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The Taranto Seas of Italy, considered a hotspot of nonindigenous species (NIS) diversity, are also among the best locales in the Mediterranean to study marine fouling communities. This environment is an ideal space to study how artificial structures are utilised by NIS for further dispersion into the surrounding environment after their initial introduction. In the present study, the fouling communities found on several types of substrates (including small artificial, mobile structures and more stable, larger structures) in a quiet enclosed part of the Mar Grande of Taranto (Ionian Sea) were analysed and compared in terms of the contribution of NIS. The assemblages differed according to the age and size of the substrate, but also according to the depth and distance from a possible source of organic enrichment. As expected, NIS were abundant, especially on small ephemeral substrates, with a high number of pioneer species; by contrast, very few NIS were found on less transient substrates, which were dominated by macroalgae. This work highlights that substrate type is an important predictor of the types of NIS present, even in environments considered to be particularly vulnerable to biological invasions, such as ports and other confined environments subject to elevated human pressure.

Recent studies have shown that marine algae represent a great source of natural compounds with several properties. The lipidic extract of the seaweed Chaetomorpha linum (Chlorophyta, Cladophorales), one of the dominant species in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Mediterranean, Ionian Sea), revealed an antibacterial activity against Vibrio ordalii and Vibrio vulnificus, common pathogens in aquaculture, suggesting its potential employment to control fish and shellfish diseases due to vibriosis and to reduce the public health hazards related to antibiotic use in aquaculture. This extract showed also an antioxidant activity, corresponding to 170.960 ± 16. mmol Trolox equivalent/g (oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay-- ORAC) and to 30.554 ± 2.30 mmol Trolox equivalent/g (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay--TEAC). The chemical characterization of the extract, performed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, highlighted the presence of free, saturated (SAFAs), unsaturated (UFAs) and polyunsaturated (PUFAs) fatty acids. The high content of ?-6 and ?-3 PUFAs confirmed also by gas chromatography indicates the potentiality of this algal species in the production of fortified food. The antibacterial activity seems related to the presence of linolenic acid present at high density, while the antioxidant activity could be likely ascribable to molecules such as carotenoids and chlorophylls (characterized also by thin-layer chromatography), known for this property. The presence of polyhydroxybutyrate, a biopolymer with potentiality in the field of biodegradable bioplastics was also detected. The exploitation of C. linum for a future biotechnological application is also encouraged by the results from a first attempt of cultivating this species in an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system.

Until 2014, the management of invasive alien species has been poorly addressed in Europe. Recently, the Regulation 1143/14 on invasive alien species (IAS) was issued by the European Community. A first list of "IAS of Union Concern" was presented in 2016 and subsequently updated in 2017. The species included in that list are subjected to a number of commercial restrictions, and EU member states are required to control or eradicate them. The inclusion of an IAS in this list is based on the results of a risk-assessment procedure. At present, this list contains 49 IAS, none of which marine. Member states can decide either to adopt the EU list as it is, or to integrate it with additional "IAS of national concern". Italy has opted for the second way and is currently developing its own national list, which may eventually include marine IAS. Italy is a major "first hub" for marine introductions in the Mediterranean Sea, with over 200 multicellular marine alien species reported so far. Italy, with its central position in the Mediterranean Sea, shares several species with the Western European countries, carried by ships or with shellfish stocks, as well as a number of Indo-Pacific species with the Eastern Mediterranean countries, entered through the Suez Canal. Therefore, the roadmap that Italy is currently tracing towards the possible inclusion of marine species in the list of IAS to be managed and controlled, is also relevant for other European and Mediterranean countries. This presentation will show how the process has been organized and conducted, and the preliminary outcomes

The Lake of Acquatina, well studied from different points of view, was practically neglected as regards phytobenthic studies. Sampling campaigns were performed (summer 2006 and winter 2007) only recently in order to acquire information about the phytobenthic composition of the lake. On the whole 39 seaweeds were detected (22 Rhodophyta, 3 Ochrophyta and 14 Chlorophyta) and 2 Spermatophyta (Cymodocea nodosa and Ruppia maritima). It was noteworthy the presence of the non-indigenous and invasive chlorophycean Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea in winter 2007, for the first time. A constant monitoring will be required, in order to detect the species spreading into the basin.

Lagoons are ecotone ecosystems, naturally exposed to immigration from their freshwater and marine input environments; strictly lagoonal species are rare, if ever occurring, and lagoon community are likely to be organised through loItery competition processes. These evidences suggest the study of lagoons as models address ecosystem fragility to alien species. Here, we present an analysis of lagoon guild fragility to alien species carried out using the e-Science facilities of LifeWatch, the European Research Infrastructure on biodiversity and ecosystem research. The analysis has been performed on two EUNIS habitat (X02 and X03) using data existing on 18 Italian lagoons. The analysis has been carried out taking into account that rarity, redundancy and singularity are key properties of different guilds in lagoon ecosystems at every geographical area, affecting B (Beta) and y (Gamma) diversity. At every area an high regional biodiversity is determined by a large number of rare species and a high dissimilarity among lagoons. Life cycle traits and the behaviour of larval stages, at the species level, as well as lagoon openness and vigour, at the ecosystem level, seem to have a major role to explain the difference in patterns of biodiversity between study areas at a biogeographical scale. The same species and ecosystem level properties, together with spatial patchiness, seem also to be key factors downscaling biodiversity analysis at the landscape level.

