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Along the Italian coasts, toxins of algal origin in wild and cultivated shellfish have been reported since the 1970s. In this study, we used data gathered by the Veterinary Public Health Institutes and the Italian Environmental Health Protection Agencies from 2006 to 2019 to investigate toxicity events and relate them to the distribution of toxic species. Among detected toxins (OA and analogs, YTXs, PTXs, STXs, DAs, AZAs), OA and YTX were those most frequently reported in cases of seafood contamination. Levels of those toxins exceeding regulatory limits for OA were associated with high abundances of Dinophysis spp. and for YTX with blooms of Gonyaulax spinifera, Lingulodinium polyedra, and Protoceratium reticulatum. Seasonal blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. occurred all along the Italian coast, but DA was only occasionally found in shellfish, at concentrations consistently below the regulatory limit. Alexandrium was recorded in many more areas than STXs, which only rarely exceeded the regulatory limit. Azadinium was sporadically recorded, and AZAs were sometimes detected in low quantities. Among the emerging toxins, PLTX-like toxins often accumulated in wild mussels and sea urchins due to the occurrences of Ostreopsis cf. ovata. Overall, Italian coastal waters harbour numerous potentially toxic species, with a few HAB hotspots related to DSP toxins. Still, rare cases of intoxications have occurred so far, reflecting the whole Mediterranean Sea conditions., Corresponding author's email: s.accoroni@univpm.it

Stipitate kelp species such as Laminaria digitata dominate most cold-water subtidal rocky shores and form underwater forests which are among the most productive coastal systems worldwide. Laminaria also sustains rich bacterial communities which offer a variety of biotechnological applications. However, to date, in-depth studies on the diversity and uniqueness of bacterial communities associated with this macroalgal species, their ecological role and their interactions with the alga are under-represented. To address this, the epibacterial populations associated with different thallus regions (holdfast, stipe, meristem, blade) of this brown seaweed were investigated using high-throughput Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes. The results show that epibacterial communities of the brown seaweed are significantly different and specific to the thallus region, with the shared bacterial population comprising of only 1.1% of the total amplicon sequence variants. The diverse holdfast and blade tissues formed distinct clusters while the meristem and stipe regions are more closely related. The data obtained further supports the hypothesis that macroalgal bacterial communities are shaped by morphological niches and display specificity.

5th International Jellyfish Bloom Symposium, 30 May to 3 June 2016, Barcelona.-- 1 page, Finfish marine aquaculture farms across European coasts have been repeatedly affected by mortality events following the occurrence of episodic high densities of gelatinous cnidarians. Due to their stinging cells and venoms, these jellyfish species may severely damage fish gills. Gill disorders were observed in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fish farms along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. To investigate the potential for cnidarian-related pathologies affecting cage-reared fish, biweekly monitoring of zooplankton, phytoplankton and farmed fish gills were performed at two aquaculture facilities from south-western Spain from January 2012 to June 2014 (Almería facility) and June 2013 to June 2014 (Málaga facility). Analyzed data showed significant and positive correlation between the densities of planktonic hydrozoans and the recorded fish mortalities; in particular, the most related species were the siphonophores Muggiaea atlantica, Muggiaea kochi, and the actinulae larvae of Ectopleura larynx hydroid which is usually forming part of cage net biofouling community. Moreover, low temperature, high cnidarians densities and farmed fish mortalities were significantly associated. Finally, gill damage scores were positively correlated with cnidarians densities, while other gelatinous zooplankton groups and the studied phytoplankton species seemed not to be related with recorded fish gill disorders and mortality, even if high density peak of Chaetoceros sp. was observed coinciding with fish mortality event in Almería fish farm. This work may provide baseline information to develop methodological action plans and protocols to prevent and mitigate the impacts of jellyfish proliferations on finfish aquaculture farms

