Search results for " Cystoseira"

Ecological function of phenolic compounds from mediterranean fucoid algae and seagrasses: An overview on the genus Cystoseira sensu lato and Posidoni…

2020

Biodiversity is undergoing rapid and worrying changes, partially driven by anthropogenic activities. Human impacts and climate change (e.g., increasing temperature and ocean acidification), which act at different spatial scales, represent the most serious threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function. In the Mediterranean Sea, complex systems such as fucoid algae and seagrasses, characterized by a high associated biodiversity, are regularly exposed to natural and anthropogenic pressures. These systems, particularly sensitive to a variety of stressors, evolved several physiological and biochemical traits as a response to the different pressures which they are subjected to. For…

Biodiversity in canopy-forming algae: Structure and spatial variability of the Mediterranean Cystoseira assemblages

2018

Abstract In the Mediterranean Sea, Cystoseira species are the most important canopy-forming algae in shallow rocky bottoms, hosting high biodiverse sessile and mobile communities. A large-scale study has been carried out to investigate the structure of the Cystoseira-dominated assemblages at different spatial scales and to test the hypotheses that alpha and beta diversity of the assemblages, the abundance and the structure of epiphytic macroalgae, epilithic macroalgae, sessile macroinvertebrates and mobile macroinvertebrates associated to Cystoseira beds changed among scales. A hierarchical sampling design in a total of five sites across the Mediterranean Sea (Croatia, Montenegro, Sardinia,…

Role of two co-occurring Mediterranean sea urchins in the formation of barren from Cystoseira canopy

2015

Abstract In the Mediterranean Sea the co-occurring sea urchins Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula are usually considered to share the same ecological role in the formation of barren from Cystoseira canopy. However, their foraging ability may vary due to feeding behavior and species-specific morphological traits. The relative effects of P. lividus and A. lixula on Cystoseira canopy was tested experimentally both in the laboratory, at a density of about 20 ind./m 2 , and in the field by gut content analysis. Field and laboratory results show that A. lixula is unable to affect Cystoseira spp. Furthermore, these results confirmed the great ability of P. lividus to consume Cystoseira canop…

Status of vulnerable Cystoseira populations along the Italian infralittoral fringe, and relationships with environmental and anthropogenic variables

2018

We analyzed the occurrence and status of infralittoral fringe populations of Cystoseira spp. (Fucales) at thirteen rocky sites around the Italian coastline, and explored the relationships with relevant environmental and anthropogenic variables. We found Cystoseira populations at 11 sites: most were scattered and comprised monospecific stands of C. compressa, and only 6 sites also supported sparse specimens of either C. amentacea var. stricta or C. brachycarpa. Coastal human population density, Chlorophyll a seawater concentrations, sea surface temperature, annual range of sea surface temperature and wave fetch explained most of the variation of the status of C. compressa. We hypothesize a g…

Efficacia delle AMP nella conservazione della biodiversità: i popolamenti a Cystoseira nell’AMP “Capo Gallo-Isola delle Femmine” (PA)

2011

Present-day Mediterranean marine biodiversity is undergoing rapid alteration. Species belonging to genus Cystoseira (biological “formers” of habitat structure) are strongly affected by variations of the environmental conditions (pollution, turbidity, etc.); modification, regression and disappearance of these “canopy-forming algae” have been yet observed in different areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Parks and MPAs, aimed at protecting marine environments, are certainly a central component of conservation strategies and a very successful way to preserve marine biodiversity. The aim of this paper was to assess the current state of Cystoseira assemblages inside the MPA “Capo Gallo-Isola delle Fe…

Valutazione dello stato di conservazione dei popolamenti a Cystoseira nell’AMP Capo Gallo-Isola delle Femmine (PA): osservazioni preliminari

2008

Valutazione dello stato di conservazione dei popolamenti a Cystoseira lungo le coste della Sicilia nord-occidentale: osservazioni preliminari

2006

Human activities trigger change in marine landscape

2018

Biodiversity is undergoing rapid and worrying changes, partially driven by anthropogenic activities. Human impacts and climate change (e.g. increasing temperature and ocean acidification), which act at different spatial scale, represent the most serious threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function. In this overview, the effects of anthropogenic pressures on unique and valuable Mediterranean systems, such as Cystoseira sp. pl. forest and Posidonia oceanica meadows, are examined. These complex systems, characterized by a high associated biodiversity, are regularly exposed to natural and anthropogenic pressures. Due to the central role they have for several important ecological…

Macroalgae transplant to detect the occurrence of anthropogenic nutrients in seawater of highly tourist beaches in Mediterranean islands

2020

In the Mediterranean region, islands are among the most important tourist destinations, being sites of considerable naturalistic, historical and cultural importance. This is highly beneficial for local economies, but may also represent a threat for the environment, especially during the peak season (i.e. summer). Indeed, the sharp demographic increase concentrated in a relatively short period may negatively affect the quality of coastal marine systems and the provision of ecosystem services, producing in turn negative feedbacks on tourism industry. Nevertheless, the assessment of the environmental impact of tourism on coastal seawater has been seldom addressed. Here, we show the results of …

Influence of ambient temperature on the photosynthetic activity and phenolic content of the intertidal Cystoseira compressa along the Italian coastli…

2019

Understanding the physiological responses of intertidal seaweeds to environmental factors is fundamental to characterize their local physiological adaptation and success in the face of climate change. We measured the photosynthetic activity and the total phenolic content of the intertidal alga Cystoseira compressa and explored their relationship with latitude or local ambient air and seawater temperatures. Our results show that, when submerged, the photosynthetic activity of C. compressa showed values typical for non-stressed thalli, and the seawater temperatures found across sites explained the variability of these values. We observed a decrease in the photosynthetic activity of C. compres…