Molecular responses of Mytilus coruscus hemocytes to lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan as revealed by 4D-DIA based quantitative proteomics analysis.

Mytilus are sessile filter feeders that live in close contact with numerous marine microorganisms. Hemocytes, the immunocompetent cells of Mytilus, participate in the immune response in a very efficient manner. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN) follow specific microbe/pathogen-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs or PAMPs) and are involved in immune stimulation in host cells.

Can biodegradable plastics mitigate plastamination? Feedbacks from marine organisms.

The EU plastic strategy aims to reduce the environmental impact of the increasing plastic production, by replacing petrochemical-based polymers with biodegradable ones. But this mitigation measure for the plastamination might, in turn, generate bio-based microplastics in environments that are not necessarily safe. Biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastics, polylactic acid (PLA) and polypropylene (PP) respectively, and their leachates were used for testing microplastic (MP) effects on seven marine species from different trophic levels, including bacteria, algae, rotifers, copepods, amphipods and branchiopods.

Impact of particulate matter exposure on melanoma risk: A multicentre case-control study.

Background: The relationship between particulate matter (PM) exposure and melanoma risk remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate the association between PM10 and PM2.5 long-term exposure and melanoma risk.

A harmonized dataset relating alternative farmer management practices to crop yield, soil organic carbon stock, nitrous oxide emissions, and nitrate leaching generated using IPCC methodologies and meta-analyses.

Farming practices such as soil tillage, organic/mineral fertilization, irrigation, crop selection and residues management influence multiple ecosystem services provided by agricultural systems. These practices exhibit complex, non-linear interrelationships that affect crop productivity, water quality, and non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, possibly offsetting their benefits regarding soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. Current methodologies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for assessing the impacts of alternative farming practices on GHG emissions rely on global or country-specific coefficients.

First evidence of molecular response of the shrimp Hippolyte inermis to biodegradable microplastics.

The increasing demand for sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics has propelled the interest in bioplastics. A few papers reported on the effects of plastics on crustaceans, but no indication about biodegradable polymers is available. Hippolyte inermis Leach, 1816 is a protandric shrimp commonly living on leaves of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica, in the Mediterranean Sea.

A systematic monitoring approach to assess floating marine macro litter in Italian waters: Baseline, thresholds, good environmental status, and mitigation priorities under the EU MSFD.

The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC) requires Member States to establish monitoring programs for Descriptor 10-Marine Litter, to track progress towards achieving a marine Good Environmental Status (GES). Italy conducted systematic monitoring of Floating Marine Macro Litter (FMML) in three Marine Reporting Units: Western, Central Mediterranean, and Adriatic (2018-2022, 534 surveys, 2719 km across all seasons). This study assessed baseline values for FMML amount and composition, giving indication for tracking GES progress.

Preliminary assessment of waste accumulation along riverbanks in Italy.

This paper presents a preliminary assessment of waste accumulation along riverbanks in Italy, aiming to provide baseline data for future monitoring and management efforts. The study surveyed 18 stations along 16 rivers across different regions of Italy, from north to south, to quantify and characterise the types and abundance of litter present along their banks. Field surveys were conducted by Legambiente citizen scientists applying a standardised protocol to record and categorise litter items systematically.

Framing challenges and polarized issues in invasion science: toward an interdisciplinary agenda.

In a hyperconnected world, framing and managing biological invasions poses complex and contentious challenges, affecting socioeconomic and environmental sectors. This complexity distinguishes the field and fuels polarized debates. In the present article, we synthesize four contentious issues in invasion science that are rarely addressed together: vocabulary usage, the potential benefits of nonnative species, perceptions shifting because of global change, and rewilding practices and biological invasions.

Longitudinal serological and virological survey of hepatitis E virus in wild boar (, Maremman wild boar) and fallow deer () populations in a protected area of Central Italy.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is recognized as an emerging zoonosis. Pigs and wild boars are considered the main reservoirs of zoonotic HEV-3 and HEV-4 genotypes. In Europe, autochthonous human cases of hepatitis E, mainly associated with HEV-3 and consumption of raw or undercooked pig and wild boar liver/meat, have increased over the last decades.

First evidence of microplastic ingestion by the European grayling, Thymallus thymallus, in sub-Arctic regions: Insights on plastic pollution and preliminary risk assessment in the Teno River (Finland).

Marine litter pollution affects even remote environments such as the Arctic regions and their biodiversity. However, due to the inaccessibility and difficulty of regular observations in these environments, further studies are needed to fill the knowledge gaps. In this regard, the present investigation provides new insights on microplastic contamination levels in Arctic riverfish by analyzing, for the first time, plastic ingestion by the European grayling Thymallus thymallus from the Teno River (northern Finland), an important fishery resource and vulnerable species; and performing a preliminary ecological risk assessment of microplastics in the Finnish river using the European grayling.

Case-time series study on the short-term impact of meteorological factors on West Nile Virus incidence in Italy at the local administrative unit level, 2012 to 2021.

Introduction: West Nile Virus (WNV) is a significant public health concern in southern Europe, with meteorological, climatic, and environmental factors playing a critical role in its transmission dynamics. This study aims to assess the short-term effects of meteorological variables on the incidence of WNV in five Italian regions in Northern Italy from 2012 to 2021.

