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Biological invasions are one of the major threats to the ecosystem structure and functioning. After the initial introduction, frequently mediated by human activities, alien species can overcome different biogeographical and ecological barriers and determine severe impacts on native biodiversity and socio-economic activities. The Italian peninsula is located at the intersection of large trade routes within the Mediterranean Sea. Such position, along with the intense commercial activity and the high population density of the Italian coast, are considered important drivers of alien species in Italian marine and transitional ecosystems. The Italian peninsula, however, is also one of the regions with the highest native species richness within the Mediterranean Sea and, therefore, it is crucial to account for both alien and native species diversity when estimating the impact of biological invasion. Yet, such comprehensive information is frequently scattered across several biodiversity information systems and databases.Here, two datasets with alien and native species records in Italian marine and transitional waters are described. These datasets, created for the LifeWatch Italy case study on alien species, are the result of a large-scale collaboration involving experts working across the whole range of taxonomic diversity. The marine dataset includes a total of 12,219 records belonging to 3,772 species gathered from 91 investigated sites and seven EUNIS habitats. The dataset on transitional waters biodiversity includes 3,838 records belonging to 2,019 species found in 23 locations and four EUNIS habitats. Alien species were recorded in both marine and transitional waters, accounting respectively for 140 and 171 biological records belonging to 59 and 97 species. These occurrence data can be used for further research studies or management purposes, including the evaluation of the invasion risk and the formulation of alien species control and management plans. Furthermore, these compiled datasets can be used as input data for the Biotope vulnerability case study of LifeWatch ERIC, which offers a number of ICT services for the calculation of the incidence and of the impact of alien species on European biotopes.

Marine bioconstructions are complex habitats that represent a hotspot of biodiversity. Among Mediterranean bioconstructions, those thriving on mesophotic bottoms on southeastern Italian coasts are of particular interest due to their horizontal and vertical extension. In general, the communities that develop in the Mediterranean twilight zone encompassed within the first 30 m of depth are better known, while relatively few data are available on those at greater depths. By further investigating the diversity and structure of mesophotic bioconstructions in the southern Adriatic, we can improve our understanding of Mediterranean biodiversity while developing effective conservation strategies to preserve these habitats of particular interest. The dataset reported here comprises records of benthic marine taxa from algae and invertebrate mesophotic bioconstructions investigated at six sites along the southern Adriatic coast of Italy, at depths between approximately 25 and 65 m. The dataset contains a total of 1718 records, covering 11 phyla and 648 benthic taxa, of which 580 were recognized at the species level. These data could provide a reference point for further investigations with descriptive or management purposes, including the possible assessment of mesophotic bioconstructions as refuges for shallow-water species.

Abstract Background The reproductive cycle of the recently described sponge Tethya meloni was investigated for a period of 15 months (September 2018 – November 2019) in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Southern Italy) and was compared with data previously collected for the other two sympatric species of the same genus known for Mediterranean Sea, T. citrina and T. aurantium. Results T. meloni is a gonochoric species with a sex ratio strongly shifted towards females. Asexual budding was a seasonal process, limited to few specimens. In a specimen collected in September 2018 both oocytes and buds occurred, suggesting that in T. meloni the sexual and asexual phases may coexist both at the population and individual levels. Conclusions The data obtained from this research compared with the available literature confirm the high temporal variability of the reproductive cycles in the Mediterranean species of Tethya, but with common general characteristics. In sexual reproduction, the oocyte production period lasts several months, with a peak between summer and autumn while spermatogenesis, shorter but with greater reproductive effort, follows the onset of oogenesis. The asexual reproduction phase of T. meloni, on the other hand, occurs in a short period and seems to have less importance in the overall reproductive process.

