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The Macrosite "IT08 Subalpine Lakes" includes a group of lakes located at the southern border of the Alps. The lake typologies are represented by large and deep lakes (Orta, Garda, Maggiore, Como and Iseo) and by a lake of smaller size and shallow depth (Candia). Topics common to all the research sites include the impact of eutrophication and climate change, the composition, structure and dynamics of biological communities (plankton, necton and littoral communities), trophic webs, paleolimnology, ecotoxicology, ecological status and remote sensing. Scientific investigations are supported by a wide availability of technological infrastructures and laboratories located in the reference institutions, and by a wide range of technological equipment for fieldwork. These facilities, funded within the individual institutes involved in the research, have allowed not only to maintain, but also to update the classical approaches used in scientific monitoring, while opening up new research fields (especially molecular ecology, microbial ecology, metabolomic profiling, antibiotic resistance genes, high frequency monitoring by sensor technology). Over the last decade, the continuity and regularity of investigations have been facilitated by the availability of both external and ordinary funds. The variety of research activities carried out on the IT08 macrosite is evidenced by the publication of numerous scientific papers, as well as contributions (oral or poster) presented at national and international conferences, and by the presence in the mass media. In this context, the scientific monitoring is a key element of LTER research, including not only data collection (basic monitoring), but also data interpretation, modeling, and experimental manipulation, with particular attention to key groups of selected variables in order to identify the most significant environmental stressors and the degree of change at the level of ecosystems, communities, species and populations.

The Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands UNESCO Global Geopark hosts one of the most extensive and diverse volcanic anchialine ecosystems in the world, consisting of water bodies with marine origin that penetrated inland through coastal crevicular systems. Marine infiltration is facilitated by the low rainfall and the permeability of the coastal terrains. Best known for Túnel de la Atlántida, Lanzarote has other types of anchialine habitats, such as pools, lakes, and even hand-made wells, all of them interconnected with the crevicular system. So far, 39 endemic stygobitic species of crustacean, annelids, and platyhelminths have been described in the island. Some of them belong to lineages previously interpreted as Tethyan vicariant relicts because they belong in ancient groups restricted to caves situated in areas along the coastline of the ancient Tethys Sea, such as Mexico, Bahamas or Western Australia. Others, instead, have clear affinities with deep-sea groups, suggesting that their ancestors might have dispersed into the island from surrounding deep-sea environments. In overall, while the anchialine habitats of Lanzarote are relatively small in comparison to other regions, the presence of so many species with such a diverse origin have puzzled zoologists and biogeographers throughout the 20th century, who have regarded the island as a model to understand the origin and evolution of similar groups in other areas of the world. The anchialine habitats in Lanzarote are subject to intense recreational use and the island itself is a major touristic destination. However, geologist and biologist working in the local government offices, as well as in UNESCO Global Geopark and Biosphere Reserve Institutions collaborate with the touristic centers and several scientist around the world with in order to implemente novel conservation policies based on the results of state-of-art research. This strategy will ensure not only a better understanding of the anchialine ecosystems in the island in the near future, but also its long term preservation.

The Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands UNESCO Global Geopark hosts one of the most extensive and diverse volcanic anchialine ecosystems in the world, consisting of water bodies with marine origin that penetrated inland through coastal crevicular systems. Marine infiltration is facilitated by the low rainfall and the permeability of the coastal terrains. Best known for Túnel de la Atlántida, Lanzarote has other types of anchialine habitats, such as pools, lakes, and even hand-made wells, all of them interconnected with the crevicular system. So far, 39 endemic stygobitic species of crustacean, annelids, and platyhelminths have been described in the island. Some of them belong to lineages previously interpreted as Tethyan vicariant relicts because they belong in ancient groups restricted to caves situated in areas along the coastline of the ancient Tethys Sea, such as Mexico, Bahamas or Western Australia. Others, instead, have clear affinities with deep-sea groups, suggesting that their ancestors might have dispersed into the island from surrounding deep-sea environments. In overall, while the anchialine habitats of Lanzarote are relatively small in comparison to other regions, the presence of so many species with such a diverse origin have puzzled zoologists and biogeographers throughout the 20th century, who have regarded the island as a model to understand the origin and evolution of similar groups in other areas of the world. The anchialine habitats in Lanzarote are subject to intense recreational use and the island itself is a major touristic destination. However, geologist and biologist working in the local government offices, as well as in UNESCO Global Geopark and Biosphere Reserve Institutions collaborate with the touristic centers and several scientist around the world with in order to implemente novel conservation policies based on the results of state-of-art research. This strategy will ensure not only a better understanding of the anchialine ecosystems in the island in the near future, but also its long term preservation.

