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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.

In the present study we prepared an innovative fish feed with polychaetes and algae for farmed juvenile European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax. We evaluated several productive indexes as well as the histological integrity of the stomach in the reared fish.

Most studies of the polychaete fauna in the Northern Adriatic Sea deal with soft bottoms, while hard bottom studies are very scarce and the last extensive one was conducted by Amoureux in 1975. The Northern Adriatic Sea is a peculiar and sensitive part of the Mediterranean region, currently undergoing through severe changes caused by the combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. In order to get an updated measure of the hard bottom polychaete diversity in the area and assess their spatial distributional patterns, new studies are necessary. In summer 2007 polychaetes were sampled from hard substrate (by scraping off the hard bottom benthos within a 10x10 cm metal frame) on three stations along the Sveti Ivan Island in the vicinity of Rovinj, at 1.5 m, 5 m and 25 m depths. Altogether 103 taxa were found; four species are new for the Adriatic Sea (namely Lepidonotus tenuisetosus, Nereis perivisceralis, N. splendida, N. usticensis), while 19 are recorded for the first time in its northern part. Some newly recorded species are dominant and typical of warmer areas. Multivariate analyses showed that the polychaete assemblages significantly differed both among depths and sites, the two shallower depths being more similar among each other. The depth influenced polychaetes horizontal distribution patterns, since significant differences of both abundance and faunal composition characterised the shallowest assemblages (1.5 m), while at 25 m spatial variability was only due to the abundance. Uncommonly, the lowest horizontal variation of polychaetes distribution was observed at 5 m, although it was expected at 25 m depth due to a higher environmental stability. The high number of newly reported species confirms the importance of regular taxonomic updating of the polychaete fauna in the Northern Adriatic.

The research of the polychaete fauna in the northern Adriatic Sea started early in the 19th century and was continued until today. However, recent studies were mostly dealing with ecological aspects or simply reporting species lists, while taxonomic ones were very scarce. Sabellidae is the second most diverse polychaete family in the Adriatic, after Syllidae, including some species described and recorded only in the northern Adriatic. Here we report the updated list of the Sabellidae and Fabriciidae families in the northern Adriatic Sea deriving from literature data as well as the presently conducted researches. Polychaetes were sampled from three offshore soft-bottom stations with Van-Veen grab and from three coastal rocky shore stations by scrapping the hard bottom benthos within a 10x10 cm metal frame. Among the analysed material three Sabellidae species are new for the Adriatic fauna, while five Sabellidae and one Fabriciidae species were recorded for the first time in its northern part. Two new sabellid species, Amphicorina rovignensis n.sp. and Megalomma pseudogesae n.sp., were found and described. These findings increase the number of the Sabellidae species recorded from the area from 28 to 38. Our results indicate the widening of the species areal as well as the lack of the recent taxonomic studies in the area. Taking into consideration that studies on only six stations raised the number of known sabellid species from the area by 30%, these results support the need for the regular taxonomic updating of the polychaete fauna in the northern Adriatic.

The genus Branchiomma (Annelida: Polychaeta: Sabellinae) from the Mediterranean Sea is revised based on material collected during several surveys and preserved in the Zoological Laboratory of Lecce University (South Italy). Branchiomma maerli n. sp. is described as a new species and compared with the previously reported B. hombyx, B. lucullanum, B. luctuosum, and B. cf. moebii. Branchiomma maerli n. sp. resembles B. lucullanum, but differs in the shape of the collar and in the length of the dorsal lips. Branchiomma boholensis, reported as the only Mediterranean species with macrostylodes, is not here described because it has not been possible to obtain adequate material. Finally, Branchiomma sp. (similar to B. violaceum, but having the dorsal collar fused to the faecal groove) is not formally described as a new species because there is only one available specimen.

The new species, Novafabricia posidoniae is described for the Mediterranean Sea, and Novafabricia sp. cf N. infratorquata (Fitzhugh, 1983) is reported for the eastern Mediterranean basin. The genus Novafabricia Fitzhugh, 1990, represented up to now in the Mediterranean only by N. infratorquata, is recorded for the first time along the Italian coast. Novafabricia posidoniae belongs to the group of Novafabricia species with pseudospatulate chaetae present in thoracic chaetigers 3-5. The addition of this new species raises the number of Novafabricia species to 10.

Sono state illustrate le ricerche condotte per l'evidenziazione e caratterixzazione di composti bioattvi da organismi marini

In order to assess the role of the polychaete Myxicola infundibulum mucus as nutrient and protective microcosm, in the present study we evaluated the culturable bacteria and the associated fauna in this matrix as well as its antibacterial lysozyme-like activity.

