In this work, surfactant-assisted hydrodistillation using the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 is reported for the first time as an extraction strategy for essential oils (EOs) from the brown alga Dictyopteris membranacea, a species well known for its rich content of bioactive metabolites, including C11 hydrocarbons (sexual pheromones), sulfur-containing compounds, and terpenoids. A range of Triton X-100 concentrations was evaluated to optimize the extraction process, and the results were compared to conventional hydrodistillation, which yielded 0.12%. The extraction process exhibited three distinct phases: an initial increase in yield with rising surfactant concentration; a peak yield of 0.22% (w/w) observed at a Triton X-100 concentration of 8%-12% (v/v); and a subsequent decline at higher concentrations. EOs obtained under varying surfactant conditions were analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID to assess the influence of Triton X-100 on their chemical profile. The results have extracting demonstrated a significant impact of surfactant concentration on the relative abundance of major compound classes, notably C11 hydrocarbons, terpenes, and sulfur-containing compounds.

Mowing and grazing are among the most common grassland management practices, and the frequency and intensity with which they are applied can reduce soil nutrient availabilities. These alterations may drive microorganisms to increase the production of enzymes associated with the acquisition of limiting nutrients. This study aimed to investigate how different land uses—and their associated management practices—affect microbial strategies for soil nutrient acquisition and ecosystem responses to nutrient limitation. Thus, in the Matese mountain (Southern Italy), adjacent areas under different land uses (forest-FO, meadow-ME, pasture-PA) were selected, and the soils sampled at four times along the year (T1, T2, T3 and T4), corresponding to specific management practices in ME and PA. Total soil nutrient (seven macro- and four micronutrient) concentrations, and twelve soil enzymatic activities involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus acquisition by the microbial community were analyzed. Enzyme stoichiometric ratios (ECN, ECP, ENP) as well as length and angle of a vector combining ECN and ECP were calculated to assess soil nutrient acquisition strategies. ECN and ECP values highlighted a greater microbial investment in nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition across all land uses, whereas the higher vector length value observed at T2 and T3 in PA and at T3 in ME suggested increased microbial allocation toward carbon acquisition. ENP and the vector angle values highlighted a greater phosphorus acquisition in FO, nitrogen in PA, and balanced nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition in ME. These patterns suggest that land use and management practices influence microbial resource-allocation strategies and ecosystem responses to nutrient limitation by altering extracellular enzyme production. Our findings further show that practices such as annual mowing and low grazing pressure have helped preserve the balance of soil microbial nutrients, while also indicating the value of enzymatic stoichiometry as an effective useful approach for understanding microbial adaptation to nutrient limitation and ecosystem functioning under different land uses.

Urban and industrial activities have lasting effects on Earth ecosystems, impairing their functionality. Technosols offer a sustainable solution for restoring degraded urban and industrial ecosystems. In a 30-day microcosm experiment, a mixture of six pioneer plant species was sown in three substrates: a sewage sludge-based Technosol (GF), a zeolite-enriched Technosol (GZ), and a commercial potting mix control (GC). The plant population dynamics, final performance, and substrate biochemical properties were monitored. A strong environmental filter allowed only two species (Bromus inermis Leyss. and Lolium perenne L.) to establish. Technosols exerted a demographic bottleneck, delaying emergence and reducing the total biomass relative to the control. Zeolites in the GZ Technosol mitigated this delay, accelerating early establishment due to their microporous structure and high cation exchange capacity. However, GZ caused the greatest reduction in individual biomass and functional plant performance index, corresponding to a microbial shift toward oxidative activity at the expense of hydrolytic nutrient mineralization. These results show that sewage sludge Technosols can initiate functional ecological succession. While zeolites positively affect germination, their microbial interaction suggests a temporary decoupling between the establishment speed and final productivity. Integrated monitoring of demographic and biochemical dynamics is therefore essential to optimize Technosol-based environmental restoration.

