To optimize management of the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus in Mediterranean lagoons, this study presents an integrated analysis of population dynamics, stock status, and biomass valorization in Valle Fattibello (Northern Adriatic Sea). Reproductive dynamics exhibited a marked seasonal pattern; while male-biased sex ratios suggest migratory behavior, the recording of high lagoon salinities (37 PSU) and a summer peak in ovigerous females (>25–33%) indicate potential in-situ reproductive success. Growth trajectories were found to be significantly sex-specific, with males exhibiting faster growth rates toward smaller asymptotic sizes compared to females. Fishery analysis over 116 days yielded 16 tonnes of biomass, yet Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) showed high temporal variability. We identified salinity as the primary driver of catchability, signaling that environmentally standardized assessments are critical for reliable stock monitoring. Complementing the ecological data, biochemical profiling revealed that proximate composition and fatty acid profiles are subject to significant seasonal and sex-related shifts. High n-3/n-6 PUFA ratios and substantial yields of astaxanthin, chitin, and proteins underscore a high-value biorefinery potential. Ultimately, these findings support a transition toward sex- and environment-aware management frameworks that integrate invasive species mitigation with the industrial valorization of blue crab resources in the Po Delta region

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognised as effective approaches for enhancing coastal resilience while simultaneously supporting biodiversity, ecosystem services, and, where appropriate, climate-change mitigation. Their importance is particularly evident in the Mediterranean Basin, a climate-change hotspot exposed to sea-level rise, coastal erosion, land subsidence, sediment deficits, and intense anthropogenic pressures. This review provides a structured evidence synthesis of NbS for Mediterranean coastal adaptation, integrating ecological, hydrodynamic, geomorphological, biodiversity, governance, and implementation perspectives. We examine the principal NbS typologies, including vegetated habitats, biogenic reefs, sediment-based interventions, and hybrid approaches, with particular attention to vulnerable microtidal systems such as coastal lagoons and subsiding shorelines, including the Venice Lagoon and the Emilia-Romagna coast. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature together with evidence from European LIFE projects and restoration initiatives, the review highlights how process-based interventions can restore ecosystem functioning, strengthen coastal resilience, and provide multiple ecosystem services. At the same time, the analysis emphasises that NbS are inherently context-dependent, with their effectiveness influenced by local geomorphology, sediment availability, hydrodynamic conditions, governance capacity, and long-term management. Although important scientific uncertainties remain, wider implementation is increasingly constrained by economic, institutional, and governance barriers. The review concludes that NbS should not be regarded as stand-alone alternatives to conventional engineering, but as key components of integrated and adaptive hybrid coastal management strategies capable of supporting resilient Mediterranean coastal systems under future climate change.

Beach sands may harbor human pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, prompting the proposal of low-dose quicklime (CaO; 1-3% w/w) as a remediation strategy to improve microbiological quality in highly contaminated areas. After application, CaO is converted into calcium carbonate (CaCO3), yet the ecological effects of this residual compound on benthic fauna remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the short-term impact of CaCO3-enriched sediment (3% w/w) on the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, under controlled mesocosm conditions. Adult clams were exposed for one week, and survival, burrowing behavior, feeding- and metabolism-related parameters (clearance, ingestion, absorption efficiency and rate, ammonia excretion), and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, MDA) were assessed using a hierarchical design, with a tank as the experimental unit. No significant differences were detected between control and CaCO3-enriched treatments for any measured endpoint. Survival remained high, functional responses showed overlapping ranges, and MDA levels did not differ significantly between groups. Although limited to short-term exposure and a single concentration, these findings suggest that residual CaCO3 derived from quicklime application did not induce detectable adverse effects in adult R. philippinarum under the tested conditions. Further long-term and multi-species studies are needed to confirm ecological safety.

