Changes in the benthic algal flora and vegetation of a semi-enclosed Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Stagnone di Marsala, Western Sicily)

È stato condotto uno studio sulla flora e vegetazione macroalgale dello Stagnone di Marsala (Trapani) con l’obiettivo di fornire una revisione dei dati riportati in letteratura ed esaminare i principali cambiamenti che si sono verificati nell’intera area negli ultimi tre decenni. La flora algale è risultata più povera rispetto al passato (94 taxa contro 108), mostrando un incremento delle Cloroficee e una riduzione delle Rodoficee e delle Feoficee. Solo 48 taxa sono stati riportati precedentemente, mentre 46 sono nuovi per lo Stagnone. Tra questi, è interessante sottolineare sia da un punto di vista floristico che ecologico, il ritrovamento per la prima volta dell’alga bruna Cystoseira compressa (Esper) Gerloff & Nizamuddin e delle alghe invasive Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder e Lophocladia lallemandii (Montagne) F. Schmitz. Al contrario, 60 taxa riportati precedentemente non sono stati trovati nel presente studio. In particolare, si annovera la scomparsa dell’alga verde Lamprothamnium papulosum (Wallroth) Groves e dell’alga bruna Cystoseira barbata (Stackhouse) C. Agardh f. aurantia (Kützing) Giaccone. L’elevato grado di confinamento e la natura del substrato sono stati i principali fattori che hanno influenzato il numero dei taxa e l’abbondanza delle comunità fitobentoniche, con valori massimi nelle stazioni caratterizzate da un buon ricambio idrico e/o dalla presenza di comunità dominate da Cystoseira. Nel presente studio vengono proposte alcune ipotesi per descrivere i cambiamenti nella composizione e struttura delle comunità fitobentoniche all’interno della laguna come conseguenza degli effetti del riscaldamento globale in atto negli ultimi anni.A study of the benthic macroalgal flora and vegetation of the Stagnone di Marsala (Trapani) has been performed in order to provide an up-to-date review of the status of and verify main changes that have occurred in the area over the past three decades. The flora of this study was poorer in taxa than that of literature (94 taxa against 108), with an increase in Chlorophyta and a decrease in Rhodophyta and Phaeophyceae. Only 48 taxa in the present flora have been previously reported, while 46 are new for the Stagnone. Among these, it was noteworthy, from both floristic and ecological point of view, the record for the first time of Cystoseira compressa (Esper) Gerloff & Nizamuddin and the invasive algae Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder and Lophocladia lallemandii (Montagne) F. Schmitz. On the contrary, 60 taxa previously reported have not been detected during the present study. Among these, Lamprothamnium papulosum (Wallroth) Groves and Cystoseira barbata (Stackhouse) C. Agardh f. aurantia (Kützing) Giaccone have been the most significant disappearances. High degree of confinement and sediment composition were the major factors affecting number of taxa and abundance of the phytobenthic communities, with maximum values in the stations characterized by a good water exchange and/or presence of Cystoseira assemblages. As a result of the effects of global warming over the past few years, noticeable changes in composition and structure of phytobenthic communities in the lagoon have been observed and some hypotheses of expected changes are here proposed

Chapter Monitoring of Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Sicilian coasts under the Water Framework Directive (WFD)

The present paper aims to assess for the first time the ecological status of the Sicilian water bodies using the PREI (Posidonia oceanica Rapid Easy Index) method according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) requirements. The PREI is based on five metrics: shoot density, shoot leaf surface area, E/L ratio, depth of lower limit, and type of this lower limit. Monitoring of the 29 P. oceanica meadows allowed to classify the 20 WBs of Sicilian coasts in the first two levels of status: 10 as “high” and 10 as “good” with the PREI values ranged between 0,551 and 1

Chapter Assessment of the ecological status of Sicilian coastal waters according to a macroalgae based index (CARLIT)

In the frame of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC), a macroalgae based index (CARLIT) was applied along the Sicilian coastal water bodies (WBs) in order to assess for the first time their ecological status and collect accurate information on the distribution and abundance of shallow-water communities, especially of those most sensitive. The ecological quality ratio values, sensu WFD, showed “high”/“good” levels in all WBs with lushy forests of Cystoseira amentacea except two with “moderate” level due to the presence of stress-tolerant species related to local factors

The community of Cystoseira brachycarpa J. Agardh emend. Giaccone (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) in a shallow hydrothermal vent area of the Aeolian Islands (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

A Cystoseira brachycarpa community from a vent area off Panarea Island (Italy) was investigated in two sites at different pH values. At low pH, species richness and coverage were low and the community displayed a reduced reproductive capacity. Conversely, at normal pH, dense canopies of fertile C. brachycarpa were found

Prvi nalaz invazivne zelene alge Codium fragile ssp. fragile (Chlorophyta, Bryopsidales) u vodama talijanske pokrajine Abruzzi, srednji Jadran

The authors report for the first time on the invasive green alga Codium fragile ssp. fragile (Suringar) Hariot from the Adriatic coast of the Abruzzi Region of Italy (central Adriatic Sea). Several thalli have been found stranded on the beach of Silvi Marina since November 2015. This species, native to East Asia, has widely invaded several locations of the Mediterranean where it has been probably introduced through boating or shellfish aquaculture.Autori izvješćuju po prvi put o nalazu invazivne zelene alge Codium fragile ssp. fragile (Suringar) Hariot s jadranske obale talijanske pokrajine Abruzzo (središnji Jadran). Nekoliko talija je pronađeno na plaži u mjestu Silvi Marina u studenom 2015. godine. Ova vrsta, porijeklom iz istočne Azije, se rasprostranila na nekoliko Sredozemnih lokacija gdje je vjerojatno unesena plovilom ili akvakulturom školjkaša

Cultivable fungal endophytes in roots, rhizomes and leaves of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile along the Coast of Sicily, Italy

The presence of endophytic fungi in the roots, rhizomes, and leaves of Posidonia oceanica was evaluated in different localities of the Sicilian coast. Samples of roots, rhizomes, and leaves were submitted to isolation techniques, and the obtained fungal colonies were identified by morphological and molecular (rRNA sequencing) analysis. Fungal endophytes occurred mainly in roots and occasionally in rhizomes and leaves. Lulwoana sp. was the most frequent of the isolated taxa, suggesting a strong interaction with the host. In addition, eight other fungal taxa were isolated. In particular, fungi of the genus Ochroconis and family Xylariaceae were identified as endophytes in healthy plants at all sampling stations, whereas Penicillium glabrum was isolated at only one sampling station. Thus, several organs, especially roots of Posidonia oceanica, harbor endophytic fungi, potentially involved in supporting the living host as ascertained for terrestrial plants

Chapter Monitoring of Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Sicilian coasts under the Water Framework Directive (WFD)

The present paper aims to assess for the first time the ecological status of the Sicilian water bodies using the PREI (Posidonia oceanica Rapid Easy Index) method according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) requirements. The PREI is based on five metrics: shoot density, shoot leaf surface area, E/L ratio, depth of lower limit, and type of this lower limit. Monitoring of the 29 P. oceanica meadows allowed to classify the 20 WBs of Sicilian coasts in the first two levels of status: 10 as “high” and 10 as “good” with the PREI values ranged between 0,551 and 1