The spatial configuration of urban landscapes, characterized by complex mosaics of fragmented patches subjected to different land uses, shapes biodiversity and, therefore, affects ecosystem stability and functioning. The present study focuses on evaluating the small scale variations of vegetation structural and functional biodiversity in Mediterranean urban ecosystems, in relation to land use and fragmentation. For the structural biodiversity, taxa were identified at the species level, estimating their abundance through several measures (number, dry mass, Braun-Blanquet cover), whereas functional traits (biological form, chorological type, Ellenberg indices) were adopted in evaluating vegetation functional diversity. Data analysis relied on the derivation of synthetic structural and functional diversity indices, employed together with community composition and species abundances in ascertaining how land use (pathways, lawns, tree rows) and margin effect (distance from interfaces) drive the diversity of plant communities. Overall, results indicate a remarkable heterogeneity of plant communities, even at scales in the order of few meters, with land use and margin effect differentially affecting their structural and functional biodiversity. The main drivers of biodiversity appear to be a combination of anthropogenic pressures (e.g. trampling/soil sealing) and the presence/absence of canopy shading, determining higher abundances of therophytes (especially Asteraceae and Poaceae) in open and trampled spaces and a proportional increase in hemichryptophytes under canopies. Findings suggest a large leeway in enhancing biodiversity and environmental heterogeneity in urban ecosystems through sustainable land planning, focusing on the type and spatial arrangement of green areas.

This investigation undertook a comprehensive exploration of the essential oil (EO) derived from Tetraclinis articulata leaves, harvested in Blida (Algeria). It was structured in three phases: (i) profiling the phytochemical composition of the EO, (ii) developing and characterizing a novel nanoemulsion-based delivery system, and (iii) evaluating, for the first time, its antibacterial efficacy. Analytical characterization using GC-MS and GC-FID revealed the predominance of α-pinene (32.9%), camphor (27.8%), and d-limonene (5.6%). A significant metabolic flux was observed within the biosynthetic pathways around camphor, bornyl acetate, and α-pinene, leading to the formation of other compounds. The formulated nanoemulsion exhibited remarkable physicochemical properties, characterized by its optical clarity, nanoscale droplet size (34.2 nm), and robust stability during a 7-month storage period. Antibacterial assessments conducted via disc-diffusion and broth microdilution methods against 10 foodborne bacterial strains demonstrated substantial inhibitory activity of the EO. More importantly, the formulated nanoemulsion significantly enhanced the antibacterial performance of the encapsulated EO against eight of the tested microorganisms. Collectively, these findings not only enrich the phytochemical and ecological understanding of T. articulata but also underscore the potential of EO-based nanoemulsions as promising candidates for the development of next-generation natural antibacterial agents tailored for food preservation and safety applications.

Brown and red macroalgae are promising biomonitors of inorganic pollutants in marine environments, due to quick growth, high biomass, ease of sampling and the production of a diverse array of chelating agents. The limited distribution and low population densities of most of the currently adopted species, however, prompt the need to search for suitable alternatives. To this end, the accumulation kinetics of ten metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) and one metalloid (As) under field-conditions were studied in Dictyota spiralis and Laurencia microcladia, brown and red macroalgae, respectively. Specifically, element concentrations were measured at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24d on algae (both alive and devitalized) exposed in the field (through purposely developed bags) in 4 sites differing in anthropogenic impacts along the Tyrrhenian coast (southern Italy). Robust Bayesian analyses were adopted for model fitting and selection, as well as to derive posterior distributions for parameters with straightforward practical implications for biomonitoring of coastal waters. Kinetics followed pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and two-phase intraparticle diffusion models, with saturation times varying among elements, between species and between devitalization treatments. The spatial discrimination capability of the species varies in relation to the element, with a distinct advantage of living L. microcladia for the biomonitoring of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and V, and of devitalized D. spiralis for the biomonitoring of As, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Overall, findings highlight the remarkable effectiveness of transplants of both the species for the active biomonitoring of marine coastal ecosystems, especially when leveraging over their complementary selectivity toward different elements. The specificity in accumulation behavior allows also diversifying the target use of the two species, suggesting shorter-term monitoring and even bioremediation applications in the case of D. spiralis.

