Browsing by Author "Massa-Gallucci, Alexia"
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- Differentiation of spatial units of Genus Euthynnus from the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean using Otolith Shape AnalysisPublication . Muñoz-Lechuga, Rubén; Sow, Fambaye Ngom; Constance, Diaha N’Guessan; Angueko, Davy; Macías, David; Massa-Gallucci, Alexia; da Silva, Guelson Batista; Gonçalves, Jorge Manuel Santos; Lino, Pedro G.The shape of sagitta otoliths was used to compare individuals of little tunny (Euthynnus alleteratus) harvested on board commercial fishing vessels from the coastal areas along the Eastern Atlantic, including the Mediterranean Sea. Fish sampling and selection was designed to cover possible seasonal changes and tuna size. The research encompassed both morphometric and shape analyses of left sagittal otoliths extracted of 504 fish specimens. Four shape indices (Circularity, Roundness, Rectangularity, and Form-Factor) were significantly different between two groups, showing a statistical differentiation between two clear spatial units. The degree of divergence was even more pronounced along the rostrum, postrostrum, and excisura of the generated otolith outlines between these two groups. One group corresponds to the samples from the coastal areas in the Northeast Temperate Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea (NETAM Area) and a second group from the coastal areas off the Eastern Tropical Atlantic coast of Africa (ETA Area). This study is the first to use otolith shape to differentiate tunas from separate spatial units. These results could be used to re-classify previously collected samples and to correct time series of data collected.
- A new network for the advancement of marine biotechnology in Europe and beyondPublication . Rotter, Ana; Bacu, Ariola; Barbier, Michèle; Bertoni, Francesco; Bones, Atle M.; Cancela, M. Leonor; Carlsson, Jens; Carvalho, Maria F.; Cegłowska, Marta; Dalay, Meltem Conk; Dailianis, Thanos; Deniz, Irem; Drakulovic, Dragana; Dubnika, Arita; Einarsson, Hjörleifur; Erdoğan, Ayşegül; Eroldoğan, Orhan Tufan; Ezra, David; Fazi, Stefano; FitzGerald, Richard J.; Gargan, Laura M.; Gaudêncio, Susana P.; Ivošević DeNardis, Nadica; Joksimovic, Danijela; Kataržytė, Marija; Kotta, Jonne; Mandalakis, Manolis; Matijošytė, Inga; Mazur-Marzec, Hanna; Massa-Gallucci, Alexia; Mehiri, Mohamed; Nielsen, Søren Laurentius; Novoveská, Lucie; Overlingė, Donata; Portman, Michelle E.; Pyrc, Krzysztof; Rebours, Céline; Reinsch, Thorsten; Reyes, Fernando; Rinkevich, Baruch; Robbens, Johan; Rudovica, Vita; Sabotič, Jerica; Safarik, Ivo; Talve, Siret; Tasdemir, Deniz; Schneider, Xenia Theodotou; Thomas, Olivier P.; Toruńska-Sitarz, Anna; Varese, Giovanna Cristina; Vasquez, Marlen I.Marine organisms produce a vast diversity of metabolites with biological activities useful for humans, e.g., cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-microbial, insecticidal, herbicidal, anticancer, pro-osteogenic and pro-regenerative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, cholesterol-lowering, nutritional, photoprotective, horticultural or other beneficial properties. These metabolites could help satisfy the increasing demand for alternative sources of nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, food, feed, and novel bio-based products. In addition, marine biomass itself can serve as the source material for the production of various bulk commodities (e.g., biofuels, bioplastics, biomaterials). The sustainable exploitation of marine bio-resources and the development of biomolecules and polymers are also known as the growing field of marine biotechnology. Up to now, over 35,000 natural products have been characterized from marine organisms, but many more are yet to be uncovered, as the vast diversity of biota in the marine systems remains largely unexplored. Since marine biotechnology is still in its infancy, there is a need to create effective, operational, inclusive, sustainable, transnational and transdisciplinary networks with a serious and ambitious commitment for knowledge transfer, training provision, dissemination of best practices and identification of the emerging technological trends through science communication activities. A collaborative (net)work is today compelling to provide innovative solutions and products that can be commercialized to contribute to the circular bioeconomy. This perspective article highlights the importance of establishing such collaborative frameworks using the example of Ocean4Biotech, an Action within the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) that connects all and any stakeholders with an interest in marine biotechnology in Europe and beyond.
