20 research outputs found

    The mesophotic zone of the Mediterranean Sea: spatial definition, biodiversity, and predictive models

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    The mesophotic zone is frequently defined as ranging between 30-40 and 150 m depth. However, these borders are necessarily imprecise due to variations in the penetration of light along the water column related to local factors. Moreover, density of data on mesophotic ecosystems vary along geographical distance, with temperate latitudes largely less explored than tropical situations. This is the case of the Mediterranean Sea, where information on mesophotic ecosystems is largely lower with respect to tropical situations. The lack of a clear definition of the borders of the mesophotic zone may represent a problem when information must be transferred to the policy that requires a coherent spatial definition to plan proper management and conservation measures. The present thesis aims at providing information on the spatial definition of the mesophotic zone in the Mediterranean Sea, its biodiversity and distribution of its ecosystems. The first chapter analyzes information on mesophotic ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea to identify gaps in the literature and map the mesophotic zone in the Mediterranean Sea using light penetration estimated from satellite data. In the second chapter, different visual techniques to study mesophotic ecosystems are compared to identify the best analytical method to estimate diversity and habitat extension. In the third chapter, a set of Remotely Operated vehicles (ROV) surveys performed on mesophotic assemblages in the Mediterranean Sea are analyzed to describe their taxonomic and functional diversity and environmental factors influencing their structure. A Habitat Suitability Model is run in the fourth chapter to map the distribution of areas suitable for the presence of deep-water oyster reefs in the Adriatic-Ionian area. The fifth chapter explores the mesophotic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico providing its spatial and vertical extension of the mesophotic zone and information on the diversity associated with mesophotic ecosystems

    The "Corsica Channel Cold-Water Coral Province" (Mediterranean Sea)

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    © The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Angeletti, L., Castellan, G., Montagna, P., Remia, A., & Taviani, M. The "Corsica Channel Cold-Water Coral Province" (Mediterranean Sea). Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, (2020): 661, doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.00661.Over 25 mounds have been identified in the Corsica Channel (Mediterranean Sea) through multibeam bathymetric mapping at depth of 400–430 m, with dimensions ranging from 70 to 330 m, achieving maximum heights of 25 m. Two mounds have been explored in detail using a remotely operated vehicle, revealing thick coral growth with a predominance of the branching scleractinian Madrepora oculata as main frame builder and subordinate Desmophyllum pertusum. The solitary scleractinians Desmophyllum dianthus and Javania cailleti add to the biodiversity here, which accounts for at least 50 macro- and megabenthic species. In consideration of the remarkable surface (ca. 5.3 km2) covered by living corals, their density and healthy appearance, and discontinuity with other major cold-water coral (CWC) occurrences in the Mediterranean Sea, we propose that this area represents a distinct CWC province in a sector already known for the presence of pre-modern CWC mounds. Noticeably, well-developed contourite drift systems occur in the Corsica Channel, lending support to their strict spatial link with coral establishment at depth. The ecosystemic value of the new CWC province calls for proper conservation measures to ensure their present Good Environmental Status.This work was partly supported by the “Convenzione MATTM-CNR per i Programmi di Monitoraggio per la Direttiva sulla Strategia Marina (MSFD, Art. 11, Dir. 2008/56/CE)” and is part of the DG Environment programme IDEM (grant agreement no. 11.0661/2017/750680/SUB/EN V.C2) and the MIUR-PRIN GLIDE

    Benthic habitat map of the southern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea) from object-based image analysis of multi-source acoustic backscatter data

