Coordinator: Francesco Paolo Patti

Activities

In the Laboratory of Integrative Taxonomy of Marine Organisms the activities are based on the analysis of classic taxonomy, phylogeny and comparative phylogeography of marine organisms by means of a multidisciplinary integrated approach (morphological, molecular, cellular and ecological). Following the main activities:

• Sample sorting, identification and counting in ecological and monitoring projects (e.g. Marine Strategy).
• Expert identification of organisms using traditional and advanced morphological and molecular methods (including preparation and deposition of genetic and ecological vouchers).
• Extraction and storage of DNA from different organisms (seaweeds and marine invertebrates tissue).
• RNA extraction from different organisms (seaweeds and marine invertebrates tissue).
• Extraction of secondary metabolites.
• Mini-gel electrophoresis and digital documentation.
• PCR amplification of DNA.
• Molecular cloning of target DNA segments (plasmid preps, restriction and PCR analysis).
• Real-Time fluorescent-based polymerase chain reaction.
• DNA barcoding.
• Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism.
• DNA sequencing of fragments (in collaboration with SZN Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit).
• Analysis of DNA sequences including the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees.

Systems for the experimentation

• Dedicated lab protocols.
• Bioinformatic systems analysis: 1) study of nucleotide variability (ad-hoc open source software for metadata analysis); 2) decomposing morphotypes forms into size and shape by geometric morphometric methods.

Analysis

• Analysis of DNA sequences including the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees.
• Analysis of the morphological variability and the genetic polymorphism.
• Analysis of allele frequency and genotype distribution.
• Analysis of terminal restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism.
• Preparation of samples for morphological analysis (using dedicated buffer solutions for microscope observations - Stereomicroscope and Scanning Electron Microscope) and molecular analysis (cryopreservation, standards and RNAlater fixatives for tissue preservation).

Equipment

• Stereomicroscope.
• Vibratome.
• Rotavapor.
• Chemical fume hood.
• Laminar flow hood.
• Mini-Gel horizontal electrophoresis systems.
• Refrigerated Bench-top Centrifuge.
• Spectrophotometer "Genequant Pro Classic".
• PCRs (Techne- Euroclone).
• RTPCR BIO RAD Opticon 2.
• Incubator for cell cultures.
• Analytical balance.
• Temperature controlled water bath (5l, +30°C/+120°C).
• Bench-top vortex mixer with general purpose head.
• Vertical laboratory autoclave and steam sterilizer.
• Laboratory Ice Machine.
• Liquid nitrogen dewars (5l+30l).
• Vertical Ultrafreezer -86°C.
• Vertical Freezers -20°C.
• UVP BioDoc imaging workstations for gel documentation and fluorescent imaging.
• Dedicated computer for phylogenetic reconstruction and data mining.

Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn

Secretariat of the President

Giovanna Di Gennaro, Office Responsible
Margherita Groeben
Gabriella Grossi

Secretariat of the Director

Daniela Consiglio, Office Responsible
Italia Canettieri
Silvia Chieffi
Rosanna Messina
Simona Sannola

Naples

Villa Comunale
80121 - Naples, Italy
Tel.: +39 081 5833111
Fax: +39 081 7641355
Secretariat: +39 081 5833218
e-mail: stazione.zoologica(at)szn.it
certified mail: ufficio.protocollo(at)cert.szn.it

Ischia

"Villa Dohrn"
Punta S. Pietro
80077 - Ischia, Naples, Italy
Tel. +39 081 5833521
Fax. +39 081 984201
e-mail: rosanna.messina(at)szn.it

Promotes interdisciplinary research on biodiversity, structure and functioning of marine ecosystems.

The mission of the Integrative Marine Ecology Department (IME Department) is to conduct and to promote multi-faceted, scientific research focusing on the functioning of pelagic and benthic systems at the organism, community and ecosystem levels.

We focus on biological, physiological and evolutionary processes shaping organism-organism and organism-environmental interactions, and their implications for the preservation of biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Our research also explores the use of marine biodiversity for biotechnological applications in the food and health sectors.

Our shared expertise covers such fields as ecology, behaviour, taxonomy, phylogeny, population genetics, physiology, ecotoxicology, genomics and transcriptomics, chemistry, oceanography and mathematical modelling and includes a range of observational and experimental approaches both in the field as well as under controlled laboratory conditions.

Sampling of pelagic and ecosystems includes the use of oceanographic vessels, small boats, and SCUBA diving; the department also has logistic and instrument facilities that include a collection of marine microalgae, climate-controlled rooms for experimental work on marine organisms, fermenters and photobioreactors for the mass cultivation of microalgae, indoor and outdoor mesocosms for manipulative experiments in situ.

Other available platforms include light, confocal, SEM and TEM microscopy, molecular biology techniques, biological assays, flow cytometry, image analysis, HPLC, spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry.

2018

Foo S.A., Byrne M, Gambi M.C. (2018) Residing at low pH matters, resilience of the egg jelly coat of sea urchins living at a CO2 vent site. Marine Biology, 165:97 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-018-3359-2

Kumar A., AbdElgawad H., Castellano I., Selim S., Beemster G.T.S., Asard H., Buia M.C., Palumbo A. (2018). Effects of ocean acidification on the levels of primary and secondary metabolites in the brown macroalga Sargassum vulgare at different time scales. Science of the Total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.176.

Lucey NM, Lombardi C, Florio M, Rundle SD, Calosi P, Gambi MC (2018) A comparison of life-history traits in calcifying Spirorbinae polychaetes living along natural pH gradients. Marine Ecology Progress Series 589: 141-152.

