Ecological effects of offshore artificial structures at sea on macrobenthic and fish assemblages (NW Adriatic Sea)

L’estrazione di gas rappresenta uno dei maggiori fattori di stress antropici presenti in Mar Adriatico, dove si trova un’alta concentrazione di piattaforme. Inoltre le strutture esistenti si stanno avvicinando alla fine della loro vita produttiva e nel corso dei prossimi anni la loro dismissione diventerà inevitabile. Per fornire approfondimenti sugli effetti delle piattaforme sull’ecosistema marino la tesi, che ha considerato un pozzo, una piattaforma a 4-gambe e una monopalo, è stata strutturata in quattro argomenti: - quantità e composizione biochimica della sostanza organica nel sedimento; - abbondanza e biodiversità delle comunità macrobentoniche; - abbondanza, biomassa e biodiversità del popolamento ittico; - dieta di Scorpaena notata e S. porcus. I contenuti sedimentari di clorofilla-a e i feopigmenti sono risultati maggiori all'aumentare della distanza dalla piattaforma, suggerendo che piattaforme con una struttura complessa possono riflettere il comportamento di ecosystem engineering dei coralli che vivono in sedimenti incoerenti. Inoltre è stato evidenziato l'effetto aggregazione delle strutture in esame sulla comunità ittica, registrando abbondanza e biomassa maggiori nei pressi delle strutture e indicando che l'entità dell’attrazione è legata a dimensione, volume e complessità delle strutture. Risultati simili sono emersi per le comunità bentoniche, evidenziando che dimensione e complessità delle strutture hanno diversi effetti sulle comunità bentoniche, influenzando i tempi necessari per raggiungere una nuova comunità diversificata. Infine, i risultati hanno mostrato che le strutture possono offrire rifugio e aumentare la disponibilità di prede per le specie presenti anche se, per le specie studiate, questo è stato dimostrato più chiaramente per S. notata che per S. porcus. Alla luce di questi risultati si suggerisce una valutazione caso per caso delle opzioni di dismissione in Mare Adriatico, per evitare effetti secondari sulla comunità ittica e bentonica.The extraction of natural gas represents one of the most relevant anthropogenic stressors affecting the Adriatic Sea, due to the high concentration of gas platforms. Moreover, the existing structures are approaching the end of their productive life and over the next years their decommissioning will be inevitable. To provide insights on the effects of offshore platforms on hosting ecosystems the thesis, taking into account a subsea well-site, a 4-leg platform and a 1-leg platform, has been built upon four main tasks: - quantity and biochemical composition of organic matter in the sediment; - abundance and biodiversity of macrobenthic communities; - abundance, biomass and biodiversity of fish assemblages; - diet of Scorpaena notata and S. porcus. The thesis showed higher chlorophyll-a and phaeopigment sedimentary contents at increasing distance from the 4-leg platform suggesting that structures with a complex architecture can mirror the ecosystem engineering behavior of branched corals living in incoherent sediments. Moreover, the results highlighted the aggregation effect of the artificial structures under scrutiny on fish assemblages, with higher abundance and biomass of fish close to the structures. The results evidenced also that the magnitude of the attraction is related to dimension, volume and design of the structures. Similar results emerged for macrobenthic communities, highlighting that dimension and complexity of structures have different effects on benthic communities, affecting amplitude and timing required to reach a new diversified community. Moreover, the results showed that the artificial structures can offer shelter and increase prey availability for the studied species, even if more clearly for S. notata than for S. porcus. In the light of these findings, a case-by-case evaluation of decommissioning options in the Adriatic Sea should be recommended to avoid any secondary effect on the established fish and benthic communities

Serum Free Light Chains Removal by HFR Hemodiafiltration in Patients with Multiple Myeloma and Acute Kidney Injury. a Case Series