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    © The Author(s), 2021. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Prampolini, M., Angeletti, L., Castellan, G., Grande, V., Le Bas, T., Taviani, M., & Foglini, F. Benthic habitat map of the southern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea) from object-based image analysis of multi-source acoustic backscatter data. Remote Sensing, 13(15), (2021): 2913, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13152913.A huge amount of seabed acoustic reflectivity data has been acquired from the east to the west side of the southern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea) in the last 18 years by CNR-ISMAR. These data have been used for geological, biological and habitat mapping purposes, but a single and consistent interpretation of them has never been carried out. Here, we aimed at coherently interpreting acoustic data images of the seafloor to produce a benthic habitat map of the southern Adriatic Sea showing the spatial distribution of substrates and biological communities within the basin. The methodology here applied consists of a semi-automated classification of acoustic reflectivity, bathymetry and bathymetric derivatives images through object-based image analysis (OBIA) performed by using the ArcGIS tool RSOBIA (Remote Sensing OBIA). This unsupervised image segmentation was carried out on each cruise dataset separately, then classified and validated through comparison with bottom samples, images, and prior knowledge of the study areas.This research was funded by EUROSTRATAFORM (EC contract no. EVK3-CT-2002-00079), EU-FP-VI HERMES (GOCE-CT-2005-511234-1), EU-FP-VII HERMIONE (contract no. 226354) and COCONET (Grant agreement no: 287844); Convenzione MATTM-CNR per i Programmi di Monitoraggio per la Direttiva sulla Strategia Marina (MSFD, Art. 11, Dir. 2008/56/CE); Italian Flag Project Ritmare (Ricerca Italiana per il Mare); MAGIC (Accordo di Programma Quadro Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—CNR, Dipartimento della protezione civile della Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri); MIUR-PRIN 2009 “Carbonate conduits linked to hydrocarbons enriched seepages” and MIUR-PRIN 2017 GLIDE 2017FREXZY. This paper contributes to H2020 Projects EVER-EST (Grant agreement no: 674907) and RELIANCE (Grant agreement no: 101017501). This is ISMAR-CNR contribution number 1975

    Identifying priorities for the protection of deep Mediterranean Sea ecosystems through an integrated approach

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    © The Author(s), 2021. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Fanelli, E., Bianchelli, S., Foglini, F., Canals, M., Castellan, G., Guell-Bujons, Q., Galil, B., Goren, M., Evans, J., Fabri, M.-C., Vaz, S., Ciuffardi, T., Schembri, P. J., Angeletti, L., Taviani, M., & Danovaro, R. Identifying priorities for the protection of deep Mediterranean Sea ecosystems through an integrated approach. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, (2021): 698890, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.698890.Benthic habitats of the deep Mediterranean Sea and the biodiversity they host are increasingly jeopardized by increasing human pressures, both direct and indirect, which encompass fisheries, chemical and acoustic pollution, littering, oil and gas exploration and production and marine infrastructures (i.e., cable and pipeline laying), and bioprospecting. To this, is added the pervasive and growing effects of human-induced perturbations of the climate system. International frameworks provide foundations for the protection of deep-sea ecosystems, but the lack of standardized criteria for the identification of areas deserving protection, insufficient legislative instruments and poor implementation hinder an efficient set up in practical terms. Here, we discuss the international legal frameworks and management measures in relation to the status of habitats and key species in the deep Mediterranean Basin. By comparing the results of a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and of expert evaluation (EE), we identify priority deep-sea areas for conservation and select five criteria for the designation of future protected areas in the deep Mediterranean Sea. Our results indicate that areas (1) with high ecological relevance (e.g., hosting endemic and locally endangered species and rare habitats),(2) ensuring shelf-slope connectivity (e.g., submarine canyons), and (3) subject to current and foreseeable intense anthropogenic impacts, should be prioritized for conservation. The results presented here provide an ecosystem-based conservation strategy for designating priority areas for protection in the deep Mediterranean Sea.This study was supported by the DG ENV project IDEM (Implementation of the MSFD to the Deep Mediterranean Sea; contract EU No. 11.0661/2017/750680/SUB/EN V.C2). MC and QG-B acknowledge support from Generalitat de Catalunya autonomous government through its funding scheme to excellence research groups (Grant 2017 SGR 315)