In this study we documented differences in the accumulation of microplastics (MP) in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of 5 commercially important lagoon fish species, also considering the concentration of MP in the water column and sediment of a lagoon in the Po River Delta (Northern Adriatic Sea). Two sampling campaigns were carried out in 2021 (spring and autumn), and a total of 201 fish were examined. MP contents in fish species varied widely, with ingestion frequencies ranging from 16

This review synthesizes current knowledge on the sea walnut Mnemiopsis leidyi, focusing on its potential as an emerging source of bioactive compounds rather than solely as a marine invader. The Ponto–Mediterranean expansion of the species and its ecological impacts are briefly outlined to provide context on the origin and magnitude of available biomass. Particular emphasis is placed on biological traits, physiological plasticity, and environmental tolerance that enable recurrent production of large gelatinous stocks. Recent evidence indicates substantial biochemical diversity, including antibiofilm and antimicrobial peptides, photoproteins, and a largely unexplored immune-associated molecular space with potential biotechnological and pharmaceutical relevance. These characteristics position M. leidyi as a promising candidate for biorefinery approaches aimed at extracting high-value molecules from low-cost marine biomass. However, pronounced spatial and temporal variability, together with the inherent unpredictability of natural blooms, represents a major bottleneck for reliable biomass supply and industrial exploitation. Addressing this constraint will require complementary strategies to stabilize production and improve process scalability. By integrating ecological context with biochemical and applied perspectives, this review identifies key challenges, knowledge gaps, and future directions for the sustainable valorization of gelatinous marine biomass and its derived biomolecular resources.

This study evaluates the efficacy and spatial dynamics of passive Fishing for Litter (FFL) schemes in the Northern Adriatic (Goro) and Southern Tyrrhenian (Salerno) seas. The primary research question is to determine how distinct regional maritime activities and fishing effort influence the quantity, composition, and removal efficiency of seafloor macrolitter. Over a six-month period (2022-2023), 14 commercial bottom trawlers collected litter during routine operations. Despite comparable fleet characteristics, results revealed pronounced spatial heterogeneity; area-standardized removal reached 27.4 kg km-2 in Goro and 92.3 kg km-2 in Salerno, while effort-weighted LPUE differed markedly (2.83 vs 9.57 kg h-1). Stratification of rates showed that hotspot conditions increased LPUE by factors of ∼2.7-3.5, confirming that removal is driven by localized high-density events. Compositional analysis indicated distinct source pathways: diffuse aquaculture debris dominated in Goro, whereas clustered bulky waste (∼73% of mass) characterized Salerno. Annual mitigation potential was estimated at 4.3 t yr-1 (Goro) and 10.2 t yr-1 (Salerno), with modest treatment costs (€1500-€4750 yr-1). These findings demonstrate that FFL is an effective yet spatially dependent tool. Integrating such heterogeneity into assessment frameworks is essential to support MSFD implementation and targeted, ecosystem-based management strategies.

Sandy coastal ecosystems are among the most widespread yet ecologically simplified marine habitats, particularly where anthropogenic pressures and the scarcity of structurally complex habitats limit biodiversity. This study evaluated the ecological effects of eco-engineered submerged reefs deployed in 2021 along the sandy coast of Lido degli Scacchi (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy). Twenty-one fully submerged eco-engineered Tecnoreef® modules were installed within the gaps between existing detached breakwaters, introducing a highly porous and architecturally complex habitat into a shallow sedimentary environment. Benthic communities were monitored over two years through the assessment of soft-bottom infaunal and hard-substrate epifaunal assemblages. Community development on Tecnoreef modules was compared with that occurring on adjacent limestone breakwaters under both windward and leeward exposure conditions. Infaunal assemblages were primarily influenced by hydrodynamic exposure and showed limited differentiation between habitat types, although abundance and diversity increased around the submerged structures over time. In contrast, epifaunal communities exhibited marked temporal changes and developed compositions distinct from those observed on breakwaters. Among the taxa contributing most strongly to community differentiation was the reef-building polychaete Sabellaria spinulosa. The progressive establishment of this ecosystem-engineering species suggests that the eco-engineered modules provided favorable conditions for the early stages of secondary biogenic habitat development, although longer-term monitoring will be required to determine whether these developing habitats persist and evolve into stable ecological systems. Our results provide encouraging evidence that structurally complex submerged reefs can increase habitat heterogeneity and support the development of diverse benthic assemblages in highly modified sandy coastal environments. Although longer-term monitoring is required to assess habitat persistence and ecosystem-level effects, these findings highlight the potential of eco-engineered reefs as nature-based tools for supporting biodiversity enhancement and habitat development in tourism-dominated coastal landscapes.