Background The demosponge Hymeniacidon perlevis is characterized by wide geographic distribution and great adaptability to numerous and highly variable climatic and hydrological conditions. Indeed, the species can colonize many different environments, including several unusual ones, such as concrete drainage conduits of a marine land-based fish farm plant. This research aimed to enhance existing knowledge on the reproductive cycle and growth performance of H. perlevis while also evaluating the impact of a controlled supply of trophic resources, wastewater flow and constant water temperature on these biological traits. Methods Specimens included in this one-year study inhabited drainage conduits of a land-based fish farm. The approach included measurements of sponge biomass and occurrence and abundance of reproductive elements across different seasons and environmental parameters, such as fish biomass, trophic resources, and wastewater flow. Sponge growth and reproductive elements, including oocytes, spermatic cysts, and embryos, were measured monthly in sponges positioned in the drainage conduit, thus with different trophic resources but with constant water temperature. Finally, we used generalized additive models to describe variables that contribute the most to the growth of sponges. Results Growth performance showed marked variations during the study period. The highest increase in sponge volume was observed from August/September to January/March. The volume of sponges was principally determined by the reduction of reared fish biomass and the increase of pellet amount and wastewater flow. Sponge specimens exhibited an active state during the entire study, as proven by the occurrence of recruits. However, sexual elements were only sporadically observed, thus not permitting the recognition of a true sexual cycle. Discussion The results of the present study confirmed that H. perlevis exhibits high flexibility and adaptability to the differential, and somewhat extreme, environmental conditions. Indeed, this species can live, grow and reproduce in the drainage conduits of the fish farm, where the species face constant darkness, water temperature and continuous nutritional supply. In such conditions, H. perlevis display an active state during the entire year, while avoiding stages of decline and long dormancy usually observed in wild populations. It seems plausible that stable environmental conditions induce an almost continuous sexual phase, probably under the control of endogenous factors. No asexual elements were detected, although it was impossible to exclude the contribution of asexual reproduction in the origin of the newly settled sponges, which were repeatedly detected throughout the study. The growth performance seemed linked to the fish farm conditions, thus providing useful indications on the best maintenance conditions for H. perlevis in land-based integrated multitrophic systems, where the species could be used for wastewater treatment.

Syngnathids are considered flagship species of estuarine and coastal environments. However, most of the Mediterranean species are still classified as data-deficient (DD) at a global level according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In central Italy, several areas host potentially suitable habitats for syngnathids but have not been previously reported in the literature; the estimation of population parameters and habitat partitioning at these sites may help to assess their conservation status. In this study, we investigated the abundance, distribution, and habitat preferences of sympatric populations of Hippocampus hippocampus, H. guttulatus, Syngnathus abaster, and Nerophis ophidion in Sabaudia Lake (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). While confirming the primary importance of a healthy coastal habitat, we retrieved hints about species ecology and habitat use. The species distribution in the study area highlights the role of habitat complexity in supporting local populations of these sensitive species.

A widespread and diversified mesophotic system of carbonate bioconstructions along the Southern Adriatic and Ionian Italian coasts is described, providing new data on the distribution, structure and associated megabenthic assemblages of mesophotic Mediterranean bioconstructions. The bioconstructions were detected at six different sites off the coasts of Apulia, in presence of marked morphological escarpments, developing on a basal substrate consisting of meso-Cenozoic carbonate rocks. Two biogenic structure types were observed, one mainly built by the nonsymbiotic scleractinians Phyllangia americana mouchezii and Polycyathus muellerae, at depths between approximately 35 and 55 m, and the other by the oyster Neopycnodonte cochlear, at depths from approximately 40 to 70 m. A total of 52 taxa of megabenthic invertebrates, belonging to 6 phyla, were found on the surface of the mesophotic bioconstructions, thus confirming the role of biodiversity hotspots of these carbonate structures. Megabenthic assemblages showed a remarkable heterogeneity both in pattern of species and abundance, probably depending on both the morphological differences of the seabed and the life traits of the single species. Primary bioconstructors seemed to influence the associated community pattern. This peculiar system deserves sound conservation measures in the light of the holistic ecosystem approach for the management of coastal marine areas.

Submerged and semi-submerged marine caves are considered a European habitat of Community Interest as they preserve one of the most important biodiversity heritages in the Mediterranean and serve as refugia for endemic and/or “relict” species. Among sessile benthic taxa, caves represent significant reservoirs of sponge species richness and are well representative of the entire poriferan Mediterranean fauna. In order to assess the current knowledge of sponge species in marine caves along the Apulian coast, this study gathered data from the available literature (national and international scientific publications and grey literature) with original data, surveying 26 marine caves in the area. A total of 145 Porifera species were reported in marine caves on the Apulian coast, including 117 in the Tremiti archipelago, 33 along the Adriatic coast of Bari and 73 along the Salento Peninsula. Original data includes new records for nine species in the Corvine cave, two in the Murene cave and one in the Zinzulusa cave. Our results suggest that marine cave communities along the Apulian coast are not uniformly surveyed, being the caves of the Tremiti Islands and those of the Salento Peninsula among the best studied, while large stretches of the regional coast, although particularly rich in marine caves, are poorly investigated for their sponge fauna.

