Cresci Blu Reef / IFAA 2024

Antonietta Rosso, Gemma Donato, Rossana Sanfilippo, Donatella Serio, Francesco Sciuto, Francesco D’Alpa, Valentina Alice Bracchi, Mauro Pietro Negri and Daniela Basso

!! SCIENTIFIC PAPER PUBLISHED IN Journal of Marine Science and Engineering !!

!! The present study focuses on the epibiosis found on the erect mineralised but flexible species Margaretta cereoides, contributing with some macroalgae to the canopy formation on a coralligenous build-up collected at 36.7 m depth offshore Marzamemi (Ionian Sea, Mediterranean) in the frame of the project CRESCIBLUREEF.

Focusing on bryozoans and serpulids we documented high diversity (species richness) on the investigated substrata. Diversity are higher on M. cereoides than on algae, possibly in relation with the morphology, robustness and persistence of the surface offered by the bryozoan contrasting with the flexible and ephemeral nature of most algae. Bryozoan and even more serpulid epibiont diversity on M. cereoides is also higher than those reported for studied species in the Mediterranean and for Flustra foliacea from North Europe. !!

Keywords: epibiosis, biodiversity, serpulids, build-up, fleshy algae, Ionian Sea

DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.3390/jmse11030590

Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/11/3/590

Mara Cipriani, Daniela Basso, Pietro Bazzicalupo, Marco Bertolino, Valentina Alice Bracchi, Fabio Bruno, Gabriele Costa, Rocco Dominici, Alessandro Gallo, Maurizio Muzzupappa, Antonietta Rosso, Francesco Perri, Rossana Sanfilippo, Francesco Sciuto& Adriano Guido

!! SCIENTIFIC PAPER PUBLISHED IN Rendiconti online della Società Geologica Italiana !!

!! This study, which took place within the FISR_04543 project “CRESCIBLUREEF – Grown in the blue: new technologies for the knowledge and conservation of Mediterranean coral reefs”, aims to present preliminary data on the ecological and depositional implications of micritic sediments in a coral bioconstruction formed along the Mediterranean platform in front of Marzamemi (Sicily, Italy). Crustose coralline algae are the main structure, which create the right substrate for a very diversified epi- and infaunal community. Two types of microcrystalline calcite are found, allochthonous and indigenous. The alien ones derive from the abiotic accumulation of fine sediments in the cavities of the structure. The native one is deposited in situ through processes mediated by organic elements. A possible contribution of the non-skeletal carbonate to the strengthening of the primary skeleton can therefore be hypothesized. !!

Keywords: Coralligenous reef, bioconstruction, micrites, Ionian Sea

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3301/ROL.2023.12

Link: https://www.rendicontisocietageologicaitaliana.it/297/article-4175/the-role-of-non-skeletal-carbonate-component-in-mediterranean-coralligenous-new-insight-from-the-cresciblureef-project.html

Andrea Giulia Varzi, Luca Fallati, Alessandra Savini, Valentina Alice Bracchi, Pietro Bazzicalupo, Antonietta Rosso, Rossana Sanfilippo, Marco Bertolino, Maurizio Muzzupappa & Daniela Basso

!! SCIENTIFIC PAPER IN Journal of maps !!

!! In this study we analyzed the coralligenous. The coralligenous includes calcareous accumulations of biogenic origin, formed since the Holocene transgression. The study area is located off the coast of the village of Marzamemi where we found columnar-shaped coralligenous outcrops . The “CresciBluReef” project has produced a new, 17 km² high-resolution bathymetric map. Thanks to this map we have a greater knowledge of the extension of the coralligenous in this area, analyzed during this study. Coralligenous mostly occur along two depth ranges: 36–42 m and 86–102 m. Additional investigations are required to understand: (1) the role of the inherited continental shelf landscape, in creating a favorable substrate for the settlement and growth of coralligenous habitats during the Holocene, and (2) the extent to which coralligenous bioconstructions can impact the evolution of present-day continental shelf landforms and landscapes. !!

Keywords: Calcareous build-ups, submarine geomorphology, seascape, sea-level changes, biogeomorphology, Mediterranean sea

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2022.2161963

Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17445647.2022.2161963

Francesco Sciuto, Carla Altieri, Daniela Basso, Francesco D’Alpa, Gemma Donato, Valentina Alice Bracchi, Mara Cipriani, Adriano Guido, Antonietta Rosso, Rossana Sanfilippo, Donatella Serio, Alfio Viola

!! SCIENTIFIC PAPER IN Revue de micropaleontologie !!

!! The present study aims to be the first attempt to analyze the composition and structure of microfaunas associated with bioconstructions in an area located along the Ionian coast of south-eastern Sicily off the coast of Marzamemi (SR, Italy). At the bottom of the circalittoral area of the Mediterranean Sea, predominantly calcareous algae and subordinately bryozoans, sponges and serpulids give rise to bioconstructions called Coralligeno (algal barrier). The coral reef represents a hot-spot of biodiversity on the seabed. The samples were taken between 33 and 37 meters deep using a sorbone. Ostracods and foraminifera do not participate in the construction of the coralligenous but significantly increase the degree of biodiversity. !!

