Publications by authors named "Marco Oliverio"

Twenty-one rissoid species have been found in four bathyal samples from the Strait of Sicily, represented exclusively by empty shells. Some of these species are shallow water dwellers, associated with algal facies, others are typical of deep-sea (bathyal-abyssal). Two species are described as new (Alvania ismar n.

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  • The study explores the relationship between corallivorous marine snails (Coralliophilinae) and the cnidarian corals they feed on, highlighting gaps in knowledge regarding their phylogenetic links and feeding specificity.
  • A comprehensive molecular dataset from 586 specimens was created, revealing numerous cryptic species and showing that currently accepted genera are often not monophyletic.
  • Findings indicate the subfamily originated in shallow waters during the Middle Eocene, with evolutionary patterns influenced more by host associations rather than depth changes.
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  • Venomous marine gastropods in the Conoidea superfamily, particularly Raphitomidae, have a variety of toxins, but their venom is not well-studied.
  • This research produced transcriptomes from different body parts of a northeastern Atlantic species and identified a new vermivorous diet through gut barcoding.
  • The study uncovered over a hundred potential venom components, including 69 neurotoxins and 20 new toxin families, highlighting the significance of salivary gland secretions in the evolution of conoidean venom.
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Background: Culuccia is a small peninsula of about 3 km placed in north-western Sardinia (Italy) at the margin of the Maddalena Archipelago. The marine area surrounding this Peninsula is a Special Area of Conservation, included in the European Natura 2000 Ecological Network of protected areas, but until now, no information on biodiversity of this area is available. In 2021, a research project to study both terrestrial and marine biodiversity of Culuccia has started in order to fill this gap of knowledge.

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  • - Neogastropoda is a diverse order of over 15,000 marine species that are significant for both ecological functions and the economies of coastal regions, but their evolutionary relationships are complex and poorly understood due to a dense "bush" in their evolutionary tree.
  • - The study utilized various phylogenetic methods and a comprehensive dataset of 1,817 genetic loci from 112 taxa to analyze relationships within Neogastropoda, confirming the monophyly of several superfamilies while revealing that some currently recognized groups are paraphyletic.
  • - Three major uncertainties were identified in the phylogenetic relationships, particularly concerning the placement of the Cancellariidae family, which could hint at deeper evolutionary interventions,
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  • There is a lack of comprehensive molecular studies on the Tricolia genus from the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean, despite extensive taxonomic research.
  • A phylogenetic analysis found seven Tricolia species, including a new lineage named Tricolia sp. 1 in the NE Atlantic.
  • The study determined that T. azorica is the only species in the NE Atlantic, and T. pullus and T. picta need to be classified as distinct species, with further research required on the T. miniata complex in the Mediterranean.
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  • - The Mediterranean cone snail, Lautoconus ventricosus, has been thought to be a single species across the Mediterranean Sea and nearby Atlantic coasts, but a study involving 245 samples across 75 locations suggests otherwise.
  • - Genetic analysis revealed six distinct clades that could represent separate species, although different methods produced varying results, pointing to complexities like incomplete lineage sorting and introgression between clades.
  • - The study indicates the existence of at least three distinct species based on genetic data, with significant distribution patterns separating them, and emphasizes the need for combined approaches in studying species diversity, integrating genetic, morphological, and ecological data.
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  • Planaxis sulcatus, a marine gastropod, displays a phenomenon called poecilogony, where it produces both free-swimming larvae and brooded juveniles; recent studies indicated the existence of three distinct genetic clades across different geographic regions.* -
  • A new study expanded the dataset to include 108 individuals, revealing a genetic divergence of 12.09%, contradicting earlier findings of a maximum divergence of only 3.08%, which was previously misinterpreted.* -
  • The analysis suggested a potential for two to six genetic subdivisions within the species, proposing that the observed genetic structure is more about geographic variation rather than indicating cryptic species.*
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  • Effective biological monitoring requires long-term, high-resolution data, which is challenging to obtain in Antarctica due to logistical issues.
  • The study utilizes 5 μm filters from the Italian research base "Mario Zucchelli" to assess coastal nanoplankton dynamics, automatically collecting plankton as part of the desalination process.
  • By employing DNA metabarcoding, the research reveals detailed intra-annual changes in nanoplankton communities and underscores the impact of sudden environmental events, suggesting this method could enhance long-term monitoring in Antarctic regions.
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  • The typical feature of gastropod molluscs is a coiled shell, but over 54 families, including the Capulidae, have evolved simpler limpet-like shells independently, adapting to various aquatic habitats and lifestyles.
  • A phylogenetic analysis of 16 capulid species revealed at least three separate instances of limpet-like shell evolution, indicating a recurring "limpetization" process within this family.
  • The study suggests that capulids likely evolved from coiled suspension feeders and that their shift to kleptoparasitism contributed to the development of their shell morphology based on ecological factors and interactions with host substrates.
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Herein we revise several Recent Mediterranean species of the rissoid genus Alvania Risso, 1826: Alvania scabra (Philippi, 1844), Alvania sculptilis (Monterosato, 1877), Alvania sororcula Granata-Grillo, 1877, Alvania lucinae Oberling, 1970, Alvania josefoi Oliver Templado, 2009 and Alvania scuderii Villari, 2017. They represent a rather homogeneous group of morphologically similar species, referred to as the Alvania scabra complex, which includes also some other species from the northeastern Atlantic. We designate a neotype for Rissoa scabra Philippi, 1844 and a lectotype for Rissoa oranica Pallary, 1900 to stabilize the use of the names.

