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Marine Library
The Marine Library (Biblioteca del Mare) contains the historical heritage of ancient texts, photographs, scientific instruments, correspondence, and miscellaneous collections. This structure enhances the assets of the museum and the archive through setting up exhibitions for conferences or other events, internal and external to the SZN. It provides useful information to implement the scientific databases that store up the collections and collaborates with Italian and foreign researchers for the study and the enhancement of the assets held.
Staff
Pasqualina Fiorentino
Carmela Scotti
Contatti
Tel. +39 081 5833 273
Tel. +39 081 5833 451
e-mail: biblioteca.cape(at)szn.it
Opac: http://bibliotecaszn.it
Darwin-Dohrn Museum (DaDoM) & Historical Archives
Darwin-Dohrn Museum | |
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Historical Archives |
Turtle Point & Large Marine Vertebrate Research Center
Historical Aquarium, Scientific Aquariums & Marine Farm
Publications 2022
Annona Gc, Ferran JL, De Luca P, Conte I, Postlethwait JH, D’Aniello Sc. (2022). Expression pattern of nos1 in the developing nervous system of ray-finned fish. Genes 13(5), 918.
Arcadi, E.*,C, Rastelli, E.*,C, Tangherlini, M., Rizzo, C., Mancuso, M., Sanfilippo, M., Esposito, V., Andaloro, F. & Romeo, T. (2022). Shallow-Water Hydrothermal Vents as Natural Accelerators of Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance in Marine Coastal Areas. Microorganisms, 10(2), 479.
Arin L, Reñé A, Gallisai R, Sarno D, Garcés E & Estrada M (2022). Taxonomic relationship between two small-sized Chaetoceros species (Bacillariophyta): C. tenuissimus and C. salsugineus, and comparison with C. olympicus sp. nov. from Catalan coastal waters (NW Mediterranean), European Journal of Phycology, 57(3), 277-296.
Azzurro E, Ballerini T, Antoniadou C, Aversa GD, Souissi JB, Blašković A, Cappanera V, Chiappi M, Cinti M-F, Colloca F, Cvitković I, D’Amen M, Despalatović M, Di Franco A, Dimitriadis C, Dragičević B, Fanelli E, Figuerola L, Fortibuoni T, Franzitta G, Garrabou J, Geloso T, Ghanem R, Gori A, Hervat M, Izquierdo-Muñoz A, Linares C, La Mesa G, Merotto L, Micallef R, Miliou A, Minelli A, Moschella P, Pannacciulli F, Panzalis P, Pavičić M, Petrou A, Ramos-Esplá AA, Saponari L, Scarcella G, Spoto M, Stagličić N, Vrdoljak D, Weitzmann B, & Schembri PJ (2022) ClimateFish: A Collaborative Database to Track the Abundance of Selected Coastal Fish Species as Candidate Indicators of Climate Change in the Mediterranean Sea. Frontiers in Marine Science 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.910887
Barone, G., Corinaldesi, C., Rastelli, E., Tangherlini, M., Varrella, S., Danovaro, R., & Dell’Anno, A.C (2022). Local Environmental Conditions Promote High Turnover Diversity of Benthic Deep-Sea Fungi in the Ross Sea (Antarctica). Journal of Fungi, 8(1), 65.
Barra L*, Sardo A* C, Moros M, Smerilli A, Chiaiese P, Percopo I, Cavalletti E, Castro-Hinojosa C, Balzano S (2022) Identification of a green algal strain collected from the Sarno River mouth (Gulf of Naples, Italy) and its exploitation for heavy metal remediation. Microorganisms, 10, 2445.
Bergamasco A., Cucco A., Guglielmo L.C, Minutoli R., Quattrocchi G., Guglielmo R., Palumbo F., Pansera M., Zagami G., Vodopivec M., Malej A., Granata A. (2022). Observing and modeling long‑term persistence of P. noctiluca in coupled complementary marine systems (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea and Messina Strait). Scientific Reports, 12: 14905.
Bosso, L.C, Smeraldo, S., Russo, D., Chiusano, M. L., Bertorelle, G., Johannesson, K., Butlin, R.K., Danovaro, R. & Raffini, F.C (2022). The rise and fall of an alien: Why the successful colonizer Littorina saxatilis failed to invade the Mediterranean Sea. Biological Invasions, 24(10), 3169-3187.
Cananzi, G., *Gregori, I., Martino, F., Li, T., Boscari, E., Camatti, E., Congiu, L., Marino, I.A.M., Pansera, M., Schroeder, A., cZane, L., (2022). Environmental DNA metabarcoding reveals spatial and seasonal patterns in the fish community in the Venice Lagoon. Frontiers in Marine Science 9, 1009490.
Cipolletta F, Russo A, D’Alelio D, Margiotta F, Sarno D, Zingone A, & Montresor M (2022) Vertical distribution of Pseudo-nitzschia in the Gulf of Naples across the seasons. Mediterranean Marine Science 23(3):525-535. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.28147
Cordone, A.; D’Errico, G.; Magliulo, M.; cBolinesi, F.; Selci, M.; Basili, M.; de Marco, R.; Saggiomo, M.; Rivaro, P.; cGiovannelli, D.; (2022). Bacterioplankton Diversity and Distribution in Relation to Phytoplankton Community Structure in the Ross Sea Surface Waters. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 722900.
Corinaldesi, C.C, Varrella, S., Tangherlini, M., Dell'Anno, A., Canensi, S., Cerrano, C., & Danovaro, R. (2022). Changes in coral forest microbiomes predict the impact of marine heatwaves on habitat-forming species down to mesophotic depths. Science of the Total Environment, 823, 153701.
Costa, G., Bavestrello, G., Canese, S., M. Canessa, C. Mazzoli, P. Montagna, S. Puce, Schiaparelli, S., Bertolino, M. (2022) Sponges associated with stylasterid thanatocoenosis (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from the deep Ross Sea (Southern Ocean) Polar Biology, 2022, 45(4), pp. 703–718
Denaro RC, Crisafi F, Smedile F, Soprano V, Rossi R, Zingone A, Giacobbe M. G (2022). Microbiomes associated with cultures of Gambierdiscus australes and Ostreopsis cf. ovata, two epibenthic dinoflagellates from the NE Atlantic Ocean (Las Palmas, Gran Canaria). Marine Ecology, e12699.
