1. Rocky macrozoobenthos mediolittoral community in the Gulf of Trieste (North Adriatic) along a gradient of hydromorphological modificationsValentina Pitacco, Borut Mavrič, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Lovrenc Lipej, 2013, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Despite the increasing urban and industrial development in coastal areas our knowledge on direct consequences of coastal modifications on benthic communities is still limited. The aim of the present study was to assess the response of rocky macrozoobenthos mediolittoral communities to human-induced hydromorphological pressures. Sampling was carried out by SCUBA diving and snorkeling in June 2008. Ten sites were selected along a gradient of hydromorphological alterations in the southern part of the Gulf of Trieste. Variables used to describe the stressor gradient were: water retention (from normal hydrology in unprotected coast to closed areas with only one opening), substrate composition, texture and rugosity. Despite natural differences between upper and lower mediolittoral subbelts, the present work showed that human-induced alterations of the coastal zone impact biological assemblages. There was a marked difference in biodiversity among sites with pristine conditions and stressed zones, mainly due to evenness of species distribution. Structural complexity of the substrate resulted to be the main factor influencing benthic diversity in the upper mediolittoral subbelt, while in the lower subbelt also the human-induced water retention seemed to play a key role. Anyhow, this response was complex, and the major human-induced alterations considered had different level of pressure within the two subbelts. The current study has a good potential to contribute to existing coastal assessment methods, since the impact of hydromorphological pressures on mediolittoral communities was almost neglected in the past. However, further work is needed to fully explain the impact of main human-induced threats on benthic communities. Ključne besede: sea, Zoobenthos, artificial substrata, intertidal environment, hydromorphological modifications, ecological distribution, coastal waters, biodiversity, bio-indicators, macrozoobenthos, rocky bottom, biocoenoses, ecological aspects, Gulf of Trieste Objavljeno v DiRROS: 02.08.2024; Ogledov: 126; Prenosov: 86
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2. Macrofauna associated with a bank of Cladocora caespitosa (Anthozoa, Scleractinia) in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic)Valentina Pitacco, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Borut Mavrič, Lovrenc Lipej, 2014, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The Mediterranean stony coral Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1767) is a native colonial, zooxanthellate, shallow water coral, particularly sensitive to global changes and anthropogenic activities. Due to its shape and size, it is able to host a diversifi ed faunal assemblage, which is still relatively unknown. A recently discovered bank of C. caespitosa, discovered close to Cape Ronek (Gulf of Trieste, Slovenia), was investigated in November 2010. Altogether 121 invertebrate taxa, belonging to 9 different phyla were found. Taxa composition in colonies differed markedly from the surrounding areas within the bank. Only 5 taxa (4 % of the total) were found both within and without C. caespitosa colonies. Our results confi rm the role of C. caespitosa as a habitat builder and indicate the importance of the studied bank for biodiversity Objavljeno v DiRROS: 02.08.2024; Ogledov: 96; Prenosov: 193
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3. Epibenthic macrofauna on an artificial reef of the Northern Adriatic Sea : a five-years photographic monitoringNicola Bettoso, Lisa Faresi, Ida Floriana Aleffi, Valentina Pitacco, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Artificial reefs (ARs) are man-made structures used with the aim of improving fisheries and increasing natural production of biological resources. In 2006 an AR made of three types of modules was sunk near an underwater sewage outfall. The objectives of the project were: (a) to use the AR to restock some target species of commercial interest and (b) to promote biodiversity in selected areas. The epibenthic macrofauna that had settled on this AR was annually monitored for five years (2007-2011) using non-destructive photographic methods. A total of 88 taxa from 8 phyla were identified, with a predominance of Porifera, Mollusca and Ascidiacea. Among the types of modules used to construct the AR, polyethylene panel nets were functional for bivalve settlement in the first year, whereas concrete structures seemed to perform best in promoting biodiversity in terms of species richness in the long term. Nevertheless, the 5-year monitoring period was too short to speculate on the stability or homeostasis of communities settled on the AR in terms of ecological succession. Ključne besede: artificial reefs, macrozoobenthos, Adriatic Sea, photographic monitoring, marine biology, hydrobiology Objavljeno v DiRROS: 01.08.2024; Ogledov: 323; Prenosov: 126
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4. First record of Flabelliderma cinari Karhan, Simboura & Salazar-Vallejo, 2012 (Polychaeta: Flabelligeridae) from the Adriatic SeaValentina Pitacco, Űnsal Karhan, 2019, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Eleven specimens of the flabelligerid polychaete Flabelliderma cinari Karhan, Simboura & Salazar-Vallejo, 2012 were found in colonies of the Mediterranean stony coral Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1767), in the northern Adriatic Sea. This finding represents the first record of the species outside its type range and provides additional information on its area of distribution and potential ecological role Ključne besede: symbiosis, northern Adriatic Objavljeno v DiRROS: 31.07.2024; Ogledov: 109; Prenosov: 189
