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Distributional data on planktic copepods (Crustacea, Copepoda) collected in the framework of the IIIrd, Vth, and Xth Expeditions of the Italian National Antarctic Program (PNRA) to the Ross Sea sector from 1987 to 1995 are here provided. Sampling was performed with BIONESS and WP2 nets at 94 sampling stations at depths of 0–1,000 m, with a special focus on the Terra Nova Bay area. Altogether, this dataset comprises 6,027 distributional records, out of which 5,306 were obtained by digitizing original data reports and 721 are based on physical museum vouchers curated by the Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA, Section of Genoa). The MNA samples include 8,224 individual specimens that were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. They belong to four orders, 25 families, 52 genera, and 82 morphological units (out of which 17 could be determined at the genus level only). A variety of environmental data were also recorded at each of the sampling stations, and we report original abundances (ind/m3) to enable future species distribution modelling. From a biogeographic point of view, the distributional data here reported represented new records for the Global Biogeographic Information Facility (GBIF) registry. In particular, 62% of the total number of species are new records for the Ross Sea sector and another 28% new records for the Antarctic region.

International audience; Evolution of virulence traits from adaptation to environmental niches other than the host is probably a common feature of marine microbial pathogens, whose knowledge might be crucial to understand their emergence and pathogenetic potential. Here we report genome sequence analysis of a novel marine bacterial species, Vibrio bathopelagicus sp. nov., isolated from warm bathypelagic waters (3309m depth) of the Mediterranean Sea. Interestingly, V. bathopelagicus sp. nov. is closely related to coastal Vibrio strains pathogenic to marine bivalves. V. bathopelagicus sp. nov. genome encodes genes involved in environmental adaptations to the deep-sea but also in virulence, such as the R5.7 element, MARTX toxin cluster, Type VI secretion system and zinc-metalloprotease, previously associated with Vibrio infection in farmed oysters. The results of functional in vitro assays on immunocytes (hemocytes) of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, and of the early larval development assay in Mytilus support strong toxicity of V. bathopelagicus sp. nov. towards bivalves. V. bathopelagicus sp. nov., isolated from a remote Mediterranean bathypelagic site, is an example of a planktonic marine bacterium with genotypic and phenotypic traits associated with animal pathogenicity, that might have played an evolutionary role in the origin of coastal marine pathogens.

Wave-induced currents play a key role in coastal sedimentary and hydrodynamics processes, and in particular, rip currents are probably the most widely studied aspect. Rip currents are characterized by a strong seaward-directed flow, which can transport sediments, planktonic organisms, nutrients, pollutants, and suspended material. However, rip currents are also a hazard for beachgoers and constitute a well known risk to bathers. Several studies have been conducted to describe rip current dynamics and their implications along oceanic beaches, although only a few studies have considered rip dynamics along Mediterranean coasts. This study is an accurate investigation of rip current development in the Levanto pocket beach (Ligurian sea, NW Italy). Coastal video-monitoring, coastal modelling, field surveys, and laboratory analysis are well known methodologies used to study the behaviour of rip currents, but each has its limitations. To overcome this problem, we propose an integrated approach where different tools are integrated among these to obtain mutual validation among several different approaches. The results show how the rip currents investigated in this study can reach and exceed velocities of 1 ms−1, comparable with those of oceanic rip currents, and how these are a key component in the coastal processes that occur along a Mediterranean pocket beach.

Natural substances produced by venomous marine organisms are thought to be possible sources of useful compounds and new drugs having the potential to open new ways for pharmacology, nutrition and environmental applications. In this framework, cnidarians are very interesting being widely distributed and all are venomous organisms; so, a deep knowledge of their occurrence, morphology of venomous structures and of effects of venoms at cellular level is fundamental to evaluate the possible utilization of venomous compounds or extracts. In this research, the morphology and occurrence of nematocysts in two cnidarian species (Aurelia aurita, Velella velella), and the preliminary evaluation of the cytotoxicity of V. velella crude extract, of which cytotoxicity on cell cultures at present is unknown, were considered. The specimens were sampled in Güllük Bay, Southwestern coast of Turkey, and in the Gulf of Genova, Northwestern coast of Italy. Six nematocyst types (a-isorhiza, A-isorhiza, O-isorhiza, eurytele, polyspiras, birhopaloid) having different sizes, were observed in A. aurita, and two types (eurytele and stenotele) in V. velella. The crude extract from V. velella showed cytotoxic activity against cultured fibroblasts L929 at high doses, while inducing cell proliferation at low doses. The protein content in the extract increased remarkably after disruption of nematocysts.

The ingestion and retention of microplastics of filter-feeder organisms represent a risk for the final consumers and the environment. Biomonitoring is necessary to deal with the effects of plastic material pollution. The selection of the monitored organisms strongly affects the relevance of the results and the understanding of the environmental conditions. The results discussed in this paper highlight the differences in the estimate of microplastic pollution depending on the species subject of study. Ascidia spp. specimens retained a value five-fold higher (0.62 MP/g) than bivalve species (Crassostrea gigas 0.11 MP/g; Mytilus galloprovincialis 0.05 MP/g; Anomia ephippium 0.12 MP/g).

Cnidarians are numbered among the most venomous organisms. Their venoms are contained in intracellular capsules, nematocysts, which inject the content into preys/attackers through an eversion system resembling a syringe needle. Several cnidarian venoms have activity against the nervous system, being neurotoxic, or affect other systems whose functioning is under nerve control. Besides direct damage to nerve cells, the activity on ionic conductance, blockade of neuromuscular junctions, and influence on action potentials and on voltage-gated channels have been described. Therefore, cnidarians can be a useful source of nervous system-targeted compounds which could have, in perspective, a role in the therapy of some nervous system diseases. Following this idea, this article aims to review the existing data about the neuroactive properties of cnidarian venoms and their possible usefulness in tackling some neurological diseases as well as neurodegenerative age-related diseases whose incidence is expected to raise in the next decades owing to the increase of life expectancy.