Fishery is considered one of the human activities most responsible for marine habitat fragmentation and loss. However, while the impacts of large-scale fisheries have been largely studied, the potential impact of small-scale fisheries (SSF) on benthic habitats is more often presumed than assessed, with quantitative information still largely lacking. To contribute to fill this knowledge gap, we carried out a fine-scale assessment with the collaborative involvement of local artisanal fishers operating within the Marine Protected Areas of Torre Guaceto and Porto Cesareo, in the Southern Italy. Through in situ landing photo-sampling, we characterized both the sessile benthic bycatch and the commercial catch components of 146 fishing operations, thus comparing the results across the different habitats (e.g. seagrasses and coralligenous) representing the fishing grounds. Our findings show that the benthic bycatch is, on average, the 39% of the total catch (in terms of abundance), representing a concerning and non-negligible fraction.

To shed new light on the role of the SSF in the loss of habitat, we combined data on the bycatch of two habitat-forming species (Axinella cannabina and Posidonia oceanica) with those on the fishing effort, to quantitatively assess habitat loss driven by SSF. Knowledge on fishing effort is fundamental to develop ad hoc regional management strategies to promote eco-sustainable local fisheries. The achievement of the 30% target of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy will not be reached in absence of careful monitoring and assessment of SSF.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) effectiveness can be measured as capacity to conserve and, at meantime, provide natural resources to local populations. The effects of the disturbance produced by Small Scale Fishery (SSF) on fish community of MPA “Parco Sommerso di Gaiola” (Gulf of Naples, South Tyrrhenian Sea) were investigated.

The fishing grounds were divided in three areas: inside or close the MPA, at the West and at the East outside the MPA. In each area, population structures of species from SSF catches and from visual census surveys were compared. Statistical analyses were carried out on percentages of small, medium and large individuals to test for differences in population structures among areas; in addition, “capturability” analyses (sensu: Hawkins et al. 2007) was estimated for each species to assess the susceptibility of a species to be caught.

SSF catches were characterized by the dominance of medium and large individuals, while a meaningful part of small individuals, mainly outside the MPA, characterized visual census surveys. Statistical analyses showed that population structures from SSF catches were not different in the three areas, while significant differences were detected among visual census surveys. “Capturability” analyses show that conger, sea bass, breams, mullets and amberjack are the commercial species more likely to be caught.

Results suggest how SSF activities affect fish community structures. The exploitation of the commercial fishes, mainly selecting medium and large specimens, determines differences among population structures. In fact, from visual census observations it was evident that big sized specimens of commercial species were present inside the MPA and almost absent outside. These observations lead to conclude that MPA “Parco Sommerso di Gaiola” is effective in conserving well-structured fish populations despite its location in a strongly anthropized area.

To identify which prey are at risk due to the invasion of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the Mediterranean Sea, we investigated its feeding behavior and preference for different native Mediterranean bivalve species in a mesocosm experiment conducted withing the project eINS - Ecosystem of Innovation for Next Generation Sardinia (CUP F53C22000430001- MUR Grant Assignment Decree No. 1056).

No-choice prey size and video-recorded prey choice experiments were designed to test the following null hypotheses: i) prey mortality rates do not vary when prey species are provided singularly nor with prey size; ii) the predator does not have preferences when prey are provided singularly; iii) prey consumption rates do not vary among species; iv) manipulating, consuming and handling times do not vary among prey species.

Our results indicate that adult male C. sapidus exhibit a cyclic feeding/resting behavior and show a preference for the commercially exploited native clam, Ruditapes decussatus, followed by Mytilus galloprovincialis and Cerastoderma glaucum, either when provided alone or in combination with other prey. We also estimated that an adult male crab could consume up to 2.6 kg of clams per month during the spring and summer. We also anticipate that the preference of C. sapidus for R. decussatus, a vital commercial species in lagoons along the Italian coastline, will have severe consequences for the lagoons’ trophic webs and the local economy.

Aquaculture is one of the main vectors of non-native species (NNS) transport in the Mediterranean. We used farmers’ local ecological knowledge as an information source to study the presence and effects of NNS in mollusks’ farms in the Adriatic Sea. Study was conducted in 2023 through questionaries with representatives of 24 mussel and 10 oyster farms along Italian Adriatic coast. Most farmers (75% mussel and 90% oyster) knew what NNS are, however, they were aware only of the polychaete Polydora, the ascidian Clavelina oblonga, and the blue crab Callinectes sapidus, and could not indicate other NNS. Rather they could mention the higher taxonomic categories to which non-native organisms belong. The most quoted were ascidians, barnacles, and hydrozoans. From the beginning of their activity, farmers observed the appearance of new ascidians and hydrozoans and an increase in abundances of nemerteans, barnacles, ascidians and Polydora. They claim that these organisms eat or harm molluscs and reduce their marketability. Moreover, farmers were interviewed about the mollusks’ translocation operations they perform. Besides locally producing their own seed, farmers acquire seeds from hatcheries in Italy, Greece, and France, and sell seed to other farms in Italy, Spain and France. Only two mussel farms buy adults for re-immersion and further growth, from Italy and France. Conversely, most mussel and few oyster farms sell their adult mollusks for re-immersion in other farms in Italy, Spain, and France. All these common farming operations might have been responsible for the import of new organisms and could contribute to their further spread in the Adriatic and the Mediterranean. Measures should be taken in collaboration among aquaculture industry, scientists and management bodies to train farmers in recognizing important non-native and pest species and develop procedures for their reporting and undertaking of management measures for the containment of their spread.

