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Tamara Lazic, Giuseppe Corriero, Bachir Balech, Frine Cardone, Michele Deflorio, Bruno Fosso, Carmela Gissi, Marinella Marzano, Graziano Pesole, Monica Santamaria, Michele Gristina, Cataldo Pierri
What goes in, must come out: Evaluation of the DNA metabarcoding approach to analyse diet of threatened seahorses

Seahorses are considered flagship species of the conservation efforts. Indeed, due to the worldwide decline of local populations during the last decades, all seahorse species were listed on the IUCN Red List and Appendix II of CITES. Because of the threatening status, improving knowledge of their dietary composition, while using a non-invasive approach, might be of great importance. Starting from faecal samples of the European seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus collected during feeding trials, we used, for the first time on these fish, metagenomic ampliconbased HTS (High Throughput Sequencing) approach. The findings indicated the reliability of the present molecular approach, allowing the characterization of the effectively ingested prey. Unlike traditional methods on faecal samples, this technique can identify items that might not leave solid remains. As only a small amount of starting faecal material is needed and the sampling procedure is neither invasive nor lethal, DNA metabarcoding appears to be useful in the investigation on threatened seahorse diet and, in future, could help to define management and conservation actions.

Erika Ottone, A. Pisto, G. Cirelli, F. Catucci, V. Aquaro, A. Colucci, N. Tragni, S. Ciccarelli, Rosalia Maglietta, Carmelo Fanizza, Roberto Carlucci
Head injuries in Loggerheads (Caretta caretta): new threat in the Gulf of Taranto?

Among the anthropogenic threats to Caretta caretta, fishing is one of the most impactful. Boating and fishing can cause traumatic injuries to sea turtles, moreover some fishermen can deliberately injure turtles which are supposed to reduce the catch and damage gear. The present study synthesizes the skull injuries treatments provided to loggerhead turtles rescued from 2013 to 2019 in the Gulf of Taranto in the Northern Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea). The type and localization of injury were analyzed in order to evaluated clinical signs, recovery times and healing rates. The timeliness of hospitalization after catch the application of correct wound treatment and good management practices in the early stages of care have been crucial to increase the chances of clinical recovery and ensure subsequent release to the sea.

Marianna Marangi, Piero Carlino, Carmelo Fanizza, Gianluca Cirelli, Annachiara Pisto, Rosalia Maglietta, Giulia Cipriano, Roberto Carlucci
Occurrence of zoonotic parasites in free-ranging dolphins and sea turtles in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea)

The occurrence of enteric protozoan parasites Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp. was molecularly investigated in free ranging species of striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) and Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles occurring in the Gulf of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea). Out of forty-two examined faecal samples, 2 samples of striped dolphins were found positive to G. duodenalis and 3 of loggerhead sea turtles were found positive to Cryptosporidium. Zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblage A and Cryptosporidium parvum were identified. This is the first report in which the presence of these pathogens have been investigated in free ranging species in this area and the first report of C. parvum in loggerhead sea turtles. These results extend the known host range of these water and foodborne parasites and confirm the widespread of zoonotic assemblages/species in the marine environment and their inhabitants probably as a results of an increasing in anthropogenic activities.

C. Fanizza, R. Colella, R. Crugliano, G. Cirelli, A. Colucci, A. Pisto, G. Cipriano, P. Ricci, R. Maglietta, R. Carlucci
Satellite tracking of loggerheads sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean Sea)

A detailed knowledge of sea turtle distribution in relation to anthropogenic threats is key to inform conservation measures. The movements of two Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) incidentally caught in the Gulf of Taranto, were tracked via satellite telemetry for between 8 and 118 days. With the caution due to the small sample size, results suggested that turtles might have very small home ranges in the area. Moreover, one of the two released loggerhead sea turtle, returning to the site where it has been accidentally captured. It has shown to have a remarkable fidelity to the site. Therefore, if confirmed and further detailed, information about sea turtle migration patterns and routes in the Gulf of Taranto will serve to plan effective conservation strategies for this species.

F. Budillon, S. Amodio, P. Contestabile, I. Alberico, S. Innangi, F. Molisso
The present-day nearshore submarine depositional terraces off the Campania coast (South-eastern Tyrrhenian Sea): an analysis of their morpho-bathymetric variability

A census of about 76 near-shore Submarine Depositional Terraces (n-SDT) has been realized along the Campania offshore, in order to verify the correlation of their edge depths versus their fetch - used as a proxy of the wave forcing- at a regional scale. The main morphometric parameters of each terrace were derived from high resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), by means of a GIS-based software. A moderate correlation occurs between the edge depth and the geographical exposure of all the n-SDTs and it improves if the NW- oriented terraces only are considered; the best correlation is observed with the edge depth of the n-SDT developed around the rocky cliffs and promontories. A complementary analysis of the extreme wave climate in the area, in relation with the edge depth of n-SDTs, was also carried out. The aims of this study are to learn more on the morpho-bathymetric variability of these coastal bodies and to provide clues on the use of their past counterparts as morphological proxies of past sea level stands.