Nonylphenols are emerging pollutants with known adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems, especially on animals, where they act as endocrine disruptors and cancer promoters. Less known are the effects on terrestrial ecosystems, with contradictory reports about soil microorganisms and plants, largely dependent upon the tested doses and model organisms. In this framework, the present research aims at evaluating the effects of 4-nonylphenol on the soil-plant system, under realistic exposure conditions, focusing on targets at different levels of complexity, from biological to ecological responses. The acute to chronic effects of different 4-nonylphenol soil contaminations were evaluated, in microcosms, on biochemical, physiological and morphological traits of Lactuca sativa leaves, as well as on soil microbial activity. A variable susceptibility of leaf traits to 4-nonylphenol was observed, with mostly acute responses over few days from exposure, and the induction of compensatory mechanisms, including the increase in chlorophyll concentrations in the healthy parts of the leaves. Microbial communities, instead, show a high resistance toward 4-nonylphenol, attributable to the high organic matter content of the employed soil, which may modulate the pollutant bioavailability. Findings shed light on the complex interactions of 4-nonylphenol with the soil-plant system, where its toxicity can be substantially dependent upon the characteristics of the receiving system. From a practical point of view, the maintenance of high soil organic matter contents appears to be crucial in buffering ecosystems from 4-nonylphenol contamination and in preserving their functionality.

Urban soils are vital components of urban ecosystems, significantly influenced by anthropogenic activities and environmental factors. Despite misconceptions about their quality, urban soils play a pivotal role in carbon (C) cycling and storage, impacting global emissions and sequestration. However, challenges such as soil contamination, land use changes, and urban expansion pose significant threats to soil quality and C storage capacity. Over the last two decades, there has been an increasing interest in the C storage potential of soils as part of climate change mitigation strategies. In this review, a bibliometric analysis covering the last twenty years (2004–2024) was performed to offer insights into global research trends, mainly in urban soils of the Mediterranean region. This paper also identifies research gaps and proposes essential solutions for mitigating the negative impacts of urbanization on soil biodiversity and functions. Key modulators, including plants, microbes, and soil features, are highlighted for their role in C dynamics, emphasizing the importance of effective soil and vegetation management to enhance C sequestration and ecosystem services. Strategies such as reintroducing nature into urban areas and applying organic amendments are promising in improving soil quality and microbial diversity. Further research and awareness are essential to maximize the effectiveness of these strategies, ensuring sustainable urban soil management and climate resilience.

Urban ecosystems are structurally and functionally distinct from their natural counterparts, with anthropogenic management potentially altering fundamental ecological processes such as seasonal community dynamics and impairing their sustainability. However, the mechanisms through which management filters plant diversity across seasons remain poorly understood. This study tested the hypothesis that management acts as an abiotic filter, dampening seasonal community variations and increasing biotic homogenization in urban green spaces. In this respect, through an intensive, multi-seasonal case study comparing two Mediterranean urban green spaces under contrasting management regimes, we analysed plant communities across 120 plots over four seasons. Results reveal a contingency cascade under management: while the species composition remains relatively stable (+26% variability, p < 0.001), the demographic success becomes more contingent (+41%, p < 0.001), and the ecological dominance becomes highly stochastic (+90%, p < 0.001). This hierarchy demonstrates that management primarily randomizes which species achieve dominance, in terms of biomass and cover, from a pool of disturbance-tolerant generalists. A 260% increase in alien and cosmopolitan species and persistent niche pre-emption dominance–diversity patterns also indicate biotic homogenization driven by management filters (mowing, trampling, irrigation, and fertilization) that favors species resistant to mechanical stresses and induces a breakdown of deterministic community assembly. These processes create spatially and temporally variable assemblages of functionally similar species, explaining both high structural variability and persistent functional redundancy. Conversely, seasonally structured, niche-based assemblies with clear dominance–diversity progressions are observed in the unmanaged area. Overall, findings demonstrate that an intensive management homogenizes urban plant communities by overriding natural seasonal filters and increasing stochasticity. The study provides a mechanistic basis for sustainable urban green space management, indicating that reduced intervention can help preserve the seasonal dynamics crucial for sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