Mutalipassi M, Di Natale M, Mazzella V, Zupo V (2018) Automated culture of aquatic model organisms: shrimp larvae husbandry for the needs of research and aquaculture. Animal 12: 155-163.

Porzio L, Buia MC, Ferretti V, Lorenti M, Rossi M, Trifuoggi M, Vergara A, Arena C (2018). Photosynthesis and mineralogy of Jania rubens at low/high pCO2: a future perspective. Science of total Environment, 628-629: 375-383. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.065. 

2017

Ambroso, S., Salazar, J., Zapata-Guardiola, R., Federwisch, L., Richter, C., Gili, J.M. & Teixidó, N. (2017). Pristine populations of habitat-forming gorgonian species on the Antarctic continental shelf. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 12251.

Crisci, C., Ledoux, J.B., Mokhtar-Jamaï, K., Bally, M., Bensoussan, N., Aurelle, D., Cebrian, E., Coma, R., Féral, J.P., Rivière, M., Linares, C., López-Sendino, P., Marschal, C., Ribes, M., Teixidó, N., Zuberer, F., & Garrabou, J. (2017). Regional and local environmental conditions do not shape the response to warming of a marine habitat-forming species. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 5069.

Gambi, M.C., Carugati, F., Crocetta, F., Gianguzza, P. (2017). Aplisie in …piscina! Una popolazione di Aplysia dactylomela (Heterobranchia, Aplysiidae) nell’isola di Ustica. Notiziario S.I.B.M. 72, 99-102

Gara, A. B., Kolsi, R. B. A., Chaaben, R., Hammami, N., Kammoun, M., Patti, F. P., El Feki, A., Fki, L., Belghith, H. and Belghith, K. (2017). Inhibition of key digestive enzymes related to hyperlipidemia and protection of liver-kidney functions by Cystoseira crinita sulphated polysaccharide in high-fat diet-fed rats. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 85, 517-526.

Garrabou, J., Sala, E., Linares, C., Ledoux, J.B., Montero-Serra, I., Dominici, J.M., Kipson, S., Teixidó, N., Cebrian, E., Kersting, D.K. & Harmelin, J.G. (2017). Re-shifting the ecological baseline for the overexploited Mediterranean red coral. Scientific Reports, 7, p.42404.

Giangrande A., Gambi M.C., Gravina M.F. (2017). Paradigm shifts in community ecology: open vs closed units, challenges and limits of connectivity studies. Marine Ecology, 38(6): DOI.org/10.1111/maec.12480.

Hardege J.D., Rotchell J.M., Gambi M.C., Waege J. (2017). Target gene expression studies on Platynereis dumerilii and Platynereis cfr massiliensis at the shallow CO2 vents off Ischia, Italy. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science. DOI.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2017.11.012.

Kolsi, R. B. A., Frikha, D., Salah, H. B., Jribi, I., Patti, F. P., Allouche, N., Belghith, K. (2017). Phenolic composition and biological activities of brown alga Dictyopteris polypodioides. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 6(2), 109-113.

Kumar A., Abdelgawad H., Castellano I., Lorenti M., Delledonne M., Beemster G.T.S., Asard H., Buia M.C., Palumbo A. (2017). Physiological and biochemical analysis shed light into the response of Sargassum vulgare to ocean acidification at different time scales. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8:570. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00570

Kumar A, Castellano I, Patti FP, Delledonne M, Abdelgawad H, Beemster Gts, Asard H, Palumbo A, Buia MC (2017) Molecular response of Sargassum vulgare to acidification at volcanic CO2 vents - insights from de novo transcriptomic analysis. Molecular Ecology, DOI: 10.1111/mec.14034

Meccariello, A., Monti, S. M., Romanelli, A., Colonna, R., Primo, P., Inghilterra, M. G., Del Corsano, G., Ramaglia, A., Iazzetti, G., Chiarore, A., Patti, F. P., Heinze, S.D., Salvemini, M., Lindsay, H., Chiavacci, E., Burger, A., Robinson, M.D., Mosimann, C., Bopp, D., Saccone, G. (2017). Highly efficient DNA-free gene disruption in the agricultural pest Ceratitis capitata by CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 10061.

Nogueira, P., Gambi, M. C., Vizzini, S., Califano, G., Tavares, A. M., Santos, R., & Martínez-Crego, B. (2017). Altered epiphyte community and sea urchin diet in Posidonia oceanica meadows in the vicinity of volcanic CO2 vents. Marine Environmental Research, 127, 102-111.

Porzio L., Buia M.C., Lorenti M., De Maio A., Arena C. (2017). Physiological responses of a population of Sargassum vulgare (Phaeophyceae) to high pCO2/low pH: implications for its long-term distribution. Science of The Total Environment, 576: 917-925. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.096

Ravaglioli C., Lauritano C., Buia M.C., Balestri E., Capocchi A., Fontanini D., Pardi G., Tamburello L., Procaccini G., Bulleri F. (2017). Nutrients loading modulates seagrass response to ocean acidification. Scientific Reports, 7: 13732, DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-14075-8

Scartazza A., Moscatello S., Gavrichkova O., Buia M.C., Lauteri M., Battistelli A., Lorenti M., Calfapietra C., Brugnoli E. (2017). Carbon and nitrogen allocation strategy in Posidonia oceanica is altered by seawater acidification. Science of The Total Environment, 607-608:954-964. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.084.

Santin A., Moschin E, Lorenti M, Moro I, Buia MC (2017). Caulerpa cylindracea and ocean acidification. In: E. Ozhan (Ed), Coastal and Marine Sciences, Engineering, Management and Conservation:505-514. ISBN: 978-605-85652-6-5.