    Campagna oceanografica Anomcity_2016

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    Le attività scientifiche realizzate nell’ambito di questa campagna si inseriscono all’interno di programmi internazionali e nazionali condotti per il monitoraggio dei mari europei. Nello specifico si fa riferimento ai progetti Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD; Direttiva 2008/56 EC), Water Framework Directive (WFD; Direttiva 2000/60 EC) e al progetto bandiera RITMARE (SP4 - Pianificazione dello spazio marittimo: Ambiente di mare profondo). Parte delle direttive e il progetto succitati sono finalizzati allo studio di fenomeni di impatto antropico in ambiente marino superficiale e profondo e all'individuazione di azioni specifiche in grado di limitare e ridurre l’impatto antropogenico a livelli sostenibili per l’ecosistema marino. Oltre allo studio dei contaminanti prioritari, tra cui metalli pesanti e composti organici (IPA, PCB, pesticidi, etc.), le direttive MSFD e WFD prevedono lo studio di una nuova classe di contaminanti definiti “emergenti” perché risultanti principalmente dall'impiego di tecnologie e materiali innovativi, e dall'ampia diffusione di alcune sostanze nel campo della chimica, della farmacologia e della cosmoceutica. Il progetto RITMARE dedica parte delle attività di ricerca allo studio degli effetti del marine litter, ovvero all’impatto di macro- e micro-plastiche di origine antropica in ambiente marino superficiale e profondo. Nello specifico, il progetto prevede: i) lo studio della distribuzione geografica delle micro-plastiche e le possibili zone di concentrazione in aree marine specifiche per effetto della circolazione oceanica; ii) l’impatto di tali detriti sull’ecosistema, in termini di interazione con le funzioni vitali degli organismi (soffocamenti per ingestione, riduzione di capacità funzionali specifiche, ecc.) e di rilascio di contaminanti con fenomeni di bioaccumulo/biomagnificazione nelle reti trofiche marine. Negli ultimi anni, il gruppo di biogeochimica dell’IAMC-CNR ha realizzato una serie di campagne oceanografiche (Anomcity_2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) finalizzate allo studio dei processi di contaminazione da metalli pesanti e contaminanti organici a scala di bacino e sottobacino nel Mediterraneo occidentale. I risultati hanno permesso di individuare sorgenti di impatto, pathways di distribuzione e sorte dei diversi contaminanti nelle varie aree investigate (Bonsignore et al., 2013, 2015; Sprovieri et al., 2011, 2013; Salvagio Manta et al., 2016; Oliveri et al., 2016) nonché i cosiddetti “inventari” delle diverse tipologie di inquinati sulla base dello studio di carote di sedimento per cui è stata eseguita una datazione sulla base dei radionuclidi di Cs e Pb (dati non pubblicati). La Campagna Anomcity_2016 è stata incentrata su due obiettivi: 1. ampliamento dello stato di conoscenze sulla distribuzione in acqua di mare (fase disciolta) di un numero selezionato di contaminanti emergenti in aree marino-costiere del Mediterraneo impattate dall’attività antropica; 2. stima di abbondanza e distribuzione delle microplastiche in aree geografiche selezionate dal progetto RITMARE, considerando i processi di trasporto nell’ambiente, e di specie target come potenziali bioindicatori di accumulo di marine litter e analisi dei potenziali effetti di trasferimento sulla rete trofica. Per quanto concerne lo studio dei contaminanti emergenti, questa campagna ha rappresentato una delle primissime esperienze a scala internazionale dedicata a tale tipologia di indagine nel Mar Mediterraneo

    Drawing the borders of the mesophotic zone of the Mediterranean Sea using satellite data