Radionuclides, in relation to their radiological and environmental behaviour, may threaten marine ecosystems, where they undergo partitioning among water, sediments and biota, with potential transfer through food webs and spatial transports. Unfortunately, radionuclides are commonly neglected in monitoring of marine coastal ecosystems, especially of the Mediterranean Sea, where scant information is available not only on their activity in abiotic matrices, such as water and sediments, but also in sessile organisms such as macrophytes that may be potentially useful in biomonitoring applications. The present research aimed at investigating the spatial variations in the activity concentrations of natural and artificial radionuclides along the Tyrrhenian coast, evaluating their partitioning between sediments and macrophytes and the specific accumulation capabilities of the latter. Overall, 17 radionuclides were quantified: 7Be, 40K, 137Cs, 208Tl, 210Pb, 210Po, 212Bi, 212Pb, 214Bi, 214Pb, 224Ra, 226Ra, 232Th (228Ac), 235U and 238U (234Th), with the major contribution to total marine radioactivity provided by 40K, 210Pb and 210Po, and variable concentrations among the different species. In particular, brown algae such as Cystoseira spp. are able to accumulate a large variety of radionuclides and may represent good general biomonitors, whereas other species appear to be more selective towards specific radionuclides.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has determined a global health crisis. To control its spread, countries implemented several measures including social distancing and mask-wearing. Single-use face masks, gloves, and face shields made from various synthetic materials can significantly accumulate in the marine environment, along with other substances such as plasticizers, lubricants, and stabilizers, many of which are classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). This study investigates the potential impacts of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) on marine environment after artificial weathering in synthetic seawater for 1, 3, and 7 days at room temperature and 50 °C. Raman spectroscopy revealed the release of polymeric additives such as plasticizers from polypropylene- and nitrile-based materials. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Total Carbon (TC) analyses showed a time-dependent increase in organic content, with the highest concentrations recorded in FFP2 mask leachates after 7 days. Acute toxicity assays using Artemia franciscana indicated elevated mortality in juvenile and metanauplii stages, particularly for leachates from masks. Molecular analysis further showed up- or down-regulation of defensome-related genes (e.g., hsp26, hsp60, hsp70, COXI, COXIII, NADH, ZMP) following exposure, suggesting stress responses linked to contaminant exposure. These findings provide critical insights into the environmental risks posed by PPE-derived contaminants and underscore the need for effective disposal strategies to mitigate long-term marine impacts.

The replacement of synthetic chemical herbicides and traditional plastic sheets is a major challenge of modern horticulture in view of a sustainable weed management. In the first step of this research, we tested the weed control efficacy of two biodegradable polymers, chitosan and galactomannan, applied to the soil surface as spray mulching, with or without the addition of charcoal as a light masking agent, and five essential oils with recognized herbicide properties. The results showed the ability of chitosan in reducing the number and the biomass of annual plants, regardless of the addition of charcoal and essential oils. In the second step, we tested the efficacy of one or three days of false seeding to increase the effectiveness of chitosan against seed germination. The results showed, on average, a reduction of 79% of annual weed presence after three days of false seeding. In both steps, the microbial biomass and three indicators of microbial activity (i.e., basal respiration, FDA hydrolysis activity, and D-glucosamine-induced respiration) were measured in the soil under the experiments in order to investigate possible alterations of soil biological activity induced by the treatments. The results provided no evidence of negative impact of the treatments on soil microbial biomass and activity.

Permanent artificial lighting systems in tourist underground environments promote the proliferation of photoautotrophic biofilms, commonly referred to as lampenflora, on damp rock and sediment surfaces. These green-colored biofilms play a key role in the alteration of native community biodiversity and the irreversible deterioration of colonized substrates. Comprehensive chemical or physical treatments to sustainably remove and control lampenflora are still lacking. This study employs an integrated approach to explore the biodiversity, eco-physiology and molecular composition of lampenflora from the Pertosa-Auletta Cave, in Italy. Reflectance analysis showed that photoautotrophic biofilms are able to absorb the totality of the visible spectrum, reflecting only the near-infrared light. This phenomenon results from the production of secondary pigments and the adaptability of these organisms to different metabolic regimes. The biofilm structure mainly comprises filamentous organisms intertwined with the underlying mineral layer, which promote structural alterations of the rock layer due to the biochemical attack of both prokaryotes (mostly represented by Brasilonema angustatum) and eukaryotes (Ephemerum spinulosum and Pseudostichococcus monallantoides), composing the community. Regardless of the corrosion processes, secondary CaCO3 minerals are also found in the biological matrix, which are probably biologically mediated. These findings provide valuable information for the sustainable control of lampenflora.

