Papers by Luisa Nicoletti
Diversity
Biodiversity is a broad concept that encompasses the diversity of nature, from the genetic to the... more Biodiversity is a broad concept that encompasses the diversity of nature, from the genetic to the habitat scale, and ensures the proper functioning of ecosystems. The Mediterranean Sea, one of the world’s most biodiverse marine basins, faces major threats, such as overexploitation of resources, pollution and climate change. Here we provide the first multi-taxa inventory of marine organisms and coastal terrestrial flora recorded in southeastern Salento (Ionian Sea, Italy), realized during the project “Biodiversity MARE Tricase”, which provided the first baseline of species living in the area. Sampling was carried out by SCUBA and free diving, fishing gears, and citizen science from 0 to 70 m. Overall, 697 taxa were found between March 2016 and October 2017, 94% of which were identified to the species level. Of these, 19 taxa represented new records for the Ionian Sea (36 additional new records had been reported in previous publications on specific groups, namely Porifera and Mollusca...
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2020
Coralligenous reefs are considered as one of the most important benthic ecosystems in the Mediter... more Coralligenous reefs are considered as one of the most important benthic ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea in terms of biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and aesthetic value. Bryozoans deserve special attention within the coralligenous framework fauna: they are among the most common animals, showing high diversity values and playing different functional roles. Distribution, spatial variability, and demographic features of five erect bryozoan taxa Adeonella sp., Myriapora truncata, Pentapora fascialis, Reteporella sp., and Smittina cervicornis were studied in the central Tyrrhenian Sea. Abundance, size, and relationship with other taxa/morphological groups of benthic organisms were studied in coralligenous reefs between 35 and 40 m depth. High density of colonies was reported especially in association to gorgonians and algae dominated assemblages. Size distributions of the five bryozoans were characterized by small colonies; only two species (P. fascialis and S. cervicornis) showed colonies larger than 50 cm 2. Structure of coralligenous assemblages and disturbances outlined different ecological requirements of the five studied taxa. Results provide baseline information for monitoring trajectories of change of these organisms in the coralligenous ecosystem. To date, this work represents the first study exploring ecology and distribution patterns of common erect bryozoans in the Mediterranean Sea.
Zoosymposia, 2009
The artificial reef of Fregene, Italy, was built in 1981 as a multipurpose structure with the in... more The artificial reef of Fregene, Italy, was built in 1981 as a multipurpose structure with the intent of protecting the coastal environment from illegal trawling and also improving fishery production. It is located at 10–14 m depth on a sandy-silty seabed in the Tyrrhenian Sea, 5 nmi north of the outlet of the Tevere River (Latium, Italy) and 1.5 nmi offshore the town of Fregene (Latium, Italy). The development of the polychaete community on the reef was studied from May 1981 to December 2001 in order to examine long-term community dynamics and verify to what extent changes in polychaete assemblage could depict the development of the benthic assemblage. At each sampling time, two standard surfaces of 400 cm2 were scraped from the vertical walls of the same block. Temporal changes in the development of the polychaete community were detected by univariate (S, N, ExpH', 1/Simpson, J') and multivariate (CLUSTER, nMDS) analysis of the faunal data. Functional structure of the comm...
Marine Biodiversity Records, 2017
Background: The presence of species belonging to genus Paramphitrite (Terebellidae) has been reco... more Background: The presence of species belonging to genus Paramphitrite (Terebellidae) has been recorded in the Temperate Northern Atlantic and Arctic regions (Iberian Atlantic, Norwegian and Russian seas). This paper describes the first occurrence of Paramphitrite birulai (Ssolowiew, 1899) in the Mediterranean Sea. Methods: Sampling surveys were carried out in the North Adriatic Sea about 30 nm offshore Chioggia (Italy) on soft seabed at depths ranging from 29 to 32 meters. The sampling plan provided 18 stations. Results: Seventy-four Paramphitrite birulai specimens were examined from a morphological point of view and described in comparison with the existing literature. The species was collected in sandy sediments. Conclusions: The record of P. birulai in the North Adriatic Sea represents the first report of the genus Paramphitrite in the Mediterranean Sea extending the distribution range of this species into different ecological and environmental conditions if compared with those where it was previously recorded.
