The pilot project was targeted to the assessment of the marine and coastal environment in the MPA... more The pilot project was targeted to the assessment of the marine and coastal environment in the MPA of Torre Guaceto and in the neighbouring costal area of Brindisi port with inclusion of the industrial area (Southern Italy, Puglia Region, Adriatic Sea). The main scope of the project was to provide an example of best practise to support the sustainable management of the coastal zone between land and sea for the application and integration of ICZM and MSP. The project was developed according to two main phases, the first of which aimed to collect and process all the information available to the environmental framework, the second addressed the application of a DPSIR model (Driving, Pressure, State, Impact, Response) in the same area. The DPSIR results give some indications that may be useful for the management of the marine coastal area investigated.
Hyperspectral PRISMA images are new and have not yet been evaluated for their ability to detect m... more Hyperspectral PRISMA images are new and have not yet been evaluated for their ability to detect marine plastic litter. The hyperspectral PRISMA images have a fine spectral resolution, however, their spatial resolution is not high enough to enable the discrimination of small plastic objects in the ocean. Pansharpening with the panchromatic data enhances their spatial resolution and makes their detection capabilities a technological challenge. This study exploits, for the first time, the potential of using satellite hyperspectral data in detecting small-sized marine plastic litter. Controlled experiments with plastic targets of various sizes constructed from several materials have been conducted. The required pre-processing steps have been defined and 13 pansharpening methods have been applied and evaluated for their ability to spectrally discriminate plastics from water. Among them, the PCA-based substitution efficiently separates plastic spectra from water without producing duplicat...
The present database collects data for artificial and natural reefs, and wrecks along the Adriati... more The present database collects data for artificial and natural reefs, and wrecks along the Adriatic Sea. Data has been collected from a large survey conducted through the ADRIREEF Interreg projects' partners, undergone a wide data harmonization in order to report answers to a consistent format, integrating survey data with literature data (scientific and grey), and data coming from different research projects. Parameters describing each natural, artificial reef and wreck are referable to four different groups: reef identification and geolocalisation information, summary of the characteristics of the area hosting the reef, aspects of the reefs that may also have an effect on the usage of the reef, present and/or possible future reef exploitation. In order to better visualize data, a webGIS has also been put in place and it is reachable at the address: https://adrireef.github.io/sandbox3/.The database counts 285 observations falling in Italian, Croatian and International waters. The database is available in a unique CSV file, where each element is described by 51 parameters, including coordinates in decimal degrees (WGS84 coordinate reference system) and bottom depth in meters, making data 3D. More information about data and single columns explanation is available in the attached README file.
ABSTRACT Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes), Atherina boyeri Risso and Knipowitschia panizzae (Ver... more ABSTRACT Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes), Atherina boyeri Risso and Knipowitschia panizzae (Verga) are considered resident fish species in Italian coastal lagoons, which spend their entire life cycle within the brackish waters. They are short-lived species, with a small size, and a rapid growth and attainment of sexual maturity. All these fish species are included in the IUCN Red List with the status of Least Concern. A. fasciatus and K. panizzae are additionally listed in the Appendix III of the Bern Convention and in the Annex II of the European Union Habitat Directive. The aim of this study was to determine the population structures, to assess the length-weight relationships (LWRs) and to estimate the growth parameters of the target species in the lagoons of Lesina and Varano. This information is necessary for population assessments, which provide information that may be used in the management of fish populations in lagoon systems. Sampling of specimens was seasonally conducted in the two lagoons from May 2008 to February 2010. Fishes were caught at eleven stations by fyke nets with 6 mm mesh size at the end. In the laboratory, all specimens were identified to species, measured for total length and weighted. Sex was macroscopically determined. A total of 3,242 specimens of A. fasciatus, 1,664 specimens of A. boyeri and 1,060 specimens of K. panizzae were analyzed. The length frequency distribution, the LWR and the growth parameters were derived for each species in each lagoon. LWRs were estimated by linear regression analysis of the log-converted weight and total length data. Parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth function were determined through the ELEFAN-I software, using length frequency distribution. This study presents the first estimation for K. panizzae of LWRs and von Bertalanffy growth model parameters. Comparisons of the results were performed in relation to the lagoon environments and considering the knowledge about the species.
Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes), Atherina boyeri Risso and Knipowitschia panizzae (Verga) are c... more Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes), Atherina boyeri Risso and Knipowitschia panizzae (Verga) are considered resident fish species in Italian coastal lagoons, which spend their entire life cycle within the brackish waters. They are short-lived species, with a small size, and a rapid growth and attainment of sexual maturity. All these fish species are included in the IUCN Red List with the status of Least Concern. A. fasciatus and K. panizzae are additionally listed in the Appendix III of the Bern Convention and in the Annex II of the European Union Habitat Directive. The aim of this study was to determine the population structures, to assess the length-weight relationships (LWRs) and to estimate the growth parameters of the target species in the lagoons of Lesina and Varano. This information is necessary for population assessments, which provide information that may be used in the management of fish populations in lagoon systems. Sampling of specimens was seasonally conducted in the t...
1. Introduction of alien species is one of the major threats to aquatic biota and knowledge of th... more 1. Introduction of alien species is one of the major threats to aquatic biota and knowledge of the major correlates of their occurrence is pivotal in planning reliable conservation strategies.
2. To understand whether specific freshwater habitats are more likely to be invaded than others, a dataset on the occurrence of 1604 species in 54 taxonomic groups from 181 sites across the Italian peninsula was gathered.
3. The EUNIS habitat classification was used, selecting for the study's seven habitat types at the second EUNIS level, including lentic (EUNIS C1; 64 sites), lotic (EUNIS C2; 99 sites) and highly artificial (EUNIS J5; 18 sites) habitats.
4. The aim of the study was to test whether the overall number of alien species and the proportion of alien species for each taxonomic group differed between habitat types and could be explained by environmental, human-mediated, or climatic factors.
5. Using generalized linear mixed effect models to account for potential confounding factors, only average air temperature of the site was a significant positive predictor of the occurrence of alien species, regardless of habitat type, species richness, and other climatic variables.
6. A direct effect of temperature could be excluded given the origin of alien species, mostly from colder areas than Italy. Thus, an indirect effect could be hypothesized at the Italian latitudes, with warmer areas potentially more likely to be visited by tourists than colder areas. If this hypothesis is confirmed, the results of the analyses call for a compromise between the maintenance of recreational activities in the wild and the preservation of a natural environment to prevent the arrival and spread of alien species. On the other hand, no further recommendations can be implemented regarding habitat susceptibility to alien species.
The pilot project was targeted to the assessment of the marine and coastal environment in the MPA... more The pilot project was targeted to the assessment of the marine and coastal environment in the MPA of Torre Guaceto and in the neighbouring costal area of Brindisi port with inclusion of the industrial area (Southern Italy, Puglia Region, Adriatic Sea). The main scope of the project was to provide an example of best practise to support the sustainable management of the coastal zone between land and sea for the application and integration of ICZM and MSP. The project was developed according to two main phases, the first of which aimed to collect and process all the information available to the environmental framework, the second addressed the application of a DPSIR model (Driving, Pressure, State, Impact, Response) in the same area. The DPSIR results give some indications that may be useful for the management of the marine coastal area investigated.
Hyperspectral PRISMA images are new and have not yet been evaluated for their ability to detect m... more Hyperspectral PRISMA images are new and have not yet been evaluated for their ability to detect marine plastic litter. The hyperspectral PRISMA images have a fine spectral resolution, however, their spatial resolution is not high enough to enable the discrimination of small plastic objects in the ocean. Pansharpening with the panchromatic data enhances their spatial resolution and makes their detection capabilities a technological challenge. This study exploits, for the first time, the potential of using satellite hyperspectral data in detecting small-sized marine plastic litter. Controlled experiments with plastic targets of various sizes constructed from several materials have been conducted. The required pre-processing steps have been defined and 13 pansharpening methods have been applied and evaluated for their ability to spectrally discriminate plastics from water. Among them, the PCA-based substitution efficiently separates plastic spectra from water without producing duplicat...