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The recent report of Nemoura lacustris Pictet, 1865 in Great Britain has raised doubts on its identity, given the isolation with respect to the Mediterranean and continental populations of this species. Using molecular analyses, we tested if populations from  the United Kingdom and the Iberian Peninsula were conspecific and tested the hypotheses of a recent colonization event versus a more ancient origin for the British populations. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial marker COI allowed us to conclude that the United Kingdom specimens morphologically ascribed to N.

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In the Ross Sea, biodiversity organisation is strongly influenced by sea-ice cover, which is characterised by marked spatio-temporal variations. Expected changes in seasonal sea-ice dynamics will be reflected in food web architecture, providing a unique opportunity to study effects of climate change. Based on individual stable isotope analyses and the high taxonomic resolution of sampled specimens, we described benthic food webs in contrasting conditions of seasonal sea-ice persistence (early vs.

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  • The ShK superfamily consists of proteins featuring a conserved ShKT domain, initially found in small venom peptides from sea anemones, which inhibit specific potassium channels.
  • This superfamily includes small toxic peptides as well as larger multifunctional proteins that have various roles, including neurotoxicity and immunosuppression, making them potential treatments for autoimmune diseases.
  • Research on ShKT proteins from the Mediterranean vampire snail shows that these proteins are specifically expressed in salivary glands, suggesting their importance in venom, and they exhibit high variability due to frequent gene duplications.
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  • * The Velutinidae family, which feeds on ascidians and is largely understudied, was analyzed using genetic data from 182 specimens to explore diversity and larval development.
  • * The study found 15 distinct Antarctic Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs), indicating potential new species and varied larval shell types, suggesting that these gastropods underwent rapid evolution and shortening of larval phases.
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We have compiled a complete list of new marine molluscan taxa introduced by Tommaso Allery Di Maria, Marquis of Monterosato (1841-1927). The dates of publication of every single work have been checked against available evidence, and an updated bibliography is also presented. Finally, the type material of all marine taxa expected to be in the collection Monterosato (presently preserved in the Museo Civico di Zoologia in Rome) has been searched in the main collection, and all retrieved specimens have been catalogued.

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  • Cytolytic pore-forming proteins play vital roles in host-pathogen interactions, either aiding in immune defense or facilitating infections, and are notably present in the venoms of various organisms.
  • Coluporins, a recently identified group of these proteins in the Mediterranean snail Cumia reticulata, exhibit significant molecular diversity with at least 30 proteins sharing a conserved structure, possibly linked to their function in venom.
  • The evolutionary analysis indicates that coluporins originated from a single ancestral porin gene, with extensive gene expansion within colubrariids aiding their adaptation and potential for parasitism through repeated gene duplications and selection pressures.
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  • Blood-feeding animals, like the vampire snail Cumia reticulata, produce unique compounds that can prevent blood clotting and reduce pain, making them interesting for drug development.
  • Researchers performed RNA sequencing on the snail's salivary and mid-oesophageal tissues, identifying a variety of genes linked to these blood-thinning and anesthetic properties.
  • The study analyzed the three-dimensional structures of these proteins, confirming their role in inhibiting blood clotting and highlighting their potential for future pharmacological applications.
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  • * Columbella adansoni has a longer pelagic larval phase (PLD) and demonstrated lower genetic diversity and no phylogeographic structure, while Columbella rustica, with a shorter PLD, exhibited higher genetic diversity and clear population structure.
  • * The findings suggest that the length of the PLD plays a significant role in shaping genetic connectivity and diversity in benthic invertebrates, supporting the hypothesis that larval ecology impacts population structure.
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In a sample of 567 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the central Mediterranean, debris occurrence varied according to methods and turtle source, and was up to 80% in pelagic turtles. Frequencies of plastic types, size and color are also reported. These results and a critical review of 49 studies worldwide indicate that: (i) the detected occurrence of plastic (% turtles) is affected by several factors (e.

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  • - Hematophagy, the practice of feeding on blood, has evolved independently in various animal lineages, particularly among invertebrates, but research on the associated biochemistry remains limited except for a few medically relevant species.
  • - Neogastropod snails, like Colubraria reticulata, have been identified as effective hematophagous feeders, utilizing venom containing anaesthetics and anticoagulants to extract blood from their fish hosts, which suggests their role in the evolution of this feeding strategy.
  • - The study employed advanced sequencing methods to analyze gene expression in different parts of the snail's body, revealing distinct gene profiles and identifying at least 12 families of proteins related to their blood-feeding capability.
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Four genetically distinct clades were recently described under the name Dendropoma petraeum, a Mediterranean endemic vermetid gastropod. The aim of this work is to date the processes that drove to the diversification within this taxon and to relate them to the corresponding historical events occurred in the Mediterranean Sea. Sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear markers were obtained from specimens collected in 29 localities spanning over 4000km across the entire distribution range of D.

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The Mediterranean species of the genus Mitromorpha Carpenter, 1865 as currently conceived, are herein reviewed. The genus is represented in the Mediterranean Sea by eleven species, of which seven are here described as new, all included conservatively in the subgenus Mitrolumna Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1883: Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836), Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) olivoidea (Cantraine, 1835), Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) karpathoensis (Nordsieck, 1969), Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) wilhelminae (van Aartsen, Menkhorst & Gittenberger, 1984), Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) alyssae n. sp.

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  • This study investigates nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the prosobranch neogastropod Stramonita haemastoma, a relatively under-researched group of gastropods compared to opistobranchs and pulmonates.
  • It provides evidence of Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent neuronal NOS activity in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, indicating its presence and role in neuromodulation.
  • Molecular analysis revealed the complete structure of Stramonita NOS (Sh-NOS), identifying it as a 1,517 amino acid protein with similarities to mammalian neuronal NOS, and revealed varied expression levels in key nervous system regions.
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