Macrophytes play an important structural and functional role in marine ecosystems but are experie... more Macrophytes play an important structural and functional role in marine ecosystems but are experiencing a considerable decline in many areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the long tradition of studies on vegetated marine habitats in the Gulf of Naples (Italy), a gap of knowledge on their long-term dynamics has recently been highlighted, mainly in the most anthropised areas. This work aimed to provide insights from the historic industrialised coastal area of the Site of National Interest (SIN) Bagnoli-Coroglio (Gulf of Pozzuoli, Italy), after decades of chemical contaminations and coastal transformation, to build a baseline for the next remediation and restoration programs. Historical occurrence of macroalgae and seagrasses before, during and after the industrial period was assessed; in particular, we focused the attention mainly on habitat-forming species, due to the vital function played in the trophic net. We observed no differences in the macroalgal diversity between the SIN district and the other parts of the Gulf of Pozzuoli, except for the Gulf of Pozzuoli during the industrial period, where the biodiversity showed a decreasing trend. However, a substantial regression of the largest macrophytes (Fucales) on rocky coasts and of marine monocots on sandy bottoms, all over the area, has been recorded. A loss of about 70% has concerned seagrass cover, mainly Posidonia oceanica, in the contaminated area of the SIN: at present, this engineering species is missing on the bottom, facing the industrialised area. The human-made coastline transformation, the lack of natural substrates and the spatial remoteness among donor populations seem to be the leading causes of the significant decrease, over time, of marine forests in this study area. These factors should be taken into account to establish conservation priorities and for plant restoration.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 11263509509436148, Sep 14, 2009
... MARIA CRISTINA BUIA e MARA MARZOCCHI" Lab. ... nicntrc ncllc zone Iagunari (... more ... MARIA CRISTINA BUIA e MARA MARZOCCHI" Lab. ... nicntrc ncllc zone Iagunari (Vcnczia. Marano, Grado) pub foniiarc prati continui di 20ha c prati discontinui di 2000ha (CANIGLIA cf o/., 1994; SCARTON cf nl., 1995; CURIEL, RISMONDO, MARZOCCHI, dati non pubblicati). ...
Investigations on the sexual reproduction of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, Cymodocea nodosa (Uc... more Investigations on the sexual reproduction of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Aschers. and Zostera noltii Hornem. were conducted in situ from 1979 to 1988 in beds around the island of Ischia. Seed germination and phenological features of seedlings of ...
The leaf growth and plant population dynamics of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanicawer... more The leaf growth and plant population dynamics of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanicawere investigated in relation to relevant environmental factors, such as temperature and irradiance. Two stands, located at 5 and 22 m in a continuous P. oceanicabed off Lacco Ameno (Island of Ischia, Gulf of Naples), were studied over 1 year. The aims of the study were: (1) to investigate the influence of temperature on the spatial and temporal growth pattern of P. oceanica, using an ad hocsimulation model of the monthly plant production; and (2) to identify the most efficient descriptors of plant growth, and therefore to achieve a simple method by which shoot production could be estimated. Irradiance is low at 22 m in the Lacco Ameno meadow, with the minimum value lower than 80 μE m -2s -1in winter. Temperature also differentiates the two water bodies in summer. The two stands differ for their structure (e.g. leaf area index), for plant production, and for some phenological features (e.g. leaf width). The best biological descriptors of plant production were identified and an equation was derived to estimate plant growth; the equation is based on the growth of the leaf of Rank 2, which describes the growth pattern of the whole plant. Significant correlations between temperature and the production descriptors were found. A numerical model of yearly leaf growth was devised. The model was validated by predicting the growth pattern of several Mediterranean P. oceanicabeds and comparing with observed values. It was also applied to simulate plant growth for the Lacco Ameno bed in preceding years, at both 5 and 22 m depths.
Studies on stress genes are fundamental to understand how marine organisms maintain or re-estabil... more Studies on stress genes are fundamental to understand how marine organisms maintain or re-estabilish a normal metabolism in face of physical or chemical disturbances. Aquatic organisms are in fact constantly exposed to environmental stimuli and natural and/or dissolved anthropogenic variables/compounds, including both physical (e.g. cold, heat, salinity and pH) and chemical (e.g. heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other pollutants) stressors. Organisms may react to these stressors by activating a series of cellular defense systems, such as defense, antioxidant and/or condition-specific proteins.In this study Reverse Transcription-Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to characterize metabolic processes at the cellular level in response to different CO2 vents. We evaluated the differential expression of selected stress genes (e.g. Glutathione S-transferase, Glutathione reductase, synthase and peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase and HSPs) in the seagrass Posidonia oceanic...
Nitric oxide : biology and chemistry / official journal of the Nitric Oxide Society, Jan 17, 2015
Nitric oxide is a versatile and powerful signaling molecule in plants. However, most of our under... more Nitric oxide is a versatile and powerful signaling molecule in plants. However, most of our understanding stems from studies on terrestrial plants and very little is known about marine autotrophs. This review summarizes current knowledge about the source of nitric oxide synthesis in marine photosynthetic organisms and its role in various physiological processes under normal and stress conditions. The interactions of nitric oxide with other stress signals and cross talk among secondary messengers are also highlighted.