Keywords: Algal bioconstruction, Ostracoda, Foraminifera, Ionian Sea, Sicily (SE)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2023.100711

Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0035159823000016

Valentina Alice Bracchi, Pietro Bazzicalupo, Luca Fallati, Andrea Giulia Varzi, Alessandra Savini, Mauro Pietro Negri, Antonietta Rosso, Rossana Sanfilippo, Adriano Guido, Marco Bertolino, Gabriele Costa, Elena De Ponti, Riccardo Leonardi, Maurizio Muzzupappa & Daniela Basso

!! SCIENTIFIC PAPER IN Frontiers in Earth Science !!

!! This research carried out along the Mediterranean Sea platform studies algal reefs made up of crustose coralline algae, also known as Coralligenous. It’s one of the most important ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea in terms of extension, complexity and heterogeneity, supporting a very high level of biodiversity. The results confirm the primary role of crustose coralline algae as the main builders of the Mediterranean coralligenous. This aspect coincides with the evidence from the Quaternary fossil record. The role of encrusting calcareous red algae in the coralligen is important for conservation and management policies. !!

Keywords: algal reef, bioconstruction, crustose coralline algae, framework, Marzamemi

DOI: 10.3389/feart.2022.910522

Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.910522/full

CRESCIBLUREEF project has been presented by Fabio Bruno (UNICAL) at the Breaking the Surface (BTS). BTS is an international workshop of maritime robotics and applications. Since 2009, BTS has served as a meeting place for international experts, university professors, scientists, industry representatives and students from various fields related to marine robotics and its applications in biology, geology, archaeology, etc.

The invited talk given by Prof. Bruno has been focused on the novel minimally invasive monitoring and sampling technologies developed in CRESCIBLUREEF by the University of Calabria team that have been implemented on an innovative ROV equipped with an optical system capable of interactively reconstruct the 3D morphology of the seabed and a robotic coring system able to directly collect sample of the coralligenous. The presentation has described the different technical problems that have been solved and the results of the first sea trails.

Andate a leggere questo nuovo articolo su come nasce una ricerca… il racconto di Valentina Alice Bracchi: https://bnews.unimib.it/blog/diario-di-bordo-di-una-ricercatrice-alla-scoperta-della-geobiodiversità-marina/

MARZAMEMI 24-29 JULY 2023

Last July (24-29/07), on the seabed of Marzamemi (SR), the first test campaign of the remote-controlled vehicle for coralligenous sampling was carried out. The team has developed the device starting from data collected during previous tests on a semi-automatically operated system. During these operations, several issues emerged indeed, in particular regarding motor power as well as excessive weight and dimensions. Furthermore, the cores taken were mostly fragmented or completely damaged.

The result of the last year of design and development is a new remotely operated coring devices nearly 50% lighter than the previous one, having almost twice its coring torque. Geometry optimization and material selection resulted in a significant smaller prototype, suitable to be integrated underneath the ROV belly. Core tubes where also modified with an innovative “double tube” mechanism that enable to prevent core breakage or loss.

The new test campaign, carried out at depth from 25 to 35 meters, was preceded by preliminary tests in pool. Test were useful to verify the functioning of all the mechanical parts and to adjust ROV balancing. The first objective of the field tests was the identification of the target together with the descent and anchoring operations to the seafloor. Subsequently, the ability to carry out core drilling was verified, managing to sample the first core. The last goal was the activation of the tool change device thanks to which it was possible to carry out three core sampling during the same mission.

Si è svolto a Messina il 52° Congresso della Società Italiana di Biologia Marina (SIBM). E’ stato organizzato dall’Università di Messina dal 12 al 15 giugno scorsi. Durante il congresso sono stati discussi argomenti interessanti con importanti miglioramenti nel campo della Biologia Marina.

Alcuni membri del team durante l’evento hanno presentato i lavori svolti nell’ambito del progetto FISR2019_04543 “CRESCIBLUREEF – Cresciuto nel blu: nuove tecnologie per la conoscenza e la conservazione dei reefs del Mediterraneo”.

Gemma Donato ha portato il poster del suo lavoro dal titolo “Strategie competitive su biocostruzioni coralline dello Ionio Meridionale”. Durante questo lavoro si sono focalizzati sulle strategie attuate da alcuni organismi costituenti il Coralligeno nello Ionio Meridionale. Sono stati investigati modo di vita e interazioni di alcune specie presenti in campioni prelevati nell’Agosto 2021, per grattaggio di biocostruzioni colonnari tra 33 e 36 metri al largo di Marzamemi (Sicilia).

Era presente ed ha partecipato fisicamente anche la professoressa Antonietta Rosso insieme al Dott. Marco Bertolino e la sua collega.

Il poster da loro presentato riguardava il seguente studio: “Bertolino M., Costa G., Bandi A., Basso D., Bazzicalupo P., Bracchi V.A., Cipriani M., Donato G., Guido A., Penco A., Rosso A., Sanfilippo R., Sciuto F., Bavestrello G. 2023. Variazioni a scala millenaria della diversità e abbondanza dei poriferi nel Coralligeno di Marzamemi (Sicilia SE).”