The sponge fauna colonizing rhodolith beds from Ustica Island marine protected area was studied. Moreover, an inventory of the sponge species present along the island’s coasts was carried out for the first time. Analysis of rhodoliths trapped in nets used by local fishermen at two sites and data obtained from underwater video images were used to identify 25 sponge taxa, 22 of them at species level. The classes Demospongiae and Homoscleromorpha were present with 24 and 1 species, respectively. Most of the specimens were small-sized and represented by thick crusts or short erect branches. Few specimens were insinuating or excavating. Furthermore, qualitative sampling was performed on Ustica’s coralligenous formations, photophilous hard substrates and in marine caves, and the results obtained were added to the literature data. The overall checklist of sponges from Ustica encompassed 97 taxa, 90 named at species level, subdivided into 6 taxa of Calcarea, 3 of Homoscleromorpha and 88 of Demospongiae. Eleven of the species were endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, mainly concentrated on rhodoliths and in marine caves. This research adds a fundamental element to the knowledge of invertebrates associated with rhodoliths, and updates the checklist of sponges colonizing Ustica’s waters, facilitating its future monitoring.

Abstract Sabellaria alveolata (Linnaeus 1767) is a polychaete able to build bioconstructions of different thickness, size and patchiness, in intertidal and subtidal environments. Its biological features have been the object of numerous studies worldwide. The worm reefs are formed by millions of tubes built by sand and shells (whole or in fragments) bonded together with a strong glue produced by the worm itself. Hence, Sabellaria alveolata represents a sedimentological asset for the coastal protection, since it contributes to create natural barriers against storm waves and erosion, and supplies the beach with new sandy deposits. This work shows a multidisciplinary approach to studying a bioconstruction of Sabellaria alveolata along the Latium coast (Ostia, Tyrrhenian Sea, central Italy), proposing image analysis as a novel technique to investigate worm reefs, along with classical sedimentological/ecological tools. The Sabellaria bioconstructions have been analysed at different scales of observation, suggesting the more appropriate strategies to develop a reliable model illustrating the different growth steps of these bioconstructions.

Coralligenous bioconstructions are one of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive and biodiverse marine habitats. This research aimed to provide a preliminary characterization of macrobenthic coralligenous assemblages at four sites located in the Marine National Park of Karaburun-Sazan in Albania. We analyzed images obtained from videos recorded along underwater transects at two different depths. Over a total of 61 taxa (3 Rhodophyta, 2 Ochrophyta, 6 Chlorophyta, 30 Porifera, 5 Cnidaria, 3 Mollusca, 2 Annelida, 1 Arthropoda, 4 Bryozoa, 4 Echinodermata, and 1 Chordata), 53 were identified at the species level using taxonomic and semi-quantitative video image analysis, thus allowing an update to the Albanian coralligenous species list with 34 new species. This study revealed differences in species richness and composition among the investigated sites and between depths, with a high number of taxa exclusive to one site and a few taxa common to all sites. Seven taxa are protected by law, among which are the echinoderm Centrostephanus longispinus, included in the Bern (Annex II) and Barcelona (Annex II) Conventions and Habitat Directive (92/43 EEC) (Annex IV), and the sponges Spongia (Spongia) officinalis and S. (S.) lamella, included in Annex III of the Bern Convention. Only the alga Caulerpa cylindracea can be considered an alien species. Although preliminary, the present research indicated the occurrence of rich and diversified macrobenthic assemblages in the study area. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that video analysis can provide a biodiversity baseline within MPAs, where traditional methods involving invasive sampling cannot be applied, particularly in areas such as the Albanian coasts, where anthropogenic impacts have been historically significant. Finally, this work provides a first estimate of the structural biodiversity in a recently established marine protected area, thus representing the basis for subsequent monitoring.

