animale “G. Reverberi”, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18 - 90123 Palermo, Italia. 

arizza@unipa.it 

*Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Via Gino Marinuzzi, 3 – Palermo, Italia. 

VARIAZIONI SESSO-DIPENDENTI NELL’ATTIVITÁ CITOTOSSICA 

DEI CELOMOCITI DI PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS (ECHINOIDEA) 

SEX-DEPENDENT VARIATIONS IN THE CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY 

OF PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS (ECHINOIDEA) COELOMOCYTES 

Abstract – The coelomic fluid from the echinoderm contains several coelomocyte types involved in immune 

defences. In this article we report a study of some activity involved in immune response of the sea urchin 

Paracentrotus lividus. Correlative studies indicate that in this species a cytotoxic and hemoagglutinating 

activity is present in a manner sex-dependent. 

Key-words: immunity, coelomic fluid, sex. 

Introduzione - Alcuni studi effettuati sul sistema immunitario dei vertebrati fanno 

emergere una relazione tra sesso ed immunità, in generale le femmine sembrano 

possedere una maggiore reattività immunitaria rispetto ai maschi (Stoehr e Kokko, 

2006). Tra gli invertebrati la situazione è molto meno chiara. Nel presente lavoro 

abbiamo studiato l’immuno-reattività di esemplari di entrambi i sessi dell’echinoderma 

Paracentrotus lividus esaminando alcune reazioni immunitarie di tipo umorale e 

cellulare. In particolare nella specie in esame recentemente è stata mostrata un’attività 

citotossica calcio–dipendente in grado di lisare gli eritrociti di coniglio e le cellule 

tumorali della linea K562 in seguito al rilascio di sostanze litiche ad opera degli 

sferulociti non colorati (S-CLS) (Arizza et al., 2007). 

Materiali e metodi – I saggi biologici sono stati condotti analizzando in totale 

campioni preparati singolarmente da 100 individui maschili e 100 femminili. È stata 

analizzata l’attività citotossica ed emoagglutinante del fluido celomatico (CF) e del 

supernatante del lisato degli S-CLS. Saggio di citotossicità: 200 µl di campione sono 

stati diluiti serialmente e miscelati con 200 µl di sospensione di eritrociti di coniglio 

(8×10 6 cell) in ISO-Ca 2+ (20 mM Tris, 0.5 M NaCl, 10 mM CaCl2 pH 7.5) e incubati 

per 1 ora a 37 °C. Il rilascio dell’emoglobina è stato determinato attraverso la lettura 

dell’assorbanza a 541 nm. Saggio di emoagglutinazione: 25 µl di campione sono stati 

diluiti serialmente in ISO-Ca 2+ e miscelati con 25 µl di sospensione eritrocitaria all’1% 

in ISO-Ca 2+ contenente gelatina allo 0,1% e incubati per 1 ora a 37 °C in piastre a 96 

pozzetti con fondo a U (Microtiter-SIGMA). 

Risultati - Dai dati finora ottenuti si è potuto apprezzare, per la prima volta, che gli 

individui di P. lividus hanno una differente capacità immunitaria dipendente dal sesso. 

In particolare dal confronto dell’attività citotossica ed emoagglutinante esibita da 

individui maschili e femminili è emerso che queste ultime appaiono più 

immunoreattive rispetto ai maschi. Infatti l’attività citotossica del fluido celomatico 

(CF) della femmina risulta essere di circa il 65% in più alla massima concentrazione 

proteica rispetto a quella presentata dal maschio (Fig. 1a). Inoltre il lisato degli 

sferulociti non colorati S-CLS della femmina ha una capacità emolitica del 50 % circa 


348



superiore rispetto a quella del maschio (Fig. 1b). Infine le femmine hanno mostrato una 

maggiore attività emoagglutinante del CF e dell’ S-CLS evidenziando una maggiore 

risposta nei confronti del target rispetto ai maschi, come visto per la citotossicità (Fig. 

1c). 

a b c 

Fig. 1 - Attività citotossica di CF (a) e S-CLS (b) di P. lividus femmina e maschio verso eritrociti di 

coniglio. Attività emagglutinante del CF e del S-CLS di P. lividus femmina e maschio contro 

eritrociti di coniglio (c). I valori sono le medie ±SD di tre esperimenti separati. I valori tra i 

sessi sono significativi per P



A. ARMANASCO, E. BOTTEON, D. SAVINI, S. NANNARELLI 

Dipartimento di Ecologia del Territorio, Sez. di Ecologia, Università di Pavia, Via S. Epifanio, 14 – 27100 Pavia, 

Italia. 

elena.botteon01@ateneopv.it 

FECAL PELLET ANALYSIS OF CARETTA CARETTA OUTPATIENTS 

OF THE LINOSA ISLAND TURTLE RESCUE CENTER (SICILY, AG) 

ANALISI DELLE FECI DI ESEMPLARI DI CARETTA CARETTA PAZIENTI 

DEL CENTRO RECUPERO TARTARUGHE DELL’ISOLA DI LINOSA (SICILIA, AG) 

Abstract – Preliminary data on Loggerhead sea turtle fecal pellets analysis conducted on hosts of the Sea 

Turtle Recovery Center in Linosa Island (Agrigento Sicily) revealed strong impact of soft plastic floating 

debris on diet. Fecal pellets can also be a good indicator of origin and movement of turtles in relation to 

the habitat they have attended. 

Key-words: fecal pellets, animal nutrition, rare species, marine debris. 

Introduction – The Loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta is a protected species since 

1973 (Endagered Species ACT- ESA). The Mediterranean Sea Turtle Recovery Center 

of Linosa Island “Hydrosphera” (Agrigento, Sicily) has been conserving a collection of 

dried fecal pellets from 60 turtles of 107 hosted in the center since 2006. Having the 

opportunity of analyzing such an unusually large data set - i.e. published literature 

reports similar analysis only for few specimens (Tomás et al., 2001; Frick et al., 2009) 

- we report preliminary considerations on how fecal pellet can be used as reliable 

indicator of diet, conservation status and habitat requirement for the species. 

Materials and methods – A subsample of fecal pellet of 22 juvenile specimens of C. 

caretta (Straight line carapace length: 27-63 cm), hosted in the Linosa’s Turtle 

Recovery Center from 07.07.-25.08.2007, was analyzed under a dissecting microscope 

(30×). Food and debris were classified in the following 11 categories (Fig.1): 1) fishes 

(F); 2) molluscs (M); 3) crustaceans (C); 4) other undigested material of animal origin 

(MA); 5) other undigested material of vegetal origin (MV); 6) hard plastic (HP); 7) soft 

plastic (SP); 8) wood (W); 9) feathers (FE); 10) fishing lines and hooks (FL); 11) other 

undigested material of anthropogenic origin (MAN). Each category was weighted 

using an analytical scale (dwt; 0.001 g) and related to the total weight of the fecal 

pellet. Moreover, plastic debris color was taken into consideration as a possible factor 

determining ingestion preference. 

Results – Soft plastic was the most frequent category of debris found in fecal pellets 

(SP=91%) followed by undigested material of vegetal origin (MV=86%, mainly 

Sargassum sp) and wood (W=45%). Amongst food, fish residue was the most recurrent 

category (F=32%). Debris represented more than half of fecal pellets composition 

(59±33% dwt/tot dwt*100). Transparent and white were the most frequently color of 

plastic found in fecal pellet (25-30%). Most of the specimens (17 out of 22) were found 

to have ingested Sargassum sp. algae. 


350



Fig. 1 – Percentage of occurrence of each category of food/debris found in 22 C. caretta specimens. 

Percentuale di frequenza di ogni categoria di cibo/detrito presente nei 22 campioni di C. 

caretta. 

Conclusions – Transparent and white soft plastic debris was present in almost all C. 

caretta fecal pellets in agreement with findings of stomach content analysis (Tomás et 

al., 2001). This type of debris is particularly dangerous for turtles, causing gut air 

clogging and buoyancy impairment. Moreover, soft plastic slows down nutrient gain in 

gut and growth (Hutchinson & Simmonds, 1991). Fish appeared to be the most preyed 

food. Sargassum sp. was also frequent in fecal pellets showing that the origin of 

sample population was probably in an optimal post-hatching habitat of Sargassum 

beds. Location of this habitat and distance from the Sicily Channel should be 

investigated in relation to swimming speed and telemetry studies. In conclusion this 

preliminary results showed how fecal pellets analysis could be good indicator of 

loggerhead sea turtle ecology and a mean to assess its conservation status. The ongoing 

analysis of the whole fecal pellet (60 ind.) belonging to Hydrosphera collection will 

allow to statistically compare diet of C. caretta among years and specimens size/age in 

order to confirm our first conclusions. 

References 

FRICK M.G., WILLIAMS K.L., BOLTEN A.B., BJORNDAL K.A., MARTINS H.R. (2009) – 

Foraging ecolology of oceanic-stage loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta. Endang. Species Res., 9: 

91-97. 

HUTCHINSON J., SIMMONDS M. (1991) – A review of the effects of pollution on marine turtles. 

In: Thames Polytechnic (eds), A Greenpeace Ecotoxicology Project. London: 27 pp. 

TOMÁS J., GUITART R, MATEO R., RAGA J.A. (2002) – Marine debris ingestion in loggerhead 

sea turtles Caretta caretta, from the Western Mediterranean. Mar. Poll. Bull., 44: 211-216. 