The present database collects data for artificial and natural reefs, and wrecks along the Adriati... more The present database collects data for artificial and natural reefs, and wrecks along the Adriatic Sea. Data has been collected from a large survey conducted through the ADRIREEF Interreg projects' partners, undergone a wide data harmonization in order to report answers to a consistent format, integrating survey data with literature data (scientific and grey), and data coming from different research projects. Parameters describing each natural, artificial reef and wreck are referable to four different groups: reef identification and geolocalisation information, summary of the characteristics of the area hosting the reef, aspects of the reefs that may also have an effect on the usage of the reef, present and/or possible future reef exploitation. In order to better visualize data, a webGIS has also been put in place and it is reachable at the address: https://adrireef.github.io/sandbox3/.The database counts 285 observations falling in Italian, Croatian and International waters. The database is available in a unique CSV file, where each element is described by 51 parameters, including coordinates in decimal degrees (WGS84 coordinate reference system) and bottom depth in meters, making data 3D. More information about data and single columns explanation is available in the attached README file.
ABSTRACT Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes), Atherina boyeri Risso and Knipowitschia panizzae (Ver... more ABSTRACT Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes), Atherina boyeri Risso and Knipowitschia panizzae (Verga) are considered resident fish species in Italian coastal lagoons, which spend their entire life cycle within the brackish waters. They are short-lived species, with a small size, and a rapid growth and attainment of sexual maturity. All these fish species are included in the IUCN Red List with the status of Least Concern. A. fasciatus and K. panizzae are additionally listed in the Appendix III of the Bern Convention and in the Annex II of the European Union Habitat Directive. The aim of this study was to determine the population structures, to assess the length-weight relationships (LWRs) and to estimate the growth parameters of the target species in the lagoons of Lesina and Varano. This information is necessary for population assessments, which provide information that may be used in the management of fish populations in lagoon systems. Sampling of specimens was seasonally conducted in the two lagoons from May 2008 to February 2010. Fishes were caught at eleven stations by fyke nets with 6 mm mesh size at the end. In the laboratory, all specimens were identified to species, measured for total length and weighted. Sex was macroscopically determined. A total of 3,242 specimens of A. fasciatus, 1,664 specimens of A. boyeri and 1,060 specimens of K. panizzae were analyzed. The length frequency distribution, the LWR and the growth parameters were derived for each species in each lagoon. LWRs were estimated by linear regression analysis of the log-converted weight and total length data. Parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth function were determined through the ELEFAN-I software, using length frequency distribution. This study presents the first estimation for K. panizzae of LWRs and von Bertalanffy growth model parameters. Comparisons of the results were performed in relation to the lagoon environments and considering the knowledge about the species.
Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes), Atherina boyeri Risso and Knipowitschia panizzae (Verga) are c... more Aphanius fasciatus (Valenciennes), Atherina boyeri Risso and Knipowitschia panizzae (Verga) are considered resident fish species in Italian coastal lagoons, which spend their entire life cycle within the brackish waters. They are short-lived species, with a small size, and a rapid growth and attainment of sexual maturity. All these fish species are included in the IUCN Red List with the status of Least Concern. A. fasciatus and K. panizzae are additionally listed in the Appendix III of the Bern Convention and in the Annex II of the European Union Habitat Directive. The aim of this study was to determine the population structures, to assess the length-weight relationships (LWRs) and to estimate the growth parameters of the target species in the lagoons of Lesina and Varano. This information is necessary for population assessments, which provide information that may be used in the management of fish populations in lagoon systems. Sampling of specimens was seasonally conducted in the t...
1. Introduction of alien species is one of the major threats to aquatic biota and knowledge of th... more 1. Introduction of alien species is one of the major threats to aquatic biota and knowledge of the major correlates of their occurrence is pivotal in planning reliable conservation strategies.
2. To understand whether specific freshwater habitats are more likely to be invaded than others, a dataset on the occurrence of 1604 species in 54 taxonomic groups from 181 sites across the Italian peninsula was gathered.