- Resistance of seagrass habitats to ocean acidification via altered interactions in a tri-trophic chainPublication . Martínez-Crego, Begoña; Vizzini, Salvatrice; Califano, Gianmaria; Massa-Gallucci, Alexia; Andolina, Cristina; Gambi, Maria Cristina; Santos, RuiDespite the wide knowledge about prevalent effects of ocean acidification on single species, the consequences on species interactions that may promote or prevent habitat shifts are still poorly understood. Using natural CO2 vents, we investigated changes in a key tri-trophic chain embedded within all its natural complexity in seagrass systems. We found that seagrass habitats remain stable at vents despite the changes in their tri-trophic components. Under high pCO2, the feeding of a key herbivore (sea urchin) on a less palatable seagrass and its associated epiphytes decreased, whereas the feeding on higher-palatable green algae increased. We also observed a doubled density of a predatory wrasse under acidified conditions. Bottom-up CO2 effects interact with top-down control by predators to maintain the abundance of sea urchin populations under ambient and acidified conditions. The weakened urchin herbivory on a seagrass that was subjected to an intense fish herbivory at vents compensates the overall herbivory pressure on the habitat-forming seagrass. Overall plasticity of the studied system components may contribute to prevent habitat loss and to stabilize the system under acidified conditions. Thus, preserving the network of species interactions in seagrass ecosystems may help to minimize the impacts of ocean acidification in near-future oceans.
- The essentials of Marine BiotechnologyPublication . Rotter, Ana; Barbier, Michéle; Bertoni, Francesco; Bones, Atle M.; Cancela, M. Leonor; Carlsson, Jens; Carvalho, Maria F.; Cegłowska, Marta; Chirivella-Martorell, Jerónimo; Conk Dalay, Meltem; Cueto, Mercedes; Dailianis, Thanos; Deniz, Irem; Díaz-Marrero, Ana R.; Drakulovic, Dragana; Dubnika, Arita; Edwards, Christine; Einarsson, Hjörleifur; Erdoǧan, Ayşegül; Eroldoǧan, Orhan Tufan; Ezra, David; Fazi, Stefano; FitzGerald, Richard J.; Gargan, Laura M.; Gaudêncio, Susana P.; Gligora Udovič, Marija; Ivošević DeNardis, Nadica; Jónsdóttir, Rósa; Kataržytė, Marija; Klun, Katja; Kotta, Jonne; Ktari, Leila; Ljubešić, Zrinka; Lukić Bilela, Lada; Mandalakis, Manolis; Massa-Gallucci, Alexia; Matijošytė, Inga; Mazur-Marzec, Hanna; Mehiri, Mohamed; Nielsen, Søren Laurentius; Novoveská, Lucie; Overlingė, Donata; Perale, Giuseppe; Ramasamy, Praveen; Rebours, Céline; Reinsch, Thorsten; Reyes, Fernando; Rinkevich, Baruch; Robbens, Johan; Röttinger, Eric; Rudovica, Vita; Sabotič, Jerica; Safarik, Ivo; Talve, Siret; Tasdemir, Deniz; Theodotou Schneider, Xenia; Thomas, Olivier P.; Toruńska-Sitarz, Anna; Varese, Giovanna Cristina; Vasquez, Marlen I.Coastal countries have traditionally relied on the existing marine resources (e.g., fishing, food, transport, recreation, and tourism) as well as tried to support new economic endeavors (ocean energy, desalination for water supply, and seabed mining). Modern societies and lifestyle resulted in an increased demand for dietary diversity, better health and well-being, new biomedicines, natural cosmeceuticals, environmental conservation, and sustainable energy sources. These societal needs stimulated the interest of researchers on the diverse and underexplored marine environments as promising and sustainable sources of biomolecules and biomass, and they are addressed by the emerging field of marine (blue) biotechnology. Blue biotechnology provides opportunities for a wide range of initiatives of commercial interest for the pharmaceutical, biomedical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, food, feed, agricultural, and related industries. This article synthesizes the essence, opportunities, responsibilities, and challenges encountered in marine biotechnology and outlines the attainment and valorization of directly derived or bio-inspired products from marine organisms. First, the concept of bioeconomy is introduced. Then, the diversity of marine bioresources including an overview of the most prominent marine organisms and their potential for biotechnological uses are described. This is followed by introducing methodologies for exploration of these resources and the main use case scenarios in energy, food and feed, agronomy, bioremediation and climate change, cosmeceuticals, bio-inspired materials, healthcare, and well-being sectors. The key aspects in the fields of legislation and funding are provided, with the emphasis on the importance of communication and stakeholder engagement at all levels of biotechnology development. Finally, vital overarching concepts, such as the quadruple helix and Responsible Research and Innovation principle are highlighted as important to follow within the marine biotechnology field. The authors of this review are collaborating under the European Commission-funded Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action Ocean4Biotech – European transdisciplinary networking platform for marine biotechnology and focus the study on the European state of affairs.