1,720,986 research outputs found
MedSens data (Version 2.0.0, update June 4, 2021). Dataset maintained by Reef Check Italia
No full textMedSens data is a dataset including the abundance of selected Mediterranean marine species, collected by trained volunteers (EcoDivers, i.e. scuba-divers, freedivers and snorkelers) according to the Reef Check Mediterranean Underwater Coastal Environment Monitoring (RCMed U-CEM) protocol, and maintained by the non-profit association Reef Check Italia onlus.
This dataset is a subset of 25 selected species from the Reef Check Med - key Mediterranean marine species dataset, and it is specifically intended to calculate the MedSens index developed by Eva Turicchia, Carlo Cerrano, Matteo Ghetta, Marco Abbiati and Massimo Ponti. MedSens data is provided as ESRI shapefiles in WGS84 geographic coordinates (EPSG:4326)
MedSens data (Version 1.0.0, update May 18, 2019). Dataset maintained by Reef Check Italia
No full textMedSens data is a dataset including the abundance of selected Mediterranean marine species, collected by trained volunteers (EcoDivers, i.e. scuba-divers, freedivers and snorkelers) according to the Reef Check Mediterranean Underwater Coastal Environment Monitoring (RCMed U-CEM) protocol, and maintained by the non-profit association Reef Check Italia onlus. This dataset is a subset of 25 selected species from the Reef Check Med - key Mediterranean marine species dataset, and it is specifically intended to calculate the MedSens index developed by Eva Turicchia, Carlo Cerrano, Matteo Ghetta, Marco Abbiati and Massimo Ponti. MedSens data is provided as ESRI shapefiles in WGS84 geographic coordinates (EPSG:4326)
MedSens data (Version 4.0.0, update April 23, 2023). Dataset maintained by Reef Check Italia
No full text<p>MedSens data is a dataset including the abundance of selected Mediterranean marine species, collected by trained volunteers (<strong>EcoDivers</strong>, i.e. scuba divers, free divers and snorkelers) according to the <strong>Reef Check Mediterranean Underwater Coastal Environment Monitoring</strong> (<strong>RCMed U-CEM</strong>) protocol (Cerrano et al., 2017), and maintained by the non-profit association <strong>Reef Check Italia</strong>.</p>
<p>This dataset is a subset of 25 selected species from the <strong>Reef Check Med - key Mediterranean marine species</strong> dataset, and it is specifically intended to calculate the <strong><em>MedSens </em></strong>index developed by Eva Turicchia, Carlo Cerrano, Matteo Ghetta, Marco Abbiati and Massimo Ponti (Turicchia et al., 2021). MedSens data is provided as ESRI shapefiles in WGS84 geographic coordinates (EPSG:4326).</p>
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<p><strong><em>MedSens </em>abstract</strong></p>
<p>Citizen science (CS) projects may provide community-based ecosystem monitoring, expanding our ability to collect data across space and time. However, the data from CS are often not effectively integrated into institutional monitoring programs and decision-making processes, especially in marine conservation. This limitation is partially due to difficulties in accessing the data and the lack of tools and indices for proper management at intended spatial and temporal scales. <em>MedSens</em> is a biotic index specifically developed to provide information on the environmental status of subtidal rocky coastal habitats, filling a gap between marine CS and coastal management in the Mediterranean Sea. The <em>MedSens</em> index is based on 25 selected species, incorporating their sensitivities to the pressures indicated by the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSDF) and open data on their distributions and abundances, collected by trained volunteers (mainly scuba divers, but also free divers and snorkelers) using the Reef Check Mediterranean Underwater Coastal Environment Monitoring (RCMed U-CEM) protocol. The species sensitivities were assessed relative to their resistance and resilience against physical, chemical, and biological pressures, according to benchmark levels and a literature review. The <em>MedSens</em> index was calibrated on a dataset of 33,021 observations from 569 volunteers (2001 to 2019), along six countries’ coasts. A free and user-friendly QGIS plugin allows easy index calculation for areas and time frames of interest. The <em>MedSens</em> index was applied to Mediterranean marine protected areas (MPAs) and the management and monitoring zones within Italian MPAs. In the studied cases, the <em>MedSens</em> index responds well to the local pressures documented by previous investigations.</p>
<p><em>MedSens</em> converts the data collected by trained volunteers into an effective monitoring tool for the Mediterranean subtidal rocky coastal habitats. <em>MedSens</em> can help conservationists and decision-makers identify the main pressures acting in these habitats, as required by the MSFD, supporting them in the implementation of appropriate marine biodiversity conservation measures and better communicate the results of their actions. By directly involving stakeholders, this approach increases public awareness and the acceptability of management decisions, enabling more participatory conservation tactics.</p>
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<p><strong>References</strong></p>