The invasion of the Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, in the Mediterranean has evolved from a 20th-century lag phase into an explosive demographic surge. Driven by tropicalization and marine heatwaves, this expansion has triggered a systemic ecological and socio-economic crisis, particularly in the Northern Adriatic. We review current knowledge on the invasion history of C. sapidus in the Mediterranean, the environmental drivers underpinning the demographic expansion that started in 2019-2020, and its impacts on biodiversity, aquaculture, and ecosystem services. This review identifies a critical "Italian paradox": while biomass reached unprecedented levels in 2025, exceeding 2,200 tonnes in the Po Delta alone, the management response remains reactive, focusing on costly disposal rather than high-value exploitation. A transition toward a Blue Biorefinery model is suggested to be the key to resolve this paradox. Beyond its culinary value, C. sapidus is a reservoir of high-value compounds, including medical-grade chitosan, antihypertensive peptides, and astaxanthin, with very high market value. By implementing green extraction technologies, a biological threat can be transformed into a self-sustaining circular economy. However, industrial scaling must integrate rigorous monitoring of heavy metal bioaccumulation and emerging pathogens to ensure safety.

Seagrass transplantation significantly alters sediment microbial communities, shaping their composition and metabolic functions. One year after Zostera marina transplantation, the microbial community structure and functions at the recipient site began shifting toward those of the donor site. Key microbial taxa associated with seagrass meadow sediment, such as Firmicutes (Hungateiclostridiaceae, Defluviitaleaceae) and Campylobacterota (Sulfurovum), increased in abundance, correlating with sediment organic matter content and carbon availability. Four functional groups were identified, each with distinct metabolic roles: (1) Opportunistic Anaerobic Degraders, (2) Seagrass-Driven Carbon Recyclers, (3) Anaerobic Fermenters and Hydrocarbon Recyclers and (4) Oxygen-Linked Carbon and Sulfur Cyclers. The sediments of transplanted Z. marina meadows exhibited increased cellulolysis and aerobic chemoheterotrophy, along with a reduction in nitrogen metabolism one year post transplant. Despite these microbial shifts, sediment isotopic signatures remained indicative of algal biomass, suggesting an incomplete transition toward a mature seagrass environment. Multivariate analysis further confirmed that the microbial community at the recipient site had not yet fully converged with that of the donor meadow, indicating that complete sediment maturation may require longer timescales. These findings demonstrate that microbial community composition and functional annotations serve as early indicators of seagrass restoration success. Long-term monitoring is essential to track ecosystem recovery and assess the stabilization of sediment conditions.

Diptera belonging to the families Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae are known for their diversified trophic preferences and for their forensic and medical-veterinary relevance. The ecological preferences (distribution, abundance and habitat) of these two families were investigated along four years in the Region Calabria (Southern Italy) in 17 sampling sites located in four areas: the Aspromonte National Park, the Sila National Park, the Natural Regional Park of Serre, and a suburban area at the University of Calabria (Rende, Cosenza, Italy). A total of 39,537 individuals were collected, with 36,253 belonging to 14 species of Calliphoridae and 3284 belonging to 35 species of Sarcophagidae. The most abundant species among Calliphoridae was Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus, 1758); among Sarcophagidae, it was Sarcophaga (Sarcophaga) croatica Baranov, 1941. The highest species richness and abundance of Calliphoridae were observed in forest areas and those of Sarcophagidae in open and humid environments. The results also show a close association between the distribution of both families and environmental factors such as altitude, vegetation type, season, and temperature.

Daniel Whitmore was not included as an author in the original publication [...]

