The Vicissitudes of a Coastal Lagoon from the 19th Century to the Present Day

An account is given of the man-made alterations in the ecology of Lesina, a large (5328 ha) shallow lagoon on the south Adriatic coast of Italy, alterations motivated by the necessities of fish production, reclaiming land for agriculture, and eliminating malarial marshland. Up to 1851 the ecosystem was ruled by entirely natural forces. In that year an artificial outlet to the sea was dug in addition to the existing natural one. In 1903 a second artificial sea channel was opened. By the 1950s all the surrounding freshwater marshes (ca 1500 ha) had been drained and a dike built around the perimeter of the basin. Underwater trenches in the lagoon have been dug to facilitate water circulation. Pollution has become evident in the last fifty years. Three years ago a small harbour for sea-going fishing vessels was constructed at the entrance of one of the sea channels

Spatial and temporal variations of nutrients and chlorophyll a in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon: Varano lagoon, Italy

The purpose of this paper is to assess the present status of a Mediterranean lagoon (Varano lagoon, Italy), basing on nutrient and chlorophyll a data. A water sampling in Varano lagoon was performed at 7 fixed stations from February 2004 to July 2005, collecting surface water samples to analyse ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and soluble reactive silica (SRSi), chlorophyll a (chl a) and total suspended solids (TSS). Spatial and temporal distributions of chemical and biological parameters in Varano lagoon were examined to accomplish the goal of this study. Statistical tests were used to investigate the correlations between analysed variables and to characterize, from a spatial and temporal point of view, the lagoon in relation to each variable. Ammonia and nitrate did not showed good correlation (P<0.05). SRP was not correlated with any nutrient (only with Chl a, P<0.05). The seasonal distribution show a random pattern for soluble reactive phosphorus with relatively low mean concentrations (0.16 ± 0.03 µM) and a well-defined seasonal pattern for nitrate, with the highest mean value (34.44 ± 10.18 µM) recorded in the wet season (February 2004) and a high spatial variability. The most homogeneous chl a values were observed in both autumn and winter seasons with averages of about 1-1.5 µg . L-1; in contrast, higher mean values (5.50 µg . L-1 ) were recorded in July 2005. The ratio between the dissolved inorganic nitrogen species and SRP (N/P) in Varano lagoon was constantly high and it varied seasonally from about 300:1 during rainy seasons to 60-90:1 during dry seasons. High values of the N/P ratio in autumn and winter were accompanied by an increase in total N implying an input of nitrogen to the system probably associated with rainfall. The high fluctuation in the various chemical parameters in the lagoon during the rainy season suggested that this is the period of large variability, in which environmental processes as marine waters, freshwaters and wastewaters represent inputs that determine the spatial behaviour of the system

On the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun 1896) in southern European coastal waters: Time to turn a threat into a resource?

[EN] The blue crab Callinectes sapidus is native to the coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, and along the US coasts the species supports an important fishery. The crab was introduced to Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. To date, the species is considered invasive and it has been extensively recorded in southern European waters (SEW), where it is starting to penetrate the shellfish market. Here, an integrated management strategy is proposed for the blue crab in SEW, including the Mediterranean and Black Sea and the eastern Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula. Taking as introductory examples two case studies represented by the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus and the green crab Carcinus maenas, a framework of key issues is reviewed, considering the double nature of the species as invaders and shellfish products. A SWOT analysis is eventually presented for C. sapidus, in order to perform a state-of-the-art synthesis of the proposed scenario, highlighting the potential opportunities as well as the weaknesses related with the limited knowledge of the ecological and economic impact of the species in invaded habitats. The review is concluded by an appraisal of the current trends in global and European crustacean fisheries. The ongoing expansion of C. sapidus might represent a useful management case study, where the need to control an invasive species and mitigate its ecological impact can be harmonized with the opportunity to value it as a fishery resource.Funding from FUR 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 to G. M. is acknowledged. The European Fisheries Fund (FEP) Puglia Region (Italy) supported L. C. (CIP 04/OPI/010). The Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) supported F. R. (SFRH/BPD/46761/2008). F. R. and P. C. were also supported by the strategic MARE plan Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (UID/MAR/04292/2013). Constructive comments from two anonymous reviewers on an earlier version of the paper are gratefully acknowledged. This paper is dedicated to Sofia Mancinelli, thy eternal summer shall not fade.Mancinelli, G.; Chainho, P.; Cilenti, L.; Falco, S.; Kapiris, K.; Katselis, G.; Ribeiro, F. (2017). On the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun 1896) in southern European coastal waters: Time to turn a threat into a resource?. Fisheries Research. 194:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2017.05.002S1819

Phylogeography of the Atlantic Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the Americas versus the Mediterranean Sea: Determining Origins and Genetic Connectivity of a Large-Scale Invasion

The American blue crab Callinectes sapidus is a particularly successful invader in estuarine ecosystems worldwide. Despite increasing awareness of its potential harm, the invasion history and underlying genetic diversity of this species within the Mediterranean Sea remain unknown. This study constitutes the first large-scale approach to study phylogeographic patterns of C. sapidus in Europe, facilitated by the first comparison of all currently available COI sequence data. For this investigation, 71 individuals of C. sapidus were newly analyzed and the entire COI gene was sequenced and used for a comparative phylogeographic analyses. For the first time, two separately used adjacent regions of this gene were combined in a single dataset. This allowed emphasizing the prevalence of three geographically defined lineages within the native range: (1) eastern North America, including the Gulf of Mexico, (2) the Caribbean, and (3) Brazil. New data from the Mediterranean reveal that non-native populations of C. sapidus are characterized by a conspicuously low genetic diversity (except for Turkey, where stocking took place), and that there is surprisingly low connectivity among established populations. The occurrence of strong genetic bottlenecks suggests few founder individuals. This confirms that, even under a scenario of restricted large-scale gene flow, a very limited number of invasive individuals is sufficient for a massive impact