Macrophytes play an important structural and functional role in marine ecosystems but are experie... more Macrophytes play an important structural and functional role in marine ecosystems but are experiencing a considerable decline in many areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the long tradition of studies on vegetated marine habitats in the Gulf of Naples (Italy), a gap of knowledge on their long-term dynamics has recently been highlighted, mainly in the most anthropised areas. This work aimed to provide insights from the historic industrialised coastal area of the Site of National Interest (SIN) Bagnoli-Coroglio (Gulf of Pozzuoli, Italy), after decades of chemical contaminations and coastal transformation, to build a baseline for the next remediation and restoration programs. Historical occurrence of macroalgae and seagrasses before, during and after the industrial period was assessed; in particular, we focused the attention mainly on habitat-forming species, due to the vital function played in the trophic net. We observed no differences in the macroalgal diversity between the SIN district and the other parts of the Gulf of Pozzuoli, except for the Gulf of Pozzuoli during the industrial period, where the biodiversity showed a decreasing trend. However, a substantial regression of the largest macrophytes (Fucales) on rocky coasts and of marine monocots on sandy bottoms, all over the area, has been recorded. A loss of about 70% has concerned seagrass cover, mainly Posidonia oceanica, in the contaminated area of the SIN: at present, this engineering species is missing on the bottom, facing the industrialised area. The human-made coastline transformation, the lack of natural substrates and the spatial remoteness among donor populations seem to be the leading causes of the significant decrease, over time, of marine forests in this study area. These factors should be taken into account to establish conservation priorities and for plant restoration.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 11263509509436148, Sep 14, 2009
... MARIA CRISTINA BUIA e MARA MARZOCCHI" Lab. ... nicntrc ncllc zone Iagunari (... more ... MARIA CRISTINA BUIA e MARA MARZOCCHI" Lab. ... nicntrc ncllc zone Iagunari (Vcnczia. Marano, Grado) pub foniiarc prati continui di 20ha c prati discontinui di 2000ha (CANIGLIA cf o/., 1994; SCARTON cf nl., 1995; CURIEL, RISMONDO, MARZOCCHI, dati non pubblicati). ...
Investigations on the sexual reproduction of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, Cymodocea nodosa (Uc... more Investigations on the sexual reproduction of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Aschers. and Zostera noltii Hornem. were conducted in situ from 1979 to 1988 in beds around the island of Ischia. Seed germination and phenological features of seedlings of ...
The leaf growth and plant population dynamics of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanicawer... more The leaf growth and plant population dynamics of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanicawere investigated in relation to relevant environmental factors, such as temperature and irradiance. Two stands, located at 5 and 22 m in a continuous P. oceanicabed off Lacco Ameno (Island of Ischia, Gulf of Naples), were studied over 1 year. The aims of the study were: (1) to investigate the influence of temperature on the spatial and temporal growth pattern of P. oceanica, using an ad hocsimulation model of the monthly plant production; and (2) to identify the most efficient descriptors of plant growth, and therefore to achieve a simple method by which shoot production could be estimated. Irradiance is low at 22 m in the Lacco Ameno meadow, with the minimum value lower than 80 μE m -2s -1in winter. Temperature also differentiates the two water bodies in summer. The two stands differ for their structure (e.g. leaf area index), for plant production, and for some phenological features (e.g. leaf width). The best biological descriptors of plant production were identified and an equation was derived to estimate plant growth; the equation is based on the growth of the leaf of Rank 2, which describes the growth pattern of the whole plant. Significant correlations between temperature and the production descriptors were found. A numerical model of yearly leaf growth was devised. The model was validated by predicting the growth pattern of several Mediterranean P. oceanicabeds and comparing with observed values. It was also applied to simulate plant growth for the Lacco Ameno bed in preceding years, at both 5 and 22 m depths.
Studies on stress genes are fundamental to understand how marine organisms maintain or re-estabil... more Studies on stress genes are fundamental to understand how marine organisms maintain or re-estabilish a normal metabolism in face of physical or chemical disturbances. Aquatic organisms are in fact constantly exposed to environmental stimuli and natural and/or dissolved anthropogenic variables/compounds, including both physical (e.g. cold, heat, salinity and pH) and chemical (e.g. heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other pollutants) stressors. Organisms may react to these stressors by activating a series of cellular defense systems, such as defense, antioxidant and/or condition-specific proteins.In this study Reverse Transcription-Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to characterize metabolic processes at the cellular level in response to different CO2 vents. We evaluated the differential expression of selected stress genes (e.g. Glutathione S-transferase, Glutathione reductase, synthase and peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase and HSPs) in the seagrass Posidonia oceanic...
Nitric oxide : biology and chemistry / official journal of the Nitric Oxide Society, Jan 17, 2015
Nitric oxide is a versatile and powerful signaling molecule in plants. However, most of our under... more Nitric oxide is a versatile and powerful signaling molecule in plants. However, most of our understanding stems from studies on terrestrial plants and very little is known about marine autotrophs. This review summarizes current knowledge about the source of nitric oxide synthesis in marine photosynthetic organisms and its role in various physiological processes under normal and stress conditions. The interactions of nitric oxide with other stress signals and cross talk among secondary messengers are also highlighted.
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