<p>Cerrano C, Milanese M, Ponti M (2017) Diving for science - science for diving: Volunteer scuba divers support science and conservation in the Mediterranean Sea. Aquat Conserv 27:303–323 <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2663">https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2663</a><br>
Turicchia E, Cerrano C, Ghetta M, Abbiati M, Ponti M (2021) MedSens index: The bridge between marine citizen science and coastal management. Ecol Indic 122:107296 <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107296">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107296</a></p>
Manuale EcoDiver M.A.C. Guida al Monitoraggio dell'Ambiente Costiero Mediterraneo
No full textLa conservazione e gestione dell'ambiente, sia terrestre sia marino, richiede una dettagliata conoscenza della distribuzione degli organismi presenti sul territorio, del loro valore ecologico, delle possibili azioni dell'uomo che possono minacchiarli e dei cambiamenti climatici in corso. Queste conoscenze sono alla base di una corretta pianificazione deli interventi di tutela e protezione ma anche dei programmi di educazione e sensibilizzazione della popolazione, elemento chiave in qualunque politica di conservazione. Purtroppo, per quel che riguarda l'ambiente marino, i livelli di conoscenza del territorio e di sensibilizzazione delle persone sono spesso molto ridotti, Il protocollo di Monitoraggio dell'Ambiente Costiero (M.A.C.) coinvolge i subacquei nella tutela dei fondali marini sia attraverso l'opera di divulgazione e sensibilizzazione sia tramite la collaborazione con i ricercatori e i gestori delle coste. Il protocollo prevede il censimento e monitoraggio nel tempo di alcune specie marine, facilmente riconoscibili e scelte come indicatori dello stato di salute dei nostri mari, delle possibili manacce e dei cambiamenti in atto, sia a livello locale sia globale
Resistance and resilience of Adriatic mesophotic biogenic habitats to human and climate change threats - Reef ReseArcH
No full textMarine Mesophotic Biogenic Habitats (MBHs), lying in twilight conditions, have recently drawn the attention of researchers both for the growing evidence of their ecological role and for the opportunities offered by the enhancement of underwater exploration techniques. These habitats could be considered protected from natural (e.g. thermal stress, hydrodynamics) and anthropogenic (e.g. pollution, harvesting) disturbances affecting shallow habitats, suggesting their possible role as refuges for threatened species. Studies, carried out mostly in tropical areas, stressed the relevance of these habitats, but little is known about their distribution and role in temperate seas, and on their resistance and resilience towards anthropogenic
impacts and threats due to Global Climate Change (GCC). Mediterranean MBHs are mainly built by calcareous red algae, together with other calcareous organisms, and include “coralligenous” reefs and rhodolith beds. The present project aims to investigate Adriatic MBHs, mainly represented by coralligenous outcrops and rhodolith beds scattered on the sedimentary continental shelf. Being formed after the last glacial period, their investigation may disclose the recent history of the Adriatic Sea, and allow some inferences on the potential impacts of GCC on fragile Mediterranean ecosystems. MBHs are scattered on the seabed and inhabited by metapopulations, potentially exposed to local extinctions due to their fragility and isolation. Resistance and resilience of these habitats to local and global environmental threats will be investigated by analysing patterns of species distribution and diversity. Responses of target species toward increasing temperature and water acidification, as possible effects of GCC, will be tested in lab
experiments. Bioconstruction/erosion processes will be studied by lab and field experiments and by radiocarbon dating to quantify growth rates of the reefs. Target species of algae and invertebrates will be analysed using molecular tools to assess genetic connectivity among populations, and to identify areas that might act as sources and sinks of propagules and larvae, supporting migration among populations. Mathematical modeling based on water circulations and habitat mapping will allow to investigate major corridors and barriers to species dispersal, and to develop possible future scenarios of metapopulation
dynamics, useful to define effective conservation strategies. Major threats related to GCC and local human impacts will be assessed using Biological Quality Elements and Biotic Indices, as requested by the Marine Strategy and by the Action plan for the conservation of the coralligenous and other calcareous biogenic habitats of the Mediterranean Sea. Data on biogeochemistry, biodiversity, connectivity, ecological processes, resistance and resilience of MBHs will be used to feed habitat suitability models in order to make predictions on their future distribution based on GCC scenarios
MedSens data (Version 3.0.0, update February 24, 2022). Dataset maintained by Reef Check Italia
No full textMedSens data is a dataset including the abundance of selected Mediterranean marine species, collected by trained volunteers (EcoDivers, i.e. scuba-divers, freedivers and snorkelers) according to the Reef Check Mediterranean Underwater Coastal Environment Monitoring (RCMed U-CEM) protocol, and maintained by the non-profit association Reef Check Italia onlus.