Di Capua I, D’Angiolo R, Piredda R, Minucci C, Boero F, Uttieri M and Carotenuto Y (2022) From Phenotypes to Genotypes and Back: Toward an Integrated Evaluation of Biodiversity in Calanoid Copepods. Front. Mar. Sci. 9:833089. http://doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.833089
Enrichetti, F., Baldrighi, E., Bavestrello, G., Betti F., Canese S., Costa A., del Pasqua M., Giangrande A., Langeneck J., Misic C., Putignano, M., Toma M., Bo M. (2022) Ecological role and phylogenetic position of a new habitat-forming species (Canalipalpata, Sabellidae) from the Mediterranean mesophotic soft bottoms. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 265, 107737
Fanelli, E.C, Di Giacomo, S., Gambi, C., Bianchelli, S., Da Ros, Z., Tangherlini, M., Andaloro, F., Romeo, T., Corinaldesi, C. & Danovaro, R. (2022). Effects of Local Acidification on Benthic Communities at Shallow Hydrothermal Vents of the Aeolian Islands (Southern Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean Sea). Biology, 11(2), 321.
Franzitta G, Colletti A, Savinelli B, Lo Martire M, Corinaldesi C and Musco L (2022) Feasibility of the Sabellarid Reef Habitat Restoration. Front. Mar. Sci. 9:854986. doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.854986
Galasso, C., Lekube, X., Cancio, I., Dell’Anno, A., Brunet, C., Sansone, C.C, & Tangherlini, M. (2022). Marine fungi as potential eco-sustainable resource for precious metals recovery from electronic waste. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 1-10.
Granata A., Weldrick C.K., cBergamasco A., Saggiomo M., Grillo M., Bergamasco A., Swadling K.M., Guglielmo L., (2022). Diversity in zooplankton and sympagic biota during a period of rapid sea ice change in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea, Antarctica Diversity 14 (6), 425
Guy-Haim T C, Velasquez X, Terbiyik-Kurt T, Di Capua I, Mazzocchi MG, Morov AR (2022). A new record of the rapidly spreading calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus (Sato, 1913) in the Levantine Sea using multi-marker metabarcoding. BioInvasions Records
Jacopo AguzziC, Sascha FlögelC, Simone MariniC, Laurenz Thomsen, Jan Albiez, Peter Weiss, Giacomo Picardi, Marcello Calisti, Sergio Stefanni, Luca Mirimin, Fabrizio Vecchi, Cecilia Laschi, Andrew Branch, Evan B Clark, Bernard Foing, Armin Wedler, Damianos Chatzievangelou, Michael Tangherlini, Autun Purser, Lewis Dartnell, Roberto Danovaro (2022). Developing technological synergies between deep-sea and space research. Elem Sci Anth, 10(1), 00064.
Kooistra WHCF, Kusber W-H, Hernández-Becerril DU, Montresor M, & Sarno D (2022) The type species of the diatom genus Chaetoceros. Diatom Research, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/0269249X.2022.2066182
LaJeunesse TCc, Casado-Amezua P, Hume BCC, Butler CC, Mordret S, Piredda R, De Luca P, Pannone R, Sarno D, Wiedenmann J, D’Ambra Ic. (2022). Mutualistic dinoflagellates with big disparities in ribosomal DNA variation may confund estimates of symbiont diversity and ecology in the jellyfish Cotylorhiza tubercolata. Symbiosis.
M. La Mesa, S. Canese, P. Montagna and S. Schiaparelli (2022)Underwater Photographic Survey of Coastal Fish Community of Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea. Diversity, 14, 315.
Limatola Nc, Chun JT, Santella Lc. (2022). Regulation of the Actin Cytoskeleton-Linked Ca2+ Signaling by Intracellular pH in Fertilized Eggs of Sea Urchin. Cells 11(9), 1496. Special Issue: Women in Cell Biology.
Limatola Nc, Chun JT, Santella Lc. (2022). Species-Specific Gamete Interaction during Sea Urchin Fertilization: Roles of the Egg Jelly and Vitelline Layer. Cells 11(19), 2984. Special Issue: Cell Calcium across the Phylogenetic Tree: From Physiological Signaling to Pathogenic Mechanisms.
Longobardi L C, Dubroca L, Margiotta F, Sarno D, Zingone AC (2022). Photoperiod-driven rhythms reveal multi-decadal stability of phytoplankton communities in a highly fluctuating coastal environment. Sci Rep 12, 3908
Longobardi LV, Dubroca L, Sarno D, Zingone A C (2022). Global long-term observations reveal wide geographic divergence in coastal phytoplankton species niches, Journal of Plankton Research, 45(1), 163-179.
Marotta Pc, Borgonuovo C, Santin A, Russo MT, Manfellotto F, Montresor M, De Luca P, Ferrante MIc (2022). Mate perception and gene networks regulating the early phase of sex in Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata. JMSE 10.
Mazzarella G, Iacomino G, De Luca P, Iaquinto S, Capuano F, Troncone R, Rotondi Aufiero Vc. (2022). Cell-type-specific gene expression profile by laser capture microdissection on mirror sections. J. Immunological Methods 505, 113276.
A. Mazzeo, J. Aguzzi, M. Calisti, S. Canese, F. Vecchi, S. Stefanni and M. Controzzi. (2022) Marine Robotics for Deep-Sea Specimen Collection: A Systematic Review of Underwater Grippers. Sensors 2022, 22(2), 648;
Mazzeo A, Aguzzi J, Calisti M, Canese S, Angiolillo M, Allcock AL, Vecchi F, Stefanni S, Controzzi M..(2022) Marine Robotics for Deep-Sea Specimen Collection: A Taxonomy of Underwater Manipulative Actions. Sensors. 22(4):1471
Palomba, E.*, Chiaiese, P.*, Termolino, P., Paparo, R., Filippone, E., Mazzoleni, S., & Chiusano, M. L.C (2022). Effects of extracellular self-and nonself-DNA on the freshwater microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and on the marine microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana. Plants, 11(11), 1436.