Mastogloia crucicula (Grunow) Cleve 1895 var. crucicula (Figs 9–14) Basionym:— Orthoneis crucicula Grunow 1877, p. 143. Synonym: — Mastogloia quadrinotata Østrup 1904, p. 149, pl. 2 fig. 33. References:— Hustedt 1933, p. 475, fig. 894; Hendey 1970, p. 145, pl. 1, fig. 8; Ricard 1973, p. 164, pl. 3, fig. 11, non fig. 12; Stephens & Gibson 1979a, p. 502, figs 17–24, 1980, fig. 42; Tomàs 1982, pl. 4, fig. 9; Navarro 1983, p. 120, figs 30, 31; Paddock & Kemp 1990, figs 32, 63, 111, 134; Hein et al. 1993, figs 16, 17, 2008, p. 63, pl. 36, figs 6, 7; John 1994, p. 193, fig. 26; Witkowski et al. 2000, p. 242, pl. 75, figs 3, 14, as M. ovulum. Material:— Sample from Siladen, Indonesia. SEM stub no. DISVAR-ANS7SP4. SEM morphology:— The external valve surface shows a raphe-sternum that is transapically dilated at centre into a narrow fascia that extends almost up to the valve margins (Figs 9, 12, 14). The raphe consists externally of two straight branches which are ending centrally and distally in expanded pores (Figs 9, 10, 14). Internally, the raphe branches are straight and bordered by ribs which are ending at poles in distinct and slightly raised helictoglossae (Figs 11–13). The transapical striae (18–25 in 10 µm) are uniseriate and they vary from parallel at centre to radiate at apices (Figs 9, 12, 14). The external openings of the areolae are rounded with a siliceous more or less crescentic edged-flap covering them (i.e., vola) and facing the valve margin, except for the first longitudinal row bordering the raphe-sternum where the areolae open to the raphe (Figs 9, 10, 14). There are four, sometimes three, bilobed partecta (0.7–1.4 µm in width) which are located in each quadrant of the valve on the valvocopula (Figs 12, arrowhead, 13). Each partectum is ornamented with small pores arranged inwardly in parallel rows (Fig. 11) and communicating with the exterior through an elongate partectal pore positioned opposite to the concave side of the partectal lobe (Figs 13, arrowhead, 14). Length: 10.2–29.1 µm; width: 6.7–11.5 µm (Table 1)., Published as part of Pennesi, Chiara, Poulin, Michel, Hinz, Friedel, Romagnoli, Tiziana, Stefano, Mario De & Totti, Cecilia, 2013, Comparison of two new species of Mastogloia (Bacillariophyceae) with other small members of section Ellipticae, pp. 1-21 in Phytotaxa 126 (1) on page 5, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.126.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5085212, {"references":["Cleve, P. T. (1895) Synopsis of the naviculoid diatoms. Part II. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar 27: 1 - 219.","Grunow, A. (1877) New Diatoms from Honduras, with notes by F. Kitton. Monthly Microscopical Journal 18: 165 - 186, pls 193 - 196. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1365 - 2818.1877. tb 00123. x","Ostrup, E. (1904) Marine diatoms. Botanisk Tidsskrift 26: 115 - 161.","Hustedt, F. (1933) Die Kieselalgen Deutschlands, Osterreichs und der Schweiz unter Berucksichtigung der ubrigen Lander Europas sowie der angrenzenden Meeresgebiete. In: Rabenhorst, L. (ed.), Kryptogamen Flora von Deutschland, Osterreich und der Schweiz. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft m. b. h. Leipzig, Vol. 7, Part 2, pp. 321 - 576.","Hendey, N. I. (1970) Some littoral diatoms of Kuwait. Nova Hedwigia 31: 107 - 167.","Ricard, M. (1973) Etude taxinomique des diatomees marines du lagon de Vairao (Tahiti). I. Le genre Mastogloia. Revue Algologique 11: 161 - 177.","Stephens, F. C. & Gibson, R. A. (1979 a) Ultrastructural studies on some Mastogloia (Bacillariophyceae) species belonging to the group Ellipticae. Botanica Marina 22: 499 - 509. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1515 / botm. 1979.22.8.499","Tomas, X. (1982) El genero Mastogloia en los sistemas acuaticos del litoral mediterraneo espanol. Collectanea Botanica 13: 929 - 944.","Navarro, J. N. (1983) A survey of the marine diatoms of Puerto Rico. VI. Suborder Rhaphidineae: Family Naviculaceae (genera Haslea, Mastogloia and Navicula). Botanica Marina 26: 119 - 136. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1515 / botm. 1983.26.3.119","Paddock, T. B. B. & Kemp, K. - D. (1990) An illustrated survey of the morphological features of the diatom genus Mastogloia. Diatom Research 5: 73 - 103. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 0269249 x. 1990.9705095","Hein, M. K., Winsborough, B. M., Davis, J. S. & Golubic, S. (1993) Extracellular structures produced by marine species of Mastogloia. Diatom Research 8: 73 - 88. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 0269249 x. 1993.9705240","John, J. (1994) Mastogloia species associated with active stromatolites in Shark Bay, west coast of Australia. In: Kociolek, J. P. (ed.), Proceedings of the eleventh international diatom symposium. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, pp. 189 - 209.","Witkowski, A., Lange-Bertalot, H. & Metzeltin, D. (2000) Diatom flora of marine coasts. I. Iconographia Diatomologica 7: 1 - 925."]}

Mastogloia matthaei Pennesi & Poulin, sp. nov. (Figs 37–44, SEM; Figs 53–56, LM) Diagnosis:— Valvae ellipticae, 14.7–15.4 µm longae, 7.9–8.1 µm latae, rotundis apicibus. Extra raphe duobus ramis sinuosis constitutum, quod in parte media poris expansis, in parte autem distali poris leviter deflexis terminat; absunt terminales rimae. Interne raphe rectum est, quod in parte media elevato nodulo, in parte distali helictoglossa terminat. Transapicales striae uniseriatae (22–25 in 10 µm), parallelae in parte media, flexae et radiatae ad polos. Areolae quadriangulae in externa valva, at in interna longitudinales lineas formant. Partecta bilobata, apicaliter extensa, similia in mensura (1.0– 1.5 µm lata). Omne partectum in parte externa porum habet. Description:— Valves elliptical, highly silicified, with rounded apices, 14.3–18.8 µm long and 7.9–10.1 µm wide (Figs 37, 43, 53–56). Externally, two sinuous raphe branches end in expanded central pores and in slightly deflected pores at poles; no terminal fissure present (Figs 37–39, 43). Internally, two straight raphe branches ending in raised central nodule and helictoglossae at poles (Figs 40, 41, 44). The uniseriate transapical striae (22–28 in 10 µm) are parallel at centre to curved and radiate at poles, forming a thickened irregular longitudinal pattern (Figs 37, arrowhead, 43). Externally, areolae are quadrangular and sunken on the valve surface, smaller in size at margin and absent on the mantle. Internally, areolae open through small rounded foramina aligned apically to form rather longitudinal rows (Figs 40, 41, 44). Bilobed partecta, equal in shape and size (1.0– 1.5 µm in width), apically oriented and distributed along the whole length of the partectal ring up to the apex (Figs 40, arrowhead, 42, 44, 53, 55); no septum hiding the helictoglossa (Figs 40, 42, 44). Each partectum is ornamented with small pores in parallel rows and opens to the outside through a partectal pore opposite to the concave side of the partectal lobe (Fig. 44). Holotype:— Circled specimen on slide CANA 86491 (Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada). The holotype specimen is illustrated in Figures 55 and 56. SEM images of the type material are Figs 37–44. Isotype:— Circled specimen on SEM stub no. DISVAR-ANS7SP46 (Department of Life Science and Environment, Polytechnical University of the Marche, Ancona, Italy). Type locality:— INDONESIA. Siladen Island: in the Bunaken Archipelago (1°37'22.84"N and 124°43'30.81"E), Celebes Sea. Epiphytic on seagrass. Collected by Dr. Francesca Azzini, 1 October 2005. Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the first author's partner, Matteo Armatura., Published as part of Pennesi, Chiara, Poulin, Michel, Hinz, Friedel, Romagnoli, Tiziana, Stefano, Mario De & Totti, Cecilia, 2013, Comparison of two new species of Mastogloia (Bacillariophyceae) with other small members of section Ellipticae, pp. 1-21 in Phytotaxa 126 (1) on page 10, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.126.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5085212

