Evaluation of cyanotoxin L-BMAA effect on α-synuclein and TDP43 proteinopathy.

The complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors is considered the cause of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Among the environmental factors, toxins produced by cyanobacteria have received much attention due to the significant increase in cyanobacteria growth worldwide. In particular, L-BMAA toxin, produced by diverse taxa of cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates and diatoms, has been extensively correlated to neurodegeneration.

Historical and projected response of Southeast Asian lakes surface water temperature to warming climate.

The temperature of surface and epilimnetic waters, closely related to regional air temperatures, responds quickly and directly to climatic changes. As a result, lake surface temperature (LSWT) can be considered an effective indicator of climate change. In this study, we reconstructed and investigated historical and future LSWT across different scenarios for over 80 major lakes in mainland Southeast Asia (SEA), an ecologically diverse region vulnerable to climate impacts.

Gradients of salinity and plant community richness and diversity in two different Mediterranean coastal ecosystems in NW Sardinia.

This study aimed to test if differences in soil salinity, plant richness and diversity were significantly affected by habitat, site and distance from the seashore at three sandy and three rocky coastal sites in north-western Sardinia. Each site has been divided into three belts placed at an equal distance of 50 m from the shoreline. We measured soil salinity using a probe and vascular plants richness and diversity using linear transects at all sites.

Cyanobacteria, Cyanotoxins, and Neurodegenerative Diseases: .

The prevalence of neurodegenerative disease (ND) is increasing, partly owing to extensions in lifespan, with a larger percentage of members living to an older age, but the ND aetiology and pathogenesis are not fully understood, and effective treatments are still lacking. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are generally thought to progress as a consequence of genetic susceptibility and environmental influences. Up to now, several environmental triggers have been associated with NDs, and recent studies suggest that some cyanotoxins, produced by cyanobacteria and acting through a variety of molecular mechanisms, are highly neurotoxic, although their roles in neuropathy and particularly in NDs are still controversial.

Ecological, morphological and molecular characterization of Kryptoperidinium sp. (Dinophyceae) from two Mediterranean coastal shallow lagoons.

In this study, the field ecology of Kryptoperidinium sp. was examined in two Mediterranean shallow lagoons, Calich (CA) and Santa Giusta (SG) in Sardinia, Italy. Kryptoperidinium cell density and the environmental conditions were examined monthly from 2008 to 2015 in CA and from 2011 to 2016 in SG.

Meta-analysis of multidecadal biodiversity trends in Europe.

Local biodiversity trends over time are likely to be decoupled from global trends, as local processes may compensate or counteract global change. We analyze 161 long-term biological time series (15-91 years) collected across Europe, using a comprehensive dataset comprising ~6,200 marine, freshwater and terrestrial taxa. We test whether (i) local long-term biodiversity trends are consistent among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, and (ii) changes in biodiversity correlate with regional climate and local conditions.

Estimation of satellite-derived lake water surface temperatures in the western Mediterranean: Integrating multi-source, multi-resolution imagery and a long-term field dataset using a time series approach.

Lake surface water temperature (LSWT) is a key parameter to help study the environmental and ecological impacts of climate change. In this work, we measured the LSWT of 1 natural and 23 artificial lakes located on the island of Sardinia in the western Mediterranean, which is a region where changes in climate are projected to have significant impacts. By integrating multi-source and multi-resolution datasets of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat and long-term in situ temperature observations, we detected, measured, and analysed the LSWT trends during the period of 2000-2018 across all the investigated lakes.

Diversity, ecology and distribution of benthic diatoms in thermo-mineral springs in Auvergne (France) and Sardinia (Italy).

This study investigated and compared the diatom flora from thermo-mineral springs in Auvergne (France) and Sardinia (Italy). Samples were collected from rock/cobbles and fine sediments in 16 springs between January 2015 and March 2017. A total of 207 taxa (59 genera) were found.

Dataset of seasonal mean volumes of phytoplankton cell size classes in Mediterranean shallow coastal lagoons.

In this article, the floristic lists and the seasonal mean cell volumes of phytoplankton taxa observed in three Mediterranean lagoons are reported. These datasets include 40 species, 67 other taxa identified at least at genus level, and further 13 taxa attributed only at order or class level. These data are associated with Pulina et al.

Long-term experimental farming of (Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida).

Background: The marine sponge was chosen as an experimental model of sustainable shallow-water mariculture in the Sardinian Sea (Western Mediterranean) to provide biomass with high potential in applied research.

Methods: Explants were cultured in four long-term experiments (19 and 31 months at ca. 2.

Paralytic Shellfish Toxins and Cyanotoxins in the Mediterranean: New Data from Sardinia and Sicily (Italy).

Harmful algal blooms represent a severe issue worldwide. They affect ecosystem functions and related services and goods, with consequences on human health and socio-economic activities. This study reports new data on paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) from Sardinia and Sicily (Italy), the largest Mediterranean islands where toxic events, mainly caused by Alexandrium species (Dinophyceae), have been ascertained in mussel farms since the 2000s.

Multiannual Chattonella subsalsa Biecheler (Raphidophyceae) blooms in a Mediterranean lagoon (Santa Giusta Lagoon, Sardinia Island, Italy).

Recurrent blooms of Chattonella subsalsa (Raphidophyceae) were associated with fish kills in Santa Giusta Lagoon (Mediterranean Sea). This study investigated the population dynamics of C. subsalsa and its relationship with environmental and meteorological conditions, using multiannual ecological data (1990-2016).

Effects of trophic status on microcystin production and the dominance of cyanobacteria in the phytoplankton assemblage of Mediterranean reservoirs.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the abundance of cyanobacteria and microcystins in four Sardinian reservoirs (Italy) characterised by different trophic status to define a reference picture for future changes. Increasing levels of eutrophication and the abundance of cyanobacteria are expected to occur due to climate change, especially in the southern Mediterranean. Consequently, an in-depth study of the occurrence of harmful cyanobacteria is important to develop appropriate management strategies for water resources at a local scale.

Spatial distribution and multiannual trends of potentially toxic microalgae in shellfish farms along the Sardinian coast (NW Mediterranean Sea).

In this study, the geographical distribution and multiannual trends of potentially toxic harmful algal species (HAS) were analysed at 18 mussel farms in Sardinia (Italy, North-Western Mediterranean Sea) using data derived from the Sardinian Regional Monitoring Programme (1988-2012). The results showed an increasing number of potentially toxic microalgae over the study period. Alexandrium catenella and Alexandrium minutum were the most harmful species detected.