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5. Multiannual trend of micro-pollutants in sediments and benthic community response in a Mediterranean lagoon (Sacca di Goro, Italy)Valentina Pitacco, Michele Mistri, Carla Rita Ferrari, Adriano Sfriso, Andrea Augusto Sfriso, Cristina Munari, 2020, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Long-term variations of ecological status in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Sacca di Goro, Northern Adriatic) were investigated, combining data on the concentration of surface sediment contaminants and on the structure of the macrobenthic community. The aim was to assess any amount of chemical contamination and check the response of the macrobenthic community to sediment contamination. Over the studied period, the sediments of the lagoon showed contamination by trace metals and organochlorine pesticides, with most of them exceeding the thresholds indicated by the Italian legislation in many samples. Contamination by polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) instead never exceeded the threshold. The ecological status based on the macrobenthic community, evaluated through biotic indices (AMBI and M-AMBI), fell below the Good/Moderate threshold in most samples. The results indicate a possible influence of toxic compounds in sediment on benthic organisms, but most of the variability shown by the macrobenthic community is probably due to other factors. The difficulty in establishing a cause/effect relationship was due to the co-occurrence and variability of various stressors (both natural and anthropogenic) and their interactions. The methods currently used for monitoring transitional waters thus seem insufficient to disentangle the effect of pollutants and other environmental variables on the benthos. Integrated approaches (e.g., bioaccumulation and toxicity tests) are thus needed for a more precise identification of the risk posed by a high concentration of pollutants in such environments. Ključne besede: coastal lagoon, macrobenthos, trace elements, organochlorine pesticides, PAHs, PCDD/Fs Objavljeno v DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Ogledov: 112; Prenosov: 143
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6. Ecological patterns of polychaete assemblages associated with the Mediterranean stony coral Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1767) : a comparison of sites in two biogeographic zones (Adriatic and Aegean Sea)Valentina Pitacco, Giorgos Chatzigeorgiou, Barbara Mikac, Lovrenc Lipej, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The Mediterranean stony coral Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1767) is a well-known habitat builder, and as such hosts a diversified faunal assemblage. Although polychaetes are one of the most abundant and diverse macrobenthic groups associated with C. caespitosa colonies, our knowledge of their ecological features in this association is still limited. The aim of this paper was to gather and compare the most comprehensive data available on polychaetes associated with C. caespitosa in the Adriatic and the Aegean Seas, and to test for differences between these geographic areas. To this end, differences were tested in terms of: (i) richness and structure of polychaete assemblages; (ii) feeding and functional traits of assemblages; (iii) the main factors influencing those aspects, (iv) the relationship between polychaete assemblages richness and Cladocora colony size, and estimate richness. Differences were observed between the Adriatic and the Aegean Seas, in terms of richness, species composition and relative proportion of the dominant feeding guild (filter feeders most abundant in the Aegean and carnivores in the Adriatic) and motility mode (sessile most abundant in the Aegean and motile in the Adriatic). Conversely, cosmopolitan and Atlanto-Mediterranean species dominated the assemblages in both geographic areas, and the same Species-Area Relation model proved to be effective for richness estimation in both geographic areas. Ključne besede: benthic ecology, habitat builder species, polychaeta, Mediterranean Sea Objavljeno v DiRROS: 19.07.2024; Ogledov: 114; Prenosov: 47
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7. Sediment contamination by heavy metals and PAH in the Piombino channel (Tyrrhenian sea)Valentina Pitacco, Michele Mistri, Tommaso Granata, Letizia Moruzzi, Maria Laura Meloni, Francesca Massara, Adriano Sfriso, Andrea Augusto Sfriso, Cristina Munari, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Sediment contamination is of major concern in areas affected by heavy maritime traffic. The spatial variation and contamination of 11 trace elements and 17 PAHs in surface sediments were studied along a 31 km transect along the seaway from the port of Piombino (Tuscany) to the port of Portoferraio (Elba Island) in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea. Heavy metal contamination was detected at sites near Piombino (Ni, Pb, Hg, Cu and Zn) and at sites near Portoferraio (Pb, Zn, Hg, Cr and Cd). Each of the 35 sampled sites showed PAH contamination, with the highest concentrations at sites near Portoferraio. The most abundant isomers detected were 2- and 4-ring PAHs. PAH ratio analysis showed a prevalence of PAHs of pyrolytic origin. High values of PAHs and heavy metals were related to high sediment water content, TOC, silt, and clay content. Arsenic increased with increasing depth. The correlation between concentrations of metals and PAHs suggests common anthropogenic sources and is of concern for possible synergistic adverse effects on the biota. Objavljeno v DiRROS: 19.07.2024; Ogledov: 101; Prenosov: 101