Factors shaping biodiversity and functioning of coastal ecosystems in Antarctica are still largely unknown due to the overlap of multiple physical and bio-ecological forcings. Here, we investigated three coastal areas of the Ross Sea (Antarctica) across a coast-offshore transect (25–140 m depth), including an area located in front of the longest-dwelling penguin colony of the Adélie Cove Bay and other two areas, Camp Icarus Bay and Rod Bay, far from the penguin colony. The deposition of the penguin guano determined an extraordinary accumulation of organic matter in coastal sediments (6.9 ± 0.6 mgC g−1), among the highest values reported worldwide so far, which cause apparent detrimental effects on meiofaunal biodiversity, in terms of richness of taxa and nematode species. Meiofaunal abundance showed a wide spatial variability among bays and depths (range: 252 ± 103 to 5961 ± 659 ind. 10 cm−2) with lower abundance and biomass at shallow stations. Here, we found a limited food availability possibly associated with the occurrence of the ice-scouring along the coast. Overall, 17 meiofaunal higher taxa were identified and the richness of taxa reached the highest values at 140 m depth in all the three bays investigated. Nematodes were characterized by a high diversity with 100 species identified. A relevant number of exclusive nematode species was observed in each bay and only 16 species were common at all sampling areas. The huge variability of biodiversity among the investigated areas was apparently related to a combination of biological (food availability and trophic interactions) and physical (ice-scouring) factors generating a mosaic of different assemblages. The combination of these factors determined a high turnover (beta) diversity (up to 100

One year of monthly sampling in some lagoons of the Po Delta and a pond in the Comacchio Valleys helped fill a gap in the knowledge of the primary producers of these degraded environments, focusing on the competition between macrophytes and phytoplankton. Key water column and surface sediment parameters showed a strong association with the different primary producers, explaining the main factors influencing the dominance of one group over the other. Phytoplankton, recorded as Chlorophyll-a and Phaeophytin-a, and Chlorophyceae among the macrophytes, dominated in conditions of high water turbidity and elevated nutrient concentrations. In contrast, macrophytes, particularly Rhodophyceae, their abundance, total biomass, and number of taxa. prevailed in clear, oxygenated waters. Under optimal conditions, sensitive macroalgae and aquatic angiosperms were also present. Additionally, the current list of macroalgal taxa has been updated, highlighting the dominance of some nonindigenous species (NIS) that had not been recorded before the 2000s. Specifically, Gracilaria vermiculophylla and Ulva australis, native to the North West Pacific (Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam) and to South Australia, as well as the Indo-West Pacific (India, South Africa, Japan, and Korea), respectively, are now the most frequent and abundant taxa in these lagoons.

In the Caleri lagoon, a coastal lagoon in the Po River Delta, Northern Adriatic, the transplant of the dwarf eelgrass Zostera noltei was used as a nature-based solution to attempt the ecological restoration of a previously depleted lagoon area. A total of 135 15-cm-diameter sods were transplanted, with the donor site at the Venice lagoon. Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), eelgrass transplants were mapped and monitored with great precision. After two years, the area covered by eelgrass increased from the initial 2.5 m2 to 60 m2. Changes in the community structure and on the frequency of biological traits of macrobenthos occurred at the transplant site, with a higher frequency of epifaunal predators and herbivores, and of organisms with longer life spans and larger body sizes. Sensitive and indifferent taxa were always higher in the transplant site than in the bare bottom control site, where opportunistic taxa continued to dominate. Ecological quality status measured through M-AMBI and HBFI indices showed a clear improvement in the transplant site. The rapid changes in benthos demonstrate that even relatively small-scale transplantation of dwarf eelgrass can restore faunal communities very rapidly.