Scipione, M.B., Kroeker, K.J., Ricevuto, E., Gambi, M.C. (2017). Amphipod assemblages along shallow water natural pH gradients: data from artificial substrata (Island of Ischia, Italy). Biodiversity Journal 8 (2), 469-470.

Scipione M.B., Lo Brutto S., Cirino P., Di Capua I., Guglielmo R., Patti F.P. & Sarno D. (2017). A network of italian amphipodologist in the frame of MOTAX. Biodiversity Journal,8, 661-663.

Vizzini S., Martínez-Crego B., Andolina C., Massa-Gallucci A., Connell S.D., Gambi M.C. (2017). Ocean acidification as a driver of community simplification via the collapse of higher-order and rise of lower-order consumers. Nature Scientific Report 7: 4018. DOI: http://10.0.4.14/s41598-017-03802-w

Wäge, J., Rotchell, J. M., Gambi, M. C., Hardege, J. D. (2017). Target gene expression studies on Platynereis dumerilii and Platynereis cfr massiliensis at the shallow CO2 vents off Ischia, Italy. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2017.11.012

Wäge J., Valvassori G., Hardege J.D., Shulze A., Gambi M.C. (2017). The sibling polychaetes Platynereis dumerilii and Platynereis massiliensis in the Mediterranean Sea: are phylogeographic patterns related to exposure to ocean acidification? Marine Biology, 164: 199. DOI 10.1007/s00227-017-3222-x

Zupo, V., Alexander, T.J. and Edgar, G. J. (2017). Relating trophic resources to community structure: a predictive index of food availability. Royal Society Open Science 4, 160515.

2016

Corriero, G., Pierri, C., Accoroni, S., Alabiso, G., Bavestrello, G., Barbone, E., Bastianini, M., Bazzoni, A. M., Aubry, F. B., Boero, F. Buia, M.C., Cabrini, M., Camatti, E., Cardone, F., Cataletto, B., Cattaneo Vietti, R., Cecere, E., Cibic, T., Colangelo, P., De Olazabal, A., D'Onghia, G., Finotto, S., Fiore, N., Fornasaro, D., Fraschetti, S., Gambi, M.C., Giangrande, A., Gravili, C., Guglielmo, R., Longo, C., Lorenti, M., Lugliè, A., Maiorano, P., Mazzocchi, M.G., Mercurio, M., Mastrototaro, F., Mistri, M., Monti, M., Munari, C., Musco, L., Nonnis Marzano, C., Padedda, B.C., Patti, F.P., Petrocelli, A., Piraino, S., Portacci, G., Pugnetti, A., Pulina, S., Romagnoli, T., Rosati, I., Sarno, D., Satta, C.T., Sechi, N., Schiaparelli, S., Scipione, B., Sion, L., Terlizzi, A., Tirelli, V., Totti, C., Tursi, A., Ungaro, N., Zingone, A., Zupo, V., Basset, A. (2016). Ecosystem vulnerability to alien and invasive species: a case study on marine habitats along the Italian coast. Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 26, 392-409.

Gambi MC, Patti FP (2016). Ritrovamento di “perle” in un esemplare del mollusco bivalve Crassostrea gigas (Thurnberg) (Ostreidae, Bivalvia) a Salerno. Notiziario S.I.B.M. 69: 44-48.

Gambi MC, Lorenti M, Patti FP, Zupo V (2016). An annotated list of alien marine species of the Ischia Island (Gulf of Naples). Notiziario S.I.B.M. 70: 64-68.

Gambi MC, Musco L, Giangrande A, Badalamenti F, Micheli F, Kroeker KJ. (2016). Distribution and functional traits of polychaetes in a CO2 vent system: winners and losers among closely related species. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 550:121-13.

Gara, A.B., R.B.A. Kolsi, R. Chaaben, N. Hammami, M. Kammoun, F.P. Patti, A. El Feki, L. Fki, H. Belghith and K. Belghith (2016). Inhibition of key digestive enzymes related to hyperlipidemia and protection of liver-kidney functions by Cystoseira crinita sulphated polysaccharide in high-fat diet-fed rats. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 85: 517-526. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.11.059.

Kamenos N., Perna G., Gambi, M.C., Micheli F., Kroeker K. (2016) Coralline algae in a naturally acidified ecosystem persist by maintaining control of skeletal mineralogy and size. Proceedings Royal Society B (Biological Sciences), 283: 20161159. dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.1159.

Kolsi R.B.A., Fakhfakh J., Krichen F., Jribi I., Chiarore A., Patti F.P., Blecker C., Allouche N., Belghith H. and Belghith K. (2016). Structural characterization and functional properties of antihypertensive Cymodocea nodosa sulfated polysaccharide. Carbohydrate Polymers.

Lucey, N. M., Lombardi, C., Florio, M., DeMarchi, L., Nannini, M., Rundle, S., Gambi, M. C. and Calosi, P. (2016). An in situ assessment of local adaptation in a calcifying polychaete from a shallow CO₂ vent system. Evolutionary Applications.

Porzio L, Buia MC, Lorenti M, De Maio A, Arena C (2016) Physiological responses of a population of Sargassum vulgare (Phaeophyceae) to high pCO2/low pH: implications for its long-term distribution. Science of The Total Environment, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.096

Ricevuto, E., Lanzoni, I., Fattorini, D., Regoli, F. and Gambi, M. C. (2016). Arsenic speciation and susceptibility to oxidative stress in the fanworm Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin) (Annelida, Sabellidae) under naturally acidified conditions: An in situ transplant experiment in a Mediterranean CO2 vent system. Science of the Total Environment 544, 765-773.