Glauco Gallotti, Guido Ventura, Alberto Armigliato, Filippo Zaniboni, Gianluca Pagnoni, Liang Wang, Salvatore Passaro, Marco Sacchi, Marco Ligi, Stefano Tinti
Tsunamigenic mass-failure scenarios in the Palinuro volcano chain

The Palinuro volcanic chain is located nearly 80 km offshore the Campania coasts (Italy), in the southern sector of the Tyrrhenian Sea. 15 distinct volcanic edifices have been recently detected. The presence of shallow seismicity and active hydrothermal activity suggests that this large volcanic chain is still active. Specific sectors of the complex show the existence of ongoing slope instability. Thus, the chance of mass movements following seismic or volcanic activity cannot be ruled out. Stability analysis for typical seismic loads in such a volcanic area has been performed. Three mass failure scenarios have been reconstructed through numerical models in the weaker sections found. The tsunami triggered by each slide has been simulated, and large waves have been found in two of the three hypothesized scenarios. For the biggest slide of 2.4 km3, waves as high as 6 m could reach portions of the Calabria region coasts.

Gemma Aiello
An updated reporting of rhodolith deposits in the offshore of Ischia (Gulf of Naples, Italy)

In this work, the occurrence of rhodolith deposits on the sea bottom of the Ischia offshore is highlighted on the base of sedimentological data coming from samples collected during the marine geological mapping of the Ischia Island coupled with seismo-stratigraphic data derived from the geological interpretation of Sparker seismic profiles. The sea bottom samples are rich in bioclasts, mainly gravelly sands. These deposits prevail in the eastern Ischia offshore, on the relict volcanic edifice of the Ischia Bank and on the genetically related parasitic vent and in the Ischia Channel. Subordinately, these deposits occur also in the northern Ischia offshore (Casamicciola) and on the top of the Forio Bank. The ternary plots of the sedimentological data have shown that the main lithologies are represented by silty sands and gravelly sands, sands and gravelly sands and subordinately, by sandy silts. The seismo-stratigraphic data have suggested that these deposits are mainly inter-layered in the highstand deposits. Further studies are required in order to collect new ecological data from the studied samples.

Marta Azzolin, Matteo Costantino, Sebastien Saintignan, Guido Pietroluongo
Mediterranean monk seals increased detection in the Gulf of Corinth (Greece) during CoViD 19 lockdown

Cryptic endangered species, such as the Mediterranean monk seal, need special conservation measure s for their survival and habitat protection. Globally, CoViD 19 lockdown played as an environmental simulation of protection measu res and practical conservation actions , such as the ban or mitigation of human activities in key habitat s for the marine species. An analysis of the comparison between historical data and lockdown data about the presence of monk seal in the Gulf of Corinth remarked the evidence of increased sightings frequency of free ranging individuals within the Alkionides Gulf , along the Perachora Peninsula, which could have beneficiated of the low anthropogenic impact situation. This area of the Gulf of Corinth indeed represents an essential habitat for this endangered spec ies in Greek waters, where the enforcement of conservation measures will lead to effective protection, allowing seals population to increase, disperse, and recolonise crucial sites.

Sebastien Saintignan, Matteo Costantino, Anastasia Milou, Sarah Moscatelli, Guido Pietroluongo, Marta Azzolin
Habitat use of Delphinus delphis (Linnaeus, 1758) in the southern waters of Samos island (Aegean Sea, Greece)

The Mediterranean short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis (Linnaeus, 1758) is classified as "Endangered" by the IUCN Red List. Living in coastal waters, D. delphis is often exposed to human activities. In the southern water of Samos Island (Aegean Sea, Greece). D. delphis population is less exposed with anthropogenic activities. For that reason, it is important to have a better understanding of the critical habitats in this area to implement effective measures of protection. The analysis of distribution and behavioural data allow to determine the presence of 2 feeding areas, 1 traveling area, and 1 socializing area. The traveling area corresponds to a zone where dolphins move among the other areas. The analysis of dolphin behaviour shows that D. delphis interacts positively to boat presence in all areas. Particularly. Having a better understanding of the environmental data in this area could allowed a better comprehension of the D. delphis behaviour.

Patrice Hostetter, Alexandra Koroza, Thodoris Tsimpidis, Guido Pietroluongo, Roberto Carlucci, Giulia Cipriano
Occurrence of Physeter macrocephalus and Ziphius cavirostris in the North Ikaria Basin, Aegean Sea

The presence of two of the eight regular cetaceans of the Mediterranean Sea, the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) is well-documented in the Western and Central Mediterranean Sea. In contrast, little information is available on their distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially in the North Ikaria Basin (Greece), an underestimated important habitat for both species. Seasonal opportunistic visual surveys were conducted in this area from 2017 to 2019 to investigate their distribution. Out of 16 surveys, 4 sightings of P. macrocephalus and 2 sightings of Z. cavirostris were recorded. This is the first published, confirmed visual record of Z. cavirostris in this area. The documentation of both species in this preliminary study represents a significant contribution to consider efficient conservation action in this important area.

Page 124 of 977 Results 1231 - 1240 of 9762