Ecological Indicators, 2017
The effects of scuba diving activities on coralligenous concretions builders in the Mediterranean... more The effects of scuba diving activities on coralligenous concretions builders in the Mediterranean Sea are reported for a non-marine protected area (non-MPA). Five erect bryozoan species, which are particularly vulnerable due to their fragile structure, were investigated: Adeonella calveti, Myriapora truncata, Pentapora fascialis, Reteporella grimaldii, and Smittina cervicornis. These species were sampled at frequently and rarely visited diving sites to the maximum depths reachable with the most common recreational diving certifications (i.e., 40 m). To do this, a non-destructive photographic sampling technique was used to minimize any impact on the benthic communities. For each sample, the number of colonies, their width, coverage, type of injury and degree of exposure were quantified using image analysis software. The number of species differed between the frequently and rarely visited diving sites, and frequently visited sites had significantly lower number of colonies and reduced colony width. Species-specific response to stress was associated with colony morphology and skeleton rigidity. Both the type of injury and colony position within the coralligenous habitat were affected by the presence of scuba divers. A linear model was proposed to analyse the response of bryozoans to scuba diving pressure. The results reported here suggest that P. fascialis and R. grimaldii could serve as robust species indicators of diving stress.
Journal of Coastal Research, 2013
ABSTRACT Mediterranean coastal zones generally present high environmental value and high biodiver... more ABSTRACT Mediterranean coastal zones generally present high environmental value and high biodiversity, and are characterized by the presence of a large amount of protected environments and species of European interest. The Mediterranean coastal environments are extremely sensitive and vulnerable transitional zone and they are strongly influenced by human activities (industries, tourism, shipping, fisheries and aquaculture/agriculture activities etc.), which affect the natural evolution of this complex system. The available literature also reports that about 15,100 km of European coastline is undergoing retreat. Within this context, ISPRA has developed a specific methodology aimed at evaluating the potential impacts of coastal defense structures on protected habitat types and on the related flora and fauna species. This approach was developed and shared within the framework of the Component 5 of the COASTANCE Project entitled "Guidelines for Environmental Impacts Studies focused on coastal protection works and plans". The methodological approach proposed is subdivided into the following steps: 1) identification of the main coastal defense structures and their main potential environmental impacts; 2) identification and classification of the marine-coastal habitat types sensu Habitats Directive; 3) definition of the criteria required to associate the protected flora and fauna species with the different physiographic categories; 4) creation of the "impact vs habitats and species" matrix-system. The proposed methodology is a multi-disciplinary tool that can be used for both submerged and emerged environments. Its main advantage consists in enabling an a priori identification, on a single chart, of the main expected impacts induced by coastal defense structures on the protected environments. In this paper, we present the methodological approach developed in order to create the "impact vs habitats and species" matrix-system, with specific reference to the potential impacts expected on habitats and species of European interest.
Journal of Coastal Research
ABSTRACT NICOLETTI, L. For many decades, marine sand dredging for the nourishment of eroded beach... more ABSTRACT NICOLETTI, L. For many decades, marine sand dredging for the nourishment of eroded beaches, combined with the relevant specific environmental studies, has been a widespread activity both in Europe and in the USA. In the last twenty years, this technique also developed in Italy, mainly involving the use of relict sands, which may be covered by pelitic sediments of recent deposition, or, alternatively, may outcrop from the bottom. In this context, since 1999 ISPRA(Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) -formerly ICRAM-has carried out environmental characterization and monitoring studies, mainly in the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas (Italy). These studies have provided the bases for the proposal of an environmental methodological protocol, suitable for the peculiar Mediterranean environment. The protocol, which was initially created in the frame of "Interreg IIIB European project Beachmed", has been improved with new and detailed environmental studies, and has been discussed in the frame of the recent "Interreg IIIC European project Beachmed-e." The protocol proposal introduced in this paper differs from the previous proposals drafted for non-Mediterranean contexts, because of the particular geological features of the exploited marine deposits in the Mediterranean Sea (located beyond 30 m of depth, and often associated with pelitic coverage) and of the area's peculiar environmental characteristics (high biodiversity and presence of several sensitive habitats). This protocol shall become a useful decision-making tool for technicians and administrators aiming at correctly pursuing integrated coastal management activities, especially if we consider that specific environmental laws are still being developed in Italy.
