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Marine Botany
Science - 2nd Building - 2nd Floor
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| Resp. Prof. Cecilia Maria Totti | Equipment | |
 x.jpg "mastogloia neoborneensis una nuova specie di diatomea bentonica descritta dal nostro gruppo e depositata presso il Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada")
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Harmful algal blooms
Several microalgae produce toxins affecting human and marine organism health. In our laboratory we study biodiversity, ecology and life cycles of toxic microalgal species belonging to phytoplankton and microphytobenthos. We are currently carrying out studies on the best-known toxic benthic dinoflagellates from both tropical and temperate areas (Ostreopsis cf. ovata, Gambierdiscus toxicus, Coolia spp., Prorocentrum spp., Amphidinium spp.) and Azadinium, a toxic planktonic dinoflagellate well-known in northern Europe and recently recorded in Mediterranean Sea.
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.JPG "campionamento subacqueo per lo studio della distribuzione spaziale e temporale delle dinoflagellate bentoniche potenzialmente tossiche (Ostreopsis, Coolia, Prorocentrum)") |
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Figura 4. Campionamento subacqueo per lo studio della distribuzione spaziale e temporale delle dinoflagellate bentoniche potenzialmente tossiche (Ostreopsis, Coolia, Prorocentrum).
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Figura 5. Ostreopsis cf. ovata una dinoflagellata bentonica produttrice di biotossine, responsabile di imponenti fioriture associate a intossicazioni umane e morie di organismi marini. |
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Innovative technologies
We investigate the ability of marine macrophytes (biosorption) to remove heavy metals and metalloids in collaboration with the Environmental Technology Laboratory. Our studies are aimed at innovative technology development for the treatment of sewage waters from industries, purification plants and polluted sites.
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Diversity, phylogeny and ecology of terrestrial green algae
Terrestrial environments host many species of green microalgae, an assemblage of organisms whose overall diversity is still poorly understood. We are investigating the systematic of selected groups of terrestrial green algae by field studies, morphological observations, phylogenetic reconstruction based on DNA sequence data (SSU, rbcL, tufA and psaB genes) and analysis of plastid genomes. The orders Prasiolales, Trentepohliales and Klebsormidiales are the main groups on which our current research is focusing.
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| Figura 6. Prasiola novaezelandiae (Prasiolales) | Figura 7. Phycopeltis arundinacea (Trentepohliales) | Figura 8. Klebsormidium flaccidum (Klebsormidiales) | |
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Systematics and phylogeny of red seaweeds
Benthic marine macroalgae are a highly heterogeneous group of organisms with a long and complex evolutionary history. Calcified red algae of the order Corallinales represent a very diverse group and in the Mediterranean Sea play a key ecological role; due to their calcified bodies, they are important bioconstructors that produce important habitats (coralligenous concretions, Lithophyllum trottoirs, rhodolith beds). We are investigating the diversity of Mediterranean coralline algae using a combination of morphological observations and DNA sequence data of selected markers (SSU, psbA, rbcL, cox2,3).
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| Figura 9. Lithophyllum byssoides (Corallinales) (Foto: Laura Pezzolesi) | Figura 10. Lithophyllum stictaeforme (Corallinales) (Foto: Jazmin Hernandez-Kantun) | ||
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Floristic diversity of Adriatic seaweeds
Due to the great diversity of environmental conditions in different parts of its basin, the Adriatic Sea hosts a rich and diverse macroalgal flora. We are currently investigating the floristic diversity of this basin (in particular the rocky shores of the area of Ancona), with the main objective of detecting long-term changes related to climatic changes.
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Research projects
The Marine Botany and Phycology Laboratory is involved in the following Research projects:
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