Mastogloia ovalis Schmidt 1893 in A. Schmidt et al. 1874 –1959 (Figs 21–28) References:— Schmidt et al. 1874 –1959, pl. 175, fig. 30; Hustedt 1933, p. 474, fig. 893; Ricard 1973, p. 168, pl. 1, fig. 6, 1975, p. 53, pl. 2, figs 12, 13; Montgomery 1978, pl. 141, fig. F, as M. ovulum; Stephens & Gibson 1979a, p. 505, figs 33–40, 1979b, fig. 5; Navarro 1982, p. 40, pl. 26, fig. 3; Tomàs 1982, figs 16, 17; Paddock & Kemp 1990, figs 31, 113, as M. ovata; Witkowski et al. 2000, p. 255, pl. 75, figs 11–13; Hein et al. 2008, p. 69, pl. 40, fig. 6. Material:— Sample from Siladen, Indonesia. SEM stub no. DISVAR-ANS2SP17. SEM morphology:— The raphe consists externally of two straight branches that are ending in expanded central and terminal pores (Figs 21, 22, 28). Internally, the raphe branches are bordered by slightly elevated ribs, with a raised central nodule and helictoglossae at poles (Figs 24, 25, 27). The transapical striae (18–26 in 10 µm) are uniseriate and they are radiate at centre to curved and radiate at the poles crossed by slightly quincunx pattern (Figs 21, 28). Externally, the areolae are rounded and they are covered by distinct tonguelike vola with horseshoe-shaped edges; none are present on the mantle (Figs 22, 23, 28). Each side of the valvocopula bears between two to eight bilobed partecta similar in shape and size (1.0– 1.6 µm in width), which are distributed along most of the length of the partectal ring but without reaching the apex (Figs 24, arrowhead, 27). Each partectum is clearly differentiated by a distinct indentation between them (Figs 24, 26) and is ornamented on its surface with small pores in parallel rows (Fig. 26). Each partectum opens to the outside through an elongate partectal pore positioned opposite to the concave side of the partectal lobes (Figs 23, 27, arrowheads, 28). Length: 10.5–24.0 µm; width: 6.4–11.6 µm (Table 1)., Published as part of Pennesi, Chiara, Poulin, Michel, Hinz, Friedel, Romagnoli, Tiziana, Stefano, Mario De & Totti, Cecilia, 2013, Comparison of two new species of Mastogloia (Bacillariophyceae) with other small members of section Ellipticae, pp. 1-21 in Phytotaxa 126 (1) on page 6, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.126.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5085212, {"references":["Schmidt, A., Schmidt, M., Fricke, F., Heiden, H., Muller, O. & Hustedt, F. (1874 - 1959) Atlas der Diatomaceen-Kunde. Aschersleben Leipzig, Berlin. 120 pp., 460 pls.","Hustedt, F. (1933) Die Kieselalgen Deutschlands, Osterreichs und der Schweiz unter Berucksichtigung der ubrigen Lander Europas sowie der angrenzenden Meeresgebiete. In: Rabenhorst, L. (ed.), Kryptogamen Flora von Deutschland, Osterreich und der Schweiz. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft m. b. h. Leipzig, Vol. 7, Part 2, pp. 321 - 576.","Ricard, M. (1973) Etude taxinomique des diatomees marines du lagon de Vairao (Tahiti). I. Le genre Mastogloia. Revue Algologique 11: 161 - 177.","Montgomery, R. T. (1978) Environmental and ecological studies of the diatom communities associated with the coral reefs of the Florida Keys. Vol. 2. Ph. D. dissertation, Florida State University. 115 - 141 pls.","Stephens, F. C. & Gibson, R. A. (1979 a) Ultrastructural studies on some Mastogloia (Bacillariophyceae) species belonging to the group Ellipticae. Botanica Marina 22: 499 - 509. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1515 / botm. 1979.22.8.499","Navarro, J. N. (1982) Marine diatoms associated with mangrove prop roots in the Indian River, Florida, U. S. A. Bibliotheca Phycologica 61: 1 - 151.","Tomas, X. (1982) El genero Mastogloia en los sistemas acuaticos del litoral mediterraneo espanol. Collectanea Botanica 13: 929 - 944.","Paddock, T. B. B. & Kemp, K. - D. (1990) An illustrated survey of the morphological features of the diatom genus Mastogloia. Diatom Research 5: 73 - 103. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 0269249 x. 1990.9705095","Witkowski, A., Lange-Bertalot, H. & Metzeltin, D. (2000) Diatom flora of marine coasts. I. Iconographia Diatomologica 7: 1 - 925.","Hein, M. K., Winsborough, B. M. & Sullivan, M. J. (2008) Bacillariophyta (diatoms) of the Bahamas. Iconographia Diatomologica 19: 1 - 303."]}

