DNA metabarcoding and morphological analysis - Assessment of zooplankton biodiversity in transitional waters

Zooplankton biodiversity assessment is a crucial element in monitoring marine ecosystem processes and community responses to environmental alterations. In order to evaluate the suitability of metabarcoding for zooplankton biodiversity assessment and biomonitoring as a fast and more cost-effective method, seasonal zooplankton sampling was carried out in the Venice Lagoon and the nearby coastal area (Northern Adriatic Sea). The molecular analysis showed higher taxa richness compared to the classical morphological method (224 vs. 88 taxa), discriminating better the meroplanktonic component, morphologically identified only up to order level. Both methods revealed a similar spatio-temporal distribution pattern and the sequence abundances and individual counts were significantly correlated for various taxonomic groups. These results indicate that DNA metabarcoding is an efficient tool for biodiversity assessments in ecosystems with high spatial and temporal variability, where high sampling effort is required as well as fast alert systems for non-native species (NIS)

Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) in the Marine Coastal Environment: Basic Concepts and Keystones from the Plankton Communities.

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Zooplankton diel vertical migration in the Corsica Channel (north-western Mediterranean Sea) detected by a moored acoustic Doppler current profiler

Diel vertical migration (DVM) is a survival strategy adopted by zooplankton that we investigated in the Corsica Channel using acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data from April 2014 to November 2016. The principal aim of the study is to characterize migration patterns and biomass temporal evolution of zooplankton along the water column. The ADCP measured vertical velocity and echo intensity in the water column range between about 70 and 390&thinsp;m (the bottom depth is 443&thinsp;m). During the investigated period, zooplanktonic biomass had a well-defined daily and seasonal cycle, with peaks occurring in late winter to spring (2015 and 2016) when the stratification of the water column is weaker. Zooplanktonic biomass temporal distribution in the whole water column is well correlated with biomass of primary producers, estimated with satellite data. Zooplanktonic blooming and non-blooming periods have been identified and studied separately. During the non-blooming period zooplanktonic biomass was most abundant in the upper and the deep layers, while during the blooming period the upper-layer maximum in zooplanktonic biomass disappeared and the deep layer with high zooplanktonic biomass became thicker. These two layers are likely to correspond to two different zooplanktonic communities. The evolution of zooplanktonic biomass is well correlated with chlorophyll, with phytoplankton biomass peaks preceding the upper-layer secondary production by a lag of about 3.5 weeks. Nocturnal DVM appears to be the main pattern during both periods, but reverse and twilight migration are also detected. Nocturnal DVM was more evident at mid-water than in the deep and the upper layers. DVM occurred with different intensities during blooming and non-blooming periods. One of the main outcomes is that the principal drivers for DVM are light intensity and stratification, but other factors, like the moon cycle and primary production, are also taken in consideration.</p

Controle da deterioração pós-colheita em pêssego causado por Monilinia fructicola e Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

In this work we report the postharvest control of Monilinia fructicola - causative agents of brown rot and Colletotrichum gloesporioides - causative agents of anthracnose. These fungi contribute significantly to the reduction of the marketing period of peach. The conventional control of these diseases can leave chemical residues on fruits and selecting resistant pathogenic strains. The use of essential oils can be a more appropriate alternative. Essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus, Cinnamomum camphora and Cymbopogum citratus were used in control. The results have demonstrated good control of these diseases manly using C. camphora and C. citratus in vitro and in vivo analysis beyond in vivo simulating cold storage. Our results in these essays indicate the possibility of using environmental-friendly essential oil in postharvest control of peaches and others fruits, without utilization of chemical fungicides.Neste trabalho foi relatado o controle pós colheita de Monilinia fructicola -agente causador da podridão marrom e Colletotrichum gloesporioides – agente causador da antracnose. Estes fungos contribuem significativamente na redução da comercialização do pêssego. O controle convencional destas doenças podem deixar resíduos químicos nas frutas e selecionar estiperpes patogênicas resistentes. O uso de óleos essenciais pode ser uma alternativa mais adequada. Óleos essenciais de Eucalyptus globulus, Cinnamomum camphora e Cymbopogum citratus foram usados como controle. Os resultados demonstraram bom controle das doenças com C. camphora e C. citratus in vitro e in vivo e análise in vivo simulando armazenamento a frio. Os resultados dos ensaios indicam a possibilidade da utilização do óleo essencial no controle pós colheita de pêssego e outras frutas, sem a utilização de fungicidas químicos.En este trabajo fue relatado el control post-cosecha de Monilinia fructicola - agente causante de la podredumbre parda y Colletotrichum gloeosporioides - agente causante de la antracnosis. Estos hongos contribuyen significativamente a la reducción de la comercialización de melocotón. El control convencional de estas enfermedades puede dejar residuos químicos en las frutas y seleccionando estirpes patógenos resistentes. El uso de aceites esenciales puede ser una alternativa más adecuada. Los aceites esenciales de Eucalyptus globulus, Cinnamomum camphora y Cymbopogum citratus fueron utilizados como control. Los resultados demostraron un buen control de la enfermedad con C. camphora y C. citratus in vitro e in vivo y en el análisis de simulación de almacenamiento en frío. Los resultados de los ensayos indican la posibilidad de utilizar el aceite esencial en el control post cosecha de melocotón y otras frutas, sin el uso de fungicidas químicos