351



F. BIAGI, A. ADDIS, G. CORSO, M. CARCUPINO 

Dipartimento di Zoologia e Genetica Evoluzionistica, Università di Sassari, Via Muroni, 25 - 07100 Sassari, Italia. 

fbiagi@uniss.it 

SPERMATOGENESIS AND SPERM STRUCTURE IN THE BLACK- 

STRIPED PIPEFISH SYNGNATHUS ABASTER (TELEOSTEI, 

SYNGNATHIDAE) 

SPERMATOGENESI E STRUTTURA DEGLI SPERMATOZOI 

IN SYNGNATHUS ABASTER (TELEOSTEI, SYNGHATHIDAE) 

Abstract – The gonads of adult males of the black-striped pipefish Syngnathus abaster were observed 

during the reproductive season to describe mature sperm both quantitatively and qualitatively. The results 

show that: a) the sperms number is always very low and, does not vary significantly during the reproductive 

season; b) all mature sperms observed may be assigned to the introsperm-like type. These data suggest that 

the unique and functional sperm of Syngnathids pertain to the introsperm type typical of internally 

fertilizing teleostean bony fishes. 

Key-words: intro-sperm, Syngnathids, testis. 

Introduction – Syngnathids species, provided with a closed and highly specialized 

brood pouch, (such as Syngnathus and Hippocampus) are considered internal brooders, 

whereas those species with an open pouch or without this structure (such as Nerophis) 

are external brooders. Hence, in literature, it is commonly accepted that eggs 

fertilization of external brooders occurs in the external environment for external 

brooders and inside the male pouch (or marsupium) in internal brooders, but both 

theories have gaps. Furthemore, data on sperm morphology are limited and, in some 

cases, contradictory (Kvarnemo and Simmons, 2004). Therefore, histological 

investigation on testis morphology, spermatogenesis and sperm structure and function 

could significantly contribute to better understand the fertilization strategies of 

syngnathids. 

Materials and methods –Adult males of Syngnathus abaster were collected in the 

Pond of Cabras (Sardinia, Italy) during the reproductive season (2007). Testes were 

dissected from 10 freshly killed fishes. Gonads of 2 males were fixed in Bouin’s 

fixative, dehydrated in a graded ethanol series, cleared in toluene and embedded in 

paraffin. Sections (5 μm) were stained with Mallory’s trichrome for observed general 

morphology. To examine contents of the male gonads and the number and morphology 

of the mature sperm fresh testes, in toto, of 9 males were gently squashed and observed 

with a Zeiss Axiophot light microscope. 

Results - Each testis appears as hollow tube with a large central lumen surrounded by 

an external tunica albuginea and a thin internal germinal epithelium (Fig. 1) organized 

in small and poorly developed cysts of few germ cells enveloped by Sertoli cells (Fig. 

2). The central lumen is occupied by floccular material among which three cells types 

are distinguished droplets-containing cells, large flagellate cells and mature sperm 

(Figg. 3-5). 

cells are spherical or irregular in shape (30.015±8.497 μm large). Many of the dropletscontaining 

cells have small (1.392±0.304 μm) and numerous droplets and one, two or 


352



several large nuclei (9.044±0.643 μm) (Figg. 2-3). However, like the dropletscontaining 

cells, the flagellate cells are giant cells (25.969±9.188 μm large) of 

spherical, lobed or irregular shape. One, two or several nuclei are visible in their 

cytoplasm. Each nucleus is characterized by the basal fossa and the axoneme (Figg. 4- 

5). These cellular type, are recognizable as developing spermatids. Young spermatids 

have large round nuclei (7.333±1.096 μm diameter) with un-condensed chromatin, 

except around the nuclear fossa (Fig. 4). Spermatids in an intermediate developmental 

stage still have rounded nuclei but they are smaller (3.191±0.574 μm) and with 

condensed chromatin (Fig. 5). Mature sperm are always elongated mononuclear cells 

of 79.565±7.965 μm in total length with a conical head (4.719± 0.415 μm length and 

0.976±0.079 μm width) (Fig. 3, insert) and a long tail (74.853±7.995 μm). For each 

male we counted 500 to 3000 sperm (1694±1068). 

L 

T 

SC 

GE 

1 2 3 

Fig. - 1) 2) Transversal section of the testis; ×110, ×400. 3) 4) 5) Germinal cells inside the lumen 

obtained by squashing testes; ×420, insert ×1000, ×800, ×800. 

GC: Germinal Cells; GE: Germinal Epithelium; L: lumen; SC: Sertoli Cells; T: Testis; TA: 

Tunica Albuginea. 

1) 2) Sezione trasversale del testicolo; ×110, ×400. 3) 4) 5) Cellule germinali all’interno del 

lume ottenute attraverso lo schiacciamento del testicolo; ×420, inserto ×1000, ×800, ×800. 

Conclusions –The present data show that in S. abaster, the round cells mixed with 

mature sperm inside the lumen can be considered germ cells at different developmental 

stages. Moreover, except for mature sperm, all these cells, can have one or several 

nuclei, confirming that in S. abaster spermatogenesis is of semi-cystic and symplastic 

type (Carcupino et al., 1999). The estimated number of sperm in S. abaster varies from 

500 to 3000. The sperm concentration in this small family could be the lowest among 

fish. These data, together with the simultaneous presence of mature sperm and 

developing spermatids inside the testes of each male examined, suggest that sperm are 

formed continuously throughout reproductive season in S. abaster. Moreover, the semicystic 

and symplastic spermatogenesis of Syngnathids results in the presence of 

numerous giant round cells in the lumen, which may hide the few mature sperm 

produced and hamper a correct morphological interpretation of mature sperm. In fact, 

the other sperm types, reported for Syngnathids, could merely be developing germ cell. 

References 

CARCUPINO M., BALDACCI A., CORSO G., FRANZOI P., PALA M., MAZZINI M. (1999) - 

Testis structure and symplastic spermatid formation during spermatogenesis of pipefish. J. Fish 

Biol., 55: 334-353. 

KVARNEMO C., SIMMONS L.W. (2004) - Testes investment and spawning mode in pipefishes and 

seahorses (Syngnathidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 83: 369-376. 

TA 


353 

GC 

4 

5



R. FLORIS, S. MANCA, F. CHESSA, M. TRENTADUE, A. CANNAS, N. FOIS 

AGRIS Sardegna, Agenzia per la Ricerca in Agricoltura. Dipartimento per la Ricerca nelle Produzioni Animali, 

Servizio Risorse Ittiche, Località Bonassai S.S. 291 km 18,600 – 07040 Olmedo (SS), Italia. 

rfloris@agrisricerca.it 

MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF INTESTINAL FLORA 

OF GILTHEAD SEABREAMS (SPARUS AURATA L.) FROM TORTOLI 

LAGOON (EASTERN SARDINIA, ITALY) 

CARATTERIZZAZIONE MICROBIOLOGICA DELLA FLORA INTESTINALE 

DI ORATE (SPARUS AURATA L.) PROVENIENTI DALLO STAGNO 

DI TORTOLI (SARDEGNA ORIENTALE, ITALIA) 

Abstract - Thirty seabreams were captured from a Sardinian lagoon (Italy) in January-February 2009 and 

their intestinal tracts were analysed by conventional microbiological methods. The mean counts of aerobic 

heterotrophic viable bacteria were estimated to be 1521 colony forming units (cfu/g), the mean numbers of 

Enterobacteriaceae and Coliforms were 409 cfu/g and 187 cfu/g respectively. A total of 100 pure colonies 

were studied by phenotipic tests. Gram negative bacteria were found to be dominant and Vibrio spp. proved 

to be present in greater numbers than Pseudomonas aeruginosa sp. 

Key-words: intestinal microflora, gilthead seabream, conventional microbiological methods, Sardinia. 

Introduction - Sparus aurata (Linnaeus, 1758) is an euryhaline species of the Sparidae 

family which is found in both marine and brackishwater environments (Moretti et al., 

1999). The study of the intestinal microflora of marine fish is important for 

characterising the product, in fact, the quantity and the quality of these bacteria are a 

reflection of different factors: the aqueous environment, seasonal variation, the diet and 

the gastrointestinal tract anatomy (Ringo et al., 2006). The aim of this work was the 

microbiological characterisation of the intestinal flora of gilthead seabreams from 

lagoon in order to evaluate the quality of fish which reflects the hygienic conditions of 

the aqueous environment. 

Materials and methods - Thirty seabreams (mean weight 349±41g) were captured in 

January-February 2009 from Tortoli lagoon (eastern Sardinia, Italy: Lat 39°56’ 854’’N, 

Long 9°41’160’’E). Water average chemical-physical parameters were as follows: 

temperature 12.6 (°C), salinity 30.14 (‰), dissolved oxygen 102 (%) and pH 8.2. The 

intestine between the pyloric caeca and the anus of each fish was removed, weighted 

off aseptically and homogenised in peptone saline solution (0.85% NaCl, 0.1 g 

peptone) in plastic bags by Stomacher® 400. Serial dilutions were seeded onto 

duplicate poured plates. Culture media, bacterial growth conditions and group of 

microorganisms detected were as follows: Plate Count Agar (PCA) was incubated at 

30°C for 48 h and Nutrient Agar (NA) at 28 °C for 72h in order to count the aerobic 

heterotrophic viable bacteria, Violet Red Bile Glucose Agar (VRBGA) and Violet Red 

Bile Agar Mug (VRBA-MUG) were put at 30 °C for 24 h for enumerating 

Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms and Escherichia coli respectively and de Man-Rogosa- 

Sharpe (MRS) agar was put at 28 °C for 7 days for counting probiotics. A total of 100 

colonies from 10 intestinal samples (10 for each fish) were isolated randomly from NA 

plates, purified and stored at -80 °C in a 40% (v/v) glycerol-Nutrient broth solution. 

The isolates were reactivated and observed for cell shape, motility, Gram staining and 

catalase reaction. They were streaked on thiosulphate-citrate-bile salt agar (TCBS, 


354



Microbiol) and incubated at 28 °C and 40 °C for 24-48 h and on Pseudomonas agar F 

medium (Liofilchem) at 37 °C for 24 h in order to identify the presumptive genera 

Vibrio and Pseudomonas respectively. The colonies which grew on TCBS agar and 

showed a yellow or greenish colour were indicative for presumptive Vibrio species 

while the colonies which grew on Pseudomonas agar F medium, appeared surrounded 

by a yellow to greenish-yellow zone and produced a bright green colour which 

fluoresces under UV light, were considered to belong to the P. aeruginosa sp. 