The multispectral data provided by the older TM5 and ETM Landsat polar sensors, despite their suitable ground resolution weren't widely applied for mapping the submerged vegetation and phytoplankton in the coastal and internal optically complexes shallow waters (typically case II waters), due mainly to their low SNR (Signal to noise Ratio) and consequent poor radiometric resolution (8 bit/pixel) which often didn't allow to obtain the required sensitivity. In the summer 2013 the new Landsat 8 NASA polar satellite carrying on board the OLI (Operational Land Imager) sensor was launched. This sensor respect to the previous ones of the Landsat family has improved acquisition bands in the visible, NIR, SWIR, TIR ranges and radiometry that offer a more reliable opportunity for operative monitoring of coastal shallow waters and ecosystems previously unavailable. In addition to the optical (RGB, NIR, SWIR, TIR) OLI spectral bands repositioning to improve their SNR, the new "coastal" deep blue channel was introduced to provide a more effective and systematic ocean color retrieving capability at higher spatial resolution in coastal and inland waters, typically recognized as case II waters. Therefore in order to preliminarily test the capabilities of the new OLI sensor for coastal monitoring, some multispectral images recorded in 2013 and 2014 on the lagoon of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Southern Italy) were exploited.

The alien seaweed Codium fragile subsp. fragile is reported for the first time along the Campania coasts in the transitional water system Miseno Lake. Thalli were collected on artificial substrata in September 2013. The most likely vector of introduction is the transport of mussels for aquaculture and live sale

1 - The Long-Term Ecosystem Research (LTER) network, now a global reality, was founded on a combination of long-term ecological studies, short-term experiments, and comparisons among sites and eco-domains. 2 - The LTER-Italy network was officially established as a formal member of the LTER international network in 2006, following a wider on-going process in Europe; it currently consists of 22 sites representing the main ecosystem typologies of Italy. Four coastal transitional ecosystem sites are included in the LTER-Italy network: on the northern Peninsula, these include the Venice Lagoon and the lagoons of the Po River Delta, which are characterized by a temperate climate and the influence of tides; and in the southern sector, these include the coastal ecosystems of Sardinia and the Mar Piccolo of Taranto, which are characterized by a Mediterranean climate and the absence of sensible tides. 3 - In this paper, we present and discuss three main issues: the LTER-International and LTER-Europe context, emphasising the most practical issues and activities that must be addressed for the effective organization and maintenance of LTER networks; the history, structure, and perspectives of the national LTER-Italy network; and the opportunities, strengths, and weaknesses related to participation of the LTER-Italy network in the study of coastal transitional ecosystems.

The ball-like forms of Alsidium corallinum, Gracilaria bursa-pastoris and Spyridia filamentosa are described for the first time. These species are often dominant in the unattached seaweed communities of transitional environments. Their ball forms are quite different from the conspecific attached thalli in that they lack a holdfast and have both radially arranged branches and curled distal part of branches

The present paper on the Lesina and Varano basins mainly focuses on their naturalistic and commercial aspects. The literature contains few data on the flora and the vegetation of Lesina and only occasional observations on the Lake of Varano. From the few data available, the lagoon of Lesina appears to be a confined basin dominated by the angiosperms Nanozostera noltii, Ruppia cirrhosa and a limited number of macroalgae such as Valonia aegagropila, together with some Cladophorales, Gracilariaceae and Corallinaceae. However, the species succession depends on the frequent salinity fluctuations.

The Mar Piccolo of Taranto is a coastal semienclosed basin with lagoon features well studied from different points of view. The first observations on the phytobenthos date back to the beginning of the '20s. From the second half of '80s up to now, also within the framework of several research projects, the phytobenthic associations of the basin were periodically studied. As a result, 134 seaweeds (88 Rhodophyta, 18 Ochrophyta, 28 Chlorophyta) and 2 spermatophyta (Cymodocea nodosa and Ruppia cirrhosa) were recorded. Since the basin is subject to high human pressure, mostly due to mussel farming, in the last years, the monitoring of the already present non-indigenous species (9) and the research of possible new introductions are continuously performed. In spite of this, researches on the productivity of both seaweeds and phanerogams and on the distribution of phanerogam "meadows" are lacking.

The brackish lake of Acquatina was studied from a floristic point of view during summer 2006. 24 species were collected in total: 16 Rhodophyta, 2 Ochrophyta, 6 Chlorophyta. Some of these species were reported for the first time from brackish waters

In the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea), an enclosed basin with lagoonal features, Acanthophora nayadiformis is one of the major components of the free-living seaweed community to which the related attached population does not contribute consistently. Loose thalli of A. nayadiformis exhibit morphological features very different from those of the attached specimens and possess a peculiar vegetative cycle including an overwintering phase. Free-living morphs are characterized by monopodial stoloniferous growth; in contrast, both determinate and indeterminate branching as well as the typical ramisympodial growth pattern of the species are lacking. In autumn, free-living thalli fragment giving rise to stolon pieces which undergo deep structural changes in their sub-apical parts including both storage of floridean starch and extensive cortical thickening. Soon afterwards the uncorticated parts decay, whilst the modified fragments are able to overwinter and give rise to new fronds during next spring.

