In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. material 1.
The two green algae Caulerpa taxifolia (M.Vahl) C. Agardh and Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder, (Chlorophyta; Bryopsidales) are among the most invasive alien macroalgae in the Mediterranean Sea. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and abundance of the three species on deep rhodolith bed of the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area MPA (Sardinia). The analysis of the collected data collected highlighted significant differences in the percent cover of the substratum among sampling sites and species with a significant presence of C. cylindracea at Santa Caterina slope
The green alga Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder (Chlorophyta; Bryopsidales) is one of the most invasive alien macroalgae in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is also spreading on rhodolith beds, an important biogenic assemblage typical of deep substrates. Despite the importance of rhodoliths, data on the competitive interactions with C. cylindracea are still scarce. To deepen the knowledge on the topic, C. cylindracea occurrence on the rhodolith bed of Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area (Italy) was explored. Quantitative analyses of videoframes obtained from Remote Operated Vehicle records in three different MPA sites, Is Piscadeddus, Santa Caterina, and Serpentara, allow for estimates of both the cover of rhodoliths (considering the main morphotypes) and of C. cylindracea, as well as their competition. All sites showed a well-developed rhodolith bed, although some differences were highlighted in their composition in terms of morphotype, shape, and dimension of rhodoliths, as well as in the C. cylindracea cover. In particular, Santa Caterina appeared to be the site with the highest mean total cover of rhodoliths (68%), and of C. cylindracea (25%). The obtained results suggest that different competitive interactions occur between C. cylindracea and rhodolith beds, in relation to the morphostructural composition of the latter and in response to environmental conditions that affect rhodolith bed composition.
Experimental evidence on the bio-ecological effects of microplastics on terrestrial plants is still lacking. In this study, we hypothesized that soil polluted with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microparticles can negatively influence plant traits, photosynthetic efficiency and phenology of two weeds but with different strength in relation to the species’ life traits. Therefore, we conducted an experiment in a common garden growing the wild species Senecio inaequidens and Centaurea cyanus for about 60 days. The possible toxic effects of soil microplastics (1% of PVC in 100 g of soil medium) were investigated, coupling an analyses on plant traits with an evaluation of the microplastic-induced changes in terms of phenology and photosynthetic efficiency. Overall, results showed that plants in control pots were higher and larger than those in treated ones (C. cyanus plant width: p < 0.05; S. inaequidens—plant height: p < 0.05; plant width: p < 0.05). Moreover, for C. cyanus, photosynthetic efficiency (index Fv/Fm) was significantly lower in the treatment than that in control (p < 0.05). About phenology, the second leaf of S. inaequidens emerged earlier in control than that in treatments (day 12.2 ± 0.25 and 14.3 ± 0.3, respectively; p < 0.001). The obtained results highlight that PVC microparticles may have had negative effects on soil–plant system reducing the performance of plants. Since, up to now, research on the interaction between soil microplastics and terrestrial plants has mainly focused on agricultural plants, this work fills a gap of knowledge regarding wild species (weeds), highlighting the possible future impact of microplastics on biodiversity.
Anthropic diesel-derived contamination of Mediterranean coastal waters is of great concern. Nature-based solutions such as phytoremediation are considered promising technologies to remove contaminants from marine environments. The aim of this work was to investigate the tolerance of the Mediterranean autochthonous seaweed Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskal) Lamouroux to diesel fuel and its hydrocarbon degradation potential. Changes in C. prolifera traits, including its associated bacterial community abundance and structure, were determined by fluorescence microscopy and next-generation sequencing techniques. Thalli of C. prolifera artificially exposed to increasing concentration of diesel fuel for 30 days and thalli collected from three natural sites with different levels of seawater diesel-derived hydrocarbons were analysed. Gas chromatography was applied to determine the seaweed hydrocarbon degradation potential. Overall, in controlled conditions the lower concentration of diesel (0.01%) did not affect C. prolifera survival and growth, whereas the higher concentration (1%) resulted in high mortality and blade damages. Similarly, only natural thalli, collected at the most polluted marine site (750 mg L−1), were damaged. A higher abundance of epiphytic bacteria, with a higher relative abundance of Vibrio bacteria, was positively correlated to the health status of the seaweed as well as to its diesel-degradation ability. In conclusion, C. prolifera tolerated and degraded moderate concentrations of seawater diesel-derived compounds, especially changing the abundance and community structure of its bacterial coating. The protection and exploitation of this autochthonous natural seaweed-bacteria symbiosis represents a useful strategy to mitigate the hydrocarbon contamination in moderate polluted Mediterranean costal environments.
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