Results - The microbiological quantitative analyses showed the following mean 

values: the counts of aerobic heterotrophic viable bacteria proved to be 1521 cfu/g 

(from 0 to 8550), Enterobacteriaceae were 409 cfu/g (from 0 to 4250) and Coliforms 

were 187 cfu/g (from 0 to 1405). As regards the counts of probiotics observed on MRS 

medium, only 6 out of 30 intestinal samples showed the presence of bacteria able to 

growth on this medium with a mean number of 5 cfu/g (from 0 to 6). The qualitative 

characterisation of 100 colonies by basic phenotypic tests, indicated that the dominant 

microflora was constituted of 77 Gram negative microorganisms (75 rod-shaped 

bacteria and 2 coccal shaped ones). Twenty-three out of 100 isolates proved to be 

Gram positive (17 rods, 6 cocci and 1 spore forming rod-shaped microorganism). Most 

of the isolates were catalase positive. On the base of the growth, the diameter and the 

colour of the colonies observed on selective media used, we found one group of 

presumptive Vibrio (27%) which merged both mesophylic (21%) and thermophylic 

bacteria (6%), a second group of P. aeruginosa strains (7%) and an unidentified group 

(39%). 

Conclusions - The quantitative microbiological analyses of the intestine of Sparus 

aurata examined evidenced higher values of bacteria than what found in the intestine 

of seabreams reared in floating cages (Floris et al., 2009). However, these values 

proved quite low if compared with other studies performed on a different fish species 

(Al-Harbi et al., 2004). These results demonstrate how the bacterial flora is influenced 

by various factors which are worth to be monitored. The qualitative analyses of 

intestinal microflora showed a dominance of Gram negative bacteria. The bacterial 

intestinal load detected in this study indicates the good quality of both fish and the 

water where the seabreams live. Further studies are being conducted by means of 16S 

rDNA analysis in order to identify all the bacterial isolates at species level. 

Acknowledgements: The authors thank the “Cooperativa Pescatori Tortoli” for their collaboration. 

References 

AL-HARBI A. H., NAIM UDDIN M. (2004) - Seasonal variation in the intestinal bacterial flora of 

hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x Oreochromis aureus) cultured in earthen ponds in Saudi 

Arabia. Aquaculture, 229: 37-44. 

FLORIS R., MELONI G., FOIS N., PAIS A. (2009) - Bacterial flora associated with the digestive 

tract of gilthead seabreams reared in floating cages in the Alghero bay (North western Sardinia, 

Italy): preliminary results. Proceedings of the ASPA 18th Congress, Palermo: 899 pp. 

MORETTI A., PEDINI FERNANDEZ CRIADO M., CITTOLIN G., GUIDASTRI R. (2010) - Food 

and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Manual on Hatchery production of seabass 

and gilthead seabream). http://www. fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Sparusaurata/en. 

RINGO E., SPERSTAD S., MYKLEBUST R., REFSTIE S., KROGDAHL A. (2006) - 

Characterisation of the microbiota associated with intestine of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) 

The effect of fish meal, standard soybean meal and a bioprocessed soybean meal. Aquaculture, 

261: 829-841. 


355



L. GALLUS 1 , S. FERRANDO 1 , C. GAMBARDELLA 1,2 , A. DIASPRO 3 , P. BIANCHINI 4 , 

V. PIAZZA 5 , P. RAMOINO 6 , G. TAGLIAFIERRO 1 

1 LIBiOM, DIBIO, Univ. of Genoa, Corso Europa, 26 – 16132 Genova, Italia. 

Gallus@unige.it 

2 Dept. of Animal Biology and Marine Ecology, Univ. of Messina, Italia. 

3 The Italian Institute of Technology – IIT Genova, Italia. 

4 IFOM-LAMBS/MicroScoBio, DIFI, Univ. of Genoa, Italia. 

5 Istit. di Scienze Marine, ICMM, CNR, Genova, Italia. 

6 DIPTERIS, Univ. of Genoa, Italia. 

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION 

OF NMDAR1 RECEPTOR IN THE CYPRID OF BALANUS AMPHITRITE 

(=AMPHIBALANUS AMPHITRITE) (CRUSTACEA, CIRRIPEDIA) 

DISTRIBUZIONE IMMUNOISTOCHIMICA 

DEL RECETTORE NMDAR1 NELLA CIPRIS DI BALANUS AMPHITRITE 

(=AMPHIBALANUS AMPHITRITE) (CRUSTACEA, CIRRIPEDIA) 

Abstract – In this work, we used immunochemical methods to investigate the occurrence of the NMDA 

ionotropic glutamate receptor (NMDAR1) in the cyprid of Balanus amphitrite (=Amphibalanus amphitrite). 

Immunoreactivity was detected out of the central nervous system in neuronal and non-neuronal sites. In 

fact, NMDAR1 immunoreactivity was seen in thoracic appendages, at level of neuromuscular junctions, as 

previously demonstrated in crustaceans, and in antennules. Positive responses were also detected in 

ommatidum cells, maybe with non visual function, and in the tegumentary system, probably with non 

neural functions. 

Key-words: Barnacle cyprid, Glutamate, NMDA receptors, neuromuscular junctions. 

Introduction - The ontogenetic cycle of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite (Darwin, 

1854) includes a cyprid that binds submerged surfaces by its antennulae and the 

secretory product of a cement gland, metamorphosing into a sessile adult. Recently γaminobutyric 

acid (GABA) and GABAergic receptors have been localized in the B. 

amphitrite cyprid (Gallus et al., 2010). The thoracic occurrence of immunoreactivity at 

level of striated muscular fibers agrees with that reported for other crustaceans. 

According to data of Feinstein (2001) on crustacean muscle, both GABA and 

Glutamate, ionotropic and metabotropic receptors might be distributed in excitatory as 

well as inhibitory nerve terminals. Since Feinstein et al. (1998) have identified 

occurrence of NMDA-type glutamatergic receptors in crayfish neuromuscular junction, 

we have investigated the presence of such molecules receptors in the whole B. 

amphitrite cyprid. The occurrence of NMDA receptors might indicate a role for 

glutamate in the neuromuscular control in B. amphitrite cyprids. 

Materials and methods – Two hundred cyprids from laboratory cultures were 

anesthetized with Sandoz-222 (Sigma, USA) (1:1000), fixed, rinsed, dehydrated, 

embedded in paraplast and sectioned. Primary Ab was a polyclonal: rabbit Ab, anti 

NMDA receptor 1 (NR1-pan) (Millipore, USA). The secondary Ab was a goat antirabbit 

conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 (Green fluorescence - Molecular Probes, 

USA). Nuclei were counterstained with propidium iodide (Red fluorescence – 

Molecular Probes, USA). The sections were observed by a CLSM DMI6000B-CS 

CLSM with a TCS-SP5 AOBS scanning head, (Leica, Germany). Controls: 


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preabsorption of the I Ab with cyprids crude extract and omission of I Ab. No 

immunostaining was detected in controls. 

Fig. 1 - IR muscle cells in the thoracic segment. Fig. 2 - IR terminals: muscles and epidermis. 

Immunoreattività nel torace. Immunoreattività in muscoli ed 

epidermide. 

Results - In thoracic muscles (Fig. 1), NMDA R1 immunoreactive (IR) nerve terminals 

were localized on muscle cells and ramified in proximity of the nuclei. In the 

compound and naupliar eyes ommatidia, the cytoplasmic granules appeared also IR 

(not show). It was not determine whether these granules belonged to retinular cells 

and/or to pigment cells. The rhabdom of the retinular cells were not IR. Weak IR fibers 

were localized within the antennules and finally NMDA R1 immunoreactivity was also 

observed in the cytoplasm of epidermal cells (Fig. 2 ). 

Conclusions – Considering our results as well as the literature, the B. amphitrite cyprid 

neuromuscular junctions should posses NMDA R1 receptors together to GABAergic 

receptors, as suggested for crustacean muscular innervations (Feinsten, 2001). Nerve 

fibers involved possibly originate from GAD65/67 IR neurons localized in the 

posterior ganglion (Gallus et al., 2010). Occurrence of NMDA R1 IR sites in the eyes 

and in the epidermal cells agree with the hypothesis that GABA molecules play a role 

in non visual eye functions, since the photoreception neurotransmitter appears to be 

histamine. Furthermore GABA may be involved in non neural functions of tegument 

cells. 

References 

FEINSTEIN N., PARNAS D., PARNAS H., DUDEL J., PARNAS I. (1998) - Functional and 

immunocytochemical identification of glutamate autoreceptors of an NMDA type in crayfish 

neuromuscular junction. J. Neurophysiol., 80: 2893-2899. 

FEINSTEIN N. (2001) - Immunocytochemical localization of GABAA receptor in Crayfish 

neuromuscular junction. The 35 th annual meeting of the Israel society for microscopy. Technion, 

Israel Institute of Technology Haifa. May 15, 2001. 

http://materials.technion.ac.il/ism/Docs/2001/Feinstein.pdf 

GALLUS L., FERRANDO S., GAMBARDELLA C., DIASPRO A., BIANCHINI P., PIAZZA V., 

BONANNO G., MILANESE M., RAMOINO P., TAGLIAFIERRO G. (2010) - The 

GABAergic–like system in the Cyprid of Balanus amphitrite (=Amphibalanus amphitrite). 

Biofouling, 26: 155-165. 