Illegal wildlife trade is considered one of the most serious threats to biodiversity worldwide, along with habitat loss/degradation and overfishing of wild stocks. Seahorses are considered at high risk as these fish represent an important component of traditional Chinese medicine but are also sold as curios and ornamental fish. On a worldwide level, illegal trade is controlled by numerous laws and regulations, but it seems to continue by assuming more dynamic routes. In the Mediterranean Sea, Hippocampus guttulatus formed one of the largest populations at Mar Piccolo di Taranto in South-Eastern Italy. During the routine monitoring of this population in 2016, a dramatic density decrease was observed. By using questionnaires and long-term datasets, the present study determined possible causes of this decline by investigating habitat changes, temperature trends and the existence of seahorse trafficking while also examining abundance trends during the last decade. The results indicated a sharp density decline starting from 2015, co-occurring with the period of high temperatures, while habitats remained almost constant. However, interviews with main stakeholders described both illegal and legal fishing activities as the main drivers for the declining seahorse density. Indeed, at one of the studied sites, which was under strict military control, seahorse abundance started to decline only after the intensification of fishing pressure in the basin. The study suggests that Mar Piccolo di Taranto could be one of the sources for international seahorse trade, thus highlighting the need for more intense and effective actions to prevent and combat illegal poaching, while threatened populations are requiring continuous and close monitoring. Due to unfavorable socio-economic conditions, a viable and thriving seahorse population at Mar Piccolo di Taranto could contribute to the revitalization of the coastal economy and the development of environmental awareness.

Although several sample preparation methods for analyzing microplastics (MPs) in environmental matrices have been implemented in recent years, important uncertainties and criticalities in the approaches adopted still persist. Preliminary purification of samples, based on oxidative digestion, is an important phase to isolate microplastics from the environmental matrix; it should guarantee both efficacy and minimal damage to the particles. In this context, our study aims to evaluate Fenton’s reaction digestion pre-treatment used to isolate and extract microplastics from environmental matrices. We evaluated the particle recovery efficiency and the impact of the oxidation method on the integrity of the MPs subjected to digestion considering different particles’ polymeric composition, size, and morphology. For this purpose, two laboratory experiments were set up: the first one to evaluate the efficacy of various digestion protocols in the MPs extraction from a complex matrix, and the second one to assess the possible harm of different treatments, differing in temperatures and volume reagents used, on virgin and aged MPs. Morphological, physicochemical, and dimensional changes were verified by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The findings of the first experiment showed the greatest difference in recovery rates especially for polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate particles, indicating the role of temperature and the kind of polymer as the major factors influencing MPs extraction. In the second experiment, the SEM analysis revealed morphological and particle size alterations of various entities, in particular for the particles treated at 75 °C and with major evident alterations of aged MPs to virgin ones. In conclusion, this study highlights how several factors, including temperature and polymer, influence the integrity of the particles altering the quality of the final data.

Bryozoan assemblages of three mesophotic habitats, recently found in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, were investigated in terms of species composition and diversity, colonial growth forms, and species ecological affinity, with the purposes to analyze variations and similarities between the different bioconstructions and to compare the mesophotic assemblages with those of other benthic habitats. Bryozoans came from three sites off the Apulian coast: Monopoli, 30–55-m depth, where scleractinians are dominant; Otranto, 45–64-m depth; and Santa Maria di Leuca, 45–70-m depth, where the bivalve Neopycnodonte cochlear is the main bioconstructor. A total number of 50 species of bryozoans were recorded, accounting for about 10% of the total number of Mediterranean species. Only few species were shared between the three sites, whereas a considerable pool of species was characteristic of each site. The β-diversity and Sörensen similarity analyses highlighted the highest similarity between the two southern sites, Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca, with respect to the northern site of Monopoli, in agreement with the hydrological pattern of the area. The encrusting zoarial type was the most abundant in each site, and few species with erect, celleporiform and petraliform colonies were found. The Sörensen similarity, based on data of zoarial forms composition, revealed values considerably higher than those based on species composition, thus highlighting the similar ecological role played by the bryozoans in all the sites. Moreover, significant differences between the mesophotic bryozoan assemblages and those of other benthic Mediterranean habitats were highlighted, showing higher affinity with the coralligenous and detritic sciaphilic habitats. The relevant ecological role of bryozoans as binders in the bioconstructions of the Mediterranean mesophotic zone has been exhibited.

Human pressures on marine ecosystems have caused extensive degradation of marine habitats and several local extinctions. Overexploitation and destructive fishing practices are responsible for biodiversity loss in many coastal ecosystems. The definition of conservation programs in marine fish requires comprehensive knowledge on large-scale geographical distribution, while considering distribution/abundance patterns in relation to key environmental variables. Due to their life-cycle traits, the two European seahorses (Hippocampus guttulatus and H. hippocampus), as with other congeneric species, are particularly sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic activities and habitat changes. However, information on the ecological distribution of these two species is scattered, patchy, and mainly focused on small-scale studies. In this paper, we followed an international standard protocol for systematic reviews (the PRISMA protocol) to provide a detailed assessment of the two species’ geographical distribution in relation to the environmental characteristics. According to the 134 analyzed studies, Hippocampus guttulatus is more common in confined areas, while H. hippocampus is found in marine shelf waters. With several interspecific differences, seagrasses were the most used holdfasts of both species. The EUNIS codes (European nature information system) referring to a specific and unique habitat were discussed as a potential tool for defining the ecological distribution of the two species. The obtained results and their future implementation could help plan conservation actions.