The infraorder Astacoidea is one of the most particular taxa from a conservation viewpoint, including some threatened species while others have negative impacts on habitats where they are introduced, establishing self-sustaining populations with possibilities to spread widely. Although the ancestor of Astacoidea colonised inland waters in the Triassic Period some living species inhabiting freshwaters have retained the ability to tolerate high salinity levels as well, and the brackish habitat colonization seems to be quite evident in some introduced crayfish. This phenomenon needs further investigations to understand whether crayfish can adapt to transitional waters, using them either as new elective habitats or as biological corridors. This possibility raises concern for conservation biology and no native species management, with specific regard to: 1) crayfish’s transport and introduction; 2) the increasingly frequent records in transitional waters; and 3) alien threats’ control and management in coastal habitats. Furthermore, here we present for the first time a record of Procambarus clarkii in marine ecosystems for the central Italy coast. Even if the impact on the newly colonised transitional habitats (such as river mouth and temporary wetlands) is not evident yet, the possibility of consequences on these fragile ecosystems seems certain, since they are strategic areas for (i) limicolous birds and endemic fish, and (ii) areas with important economic activities such as fisheries and aquaculture.

Preparedness to fight an averted, yet possible next "Disease X" pandemics would require many actions along different dimensions. The WHO One Health framework has strongly highlighted the major threat posed by zoonotic infectious diseases - transmitted from animal to human hosts - and the necessity to reduce their risk of disease spillover and spread. An integrated framework that envisions all the ecological actors involved in the transmission cycle can inform policies to efficiently act well before the next “Disease X” pandemic event. Here, we target a set of zoonotic viruses brought to attention by the WHO, with critical epidemic potential and lacking effective countermeasures. Based on a performed review of almost 500 papers, we identify a taxonomy of prototypical models describing the local-scale spatiotemporal transmission of the target pathogens. The comprehensive approach of the analysis can provide relevant insights into the yet-unknown identity of Disease X: one of the target viruses, a related virus emerging from one of the target viral families, or -more generally - one of these viruses that evolves the ability to transmit in a new way or in an alternative host in unaffected and unprepared locations. We show the substantial differences that exist among diseases with distinct epidemiological characteristics and highlight the relative importance of the wildlife compartment for both human infection and viral maintenance. Specifically, we distinguish between viruses that can sporadically spill from animal hosts but then mainly circulate in humans (e.g. SARS-CoV1), viruses that efficiently co-circulate in humans and animals (e.g. LASV), and viruses for which humans are merely the dead-end host of a predominantly animal chain (e.g. RVF). This review serves a twofold objective: it represents an essential component for further modelling developments and provides a clear overview of the intrinsic benefits of simultaneously safeguarding human and environmental health.

The leopard (Panthera pardus spp.) is a generalist species that originated in Africa and dispersed into Eurasia between 400 and 600 thousand years ago. It is commonly subdivided into one African and eight Asian subspecies, roughly corresponding to the geographic areas each of them inhabits.

It is still unclear if such categorisation also reflects an ecological differentiation of leopards across different parts of their range. Here, we use species distribution modelling/habitat suitability modelling to compare the niches of leopard subspecies. Our aim is to investigate how the species’ niche varies across its entire range and provide insight into the role of local adaptation and niche shift in its range expansion.

Our results support a general lack of niche separation between all subspecies. Most Asian subspecies have overlapping niches and occupy subsets of the African leopard's niche. Nevertheless, we found the Persian leopard, Panthera pardus saxicolor, to have the most distinct niche, giving some evidence for niche expansion in more Northern Asian subspecies.

We suggest little ecological differentiation among leopard subspecies and a lack of adaptation to novel climates after dispersal from Africa. This finding complements recent genetic studies in implying that the taxonomy of Asian leopards may not reflect biological differentiation, an important issue to resolve due to its relevance for the conservation of the species.