357



R. MALAVENDA, C. RIZZO, A. LO GIUDICE, L. MICHAUD, M. DE DOMENICO, V. BRUNI 

Department of Animal Biology and Marine Ecology, University of Messina, 

Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 31 – 98166 Messina, Italia. 

rmalavenda@unime.it 

SCREENING FOR BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCTION 

BY ANTARCTIC MARINE BACTERIA 

SCREENING PER LA PRODUZIONE DI BIOSURFATTANTI 

AD OPERA DI BATTERI MARINI ANTARTICI 

Abstract - This study was carried out on 403 Antarctic marine bacteria. Hemolytic and emulsification 

activities, production of stable emulsion, surface tension reduction and CTAB assay were used to select 

biosurfactant-producing bacteria. Acinetobacter sp. 11/4 resulted the best promising strain with 56.60% of 

a stable emulsion value when growing at 15 °C in presence of soybean oil as carbon source, and 10.9 

mN/m of surface tension at 15 °C on tetradecane. 

Key-words: biosurfactants, emulsifiers, hydrocarbon degradation, bioremediation. 

Introduction - Research on microbial emulsifying agents has been mainly focused on 

mesophilic bacteria. Conversely, few publications report on emulsifiers and surfactants 

produced by psychrophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria (Lo Giudice et al., 2010). 

Isolation of indigenous cold-adapted microorganisms, which produce specific 

molecules that increase emulsification of hydrocarbons, could have promising 

applications for bioremediation purposes. In addition, the introduction of non-native 

species to Antarctica is forbidden by the Antarctic Treaty and, therefore, the eventual 

utilization of autochthonous microrganisms is requested. Microbes adapted to Antarctic 

conditions may be valuable as bioaugmentation agents also in other cold climates. 

In this context, the aim of the present work was to investigate the capacity of native 

Antarctic bacteria to produce biosurfactants under different conditions of temperature 

and substrate. 

Materials and methods - This study was carried out on 403 bacterial strains belonging 

to the Italian Collection of Antarctic Bacteria (CIBAN) of the National Antarctic 

Museum (MNA) “Felice Ippolito” kept in our laboratory at the University of Messina. 

Bacterial strains were preliminary grown at 4 °C in a mineral medium supplied with 

crude oil (Arabian Light, Sigma) as a sole carbon source. Oil-degrading isolates were 

selected for further analyses aimed at individuating biosurfactant producers, as follows. 

Strains were inoculated in a mineral medium with soybean oil (2%) and incubated by 

shaking under aerobic conditions for two weeks at 15°C. pH values and bacterial 

growth were measured during the assay. During all the growth phase, cell suspensions 

were tested for the eventual presence of biosurfactants by using the emulsification 

assay (EA), the detection of E24 index (Tuleva et al., 2002), the measure of the surface 

tension (ST) according to the Wilhelmy method with a digital tensiometer TSD 

(Gibertini), the CTAB and Blood Agar (BA) assays (Fiebig et al., 1997). Strains 

identification was carried by the 16S rDNA sequencing according to Michaud et al. 

(2004). The most promising isolate were than tested to evaluate the biosurfactant 

production during their growth at 4 and 15 °C in the presence of soybean oil or 

tetradecane as a carbon source. 


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Results - A total of forty-two bacterial isolates showed visible crude oil degradation. 

Among them, thirteen isolates were screened for biosurfactant production. ST 

reduction was displayed before appearance of the maximum emulsion value and E24 

rate, which were obtained during the exponential growth phase for the majority of the 

strains. All of them were able to produce emulsion, but only four strains gave more 

than 20% of E24 index. Hemolytic activity on BA plates was observed for five strains. 

Moreover, three strains produced dark blue halos on CTAB agar plates, thus suggesting 

the anionic nature of such biosurfactants. 

Based on the phylogenetic affiliation, among biosurfactant producers strains related to 

Rhodococcus spp. resulted predominant, followed by Psychrobacter and Micrococcus. 

Acinetobacter sp. 11/4 seemed to be the best emulsion producer as shown by both the 

E24 index (43.30%) and the surface tension (21 mN/m) values. For this reason such a 

strain was chosen to investigate the effect of temperature and substrate on the 

biosurfactant production. During its growth with soybean oil as carbon source, the 

emulsion index resulted 46.6 and 56.60% at 4 and 15 °C respectively, the highest 

values recorded. Finally, Acinetobacter sp. 11/4 displayed the lowest ST values (10.9 

mN/m) at 15 °C on tetradecane. 

Conclusions – To date, strains belonging to the genus Acinetobacter have never been 

reported as biosurfactant producer in Antarctic environment. The best combination of 

stable emulsion production and surface tension reduction by Acinetobacter sp. 11/4 

was shown by using soybean oil as carbon source and an incubation temperature of 4 

°C. 

This finding suggests that biosurfactant producer can be also isolated from Antarctica 

and that they could be exploitable in bioremediation events both in their native habitat 

and in other cold environments. 

References 

FIEBIG R., SCHULZE D., CHUNG J.C., LEE S.T. (1997) - Biodegradation of polychlorinated 

biphenyls (PCBs) in the presence of a bioemulsifier produced on sunflower oil. Biodegradation, 

8: 67–75. 

LO GIUDICE A., BRUNI V., DE DOMENICO M., MICHAUD L. (2010) - Psychrophiles-Coldadapted 

hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms. In: Timmis K.N. (ed), Handbook of 

Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Springer Heidelberg, Berlin, 3: 1897-1922. 

MICHAUD L., DI CELLO F., BRILLI M., FANI R., LO GIUDICE A., BRUNI V. (2004) - 

Biodiversity of cultivable psychrotrophic marine bacteria isolated from Terra Nova Bay (Ross 

Sea, Antarctica). FEMS Microbiology Letters, 230: 63-71. 

TULEVA B., CHRISTOVA N., IVANOV G. (2002) - Biosurfactant production by a new 

Pseudomonas putida strain. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung, 57c: 356-360. 


359



L. MOLA, V. MINGOLLA, A. GAMBARELLI*, A. PEDERZOLI 

Department of Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 

Via Campi, 213/D – 41100 Modena, Italia. 

lucrezia.mola@unimore.it 

*Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, Univ. of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italia. 

IMMUNOREACTIVITY TO HSP70 INDUCTION IN LARVAE 

OF DICENTRARCHUS LABRAX (L.) TREATED WITH LPS 

INDUZIONE DI IMMUNOREATTIVITÀ ALLA HSP70 IN LARVE 

DI DICENTRARCHUS LABRAX (L.) TRATTATE CON LPS 

Abstract – The immunoreactivity to HSP70 was tested in 24 day-old larvae of sea bass both controls and 

after treatment with LPS. This stress rouses an induction of immunoreactivity in several tissue, such as skin, 

gills, gut, liver, renal tubules and hypophysis. The possible role of HSP70 in earlier mechanisms of stress 

response was discussed. 

Key-words: sea bass, stress, Heat Shock proteins, bacterial antigens. 

Introduction – From several years we are carring out immunohistochemical studies 

about the appearance and distribution of regolative molecules during the larval stages 

of the sea bass, a fish very studied for its commercial value. In previous research (Mola 

et al., 2005, 2009; Pederzoli et al., 2007) we hypothesized an active role in the earlier 

immunological responses for some well-known molecules involved in responses to 

stress, such as ACTH, nitric oxide and CRF. These molecules work before complete 

differentiation of lymphocytes associated to gut (GALT), with autocrine/paracrine 

ways. In this work we report the results of localization, both in control and in treated 

with bacterial antigens animals, of immunoreactivity (IR) to HSP70, a protein of Heat 

Shock Protein family, involved in responses to various types of stress. 

Materials and methods – Larvae (24 day-old) of Dicentrarchus labrax were treated 

with LPS (Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli serotype 055:B5, Sigma). Twenty 

of these larvae were maintained in a tank containing 10 U/ml LPS. After 1 h, ten 

specimens were immediately fixed, while the remaining ten animals were transferred to 

normal tap water for another 1 h and then fixed. All these specimens, together with ten 

untreated larvae utilised as controls, were fixed in toto in Bouin fluid, embedded in 

paraffin and cut in 7μm transversal sections. Subsequently, the immunocytochemical 

procedure was performed. The slides were processed with the biotin-avidin 

immunohistochemistry technique (BAS) utilising the polyclonal antibodies from rabbit 

anti-Heat Shock protein 70 (HSP70) (d-40) (Santa Cruz, Biotecnology, California, 

U.S.A.), titer 1:100. 

Results – Untreated specimens showed the presence of a few immunopositive cells in 

the skin of the entire body and in the gill epithelium. The apical border of medium and 

posterior intestinal epithelium was covered by a thin positive stripe and rare positive 

epithelial cells were present in the same regions. A moderate number of positive 

hepatocytes and some clusters of positive cells in the hypophysis were observed. 

The larvae treated for 1 h with LPS and immediately fixed showed the presence of 

many immunopositive cells in the skin and gills. Numerous positive cells were also 


360



present in the epithelium of medium and posterior gut and in the rectal valve. In the 

same intestinal regions the apical border of epithelium was covered by a strong positive 

stripe. Moreover the liver showed an increased number of positive cells. An intense IR 

was observed in all pituitary cells. The IR appeared also in the renal proximal tubules 

around the lumen. In the larvae fixed 1 h following LPS treatment the IR pattern was 

comparable to that described for larvae immediately after treatment fixed, even if the 

IR disappeared in the pronephros tubules and was less intense in the hepatocytes. 

Conclusions – Our results showed a different IR pattern in treated and untreated 

larvae. Indeed, we observed an IR induction of HSP70 in a greater number of cells and 

in some tissues after treatment with LPS, particularly in a short time (1 h). 

Most of the evidences about how the generalized stress response and HSPs expression 

may be related comes from mammals studies. Hypophysectomized rats did not show 

the HSP gene expression in response to stress and addition of ACTH to those rats 

induced HSP expression in the adrenals glands. These data support the idea of a 

functional relationship between HSP expression and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal 

axis (Iwama et al., 1999). Some data are available for fish, showing the increase in 

HSPs (60, 70, 90 kDa) in various tissues of different species subjected to stressors, 

such as heat shock, environmental contaminants and bacteria. Liver, kidney and gills 

seem to be the most sensible tissues to HSPs response (see Iwama et al., 1999). In the 

sea bass larvae the involved organs are liver, pronephros tubules, gut, skin, gills and 

hypophysis. This suggest that the HSP response involves a greater number of organs in 

larvae than in adults fish. 

