A Comparative Approach to Detect Macrobenthic Response to the Conversion of an Inshore Mariculture Plant into an IMTA System in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea, Italy)

The expected bioremediation effect, driven by the conversion of an inshore mariculture plant into an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system, which could mitigate the fish farm impact, related to the accumulation of organic matter on the seabed, has been studied. The ecological quality status was studied following a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design and variation measured through M-AMBI and compared with the results of univariate and multivariate analyses of variance, to evaluate the sensitivity of the two methodologies. Results from M-AMBI indicated a sharp change in the ecological quality status, just after one year of the conversion of the plant. By contrast, although changes were detected also utilizing univariate and multivariate statistical analysis, the natural temporal variability characterizing the area partially masked evidence of environmental amelioration

Biofouling Role in Mariculture Environment Restoration: An Example in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea)

none7The biodiversity of macrobenthic invertebrates of two artificial hard substrates close to a mariculture plant was assessed in order to understand the effect on the fouling community of an innovative Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system. The examined hard substrates were (i) vertical bare collectors that are placed around the cages as new colonizable substrates, which were investigated from the early colonization and (ii) artificial hard substrates already present under the cages analyzed over time to observe changes due to the action on the water column by filter feeder organisms colonizing the above vertical collectors. Overall, 186 taxa were collected (both the substrates), of which 99 as sessile habitat-former or structuring macroinvertebrates and 87 as associated fauna, mostly vagile forms. On the vertical collectors 121 taxa were collected, among which 44 sessile structuring species and 77 vagile-associated taxa; on the artificial hard substrates under the cages, 124 taxa were identified, 95 belong to the first category and 29 as associated taxa. The two analyzed substrates shared 43% of sessile species (40) and 22% of associated species (19). At the end of the first year of experimentation, the study revealed Sabella spallanzanii and mussels as the most abundant taxa. Lastly, the communities under the cages showed an increase in biodiversity after the placement of collectors. The changes were attributed to the decrease in particulate matter originating as wastes from the breeding cage, which was intercepted by the filter feeder community developed on the vertical collectors.openDaniele Arduini, Jacopo Borghese, Maria Flavia Gravina, Roberta Trani, Caterina Longo, Cataldo Pierri, Adriana GiangrandeArduini, Daniele; Borghese, Jacopo; Flavia Gravina, Maria; Trani, Roberta; Longo, Caterina; Pierri, Cataldo; Giangrande, Adrian

Hard-Bottom Polychaetes Exposed to Multiple Human Pressure along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

The complex mixture of anthropogenic pressure determines the impact on the marine biota, hampering the ecosystem's functioning. The coast of Alexandria, Egypt, experiences multiple human pressure, including sewage discharge, engineering activities (urbanization) for armoring purposes, and beach nourishment. Hard-bottom polychaete assemblages are demonstrated to reflect coastal areas' environmental status, though their use in monitoring programs is uncommon. The sensitivity of hard-bottom polychaete assemblages in depicting variations in environmental conditions of two sites exposed to the discharge of polluted water and three sites exposed to urbanization was analyzed. The high spatial and temporal variation in species abundance and diversity probably hid differences among the assemblages exposed to the two forms of pressure while highlighting differences among sites exposed to the same impact form. In addition, changes in the algal substrate probably influenced the observed pattern. Temporal variation of salinity and differences in biological oxygen demand (BOD) and the organic matter appeared to indirectly affect polychaete abundance and diversity by favoring tolerant algal taxa such as Ulva sp. Contrary to what was expected, assemblage variation due to site-specific environmental features accounted for more than the variations due to the two forms of human pressure in shaping differences among polychaete assemblages

Growth Performance of Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 under an Innovative Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture System (IMTA) in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea, Italy)

The cultivation of the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819, has been tested in an innovative Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture system (IMTA) in the Mar Grande of Taranto, as part of the EU-funded Remedialife project. This farming method could solve several problems including the low growth rate in mesotrophic environments while reducing the environmental impact of fish mariculture. Three productive cycles have been carried out. The first (2018–2019, traditional experiment) was conducted in three long lines around six cages of the fish farm in order to evaluate total mussel production under the innovative IMTA system and quality for human consumption by analyzing the concentration of culturable heterotrophic bacteria, total and fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in mussel tissues. In addition, 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including 16 EPA priority compounds and seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are indicators of PCB contamination in the environment, were analyzed using gas chromatography in conjunction with a mass spectrometer. The second cycle (2020–2021, horizontal distance experiment) aimed to test the influence of fish cages on mussel growth by placing mussels near and far from the fish cages. The third cycle (2021–2022, vertical distance experiment) aimed to overcome the phenomenon of “heat waves” that can occur in the Mar Grande of Taranto during summer by testing the growth performance of mussels at two different depths (1 and 12 m). The following parameters were measured: Shell Length, L (mm); Shell Dry Weight, SDW (g); Flesh Dry Weight, FDW (g); Condition Index, IC = FDW/SDW. The results showed that the best growth performance was obtained near the fish cages and at a depth of 12 m. Moreover, the indicators of microbial contamination and concentrations of chemical compounds analyzed in mussel tissues cultured under the innovative IMTA system were in compliance with the reference values of European regulations