Within the family Calliphoridae, the genus Calliphora Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, includes species of medical, veterinary and forensic relevance. This study reports for the first time the presence of Calliphora rohdendorfi (Grunin, 1966) in the Italian territory, namely in Calabrian Apennines (Southern Italy). The adults of the species were captured by bait bottle and yellow pan traps within a monitoring project of Diptera Brachycera involving Parco Nazionale dell'Aspromonte (Aspromonte National Park), Parco Nazionale della Sila (Sila National Park) and Parco Naturale Regionale delle Serre (Natural Regional Park of Serre), between 2018 and 2021. Calliphora rohdendorfi was identified on detailed morphological bases of both sexes. This was the first description of the general morphology of the female and its terminalia through digital photographs acquired by stereomicroscopy. The species was captured in pine and beech forests at an altitude between 1010 and 1820 m a.s.l. in shaded mountain areas. Prior to the finding in Southern Italy, this species showed an unusually disjointed distribution in Caucasus, Germany and Poland, thus the presence of C. rohdendorfi in Calabrian Apennines provides new and interesting data that require further investigation, because the species could play a role as flower visitor, pollinator and forensic indicator.

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One of the main threats to aquaculture is represented by microbial pathogens, causing mass mortality episodes in hatcheries, which result in huge economic losses. Among the many disinfection methods applied to reduce this issue, the use of chemicals and beneficial microorganisms (probiotics) seems to be the most efficient. The aim of this study is to test the efficacy of two of them: a chemical, peracetic acid (PAA), and a probiotic, Phaeobacter inhibens. Tests were run on microalgae of the species Isochrysis galbana (var T-ISO). For both remedies, the microalgae survival rate and final cell concentration (cell/mL) were monitored. PAA analysis tested six different concentrations of the chemical: 7.5 µg, 10 µg/L, 20 µg/L, 30 µg/L, 40 µg/L, and 60 µg/L. Meanwhile, P. inhibens was tested with a concentration of 104 CFU/mL. Analysis for both the remedies was conducted on a laboratory scale using glass flasks, and on an industrial scale inside photobioreactors (PBRs). Among all the treatments, the one with PAA dosed with a concentration of 60 µg/L gave the best results, as the culture reached a final density of 8.61 × 106 cell/mL. However, none of the remedies involved in the experiment harmed microalgae or their growth. The results match perfectly with the condition requested for the tested remedies: to obtain an optimal breakdown of pathogens without interfering with culture growth. These features make PAA and P. inhibens good candidates for disinfection methods in aquaculture facilities.

The microbiome plays a key role in the health of all metazoans. Whether and how the microbiome favors the adaptation processes of organisms to extreme conditions, such as those of Antarctica, which are incompatible with most metazoans, is still unknown. We investigated the microbiome of three endemic and widespread species of Antarctic polychaetes: Leitoscoloplos geminus, Aphelochaeta palmeri, and Aglaophamus trissophyllus. We report here that these invertebrates contain a stable bacterial core dominated by Meiothermus and Anoxybacillus, equipped with a versatile genetic makeup and a unique portfolio of proteins useful for coping with extremely cold conditions as revealed by pangenomic and metaproteomic analyses. The close phylosymbiosis between Meiothermus and Anoxybacillus and these Antarctic polychaetes indicates a connection with their hosts that started in the past to support holobiont adaptation to the Antarctic Ocean. The wide suite of bacterial cryoprotective proteins found in Antarctic polychaetes may be useful for the development of nature-based biotechnological applications.

The parasitoid Torymus sinensis (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) has been successfully used in Italy since 2005 for biological control of the invasive cynipid Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), highly destructive for the economically relevant Castanea sativa (Fagales: Fagaceae). In order to investigate the morphological aspects related to sensorial behavior, a fine morphology study of the antennae and their sensilla was conducted by scanning electron microscopy on both sexes of T. sinensis. The antennae, composed of a scape, a pedicel and a flagellum with ten flagellomeres, had chaetic sensilla of six subtypes, placoid sensilla of three subtypes, trichoid sensilla, sensilla with a roundish grooved tip, and coeloconic sensilla. The chaetic sensilla of the first three subtypes were found in the scape and in the pedicel, and those of the last three subtypes, together with trichoid, roundish grooved tip and coeloconic sensilla, were found only on flagellomeres. Sexual dimorphism was detected in the morphology of the proper pedicel and the flagellum, and in the presence and distribution of the sensilla and their subtypes. The morphological aspects of the antenna of T. sinensis and of its sensilla were compared with those found in the family Torymidae and in other families of the extremely diverse superfamily Chalcidoidea.