Litter in alien species of possible commercial interest: The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896) as case study

Marine litter levels were measured in the stomach contents, hepatopancreas, and gonad tissues of crustacea decapod (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896; n\ua0=\ua06), a widespread alien species affecting the Lesina lagoon. Results highlight a mean of 2.5 (SD\ua0=\ua01.6) items/animal and indicate the presence of metals fragments (13%) and plastics (13% PE; 6.7% PET) in the stomach contents of collected individuals. No microplastic particles were detected in the hepatopancreas or in muscle tissue, while microplastic fibres (nylon, rayon, polyester) were found present in female specimen gonads. The presence of synthetic fibres in the investigated species reflects the relative contamination level in this habitat type and suggests that the blue crab could be considered a model organism for evaluating the contamination status of the study area

An individual-based dataset of carbon and nitrogen isotopic data of Callinectes sapidus in invaded Mediterranean waters

[EN] Background The characterisation of functional traits of non-indigenous and invasive species is crucial to assess their impact within invaded habitats. Successful biological invasions are often facilitated by the generalist diet of the invaders which can modify their trophic position and adapt to new ecosystems determining changes in their structure and functioning. Invasive crustaceans are an illustrative example of such mechanisms since their trophic habits can determine important ecological impacts on aquatic food webs. The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus is currently established and considered invasive in the Mediterranean Sea where it has been recorded for the first time between 1947 and 1949. In the last decade, the blue crab colonised most of the eastern and central Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea and it is currently widening its distribution towards the western region of the basin. New information Stable isotope analysis is increasingly used to investigate the trophic habits of invasive marine species. Here, we collated individual measures of the blue crab d C and d N values and of its potential invertebrate prey into a geo-referenced dataset. The dataset includes 360 records with 236 isotopic values of the blue crab and 224 isotopic data of potential prey collected from five countries and 12 locations between 2014 and 2019. This dataset allows the estimation of the trophic position of the blue crab within a variety of invaded ecosystems, as well as advanced quantitative comparisons of the main features of its isotopic niche.Di Muri, C.; Rosati, I.; Bardelli, R.; Cilenti, L.; Veli, DL.; Falco, S.; Vizzini, S.... (2022). An individual-based dataset of carbon and nitrogen isotopic data of Callinectes sapidus in invaded Mediterranean waters. Biodiversity Data Journal (Online). 10:1-12. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e775161121

Marine litter in stomach content of small pelagic fishes from the Adriatic Sea: sardines (Sardina pilchardus) and anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus)

Marine litter impacts oceans and affects marine organisms, representing a potential threat for natural stocks of pelagic fish species located at the first levels of the marine food webs. In 2013\u20132014, on a seasonal basis, marine litter and microplastics in stomach contents from Sardinia pilchardus and Engraulis encrasicolus were evaluated. Selected species are plankitivores of great ecological and commercial importance in the Adriatic Sea. Collected data were correlated to possible factors able to affect ingested levels as well as species, season of sampling, biometry and sex of animals. Almost all tested samples (80 organisms for each species) contained marine litter (over 90% of samples from both species) and also microplastics; while any meso- or macroplastics were recorded. On average, recorded items were as follows: 4.63 (S. plichardus) and 1.25 (E. encrasicolus) per individual. Sardines evidenced a higher number ofmicroplastics characterised by a smaller size than those recorded in anchovies. For sardines, sex, Gastro Somatic Index and sampling season showed negligible effects on the number of ingested litter; conversely, anchovies showed differences related with both sex of animals and dominant colour of ingested materials with prevalence for black and blue colours

Modelling effective choral conducting education through an exploration of example teaching and learning in England

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

ASSESSMENT OF MACROZOOBENTHIC DISTRIBUTION IN THE MANFREDONIA GULF (EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN)

Soft bottom macrozoobenthic distribution, as well as its composition, biomass and diversity were studied at 9 stations in the Gulf of Manfredonia. Polychaeta were numerically the dominant component (71%), followed by Crustacea (21%) and Bivalvia (2%). The highest biodiversity was observed at the stations in near-shore of the study area

Population structure and spatial distribution of Loripes lacteus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Varano lagoon, SE Italy

In Varano lagoon (Puglia, Italy) the bivalve Loripes lacteus (Linnaeus, 1758) constitutes the most abundant species among the organisms of the benthic macrofauna. This work presents the results of five years (from 2001 at 2006) of observations on the abundance, size/age population structure and spatial distribution of this species within the basin (6500 ha). L. lacteus is one of the most common and frequent bivalve species in Mediterranean lagoons. It typically occurs in reduced sediments where it is able to live at low oxygen concentration due to a particular respiratory pigment haemoglobin. Lucinid bivalves house symbiotic, sulphur-oxydizing chemoautotrophic bacterias in their gills, which contribute substantially to their nutrition. The design was to perform two sampling campaignes on yearly basis during the intermediate seasons (Spring and Autumn), when possible. Each sampling was realized collecting 53 sampling units taken from 53 stations distributed regularly over the lagoon surface. Each sampling unit consisted in all the individuals contained in a solid 15 x 15 x 20 cm of sediment and held on 1 mm mesh. Growth patterns were determined with the Bhattacharya method which uses modal progression analysis from size frequency distribution. The results showed a spatial distribution of L. lacteus which occurred in patches and changed among samples. The population analysis showed two modal classes for each sampling time. L. lacteus is an “r” strategy species with small size, brief life cycle, with great capacity of recovery after environmental crises