WGEUROBUS – Working Group “Towards a EURopean OBservatory of the non-indigenous calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinUS”

Since 2007, the non-indigenous calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus Sato, 1913 has been increasingly recorded in numerous European sites, spreading at an unexpectedly fast pace over a short time-span. This species presents specific biological and behavioural traits which make it of particular interest for ecological and applied research topics. On 29–30 January 2018, 29 scientists from nine European Countries established the EUROBUS (Towards a EURopean OBservatory of the nonindigenous calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinUS) Working Group (WG). This WG aimed at creating a European network of institutions and researchers working on the various aspects of the biology and ecology of P. marinus, with an open forum where sharing experience and know-how among WG participants. This brought to an updated distribution map of P. marinus in European waters, as well as to the identification of priority research lines and potential joint initiatives under the WGEUROBUS umbrella. This contribution, stemming from the experts participating at the WG, represents the manifesto of the current and future initiatives developed within WGEUROBUS

Meta-analysis of multidecadal biodiversity trends in Europe

Local biodiversity trends over time are likely to be decoupled from global trends, as local processes may compensate or counteract global change. We analyze 161 long-term biological time series (15-91 years) collected across Europe, using a comprehensive dataset comprising similar to 6,200 marine, freshwater and terrestrial taxa. We test whether (i) local long-term biodiversity trends are consistent among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, and (ii) changes in biodiversity correlate with regional climate and local conditions. Our results reveal that local trends of abundance, richness and diversity differ among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, demonstrating that biodiversity changes at local scale are often complex and cannot be easily generalized. However, we find increases in richness and abundance with increasing temperature and naturalness as well as a clear spatial pattern in changes in community composition (i.e. temporal taxonomic turnover) in most biogeoregions of Northern and Eastern Europe. The global biodiversity decline might conceal complex local and group-specific trends. Here the authors report a quantitative synthesis of longterm biodiversity trends across Europe, showing how, despite overall increase in biodiversity metric and stability in abundance, trends differ between regions, ecosystem types, and taxa.peerReviewe

Current status and trends of biological invasions in the Lagoon of Venice, a hotspot of marine NIS introductions in the Mediterranean Sea

This paper provides an updated account of the occurrence and abundance of non-indigenous species (NIS) in an area of high risk of introduction: the Lagoon of Venice (Italy). This site is a known hotspot of NIS introductions within the Mediterranean Sea, hosting all the most important vectors of introduction of marine NIS—shipping, recreational boating, shellfish culture and live seafood trade. The recent literature demonstrates that the number of NIS in Venice is continuously changing, because new species are being introduced or identified, and new evidence shows either an exotic origin of species previously believed to be native, or a native origin of formerly believed ‘‘aliens’’, or demonstrates the cryptogenic nature of others. The number of NIS introduced in the Venetian lagoon currently totals 71, out of which 55 are established. This number exceeds those displayed by some nations like Finland, Portugal or Libya. Macroalgae are the taxonomic group with the highest number of introduced species (41 % of NIS): the most likely vector for their introduction is shellfish culture. The source region of NIS introduced to Venice is mainly represented by other Mediterranean or European sites (76 %). The Lagoon of Venice represents a sink but also a source of NIS in the Mediterranean Sea, as it is the site of first record of several NIS, which have since further spread elsewhere.This paper provides an updated account of the occurrence and abundance of non-indigenous species (NIS) in an area of high risk of introduction: the Lagoon of Venice (Italy). This site is a known hotspot of NIS introductions within the Mediterranean Sea, hosting all the most important vectors of introduction of marine NIS-shipping, recreational boating, shellfish culture and live seafood trade. The recent literature demonstrates that the number of NIS in Venice is continuously changing, because new species are being introduced or identified, and new evidence shows either an exotic origin of species previously believed to be native, or a native origin of formerly believed "aliens", or demonstrates the cryptogenic nature of others. The number of NIS introduced in the Venetian lagoon currently totals 71, out of which 55 are established. This number exceeds those displayed by some nations like Finland, Portugal or Libya. Macroalgae are the taxonomic group with the highest number of introduced species (41 % of NIS): the most likely vector for their introduction is shellfish culture. The source region of NIS introduced to Venice is mainly represented by other Mediterranean or European sites (76 %). The Lagoon of Venice represents a sink but also a source of NIS in the Mediterranean Sea, as it is the site of first record of several NIS, which have since further spread elsewhere