The present synthesis focuses on the so called ‘horny sponges’ recorded from marine caves of the Mediterranean Sea. The main aim is to provide a list of all recorded species, diagnostic keys to their identification up to family and genus level, and exhaustive, formally uniform descriptions at the species level contributing to sharing of information on the faunistics and taxonomy of Mediterranean cave-dwelling species, including habitat preferences. The majority of species was recorded in 105 Mediterranean marine caves hosting four orders of horny sponges belonging to 9 families, 19 genera and 40 species. Species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea harboured in marine caves are 14 with an endemicity value of 35%. For each species morphological descriptions are supported by illustrations both original and from the literature, including the diagnostic traits of the skeleton by light and scanning electron microscopy giving further characterization at the specific level. A detailed map together with a list of all caves harbouring horny sponges is also provided with geographic coordinates.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-lasting neurological disease with onset in young adult age. Patients with MS are less active than healthy people, and their sedentary lifestyle might lead to secondary diseases or worsening of symptoms, disability and quality of life. In the study, we evaluated the attitude of physical activity (PA) of a group of MS patients and the differences in practice PA before and after the diagnosis. A randomly recruited group of patients with MS fulfilled a questionnaire about their attitudes towards PA before the onset and after the diagnosis of the disease. Clinical and demographic data were recorded. Out of 118 patients, 37 % practiced PA only before the diagnosis, 9 % only after and 52 % during both periods. After the diagnosis, 64 % of participants noted some negative differences in PA, in particular less physical resistance and worsening of symptoms, and 38 % stopped PA. However, patients referred benefits from PA after diagnosis. Individual exercises rather than group activities were preferred after diagnosis. Only 26 % of patients knew that adapted PA existed and the differences between adapted PA and classic physiotherapy. We observed a reduction in the practice of PA in patients after the diagnosis of MS, in particular for disease-related reasons. Nevertheless, active patients referred benefits from PA. It is important to know the point of view of patients towards developing individualized training programs. In this way, it could be possible to achieve more benefits from PA and reduce the negative effects.
This paper focuses on a faunistic inventory and the biogeographic pattern of Sardinian Porifera in a scarcely investigated Italian sea belonging to the Eastern Algero-Provençal Basin. The composition and structure of sponge fauna were studied in two priority habitats in two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of the NorthWestern Sardinian Sea. Shallow-water surveys investigated Posidonia oceanica meadows at five sites in the Asinara Island MPA and three karstic submerged caves in the Capo Caccia-Isola Piana MPA. The annotated checklist shows notably high values of taxonomic richness, confirming that P. oceanica meadows and karstic caves are key habitats for Porifera assemblages. Indeed, the sponge taxa recorded (n = 77) with 59 cavedwelling and 45 taxa in seagrass meadows represent over 10% of the total Mediterranean sponge fauna, despite the small areas investigated, restricted biotopes and low sampling effort. This suggests that species richness is underestimated in circum-Sardinia seas. Internationally protected species (n = 6), rare species (n = 5) and Mediterranean endemic species (n = 14) were recorded. Previously investigated Posidonia meadows and caves share comparable values of species richness and endemicity with the Sardinian biotopes. The geographic range of species indicates that the biogeographic affinity of the NW Sardinian Sea sponge fauna is dominated by Atlanto-Mediterranean species. The three caves harbour a notably homogeneous sponge community, as indicated by the ca. 50% of shared species and high similarity index (> 83%). By contrast, the composition varies markedly among the five Posidonia meadows, which share only five species and display similarity values ranging ca. 20-60%. Unexpectedly when comparing these contrasting biotopes, faunal similarity is relatively low (< 40% shared species); indeed, Posidonia meadows harbour a notable number of cave-dwelling species in intermatte shaded microhabitats.
Sponges are one of the main components of Mediterranean benthic ecosystems. Aim of this work was to perform a preliminary survey of conspicuous sponges in the Marine Protected Areas of Capo Caccia – Isola Piana and Asinara (North-Western Sardinia) harbouring wide Posidonia oceanica meadows. Specimens were photographed in vivo, collected along linear transects in shallow water by snorkeling and SCUBA diving, preserved (dry and/or ethanol) and identified at species level. Preliminary results show notable values of taxonomic richness when compared to previous papers confirming that P. oceanica meadows represent a suitable habitat for sponges. Some sponge species preferentially colonize rhizomes, others are found mainly in inter-mattes areas; only a few species are able to settle on leaves. Rhizomes offer a steady, permanent and shaded substratum, while leaves represent an unsteady substrate been smooth, short-lived, more exposed, and constantly moving. Sponges perform different key functional roles in the meadows: a) they host diversified invertebrate associations providing also refuge for sciaphilous invertebrates and nursery for juveniles at body surface and within canals of the aquiferous system; b) they are able to recycle particulate and dissolved organic matter acting as biofilters (active filter feeders); c) they contribute to improve circulation by pumping activity in the water column producing microcurrents particulary effective in lentic conditions. On the other side, to live in the meadows is very advantageous for sponges, gaining protection against storm surges. However data suggest the need of continuous monitoring to assess the impact of invasive algae such as those belonging to the genus Caulerpa and contribute to shed light on the problem of diversity loss by alien species.
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