Rihab Ben Abdallah Kolsi, Jawhar Fakhfakh, Fatma Krichen, Imed Jribi, Antonia Chiarore, Francesco Paolo Patti, Christophe Blecker, Noureddine Allouche, Hafedh Belghith, Karima Belghith (2016). Structural characterization and functional properties of antihypertensive Cymodocea nodosa sulfated polysaccharide. Carbohydrate Polymers 05/2016; DOI:10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.05.098.

Tarallo A, Gambi M.C., D’Onofrio G. (2016) Lifestyle and DNA base composition in polychaetes. Physiological Genomics 48: 883-888. DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00018.2016.

Turner L.M., Ricevuto E., Massa-Gallucci A., Lorenti M., Gambi M.C., Calosi P. (2016) Metabolic responses to high pCO₂ conditions at a CO₂ vent site in the juveniles of a marine isopod assemblage. Marine Biology, 163: 211. DOI 10.1007/s00227-016-2984-x.

2015

BASSO L., HENDRIKS I., RODRIGUEZ-NAVARRO A., GAMBI M.C., DUARTE C.M. 2015. High pCO₂ conditions affect growth, survival and metabolism of juvenile pen shells (Pinna nobilis) at a natural CO₂ vent system (Italy). Estuaries and Coasts. DOI 10.1007/s12237-014-9936-9

CORRIERO G., PIERRI C., SACCORONI S., ALABISO G., BAVESTRELLO G., BARBONE E., et al. 2015. Ecosystem vulnerability to alien and invasive species: a case study on marine habitats along the Italian coast. Aquatic Conservation: Marine Freshwater Ecosystems. DOI: 10.1002/aqc.2550

CRISE A., KABERI H., RUIZ J., ZATSEPIN A., ARASHKEVICH E., GIANI M., KARAGEORGIS A.P., et al. 2015. A MSFD complementary approach for the assessment of pressures, knowledge and data gaps in Southern European Seas: The PERSEUS experience. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 95: 28–39.

GIAKOUMI S., POSSINGHAM H.P., GOBERT S., BOUDOURESQUE C.-F., GAMBI M.-C., KATSANEVAKIS S., et al. 2015. Towards a framework for assessment of cumulative human impacts on food webs. Conservation Biology, 29(4): 1228-1234. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12468.

KUMAR A., CASTELLANO I., PATTI F.P., PALUMBO A., BUIA M.C. 2015. Nitric oxide in marine photosynthetic organisms. Nitrix Oxide, 47: 34-39.

LAURITANO C., RUOCCO M., DATTOLO E., BUIA M.C., SILVA J., SANTOS R., OLIVÉ I.,COSTA M.M., PROCACCINI G. 2015. Response of key stress-related genes of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the vicinity of submarine volcanic vents. Biogeosciences, 12(6): 4947-4971.

LOMBARDI C., COCITO S., GAMBI M.C., TAYLOR P.D. 2015. Morphological plasticity in a calcifying modular organism to a more acidic ocean: evidence for an in situ transplant at a natural CO₂ vent system. Royal Society Open Science, 2: 140413. Dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.140413

LORENTI M., KEPPEL E., PETROCELLI A., SIGOVINI M., TAGLIAPIETRA D. 2015. The non-indigenous Paranthura japonica Richardson, 1909 (Isopoda: Anthuroidea: Paranthuridae) from the Mar Piccolo lagoon, Taranto (Italy, Mediterranean Sea). Environmental Science and Pollution Research. DOI 10.1007/s11356-015-4994-5

LUCEY N.M., LOMBARDI C., DE MARCHI L., SCHULZE A., GAMBI M.C., CALOSI P. 2015. To brood or not to brood. Are marine organisms that protect their offspring more resilient to ocean acidification? Scientific Reports, 5:12009. DOI: 10.1038/srep12009

MAIBAM C., FINK P., ROMANO G., BUIA MC, BUTERA E, ZUPO V. 2015. Centropages typicus (Crustacea, Copepoda) reacts to volatile compounds produced by planktonic algae. Marine Ecology, 36(3): 819-834. DOI:10.1111/maec.12254.

MASTROTOTARO F., CHIMIENTI G., MATARRESE A., GAMBI M.C., GIANGRANDE A. 2015. Growth and population dynamics of the non-indigenous species Branchiomma luctuosum (Annelida, Polychaeta, Sabellidae) in the Ionian Sea (Mediterranean Sea). Marine Ecology, 36: 517-529. DOI. 10.1111/maec.12160

RICEVUTO E., BENEDETTI M., REGOLI F., SPICER J.I., GAMBI M.C. 2015. Antioxidant capacity of polychaetes occurring along a natural pCO2 gradient: results of an in situ reciprocal transplant experiment. Marine Environmental Research. DO10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.09.005I

RICEVUTO E., VIZZINI S., GAMBI M.C. 2015. Ocean acidification effects on stable isotope signatures and trophic interactions of polychaete consumers and organic matter sources at a CO₂ shallow vent system. Journal Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 468: 105-117. Dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2015.03.016

TURNER L.M., RICEVUTO E., MASSA GALLUCCI A., GAMBI M.C., CALOSI P. 2015. Energy metabolism and cellular homeostasis trade-offs provide the basis for a new type of sensitivity to ocean acidification in a marine polychaete at a high CO₂ vent: adenylate and phosphagen energy pools vs. carbonic anhydrase. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 218: 2148-2151. DOI: 10.1242/j eb.117705.