Addressing how individual variation within populations drives the evolution of biodiversity patterns is a major challenge in ecology and evolutionary biology. Historical biogeographic processes have had dramatic consequences on the structure of biodiversity. However, while the interplay between historical processes and genotypic variation within populations has been widely investigated, the effects of such processes on phenotypic variation remain poorly explored. Here, we investigate whether dispersal-driven processes of historical biogeographic relevance, such as late Pleistocene range dynamics, have contributed to shape the geographic patterns of phenotypic trait variation. We focus on dispersal-related personality, morphological and performance traits in the Tyrrhenian tree frog, Hyla sarda, which underwent a northward range expansion from the Sardinia island to the Corsica island during the last Glacial Maximum, when a temporary land-bridge connected these islands. We collected tree frogs from four geographic areas along the past expansion route, controlling for altitude, local habitat effects, demographic factors, and bioclimatic differences between geographic areas. Then, we scored intraspecific variation in two personality traits, two performance traits, along with morphological traits likely involved in the dispersal process. Tree frogs from Corsica were more prudent in a novel environment, they had significantly larger body size, longer limbs, wider heads, and displayed stronger take-off and adhesion performances compared to individuals from the source area in Sardinia. Overall, these results may suggest a non-random spatial sorting of the intraspecific variation in multiple phenotypic traits during the range expansion phase. In turn, they also suggest that population differentiation in phenotypic traits associations might be a legacy of past biogeographic dynamics, identifying an overlooked driver of current patterns of intraspecific variation in phenotypic integration and opening intriguing evolutionary scenarios on the processes shaping the phenotypic architecture of animal populations.

Interspecific hybridization is an evolutionary process that plays a crucial role in shaping the spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity. Studying these processes necessitates specialized molecular techniques for recognizing and monitoring genetic introgression. In this methodological presentation, we introduce a new class of markers currently being developed at the University of Padua.

Our approach employs intron-targeted amplicon sequencing to genotype Multi-locus Intron Polymorphisms (MIPs) and evaluate genetic diversity. These highly variable intron regions, thanks to the high transferability between species provided by the highly conserved flanking exon regions, constitute powerful multi-SNP markers (microhaplotypes), suitable for various applications, including species and hybrid identification and population comparisons, even without prior knowledge of the species. We present the first highly transferable panel of MIPs across fish genomes, seeking to examine the advantages and limitations of these markers and evaluating their characteristics in relation to other available markers. Additionally, the potential of this method, developed here on teleosts, to be applied to other taxa is anticipated by various preliminary results.

Cichlids are a species-rich family of teleost fishes renowned for their explosive phenotypic diversification, rapid adaptative radiation, and sympatric speciation. This makes them an ideal system to investigate the intricate interplay between ecological divergence and trait evolution, and to elucidate the genomic basis of adaptation. Hypertrophied lips, a trait associated with feeding variation, have convergently arisen in several cichlid adaptive radiations, including the Neotropical Midas cichlid species complex (Amphilophus spp.). These thick lip phenotypes play significant ecological roles, enhancing feeding efficiency and specialized foraging strategies, thereby promoting niche differentiation and resource exploitation. A functional trade-off in feeding behavior between thick- and normal-lipped ecotypes likely fuels divergence through disruptive selection.

By integrating analyses of quantitative trait loci (QTL), genome-wide association studies (GWAS), pangenomics, transcriptomics, and topological associating domain (TAD) detection, we aimed to characterize the molecular genetic bases of the hypertrophied lip phenotype in Midas cichlids. Unlike previous studies, our findings reveal that multiple loci contribute to variation in this trophic trait, including two loci with large effect sizes. We then identified several differentially expressed (DE) genes between fishes with thick and thin lips. Notably, several of these DE genes were regulated by microRNAs also found to be DE in the same comparison. Moreover, pangenome reconstructions based on 32 chromosome-level haplotype-resolved assemblies for 16 phenotypically and genetically diverse Midas cichlid individuals resolved several ecomorph-specific structural variants that co-localize with lip GWAS and QTL intervals. Lastly, we identified altered TADs in genomic regions harboring coincident structural variants, GWAS, and QTL.

Overall, our results suggest that variation in lip size – a possible driver of sympatric speciation – is due to a complex interplay of multiple genomic factors. By elucidating the genetic architecture behind this ecologically significant trait, our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms driving ecologically based adaptive divergence.

Biophilic Design is a design system based on Stephen Kellert and E.O. Wilson's Biophilia Hypothesis. Biophilia is literally ‘love for life’ – a feeling distinguished by the fascination evoked in human beings for Nature provoked by contact with Nature and by the affiliation that human beings establish with Nature. Biophilia is an evolutionary adaptation consisting of a set of innate learning rules that shape a spectrum of emotions, ranging from biophilia to biophobia. Two exaptations have been recognised in Biophilia, which occurred due to two moments of rupture of humankind from Nature: the first occurred in the Neolithic Age, the second with the Industrial Revolution which led to most humans becoming urbanized, disconnecting them from Nature. Designers following the principles of Biophilic Design seek to reconnect humans to Nature using our knowledge of biophilia as a guide for the design of artificial environments. Today, Biophilic Design is called to move away from empiricism, and instead implement the experimental tests of the Biophilia Hypothesis.