The Northern Adriatic Sea is the northernmost basin of the Mediterranean Sea and one of its most productive areas, characterized by a shallow depth and by a dominant cyclonic circulation. The oceanographic and meteorological parameters show a marked seasonal and interannual variability. The major forcings of the system are represented by the significant river inputs along the Italian coast, by the Eastern Adriatic Current-EAC, which brings high salinity and oligotrophic waters from the southern basin, and by the notable sea-level range, relatively to the Mediterranean area. The NAS is subject to multiple anthropogenic impacts, e.g.: nutrient inputs, coastal urbanization, fishing activity, tourism, and maritime trade. The basin has undergone marked eutrophication followed by a phase of oligotrophication and then by a recent increase in nutrient concentrations. The NAS has also been subjected to frequent development of mucilage aggregates until the first decade of the 2000s. The LTER-Italy parent site NAS currently includes four research sites: the Gulf of Trieste, the Gulf of Venice, the Po Delta and Romagna Coast, and the Senigallia-Susak Transect. At each site meteo-oceanographic and biological data, mainly on plankton, are gathered both during oceanographic cruises and at fixed point observatories. Each site is supervised by a research institution that also manages the system of fixed sensors, which record data in near real-time

The Northern Adriatic Sea is the northernmost basin of the Mediterranean Sea and one of its most productive areas, characterized by a shallow depth and by a dominant cyclonic circulation. The oceanographic and meteorological parameters show a marked seasonal and interannual variability. The major forcings of the system are represented by the significant river inputs along the Italian coast, by the Eastern Adriatic Current-EAC, which brings high salinity and oligotrophic waters from the southern basin, and by the notable sea-level range, relatively to the Mediterranean area. The NAS is subject to multiple anthropogenic impacts, e.g.: nutrient inputs, coastal urbanization, fishing activity, tourism, and maritime trade. The basin has undergone marked eutrophication followed by a phase of oligotrophication and then by a recent increase in nutrient concentrations. The NAS has also been subjected to frequent development of mucilage aggregates until the first decade of the 2000s. The LTER-Italy parent site NAS currently includes four research sites: the Gulf of Trieste, the Gulf of Venice, the Po Delta and Romagna Coast, and the Senigallia-Susak Transect. At each site meteo-oceanographic and biological data, mainly on plankton, are gathered both during oceanographic cruises and at fixed point observatories. Each site is supervised by a research institution that also manages the system of fixed sensors, which record data in near real-time

In this contribution, new data concerning bryophytes, fungi and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the algal genus Chara, for the bryophyte genera Bryum, Grimmia, Cephaloziella, Hypnum, Nogopterium, Physcomitrium, Polytrichastrum, Rhynchostegiella, Saelania, and Schistostega, the fungal genera Cortinarius, Lentinellus, Omphalina, and Xerophorus, and the lichen genera Acarospora, Agonimia, Candelariella, Cladonia, Graphis, Gyalolechia, Hypogymnia, Lichinella, Megalaria, Nephroma, Ochrolechia, Opegrapha, Peltigera, Placidium, Ramalina, Rhizoplaca, Ropalospora, Strangospora, Toniniopsis, Usnea, and Zahlbrucknerella.