Pazzaglia, J., Santillán-Sarmiento, A., Ruocco, M., Dattolo, E., Ambrosino, L., Marín-Guirao, L., & Procaccini, G.C (2022). Local environment modulates whole-transcriptome expression in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica under warming and nutrients excess. Environmental Pollution, 303, 119077.
Percopo I*, Ruggiero MV*, Sarno D, Longobardi L, Rossi R, Piredda R, Zingone AC (2022). Phenological segregation suggests speciation by time in the planktonic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia allochrona sp. nov. Ecology and Evolution, 12 (8) https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9155
Perricone Vc, Grun TB, Rendina F, Marmo F, Candia Carnevali MD, Kowalewski M, Facchini A, De Stefano M, Santella L, Langella C, Micheletti A. (2022). Hexagonal Voronoi pattern detected in the microstructural design of the echinoid skeleton. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 19, 20220226.
Pierella Karlusich J.J.C, Pelletier E., Zinger L., Lombard F., Zingone A., Colin S., Gasol J.M., Dorrell R., Henry N., Scalco E., Acinas S. G., Wincker P., de Vargas C. & Bowler C.C (2022). A robust approach to estimate relative phytoplankton cell abundance from metagenomic data. Molecular Ecology Resources, 23(1): 16-40. DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13592.
Piredda R, Sarno D, De Luca D, & Kooistra WHCF (2022) Biogeography of six species in the planktonic diatom genus Bacteriastrum (Bacillariophyta). European Journal of Phycology, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670262.2021.2021591
Retelletti Brogi, S., Cossarini, G., Bachi, G., Balestra, C., Camatti, E., Casotti, R., Checcucci, G., Colella, S., Evangelista, V., Falcini, F., Francocci, F., Giorgino, T., Margiotta, F., Ribera d’Alcalà, M., Sprovieri, M., Vestri, S., Santinelli, C., (2022). Evidence of Covid-19 lockdown effects on riverine dissolved organic matter dynamics provides a proof-of-concept for needed regulations of anthropogenic emissions. Science of The Total Environment 812, 152412.
Rizzo C, Arcadi E, Calogero R, Sciutteri V, Consoli P, Esposito V, Canese S, Andaloro F, Romeo T. (2022)Ecological and Biotechnological Relevance of Mediterranean Hydrothermal Vent Systems. Minerals.; 12(2):251.
Roncalli V C, Uttieri M, Di Capua I, Lauritano C, Carotenuto Y (2022). Chemosensory-Related Genes in Marine Copepods. Marine Drugs, https://doi.org/10.3390/md20110681
Ruggiero, M. V., Kooistra, W. H. C. F., Piredda, R., Sarno, D., Zampicinini, G., Zingone, A., & Montresor, M. (2022). Temporal changes of genetic structure and diversity in a marine diatom genus discovered via metabarcoding. Environmental DNA, 00, 1– 13. https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.288
Sabatino, V., Orefice, I.*, Marotta, P.C, Ambrosino, L., Chiusano, M. L., d'Ippolito, G., Romano, G., Fontana, A., Ferrante, M. I.C (2022). Silencing of a Pseudo‐nitzschia arenysensis lipoxygenase transcript leads to reduced oxylipin production and impaired growth. New Phytologist, 233(2), 809-822.
Santella Lc, Chun JT. (2022). Structural actin dynamics during oocyte maturation and fertilization. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 633, 13-16. Special Issue: Horizons in Biochemistry & Biophysics. Special Issue in Honor of Prof. Ernesto Carafoli.
Toma, F. Betti, G. Bavestrello, R. Cattaneo-Vietti, S. Canese, A. Cau, F. Andaloro, S. Greco & M. Bo. (2022).Diversity and abundance of heterobranchs (Mollusca, Gastropoda) from the mesophotic and bathyal zone of the Mediterranean. M The European Zoological Journal, 2022, 160–182.
Toma, M., Bo, M., Giudice, D.,Canese, S., Cau, A., Andaloro, F., Angiolillo, M., Greco, S., Bavestrello, G (2022) Structure and status of the Italian red coral forests: What can a large-scale study tell? . Front. Mar. Sci. 9:1073214.
Vingiani GM, Leone S, De Luca D, Borra M, Dobson ADW, Ianora A, De Luca P*, Lauritano C*c. (2022) First identification and characterization of detoxifying plastic-degrading DBP hydrolases in the marine diatom Cylindrotheca closterium. Sci. Tot. Environ. 812: 152535.
Zingone A., Veselá J., Nebesářová J., Scalco E., Sarno D., Lukes J., Colin S. (2022). A large collection of scanning electron microscopy images of protists and their taxonomic annotations from the Marquesas Island area (Tara Oceans survey, Southern Pacific Ocean). BioStudies: SBIAD598.
Summer School Schmid Training Course Established and Emerging Model Organisms for Marine Science
The Summer School Schmid Training Course "Established and Emerging Model Organisms for Marine Science" will take place at the Stazione Zoologica Dohrn Napoli (SZN) from the 24th of May to the 4th of June, 2021. Please have a look to the Flyer Summer School.
The Summer School is dedicated to 20 Master students and 1st year PhD students who will learn about several marine organisms used in biological research, and will include lessons (interactive talks) and bench experiments to give the possibility to learn many aspects of the life cycle, embryology, anatomy, evolution, regeneration, genetics, neuroscience thanks to the presence of world experts of the field.
Interested candidates should send the CV and a motivation letter to the Organizers: Salvatore D’Aniello <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.> and Agnes Boutet <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>.