Methods: Linking epidemiological data from the national surveillance system and local meteorological data, we conducted a Case-Time Series analysis to examine the association between WNV incident cases and temperature, humidity, and precipitation recorded up to ten weeks before case occurrence at the local administrative unit level.

Climate change and ecological assessment in Europe under the WFD - Hitting moving targets with shifting baselines?

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets the fundamental structure for assessing the status of water bodies in the European Union. Its implementation is currently entering its fourth six-year cycle assisted by a total of 38 guidance documents. The principal objective is to ensure good status for surface and ground waters.

Combining Historical and Molecular Data to Study Nearly Extinct Native Italian Grey Partridge () at the Turn of the Twentieth Century.

The grey partridge ( Linnaeus, 1758), is a polytypic species with seven recognized subspecies, including (Hartert, 1917), which is endemic to Italy. Until World War II, the species was widespread across Europe but severely declined due to anthropogenic causes, jeopardizing the Italian subspecies gene pool. Genetic characterization and haplotype identification were performed by analyzing the 5'-end of the mitochondrial control region (CR).

Effects of biodegradable microplastics on the crustacean isopod Idotea balthica basteri Audouin, 1826.

Plastic pollution is a notable environmental issue, being plastic widespread and characterized by long lifetime. Serious environmental problems are caused by the improper management of plastic end-of-life. In fact, plastic litter is currently detected in any environment.

Natural and shipping underwater sound distribution in the Northern Adriatic Sea basin and possible application on target areas.

The underwater sound distribution generated by natural sources, shipping and trawling activities has been computed by the Quonops© modelling webservice for the Northern Adriatic Sea (NAS) during 2020, a year characterized by the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Modelling has been calibrated by using a year-long time series of field measurements covering the domain of interest. Sound levels (50th percentile) ranged between 75 and 90 dB re 1μPa for all the considered frequencies (63 Hz, 125 Hz, 250 Hz third octave bands).

Ecology and Management of a Large Outbreak of Avian Botulism in Wild Waterbirds in Northeastern Italy (2019-2022).

Avian botulism is a paralytic disease due to the ingestion of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) produced by anaerobic, sporigenic bacteria (notably, ). Wild waterbirds worldwide are affected with variable recurrence and severity, and organic material decaying in wetland habitats may constitute a suitable substrate for the replication of clostridia strains producing BoNT in conditions of high temperatures and the absence of oxygen. Here, we describe a large outbreak of avian botulism that occurred in the Valle Mandriole protected area of northeastern Italy (VM).

The hidden acceleration pump uncovers the role of shellfish in oceanic carbon sequestration.

Whether shellfish mariculture should be included in the blue carbon profile as a strategy to combat climate change has been controversial. It is highly demanding not only to provide calibration quantitation, but also to provide an ecosystem-based mechanism. In this study, we chose mussel farms as a case study to evaluate their contributions to carbon sinks and their responses to sedimentary carbon fixation and sequestration.

Exchange of knowledge and the consolidation of culture for contamination management: Introduction to the RemTech Europe 2022 Special Series.

The urgency of protecting ecosystems and their recovery from contamination has been highlighted in several recent European strategies because Europe's biodiversity and landscapes are declining rapidly due to different human pressures. Despite the existence of EU and national laws addressing environmental contamination, practical procedures are often missing. For example, competent authorities must deal promptly and effectively with environmental accidents, noncompliance, and criminal offenses but relevant tools that facilitate these processes are often lacking.

Rose or Red, but Still under Threat: Comparing Microplastics Ingestion between Two Sympatric Marine Crustacean Species ( and ).

Increasing plastic contamination poses a serious threat to marine organisms. Microplastics (MPs) ingestion can represent a risk for the organism itself and for the ultimate consumer. Through the analysis of the gastrointestinal tract, coupled with stable isotope analysis on the muscle tissue, this study provides insights into the relationship between MPs pollution and ecology in two commercial marine species caught in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea: and .

The "Working Group Land of Fires" Platform for emergency management, data sharing and dissemination.

Over the last decades, the Campania Region in Italy has faced an environmental crisis due to the widespread illegal dumping and burning of waste. This has led to the area being notoriously known as the Land of Fires (Terra dei Fuochi - TdF), sparking serious concerns about public health and threatening the region's agricultural sector, one of its economic mainstays. In such a context, a timely, accurate, and reliable flow of information, aimed both at the population and at stakeholders, is crucial for establishing a proper dialogue between institutions and people, driving the empowerment of citizens.

The Identification of Manure Spreading on Bare Soil through the Development of Multispectral Indices from Sentinel-2 Data: The Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) Case Study.

Satellite remote sensing is currently an established, effective, and constantly used tool and methodology for monitoring agriculture and fertilisation. At the same time, in recent years, the need for the detection of livestock manure and digestate spreading on the soil is emerging, and the development of spectral indices and classification processes based on satellite multispectral data acquisitions is growing. However, the application of such indicators is still underutilised and, given the polluting impact of livestock manure and digestate on soil, groundwater, and air, an in-depth study is needed to improve the monitoring of this practice.

Towards context-independent indicators for an unbiased assessment of environmental sustainability in higher education: An application to Italian universities.

Higher education institutes (HEIs) are important drivers for the development and implementation of best practices for environmental sustainability. However, reliable indicators are needed to objectively evaluate the environmental performance of HEIs and their policies. The present paper aims at identifying suitable indicators for unbiased comparisons among different HEIs and for the identification of temporal trends in terms of environmental sustainability performance.