Citizen Science (CS) is more than just scientific research, it is about active civic participation. It is about going beyond reading news and watching documentaries, and actually getting involved in the scientific process. This deep and active involvement and the opportunity to collaboratively generate knowledge with others has significant impacts on society. This is particularly true in environmental science, where direct participation in scientific projects is closely linked to the opportunity to share knowledge and, in turn, make shared decisions on behaviors to change and practices to undertake. The democratization of the environment is a fairly recent idea that focuses on making environmental science more accessible to the wider community, with the aim of increasing scientists' awareness of local knowledge. CS initiatives serve as a foundational step in cultivating the necessary knowledge base, instigating behavioral shifts, and enhancing social capital through direct engagement with stakeholders and the wider community. Communication is a crucial part of CS activities, as without citizens there is no CS. It plays a vital role in recruiting, inviting, and maintaining participants’ motivation. Communication involves a continuous effort to maintain transparency throughout every phase of the scientific process, from formulating the research question to publication, and requires attention in the development phase to include all the fundamental actors defined by Pietro Greco in 4 dimensions on a territory (institutional, business, scientific and citizenship dimensions). Here is presented the PCSI communication plan, a project dedicated to assessing a methodology for the quality-quantitative analysis of microplastics in seawater surfaces and beaches through a CS approach. The communication plan has structured the target of local actors on different levels: i. political structures, ii. law enforcement and related structures, iii. scientific institutions, iv. entrepreneurial structures, v. educational institutions, vi. artistic structures and cultural organizations and vii. social media.

Riparian zones are crucial for regulating geomorphological processes and supporting ecosystems, offering essential services like water quality improvement and biodiversity support. However, they are often overlooked in protocols assessing the ecological status of watercourses, as outlined by the Water Framework Directive. Many citizens view these areas as dangerous or unattractive, not understanding their importance. To address this, the "RiVe" methodology for Citizen Science activities was developed to assess the quality of riparian forests using accessible techniques. The RiVe methodology consists of three main phases: training, data collection, and analysis. Citizen scientists are initially trained through workshops and educational materials, equipping them with the skills to identify riparian plant species and use monitoring tools like the ODK Collect app or paper forms. During the data collection phase, participants monitor twelve target species, categorized into three ecological groups as indicators of habitat health, and record information about the river ecosystem. The data is analyzed to calculate the RiVe index, which assesses the quality of the riparian forest. This index ranges from 0 to 120, categorizing each survey into one of five quality classes, thus guiding management and conservation strategies. Effective management of riparian zones can restore ecological connectivity and integrate ecological corridors, especially in plains and agroecosystems, into a trans-European nature network, as supported by the recent Nature Restoration Law. A case study on the Idice stream shows that the RiVe protocol effectively identifies areas of significant degradation and assesses the local quality of riparian forests, while also increasing data collection and raising citizen awareness and interest in conserving local rivers.

Recent transdisciplinary research demonstrates that interaction with Nature provides numerous benefits for human health and well-being. While this provides a valuable opportunity to reconnect people with Nature and offers healthcare professionals with a context to suggest “Green Prescriptions", which are recommendation to engage with natural environments, it also poses ecological risks. Engaging individuals in outdoor activities within environmentally sensitive areas can in fact disturb biodiversity and ecosystem functions, potentially triggering feedback that not only harm the resilience of the ecosystem itself but also reduce the effectiveness of these areas in providing restoration and supporting healing processes. To address these issues, we have developed “Gaia’s Maps”, a framework for mapping and evaluating natural areas to help people respect the environment and cooperate in taking care of ecosystem health as well as their own physical health, according to the Planetary Health perspective. The framework is based on an initial remote-sensing based identification of suitable locations for outdoor activities and Green Prescriptions, that is enriched with open-data and information collected in the field by visitors, who are encouraged to follow criteria suggested by a team of ecologists. An intuitive tool is then created, based on an index depicting the naturalness of the areas and their sensitivity to disturbance: this detects the areas that, although highly beneficial for human well-being, must be respected and protected to uncontrolled outdoor activities to avoid harm. This way, Gaia’s Maps framework promotes environmental education and enables informed and sustainable use of natural spaces. Additionally, it strengthens the relationship between healthcare professionals, who monitor and restore human health, and ecologists, who monitor and restore ecosystem health, underscoring the crucial importance of ecologists in ensuring that both people and ecosystems can thrive together.