The Summer School is funded by the Erasmus+ DigitalMarine project (2018-2021)
Innovative and interdisciplinary teaching and research training method
The DigitalMarine project is the fruit of a strategic partnership funded by the European Union Erasmus+ programme and consists of an online distance-learning platform focusing on marine model organisms in life sciences. Master's students of six European Universities and Marine Research Institutions* are provided with video lectures, interviews with researchers, virtual labs and scientific literature to provide a more autonomous and differentiated learning experience. This international research training constitutes of a hybrid teaching combining self-learning and practical lab work. DigitalMarine aims to enrich the annual practical marine biology Schmid Training Course in Roscoff (France) using a broad range of organisms: acoels, annelids, brown algae, cephalochordates, cnidarians, crustaceans, echinoderms, placozoans, poriferans, sharks, urochordates. In 2021 it has been held at the Stazione Zoologica Dohrn in Naples (Italy), one of the partner Institutions.For more information visit: https://digital-marine.sorbonne-universite.fr/index.php/digitalmarine
* Partner list
Sorbonne Université, Coordinator (Paris, France) & Station Biologique de Roscoff (France)
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Naples, Italy)
Tierärztlich Hochschule Hannover (Germany)
Université de Fribourg (Switzerland)
Universtà del Salento (Lecce, Italy)
The Australian National University (Canberra, Australia)
Research MSc Thesis offer
Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM):
- Title: Behavioral plasticity in Octopus vulgaris
SZN Tutor: Graziano Fiorito
Department: BEOM
Description:
Analysis of problem-solving capability in the common octopus, based also on historical data related to behavioral performance. Study of inter-individual variability in contextual learning
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Annotating octopus brain regions: a development of an interactive digital atlas for the cephalopod brain
SZN Tutor: Graziano Fiorito
Department: BEOM
Description
A brain atlas is a necessary tool for analyzing structure and function of nervous system in fields of neuroscience and behavioral science. Although various annotations are available for 'brains' of several mammalian and few other species including some invertebrates, annotation for 'brains' of cephalopod mollusks is not available. The proposed thesis work is aimed at filling this gap and implementing a pipeline for construction of a flexible annotation atlas (FAA) of the octopus (O. vulgaris) brain. The workplan include analysis of published works and in-house resources (available at the octopus lab, BEOM Dept, Stazione Zoologica), annotation of serial sections of entire adult octopus’ brain, data on brain structure, digital representation of single areas and ROIs. The produced FAA will be then available as Open Data – implementing FAIR Data Principles – and will help improving the consistency of whole brain ROI definition among laboratories internationally by fulfilling various requests from researchers with its flexibility and reproducibility. The same principles utilized for octopus will be subsequently adopted for other cephalopod species.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology (BIOTECH)
- Title: Isolation and characterization of microalgae from high anthropogenic impacted areas
Tutor: Lucia Barra
Department: BLUBIO, Calabria site
Description
The activities will include the sampling of sea water and sediments in sites with high contaminants presence such as metals and hydrocarbons, and their enrichment for the isolation of species through the use of capillary method and serial dilutions. The photosynthesizing eukaryotic fraction will be genetically characterized through already published or newly designed molecular markers. The construction of phylogenetic trees with the sequences of the species obtained will relate the identified communities from an evolutionary point of view.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Evaluation of physiological response of microalgae in presence of metals
Tutor: Lucia Barra
Department: BLUBIO, Calabria site
Description
The student will evaluate the growth response of different microalgal species, isolated from highly impacted areas, in the presence of toxic metals such as zinc, lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium III-VI, regarding both the single metal and a mix of them. The responses will be categorized into lethal-sublethal-tolerant-resistant and the analysis of the adsorbed and/or accumulated fraction will be conducted using ICP-MS technology. The establishment of algal consortia that work in synergistic mode will be the aim of the study conducted.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Integrated Marine Ecology (EMI):
- Title: Deep-sea megabenthos of the Central Mediterranean
Tutor SZN: Frine Cardone
Department: EMI
Description
The study aims to create an inventory of the deep-sea megabenthic fauna of the Central Mediterranean by combining video analysis with morphological and molecular approaches to the sampled material.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Monitoring of microcosms in a controlled environment
Tutor SZN: Frine Cardone
Department: EMI
Description
The research aims to evaluate the aquarium rearing performance of "mini-communities" through medium-term monitoring of morphometric parameters
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Management of marine litter in deep-sea ecosystems
Tutor SZN: Frine Cardone
Department: EMI
Description
Despite deep sea ecosystems are recognized a biodiversity hot spot with relevant functional roles, recent mapping activities have shown that they are largely impacted by marine litter, with important but still underestimated consequences in terms of habitat loss. At present, there are no standardized protocols and best practices able to guide decisions on how and when to deal with this human impact, in terms of removal and restoration techniques. The master thesis will be dedicated to the development of a new framework for the development of standardized methodologies for marine litter removal in cold water habitats. The work will be first dedicated to a systematic review of on-going experiences in this field, this representing the first step for building the new protocol and consequent best practices. Then, a case study where to apply this framework will be selected within the project LIFEDREAMS (https://www.life-dream.eu/) to address framework feasibility. We anticipate that this is a new challenging topic, with wide opportunities to feed the scientific debate.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Communities responses to multiple stressors
Tutor SZN: Manuel Berlino, Maria Cristina Mangano
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
Benthic habitats are highly biodiverse, an attribute that makes them energy flow and carbon cycling hotspots. Unfortunately, metabolism dynamics across varying ecosystems and communities are poorly understood, particularly in function of their associated biodiversity (changes/loss) and functionality. The aim of this work is to measure metabolism in situ, and to collect/measure pertinent community and abiotic variables from diverse ecosystems. Thus, to be able to understand the community metabolism across varying habitats’ composition, ecosystem functions and under different stressors presence.