Confined marine environments are particularly susceptible to climate change and anthropic pressures. Indeed, the long-term monitoring of benthic assemblages in these environments allows us to understand the direction of changes over time. The demosponge Geodia cydonium is a suitable study case, since it is widely represented in many Mediterranean environments, while being a long-living and important habitat-forming species. Here, we report the results of a descriptive study on temporal and spatial variations of this demosponge in three semi-enclosed environments along the Italian coast: Marsala Lagoon, Porto Cesareo Bay, and Mar Piccolo of Taranto. At Marsala and Porto Cesareo, the study compares the present data with those reported by the literature at the end of the 1990s. Caused by the modification of its preferential habitats, the data indicated the loss and a remarkable regression of this species at Porto Cesareo and Marsala, respectively. In addition, we hypothesized that the increase in severe weather phenomena in the small Bay of Porto Cesareo recorded during the last 20 years may have had a marked impact on water mass, thus affecting the sponge assemblages. At Taranto, despite a remarkable environmental degradation, G. cydonium has appeared stable and persistent in the last 45 years, thus representing one of the richest and most well-preserved populations in the Mediterranean Sea.

Seahorses are considered a flagship species for conservation efforts and due to their conservation status, improving knowledge on their dietary composition while applying a non-invasive approach, could be useful. Using Hippocampus guttulatus as a case study, the present study represents pioneering research into investigating the diet of seahorses by NGS-based DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples. The study developed and tested the protocol for fecal DNA metabarcoding during the feeding trials where captive seahorses were fed on a diet of known composition; the process was subsequently applied on fecal samples collected from wild individuals. The analysis of samples collected during the feeding trials indicated the reliability of the applied molecular approach by allowing the characterization of the effectively ingested prey. In the field study, among detected prey species, results revealed that the majority of the seahorse samples contained taxa such as Amphipoda, Decapoda, Isopoda, and Calanoida, while less common prey taxa were Gastropoda and Polyplacophora. As only a small amount of starting fecal material is needed and the sampling procedure is neither invasive nor lethal. The present study indicates DNA metabarcoding as useful for investigating seahorse diet and could help define management and conservation actions.

The data presented here support research article entitled ‘Trophic flexibility and prey selection of the wild long-snouted seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829 in three coastal habitats’’ Ape et al., 2019. Determinations of the dietary composition, differences in prey selection and potential prey abundance and availability among three habitats at Taranto Mar Piccolo were based on the analysis of gut contents of seahorses and sediment samples. Both highly (Corallina elongata and Cladophora prolifera) and low complex (sandy bottom) habitats were investigated. Prey items were divided into two size classes: 1mm. Data about the total abundance of each prey size class in gut contents and sediments in three different habitats and PERMANOVA comparisons are given. Keywords: Hippocampus guttulatus, Gut content, Prey availability, Habitat type

Sponges are an important constituent of filter-feeder benthic communities, characterized by high ecological plasticity and abundance. Free bacteria constitute an important quota of their diet, making them excellent candidates in aquaculture microbial bioremediation, where bacteria can be a serious problem. Although there are studies on this topic, certain promising species are still under investigation. Here we report applied microbiological research on the filtering activity of Sarcotragus spinosulus on two different concentrations of the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus in a laboratory experiment. To evaluate the effects of the filtration on the surrounding nutrient load, the release of ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate was also measured. The results obtained showed the efficient filtration capability of S. spinosulus as able to reduce the Vibrio load with a maximum retention efficiency of 99.72% and 99.35% at higher and lower Vibrio concentrations, respectively, and remarkable values of clearance rates (average maximum value 45.0 ± 4.1 mL h−1 g DW−1) at the highest Vibrio concentration tested. The nutrient release measured showed low values for each considered nutrient category at less than 1 mg L−1 for ammonium and phosphate and less than 5 mg L−1 for nitrate. The filtering activity and nutrient release by S. spinosulus suggest that this species represents a promising candidate in microbial bioremediation, showing an efficient capability in removing V. parahaemolyticus from seawater with a contribution to the nutrient load.