Beach nourishment using relict sands has become a well established technique for solving the prob... more Beach nourishment using relict sands has become a well established technique for solving the problem of coastal erosion and it is considered one of the main coastal management tools. Relict sand dredging provides a large amount of sandy materials, having a composition very similar to native beaches; however it may produce significant physical and biological effects on marine environments, especially in highly biodiverse environments and sensitive habitats such as the Mediterranean marine-coastal system. Within this framework, ISPRA has carried out different environmental monitoring studies related to relict sand dredging in order to assess the impact of dredging on the marine environment. These studies encompass direct and indirect investigations, such as seafloors morphology and bathymetry, surface sediments grain-size and chemistry, water column chemical-physical characteristics and particulate matter, and studies on the benthic and demersal fish communities. In this paper we pres...
Marine environmental research, 2014
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC) is focused on protection, preservation... more The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC) is focused on protection, preservation and restoration of the marine environment by achieving and maintaining Good Environmental Status (GES) by 2020. Within this context, this paper presents a methodological approach for a fast and repeatable monitoring that allows quantitative assessment of seabed abrasion pressure due to recreational boat anchoring. The methodology consists of two steps: a semi-automatic procedure based on an algorithm for the ship detection in SAR imagery and a statistical model to obtain maps of spatial and temporal distribution density of anchored boats. Ship detection processing has been performed on 36 ASAR VV-pol images of Liguria test site, for the three years 2008, 2009 and 2010. Starting from the pointwise distribution layer produced by ship detection in imagery, boats points have been subdivided into 4 areas where a constant distribution density has been assumed for the entire period 2008-2010. ...
Marine Ecology, 2009
The aim of this study is to analyse the effects in space and time of relict sand‐dredging activit... more The aim of this study is to analyse the effects in space and time of relict sand‐dredging activities on macrobenthic assemblages, in an area situated offshore Montalto di Castro (central Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy), and to analyse the recolonisation processes of macrobenthos in the dredged areas. The area in question is characterised by relict sand deposits (Holocenic paleo‐beaches), used for beach nourishment along the Latium coast. The effects of sand extraction on benthic assemblages were investigated before, during and after three dredging operations. The sites analysed are located within the dredged areas (inside stations) and in neighbouring, not dredged, areas (outside stations). The results showed that the impact of sand extraction was confined to the dredged stations and to the areas in proximity to the dredged areas. During dredging activities, the structure of benthic assemblages within the impacted stations was characterised by low species richness and diversity. Both the dir...