Background/Aims: Multiple myeloma (MM) represents 10% of all haematologic malignancies. Renal involvement occurs in 50% of MM patients; of them, 12-20% have acute kidney injury (AKI), with 10% needing dialysis at presentation. While hemodialysis (HD) has no effect upon circulating and tissue levels of monoclonal proteins, novel apheretic techniques aim at removing the paraproteins responsible for glomerular / tubular deposition disease. High cut-off HD (HCO-HD) combined with chemotherapy affords a sustained reduction of serum free light chains (FLC) levels. One alternative technology is haemodiafiltration with ultrafiltrate regeneration by adsorption on resin (HFR–SUPRA), employing a “super high-flux” membrane (polyphenylene S-HF, with a nominal cut-off of 42 kD). Aim of our pilot study was to analyze the effectiveness of HFR-SUPRA in reducing the burden of FLC, while minimizing albumin loss and hastening recovery of renal function in 6 subjects with MM complicated by AKI. Methods: Six HD-dependent patients with MM were treated with 5 consecutive sessions of HFR-SUPRA on a Bellco® monitor, while simultaneously initiating chemotherapy. Levels of albumin and FLC were assessed, calculating the rates of reduction. Renal outcome, HD withdrawal and clinical follow-up or death were recorded. Results: All patients showed a significant reduction of FLC, whereas serum albumin concentration remained unchanged. In three, HD was withdrawn, switching to a chemotherapy alone regimen. The other patients remained HD-dependent and died shortly thereafter for cardiovascular complications. Conclusion: Our study suggests that HFR-SUPRA provides a rapid and effective reduction in serum FLC in patients with MM and AKI

Multi-benthic size approach to unveil different environmental conditions in a Mediterranean harbor area (Ancona, Adriatic Sea, Italy)

Harbors are hubs of human activity and are subject to the continuous discharge and release of industrial, agricultural, and municipal waste and contaminants. Benthic organisms are largely known to reflect environmental conditions they live in. Despite meio- and macrofauna interacting within the benthic system, they are ecologically distinct components of the benthos and as such may not necessarily respond to environmental conditions and/or disturbances in the same way. However, in a few field studies the spatial patterns of meio- and macrofauna have been simultaneously compared. In the present study, we assess the response and patterns in the abundance, diversity, and distribution of the two benthic size classes to the different environmental conditions they live in (i.e., sediment concentrations of selected trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); organic matter contents and grain size) characterizing the Ancona Harbor (Adriatic Sea). Meio- and macrofauna provided partially similar types of information depending on the indices used (univariate measures or community structure/species composition) and the different ‘response-to-stress’. The community structure (i.e., taxa composition) of both benthic size components clearly showed differences among sampling stations located from inside to outside the harbor, reflecting the marked environmental heterogeneity and disturbance typically characterizing these systems. Notwithstanding, the univariate measures (i.e., meio- and macrofauna total abundance, diversity indices and equitability) didn’t show similar spatial patterns. Meiofauna were likely to be more sensitive to the effects of environmental features and contaminants than macrofauna. Overall, trace metals and PAHs affected the community composition of the two benthic components, but only the meiofauna abundance and diversity were related to the environmental variables considered (i.e., quantity and quality oforganic matter). Our results pinpoint the importance of studying both meio- and macrofauna communities, which could provide greater insight into the processes affecting the investigated area and reveal different aspects of the benthic ecosystems in response to harbor conditions

Prvi nalaz vrste Paradiopatra bihanica (Polychaeta, onuphidae) u Jadranskom moru

Paradiopatra bihanica (Intes & Le Loeuff, 1975) (Polychaeta, Onuphidae) is reported for the first time in the Adriatic Sea. In this study the morphological characters of the observed individuals are provided, as well as the extension of its hitherto geographical distribution.Paradiopatra bihanica (Intes & Le Loeuff, 1975) (Polychaeta, Onuphidae) je po prvi put pronađena u Jadranskom moru. U ovom radu su prikazane morfološke karakteristike istraživanih jedinki, te su priloženi podaci o njezinoj geografskoj raspodjeli

Prvi nalaz školjkaša Tellimya tenella (Lovén, 1846) u talijanskom dijelu Jadranskog mora