Globally, biodiversity and ecosystems are experiencing irreversible losses caused by anthropogenic threats. Species are being lost at an unprecedented rate, causing degradation of ecosystem functioning and services. To address these questions, accurate and up-to-date data covering a wide geographical and temporal scale are needed. However, to support these efforts, there needs to be a concerted focus on education and outreach, to raise awareness for these issues, which in turn can increase bottom-up action and environmental stewardship, as well as democratise the fields of ecology and conservation. Citizen Science (CS) is a powerful approach for gathering the data required to address large-scale research questions and engaging the public in environmental issues. The development of citizen science initiatives and the use of citizen science data has increased in recent decades.

In this framework, a new CS project - CS4Rivers - has defined an innovative approach to measuring the Habitat Quality to facilitate the sustainable management of river ecosystems.

CS4Rivers guided by the University of Siena, within the NBFC with NRRP funds, is active in the Ombrone river basin (South Tuscany), throughout different monitoring activities: chemical water quality, macroinvertebrate community and riparian vegetation.

For macroinvertebrate and riparian vegetation monitoring, CS4Rivers employs a simplified protocol. The Data Quality is verified through comparisons with expert assessment data. Support materials and initial training have been developed for each activity. Preliminary results show the Habitat Quality value obtained by macroinvertebrate community analysis using the simplified and official protocol, and the Data Quality of coverage plant species percentages collected by citizens.

Within CS4Rivers, a pilot project in the Idice river basin (Emilia Romagna), involves 1 school and 3 groups of citizens who monitor the macroinvertebrate community in 7 stations and the riparian vegetation in 20.

Human activities have increased pressures on rivers, causing a decline in freshwater quality and making them among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide, mainly due to climate change and mismanagement of land and water resources. For these reasons, this study aimed to propose an integrated monitoring methodology based on a holistic approach. The river health status will be assessed through the chemical-physical analyses of the environmental matrices, the study of the toxicological effects on organisms and four ecological indices. The ecosystem services (ES) provided by the river in different stretches will also be defined, with the aim of seeing how they influence, or are influenced by, the state of health of the river. The Elsa River, a tributary of the Arno River in Tuscany (Italy), was chosen as a case study because of the presence of a river park, agricultural and industrial activities and towns. Some chemical parameters of the water were tested with a citizen science project. Ecological indices based on benthic macroinvertebrates (STAR-ICMi), macrophytes (IBMR), diatoms (ICMi) and river functionality (FFI) were measured. Squalius squalus was used as a fish bioindicator for ecotoxicological analyses, including biomarkers, contaminant concentration and microplastic ingestion. Microplastics were analysed in water, pharmaceutical residues were measured in water, sediments and organisms, and microbiological characterisations of water and sediments was done. The ES will be evaluated in different sections. Preliminary results show a negative trend from upstream to downstream from a chemical and ecological point of view. The ecotoxicological analyses on fish underline the presence of neurotoxicity and genotoxicity effects in downstream sites. This holistic approach provides a comprehensive view of the state of health of the river. Comparing it with the ES provided by the river in its different sections will allow us to develop different management scenarios and identify the most sustainable one.

Mediterranean marine biodiversity is impacted by several anthropogenic threats such as overfishing, pollution, habitat loss and degradation, non-indigenous species and climate change. Human impacts on marine ecosystems are expected to increase in the future, especially those related to climate change and its synergistic effects with other threats. In fact, the combination of increase of the water temperature and fishing pressures can lead to shifts in the size, spatial range and abundance of marine species. In this fast-changing scenario, assessing the distribution and abundance of species allows detect temporal trends in biodiversity and ecosystem structure. In the North-Western Ionian Sea, standardized data on the demersal species assemblages are collected in the framework of the MEDITS EU program since 1994. The temporal trends of distribution and abundance over a period of 29 years (1994–2023) were analysed. Cephalopods, chondrichthyes and osteichthyes showed an overall increase in the abundance, most probably due to the reduction of fishing effort. Significant increases in abundances of Aristaeomorpha foliacea, Parapenaeus longirostris and Mullus barbatus have been observed, probably due both to the reduction in fishing effort and the increase in the water temperature since they are known as thermophilic species. The increase in the bottom water temperature can also explain the significant decrease in abundance of Nephrops norvegicus and the shifting of the Galeus melastomus population towards deeper and colder waters. The significant increase in biomass observed for Scyliorhinus canicula could be explained by the presence of different refuge areas, both natural, such as canyons and irregular seabed where trawling cannot be carried out, and related to conservation initiatives, such as marine protected areas. Finally, the number of non-indigenous species increased significantly in the study area during the investigated period, but the effects on the biodiversity of faunal assemblages are not yet known.