The IR to HSP70 in 24 day-old larvae LPS treated are very similar to those described 

previously for ACTH-IR in the same larval stages (Mola et al., 2005). This may 

indicate that HSP70 also belongs to the pool of molecules involved in the early 

immune responses of sea bass larval stages. 

References 

IWAMA G.K., VIJAYAN M.M., FORSYTH R.B., ACKERMAN P.A. (1999) – Heat Shock Proteins 

and physiological stress in fish. Amer. Zool., 39: 901-909. 

MOLA L., GAMBARELLI A., PEDERZOLI A. (2009) – Immunolocalization of corticotropin 

releasing factor (CRF) and corticotropin releasing factor receptor (CRF-R2) in the developing 

gut of the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.). Acta Histochem., doi: 

10.1016/jacthis.2009.11.002. 

MOLA L., GAMBARELLI A., PEDERZOLI A., OTTAVIANI E. (2005) – ACTH response to LPS 

stressor in the first stages of the development of the fish Dicentrarchus labrax (L.). Gen. Comp. 

Endocrinol., 143: 99-103. 

PEDERZOLI A., CONTE A., TAGLIAZUCCHI D., GAMBARELLI A., MOLA L. (2007) – 

Occurrence of two NOS isoforms in the developing gut of Dicentrarchus labrax (L.). Histhol. 

Histopathol., 22: 1057-1064. 


361



C. RIZZO, B. CALDARONE, M. DE LUCA, M. DE DOMENICO, E. DE DOMENICO 

Department of Animal Biology and Marine Ecology, University of Messina, Salita Sperone, 31 - 98166 Messina, 

Italia. 

carmen.rizzo@unime.it 

EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT CARBON SOURCE 

FOR BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCTION 

UTILIZZO DI DIFFERENTI FONTI DI CARBONIO 

PER LA PRODUZIONE DI BIOSURFATTANTI 

Abstract – A study was carried out to investigate biosurfactant production under different growth 

conditions by oil degrading bacteria isolated from oil contaminated water samples of Mediterranean Sea. 

Two strains of Pseudomonas sp. and a strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were inoculated in mineral 

medium (ONR 7a) with three different type of carbon sources in order to detect the use of different 

substrate for biosurfactant and bioemulsifiers production. Both hydrocarbon and vegetable oil substrate 

were useful for biosurfactant production showing specificity with each strain. 

Key-words: Biosurfactants, emulsifiers, hydrocarbons, bioremediation. 

Introduction – Biosurfactants (SURFace ACTive ageNTS) are complex polymers 

produced on living surfaces, mostly microbial cell surfaces, with amphiphilic 

molecular structure, consisting of a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic domain. Due to 

their molecular structure, biosurfactants have the properties of reducing surface 

tension, stabilizing emulsions, promoting foaming (Georgiou et al., 1992; Desai, 

1997). In recent years natural biosurfactant have attracted attention because of their 

low toxicity, biodegradability, ecological acceptability and therefore potential 

application in environmental protection. 

Hydrocarbon-contaminated sites are the most promising for the isolation of 

biosurfactant producing microbes, because they synthesize surface active agents during 

growth on water- 

insoluble substrates. When microorganisms are cultivated on n-alkanes or other 

hydrocarbons, biosurfactant are accumulated in the culture medium. Their activity as 

emulsifiers may facilitate mass transfer on the surface of microorganism (Kitamoto et 

al., 2002). Biosurfactants can be produced by microbial fermentation processes using 

cheaper agrobased substrates and waste materials (Mukherjee et al., 2006). This aspect 

is very important because the production of microbial surfactants on a commercial 

scale has not been realized because of their low yields and high production costs. 

The aim of this work was to analyze three different bacterial strains for their ability to 

produce biosurfactants when grown under different carbon source conditions. 

Materials and methods – Two strains of Pseudomonas sp. and 1 strain of 

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (isolated from oil contaminated water samples of 

Mediterranean Sea) were inoculated in mineral medium (ONR 7a) with three different 

type of carbon sources: tetradecane, glucose and soybean oil. The growth was recorded 

and measured spectrophotometrically as values of OD600. Several independent tests 

were used for the detection of biosurfactants (rhamnolipids) or bioemulsifiers. 

Qualitative biosurfactant activity assay was performed using a preliminary 

emulsification test; then a larger emulsification test was performed to detect E24 index. 


362



Reduction of surface tension (ST) was determined with a digital tensiometer TSD 

(Gibertini), according to Wilhelmy method. Further techniques were performed as 

Bacterial Adhesion To Hydrocarbons (BATH) assay, hemolysis of erythrocytes by 

rhamnolipids (Blood Agar Test). Finally C-TAB Agar Plate Assay was performed to 

all strains, a semi-quantitative assay for detection of extracellular glycolipids or other 

anionic surfactants production. 

Results – Pseudomonas strains showed best growth on glucose and vegetable oil as 

carbon source. Corresponding to the maximum value of OD600 on glucose as carbon 

source, 100% of emulsifying activity was measured, and an E24 index value of 30% 

was detected. Lower values of OD600 were observed on tetradecane and soybean oil as 

substrates in relation to a lower emulsifying activity (75 and 60% respectively). 

Acinetobacter strain gave better results on soybean oil and tetradecane, showing values 

of emulsifying activity between 80 and 40%, accompanied by a reduction of surface 

tension after only 48 hours with a value of 19.7 mN/m on soybean oil. Pseudomonas 

strains had a higher hydrophobicity (BATH) in comparison to Acinetobacter. 

Biosurfactants produced by every tested strains had hemolytic activity, confirmed by a 

clear or green zone (β or α-hemolysis) on a blood agar plate. The only positive result 

recorded on C-TAB Agar Plate Assay was obtained by a Pseudomonas sp. strain grown 

with vegetable oil as carbon source. 

Conclusions – The production of the biosurfactant was found to be a function of cell 

growth, with maximum production occurring during the exponential phase. 

All the strains produced emulsion, but only a Pseudomonas sp. was able to gave a 

stable emulsion. Acinetobacter sp. was the better strain for biosurfactant production but 

was unable to metabolize glucose, while Pseudomonas strains degrade in an optimal 

way all the substrates, as confirmed by the BATH test results. Biosurfactants showed 

hemolytic activity, and a Pseudomonas sp. strain gave positive result for anionic 

surfactant production. Finally, we can assume that use of soybean oil as substrate in the 

culture medium represents a good alternative at lower cost to improve further 

application. However, could be useful increase studies in this field. 

References 

DESAI J.D., BANAT I.M. (1997) - Microbial production of surfactants and their commercial 

potential. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., 61 (1): 47–64. 

GEORGIOU G., LIN S., SHARMA M.M. (1992) - Surface active compounds from microorganisms. 

Bio-Tech., 10: 60-65. 

KITAMOTO D., ISODA H., NAKAHARA T. (2002) - Functions and Potential Applications of 

Glycolipid Biosurfactants from Energy-Saving Materials to Gene Delivery Carriers. Journal of 

Bioscience and Bioengineering, 94 (3): 187-201. 

MUKHERJEE S., DAS P., SEN R. (2006) - Towards commercial production of microbial surfactants. 

Biotech., 24 (1): 509-515. 


363



S. SOMIGLI, E. FANELLO*, G. PERRA*, S. FOCARDI*, A. UGOLINI 

Department of Evolutionary Biology “Leo Pardi”, University of Florence, Via Romana, 17 – 50125 Firenze, Italia. 

silvia.somigli@unifi.it 

*Dep. Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Italia. 

SEASONAL VARIATION IN PAHs CONCENTRATION 

IN THREE SPECIES OF TALITRID AMPHIPODS (CRUSTACEA) 

VARIAZIONE STAGIONALE DELLA CONCENTRAZIONE DI IPA 

IN TRE SPECIE DI ANFIPODI TALITRIDI (CRUSTACEA) 

Abstract – We evaluated the possibility that seasonal changes in PAHs environmental availability may 

affect the concentrations of those contaminants in three species of talitrid Amphipods. Talitrus saltator and 

Orchestia montagui seem to preferentially accumulate PAHs in the summer, instead Platorchestia platensis 

shows an opposite trend. PAHs accumulation in these animals is probably influenced by the season, 

nevertheless supralittoral amphipods could be promising bioindicators of PAHs contamination. 

Key-words: talitrid amphipods, PAHs, seasonal variation. 

Introduction – The use of various organisms as bioindicators of Polycyclic Aromatic 

Hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination in the marine environment has been assessed in 

many studies (Meador et al., 1995; Baumard et al., 1998). One of the factor which 

could influence the PAHs environmental availability and the concentration of these 

contaminants in the animals could be the season. Recent studies on talitrid amphipods 

showed that these crustaceans could accumulate PAHs (Somigli et al., 2008). In this 

paper we evaluated the possibility that the seasonal changes in these organic 

compounds availability in the supralittoral zone may affect the concentration of PAHs 

in sandhoppers and beachfleas living on supralittoral soft and hard substrata. 

Materials and methods – Adult individuals of Talitrus saltator, Orchestia montagui, 

Platorchestia platensis (Crustacea, Amphipoda), sand and stranded organic material 

(mainly Posidonia oceanica) were collected during one summer (September 2008, 

June 2009) and one winter season (early March 2009) in different localities (shores of 

Tuscany, Elba Island and Corsica). T. saltator were collected at 12 localities, O. 

montagui at 7 sites, while P. platensis at two localities. Samples were freezed, 

dehydrated at 25° and then freeze-dried. The qualitative and quantitative determination 

of the 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the US EPA (United States 

Environmental Protection Agency) priority pollutants list was performed using an 

HPLC with UV (Waters® PDA 996) and fluorescence (Waters® 474 Scanning 

Fluorescence Detector) detectors. 