VASAPOLLO C., VILLANO L., GAMBI M.C. 2015. Spatio-temporal variability of borer polychaete in Posidonia oceanica beds and its relation to meadow structure. Mediterranean Marine Science, 16(1): 136-146. DOI. 10.12681/mms.863

ZUPO V., MAIBAM C., BUIA M.C., GAMBI M.C., PATTI F.P., SCIPIONE M.B., LORENTI M., FINK P. 2015. Chemoreceptor of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica by benthic invertebrates is altered by seawater acidification. Journal of Chemical Ecology. DOI 10.1007/s10886-015-0610-x

ZUPO V., MAIBAM C., FINK P., VON ELERT E. 2015. Effect of storage on the fatty acid content of foods for post-larvae of the crustacean decapod Hippolyte inermis. Invertebrate Reproduction and Development.  DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07924259.2014.1001498

2014

DATTOLO E., RUOCCO M., BRUNET C., LORENTI M., LAURITANO C., D'ESPOSITO D., DE LUCA P., SANGES R., MAZZUCA S., PROCACCINI G. 2014. Response of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to different light environments: insights from a combined molecular and photo-physiological study. Marine Environmental Research 101: 225-236. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2014.07.010

DONNARUMMA L., LOMBARDI C., COCITO S., GAMBI M.C. 2014. Settlement pattern of Posidonia oceanica epibionts along a gradient of ocean acidification: an approach with mimics. Mediterranean Marine Science, 15(3): 498-509. DOI. 10.12681/mms.677.

HARVEY B.P., AL-JANABI, B. BROSZEIT S., CIOFFI R., KUMAR A., ARANGUREN-GASSIS M., BAILEY A., GREEN L., GSOTTBAUER C.M., HALL E.F., LECHLER M., MANCUSO F.P., PEREIRA C.O., RICEVUTO E., SCHRAM J.B., STAPP L.S., STENBERG S., SANTA ROSA L.T. 2014. Evolution of marine organisms under climate change at different levels of biological organization. Water, 6(11): 3545-3574.

GARRARD S., GAMBI M.C., SCIPIONE M.B., PATTI F.P., LORENTI M., ZUPO V., PATERSON D.M., BUIA M.C. 2014. Indirect effects may buffer negative responses of seagrass invertebrate communities to ocean acidification. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 461: 31-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/jembe.2014.07.011

GIANGRANDE A., GAMBI M.C., MICHELI F., KROEKER K.J. 2014. Fabriciidae (Annelida, Sabellida) from a naturally acidified coastal system (Italy) with description of two new species. Journal Marine Biological Association U.K., 94(7): 1417-1427.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315414000678

GUGLIELMO R. GAMBI M.C., GRANATA. A., L. GUGLIELMO L., MINUTOLI R. 2014. Composition, abundance and distribution of holoplanktonic polychaetes within the Strait of Magellan (southern America) in austral summer. Polar Biology, 37(7): 999-1015. DOI 10.1007/s00300-014-1496-8

MAIBAM C., ROMANO G., FINK  P., BUIA M.C., GAMBI M.C., SCIPIONE M.B., PATTI F.P., LORENTI M., BUTERA E., ZUPO V. 2014. Relevance of wound-activated compounds produced by diatoms as toxins and infochemicals for benthic invertebrates. Marine Biology, 161 (7): 1639-1652. DOI 10.1007/s00227-014-2448-0.

PERGENT G., BAZAIRI H., BIANCHI C.N., BOUDOURESQUE C.N.,BUIA M.C., CALVO S., CLABAUT P., HARMELIN-VIVIEN M.,MATEO M.A., MONTEFALCONE M., MORRI C., ORFANIDIS S., PERGENT-MARTINI C., SEMROUD R., SERRANO O., THIBAUT T., A TOMASELLO A., VERLAQUE M. 2014. Climate change and Mediterranean seagrass meadows: a synopsis for environmental managers. Mediterranean Marine Science. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.621

RICEVUTO E., KROEKER K.J., FERRIGNO F., MICHELI F., GAMBI M.C. 2014. Spatio-temporal variability of polychaete colonization at volcanic CO₂ vents (Italy) indicates high tolerance to ocean acidification. Marine Biology, 161(12): 2909-2919. DOI 10.1007/s00227-014-2555-y.

ZUPO V., JUTTNER F., MAIBAM C., BUTERA E., BLOM J.F. 2014. Apoptogenic Metabolites in Fractions of the Benthic Diatom Cocconeis scutellum parva. Marine Drugs 2014, 12, 547-567; doi:10.3390/md12010547

2013

ARIAS A., GIANGRANDE A., GAMBI M.C., ANADON N. 2013. Biology and new records of the invasive species Branchiomma bairdi (Annelida: Sabellidae) in the Mediterranean Sea. Mediterranean Marine Science, 14(1): 162-171. http://dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.363

CALOSI P., RASTRICK S.P.S., LOMBARDI C., DE GUZMAN H.J., DAVIDSON L., JAHNKE M., GIANGRANDE A., HARDEGE J.D., SCHULZE A, SPICER J.I., GAMBI M.C. 2013. Adaptation and acclimatization to ocean acidification in marine ectotherms: an in situ transplant experiment with polychaetes at a shallow CO₂ vent system. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: 368, 20120444. dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb 2012.0444.

