Browsing by Author "Falace, Annalisa"
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- The genus Cystoseira s.l. (Ochrophyta, Fucales, Sargassaceae) in the Black Sea: morphological variability and molecular taxonomy of Gongolaria barbata and endemic Ericaria crinita f. bosphorica comb. nov.Publication . Sadogurska, Sofia S.; Neiva, João; Falace, Annalisa; Serrao, Ester; Israel, AlvaroBrown algae of the genus Cystoseira sensu lato form the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems throughout the Mediterranean Sea and have equal roles also in the Black Sea where they have been decreasing in the recent years. The taxonomy of Cystoseira s.l. taxa from the Black Sea is still not well understood, and questions arise when related taxa have to be delimited. In addition to morphological descriptions, this study provides for the first time molecular data of the Black Sea Cystoseira s.l. distinct morphologies as an additional tool to clarify their identities and phylogenetic affinities. The analysis of two mitochondrial markers (cytochrome oxidase subunit 1-COI, and 23S-tRNAVal intergenic spacer-mt-spacer) showed that Cystoseira s.l. specimens from the Black Sea belong to two recently resurrected genera, namely Gongolaria and Ericaria. Molecular data confirm the morphological identification of G. barbata, which is characterized by high morphological plasticity in the Black Sea. The morphological data presented in this study support the transition of G. barbata to the genus Gongolaria, which was previously proposed based solely on genetic data. For the Black Sea endemic taxon C. bosphorica, sequence divergence suggests conspecificity with Mediterranean Sea species E. crinita and E. barbatula. However, considering original morphological characteristics of the taxon, its geographical isolation, and endemism, the new combination Ericaria crinita f. bosphorica comb. nov. is proposed.
- The lush Fucales underwater forests off the Cilento Coast: An overlooked mediterranean biodiversity hotspotPublication . Rendina, Francesco; Falace, Annalisa; Alongi, Giuseppina; Buia, Maria Cristina; Neiva, J.; Appolloni, Luca; Marletta, Giuliana; Russo, Giovanni FulvioFucales (Phaeophyceae) are ecosystem engineers and forest-forming macroalgae whose populations are declining dramatically. In the Mediterranean Sea, Cystoseira sensu lato (s.l.)—encompassing the genera Cystoseira sensu stricto, Ericaria, and Gongolaria—is the most diverse group, and many species have been shown to be locally extinct in many areas, resulting in a shift toward structurally less complex habitats with the consequent loss of ecosystem functions and services. In this study, we report on the extensive occurrence of healthy and dense marine forests formed by Fucales in the Santa Maria di Castellabate Marine Protected Area in Cilento, Italy (Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean). On a total area of 129.45 ha, 10 Cystoseira s.l. taxa were detected using a combined morphological and molecular approach, with an average cover of more than 70%. One of these taxa has been sequenced for the first time. These findings underline the high ecological value of this area as a hotspot of benthic biodiversity and highlight the importance of marine protected area management and regional monitoring programs to ensure the conservation of these valuable yet fragile coastal ecosystems.