The genus Branchiomma (Annelida: Polychaeta: Sabellinae) from the Mediterranean Sea is revised based on material collected during several surveys and preserved in the Zoological Laboratory of Lecce University (South Italy). Branchiomma maerli n. sp. is described as a new species and compared with the previously reported B. bombyx, B. lucullanum, B. luctuosum, and B. cf. moebii. Branchiomma maerli n. sp. resembles B. lucullanum, but differs in the shape of the collar and in the length of the dorsal lips. Branchiomma boholensis, reported as the only Mediterranean species with macrostylodes, is not here described because it has not been possible to obtain adequate material. Finally, Branchiomma sp. (similar to B. violaceum, but having the dorsal collar fused to the faecal groove) is not formally described as a new species because there is only one available specimen. En este trabajo se revisa el género Branchiomma (Annelida: Polychaeta: Sabellinae) del mar Mediterráneo a partir de material recolectado durante varias campañas y conservado en el Laboratorio Zoológico de la Universidad de Lecce (sur de Italia). Branchiomma maerli n. sp. se describe como una nueva especie y se compara con especies previamente reportadas B. bombyx, B. lucullanum, B. luctuosum y B. cf. moebii. Branchiomma maerli n. sp. se parece a B. lucullanum, pero difiere en la forma del collar y en la longitud de los labios dorsales. Branchiomma boholensis, reportada como la única especie Mediterránea con macroestilodes, no se describe aquí ya que no fue posible obtener material adecuado. Finalmente, Branchiomma sp. (parecida a B. violaceum, aunque con el collar dorsal fusionado al surco fecal) no se describe formalmente como nueva especie porque sólo se dispone de un único ejemplar.

Checklist delle specie degli anellidi policheti della fauna Italiana

The microbiological accumulation capability in the demosponges Spongia (Spongia) officinalis and Oceanapia isodictyiformis of six microbiological parameters were studied in the water and in sponge samples coming from Porto Cesareo (Northern Ionian Sea). The densities of culturable heterotrophic bacteria, vibrios, total culturable bacteria at 37° C, total and fecal coliforms as well as fecal streptococci were higher in both sponges compared with the corresponding seawater. O. isodictyiformis shows a higher microbiological accumulation capability than S. (S.) officinalis.

Six microbiological parameters were studied in the seawater and in the demosponge Spongia officinalis collected in two different sampling periods (December 2005 and July 2006) from an off-shore fish-farm displaced off the Apulian coast (Southern Adriatic Sea). The abundances of the six microbiological parameters were always lower in the seawater than in the sponge samples. The highest densities of vibrios, total culturable bacteria at 37° C and fecal streptococci were observed in the sponge samples during the summer period.

A study on the filtering activity has been carried out on reared specimens of the demosponge Spongia officinalis var. adriatica coming from an off-shore farm displaced off the Apulian coast (Ionian Sea). The experience was carried out under laboratory conditions, by using natural seawater collected from the sponge environment. The study demonstrates a high efficiency of the sponge in removing bacteria. Bacterial concentration significantly decreases in presence of the sponge, with a marked drop after 2h from the start of the experience. The maximum clearance rate was 210 ml h(-1) g(-1) DW at 60 min. Retention efficiency reached the highest value of 61% at 120 min. The bacterial density removed by the S. officinalis filtering activity was 12.3 +/- 1.8 x 10(4) cells ml(-1) corresponding to a biomass of about 11.7 +/- 1.4 mu g Cl-1. The sponge fed preferentially large- and medium-size bacteria, whereas the small ones are fed after the removal of the largest size categories. The results obtained suggest that S. offcinalis is a suitable species for marine environmental bioremediation. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The new species, Novafabricia posidoniae is described for the Mediterranean Sea. and Novafabricia sp. cf. N. infratorquata (Fitzhugh, 1983) is reported for the eastern Mediterranean basin. The genus Novofabricia Fitzhugh, 1990, represented up to now in the Mediterranean only by N. infratorquata, is recorded for the first time along the Italian coast. Novafabricia posidoniae belongs to the group of Novafabricia species with pseudospatulate chactae present in thoracic chaetigers 3-5. The addition of this new species raises the number of Novafabricia species to 10

To evaluate the microbiological accumulation capability in the demosponge Spongia officinalis var. adriatica, six microbiological parameters were studied in the water and in sponge samples coming from an off-shore fish-farm displaced off the Apulian coast (Southern Adriatic Sea). The densities of culturable heterotrophic bacteria, vibrios, total culturable bacteria at 37° C, total and fecal coliforms as well as fecal streptococci were higher in the sponge samples compared with the corresponding seaweater.