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    © The Author(s), 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Castellan, G., Angeletti, L., Montagna, P., & Taviani, M. Drawing the borders of the mesophotic zone of the Mediterranean Sea using satellite data. Scientific Reports, 12(1), (2022): 5585, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09413-4.The 30–150 m bathymetric range is commonly adopted in the literature to constrain the mesophotic zone. However, such depth interval varies depending on sunlight penetration, which is primarily a function of solar radiation incidence and water clarity. This is especially obvious in the Mediterranean Sea with its peculiar biophysical properties. Integrating information on light regime in the estimation of the bathymetric range of the mesophotic zone would provide a more robust definition, orienting conservation actions targeting its ecosystems. We present a first assessment of the spatial and vertical extension of the mesophotic zone in the Mediterranean Sea based upon light penetration, comparing our prediction with literature data. Our study also represents a baseline to monitor future variations in the bathymetric interval associated with the mesophotic zone in the Mediterranean Sea in relation to global changes.This is ISMAR-CNR Bologna scientific contribution n. 2061. This work was supported by the “Convenzione MATTMCNR per i Programmi di Monitoraggio per la Direttiva sulla Strategia Marina (MSFD, Art. 11, Dir. 2008/56/CE)”, the H2020 Project RELIANCE (Grant agreement no: 101017501), the DG Environment programme IDEM (Grant agreement no. 11.0661/2017/750680/SUB/EN V.C2) and MIUR-PRIN 2017 GLIDE 2017FREXZY. This contribution is supported by Ph.D. program in Cultural and Natural Heritage of the University of Bologna (GC)

    Power electronics for all-electric ships with MVDC power distribution system: An overview

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    4Integrated Power Systems (IPS) with DC distribution require the massive use of power electronics for many tasks: 1) the output voltage rectification of generators and the connection of energy storage systems to the IPS, 2) the supply of medium voltage high power users (propulsion drives, bow thrusters, compressors for air conditioning), 3) the adjustment of voltage levels, which is performed by power transformers in AC distribution systems and by DC/DC power converters called Solid-State Transformers (SST) in DC distribution systems. In this paper, an overview is given of the power converters found in the literature and on the market that could be suitable for employment in the mentioned subsystems as parts of a future MVDC IPS. Finally authors propose a structure for an SST to be employed in three-wire MVDC power systems.nonenoneCastellan, Simone; Menis, Roberto; Tessarolo, Alberto; Sulligoi, GiorgioCastellan, Simone; Menis, Roberto; Tessarolo, Alberto; Sulligoi, Giorgi

    The yellow coral Dendrophyllia cornigera in a warming ocean

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    © The Author(s), 2019. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Castellan, G., Angeletti, L., Taviani, M., & Montagna, P. The yellow coral Dendrophyllia cornigera in a warming ocean. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, (2019): 692, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00692.Ocean warming is expected to impinge detrimentally on marine ecosystems worldwide up to impose extreme environmental conditions capable to potentially jeopardize the good ecological status of scleractinian coral reefs at shallow and bathyal depths. The integration of literature records with newly acquired remotely operated vehicle (ROV) data provides an overview of the geographic distribution of the temperate coral Dendrophyllia cornigera spanning the eastern Atlantic Ocean to the whole Mediterranean Sea. In addition, we extracted temperature values at each occurrence site to define the natural range of this coral, known to maintain its physiological processes at 16°C. Our results document a living temperature range between ∼7°C and 17°C, suggesting that the natural thermal tolerance of this eurybathic coral may represent an advantage for its survival in a progressively warming ocean.This work was partly supported by the EU F.P. VII Projects HERMIONE (contract no. 226354), CoCoNet (contract no. 287844), MISTRALS/PALEOMEX/COFIMED and Convenzione MATTM-CNR per i Programmi di Monitoraggio per la Direttiva sulla Strategia Marina (MSFD, Art. 11, Dir. 2008/56/CE), and is part of the DG Environment programme IDEM (grant agreement no. 11.0661/2017/750680/SUB/EN V.C2) and the MIUR-PRIN GLIDE