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8. Temporal changes of a fouling community: colonization patterns of the benthic epifauna in the shallow northern Adriatic SeaAna Fortič, Borut Mavrič, Valentina Pitacco, Lovrenc Lipej, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Sessile benthic communities are an important element of marine ecosystems, yet their temporal patterns remain poorly understood. For this reason, the temporal changes of the fouling community on brick plates in Piran Bay, Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea), were studied for two calendar years. The aim of this study was to identify the settlement of dominant native and alien species on artificial substrates and their temporal occurrence, both in terms of season and duration of submersion. In addition, we tried to assess the impact of the placement period on developing communities. The dominant taxonomic groups were bryozoans, which accounted for almost half of the total coverage (46%), serpulid polychaetes (25%) and bivalves (11%). Most of the species belonging to the dominant taxa occurred throughout the year, with the peak of occurrence in summer. The first settlers included serpulids and bivalves, which were constantly found on the plates together with bryozoans. Alien and cryptogenic species represented about 13% of all taxa found during the study. This highlights the importance of bare artificial structures erected outside typical hotspots for alien species; they serve as a springboard for the spread of alien fouling species. The communities that formed on plates placed in different seasons showed significant differences between them. High bryozoan coverage characterized the communities placed in winter and spring, while the plates placed in summer and autumn were dominated by serpulid polychaetes. These differences are the result of species seasonality as well as the interaction between them. The study demonstrates the importance of timing for initial colonization. It can be linked to the placement of the bare substrate for the development of the community, and provides a baseline for research and projects involving underwater constructions and the detection of alien species. Objavljeno v DiRROS: 19.07.2024; Ogledov: 106; Prenosov: 117
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9. First restoration experiment for Gongolaria barbata in Slovenian coastal waters : What can go wrong?Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Valentina Pitacco, Petra Slavinec, Milijan Šiško, Tihomir Makovec, Annalisa Falace, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The global decline of brown algal forests along rocky coasts is causing an exceptional biodiversity loss. Regardless of conservation efforts, different techniques have been developed for large-scale restoration strategies in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study we tested ex situ pilot restoration of Gongolaria barbata (=Treptacantha barbata) for the first time in Slovenian coastal waters. Healthy apical fronds of the species were collected and the development of recruits on clay tiles was followed under laboratory conditions for 20 days. Despite the experimental difficulties experienced, especially due to the lack of antibiotics to prevent the growth of the biofilm, G. barbata recruits were outplanted in the sea on two concrete plates with 48 tiles each, protected by purpose-built cages to avoid grazing by herbivorous fish. The high survival rate of juveniles after four months in the field (89% of the tiles on the plate that was constantly protected) suggests that outplanting G. barbata is an operable approach for restoration efforts in the northern Adriatic Sea. Our first experiment in Slovenian coastal waters provides new information for the optimization of the best practices during the laboratory cultivation and addresses the early steps of restoration and introduction of young thalli in the natural environment. Objavljeno v DiRROS: 19.07.2024; Ogledov: 137; Prenosov: 91
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10. First application of the AMBI index to the macrobenthic soft-bottom community of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Southern Ocean)Cristina Munari, Ángel Borja, Cinzia Corinaldesi, Eugenio Rastelli, Marco Lo Martire, Valentina Pitacco, Michele Mistri, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The assemblages of marine benthic organisms and sediment characteristics were investigated in the coastal area between the Mario Zucchelli Antarctic Research Station and Adelie Cove in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Southern Ocean) during the 2015 summer season. Sediment samples were taken from 11 stations at depths between 25 and 140 m. The dominance of sand characterised sites, and the biochemical composition of the sedimentary organic matter resulted in very variable between the different sites. A total of 142 taxa were identified, with Annelida (68 taxa) and Arthropoda (35 taxa) constituting the main macrobenthic groups. The benthic community at deeper stations showed higher species richness and lower dominance compared to the shallower stations. For the first time in Antarctica, we also investigated the response of the AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) to the organic gradient. Of the 142 taxa found, 97 were not listed in the AMBI library, and we were able to assign as many as 88 taxa to an ecological group. All of these new species were added to the new AMBI species list. AMBI showed a good response to the organic gradient. Ključne besede: antarctic benthos, ecological quality assessment, indexes, Ross Sea Objavljeno v DiRROS: 18.07.2024; Ogledov: 136; Prenosov: 147
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