Alive specimens belonging to Tellimya tenella (Lovén, 1846) were recorded for the first time in Adriatic Sea. Up to date, only few pleistocene fossils or empty valves of this species had been reported in Italian waters.Žive jedinke Tellimya tenella (Lovén, 1846.) prvi su puta zabilježeni u Jadranskom moru. Do danas je u talijanskim vodama zabilježeno svega nekoliko pleistocenskih fosila ili praznih ljuski ove vrste

Anadara kagoshimensis (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Arcidae) in Adriatic Sea: morphological analysis, molecular taxonomy, spatial distribution, and prediction

Morphological analysis, molecular characterization, and information on distribution and density of Anadara kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906) specimens collected in the Adriatic Sea were here carried out as based on various material and data from five surveys conducted from 2010 to 2014, for a total of 329 bottom trawl hauls. The morphological and molecular analyses allowed to clarify the confused taxonomy regarding the biggest ark clam alien species invading the Italian waters and the Mediterranean Sea. The analysis on distribution and density revealed that A. kagoshimensis mostly occurs along the Italian coast at depths from 8 to 50 m, with a catch frequency of more than 98% in all hauls performed on silty-clay sediment at 8-30 m depth. The hotspot map clearly shows a reduction of its distribution area from 2010 to 2012

Impact on Macro-Benthic Communities of Hydraulic Dredging for Razor Clam Ensis minor in the Tyrrhenian Sea

Bivalve molluscs fishery is of great importance along the Italian coasts, both in economic and landing terms, and different edible bivalve species are harvested both in Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas. A medium-term assessment of the impact of the hydraulic dredges targeting razor clam Ensis minor on macro-benthic community was made during two surveys carried out in winter 2017 and late spring – summer 2018 in central Tyrrhenian Sea, which represents the main fishing ground for this species. The study area was located between 1 and 4 m depth, within 0.3 nautical miles from the coast. A net sampler (40 cm width, 18 cm height, and 14 mm mesh size) was mounted on a commercial dredge (3 m width) and enabled to collect specimens of the smallest sizes for the entire community present in the areas. A control area was identified where fishing does not occur, in order to compare exploited and not exploited sea bottoms. The results show that benthic assemblages found in dredged areas are characterized by species living in high-energy habitat, due to the closeness to the shore, and thus showing a high resilience at medium-term disturbs. Differences in species richness were not clearly evident both for the entire community and for the mollusc assemblages evaluated over the two surveys, among the control and the impacted areas, with few exceptions mainly depending on local conditions and anthropic pressure. Thus, even if the benthic community is typical of a moderately disturbed environment, the effects of fishing on the community structure are still discernible over and above the natural variation

Ecological effects of offshore artificial structures at sea on macrobenthic and fish assemblages (NW Adriatic Sea)