A Comparative Approach to Detect Macrobenthic Response to the Conversion of an Inshore Mariculture Plant into an IMTA System in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea, Italy)

The expected bioremediation effect, driven by the conversion of an inshore mariculture plant into an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system, which could mitigate the fish farm impact, related to the accumulation of organic matter on the seabed, has been studied. The ecological quality status was studied following a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design and variation measured through M-AMBI and compared with the results of univariate and multivariate analyses of variance, to evaluate the sensitivity of the two methodologies. Results from M-AMBI indicated a sharp change in the ecological quality status, just after one year of the conversion of the plant. By contrast, although changes were detected also utilizing univariate and multivariate statistical analysis, the natural temporal variability characterizing the area partially masked evidence of environmental amelioration

The Ascidian–Amphipod Association between <i>Phallusia mammillata</i> (Cuvier, 1815) and <i>Leucothoe richiardii</i> (Lessona, 1865) in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea, Italy)

Amphipods are widespread in the marine environment, and some have adopted a symbiotic lifestyle, such as numerous species of the genus Leucothoe (Leach, 1814). Unfortunately, few examples of such a relationship are known for the Mediterranean Sea. In the present study, we report for the first time the symbiotic relationship between Leucothoe richiardii (Lessona, 1865) and the ascidian Phallusia mammillata (Cuvier, 1815) from the Mar Grande of Taranto. Two samplings were carried out in November 2021 and May 2022, and the population structure of L. richiardii was also analyzed in relation to host weight. L. richiardii was found to live its entire cycle in P. mammillata. The amphipod population was dominated by females, and in most cases, juveniles of various sizes were found together with adults, indicating prolonged parental care. The host selection by the amphipods proved to be random and was determined by the abundance/availability of ascidians rather than their weight. The ascidians showed no signs of disturbance by the inhabiting amphipods, although they were present in large numbers, and we assumed that the relationship between L. richiardii and P. mammillata was commensal

A Comparative Approach to Detect Macrobenthic Response to the Conversion of an Inshore Mariculture Plant into an IMTA System in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea, Italy)

The expected bioremediation effect, driven by the conversion of an inshore mariculture plant into an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system, which could mitigate the fish farm impact, related to the accumulation of organic matter on the seabed, has been studied. The ecological quality status was studied following a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design and variation measured through M-AMBI and compared with the results of univariate and multivariate analyses of variance, to evaluate the sensitivity of the two methodologies. Results from M-AMBI indicated a sharp change in the ecological quality status, just after one year of the conversion of the plant. By contrast, although changes were detected also utilizing univariate and multivariate statistical analysis, the natural temporal variability characterizing the area partially masked evidence of environmental amelioration

Perspectives for Exploitation of <i>Sabella spallanzanii</i>’s Biomass as a New Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) By-Product: Feeding Trial on <i>Amphiprion ocellaris</i> Using Sabella Meal

This paper is part of a series of studies aimed at understanding the potential exploitation of the biomass of the polychaete worm Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin, 1791), which is obtained as a by-product of an innovative Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system. IMTA systems are designed according to an ecosystem approach with the aim to reduce marine monoculture impact while further increasing production via exploitation of valuable by-products. S. spallanzanii can remove large amounts of suspended matter by filtering large volumes of water per hour and performs well as an extractive organism under IMTA; however, it currently lacks any economic value, thus hindering its sustainable large-scale implementation. However, S. spallazanii has the potential to become competitive as a newcomer in fish bait, as an ornamental organism, and in fish feed markets. Notably, sabella meal has already been successfully tested as an attractant in an innovative fish feed. Here, we refer to the use of sabella meal as the main component (60%) in the formulation of a novel aquarium fish feed. Following the biochemical analysis of farmed sabella meal, the experimental feed was formulated by adding spirulina (25%) and dry garlic (15%) in such proportion as to be isoproteic and isoenergetic to the commercial control feed. After preliminary observations of the palatability of sabella meal for several tropical fish species, the novel experimental feed was tested on ocellaris clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris (Cuvier, 1830), by evaluating their growth response in a 70-day feeding trial. The fish seemed to enjoy the experimental feed at least as much as the control, and both the control and treatment groups showed no significant differences in weight gain (p = 0.46), specific growth rate (p = 0.76), and feed conversion ratio (p = 0.48), reinforcing the suitability of S. spallanzanii as a viable source of animal proteins to be employed in the fish feed industry in a circular economy perspective

Design and development of a web-based platform for comprehensive autonomous home rehabilitation management in multiple sclerosis

With the increase of rehabilitation costs in the last years, tele-rehabilitation systems are becoming popular. These systems allow patients to exercise at home, without the need to commute to a rehabilitation center. In this paper we introduce a web-based platform to support and manage the entire cycle of a rehabilitation program that can be carried out autonomously at home. In particular, the platform lets therapists schedule a set of exercises and tune their difficulty level, according to patient\u2019s residual capabilities. Moreover, it provides clinicians with the trend over time of specific indexes (accuracy, speed, amplitude, strength), computed over the whole pool of exercises carried out daily. Therapists may review patients\u2019 activities through an avatar animated with previously acquired motion data. The platform is currently being tested on patients suffering from multiple sclerosis; however, it can be used also in other rehabilitation domains