    Whale fall chemosymbiotic communities in a southwest Australian submarine canyon fill a distributional gap

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    A whale fall community of chemosymbiotic invertebrates living on cetacean bones has been identified off southwestern Australia during a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) survey at bathyal depths within the Bremer Marine Park, which is part of important marine mammal areas (IMMA) of the Albany Canyon Region. Cetacean bones on the seafloor of the Hood Canyon, consisted of isolated skulls of three species of beaked whales (family Ziphiidae): Mesoplodon cf. layardii, M. grayi, and M. hectori, a few vertebrae, and lower jaws. One of the beaked whale skulls (Mesoplodon cf. layardii) was sampled and found to be intensely colonised by hundreds of specimens of a bathymodilinae mussel (“Adipicola” s.l.). Live polychaetes (Phyllochaetopterus?), skeneimorph gastropods, and amphipods (Seba, Leptamphopus) colonised the skull bone, which represent a later stage (sulfophilic) of carcass decomposition. The reducing sediment below the skull was inhabited by lucinid (Lucinoma) and vesicomyid (Calyptogena) chemosymbiotic bivalves. Additionally, the sediment thanatocoenosis comprised shells of various other chemosymbiotic bivalves, such as Acharax, thyasirids, lucinids, vesicomyids, and limpets, representing the complex ecological turnover phases through time in this whale fall chemosynthetic habitat. With one exception, all bones recovered were colonized by bathymodiolin mussels. This is the first documented case of a chemosynthetic community and associated chemosymbiotic fauna relating to beaked whales, and the first fully documented record of a whale fall community within the Australian Southern Ocean region

    Unveiling deep-sea habitats of the Southern Ocean-facing submarine canyons of southwestern Australia

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    We present the outcomes of the first deep-sea remotely operated vehicle study of previously unexplored submarine canyon systems along the southwest Australian continental margin. This was conducted around: (1) the Bremer Marine Park; (2) the Mount Gabi seamount and nearby slope-shelf margin at the interface of the Southern and Indian oceans; with new information from (3) the Perth Canyon Marine Park located in the SE Indian Ocean. These canyons differ from many explored around the world in having no connectivity to continental river systems, thus little detrital input, with the Bremer systems and Mount Gabi facing the Southern Ocean which plays a key role in the global ocean circulation and climate systems. Such studies in the vast deep waters around the Australian continent are rare given the lack of local ROV capability available for research, thus little is known about these environments. Using the resources of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, we characterised the submarine topography from highresolution bathymetric mapping, geology, physical and chemical oceanography, and provide an overview of these environments and fauna observed and collected. We show that these Southern Ocean-influenced environments incorporate South Indian Central Water, Subantarctic Mode Water, Antarctic Intermediate Water, and Upper and Lower Circumpolar Deep Water, with Antarctic Bottom Water present in deep water just south of the Bremer canyon systems. The richness in megabenthos, especially along the steep, rocky substrates of the canyon heads and walls around the Bremer canyon systems, contrasts to the comparatively depauperate fauna of the more northerly Perth Canyon. Various corals serve as important substrates for a range of other species and often exhibit particular faunal associations. Especially notable are distinct ecological zones including a bryozoan and sponge-dominated (animal) forest on the shelf edge, spectacular coral gardens along canyon margins, and the occurrence of solitary scleractinians well below the aragonite saturation horizon. Subfossil coral deposits were discovered across all three study areas, reflecting periodic waxing and waning of deep-water Scleractinia throughout this southwest region. Extensive pre-modern assemblages at Mount Gabi contrast markedly with the sparse populations of living species and suggest that it might have once been a major coral ‘hotspot’, or whether they reflect long-term coral aggregations is yet to be determined. Nevertheless, stark differences in both living and past coral distribution patterns across our study sites point to at least localised fluctuations in Southern Ocean-derived nutrient and/or oxygen supplies to these deep-sea communities
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