Researcher
Integrative Marine Ecology Department (EMI)

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Web: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5774-2190
‪Chiara Pennesi‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬‬‬

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests

My research activities are principally focused on the study of the taxonomy and phylogenetic systematics of benthic diatoms through the integration of classical and molecular approaches. One of my specialist areas is the systematic revision of the genera Mastogloia, Diplones, Anorthoneis, Hyalosira (Phylum Bacillariophyta). Until now, I have discovered and instituted 22 new taxa deposited in international museums such as Natural History Museum (London). Through my skills in taxonomy, I also study the biodiversity and ecology of microphytobenthos (MPB) using it for assessing the health of coastal marine ecosystems. In this context, the specific analysis of species of diatoms showed that some genera could be used as indicators of stressed conditions and nutrient enriched. One line of applied research that I have been exploring is the use of macroalgae industrial waste material, occurring from the processing to produce food supplements, as an innovative method for the industrial wastewater treatment and to recovery of rare and precious heavy metals (e.g., indium). Mechanisms involved in the biosorption process have a chemical-physical nature. In this context, an industrial waste material become resources to use both for the recycling of rare heavy metals and for the remediation of wastewater (Circular Economy). Other research interests concern: a) taxonomy and biodiversity of marine macroalgae and angiosperms; b) growth of algae belonging to Phylum Chlorophyta in relation to environmental parameters. All research activities have been developed based upon funding such as SYNTHESYS, DEVOTES and to important collaborations with Italian and foreign Universities.

Selected Publications

Al-Handal AY, Wulff A, Pennesi C, (2021). Mastogloia jahniae sp. nov., a new diatom (Bacillariophyceae) from the Baltic Sea coast of Sweden. Phytotaxa, 484: 121-128.

Pennesi C, Amato A, Occhialini S, Critchley AT, Totti C, Giorgini E, Conti C, Beolchini F, (2019). Adsorption of indium by waste biomass of brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum. Scientific Reports, 9: 16763.

Pennesi C, Majewska R, Sterrenburg FAS, Totti C, De Stefano M, (2018). Taxonomic revision and morphological cladistics analysis of the diatom genus Anorthoneis (Cocconeidaceae), with description of Anorthoneis arthus-bertrandii sp. nov. Phytotaxa, 336: 201-238.

Pennesi C, Danovaro R, (2017). Assessing marine environmental status through microphytobenthos assemblages colonizing the Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) and their potential in coastal marine restoration. Mar Pollut Bull, 125: 56-65.

Pennesi C, Caputo A, Lobban CS, Poulin CS, Totti C, (2017). Morphological discoveries in the genus Diploneis (Bacillariophyceae) from the tropical west Pacific, including the description of new taxa. Diatom Res, 32: 195-228.

Pennesi C, Poulin M, Totti C, (2016). Phylogenetic Relationships and Biogeography of the Diatom Genus Mastogloia (Bacillariophyceae): Revision of the Section Ellipticae Including the Description of New Taxa. Protist, 167: 148-173.

Lobban CS, Pennesi C, (2014). Two new Mastogloia species (Bacillariophyceae), M. parlibellioides and M. lyra, from coral reefs in Guam, Western Pacific. Bot Mar, 5: 41-54.

Pennesi C, Totti C, Beolchini F, (2013). Removal of Vanadium(III) and Molybdenum(V) from Wastewater Using Posidonia oceanica (Tracheophyta) Biomass. Plos One, 8 (10): art. no. e76870.

Pennesi C, Poulin M, De Stefano M, Romagnoli T, Totti C, (2012). Morphological studies of some marine Mastogloia (Bacillariophyceae) belonging to section sulcatae, including the description of new species. J Phycol., 48: 1248-1264.

Pennesi C, Vegliò F, Totti C, Romagnoli T, Beolchini F (2012). Nonliving biomass of marine macrophytes as arsenic (V) biosorbents. J Appl Phycol, 24: 1495-1502.

Websites or online articles

Lobban CS, Ashworth M, Pennesi C, Park JS, Jordan RW, Theriot EC, (2009-2020). Western Pacific Diatoms Project. ProtistCentral. http://www.protistcentral.org/index.php/Project/get/project_id/17.

Book chapters

Pennesi C, Rindi F, Totti C, Beolchini F, (2015). Marine macrophytes: Biosorbents. In: Springer Handbook of Marine Biotechnology, Springer editor; Vol. 24, pp. 597-610.