L’estrazione di gas rappresenta uno dei maggiori fattori di stress antropici presenti in Mar Adriatico, dove si trova un’alta concentrazione di piattaforme. Inoltre le strutture esistenti si stanno avvicinando alla fine della loro vita produttiva e nel corso dei prossimi anni la loro dismissione diventerà inevitabile. Per fornire approfondimenti sugli effetti delle piattaforme sull’ecosistema marino la tesi, che ha considerato un pozzo, una piattaforma a 4-gambe e una monopalo, è stata strutturata in quattro argomenti: - quantità e composizione biochimica della sostanza organica nel sedimento; - abbondanza e biodiversità delle comunità macrobentoniche; - abbondanza, biomassa e biodiversità del popolamento ittico; - dieta di Scorpaena notata e S. porcus. I contenuti sedimentari di clorofilla-a e i feopigmenti sono risultati maggiori all'aumentare della distanza dalla piattaforma, suggerendo che piattaforme con una struttura complessa possono riflettere il comportamento di ecosystem engineering dei coralli che vivono in sedimenti incoerenti. Inoltre è stato evidenziato l'effetto aggregazione delle strutture in esame sulla comunità ittica, registrando abbondanza e biomassa maggiori nei pressi delle strutture e indicando che l'entità dell’attrazione è legata a dimensione, volume e complessità delle strutture. Risultati simili sono emersi per le comunità bentoniche, evidenziando che dimensione e complessità delle strutture hanno diversi effetti sulle comunità bentoniche, influenzando i tempi necessari per raggiungere una nuova comunità diversificata. Infine, i risultati hanno mostrato che le strutture possono offrire rifugio e aumentare la disponibilità di prede per le specie presenti anche se, per le specie studiate, questo è stato dimostrato più chiaramente per S. notata che per S. porcus. Alla luce di questi risultati si suggerisce una valutazione caso per caso delle opzioni di dismissione in Mare Adriatico, per evitare effetti secondari sulla comunità ittica e bentonica.The extraction of natural gas represents one of the most relevant anthropogenic stressors affecting the Adriatic Sea, due to the high concentration of gas platforms. Moreover, the existing structures are approaching the end of their productive life and over the next years their decommissioning will be inevitable. To provide insights on the effects of offshore platforms on hosting ecosystems the thesis, taking into account a subsea well-site, a 4-leg platform and a 1-leg platform, has been built upon four main tasks: - quantity and biochemical composition of organic matter in the sediment; - abundance and biodiversity of macrobenthic communities; - abundance, biomass and biodiversity of fish assemblages; - diet of Scorpaena notata and S. porcus. The thesis showed higher chlorophyll-a and phaeopigment sedimentary contents at increasing distance from the 4-leg platform suggesting that structures with a complex architecture can mirror the ecosystem engineering behavior of branched corals living in incoherent sediments. Moreover, the results highlighted the aggregation effect of the artificial structures under scrutiny on fish assemblages, with higher abundance and biomass of fish close to the structures. The results evidenced also that the magnitude of the attraction is related to dimension, volume and design of the structures. Similar results emerged for macrobenthic communities, highlighting that dimension and complexity of structures have different effects on benthic communities, affecting amplitude and timing required to reach a new diversified community. Moreover, the results showed that the artificial structures can offer shelter and increase prey availability for the studied species, even if more clearly for S. notata than for S. porcus. In the light of these findings, a case-by-case evaluation of decommissioning options in the Adriatic Sea should be recommended to avoid any secondary effect on the established fish and benthic communities

Flexible Turtle Excluder Device (TED): an effective tool for Mediterranean coastal multispecies bottom trawl fisheries

The effect of a flexible Turtle Excluder Device (TED) on the catching efficiency and performance of a commercial bottom trawl was tested in a gear comparison study for a Mediterranean coastal multispecies bottom trawl fishery. The device affected neither bottom trawl technical performances (horizontal and vertical net opening and door spread) nor did it increase the required towing force, hence fuel consumption remained constant. Comparison of commercial catches for the major species demonstrated that using the TED did not affect catching efficiency, while it reduced the amount of debris. The device did not influence the size of commercial species, leaving the selective performance of the trawl unmodified. Underwater video camera recordings documented that fish caught in the net swam through the grid and easily reached the cod-end, missing the TED escape opening. Easy storage and improved catch retention compared with previous devices tested in this area make the present flexible TED a practical and valuable solution to reduce turtle bycatch in coastal Mediterranean demersal multispecies fisheries

Underwater mussel culture grounds: precision technologies for management purposes

The exploitation of offshore mussel farms is becoming relevant almost everywhere, even though it lags way behind other food sectors that are already supported by mature monitoring, modeling, prediction, and analysis tools. New technologies and sensors could indeed boost this sector and alleviate key challenges facing the aquaculture industry. However, experiences and usable solutions are still scarce. Here, we propose a first attempt to introduce Augmented Reality (AR) technologies - compositing real environments and simulated objects - to increase the human perception of a scene in real time and support the management of a mussel culture ground. The case study offshore farm, located in the central Adriatic Sea, is structured in submerged mussel long-lines and, partly, in innovative submerged fixed poles. Object detection in video with deep learning is used to geo-locate buoys in real time, while a multibeam echosounder allowed geo-referenced observations of the fixed mussel poles not otherwise visible by the onboard camera. The AR prototype supports farmers to accomplish their every-day offshore tasks and have real-time visual access to the whole farm and related geographical information system