The photosynthetic activity of both the thallus and the typical propagules of Hypnea cornuta (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales), a non-indigenous seaweed from the Mar Piccolo of Taranto, was measured in order to assess both the adaptation and the possible ecological effect of this new introduction in the basin. The preliminary results indicate that this species is well adapted to the local conditions and it is likely to become a dominant seaweed in the basin

The phytobenthic communities, both within and near the marine reserve of Porto Cesareo (Ionian Sea, southern Italy), were studied. No well structured phytocenoses were observed anywhere. In the upper infralittoral fringe, only an impoverished facies of the Cystoseiretum strictae was detected, with the exception of Porto Selvaggio, located outside the reserve, where seaweed communities were more stressed. Most likely, this indicates that a regression is still in progress outside as well as inside the protected area, where, however, such a regressive process is slower. This confirms the importance of the protection and suggests the need of a more adequate control of all the activities which are carried out within the reserve and in its vicinity. The presence of two non-indigenous species, Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea (Chlorophyta, Caulerpales) and Womersleyella setacea (Rhodophyta, Ceramiales) is signalled.

The presence and me disrriburion of seven exoric species (4 seaweeds and 3 animals) in me seas of Taranto are discussed. The seaweeds are: Caulerpa racemosavaro cylindracea, Codium fragile subsp. tomentosoides (Chiorophyceae), Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyceae), and Womersleyella setacea (Rhodophyceae), ali well-known as invasive species. The animai species are: Branchiomma luctuosum (Polychaera), Microcosmus squamiger (Ascidiacea), and Musculista senhousia (Bivalvia).

The results of a floristic study of the Cheradi Islands (Gulf of Taranto, Italy) are presented. The list of taxa consists of 218 Rhodophyceae, 32 Fucophyceae, 45 Chlorophyceae and 3 Cyanophyceae. Data on reproductive phenology of each species are given. Of particular interest is the finding of Ceramium graecum, Chondria polyrhiza, Laurencia glandulifera, and Polystrata fosliei. Some observations on phytobenthic communities are also reported, while also some notes on nomenclature are added (Ceramium cimbricum f. flaccidum, Ceramium nodulosum v. barbatum).

Recent studies have shown that marine algae represent a great source of natural compounds with several properties. The lipidic extract of the seaweed Chaetomorpha linum (Chlorophyta, Cladophorales), one of the dominant species in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Mediterranean, Ionian Sea), revealed an antibacterial activity against Vibrio ordalii and Vibrio vulnificus, common pathogens in aquaculture, suggesting its potential employment to control fish and shellfish diseases due to vibriosis and to reduce the public health hazards related to antibiotic use in aquaculture. This extract showed also an antioxidant activity, corresponding to 170.960 &plusmn, 16. mmol Trolox equivalent/g (oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay&mdash, ORAC) and to 30.554 &plusmn, 2.30 mmol Trolox equivalent/g (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay&mdash, TEAC). The chemical characterization of the extract, performed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, highlighted the presence of free, saturated (SAFAs), unsaturated (UFAs) and polyunsaturated (PUFAs) fatty acids. The high content of &omega, 6 and &omega, 3 PUFAs confirmed also by gas chromatography indicates the potentiality of this algal species in the production of fortified food. The antibacterial activity seems related to the presence of linolenic acid present at high density, while the antioxidant activity could be likely ascribable to molecules such as carotenoids and chlorophylls (characterized also by thin-layer chromatography), known for this property. The presence of polyhydroxybutyrate, a biopolymer with potentiality in the field of biodegradable bioplastics was also detected. The exploitation of C. linum for a future biotechnological application is also encouraged by the results from a first attempt of cultivating this species in an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system.

Thirty-eight nonindigenous marine species (NIS) (macroalgae, sponges, hydrozoans, molluscs, polychaetes, crustaceans, ascidiaceans and fish), are reported from the Apulian coast of Italy. Shipping, aquaculture and migration through the Suez Canal are the main pathways of introduction of the NIS. In Apulian waters, 21% of NIS are occasional, 18% are invasive and 61% are well-established. It is highly probable that more NIS will arrive from warm-water regions, because Mediterranean waters are warming. Furthermore, some of the successful NIS must have the ability to become dormant in order to survive adverse conditions, either seasonal or during long journeys in ballast waters. The identification of NIS depends greatly on the available taxonomic expertise; hence the paucity of taxonomists hinders our knowledge of NIS in our seas. We propose the creation and maintenance of a network of observatories across the Mediterranean to monitor the changes that take place along its coasts.

This article gives an up-to-date review of the status of and main changes in benthic algal flora that have occurred in recent decades along the Italian Adriatic coastline. Common traits among the main structural/functional changes observed and their causes are discussed. A synthesis of the challenges to and prospects of filling gaps in the data, ecological knowledge and protection measures are also given.