We present here an ultrastructure-based revision of the diatom genus Anorthoneis using both light (LM) and electron microscopy (SEM). The original slides and type material of all known Anorthoneis species were analysed and new, previously unseen, morphological features of the frustules, such as rota-like vela and ligulate structures around the valve margin, were revealed. The phylogenetic relationships among Anorthoneis taxa were investigated based on morphological characters using a maximum parsimony method. This analysis indicated a large, well-supported clade that included taxa that exhibited similarities in external and internal details of the central areas in both raphe-sternum and sternum valves. Revealed synapomorphies within the genus include externally and internally transversely dilated central area on both sides of the raphe-sternum valve, externally transversely dilated central area on both sides of the sternum valve, sternum valve striae parallel at the center and radiate at the apices, and areolae with hymenes in both valves. During a survey a new species Anorthoneis arthus-bertrandii sp. nov., was found on seagrass leaves collected from Siladen Island (Indonesia). This taxon is sister to A. hyalina, but can be easily differentiated from the latter by smaller valve dimensions, central area size and shape, and rota-like vela occluding sternum valve areolae - a feature that has never been observed in other Anorthoneis taxa.

11 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, supplementary material http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2017.00240/full#supplementary-material, In recent years, caged finfish mariculture across European seas suffered production losses by severe fish mortality, following episodic outbreaks of invertebrate cnidarian stingers. Due to their stinging cells and injectable venoms, medusozoan jellyfish, or drifting propagules of polyp colonies at high density may impair caged fish health through toxic effects on vulnerable tissues of gills and skin, and related secondary bacterial infections. Gill disorders in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fish farms along the Spanish Mediterranean coast are commonly reported, but regular monitoring of the frequency of cnidarian outbreaks and their potential impacts on caged fish is still poorly enforced. In this study, two sea bass mariculture farms in Southern Spain (Málaga; Almería) were monitored biweekly for zooplankton, phytoplankton and fish gills condition, over 13 or 30 months for the Málaga and Almería facilities, respectively, within the period 2012–2014. Significant, direct correlations were found among low water temperature, recorded fish mortalities, and high abundances of planktonic cnidarians, particularly of the hydrozoan siphonophores Muggiaea atlantica and M. kochii, and the larval stage of Ectopleura larynx, a common member of cage biofouling communities. A significant relationship between cnidarian densities and the quantitative scoring of gill pathology was also observed. In addition, high densities of long-bristled planktonic diatoms (Chaetoceros spp.) coincided with a major fish mortality event (April 2012, Almería farm). Standardised monitoring of plankton dynamics and composition may help in promoting response capacities of Mediterranean mariculture managers to fish health challenges (such as stinging plankton blooms) by (a) improving diagnostic tools and preventative countermeasures and (b) supporting the development of science-based spatial planning and sustainable growth of coastal mariculture, This work has received funding from the European Union's projects MED-JELLYRISK (grant n. I-A/1.3/098 - ENPI CBCMED programme), VECTORS (Vectors of Change in Oceans and Seas Marine Life, Impact on Economic Sectors, grant n. 266445, FP7th programme) and CERES (Climate Change and European Aquatic Resources, grant n. 678193, Horizon 2020 programme)