Valentina Costa

Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn | Stazione Zoologica · Integrative Marine Ecology

Trace element accumulation is particularly important in coastal and transitional environments, which act as contaminant buffers between the continental and marine systems. We compared trace element transfer to the biota in two locations with different open-sea exposures in a semi-enclosed marine coastal area (Stagnone di Marsala, Sicily, Italy) usi...

Il funzionamento degli ecosistemi è definito dall’equilibrio tra i processi di produzione, accumulo e decomposizione della materia organica. Negli ambienti marino-costieri colonizzati dalle fanerogame marine, buona parte della produzione primaria non viene direttamente utilizzata ma rientra all’interno delle catene trofiche sotto forma di detri...

Stable isotopes were used to investigate contributions of autochthonous (i.e. benthic: epilithon and macroalgae) and allochthonous (i.e. pelagic: phytoplankton) organic matter sources to the diet of suspension-feeders, grazers and predators associated to small reef-pools (cuvettes) created by the reef-building species Dendropoma petraeum in the nor...

Finding time-efficient and cost-effective data collection methods is a challenge when addressing aquatic litter pollution on a global scale. In this study, we analysed data on aquatic benthic debris collected worldwide by volunteer scuba divers through the Dive Against Debris® citizen science initiative, examining its relationship with spatial and...

Although seagrasses are expected to thrive in future acidified oceans by overcoming low CO2 diffusion into plant tissues, the co‐occurrence of environmental stressors may affect their growth. Volcanic CO2 vents are often associated with toxic gases and metal‐rich fluids representing ideal sites to assess the effects of multiple stressors. We evalua...

EuropaBON EBV workflow templates The information provided here represents the EBV workflow templates collected during the EuropaBON online workshop on Essential Biodiversity Variable (EBV) workflows from 22–24 February 2023. The templates were designed to capture comprehensive descriptions about the three workflow components (data collection and s...

The information provided here represents the EBV workflow templates collected during the EuropaBON online workshop on Essential Biodiversity Variable (EBV) workflows from 22–24 February 2023. The templates were designed to capture comprehensive descriptions about the three workflow components (data collection and sampling, data integration, and mod...

Background Hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, pockmarks and seamounts are widely distributed on the ocean floor. Over the last fifty years, the knowledge about these volcanic-associated marine ecosystems has notably increased, yet available information is still limited, scattered, and unsuitable to support decision-making processes for the conservatio...

This study is the first to assess the occurrence of micro-litter ingested by marine megafauna in the north-eastern Aegean Sea. A total of 25 specimens from four species of marine mammals, including dolphins and monk seals, and two species of sea turtles, found stranded along the coastline of Samos Island, Greece, were selected for the analysis. Lit...

Seagrass meadows provide important and valuable ecosystem services. They are affected by several natural and human-induced stressors, but a combination of natural recovery and management actions have recently inverted the worldwide reduction. The main objectives of this study were to provide science-based knowledge on ecology and restoration, frame...

The ninth International Symposium Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Problems and Measurements Techniques was organized by CNR-IBE in collaboration with Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, and Natural History Museum of the Mediterranean and under the patronage of University of Florence, Accademia dei Lincei, Accademia dei Ge...

Seagrass detritus can attract numerous invertebrates as it provides food and substrate within the meadow or in adjacent environments. Nonetheless, several factors could modify the invertebrate response to this habitat. In this study, we tested if epifaunal colonisation of Zostera noltei detritus was related to substrate availability rather than foo...

Seagrasses are marine plants ranked worldwide amongst the most valuable coastal ecosystems. The global conservation effort requires accurate estimation of seagrass abundance and taxonomic composition. Hyperspectral reflectance has been used to estimate seagrass biomass, despite requiring destructive laboratory measurements that goes against conserv...

Seagrass leaf litter decomposition is a key component of marine carbon flow driven by both biotic and abiotic factors, including water movement. In this study, we analyse Posidonia oceanica litter decomposition and invertebrate colonization in three sites with different hydrodynamics in a coastal basin. Litterbags were put on the sea bed along a gr...

Microplastics (MPs) are becoming ubiquitous in the marine environment and shallow marine sediments are one of the major sinks for MPs. In order to improve the knowledge about the environmental fate of MPs in the Aegean Sea shallow sediments, the occurrence and spatial distribution of MPs in Samos Island (Greece) was investigated for the first time,...

In the Mediterranean Sea, Zostera noltei (Hornemann, 1832) meadows constitute an important part of the intertidal shallow ecosystems in estuaries, bays and lagoons. Most of the primary production of these ecosystems is not directly used but is channelled to higher trophic levels as detritus. Acting as a faunal magnet, the seagrass detritus hosts an...

The distribution of the sea urchin Arbacia lixula, a warm affinity species, has been expanding in the Mediterranean Sea. To address questions on potential for future success of this species in the region, the thermotolerance of larval development was investigated in context of regional warming. The larvae were reared in present day spawning period...

Shallow volcanic CO2 emissions naturally alter local environmental features, having potential negative effects on associated communities. Literature evidence reports that changes occur in composition, but also in nutritional characteristics of primary producers. We questioned whether alteration in abundance and quality of primary producers may in t...

Soft bottom macrobenthic communities were studied seasonally in three coastal ponds (Marinello ponds, Italy) at increasing distances from a gull (Larus michahellis) colony to investigate the effect of seabird-induced eutrophication (i.e. guanotrophication) on macro-benthic fauna. We hypothesized that enhanced nutrient concentration and organic load...

In the Mediterranean Sea, the vermetid Dendropoma petraeum (Monterosato, 1884) forms highly bio-diverse reefs that have received increasing attention in recent years although very little is known about the food habit of this species. The main goal of this study was to describe the trophic role of planktonic and benthic food sources for D. petraeum....

Trace metal accumulation is particularly important in coastal and transi-tional environments, which act as organic matter and contaminant buffers between the continental and marine systems. In this study we compared trace metal transfer to the biota in two locations with different exposure to the open-sea in a partially-enclosed coastal ecosystem (...

Vermetid reefs are highly biodiverse biogenic substrata. However, very little is known about the food habits of the bioconstructor species and food web structure of the entire community. The main goals of this study were to describe the trophic structure of vermetid reef community and to asses differences in the exploitation of basal sources by ree...

Seagrasses are marine plants that support highly complex and productive ecological systems. The importance of the multiple services provided by these ecosystems highlights the need to preserve their health. Indeed, as a result of increasing global population and human pressure, coastal waters inhabited by seagrasses have been subject to increasing...

Coastal marine ecosystems receive large amounts of organic matter from a variety of sources, both autochthonous, such as phytoplankton, microphytobenthos, macroalgae, and vascular plants, and allochthonous, such as riverine terrestrial materials. These sources of organic matter are unequally exploited by consumers as a function of their abundance,...

Vermetid reefs are highly biodiverse biogenic substrata that have been receiving increasing attention in the last years, as they are an important habitat protected by international conventions. However, very little is known about the food habits of the bioconstructor species and food web structure of the entire community. The main goals of this stu...

In coastal lagoons resident fish exhibit particular adaptations to tolerate high variability in chemical and physical variables and to gain access and obtain food in restricted habitats. From the trophic point of view fish generally adopt a generalistic and, in many cases, an opportunistic feeding strategy. Many small-sized species are essential in...