On temperate and cold rocky coast, intertidal canopy-forming Fucus species (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) structure complex habitats providing numerous essential ecosystem services. Fucus virsoides is a glacial relict endemic to the Adriatic and the only representative of the genus in the Mediterranean. In the past, it was considered widespread from northwestern Italy to southern Albania, but in recent decades its populations have declined drastically. In this study, we examine the long-term changes in F. virsoides and analyse the likely factors that have led to its decline.

To reconstruct the historical distribution of F. virsoides throughout its geographic range, historical records since the 19^th century were collected and compared with the current distribution thanks to a cross-border collaboration. Mapping the patterns of change in its occurrence revealed a continuous decline that has left about twenty fragmented populations. We then investigated the connection between the occurrence of the species and both environmental and anthropogenic stress factors. Time series of potential marine and atmospheric factors affecting the spatio-temporal distribution of the species as well as land cover products were collected and analysed.

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the status of F. virsoides and the factors leading to its decline, highlighting the importance of implementing immediate conservation measures to prevent the extinction of the species.

Changing of abiotic and biotic factors can induce regime shift conditions in soil ecosystems, or compete in synergy or antagonism with pollutants in the onset of significant effects on organisms. Therefore, the development of ecological quality tools is required to monitor and prioritize those soils under depletion. In that way, the alterations in behavior of edaphic organisms are considered as warning signal indicators of changing of soil conditions. Specifically, the use of terrestrial isopods is of great importance for detecting the effect of abiotic or biotic factors at population level. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of these factors on the aggregation behavior in Porcellionides pruinosus for understanding the impact of such stressors on the population density. The stress induced by abiotic factors (as temperature, humidity, salinity, and pH) and by biotic factors (as edaphic competitor presence, necromone response, and dilution-to-extinction of soil microbial community) were assessed by the disaggregation index (DI) and the disaggregation in group (DG) for detecting alteration in the gregariousness. Results showed that these factors modulated the aggregation behavior in P. pruinosus, but the greater impact on the aggregation was driven by temperature (30°C) and humidity (70 and 80 %), where more than 50% of the terrestrial isopods population were fragmented. Compared to the biotic factors, the sterilization of soil induced disaggregation in a dose-response function, while the effect of the necromone affected only at the highest concentration tested. The principal component analysis showed the highest contribution for temperature (26.66% of the variance), while the remaining factors explained only 17.58%. Due to the effect of Climate Change, these environmental stressors may represent a risk factor for the maintenance of the gregarious behavior of terrestrial isopods and contribute, together with other anthropogenic stressors such as pollution, to significant alterations at the population level.

The European oyster, Ostrea edulis (Linnaeus 1758), commonly known as the flat oyster, is a calcifying habitat-builder that provides ecosystem services such as climate regulation, biodiversity support, and enhancement of habitat complexity. As a key-stone species targeted as 'vulnerable and declining' under the OSPAR Convention, O. edulis beds have undergone various restoration projects across Europe. In the Gulf of La Spezia (Italy), the flat oyster has been present since the late 1800s, but the anthropogenic impacts have led to the near functional extinction of its habitat (i.e., oyster beds). Within the PNRR project RAISE, whose activities aim also to regenerate port areas using Nature-Based Solutions, a restoration initiative targeting O. edulis natural beds in the Gulf of La Spezia has been proposed. The PhD project will contribute to the knowledge on the resident population through the following objectives: Ob1: Monitoring the growth rate (length, width, thickness, and weight) and metabolic responses (respiration and calcification) in adult individuals collected within the harbor area and maintained in oyster cages. Ob2: Assessing the recruitment rate and settlement preferences of the population in three sites within the harbor area, using natural substrates and 'Chinese hats' commonly used as larvae catchers in oyster farming. Ob3: Investigating, in collaboration with the CNRS in Dijon (France), the functions and expressions of shell matrix components in oyster biomineralization. Ob4: Evaluating, in collaboration with the International Marine Centre in Sardinia (Italy), the impact of heat waves on the metabolism of O. edulis. In addition to biological data, physico-chemical parameters (temperature, oxygen, pH, pCO₂, salinity, chlorophyll-a) are recorded through weekly or monthly campaigns as well as thorough high resolution underwater observatory. The present project contributes to the knowledge of O. edulis populations and in understanding long-term resilience of flat oyster in the Mediterranean sea threaten by climate change.

According to the EU Habitats Directive and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, assessing whether the fishery activities induce disturbances on cetaceans’ occurrence and behavior is pivotal to identify appropriate conservation strategies and strengthen current policies regarding spatial management. In the Northern Ionian Sea (Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea), areas of overlap between commercial fisheries and the Area of Occupancy of Stenella coeruleoalba and Tursiops truncatus have been identified between 2012 and 2021.