KROEKER K., MICHELI F., GAMBI M.C. 2013. Ocean acidification causes ecosystem shifts via altered competitive interactions. Nature Climate Change, 3: 156-159. DOI: 10.1038/NClimate1680

KROEKER K.J., GAMBI M.C., MICHELI F. 2013. Altered recovery dynamics result in homogenous assemblages in an acidified ocean. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA (PNAS). DOI 10.1073/pnas.1216464110

MAJEWSKA R., GAMBI M.C., TOTTI C.M., DE STEFANO M. 2013. Epiphytic diatom communities of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica): structural analysis and relations to algal host. Antarctic Science, 25(4): 475-500.DOI:10.1017/S0954102012001101

MAJEWSKA R., GAMBI M.C., TOTTI C.M., PENNESI C., DE STEFANO M. 2013. Growth form analysis of epiphytic diatom communities of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). Polar Biology, 36: 73-86. DOI 10.1007/s00300-012-1

MERON D., BUIA M.C., FINE M., BANIN E. 2013. Changes in microbial communities associated with the sea anemone Anemonia viridis in a natural pH gradient. Microbial Ecology, 65(2): 269-276.

PARAPAR J., MOREIRA J., GAMBI M.C., CARAMELO C. 2013. Morphology and biology of Laetmonice producta producta Grube (Polychaeta, Aphroditidae) in the Bellingshausen Sea and Antarctic Peninsula (Southern Ocean, Antarctica). Italian Journal of Zoology,. DOI. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2012.758783

PORZIO L., GARRARD S., BUIA M.C. 2013. The effect of ocean acidification on early algal colonization stages at natural CO₂ vents. Marine Biology, 160 (8), 2247-2259

SCIPIONE M.B. 2013. Do studies of functional groups give more insight to amphipod biodiversity? Crustaceana. 86 (7-8), 955-1006.

SCIPIONE M.B. 2013. On the presence of the Mediterranean endemic Microdeutopus sporadhi Myers, 1969 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Aoridae) in the Gulf of Naples (Italy) with a review on its distribution and ecology. Mediterranean Marine Science, 14(3): 56-63.

2012

BARNICH R., GAMBI M.C., FIEGE D. 2012. Revision of the genus Polyeunoa McIntosh, 1885 (Polychaeta, Polynoidae). Zootaxa, 3523: 25-38.

COCITO S., LOMBARDI C., CIUFFARDI F., GAMBI M.C. 2012. Colonization of Bryozoa on seagrass Posidonia oceanica 'mimics': biodiversity and recruitment pattern over time. Marine Biodiversity, 42(2): 189-201. DOI 10.1007/s12526-011-0104-1

GARRARD S.L., HUNTER R.C., FROMMEL A.Y., LANE A.C., PHILLIPS J.C., COOPER E., DINESHRAM R., CARDINI U., McCOY S.J., ARNBERG M., RODRIGUES ALVES B.G., ANNANE S., DE ORTE M.R., KUMAR A., AGUIRRE-MARTINEZ G.V., MANEJ R.H., BASALLOTE M.D., APE F., TORSTENSSON A., BJOERK M.M. 2012. Biological impacts of ocean acidification: a postgraduate perspective on research priorities. Marine Biology online first DOI: 10.1007/s00227-2033-3.

NAPPO M., BERKOV.S., MASSUCCO C., DI MARIA V., BASTIDA J., CODINA C., AVILA C., MESSINA P., ZUPO V., ZUPO S. (2012) Apoptotic activity of the marine diatom Cocconeis scutellum and eicosapentaenoic acid in BT20 cells. Pharmaceutical Biology 50(4): 529-535 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2011.611811

TOVAR-HERNÁNDEZ  M.A, YÁÑEZ-RIVERA B., GIANGRANDE A., GAMBI M.C. 2012. Notes on the species of Perkinsiana (Polychaeta: Sabellidae) from Antarctica with the description of P. brigittae sp. nov. Zootaxa, 3485: 56–68.

VASAPOLLO C., GAMBI M.C. 2012. Spatio-temporal variability in Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows off the Western Mediterranean: Shoot density and plant features. Aquatic Biology, 16: 163-175

ZENETOS A., GOFAS S., MORRI C., ROSSO A., VIOLANTI D., GARCIA-RASO J.E., CINAR M.E., ALMOGI-LABIN A., ATES A.S., AZZURRO E., BALLESTEROS E., BIANCHI C.N., BILECENOGLU M., GAMBI M.C., GIANGRANDE A., GRAVILI C., HYAMS-KAPHZAN O., KARACHLE V., KATSANEVAKIS S., LIPEJ L., MASTROTOTARO F., MINIEUR F., PANCUCCI-PAPADOPOULOU M.A., RAMOS ESPLA A., SALAS C., SAN MARTIN G., SFRISO A., STREFTARIS N., VERLAQUE M. 2012. Alien species in the Mediterranean Sea by 2012. A contribution to the application of European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Part 2. Patterns in introduction trends and pathways. Mediterranean Marine Science  13/2: 328-352.

Publications presented at Congresses and scientific meetings

2015

DI CIOCCIO D., BUIA MC, ZINGONE A. 2015. Ocean acidification will not deliver us from Ostreopsis. Proceedings ISSHA Conference.

2014

GIANGRANDE A., GAMBI M.C. 2014. Policheti alloctoni in Mediterraneo: stato dell’arte e possibili impatti. Biologia Marina Mediterranea, 21(1): 89-92.

2013

GAMBI M.C., D’AMBRA I., FIORITO G., SAGGIOMO V. 2013. The "Archivio Moncharmont": a pioneering marine biodiversity assessment in the Gulf of Naples (Italy). In: Groeben C. (Ed), Places, People, Tools: Oceanography in the Mediterranean and Beyond. Giannini Editore (Napoli). Pubblicazioni della Stazione Zoologica di Napoli IV: 459-467.