Profile: Biological/Environmental/Natural Sciences degree or equivalent; Proficiency in English; Proven experience in fieldwork (marine); Proven experience in laboratory (biological sciences); Diving certificate(?); Knowledge about biogeochemical cycles in marine environments; Availability to go to the field when necessary; Basic Microsoft Office skills; Ability to work in a team and willingness to learn. The activities will consist of providing support during the different phases of the research: Fieldwork (metabolism measurements of several day cycles, biodiversity and abiotic variables assessment in different ecosystems), laboratory processing of samples and data extraction.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: The metabolites of invasive algal species: direct and indirect effects and potential practical outcomes
Tutor SZN: Mirko Mutalipassi
Department: EMI (NA)
Description
The experimental thesis project focuses on analyzing the metabolites of marine macroalgae considered "alien" and their impacts on vertebrates and invertebrates in marine environments. The primary objective goes beyond mere characterization and identification of key metabolites, emphasizing the understanding of their ecological role, as well as the direct and indirect effects these compounds can have on marine organisms, influencing predation dynamics, competition, and the entire trophic network. Additionally, the research aims to evaluate potential applications of these metabolites, opening new perspectives for the sustainable exploitation of these extraordinary marine resources. This study will contribute to a greater understanding of marine ecology and potential implications for the management and conservation of coastal ecosystems.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Marine sponges as producers of active metabolites: ecological role and applications
Tutor SZN: Mirko Mutalipassi
Department: EMI (NA)
Description
The experimental thesis project constitutes an in-depth investigation into the metabolic profile of specific marine sponges, with particular attention to those classified as "alien," exploring their potential as a source of antifouling compounds. The primary objective is to conduct comprehensive characterization and identify metabolites with relevant functions, as well as to study in detail their impact on the different stages of marine biofouling. Through experimental activities, our aim is to understand how these metabolites may influence the initial stages of fouling, related to bacterial and microalgal activities, as well as the subsequent stages involving macrofoulers such as mussels and ascidians. This research aims to maximize the use of marine species considered alien as a source of molecules with potential applications in biotechnology, particularly in the field of antifouling.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Integrated taxonomy studies in marine invertebrates
SZN Tutor: Laura Nunez Pons
Department: EMI
Description:
Research based on the classification of marine invertebrates applying techniques for the morphological description and diagnosis of species identification, and molecular approaches related to DNA barcoding and phylogeny.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Allelopathy and functional symbioses in marine holobionts
SZN Tutor: Laura Nunez Pons
Department: EMI
Description:
Studies related to symbiotic interactions taking place in marine ecosystems and their role in organismal health, disease, and acclimatization to the environment via metabolic fluxes of nutrients, defensive compounds and allelochemical mediators.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: IBiology and ecology of fish early life stages in the south-central Tyrrhenian Sea
SZN Tutor: Lorenzo Ciannelli
Department: EMI, Ischia Marine Centre, Ischia (NA)
Description:
The early stages (eggs, larvae and juveniles) of the fish life cycle have high mortality rates which influence the population dynamics of the adult stages. For many commercial species of the southcentral Tyrrhenian there is no knowledge on the reproduction areas of fish eggs and larvae and of the bio-physical processes that influence their transport and survival. The aim of this study is to characterize the ichthyoplankton communities of the Gulf of Naples and Gaeta, using various coastal and oceanic sampling systems, and to create bio-physical models to predict the transport of fish eggs and larvae.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Integrative taxonomy as a tool to assess the true biodiversity of the marine biota of the Gulf of Naples (Italy, Mediterranean Sea)
SZN Tutor: Fabio Crocetta
Department: EMI
Description:
The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots worldwide. However, many local zoological groups have not been subjected to a deep review based on
modern methods. The aim of the project will be to explore the biota of the Gulf of Naples through an integrative taxonomy approach – i.e. a comprehensive framework to delimit and describe taxa by integrating information from ecological, molecular, and morphological data. Data obtained will have important implications in conservation issues, refine phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries, and shed a light on evolutionary lines and cryptic diversity.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Formation and morphological description of spores in diatoms of the genus Chaetoceros
SZN Tutor: Wiebe Kooistra
Department: EMI
Description:
Many species in the planktonic diatom genus Chaetoceros form resting spores to survive unfavourable conditions. The candidate will expose monoclonal cultures of different Chaetoceros species to different conditions to induce spore formation. The ultrastructural characters of the spores will be studied by means of optical and electron microscopy and considered as diagnostic characters in the identification of the species.
Together with Marina Montresor
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- Title: Biodiversity in the diatom genus Chaetoceros
SZN Tutor: Wiebe Kooistra
Department: EMI
Description:
The candidate isolates monoclonal strains within selected species complexes in the planktonic diatom genus Chaetoceros, identifythem by means of LM photography, DNA-extraction, PCR-amplification, and sequencing of choice strains and examine them in SEM and TEM. The objective is to describe new species.
Together with Diana Sarno
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- Morphological plasticity in diatoms of the genus Chaetoceros in response to nutrient deficiency
SZN Tutor: Wiebe Kooistra
Department: EMI
Description
Monoclonal cultures of species in the planktonic diatom genus Chaetoceros will be grown under nutrient-limiting conditions to study their phenotypic plasticity. The morphology and ultrastructure of the different species under various conditions will be documented by optical and electron microscopy.
Together with Alessandra Rogato.
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- Title: Identification of zoobenthic species in the mesophotic zone and extraction of qualitative and quantitative data using image analysis
SZN Tutor: Eva Salvati
Department: EMI
Description:
Identification of zoobenthic species in the mesophotic zone and extraction of qualitative and quantitative data using image analysis.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Conservation of marine Animals and Public Engagement (CAPE):
- Title: Patterns and drivers of native species richness decline in the Eastern Mediterranean
SZN Tutor: Paolo Albano
Department: CAPE
Description:
The Eastern Mediterranean Sea is under the siege of climate warming, biological invasions, and further local stressors. We quantify today's and historical native Mediterranean and non-indigenous species richness with extensive sampling programs and use multidisciplinary approaches at the interface of marine ecology and paleontology to quantify species loss and identify its main drivers. Furthermore, we use functional trait studies and species distribution models to understand and predict the fate of the Mediterranean in future climate scenarios.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (website https://pgalbano.weebly.com/)
Eco-sustainable Marine Biotechnology (BIOTECH):
- Title: Functional characterization of the prostaglandin synthesis pathway in marine microalgae:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Prostaglandins are molecules similar to second messengers and are mainly involved in inflammatory processes resolution as well as in the onset of serious pathologies. Their synthesis and related metabolic pathway have been recently discovered in marine eukaryotic unicellular microalgae. Understanding their role in such simple organisms and the functional regulation mechanisms will help decipher their ecological and physiological role as well as the importance of their conservation during the evolution of the planet.
