0000000000553751

AUTHOR

Alessandro Cau

showing 5 related works from this author

Mediterranean bioconstructions along the Italian coast

2018

Marine bioconstructions are biodiversity-rich, three-dimensional biogenic structures, regulating key ecological functions of benthic ecosystems worldwide. Tropical coral reefs are outstanding for their beauty, diversity and complexity, but analogous types of bioconstructions are also present in temperate seas. The main bioconstructions in the Mediterranean Sea are represented by coralligenous formations, vermetid reefs, deep-sea cold-water corals, Lithophyllum byssoides trottoirs, coral banks formed by the shallow-water corals Cladocora caespitosa or Astroides calycularis, and sabellariid or serpulid worm reefs. Bioconstructions change the morphological and chemicophysical features of prima…

Conservation of Natural ResourcesAnthropogenic pressures; Biodiversity; Ecosystem engineers; Habitat formers; Animals; Conservation of Natural Resources; Italy; Mediterranean Sea; Biodiversity; Coral Reefs; Environmental Monitoring; Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics; Aquatic ScienceLithophyllum byssoides trottoirEvolutioncoral banksAnthropogenic pressuresAquatic SciencebioconstructionAnthropogenic pressures; Biodiversity; Ecosystem engineers; Habitat formers; Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics; Aquatic ScienceHabitat formerssabellariidcoralligenous formationsCORAL CLADOCORA-CAESPITOSA; MACROALGAL CORALLIGENOUS ASSEMBLAGES; SABELLARIA-ALVEOLATA LINNAEUS; NORTHERN ADRIATIC SEA; BETA-DIVERSITY; ASTROIDES-CALYCULARIS; OCEAN ACIDIFICATION; SPATIAL VARIATION; MASS-MORTALITY; HABITAT CHARACTERIZATIONbioconstructionsBehavior and SystematicsAnthropogenic pressureMediterranean SeaAnimalscoralligenous formationcoral bankConservation of Natural Resourcebioconstructions; coralligenous formations; vermetid reefs; deep-sea cold-water coral; Lithophyllum byssoides trottoirs; coral banks; sabellariid; serpulid worm reefsLithophyllum byssoides trottoirsEcologydeep-sea cold-water coralAnimalCoral Reefsserpulid worm reefsBiodiversityvermetid reefsEcology Evolution Behavior and SystematicItalyEcosystem engineerEcosystem engineersHabitat formerCoral Reefvermetid reefEnvironmental Monitoring
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Commercial sharks under scrutiny: Baseline genetic distinctiveness supports structured populations of small-spotted catsharks in the Mediterranean Sea

2023

The present study, based on microsatellite markers, describes a population genetic analysis of the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758), representing one of the most abundant and commonly caught cartilaginous fishes in the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent areas. The analyses were performed to unravel the genetic features (variability, connectivity, sex-biased dispersal) of their relative geographic populations, both at the small (around the coast of Sardinia, Western Mediterranean Sea) and at a larger spatial scale (pan-Mediterranean level and between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea). Individual clustering, multivariate and variance analyses rejected the …

Global and Planetary ChangeSettore BIO/05 - ZoologiaGenetic assessment Reference baseline Elasmobranchs Microsatellites Mediterranean Sea Population structure Small-spotted catshark Commercial speciesOcean EngineeringAquatic ScienceOceanographyWater Science and TechnologyFrontiers in Marine Science
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Improving the conservation of Mediterranean Chondrichthyans : the ELASMOMED DNA barcode reference library

2017

Cartilaginous fish are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors and environmental change because of their K-selected reproductive strategy. Accurate data from scientific surveys and landings are essential to assess conservation status and to develop robust protection and management plans. Currently available data are often incomplete or incorrect as a result of inaccurate species identifications, due to a high level of morphological stasis, especially among closely related taxa. Moreover, several diagnostic characters clearly visible in adult specimens are less evident in juveniles. Here we present results generated by the ELASMOMED Consortium, a regional network aiming to sample …

0106 biological sciencesHeredityMolecular biologySpeciationBiodiversitySettore BIO/05 - Zoologialcsh:MedicineJuvenileEvolutionary biologyBarcodeBiochemistry01 natural sciencesDNA barcodinglaw.inventionlawDNA librarieslcsh:ScienceChondrichthyesSpecimens IdentificationData ManagementMolecular systematicsMultidisciplinaryGeographyMediterranean RegionEcologyCryptic speciationFishesBiodiversityMorphological stasiMitochondrial DNANucleic acidsGenetic MappingPhylogeographyBiogeographyDNA Barcode Reference LibraryDNA barcoding TaxonomicVertebratesDNA data banksResearch ArticleComputer and Information SciencesConservation of Natural ResourcesEvolutionary ProcessesEvolutionary systematicsBarcoding Chondrichthyans Conservation Mediterranean Sea mtDNACartilaginous fishConservationBiologyPhylogeographic structure010603 evolutionary biologyMolecular taxonomySpecies SpecificityEndemic SpeciesGeneticsMediterranean SeaAnimalsDNA Barcoding TaxonomicDNA barcoding14. Life underwaterEndemismTaxonomyPopulation Biology010604 marine biology & hydrobiologylcsh:REcology and Environmental SciencesOrganismsBiology and Life SciencesDNAResearch and analysis methodsPhylogeographyMolecular biology techniquesTaxonHaplotypesThreatened speciesEarth SciencesSharksConservation statuslcsh:QPopulation GeneticsMarine biodiversity conservationElasmobranchii
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Mediterranean Bioconstructions Along the Italian Coast

2018

Marine bioconstructions are biodiversity-rich, three-dimensional biogenic structures, regulating key ecological functions of benthic ecosystems worldwide. Tropical coral reefs are outstanding for their beauty, diversity and complexity, but analogous types of bioconstructions are also present in temperate seas. The main bioconstructions in the Mediterranean Sea are represented by coralligenous formations, vermetid reefs, deep-sea cold-water corals, Lithophyllum byssoides trottoirs, coral banks formed by the shallow-water corals Cladocora caespitosa or Astroides calycularis, and sabellariid or serpulid worm reefs. Bioconstructions change the morphological and chemicophysical features of prima…

0106 biological sciencesgeographyAstroides calycularisgeography.geographical_feature_categoryfood.ingredientEcology010604 marine biology & hydrobiologyBiodiversityCoral reef15. Life on land010603 evolutionary biology01 natural sciencesEcosystem engineerMediterranean seafood13. Climate actionBenthic zoneEcosystem14. Life underwaterReef
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Assessing the potential of marine Natura 2000 sites to produce ecosystem‐wide effects in rocky reefs: A case study from Sardinia Island (Italy)

2019

A number of policy measures have been adopted to cope with ongoing ocean degradation. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are among them. MPAs and their coverage have increased worldwide, including in EU waters. Natura 2000 (Nat2000) sites are at the core of the EU biodiversity conservation strategy and have been established to protect habitats and species included in two EU directives. Besides their specific objectives, their potential to contribute to an ecosystem-wide conservation and their complementarity with other national and supranational initiatives (e.g. nationally established MPA networks, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Convention on Biological Diversity Ecosystem-Based A…

0106 biological sciencesBiomass (ecology)Convention on Biological Diversitysite of community importanceEcologymarine protected area010604 marine biology & hydrobiologyEU policyAquatic Science010603 evolutionary biology01 natural sciencesFisheryMarine Strategy Framework DirectiveGeographyHabitatecological effectiveneMediterranean SeaMarine ecosystemMarine protected areaEcosystemimplementationNatura 2000managementNature and Landscape ConservationAquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
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