GAMBI M.C., BARBIERI F. 2013. Regression of Halophila stipulacea (Forssk.) Aschers. (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Harbor of Palinuro (Salerno, Italy). Biologia Marina Mediterranea, 20(1): 134-135.

SANDULLI R., BAVESTRELLO G., CHEMELLO R., GAMBI M.C., GIANGRANDE A., RUSSO G.F., TERLIZZI A. 2013. Prospettive e criticità sul ruolo del benthos nella direttiva sulla Marine Strategy. Biologia Marina Mediterranea, 20(1): 88-102.

2012

CHIARORE A, PATTI FP, BUIA MC 2012. Morphological and genetic variability of Sargassum vulgare. Pilot study of a population in the acidified zone of the "Castello Aragonese" (Ischia Island, Gulf of Naples). Biologia Marina Mediterranea, 19(1): 57-58.

GAMBI M.C., RICEVUTO E. 2012. "Messages in the bubbles". Il Geosito marino del Castello Aragonese di Ischia (Napoli): relazioni tra geologia e biologia in rapporto al cambiamento climatico. In: D’Angelo S., Fiorentino A. (a cura di). Atti ISPRA, Roma: 89-96. www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/pubblicazioni/atti

GAMBI M.C., BARBIERI F. 2012. Population structure of the gorgonian Eunicella cavolinii in the "Grotta Azzurra" cave off Palinuro, after the mass mortality event in 2008. Biologia Marina Mediterranea, 19(1) 174-175.

GAMBI M.C., BENEDETTI-CECCHI L. 2012. Approcci di studio ai gradienti di fattori ecologici in ambiente marino e risposte di specie e comunità. Biologia Marina Mediterranea, 19(1): 26-36.

RICEVUTO E., LORENTI M., PATTI F.P., SCIPIONE M.B., GAMBI M.C. 2012. Temporal trends of benthic invertebrate settlement along a gradient of ocean acidification at natural CO₂ vents (Tyrrhenian Sea). Biologia Marina Mediterranea,19(1): 49-52

RUOCCO M., BRUNET C., LORENTI M., LAURITANO C., D’ESPOSITO D., RICCIO M., PROCACCINI G. 2012. Posidonia oceanica photoadaptation to the depth gradient. Biologia Marina Mediterranea, 19 (1): 63-64.

ZINGONE A, BUIA MC 2012. Il Golfo di Napoli. In R Bertone (ed) La rete italiana per la ricerca ecologica a lungo termine (LTER Italia). Situazione e prospettive dopo un quinquennio di attività (2006-2011). Aracne Editrice, Roma;  186-192. ISBN 978-88-548-4661-6.

Pezzotti Maria Rosaria

Pinto Maria Rosaria

The Ischia Marine Center (IMC) is an interdepartmental center located on the Island of Ischia., The research focus of the IMC is on vulnerability assessment of marine coastal ecosystems and organisms through an integrated approach, highlighting the interactions between anthropogenic activities and climate change, with applications to environmental protection, outreach, and restoration actions. The aim of IMC research activities is to facilitate cooperative research between internal and external researchers, interdisciplinary collaborations, and interactions with public and private stakeholders.

IMC main lines of research include:

1) Benthos ecology: the study of the effects of global changes on biodiversity, plant-animal interaction, and the microbiome associated with marine species.
2) Ecophysiology and biotechnology: the morpho-functional study of coastal communities associated with seagrasses and chemical ecology, also through cultivationof model organisms and research of new biotechnologies.
3) Fisheries oceanography: the study of fish eggs and larvae to understand the variations in abundance and distribution of fish populations related to regional oceanographic factors and global change in climate.
4) Taxonomy of marine organisms: the Marine Organisms Taxonomy Unit (MOTax) at the IMC focuses on the analysis of the benthic communities (sorting, LPT identification, analysis of ecological data).

The IMC is organized into three structures with two functional areas:

Villa Dohrn, historical site, built in 1906 as the private residence of the Dohrn family. In 1969 the building became the Benthos Ecology Laboratory. Villa Dohrn is currently undergoing a major renovation and repurposing project, to become the new "Research Center for Adaptation of Marine Ecosystems to Climate Change".

MEDAS Center (Marine Ecological Data Analysis and Synthesis), with the aim of analyzing existing information to address the pressing questions and needs, including economic ones, in the context of Blue Growth. At the momentMEDAS is the operational headquarters of the IMC and the Ecology Functional Area of the Benthos/Nekton for the entire EMI Department of the SZN.

Diving Centre, that oversees scientific diving to support research activities at sea, with Functional Area Diving Center Ischia, located near the mooring of the SZN vessel Beagle Junior, operated by the IMC.

Coordinator Maria Cristina Vigo Majello This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +39 338 4926845 +39 081 5833401

Personnel

Coordinator
Maria Cristina Vigo Majello

Administration
Messina Rosanna
Patti Francesco

Senior Researcher
Ciannelli Lorenzo
Teixidó Núria
Zupo Valerio

Researcher
Mazzella Valerio

Technologist
Lorenti Maurizio

Technician
Chiarore Antonia
Guglielmo Rosanna
Iacono Bruno
Mirasole Alice
Rando Vincenzo

Scholarship
Italiano Anna

PhD student
Liguori Gianluca
Nannini Matteo
Somma Emanuele

The  staff of Villa Dohrn-Benthic ecology is carrying on long-term research in some sites around the Island of Ischia, which represent pilot stations for continuous and multifacets monitoring of species, communities and ecosystems which have some uniqueness or high ecological importance since include species and habitat protected in the frame of  the European Community legislation.