Particularly, the spatial overlap with different fishing gears has been quantified characterizing the fishing effort intensity (FEI) of Trawlers, Purse seines, Longlines and Passive nets as low (<1h), medium (1-5h) and high (>5h) using AIS data available on Global Fishing Watch platform. The occurrence of dolphins and their feeding behaviour in each FEI level was analysed and differences in by FEI levels were tested using a non-parametric Chi square test, and a post-hoc multiple comparison test based on the Dunn’s (z) test with Bonferroni correction. Analysis was carried out by FSA R package.

The spatial overlap covered 74% of the study area (934 on 1261 km² cetacean’s Area of Occupancy). The occurrence of both species resulted to be significantly higher in areas with medium FEI levels rather than low or high values (p<0.001, z<0.001) with a sightings frequency of 49% and 53% for S. coeruleoalba and T. truncatus, respectively. Records of feeding behavior resulted significantly lower in areas with high FEI levels (p<0.001, z<0.001) for S. coeruleoalba. For T. truncatus this condition was confirmed only for medium FEI levels (p<0.001, z<0.001).

Results seem to show similar responses to fishing effort intensity for both species, however further assessments of disturbances should consider seasonal and yearly variation in fishing effort and the differences in single fishing gear displacement.

The exponential increase in biological invasions worldwide, driven by globalisation and climate change is listed among the five biggest threats to the Earth's biodiversity. This trend poses a significant threat to the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems worldwide. The Mediterranean Sea emerges as notably affected by this phenomenon. Since the opening of the Suez Canal, a considerable amount of alien species have been entering the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, and their spread has been favoured by the consequences of climate change. Focusing on two successful Lessepsian fish invaders: Siganus rivulatus, a long-standing invader and Pterois miles a newly established invader, we aim to investigate the trends of different types of genetic diversity during the colonisation of the Mediterranean Sea. Our first objective is to investigate how the different timing and speed of invasion have shaped genetic diversity distribution and genetic load accumulation in these two invasive species. We also know that these species are adapting to significantly lower temperature and salinity levels than those in which they usually thrive. Our goal is to understand whether these two species are using the same gene combinations to adapt to the new environmental conditions. Lastly, considering different possible climate change scenarios, we aim to develop reliable predictive models to infer the possible future trajectories of these invasions, taking into account how non-neutral diversity may influence the invasive potential of these species. Preliminary results reveal a dramatic decline in genetic diversity moving from the source population to the northern bound of the invasive range with the Mediterranean population representing just a small portion of the total diversity present in the Red Sea suggesting that the colonisation of the Mediterranean is attributable to a single and rapid invasive event.

The recurrent climatic fluctuations of the Quaternary resulted in subsequent glacial and interglacial periods characterized by repeated changes in environmental conditions and resource availability. Several biotopes disappeared entirely or changed considerably leading to either extinction, survival in glacial refugia or adaptation to new habitats. Those environmental and distribution shifts likely had genetic consequences, with rapid demographic changes causing loss in genetic diversity. Patterns of demographic variation are reflected in the genome of a species which can be studied to estimate fluctuations in effective population size (N_e) using Pairwise Sequentially Markovian Coalescent (PSMC). The combination of PSMC and environmental niche modelling (ENM), which reconstruct changes in a species’ distribution using paleoclimatic data, can provide insights into the effects of environmental variations on the life history of a species and eventually help understand its vulnerability to climate changes. Among vertebrates, turtles are one of the most endangered group due to illegal trade, habitat loss, pollution, and climatic alterations, which are already affecting several of their physiological and phenological characteristics. We used whole-genome sequencing data from 22 species of turtles to infer variation in effective population size through time and checked for correlation between N_e, heterozigosity, IUCN category and habitat availability during the Marine Isotope Stage 19, the last interglacial period, the last glacial maximum and the early Holocene. All species experienced a drastic decrease in Ne at the start of the last glacial period, which was correlated to a decrease in temperature. On the other hand, no correlation was found between extent of habitat availability, effective population size, extinction risk as defined by IUCN categories and heterozygosity.

According to evolutionary theories, each species adapts different strategies and makes trade-offs to maximize fitness. Even within the same species, individuals may follow diverse strategies, some bolder and more demanding than others. However, defining the driving forces that enhance this diversity still requires investigations.

This study aimed to examine the interplay between extrinsic environmental factors and individual pace of life using Gammarus insensibilis as the study organism, a detritivorous species in Italian lagoons. To this aim, cohorts with initial different densities were maintained for 45 days in laboratory experimental trials characterized by a constant resource supply, i.e. 20g of 15-day microbially conditioned Phragmites australis leaves. The population densities varied, corresponding to the individual-to-resource ratio, from 0.75 to 12.5 individuals per gram of resource. Resources were changed, and individuals were counted every 15 days. After 45 days, individual standard metabolic rates, recorded body mass, and maturity stage were measured.