Results – The Fig. 1 shows the biota-sediment accumulation factor, BSAF 

(BSAF=PAHs concentration in the animals/PAHs concentration in the substratum), of 

the 16 PAHs divided per group of aromaticity in the three species of talitrid 

Amphipods during the summer and winter period. T. saltator seems to accumulate 

heavier compounds (penta- and hexa-aromatics) during the summer, while during the 

winter BSAF results >1 (1,05) only for PAHs with 2 or 3 aromatic rings. In the 

summer, the biota-sediment accumulation factor of O. montagui is >1 for tetra-, penta- 

and hexa-aromatics PAHs, whilst in winter this beachflea accumulates only organic 


364



compounds with less than 3 aromatic rings. In March the BSAF for the beachflea P. 

platensis is >1 for PAHs with 2, 3, 4 and 5 aromatic rings, in June for PAHs pentaaromatics 

or having less than 3 aromatic rings. 

Fig. 1 – BSAF of PAHs per groups of aromaticity (≤3, 4, 5 and 6 aromatic rings) in T. saltator, O. 

montagui and P. platensis during the summer (white bars) and winter (black bars) period. 

Black line: BSAF=1 value. 

BSAF degli IPA divisi per gruppi aromatici (≤3, 4, 5 e 6 anelli aromatici) in T. saltator, O. 

montagui e P. platensis nel period estivo (barre bianche) e invernale (barre nere). Linea nera: 

valore di BSA =1. 

Conclusions – Our results confirm that sandhoppers and beachfleas seem to 

accumulate PAHs. Furthermore there is a tendency to accumulate the heavier 

molecular weight PAHs (with more aromatic rings) differently from other marine 

crustaceans (Baumard et al., 1998). The higher concentration of PAHs during the 

winter period in P. platensis is in line with other studies (Baumard et al., 1999). The 

concentration of these organic pollutants in T. saltator and O. montagui, instead, is 

higher in summer when the environmental availability is lower than in the winter 

period, because of the most intensive summer degradation due to the direct action of 

sun radiation and UV-rays. Therefore, these Amphipods could be good bioindicators of 

PAHs contamination for the supralittoral zone and seasonal variation of PAHs 

concentrations in these animals indicates that season and temperature are factors which 

need to be considered using Amphipods as PAHs bioaccumulators. 

References 

BAUMARD P., BUDZINSKI H., GARRIGUES P., SORBE J.C., BURGEOT T., BELLOQ J. (1998) 

– Concentration of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in various marine organisms in 

relation to those in sediments and to trophic level. Mar. Poll. Bull., 36: 951-960. 

BAUMARD P., BUDZINSKI H., GARRIGUES P., DIZER H., HANSEN P.D. (1999) – Polycyclic 

aromatic hydrocarbons in recent sediments and mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the Western Baltic 

Sea: occurrence, bioavailability and seasonal variations. Mar. Environ. Res., 47: 17-47. 

MEADOR J.P., STEIN J.E., REICHERT W.L., VARANASI U. (1995) – Bioaccumulation of 

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by marine organisms. Rev. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 143: 

79-165. 

SOMIGLI S., PERRA G., BORGHINI F., FOCARDI S., UGOLINI A. (2008). Gli anfipodi 

sopralitorali come possibili bioindicatori della contaminazione da idrocarburi policiclici 

aromatici. Biol. Mar. Mediterr., 15 (1): 438-439. 


365



G. UNGHERESE, V. PASQUALI 1 , D. BARONI 2 , A. UGOLINI 

Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica, Università di Firenze, Via Romana, 17 - 50125 Firenze, Italia. 

alberto.ugolini@unifi.it 

1 Dip. di Psicologia, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, Italia. 

2 Dip. di Scienze Ambientali, Università di Siena, Italia. 

EFFECT OF SAND CONTAMINATION 

ON LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY OF TALITRUS SALTATOR (MONTAGU) 

EFFETTO DELLA CONTAMINAZIONEDELLA SABBIA 

SULL’ATTIVITÀ LOCOMOTORIA DI TALITRUS SALTATOR (MONTAGU) 

Abstract – The aim of this study was to assess the influence of sand contamination with Cu on locomotor 

activity of Talitrus saltator, a well-known biomonitor of trace metals of sandy beaches. Results show that the 

effect of Cu contamination on locomotor activity of sandhoppers varies according to the exposure 

concentration. Moreover, the analysis of Cu concentration reveals that sandhoppers accumulate Cu from 

sand in a dose - dependent way. 

Key-words: Amphipods, trace metals, behavioural biomarkers, locomotor activity. 

Introduction - Changes in animal behaviour induced by the exposure to contaminants 

have been used as biomarkers fairy recently despite their ecological relevance 

(Amiard-Triquet, 2009). The control of the spatio-temporal aspects of various activities 

is essential in many animal species and is associated with complex physiological and 

behavioural mechanisms. The sandhopper Talitrus saltator, a well-known biomonitor 

of trace metals contamination sandy shores (e.g. Ugolini et al., 2004), is a good 

biological model for the study of the effect of pollutants on locomotor activity. In fact, 

the activity rhythm of sandhoppers has been extensively studied and presents a 

circadian (nocturnal) periodicity influenced by the photoperiod (Williams, 1980). In 

this study we evaluate the effect of exposure to Cu contaminated sand on the locomotor 

activity of T.saltator. 

Materials and methods – Adults individuals of T.saltator were collected on the beach 

of Fiume Morto Vecchio (Pisa, Italy) in summer 2008. In laboratory groups of 15 

adults sandhoppers were kept for 7 days, in artificial moist sand, contaminated with 

different concentrations of Cu (10 and 20 ppm) and control (uncontaminated sand). 

Experiments were carried out in a thermostatically controlled room (20°±1) with a 

light: dark (L:D) cycle 12:12. The locomotor activity was recorded by a microwave 

radar (Guardall MX950, 24 Ghz) connected to a computer provided with appropriate 

software and already employed to monitor activity rhythm in T.saltator (Ugolini et al., 

2007). The comparison between the locomotor activity recorded, for each 

concentration tested, during the hours of darkness and light was made using the Signtest. 

The content of Cu in sandhoppers at the end of the trials was measured by ICP- 

OES (see Ugolini et al., 2004). 

Results - Sandhoppers tested in the presence of 10 ppm Cu exhibited an increase in 

activity (23631 bounds) than the control (14266 bounds) (Fig. 1). In contrast, 

amphipods exposed to 20 ppm of Cu showed a noticeable reduction of total locomotor 

activity (506 bounds) and, furthermore, respect to controls and animals exposed to 10 


366



ppm, the activity was not concentrate during the hours of darkness (Fig. 1). The 

analysis of Cu content in tissues of amphipods raise with increasing of the exposure 

concentration (56 ppm in controls, 105 and 136 ppm in animals exposed, respectively, 

to 10 and 20 ppm of Cu). 

Fig. 1 - Daily locomotors activity of control sandhoppers (A), exposed to 10 ppm (B) and 20 ppm of 

Cu (C) recorded during the hours of darkness (black bars) and the light (white bars). In each 

graph the values of Sign-test are also reported. In C the scale has been changed for graphical 

reasons. 

Attività locomotoria giornaliera registrata nei talitri di controllo (A), esposti a 10 ppm (B) e a 

20 ppm di Cu (C) durante le ore notturne (barre nere) e diurne (barre bianche). In ogni 

grafico è riportato il valore del Sign-test. Nella fig. C la scala è stata cambiata per esigenze 

grafiche. 

Conclusions – The behavioural responses observed in our study have also been 

reported in the freshwater amphipods Gammarus pulex exposed to different 

concentrations of Cu in water (Mills et al., 2006). Moreover our findings are also 

supported by the LC50 (Ungherese and Ugolini, 2009) for T.saltator. In fact, at lower 

concentration (10 ppm) than LC50 (13.28 ppm), sandhoppers increase their locomotor 

activity. In contrast, amphipods exposed to higher concentration (20 ppm) than LC50 

show a noticeable decrease of locomotor activity as possible consequence of toxicity of 

Cu. In conclusion our data demonstrate that the system utilized can detect 

modifications in locomotor activity pattern between amphipods exposed to clean and 

Cu contaminated sand and the observed difference could be used as exposure 

biomarkers. Moreover, our results demonstrate that sandhoppers take up Cu from sand 

in a dose - dependent way. 

References 

AMIARD–TRIQUET C. (2009) - Behavioral disturbances: The missing link between sub-organismal 

and supra-organismal responses to stress? Prospects based on aquatic research. Hum. Ecol. Risk 

Assess., 15 (1): 87-110. 

MILLS C.L., SHUKLA D.H., COMPTON G.J. (2006) - Development of a new low cost high 

sensitivity system for behavioural ecotoxicity testing. Aquat. Toxicol., 77: 197–201. 

UGOLINI A., BORGHINI F., CALOSI P., BAZZICALUPO M., CHELAZZI G., FOCARDI S. 

(2004) – Mediterranean Talitrus saltator (Crustacea, Amphipoda) as a biomonitor of heavy 

metals contamination. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 48: 526-532. 

UGOLINI A., SOMIGLI S., PASQUALI V., RENZI P. (2007) – Locomotor activity rhythm and sun 

compass orientation in the sandhopper Talitrus saltator are related. J. Comp. Physiol. A, 193: 

1259-1263. 

UNGHERESE G., UGOLINI A. (2009) - Sandhoppers solar orientation as a behavioural biomarker of 

trace metals contamination. Environ. Pollut., 175: 1360-1364. 