Anthropogenic pressures affect large stretches of Mediterranean coastal environments, determining alterations, including chemical pollution, able to impair ecosystem functioning and services. Among the pollutants of major concern for their toxicity and persistence, there are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can be effectively monitored through bioaccumulation approaches. However, the main biomonitor of PAHs in the Mediterranean Sea, Posidonia oceanica, is currently undergoing extensive regressions due to anthropogenic pressures, forcing the search for alternative biomonitors. In this context, with a view to evaluate the effectiveness of the red alga Laurencia microcladia as an alternative PAH biomonitor, we comparatively investigated the accumulation gradients of 14 PAHs in its thalli, in leaves of P. oceanica and in surface sediments collected from different sites along the Cilento coast (southern Italy). The two species mainly absorb PAHs from water rather than sediments and show comparable PAH concentrations, with a preferential accumulation of low molecular weight PAHs in L. microcladia and of medium molecular weight PAHs in P. oceanica. Although with different accumulation profiles, both macrophytes highlighted comparable concentration gradients of anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene across study sites and the highest concentrations near a harbour. The obtained findings indicate that L. microcladia can be considered an effective biomonitor of PAHs in coastal ecosystems.

Coastal marine areas are threatened by different forms of pollution, among which potentially toxic elements (PTEs) represent a primary hazard. In this study, 16 Mediterranean macroalgae colonizing the upper eulittoral and infralittoral zones were studied for their PTE accumulation capabilities in order to identify possible biomonitors that could replace the use of Posidonia oceanica, a protected species. To achieve this objective, macronutrients (Ca, K, Mg, P, S), micronutrients (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, Ni, Si, V, Zn) and non-essential elements (Cd, Pb) were analyzed in the thalli of different algal species, the leaves of P. oceanica and in sediments collected from six sampling sites along the Cilento coast (Campania, Italy), all characterized by different anthropogenic pressures. For sediments, a sequential extraction of PTEs to evaluate their bioavailability profile was also carried out together with the analysis of mineralogical composition, particle size distribution, pH and organic matter content. Macrophytes, belonging to different divisions (six Rhodophyta, four Chlorophyta, six Heterokontophyta, one Embryophyta), are characterized by different PTE concentrations, with a few ones being characterized by an even accumulation response toward the different PTEs. One of these, the brown alga Dictyota spiralis, is able to accumulate PTEs in concentrations similar to P. oceanica and provides more accurate concentration gradients, highlighting clear pollution scenarios that were overlooked using P. oceanica only. Therefore, D. spiralis is a useful PTE biomonitor of coastal marine ecosystems and a suitable replacement for P. oceanica, also featuring the possibility of being employed in active biomonitoring applications.

Anthropogenic activities, mainly in the form of local fuel exhausts and inputs from the coastline, heavily affect ecosystems at the interface between terrestrial and marine realms, impairing their functionality and the services they provide. Due to the central role of primary producers in trophic webs, their sessile nature and ethical concerns implied in experiments on animals, pollutant analyses in both sediments and macrophytes assume special relevance in assessing pollutant transfers from the abiotic to biotic compartments and their possible transfer through trophic webs. With a view to clarify the accumulation of inorganic and organic pollutants deriving from fuel exhausts on primary producers, the concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene were determined in sediments and macrophytes collected from sites along the Cilento coast, in western Mediterranean Sea, characterized by different levels of anthropogenic pressures. The 18 species analysed, belonging to Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Heterokontophyta and Embryophyta, exhibited different accumulation capabilities toward pollutants, with average concentrations of Cu, phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene in all the divisions (17.6 ± 2.3 μ g g ^−1 d.w., 34.3 ± 2.1 ng g ^−1 d.w., 61.5 ± 9.4 ng g ^−1 d.w., respectively) higher than those measured in sediments (4.0 ± 0.7 μ g g ^−1 d.w., 11.6 ± 0.9 ng g ^−1 d.w., 14.8 ± 1.0 ng g ^−1 d.w., respectively) and more than one order of magnitude higher in Embryophyta for Cu (62.9 ± 7.1 μ g g ^−1 d.w.) and in Cyanobacteria for benzo[a]pyrene (181 ± 2 ng g ^−1 d.w.). The obtained findings constitute a reference for the accumulation capabilities of different taxa and for the behaviour of different fuel exhaust pollutants in marine coastal environments, with implication for their transfer across trophic webs.