Approaches used: biochemistry and molecular biology techniques; cell culture techniques; bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: marine microalgae (diatoms) and zooplanktonic species.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Comparative study of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase (COX) in different species of marine microalgae:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
In order to transform the production of prostaglandins through marine microalgae into a biotechnological application, the characterization of the chemical-physical and kinetic characteristics of the enzyme necessary for their synthesis, the cyclooxygenase, is crucial to prepare the ground for future application research lines.
Approaches used: biochemistry and molecular biology techniques.
Organisms used: bacteria and marine microalgae (diatoms).
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Use of bioinformatic approaches for the identification of the prostaglandin synthesis "pathway" in different marine organisms:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Prostaglandins are molecules involved in inflammatory and pathological processes that have been very well studied in humans. Very interesting has been considered their production in simple marine organisms such as diatoms, unicellular eukaryotic algae. Given the strong interest in marine resources both from an ecological and biotechnological point of view, it is very interesting to expand their research into other marine organisms in order to understand their role both in physiology and in the chemical communication necessary to establish a balance between the various species component the plankton. The new sequencing technologies supported by bioinformatics software are very useful and versatile to be able to perform a wide-spectrum study.
Approaches used: bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: marine microalgae and zooplanktonic species.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Molecular insights into the synthetic pathways of secondary metabolites produced by the diatom Thalassiosira rotula:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Marine microalgae in the diatom group are particularly interesting for the production of metabolites deriving from secondary metabolism for adaptation to different climatic conditions. These metabolites mainly perform a defense function and therefore have biological activities that are often interesting for human use in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical fields. Thalassiosira rotula is a species of diatom present in the Gulf of Naples capable of synthesizing some interesting secondary metabolites. Its genome and transcriptome have been sequenced thus allowing the identification of the pathways responsible for the synthesis of these metabolites. The sequences obtained from genomic and transcriptomic sequencing allow to investigate the activation of these pathways in different conditions through molecular approaches.
Approaches used: techniques of biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology; cell culture techniques; bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: Thalassiosira rotula.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Discovery of the pharmacological potential of marine microalgae against telomerase activity in human cancers
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Telomeres are special sequences located at the ends of chromosomes whose role is to protect the ends of the DNA from damage. However, after each cell division their size decreases and when their length reaches a critical point, the cells undergo apoptosis and/or senescence. Thus, the length of telomeres can act as a biological clock to determine the life span of a cell and an organism, and their length is determined by an enzyme called telomerase. This enzyme is constitutively turned off in somatic cells, while it is highly active in germ cells allowing their continuous replication. Likewise, telomerase is expressed in approximately 90% of cancer cells, thus allowing for their indefinite proliferation. For this reason, telomerase inhibition may represent a preferred specific target for anticancer therapies. Various natural products, commonly derived from plants, have shown telomerase inhibitory activity and include secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, xanthones, and sesquiterpenes.
Marine eukaryotic microalgae are very important components of phytoplankton able to adapt to all kinds of ecological niches and physicochemical conditions due to a series of secondary metabolites they produce. The project aims to identify microalgae species that produce molecules capable of inhibiting telomerase activity in a set of different cancer cell lines for possible exploitation as an anticancer drug.
Approaches used: techniques of biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: diatoms, dinoflagellates.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Biotechnological potential of enzymes from diatoms
SZN Tutor: Giovanna Romano
Department: BIOTECH
Description
Marine microorganisms must endure habitats characterized by extreme conditions of salinity, temperature or pressure. Their enzymes present concomitant features, e.g. thermostability or halo-stability, which are appealing for practical applications. The proposed project will focus on lipases and lipoxygenases enzymes from diatoms, since we expect new and useful feature for applications in the food industry e.g. for improving the quality of bread and for flavor enhancement of food products (lipases); in bleaching of colored components and production of aroma compounds (lipoxygenases).
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Traineeship offer
Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM):
- Title: Neuronal plasticity in marine molluscs: the role of mitochondria
SZN Tutor: Serena Mirra
Department: BEOM
Description
We aim to elucidate the cellular mechanisms of neuronal resilience against environmental stress in marine molluscs, with a particular focus on mitochondrial homeostasis (dynamics, function, bioenergetics), autophagy, cell death and inflammatory responses.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Annotating octopus brain regions: a development of an interactive digital atlas for the cephalopod brain
SZN Tutor: Graziano Fiorito
Department: BEOM
Description
A brain atlas is a necessary tool for analyzing structure and function of nervous system in fields of neuroscience and behavioral science. Although various annotations are available for 'brains' of several mammalian and few other species including some invertebrates, annotation for 'brains' of cephalopod mollusks is not available. The proposed thesis work is aimed at filling this gap and implementing a pipeline for construction of a flexible annotation atlas (FAA) of the octopus (O. vulgaris) brain. The workplan include analysis of published works and in-house resources (available at the octopus lab, BEOM Dept, Stazione Zoologica), annotation of serial sections of entire adult octopus’ brain, data on brain structure, digital representation of single areas and ROIs. The produced FAA will be then available as Open Data – implementing FAIR Data Principles – and will help improving the consistency of whole brain ROI definition among laboratories internationally by fulfilling various requests from researchers with its flexibility and reproducibility. The same principles utilized for octopus will be subsequently adopted for other cephalopod species.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sustainable Marine Biotechnology (Bluebio)
- Title: Functional characterization of the prostaglandin synthesis pathway in marine microalgae:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Prostaglandins are molecules similar to second messengers and are mainly involved in inflammatory processes resolution as well as in the onset of serious pathologies. Their synthesis and related metabolic pathway have been recently discovered in marine eukaryotic unicellular microalgae. Understanding their role in such simple organisms and the functional regulation mechanisms will help decipher their ecological and physiological role as well as the importance of their conservation during the evolution of the planet.