Posidonia oceanica systems off  Lacco Ameno and Castello Aragonese

These are two seagrass meadows around the Island of Ischia of the higher plant species Posidonia oceanica, which is protected by the European legislation and it is considered one of the reference habitat  for the evaluation of the water quality and ecosystem health in the frame of the Marine Strategy. Both Posidonia meadows have been included in the network of the marine sites of the LTER-Italy ("Italian  long-term ecological research network"), and have been studied for various ecological aspects since many years from the staff of Villa Dohrn. Additional details about these two sites and about the LTER-Italy project are available on the specific item (LTER-Italy) of this web site, as well as at: http://www.lteritalia.it

Volcanic CO₂ vents of the Castello Aragonese and other sites around the Island of Ischia

These pilot stations represent unique sites where gaseous CO₂, from volcanic origin, is bubbling under water, at ambient temperature and salinity, thus provoking only a natural acidification of the surroundings sea-waters. Around the waters of the Castello Aragonese of Ischia, in particular, the bubbling is creating a gradient of pH-pCO₂ concentration and acidification affecting mainly the shallow rocky vegetated reef and a nearby shallow Posidonia oceanica system. In the other sites around Ischia, located not far from the Castello vent’s system, the bubbling and local acidification is affecting some of the most typical habitat of the Mediterranean, such as semi-obscure cave habitat, coralligenous outcrops, deeper rocky reefs and Posidonia meadows, as well as sandy and detritic bottoms. As a whole, these sites allow to study in real time the effects of ocean acidification, in relation to the near-future scenarios of climate change, and are utilized by the staff and various collaborators/guests as natural laboratories to perform in situ observation and experiments.

Research project ended in 2014-2015

• ASSEMBLE
• COST-Action Seagrass Productivity ES0906
• Tropical signals (CIESM)

Research project in progress:

• MIUR Project Bandiera RITMARE (2012-2015)
• VulnerClima (Ritmare-Cofund Bandiera)
• "Windows on the future ocean" (National Geographic, USA)
• NEMO (NExt generation Marine Observatories) (Premiali MIUR)
• Premiali ACIDIT
• FP7 - Perseus (Policy-oriented marine environmental research in the southern european seas)
• LTER-Italia
• LifeWatch MedPan
• PTSZN(2013-2015)- Program 4. Environmental variability, climate change and anthropogenic impacts: adaptive responses in species, communities and benthic systems.

Responsible: Francesco Paolo Patti

In the laboratory of Integrative taxonomy of benthic organisms (TIOM) one can perform analyses of classical taxonomy, phylogeny and comparative phylogeography of marine organisms using multisciplinary and integrative approaches, such as morphology, biometry, molecular and cellular analyses.

Activities

• Sorting of benthic samples of marine organisms, identification and counting of taxa.
• Taxonomic identification of marine organisms with traditional morphological methods and with more advanced molecular tools (including the preparation of genetic and ecological voucher specimens).
• Extraction and conservation of DNA from different organisms and (algal thalli and invertebrate tissues).
• Extraction of RNA  from different organisms (algal thalli and invertebrate tissues).
• Extraction of secondary metabolites.
• Elettrophoresis in agarose minigel  and digital documentation.
• Amplification of DNA (ss, ds).
• Cloning of DNA target fragments (plasmid preps, restriction and PCR analysis).
• Real-Time fluorescent Polymerase Chain Reaction.
• DNA barcoding.
• Preparation of DNA fragments for sequencing of target markers  (in collaboration with the Unit of Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics of the SZN).

Systems for the experimentation

• Specific laboratory protocol setting
• System of bioinformatics analyses for 1) study of the nucleotidic variability (creation of soft-ware for metadata analyses); 2) study for comparison of morphotypes by mean of morphometric geometry techniques.

Analysis

Analyses of DNA sequences, including the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees.
Analyses of morphological variability  and genetic polymorphism.
Analyses of allelic frequencies and genotypic distribution.
Analyses of polymorphysms of the DNA restriction fragments.
Preparation of samples for morphological analyses (use of fixative for observation at the optical and electron microscopes), and for molecular analyses (cryopreservation, standard fixatives, RNALater).

Instrumentation

• Stereomicroscopes.
• Vibratome.
• Rotavapor.
• Chemical flume.
• Laminar flow flume.
• Apparatus for minigel electrophoreris.
• Laboratory refrigerated centrifuge.
• Spectrophotometer "Genequant Pro Classic".
• Termocyclator PCRs (Techne- Euroclone).
• RTPCR BIO RAD Opticon 2.
• Incubator for cell cultures.
• Analytical balance.
• Thermostatic bath (5l, +30°C/+120°C).
• Laboratory Vortex.
• Autoclave/Sterilizer.
• Granular ice-machine.
• Dewars for liquid nitrogen (5l+30l).
• Vertical ultra-freezer -86°C.
• Vertical freezers  -20°C.
• UVP BioDoc imaging workstations for simple and gel fluorescence image analyses.
• Dedicated computer for phylogenetic analyses and data mining.

Coordinator

Marco Munari

Senior Scientist 

Maria Cristina Buia, responsible BENT lab

Researcher

Marco Munari

Technologist

Patti Francesco Paolo, responsabile TIOM lab

Technician

Iacono Bruno, diving officer
Lorenti Maurizio
Rando Vincenzo, Captain of the R/V Phoenicia

PhD Student

Butera Emanuela
Chiarore Antonia
Fioretti Sara
Grech Daniele
Kumar Amit
Mutalipassi Mirko
Napolitano Rachele
Valvassori Giulia

Post Doc

Teixido Nuria
Guglielmo Rosanna
Porzio Lucia

Secretary

Messina Rosanna (part-time at Villa Dohrn)