WILLIAMS J.A. (1980) - The effect of dusk and dawn on the locomotor activity rhythm of Talitrus 

saltator (Crustacea; Amphipoda). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 42: 285-297. 


367


AUTHOR INDEX 

AUTHOR INDEX/ INDICE DEGLI AUTORI 

A 

Accogli G. ................................................ 258 

Accoroni S................................................ 333 

Acquaviva M. ........................................... 146 

Adani M...................................................... 96 

Addis A............................................. 239; 352 

Agnetta D. ................................................ 126 

Alabiso G.................................................. 146 

Albano P.G. ..........................................34; 96 

Albertelli G....................................... 158; 166 

Alongi G................................................... 274 

Ancora S................................................... 188 

Andaloro F........................ 134; 139; 154; 188 

Arizza V. .......................................... 346; 348 

Armanasco A............................................ 350 

Artioli Y. .................................................. 198 

Assennato G.............................................. 190 

Avetrani P................................................. 301 

B 

Badalucco C.............................................. 310 

Balducci G................................................ 210 

Ballesteros E............................................... 46 

Balsamo M. .............................................. 258 

Barausse A................................................ 198 

Barbieri F.................................................. 132 

Barone M.................................................. 214 

Baroni D. .................................................. 366 

Bartolucci I. .............................................. 119 

Batistini F. ................................................ 260 

Battaglia P. ............................................... 188 

Battista D.......................................... 172; 220 

Battocchi C. .............................................. 333 

Bava S. ............................................. 142; 162 

Bavestrello G........................70; 89; 100; 119 

Bedini R..............................................30; 260 

Belci F. ..................................................... 262 

Belmonte M.............................................. 146 

Benenati G................................................ 218 

Bernal Shirai J.A. ..................................... 239 

Bernardi Aubry F...................................... 343 

Bertness M.D.............................................. 13 

Bertolini D................................................ 202 

Bertolino M. ..................................... 100; 286 

Bertolotto R. ............................................. 295 

Betti F.................................................70; 119 

Biagi F. ..................................................... 352 

Bianchi C.N. .................................38; 66; 166 

Bianchi N.................................................. 188 


368 

Bianchini P................................................356 

Biandolino F. ............................................146 

Bilanicova D. ............................................339 

Binda F. ....................................................301 

Bisci A.P...................................................108 

Bishop J.D.D...............................................84 

Bitetto I. ....................................193; 308; 314 

Blasi F.......................................................289 

Blonda M. .........................................172; 190 

Bo M.................................................100; 119 

Boccia B....................................................260 

Boero F. ......................................................89 

Bon D........................................................343 

Bonaviri C.........................................104; 126 

Bonechi L....................................................30 

Borghini M........................................100; 341 

Bottaro M..................................................195 

Botteon E. .................................................350 

Bottinelli G. ..............................................335 

Bressan M. ................................................303 

Brownlee C. ................................90; 123; 128 

Bruni V. ....................................................358 

Buia M.C.....................................................93 

Burgassi M................................................264 

Busalacchi B. ............................................278 

Buscaino G................................................346 

Bussotti S..................................................291 

C 

Cabiddu S..................................................232 

Cabrini M..................................................337 

Calandra G................................................346 

Calcinai B. ................................................119 

Caldarone B. .............................................362 

Cammarata M. ..........................................218 

Cannas A...........................................293; 354 

Capellacci S. .............................................333 

Capezzuto F. .....................................220; 282 

Cappanera V. ............................................142 

Caravello A.................................................82 

Carbonara P. .....................................236; 314 

Carcupino M. ............................................352 

Carlucci R. ................................172; 220; 312 

Caronni S. .........................................266; 268 

Caroppo C.................................................108 

Caruso G. ..........................................241; 249 

Caruso T. ..................................................249 

Casabianca S.............................................112 

Casciaro L.................................193; 308; 314 

Cassola M. ................................................295 

Castaldi P..................................................243

Castellano M..................................... 100; 142 

Castelli A.................................................... 86 

Castriota L. ............................................... 154 

Casu M. ............................................ 270; 297 

Cattaneo-Vietti R.............................. 142; 162 

Cattano C.................................................. 136 

Cau A........................................................ 306 

Cau Al ...................................................... 280 

Cavalletti B............................................... 289 

Cavallo R.A. ............................................. 146 

Cavarretta V.A.......................................... 299 

Ceccherelli G............................ 150; 266; 270 

Cecchi E. .......................................... 170; 178 

Cecere E. .......................................... 146; 182 

Celi M....................................................... 346 

Cellini E.................................................... 299 

Ceoldo S. .................................................. 343 

Cerasi S..................................................... 301 

Cerrano C. ..................................70; 119; 286 

Cevasco A................................................. 255 

Chemello R............................................... 136 

Chessa F. .................................................. 354 

Chessa L.A. ...................................... 116; 150 

Chiantore M................................................ 38 

Chrachri A. ......................................... 90; 128 

Ciavaglia E. .............................................. 230 

Cigliano M.................................................. 93 

Cillari T. ................................................... 154 

Cinelli F..............................................42; 264 

Circosta C................................................. 297 

Clò S......................................................... 222 

Cocito S. ...............................................86; 93 

Como S....................................................... 58 

Coppari M................................................. 119 

Coppo S. ................................................... 295 

Corso G..................................................... 352 

Cosentino A.............................................. 276 

Cosmai T. ................................................. 295 

Cossu A. ........................................... 150; 251 

Cossu P..................................................... 297 

Costa M. ................................................... 295 

Costantino G............................................. 172 

Covazzi Harriague A. ............................... 100 

Cristo B............................................. 270; 297 

Cuccu D............................................ 280; 306 

Cuneo C.................................................... 295 

Cupido R..................................................... 86 

Curini-Galletti M. ..................................... 297 

Cusumano S.............................................. 310 

D 

D’Adamo R. ............................................. 247 

D’Addabbo R............................................ 258 

D’Onghia G .............................................. 312 


AUTHOR INDEX 


369 

D’Onghia G. .............................................226 

De Benedetto G.........................................158 

De Biasi A.................................................174 

De Domenico E.................................341; 362 

De Domenico F.........................276; 278; 284 

De Domenico M........................341; 358; 362 

De Lazzari A.............................................343 

De Luca M. ...............................................362 

De Ranieri S..............................193; 202; 210 

De Sabata E...............................................222 

Dedola G.L. ..............................................297 

Deiana S....................................................243 

Deidun A...................................................328 

Del Prete F. ...............................................130 

Deluca M. .................................................150 

Denaro M.G. .............................................241 

Di Biase A.................................................245 

Di Camillo C.G...........................70; 100; 119 

Di Festa T. ........................................190; 335 

Di Franco A. ...............................................46 

Di Martino V...............................................82 

Di Stefano F..............................................176 

Diaspro A..................................................356 

Díaz López B. ...........................................239 

Donnaloia M. ............................236; 308; 314 

E 

Espa M........................................................78 

Esposito F. ..........................................62; 272 

Esposito V.................................................188 

Evangelisti F. ..............................................34 

F 

Fabbrocini A. ............................................247 

Fabi G. ..............................................184; 274 

Fabiano F. .................................................239 

Fabiano M.................................................166 

Facca C. ......................................74; 339; 343 

Falace A....................................................274 

Falautano M..............................................154 

Fanciulli G. ...............................................142 

Fanello E...........................................134; 364 

Fasulo S. ...................................................224 

Fattore E....................................................255 

Fava F. ..............................................184; 286 

Feletti M. ..................................................253 

Ferrando S.........................................224; 356 

Ferrantelli V..............................................346 

Finotto S. ..................................................343 

Fiorentino F. .............................234; 310; 330 

Firpo M. ..............................................66; 166 

Floris A. ....................................................270

Floris R..................................................... 354 

Focardi S........................................... 134; 364 

Fois N. .............................................. 293; 354 

Follesa M.C. ..................................... 193; 232 

Fornari A. ................................................. 180 

Fornasaro D. ............................................. 337 

Fortese P................................................... 299 

Frost M. ...................................................... 17 

G 

Galise I. .................................................... 190 

Gallo M..................................................... 258 

Gallus L. ........................................... 224; 356 

Gambardella C.................................. 224; 356 

Gambarelli A. ........................................... 360 

Gambi M.C.........................................93; 132 

Gancitano S. ............................................. 310 

Gancitano V...................................... 193; 310 

Garibaldi F................................................ 320 

Gasparini G.P. .......................................... 100 

Gastoni A.................................................. 232 

Gatti G. ....................................................... 38 

Gaudio P................................... 236; 308; 314 

Gelli F....................................................... 316 

Generoso C. .............................................. 255 

Genovese L....................................... 241; 249 

Ghelia M..................................................... 82 

Giacco E. .................................................. 253 

Giacomazzi F.............................................. 54 

Gianguzza P...................................... 104; 126 

Giaramita F.T. .......................................... 348 

Giordano L. .............................................. 108 

Giovanardi O. ........................................... 184 

Giove A. ................................................... 226 

Goddard H. ............................................... 128 

Goracci M................................................. 139 

Grippa M.L.........................................42; 264 

Gristina M................................................. 136 

Guardiani B. ............................................. 337 

Guerranti C. .............................................. 134 

Guidetti P....................................46; 158; 291 

H 

Hall-Spencer J.M........................................ 93 

Hawkins S.J. ............................................. 123 

Hereu B...............................................46; 104 

Hetherington A.M..................................... 123 

Highfield A................................................. 90 

Hiscock K................................................... 25 

Holthaus K.B. ........................................... 316 

Hopkins T.S.............................................. 108 

Humphries N. ........................................... 228 


AUTHOR INDEX 


370 

I 

Iarrera S. ...................................................186 

Incontro V.................................................139 

Indennidate A............................................312 

Intini S. .....................................236; 308; 314 

J 

Jackson E. ...................................................21 

Jereb P.......................................................306 

K 

Keppel E. ....................................................58 

L 

La Mesa G.................................................162 

La Valle P. ................................................180 

Lai T. ........................................................297 

Landi G. ....................................................286 

Langellotti A.L..........................................130 