Approaches used: biochemistry and molecular biology techniques; cell culture techniques; bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: marine microalgae (diatoms) and zooplanktonic species.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Comparative study of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase (COX) in different species of marine microalgae:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
In order to transform the production of prostaglandins through marine microalgae into a biotechnological application, the characterization of the chemical-physical and kinetic characteristics of the enzyme necessary for their synthesis, the cyclooxygenase, is crucial to prepare the ground for future application research lines.
Approaches used: biochemistry and molecular biology techniques.
Organisms used: bacteria and marine microalgae (diatoms).
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Use of bioinformatic approaches for the identification of the prostaglandin synthesis "pathway" in different marine organisms:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Prostaglandins are molecules involved in inflammatory and pathological processes that have been very well studied in humans. Very interesting has been considered their production in simple marine organisms such as diatoms, unicellular eukaryotic algae. Given the strong interest in marine resources both from an ecological and biotechnological point of view, it is very interesting to expand their research into other marine organisms in order to understand their role both in physiology and in the chemical communication necessary to establish a balance between the various species component the plankton. The new sequencing technologies supported by bioinformatics software are very useful and versatile to be able to perform a wide-spectrum study.
Approaches used: bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: marine microalgae and zooplanktonic species.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Molecular insights into the synthetic pathways of secondary metabolites produced by the diatom Thalassiosira rotula:
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Marine microalgae in the diatom group are particularly interesting for the production of metabolites deriving from secondary metabolism for adaptation to different climatic conditions. These metabolites mainly perform a defense function and therefore have biological activities that are often interesting for human use in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical fields. Thalassiosira rotula is a species of diatom present in the Gulf of Naples capable of synthesizing some interesting secondary metabolites. Its genome and transcriptome have been sequenced thus allowing the identification of the pathways responsible for the synthesis of these metabolites. The sequences obtained from genomic and transcriptomic sequencing allow to investigate the activation of these pathways in different conditions through molecular approaches.
Approaches used: techniques of biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology; cell culture techniques; bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: Thalassiosira rotula.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Discovery of the pharmacological potential of marine microalgae against telomerase activity in human cancers
SZN Tutor: Valeria Di Dato
Department: BluBiotech
Description
Telomeres are special sequences located at the ends of chromosomes whose role is to protect the ends of the DNA from damage. However, after each cell division their size decreases and when their length reaches a critical point, the cells undergo apoptosis and/or senescence. Thus, the length of telomeres can act as a biological clock to determine the life span of a cell and an organism, and their length is determined by an enzyme called telomerase. This enzyme is constitutively turned off in somatic cells, while it is highly active in germ cells allowing their continuous replication. Likewise, telomerase is expressed in approximately 90% of cancer cells, thus allowing for their indefinite proliferation. For this reason, telomerase inhibition may represent a preferred specific target for anticancer therapies. Various natural products, commonly derived from plants, have shown telomerase inhibitory activity and include secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, xanthones, and sesquiterpenes.
Marine eukaryotic microalgae are very important components of phytoplankton able to adapt to all kinds of ecological niches and physicochemical conditions due to a series of secondary metabolites they produce. The project aims to identify microalgae species that produce molecules capable of inhibiting telomerase activity in a set of different cancer cell lines for possible exploitation as an anticancer drug.
Approaches used: techniques of biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, bioinformatics approaches.
Organisms used: diatoms, dinoflagellates.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Screening for the production of biomolecules with antibiofilm properties
SZN Tutor: Carmen Rizzo
Department: BLUEBIO, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina
Description
Screening of marine bacterial isolates for antimicrobial activity and production of bioactive molecules with activity inhibiting the formation of biofilms of pathogenic strains. Application of culture approach and molecular techniques for taxonomic identification.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Extraction of chitin and chitosan from fisheries waste
SZN Tutor: Carmen Rizzo
Department: BLUEBIO, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina
Description
Isolation of high-value products from under-utilised marine species and waste from fish processing and aquaculture plants in the view of a circular economy and recycling perspective.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Characterisation of microbial communities associated with microplastics in the marine environment
- SZN Tutor: Carmen Rizzo
Department: BLUEBIO, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina
Description
Culture-based and molecular approach for the study of microbial communities associated with microplastics (plastisphere) and biotechnological applications for degradative potential.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Integrated Marine Ecology (EMI):
- Title: Communities responses to multiple stressors
Tutor SZN: Manuel Berlino, Maria Cristina Mangano
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
Benthic habitats are highly biodiverse, an attribute that makes them energy flow and carbon cycling hotspots. Unfortunately, metabolism dynamics across varying ecosystems and communities are poorly understood, particularly in function of their associated biodiversity (changes/loss) and functionality. The aim of this work is to measure metabolism in situ, and to collect/measure pertinent community and abiotic variables from diverse ecosystems. Thus, to be able to understand the community metabolism across varying habitats’ composition, ecosystem functions and under different stressors presence.
Profile: Biological/Environmental/Natural Sciences degree or equivalent; Proficiency in English; Proven experience in fieldwork (marine); Proven experience in laboratory (biological sciences); Diving certificate(?); Knowledge about biogeochemical cycles in marine environments; Availability to go to the field when necessary; Basic Microsoft Office skills; Ability to work in a team and willingness to learn. The activities will consist of providing support during the different phases of the research: Fieldwork (metabolism measurements of several day cycles, biodiversity and abiotic variables assessment in different ecosystems), laboratory processing of samples and data extraction.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Biological and ecological aspects of deep-sea fish
Tutor SZN: Pietro Battaglia
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
There is still little knowledge on Mediterranean deep-sea fish. The purpose of this project is to investigate some ecological and biological aspects of deep-sea fish species, including growth, age, sexual maturity, and feeding habits. The trainee will gain knowledge about the taxonomy of fish and the methods commonly used to assess the above mentioned aspects. The results will provide a baseline for potential management and conservation policy for the species. The activity will be carried out at the Ichthyology and Fisheries Laboratory of the SZN headquarters in Messina (Sicily Marine Centre).