3. The EUNIS habitat classification was used, selecting for the study's seven habitat types at the second EUNIS level, including lentic (EUNIS C1; 64 sites), lotic (EUNIS C2; 99 sites) and highly artificial (EUNIS J5; 18 sites) habitats.
4. The aim of the study was to test whether the overall number of alien species and the proportion of alien species for each taxonomic group differed between habitat types and could be explained by environmental, human-mediated, or climatic factors.
5. Using generalized linear mixed effect models to account for potential confounding factors, only average air temperature of the site was a significant positive predictor of the occurrence of alien species, regardless of habitat type, species richness, and other climatic variables.
6. A direct effect of temperature could be excluded given the origin of alien species, mostly from colder areas than Italy. Thus, an indirect effect could be hypothesized at the Italian latitudes, with warmer areas potentially more likely to be visited by tourists than colder areas. If this hypothesis is confirmed, the results of the analyses call for a compromise between the maintenance of recreational activities in the wild and the preservation of a natural environment to prevent the arrival and spread of alien species. On the other hand, no further recommendations can be implemented regarding habitat susceptibility to alien species.
1. Spread of alien species (AS) is a serious threat to marine habitats and analysis of principal ... more 1. Spread of alien species (AS) is a serious threat to marine habitats and analysis of principal descriptors of their occurrence is pivotal to set reliable conservation strategies. 2. In order to assess the susceptibility of marine habitats to biological invasions, a dataset was gathered of the occurrence of 3899 species from 29 phyla, taken from 93 marine sites located along the Italian coast in the period 2000–2012.
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2. To understand whether specific freshwater habitats are more likely to be invaded than others, a dataset on the occurrence of 1604 species in 54 taxonomic groups from 181 sites across the Italian peninsula was gathered.
3. The EUNIS habitat classification was used, selecting for the study's seven habitat types at the second EUNIS level, including lentic (EUNIS C1; 64 sites), lotic (EUNIS C2; 99 sites) and highly artificial (EUNIS J5; 18 sites) habitats.
4. The aim of the study was to test whether the overall number of alien species and the proportion of alien species for each taxonomic group differed between habitat types and could be explained by environmental, human-mediated, or climatic factors.
5. Using generalized linear mixed effect models to account for potential confounding factors, only average air temperature of the site was a significant positive predictor of the occurrence of alien species, regardless of habitat type, species richness, and other climatic variables.
6. A direct effect of temperature could be excluded given the origin of alien species, mostly from colder areas than Italy. Thus, an indirect effect could be hypothesized at the Italian latitudes, with warmer areas potentially more likely to be visited by tourists than colder areas. If this hypothesis is confirmed, the results of the analyses call for a compromise between the maintenance of recreational activities in the wild and the preservation of a natural environment to prevent the arrival and spread of alien species. On the other hand, no further recommendations can be implemented regarding habitat susceptibility to alien species.
2. To understand whether specific freshwater habitats are more likely to be invaded than others, a dataset on the occurrence of 1604 species in 54 taxonomic groups from 181 sites across the Italian peninsula was gathered.
3. The EUNIS habitat classification was used, selecting for the study's seven habitat types at the second EUNIS level, including lentic (EUNIS C1; 64 sites), lotic (EUNIS C2; 99 sites) and highly artificial (EUNIS J5; 18 sites) habitats.
4. The aim of the study was to test whether the overall number of alien species and the proportion of alien species for each taxonomic group differed between habitat types and could be explained by environmental, human-mediated, or climatic factors.
5. Using generalized linear mixed effect models to account for potential confounding factors, only average air temperature of the site was a significant positive predictor of the occurrence of alien species, regardless of habitat type, species richness, and other climatic variables.
6. A direct effect of temperature could be excluded given the origin of alien species, mostly from colder areas than Italy. Thus, an indirect effect could be hypothesized at the Italian latitudes, with warmer areas potentially more likely to be visited by tourists than colder areas. If this hypothesis is confirmed, the results of the analyses call for a compromise between the maintenance of recreational activities in the wild and the preservation of a natural environment to prevent the arrival and spread of alien species. On the other hand, no further recommendations can be implemented regarding habitat susceptibility to alien species.