Ecological Indicators, 2011
Donax trunculus (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most common bivalve molluscs inhabiting the sandy ... more Donax trunculus (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most common bivalve molluscs inhabiting the sandy shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This species, which is preferentially distributed on sediments at depths between 0 and about 2 m, is considered to be a substrate-sensitive organism because of its sensitivity to sediment grain size variations during its life cycle, in particular during its early growth stages. This study aims at investigating the relationship between D. trunculus' density distributions and sediment grain size, in order to evaluate its use as a biological indicator of grain-size variations in beach sediment. For this purpose, a specific environmental study was performed by ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) along six beaches located in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea between Ladispoli and Anzio (Rome, Italy). On each beach, samples of D. trunculus and superficial sediments were collected in the infra-littoral zone at 3 different depths (0, 0.5, and 1 m) between June 2002 and March 2004. The results pointed out that the distribution of D. trunculus populations is strongly influenced by the sediment's grain size variations. A significant positive correlation was found between species density and the 2.00-phi and 2.50-phi grain size classes; but, in particular, the predominance of the 2.00-phi grain size class in the beach's sediment seems to positively influence the species density and distribution. This study suggests that sediment grain size is the chief factor controlling the distribution of D. trunculus populations; suitable grain sizes allow the settlement and the subsequent growth of well-structured populations. Generally, species density declined in areas subjected to grain-size variations in beach sediments, suggesting a predictable biological response to both natural and human-caused stressors. The present study also highlighted that where nourishment was carried out using suitable sediments, the species reappears on the beach after a few months, as it finds an optimal substrate for settlement. In this case, finding D. trunculus specimens a few months after replenishment indicates that the nourishment operations have been successful from an environmental point of view. As reported by Carignan and Villard (2002), a species that is strongly associated with particular habitat features could be a useful indicator; in particular, a species-like D. trunculus-that is negatively associated with human disturbances could be considered a "positive" indicator of ecological integrity. Long-term monitoring of D. trunculus abundance or density on sandy beaches (adequately carried out during the species' recruitment period, e.g. between July and September), could help pinpoint the presence of natural or human-made phenomena that are leading to grain-size variations in the sediment. In conclusion, we can assume that D. trunculus can be used as a practical biological indicator to detect grain size variations on sandy beaches in coastal monitoring programmes; it could be a useful tool for researchers, managers and administrators to assess erosion phenomena while minimizing times and costs, also in view of an integrated coastal zone management.
Crustaceana, 2005
The distribution of decapod crustaceans on soft substrata was studied at two sites, Montalto di C... more The distribution of decapod crustaceans on soft substrata was studied at two sites, Montalto di Castro and Gulf of Gaeta, in the central Mediterranean Sea (Tyrrhenian Sea). In the whole area, a total of 16 species of decapods (6 Natantia, Caridea; 4 Reptantia Macrura, Thalassinidea; 2 Anomura; and 4 Brachyura) were collected by a Van Veen grab. The decapod distribution seems to be influenced by granulometric composition rather than by depth. Some species demonstrated an affinity for a substratum that differs with respect to published literature records. RIASSUNTO Nel presente lavoro è stata studiata la distribuzione dei crostacei decapodi di substrato mobile in due aree, Montalto di Castro e Golfo di Gaeta, del Mar Mediterraneo Centrale (Mar Tirreno). Nell'intera area sono stati campionati mediante benna Van Veen un totale di 16 specie (6 Natantia, Caridea; 4 Reptantia Macrura, Thalassinidea; 2 Anomura; e 4 Brachyura). La distribuzione dei decapodi sembra essere influenzata dalla composizione granulometrica piuttosto che dalla profondità. Alcune specie dimostrano un'affinità per substrati diversi rispetto a quelli riportati dalla letteratura conosciuta.
Crustaceana, 2013
The aim of this paper is to evaluate the long-term development of a hard bottom amphipod assembla... more The aim of this paper is to evaluate the long-term development of a hard bottom amphipod assemblage over a period of 12 years. Amphipod data were collected in the artificial reef of Fregene, situated in the central Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). Amphipod samplings were carried out by scuba diving in two different periods: 1991-1992 (1st period) and 2001-2003 (2nd period). The amphipod assemblage’s structure and species composition changed over the years, as the species collected on the reef in the second period differed from those collected in the first. In addition, within the same timeframe the assemblage shows an increase in both abundance and diversity, as a result of the reef’s increase in spatial heterogeneity.
Zoosymposia, 2009
The aim of this research was to analyze the morphological features of Sabellaria alveolata reefs ... more The aim of this research was to analyze the morphological features of Sabellaria alveolata reefs and the associated polychaete fauna in three different coastal areas of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea, Italy). We assessed the relationship between the physical structure of the reefs and the associated fauna. We also investigated possible connections between polychaete assemblage structure and reef development on spatial and temporal scales. Reefs were morphologically described, and the polychaete assemblages were studied using community indices, as well as multivariate and univariate statistics. Three different reef states were described, linked to their respective phase of development. The structure of the associated polychaete assemblages differed according to the relevant reef’s phase of development. Species richness was high in reefs in destruction phase, while it decreased in recovering reefs.
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Papers by Luisa Nicoletti