The exposure of plants to weak magnetic fields (MFs) of various intensities and for differenttimes is increasingly adopted to sustainably enhance plant growth in plant-based applications suchas modern agriculture, phytoremediation and biogas production. However, little is known about theeffects of MF exposure on plant chemical composition, and in turn on related ecosystem processes,such as the transfer of potentially toxic elements along food chains and the decomposition of organicmatter. To fill this gap, the present research, through the study of the chemical composition of fouredible crops (leaves of lettuce, parsley and basil, and fruits of tomato) differently exposed to weakMFs (75 Hz; 1.5 mT), aimed at evaluating the overall effects of the exposure on ecosystem processes.In particular, several essential (B, C, Ca, Cu, K, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, Ni, P, S, Zn), beneficial (Co,Na, Se, Si) and non-useful (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Li, Pb, Sr, Ti, V) elements, together with chemicalcompounds and derived parameters (soluble sugars, starch, chlorophylls, flavonoids, anthocyanins,nitrogen balance index), indicators of plant metabolism and health, and litter decomposability traits(C/N, C/P), were analyzed. Notwithstanding the expected variations in the observed effects amongspecies and MF exposure conditions, the obtained results highlight a general decrease in most ofthe studied parameters (with the exception of those related to litter decomposability), attributableto a lower absorption/accumulation of the studied chemical elements and to a reduced synthesisof metabolites. The largest average reduction was observed for the non-useful elements, whichoutweighs the reduction in essential and beneficial elements and provides for an important MFinducedeffect, considering their toxic, persistent and biomagnificable characteristics. Similarly, theinduced increases in C/N and C/P ratios indicate the production of litter more recalcitrant to thedecomposition process, suggesting that weak MF treatments may be useful to enhance soil C storageand reduce CO2 emissions.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are worldwide contaminants that, due to their long-range transport, can accumulate far from the emission sources, e.g. in forest soils. Since changes in soil microbial community can have an impact on ecosystem processes (e.g. nutrient cycling, decomposition, stress stability), studies on the succession of indigenous microbial community following exposure to PAHs are important. Most of these studies are limited to soils aged contaminated with PAHs, since our aim was to fill the knowledge gap on recent PAH contamination. To this aim, soils from three forest systems (holm oak, black pine and beech) were spiked with 3 PAHs (phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene) and incubated under controlled conditions in mesocosm. During the first year after incubation, changes in the activity and biomass of the soil microbial community were estimated by analysing phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), fungal biomass (ergosterol content), and fungal and bacterial growth. Findings demonstrated that PAHs affected the soil microbial community structure. Actinomycetes, fungi and Gram+-bacteria were initially resistant to PAH contamination in all the forest systems, whereas for fungi a recovery was observed at the end of incubation, such as ergosterol and growth, in holm oak and beech soils. PAH spikes seemed to have an overall negative effect on bacteria and Gram- groups in all the soils at the beginning of incubation. Considering the values of metabolic activity index (MAI), the composition of the microbial community did not seem to be resistant to the addition of PAHs. However, the soil under beech showed a slightly better resistance to contamination. Furthermore, the community structure did not appear to change in relation to the PAH considered. Overall, in the microbial community of holm oak and beech soils, different groups were able to quickly recover from the new soil conditions.

Water and air flows connect underground ecosystems to the surface, affecting the cave chemical and physical properties. Together with the visitor's fluxes in show caves and occasional presence of cavers in wild caves-excluding the large amounts of organic supply by bat or bird colonies or large sinking rivers bringing vegetal debris-fluid flows are the main means of transport of nutrients into the normally oligotrophic cave environment. The aim of this work was to investigate the chemical characteristics of waters in the Pertosa-Auletta Cave (Italy), focusing on drip water and on the underground Negro river, seasonally and in different areas of the cave. In particular, three trails with different environmental characteristics and tourism pressure were investigated in order to shed light on the processes affecting the ecological equilibrium of the hypogean ecosystem. Dripping and flowing river waters, both rich in Ca because of their interaction with carbonate rocks, show distinct chemical signatures regarding the other chemical elements (especially K and Mg) due to lithological and hydro-dynamical differences. Moreover, water chemistry is affected by the seasonality in the pluviometric regime owing to the subsequent variability in the dilution effect. Bat colonies, dwelling mainly along the fossil trail, enrich dripping waters with P and N. Their concentrations have also been found at fairly high values across the whole trail network, suggesting an additional potential role of leaching from agricultural and forested soils above the Pertosa-Auletta Cave in defining dripwater chemistry.