Results showed an inverse relationship between cohort density and individuals’ pace of life. Individuals reared in the lowest cohort density, compared to those in higher densities, had a greater average body mass, reached maturity faster, and had a higher baseline standard metabolic rate. Significant inter-individual variation in growth and metabolic rates was observed within each cohort, with the biggest individual ~10 times bigger than the smallest. Conclusively, this study revealed that the pace of life is modulated continuously across a spectrum of resource availability, with an increased resource-to-individual ratio resulting in a faster pace of life suggesting a wider range of individual personality outcomes. Our findings contribute to understanding the adaptive potential of population-level energy budgets influenced by the relative abundance of individuals with diverse energetic and life history outcomes.

Theory and empirical evidence support the idea that species adaptation to new environmental conditions may occur by two main routes: standing variation or de novo mutations. In origin from standing variation, adaptive polymorphisms are already present in the population before the selective pressure, and they will increase under positive selection. On the contrary, an adaptation from de novo mutations involves polymorphisms that originate in the populations once an environmental change has occurred. To date, a heated debate about the relative role of these two alternative routes is still occurring, mainly because we rarely can study populations before selection takes place.

Here, we exploited the information frozen in the genome of historical samples to disentangle between the two scenarios, putting them in the case of the diflubenzuron resistance in the mosquito Culex pipiens. Diflubenzuron is a chitin-synthesis inhibitor intensively used in northern Italy against mosquito vectors since 2007. In 2015, target-site resistance to this compound was detected in Cx. pipiens populations for the first time. By analysing current and historical samples, we showed that target-site resistance was already present in the populations of Cx. pipiens in the 1980s, thus pre-dating the use of diflubenzuron against this species. Concurrently by characterizing the morphology and behaviour of susceptible and resistant phenotypes in absence of insecticides, we revealed potentially advantageous traits associated with resistance. Taken together, our results support the importance of standing variation in adaptation and suggest that multiple selective pressures beyond insecticides may have favoured resistant individuals within populations.

Predicting species’ responses to climate change is a pressing need hampered by our limited knowledge of spatiotemporal ecological and evolutionary dynamics. We combine landscape genomics, demographic reconstructions, and species distribution models to assess the ecological responses to past climate fluctuations and to future climate in an Afro-Palearctic migratory raptor, the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni). We uncover two evolutionary and ecologically distinct lineages (European and Asian), whose demographic history, evolutionary divergence, and historical distribution range were profoundly shaped by past climatic fluctuations. Using future climate projections, we find that the Asian lineage is at higher risk of maladaptation, range contraction, increased migration distance, and consequently greater extinction risk than the European lineage. Our results emphasise the importance of providing historical context as a baseline for understanding species’ responses to contemporary climate change, and demonstrate that incorporating intraspecific genetic variation improves the ecological realism of climate change vulnerability assessments.

Understanding population structure, genetic diversity, and adaptation in fish species is pivotal for fisheries genomics. This knowledge is crucial for effective fisheries management, conservation efforts, and to understand environmental impacts on fish populations.

This study employed ddRAD sequencing to identify and genotype single nucleotide polymorphism markers (SNPs) in European hake (Merluccius merluccius) population samples obtained during MED_UNITs project. Over 1,700 specimens from 41 sampling locations were analyzed, including extensive coverage of the Mediterranean Sea and one Atlantic location. Following reference-based assembly and quality filtering, we identified about 1,000 high-quality SNPs for downstream differentiation analyses. A comparison of the samples, based on all the SNPs, revealed significant genetic differentiation not only between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea samples, but also within the Mediterranean. We observed significant differences between the Western, Central, and Eastern Mediterranean populations, as well as between the Levantine and Aegean Sea samples. Admixture analysis identified four genetic clusters, exhibiting varying frequencies in a west-to-east pattern within the Mediterranean. By employing the Population Branch Statistic, we identified SNPs putatively under selection in the admixed populations using an outgroup-case-control approach. The availability of individual phenotypic and environmental data allowed investigation of their correlation with SNPs. Notably, several putatively selected SNPs exhibited correlations with different individual parameters in independent comparisons supporting the possibility that these genetic variants lie in genomic regions with functional relevance, and they might be involved in response to the environment.

Our study offers new insights by revealing a significant degree of genetic structure within the Mediterranean region that extends previous results, which had only identified these differences through the analysis of outlier genetic loci. Additionally, the study highlights the adaptive genomic variation that underlies the observed population structure, thus providing valuable insights for the formulation of sound conservation strategies and development of sustainable fisheries practices.