Langmead O................................................21 

Lanni L. ....................................................301 

Lanteri L. ..................................................320 

Lardicci C. ..................................................58 

Lariccia M.................................................210 

Lauriano G..................................................50 

Ligas A. ....................................................202 

Lipizer M. .................................................337 

Lo Giudice A. ...........................................358 

Lo Noce R.................................................146 

Locci I.........................................................78 

Lombardi C...........................................54; 93 

Longo F.....................................................186 

Lorenti M....................................................93 

M 

Maccioni A. ..............................................280 

Macpherson E. ............................................46 

Magni P.......................................................58 

Maiorano P........................................226; 312 

Malavenda R.............................................358 

Maltagliati F................................................86 

Malvaso I. .................................................264 

Manca S. ...........................................293; 354 

Mancusi C.................................178; 202; 214 

Mandich A. .......................................253; 255 

Manfredi C........................................193; 230 

Mangano M.C. ..........................276; 278; 284 

Mangano V. ..............................................218 

Mannini A.........................................193; 206

Maravelias C............................................. 322 

Marčeta T. ................................................ 303 

Marcomini A. ........................................... 339 

Mariani A. ................................................ 322 

Maricchiolo G................................... 241; 249 

Marin M.G................................................ 303 

Mariottini G.L........................................... 253 

Martinelli M.............................................. 119 

Masala P. .......................................... 280; 306 

Masò M..................................................... 333 

Massari A. ................................................ 255 

Mastrototaro F. ................................. 172; 282 

Matozzo V. ............................................... 303 

Maynou F. ................................................ 322 

Mazzoldi C. .............................................. 198 

Meloni C................................................... 297 

Mereu M........................................... 280; 306 

Michaud L. ............................................... 358 

Micheli F. ................................................... 46 

Milici M.................................................... 341 

Minerva M................................................ 226 

Mingolla V. .............................................. 360 

Mirto S...................................................... 249 

Misic C. .................................................... 100 

Mistri M...................................................... 58 

Modugno S. .............................................. 316 

Mola L. ..................................................... 360 

Molinari A. ....................................... 162; 295 

Montanini S. ..................................... 318; 326 

Montefalcone M. ..........................38; 66; 166 

Mordenti O. .............................................. 245 

Moretto P.................................................. 295 

Morri C.........................................38; 66; 166 

Muglia U................................................... 241 

Mulas A. ................................................... 232 

Munari C..................................................... 58 

Mura L...................................................... 293 

Mussat Sartor R. .........................62; 262; 272 

N 

Nannarelli S.............................................. 350 

Narracci M................................................ 146 

Navone A.......................................... 266; 268 

Nicoletti L................................................. 180 

Nurra N.......................................62; 262; 272 

O 

Occhipinti-Ambrogi A........................54; 266 

Orsi Relini L............................................. 320 


AUTHOR INDEX 


371 

P 

Pacciardi L................................................174 

Pais A..........................................46; 243; 251 

Palma M....................................................286 

Palmas F. ....................................................78 

Pane L.......................................................253 

Panetta P. ..................................................282 

Panigada S. .................................................50 

Pannacciulli F.G..........................................86 

Pantaleo U...........................................70; 286 

Panza M. ...................................................220 

Panzalis P............................................46; 266 

Paoli C. .....................................................166 

Papa M........................................................80 

Papale M. ..................................................341 

Pardi G......................................................264 

Parisi M.G.................................................218 

Parodi V....................................................295 

Parolo G......................................................54 

Parravicini V.........................................38; 66 

Parrinello D.......................................346; 348 

Parrinello N.......................................218; 348 

Pascucci V. ...............................................150 

Pasquali V.................................................366 

Pastorelli A.M...........................172; 190; 335 

Patti F.P. .....................................................93 

Pecchioli E................................................112 

Pederzoli A. ..............................................360 

Peirano A. ...................................................66 

Pelusi P. ....................................................301 

Pendugiu A.A. ............................................78 

Penna A.............................................112; 333 

Perra G..............................................134; 364 

Perrino V...................................................190 

Pertusati M................................................260 

Perzia P. ....................................................154 

Pesci P.........................................................78 

Pessani D. ...................................62; 262; 272 

Petrillo M..................................................158 

Petrocelli A. ......................................146; 182 

Petrone L...................................................299 

Piazza V....................................................356 

Piazzi L. ....................................170; 174; 178 

Picchetti G. .................................................82 

Piccinetti C................................................230 

Pinardi N.....................................................96 

Pinna S......................................................266 

Pinto C. .....................................................206 

Pipitone C. ................................................104 

Piraino S. ....................................................89 

Pirini M.....................................................245 

Pistolesi J. ...........................................30; 260 

Poggi A. ....................................................301 

Pojana G. ..................................................339

Polizzi G................................................... 234 

Ponti M............................................. 184; 286 

Porcu C..................................................... 232 

Porporato E....................................... 278; 284 

Porzio L. ..................................................... 93 

Potoschi A. ............................................... 186 

Potoschi jr A............................................. 186 

Povero P. .......................................... 100; 142 

Previati M................................................. 286 

Profeta A................................................... 278 

Puce S....................................................... 119 

R 

Rabino S. .................................................. 239 

Racz Lorenz H.......................................... 234 

Ragazzola F. ............................................. 251 

Rambaldi E. .............................................. 301 

Ramoino P. ............................................... 356 

Rauh N...................................................... 123 

Reale B. .................................................... 202 

Recupero Trovato L.................................. 186 

Relini G. ................................... 193; 195; 206 

Rende F.S. ................................................ 264 

René A...................................................... 333 

Ria M................................................ 178; 202 

Ribero L..............................................62; 272 

Ribotti A................................................... 341 

Ricci P. ..................................................... 146 

Riggio S.................................................... 126 

Rinaldi A. ................................................. 316 

Rizzardi S. ................................................ 343 

Rizzo C............................................. 358; 362 

Rizzo G..................................................... 303 

Rizzo P. .................................................... 310 

Rodolfo-Metalpa R..................................... 93 

Roghi F....................................................... 66 

Romano C................................................. 190 

Romeo T................................... 134; 139; 188 

Rosenberg A. .............................................. 46 

Rossetti I................................................... 210 

Rovere A.............................................66; 166 

Rubattu R.................................................. 243 

Rubino F................................................... 108 

Ruggeri G. ................................................ 341 

Russo G.F. ..........................................80; 176 

S 

Saba S............................................... 243; 251 

Sabatini A................................................... 78 

Sabelli B. ..............................................34; 96 

Saggiomo V.............................................. 132 

Sala E.......................................................... 46 


AUTHOR INDEX 


372 

Salvati E......................................................66 

Sandulli R. ................................................258 

Sanna D.....................................................297 

Sansone G. ................................................130 

Sarà G. ......................................................346 

Sartini M. ..................................................322 

Sartoni G.....................................................30 

Sartor P. ....................................202; 210; 322 

Sassanelli G. .............................................282 

Savini D. .............................................54; 350 

Sbrana M...................................202; 210; 322 

Scardi M. ..........................................116; 333 

Schroeder D. ...............................................90 

Schroeder K. .............................................100 

Scinto A. .............................................70; 286 

Scipione M.B. .............................................93 

Sechi N. ....................................................266 

Seeley R......................................................84 

Semprucci F..............................................258 

Serena F. ...................................195; 202; 214 

Serluca G. ...................................................70 

Serra S.......................................................251 

Sewell J.......................................................84 

Sfriso A.......................................74; 339; 343 

Sieli G.......................................................310 

Signorelli S. ..............................................132 

Sigovini M. .................................................58 

Silvestri R. ................................................178 

Silvetti M. .................................................243 

Sims D.W..................................................228 

Sinopoli M. ...............................................136 

Sion L. ......................................193; 220; 312 

Socal G. ....................................................343 

Somigli S. .................................................364 

Sorgente R. ...............................................341 

Spagnolo A. ..............................................274 

Spanò N. ...................................276; 278; 284 

Spedicato M.T...........................................308 

Stabili L. ...................................................146 

Stacca D....................................................280 

Stagioni M. ...............................318; 324; 326 

Stefanizzi F. ..............................................299 

Sturla M. ...................................................253 

T 

Tagliafierro G. ..................................224; 356 

Tagliapietra D. ............................................58 

Taramelli A...............................................180 

Targusi M..................................................180 

Taviani M..................................................282 

Taylor A.R. .........................................90; 128 

Timpanaro A.............................................136 

Tommasini S.............................................326 

Totti C.......................................................333

Traversi I. ................................................. 255 

Trentadue M. .................................... 293; 354 

Tunesi L.................................................... 162 

Tursi A.............................................. 172; 226 

U 

Ugolini A.......................................... 364; 366 

Ukmar E. .................................................. 301 

Ungaro N. ................................. 172; 190; 335 

Ungherese G. ............................................ 366 

V 

Vacchi M. ......................................... 166; 224 

Vadrucci M.R. .......................................... 335 

Valente M................................................... 86 

Valentini E................................................ 180 

Vallisneri M...................................... 318; 326 

Vannucci A............................................... 174 

Vassallo P................................................. 166 


AUTHOR INDEX 


373 

Vazzana M........................................346; 348 

Vernesi C. .................................................112 

Verret F.J. ...................................................90 

Vicari D. ...................................................348 

Vila M.......................................................333 

Visentin E. ................................................198 

Vitiello V. .................................................130 

Vivona P. ..................................................154 

Voliani A. .................................................202 

Vrgoč N. ...................................................230 

W 

Wheeler G.L. ......................................90; 128 

Z 

Zabala M.....................................................46 

Zammit-Mangion M..................................328 

Zava B...............................................234; 330 

Zupa W. ....................................236; 308; 314

Preprint volume - SIBM

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