This dataset is a subset of 25 selected species from the Reef Check Med - key Mediterranean marine species dataset, and it is specifically intended to calculate the MedSens index developed by Eva Turicchia, Carlo Cerrano, Matteo Ghetta, Marco Abbiati and Massimo Ponti. MedSens data is provided as ESRI shapefiles in WGS84 geographic coordinates (EPSG:4326)
Hydrodynamic influence on coral physiology: insights into the role of diffusion boundary layers in mitigating ocean acidification effects
No full textRecent investigations suggest that a diffusion boundary layer (DBL) surrounding coral tissue may provide a potential buffer against the negative effects of ocean acidification. However, comprehensive studies on the DBL's role in supporting coral calcification are lacking, resulting in conflicting outcomes. This research analyses pH and oxygen dynamics within the DBL of reef-building corals (Acropora tenuis, Montipora digitata and Pocillopora acuta) developed at sites with different flow regimes. These corals underwent controlled indoor flume experiments with varying flow rates and pH levels to assess the impact on calcification, photosynthesis, and respiration. A cross-transplantation experiment further evaluated physiological responses to flow velocity changes in the naturally extreme semi-enclosed lagoon of Bouraké (New Caledonia). The outcomes of this investigation elucidate the impact of hydrodynamic conditions on the establishment of a DBL and, consequently, on coral physiology. Water flow resulted as a determinant factor with distinct effects on metabolic processes, determining species-specific responses that further differentiate among populations within the same species. A slow flow leads to substantial pH increases within the DBL in all three coral species and, specifically in A. tenuis, it ameliorates the adverse impact of ocean acidification, allowing corals to maintain higher calcification rates than in fast flow conditions. Additionally, the in-situ experiment reveals that the growth of species can also be influenced by the flow conditions of their originating site, highlighting a potential adaptation of certain populations. Specifically, P. acuta corals originating from areas with slow flow exhibit a decrease in their growth when transplanted to fast flow areas. These findings suggest that slow flow habitats, conducive to the formation of a DBL, may mitigate the adverse impact of ocean acidification and thus act as potential refuges for select coral species. Consequently, the DBL emerges as a species-specific potential buffering solution for corals under future climate change conditions
I popolamenti sommersi dell'area marina protetta Isole Tremiti. Parco nazionale del Gargano
No full textQuesto libro nasce dalla collaborazione tra Servizio AMP Isole Tremiti dell’Ente Parco Nazionale del Gargano, l’Università Politecnica delle Marche, l’Università di Bologna, l’Università di Genova, l’associazione Reef Check Italia onlus e il centro d’immersioni MARLINTREMITI. Carlo Cerrano, docente dell’Università Politecnica delle Marche, e Massimo Ponti, docente dell’Università di Bologna, hanno curato e redatto il libro, pubblicato da Reef Check Italia onlus. I rilievi in mare sono stati condotti da Roberto De Camillis, Federica Montesanto, Andrea Pierucci e Andrea Magnani, nell’ambito delle loro Tesi di Laurea Magistrale. L’inquadramento geologico è di Enrico Miccadei, docente dell’Università G. d’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, in collaborazione con l'Associazione Italiana di Geologia e Turismo (G&T). Fabio Rindi, docente dell’Università Politecnica delle Marche, ha curato la parte botanica, Eva Turicchia, dottoranda presso l’Università di Bologna, quella fotografica e cartografica
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