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: trophic ecology of cephalopods
Tutor SZN: Pietro Battaglia e Giorgio Aglieri
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
The CIAO MARE project uses several species of cephalopods, having different ecology and lifestyle, as bioindicators of the environmental status of the sea, investigating the effects of pollution and marine litter on the biology, physiology, ecology, and flesh quality of these fishery resources. In this context, the feeding habits of cuttlefish, octopus and loliginid squids are studied through an integrated approach using several complementary techniques: stomach content analysis, isotopic analysis and metabarcoding. The internship activity will be carried out at the Ichthyology and Fisheries Laboratory of the SZN headquarters in Messina (Sicily Marine Centre).
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. o This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: assessment of the impact of microplastic ingestion in cephalopod molluscs
Tutor SZN: Pierpaolo Consoli
Department: EMI, Sicily Marine Centre
Description
The impact of human activities has significant consequences on marine biota and the environment due to the presence of various chemical pollutants and marine litter, including microplastics. The internship activity will focus on the study of microplastic ingestion by cephalopods through the analysis of gasto-intestinal tract, using the chemical digestion approach and the identification and characterization of compounds by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The internship activity will be carried out at Messina, SZN Sicily Marine Centre.
Per ulteriori informazioni e disponibilità, contattare: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Integrated taxonomy studies in marine invertebrates
SZN Tutor: Laura Nunez Pons
Department: EMI
Description
Research based on the classification of marine invertebrates applying techniques for the morphological description and diagnosis of species identification, and molecular approaches related to DNA barcoding and phylogeny.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Allelopathy and functional symbioses in marine holobionts
SZN Tutor: Laura Nunez Pons
Department: EMI
Description:
Studies related to symbiotic interactions taking place in marine ecosystems and their role in organismal health, disease, and acclimatization to the environment via metabolic fluxes of nutrients, defensive compounds and allelochemical mediators.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Integrative taxonomy as a tool to assess the true biodiversity of the marine biota of the Gulf of Naples (Italy, Mediterranean Sea)
SZN Tutor: Fabio Crocetta
Department: EMI
Description:
The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots worldwide. However, many local zoological groups have not been subjected to a deep review based on modern methods. The aim of the project will be to explore the biota of the Gulf of Naples through an integrative taxonomy approach – i.e. a comprehensive framework to delimit and describe taxa by integrating information from ecological, molecular, and morphological data. Data obtained will have important implications in conservation issues, refine phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries, and shed a light on evolutionary lines and cryptic diversity.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Spore formation in Chaetoceros cultures as a mode of long-term strain-maintenance and storage.
SZN Tutor: Wiebe Kooistra
Department: EMI
Description:
The candidate exposes monoclonal strains of Chaetoceros species to conditions fostering spore formation, and to determine optimalconditions for survival. If spores are obtained, their ultrastructural details are documented in SEM if this information is not already availablefor the species.
Together with Marina Montresor
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Morphological plasticity of Chaetoceros strains in response to grazing copepods
SZN Tutor: Wiebe Kooistra
Department: EMI
Description:
Strains of several species of the planktonic diatom Chaetoceros are exposed to grazing copepods. In case the copepods enticephenotypic responses in the diatoms, further experiments unravel if mechanical or biochemical triggers cause the response.
Together with Ylenia Carotenuto.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Deep-sea mega-benthos of the central Mediterranean Sea.
SZN Tutor: Frine Cardone
Department: EMI
Description:
The study aims to create an inventory of the Mediterranean deep-sea megabenthos, combining video analysis with morphological/molecular approach of sampled materials.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Title: Monitoring of microcosms life cycles in controlled environment
SZN Tutor: Frine Cardone
Department: EMI
Description:
The research aims to evaluate the aquarium rearing performance of rare species by means medium-term monitoring of morphometric parameters.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Conservation of marine Animals and Public Engagement (CAPE):
- Title: Management and databasing of the scientific collections of Stazione Zoologica
Tutor SZN: Paolo Albano
Department: CAPE
Description
Stazione Zoologica owns an important historical collection of marine organisms, whose enlargement is undergoing due to the contribution of its scientists and acquisitions from third parties. The internship objective is to learn the techniques to handle samples preserved both in liquids or dry, both historical and modern, both in the public exhibits and preserved uniquely for scientific research. Moreover, the intern will learn about the use of specific software for databasing the collection.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (website https://pgalbano.weebly.com/)
- Title: Patterns and drivers of native species richness decline in the Eastern Mediterranean
SZN Tutor: Paolo Albano
Department: CAPE
Description
The Eastern Mediterranean Sea is under the siege of climate warming, biological invasions, and further local stressors. We quantify today's and historical native Mediterranean and non-indigenous species richness with extensive sampling programs and use multidisciplinary approaches at the interface of marine ecology and paleontology to quantify species loss and identify its main drivers. Furthermore, we use functional trait studies and species distribution models to understand and predict the fate of the Mediterranean in future climate scenarios.
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (website https://pgalbano.weebly.com/)
Research Infrastructures for marine biological resources (RIMAR):
- Title: Design, construction, and testing of underwater research equipment
SZN Tutor: Simonepietro Canese
Department: RIMAR
Description:
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn is seeking a mechanical, manufacturing, or industrial engineering student for a summer internship in our research infrastructure department. The start date and schedule of the internship is flexible, but we are looking for students who can commit 30 to 40 hours per week for a 10-to-12-week period.
Essential Functions: Design, construction and testing of underwater research equipment;
For further information and availability, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.