In this paper, we report data from the first year of rearing of a set of filter feeder bioremediator organisms: macrobenthic invertebrates (sabellid polychaetes and sponges), coupled with macroalgae, realized in a mariculture fish farm. This innovative integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system was realized at a preindustrial level in the Gulf of Taranto (southern Italy, northern Ionian Sea), within the framework of the EU Remedia Life project. Long lines containing different collector typologies were placed around the fish breeding cages. Vertical collectors were utilized for both polychaetes and sponges, whilst macroalgae were cultivated in horizontal collectors. Data on the growth and mortality of the target species after the first year of rearing and cultivation are given together with their biomass estimation. Polychaete biomass was obtained from natural settlement on ropes previously hung in the system, while sponges and macroalgae were derived from explants and/or inocules inserted in the collectors. The description of the successional pattern occurring on collectors used for settling until reaching a “stable” point is also described, with indications of additional filter feeder macroinvertebrates other than polychaetes and sponges that are easily obtainable and useful in the system as bioremediators as well. The results demonstrate an easy, natural obtaining of large biomass of sabellid polychaetes settling especially from about a 4 to 10 m depth. Sponges and macroalgae need to be periodically cleaned from the fouling covering. The macroalgae cycle was different from that of invertebrates and requires the cultivation of two different species with about a 6-month cycle for each one. The present study represents one of the first attempts at IMTA in the Mediterranean area where invertebrates and macroalgae are co-cultured in an inshore fish farm. Possible utilization of the produced biomass is also suggested.

We present a data set on the biodiversity of Italian freshwaters, including lakeshores and riverbanks of natural (N=379: springs, streams and lakes) and artificial (N=11: fountains) sites. The data set belongs partly to the Italian Long Term Ecological Research network (LTER-Italy) and partly to LifeWatch, the European e-Science infrastructure for biodiversity and ecosystem research. The data included cover a time period corresponding to the last fifty years (1962-2014). They span a large number of taxa from prokaryotes and unicellular eukaryotes to vertebrates and plants, including taxa linked to the aquatic habitat in at least part of their life cycles (like immature stages of insects, amphibians, birds and vascular plants). The data set consists of 6463 occurrence data and distribution records for 1738 species. The complete data set is available in csv file format via the LifeWatch Service Centre.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether water soluble compounds present in aqueous extracts from seven Mediterranean demosponges exert biological activity towards matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which represent important pathogenic factors of human diseases. Aqueous extracts were tested on LPS-activated cultured rat astrocytes, and levels and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were assessed by zymography and RT-PCR, respectively. Our results demonstrated that the studied extracts contain water soluble compounds able to inhibit MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity and expression. We also compared the anti-MMP activities present in aqueous extracts from wild and reared specimens of Tethya aurantium and T. citrina. The results obtained revealed that the reared sponges maintain the production of bioactive compounds with inhibitory effect on MMP-2 and MMP-9 for all the duration of the rearing period. Taken together, our results indicate that the aqueous extracts from the selected Mediterranean demosponges possess a variety of water-soluble bioactive compounds, which are able to inhibit MMPs at different levels. The presence of biological activity in aqueous extracts from reared specimens of T. aurantium and T. citrina strongly encourage sponge aquaculture as a valid option to supply sponge biomass for drug development on a large scale.

The calcareous sponge Paraleucilla magna, originally observed along the Brazilian coast (Atlantic Ocean), is the only allochthonous invasive species of Porifera reported in the Mediterranean Sea. A 1-year investigation of the population dynamics and life-cycle of this exotic species in the Mar Piccolo di Taranto (southern Italy, central Mediterranean Sea) has provided a good opportunity to test how environmental variations can influence its life-cycle and to ascertain what strategy can be adopted to successfully colonize a new environment. In the Mar Piccolo di Taranto, P. magna exhibits marked temporal changes in biomass. The studied specimens reproduce almost all year round, showing a seasonal pattern that peaks during warm months. This prolonged sexual activity allows P. magna to continuously produce young specimens, with repeated recruitment events taking place throughout the year, thus offsetting the seasonal mortality of adult specimens. This r-strategy enables the non-indigenous sponge to achieve a high degree of maintenance over relatively long periods (ten years at least).