Multispectral data by the new generation of high-resolution satellite sensors for mapping phytoplankton blooms in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, southern Italy)

The HR (High-Resolution) EO (Earth Observation) satellite systems Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel 2 were tested for mapping the frequent phytoplankton blooms and Chl a distributions in the sea basin of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, southern Italy), using the sea truth calibration data acquired in 2013. The data were atmospherically corrected for accounting of the aerosol load on optically complexes waters (case II). Various blue-green and additional spectral indices ratios, were then satisfyingly tested for mapping the distribution of Chl a and differently sized phytoplankton populations through PLS (Partial Least Square regression) models, regressive statistical models and bio-optical algorithms. The PLS models demonstrated higher robustness for assessing the distribution of all the phytoplankton and Chl a except for those related to sub-surface micro-phytoplankton. The distributions obtained via a bio-optical approach (OC3 algorithm and full physically based inversion) showed a general agreement with the previous ones produced by statistical methods. The reflectance signals, captured by OLI and Sentinel 2 sensors in the visible and shorter wavelengths once atmospherically corrected, were found to be useful to map the coastal variability at detailed scale of Chl a and different phytoplankton populations, in the optically complexes waters of the Mar Piccolo

Integrated environmental characterization of the contaminated marine coastal area of Taranto, Ionian Sea (southern Italy)

The Project RITMARE (la Ricerca ITaliana per il MARE\u2014Italian Research for the sea) is one of the national research programs funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research. RITMARE (2012\u20132016), coordinated by the National Research Council (CNR), and has involved an integrated effort of most of the scientific community working on marine and maritime issues. Within the project, different marine study areas of strategic importance for the Mediterranean were identified: among these, the coastal area of Taranto (Ionian Sea, southern Italy) was chosen for the presence of large industrial settlements and their impact on the marine environment

Ecological Effect of Differently Treated Wooden Materials on Microalgal Biofilm Formation in the Grado Lagoon (Northern Adriatic Sea)

Within the framework of the Interreg Italy–Slovenia programme, the project DuraSoft aimed at testing innovative technologies to improve the durability of traditional wooden structures in socio-ecologically sensitive environments. We focused on the impact of different wood treatments (i.e., copper-based coatings and thermal modification) on microbial biofilm formation in the Grado Lagoon. Wooden samples were placed in 2 areas with diverse hydrodynamic conditions and retrieved after 6, 20, and 40 days. Light, confocal and scanning electron microscopy were employed to assess the treatment effects on the microalgal community abundance and composition. Lower hydrodynamics accelerated the colonisation, leading to higher algal biofilm abundances, regardless of the treatment. The Cu-based agents induced modifications to the microalgal community, leading to lower densities, small-sized diatoms and frequent deformities (e.g., bent apices, frustule malformation) in the genera Cylindrotheca and Cocconeis. After 20 days, taxa forming 3D mucilaginous structures, such as Licmophora and Synedra, were present on chemically treated panels compared to natural ones. While in the short term, the treatments were effective as antifouling agents, in the long term, neither the copper-based coatings nor the thermal modification successfully slowed down the biofouling colonisation, likely due to the stimulating effect of nutrients and other substances released from these solutions. The need to develop more ecosystem friendly technologies to preserve wooden structures remains urgent

Bio-irrigation in simple diagenetic models: A study in the northwestern Adriatic

In the process of setting up a benthic-pelagic coupled model for the northern adriatic Sea, the OMEXDIA model has been used to analyze through model calibration, pore-water profiles and in-situ flux data in that area. Both enhanced biodiffusive and non-local exchange formalisms were tested to represent the impact on bioirrigation on pore water solute profiles and benthic fluxes. Bayesian calibration procedure revealed that only the non-local exchange formalism allows to render simultaneously the pore water solutes profiles and fluxes at the sediment water interface when inorganic carbon, oxygen, nitrate, ammonium and phosphate dy- namics are considered jointly. While the enhanced-biodiffusive formalism is convenient to compare diffusive and total benthic fluxes of a single vari- able (derived from solutes profiles and incubation chambers respectively), it is not suited for multivariate modelling purposes. We evidence that the impact of bioirrigation on benthic-pelagic coupling strongly differ accord- ing the the chosen formalism, in particular in terms of the N:P ratio of remineralised fluxes