The World Health Organization Global Action Plan recommends integrated surveillance programs as crucial strategies for monitoring antibiotic resistance. Although several national surveillance programs are in place for clinical and veterinary settings, no such schemes exist for monitoring antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment. In this transnational study, we developed, validated, and tested a low-cost surveillance and easy to implement approach to evaluate antibiotic resistance in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by targeting cefotaxime-resistant (CTX-R) coliforms as indicators. The rationale for this approach was: i) coliform quantification methods are internationally accepted as indicators of fecal contamination in recreational waters and are therefore routinely applied in analytical labs; ii) CTX-R coliforms are clinically relevant, associated with extended-spectrum ��-lactamases (ESBLs), and are rare in pristine environments. We analyzed 57 WWTPs in 22 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and North America. CTX-R coliforms were ubiquitous in raw sewage and their relative abundance varied significantly (

The Macrosite "IT08 Subalpine Lakes" includes a group of lakes located at the southern border of the Alps. The lake typologies are represented by large and deep lakes (Orta, Garda, Maggiore, Como and Iseo) and by a lake of smaller size and shallow depth (Candia). Topics common to all the research sites include the impact of eutrophication and climate change, the composition, structure and dynamics of biological communities (plankton, necton and littoral communities), trophic webs, paleolimnology, ecotoxicology, ecological status and remote sensing. Scientific investigations are supported by a wide availability of technological infrastructures and laboratories located in the reference institutions, and by a wide range of technological equipment for fieldwork. These facilities, funded within the individual institutes involved in the research, have allowed not only to maintain, but also to update the classical approaches used in scientific monitoring, while opening up new research fields (especially molecular ecology, microbial ecology, metabolomic profiling, antibiotic resistance genes, high frequency monitoring by sensor technology). Over the last decade, the continuity and regularity of investigations have been facilitated by the availability of both external and ordinary funds. The variety of research activities carried out on the IT08 macrosite is evidenced by the publication of numerous scientific papers, as well as contributions (oral or poster) presented at national and international conferences, and by the presence in the mass media. In this context, the scientific monitoring is a key element of LTER research, including not only data collection (basic monitoring), but also data interpretation, modeling, and experimental manipulation, with particular attention to key groups of selected variables in order to identify the most significant environmental stressors and the degree of change at the level of ecosystems, communities, species and populations.

The beta lactamase gene blaCTX-M, responsible of the resistance to cephalosporins, has been detected in microbes from hospitals to open waters. We studied the seasonality and stability of blaCTX-M in Lake Maggiore over 3 years and the role of potential inputs of allochthonous bacteria and/or antibiotic pollution in promoting its occurrence. blaCTX-M was mainly present from January to July in the pelagic microbial community and the gene occurrence was significantly related to low water temperature. To evaluate its temporal stability in the bacterial community over a short period, we measured blaCTX-M daily over the course of 6 days. The gene was below the limit of quantification except for one sampling when its abundance peaked, suggesting a point contamination. The bacterial community of the lake in which blaCTX-M was detected suggests that at least two distinct bacterial populations contained the gene. The occurrence of known blaCTX-M containing genera and the occurrence of the gene, however, did not overlap. Furthermore, the experimental addition of cefotaxime to lake water incubations did not promote abundance of the gene. These data imply that blaCTX-M was present in the environmental microbial community. Increases of gene abundances were likely caused by environmental parameters other than antibiotic contamination.