Marine Botany

Science - Building 2 - 2th floor

Resp. Prof. Cecilia Maria Totti

Research Activities

Research activities carried out in the Marine Botany and Phycology Laboratory concern systematics and ecology of algae, marine plants and terrestrial algae.

Main research fields

Biological oceanography and phytoplankton ecology

Since 1988, along the Senigallia–Susak transect—part of the eLTER network (European Long Term Ecological Research)—phytoplankton, nutrient, and physical parameter data have been collected on a monthly basis. The laboratory studies phytoplankton biodiversity and indicator species of different environmental conditions. Since 2018, traditional methodologies (optical microscopy) have been complemented by metabarcoding analyses. The long-term time series allows for the analysis and correlation of phytoplankton trends with climate events, trophic status, and the structure of water masses in the Adriatic Sea. Recent studies have highlighted phytoplankton trends in relation to extreme climate events (heatwaves, droughts, floods).

Sampling with plankton net during an oceanographic cruise

Since 2024, the station has been equipped with an innovative instrument (IFCB, Imaging FlowCytobot) capable of performing continuous phytoplankton analyses, using artificial intelligence for identification.

Phytoplankton analysis using the Imaging FlowCytobot

Harmful algal blooms

The phenomenon of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) consists of intense proliferations of algae (mainly microalgae or cyanobacteria) in aquatic environments, accompanied by negative effects on the environment, human health, and ecosystems. Many microalgae can produce toxins that impact both human health and marine organisms. In our laboratory, we study the biodiversity and ecology of toxic microalgae from the phytoplankton and microphytobenthos. Ongoing research focuses on the main known tropical and temperate toxic microalgae, both planktonic (e.g., Pseudo-nitzschia, Azadinium) and benthic (e.g., Ostreopsis, Gambierdiscus). These studies aim to investigate the factors influencing the occurrence and development of this phenomenon, as well as toxin production by the organisms involved, both in the field and under experimental laboratory conditions.
Underwater sampling for the study of the spatial and temporal distribution of potentially toxic benthic dinoflagellates (Ostreopsis, Gambierdiscus, Prorocentrum).	Ostreopsis cf. ovata is a benthic dinoflagellate that produces biotoxins and is responsible for massive blooms associated with human intoxications and die-offs of marine organisms
The mucilage phenomenon, known since 1729, although nontoxic, has negative effects on the environment, fisheries, tourism, and human health, causing suffocation of marine organisms, hypoxia, economic damage, and a decline in water quality. In 2024, it occurred throughout the northern Adriatic. The Laboratory, in collaboration with other Adriatic research institutes, is committed to studying the phytoplankton diversity within the aggregates and the dynamics of the phenomenon, using microscopy and metabarcoding.	Passetto (Ancona): mucilage appearance during summer 2024

Microphytobenthos

Study of microphytobenthic communities associated to different substrata. Ecology of epipelic microalgae of soft bottoms. Eplithic microphytobenthos associated with natural and artificial substrata. Study of the complex relationships between diatoms and marine invertebrates: diatoms associated with Antarctic sponges, diatoms epibionthic on marine hydrozoans and molluscs.

Diatomee epibionti sull'idroide Eudendrium racemosum: sono visibili colonie di Licmophora spp. che formano una foresta in miniatura colonizzando tutte la superficie disponibile

Microalgae systematics

Knowledge of the systematics of living organisms is fundamental to any study of biodiversity. In this laboratory, we focus on the taxonomic revision and description of new species of diatoms and dinoflagellates, using optical and electron microscopy as well as molecular analyses.
Nitzschia gobbii is a new species of planktonic diatom described by the Laboratory and deposited at the Natural History Museum, London, UK	Ostreopsis fattorussoi is a new species of benthic dinoflagellate described by the Laboratory, capable of producing toxins with negative effects on human health and marine organisms.

Biodiversity associated with Mediterranean brown algal forests

Forests formed by brown algae (species of the Cystoseira spp. complex) represent benthic communities of great significance, performing many important ecosystem functions. One of these is hosting a large diversity of associated organisms (both animal and plant). We are studying the diversity of communities associated with brown algal forests through field observations, microscopic analyses, and environmental DNA analyses (DNA metabarcoding based on sequencing of the 23S marker).

Gongolaria barbata forest.

Taxonomy, systematics, and phylogeny of marine macroalgae

The study includes morphological observations, phylogenetic analyses, and DNA barcoding studies based on the sequencing of molecular markers used for this purpose. Genera in which morphological species identification is challenging (such as Ulva, Ceramium, Polysiphonia) are the main focus of these studies.

Macroalgal community of the Conero Riviera

Ecology, phenology, and communities associated with the marine plant Cymodocea nodosa

Cymodocea nodosa is a marine plant that forms submerged meadows and provides many important ecosystem services. We are investigating the distribution, seasonality, and communities associated with meadows of this species through field monitoring and laboratory analyses of various parameters indicative of the health status of this plant

Cymodocea nodosa meadow in the Torrette small marina

Cataloging of macroalgal diversity of the Conero Riviera

The members of the Laboratory regularly conduct sampling of the macroalgal flora of the Riviera del Conero, especially during the spring and summer periods each year. The samples are deposited in the macroalgal herbarium of the Polytechnic University of Marche (ANC ALG), with the aim of documenting present and future temporal changes in the macroalgal flora of this area.

Herbarium sample of Gongolaria barbata

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 and Trentepohliales are the main groups on which our current research is focusing.
	Prasiola novaezelandiae (A) e Rosenvingiella radicans (B).

Projects, Network 
The Marine Botany Lab is currently involved in the following:
•    Long Term Ecological Research national and international networks (LTER-Italy, LTER-Europe and ILTER)
•    ITINERIS LTER Italia (Rete di Ricerca Ecologica a Lungo Termine)
•    Marine Strategy, finanziato da ISPRA e Ministero dell’Ambiente e del Territorio
•    Mediterranean Network of Harmful Algae Experts
•    PRIN 2022: Emerging toxins in Italian seas and risks for human health (Tox-IT).
•    National Biodiversity Future Center (https://www.nbfc.it/en)
•    FORESCUE: Innovative approaches for rescue and management of algal forests in the Mediterranean Sea (https://forescue-project.eu/)
•    BRIGANTINE: Chemico-physical and multispectral Data fusion for Adriatic Sea monitoring by autonomous vessel (Progetto Interreg Italia-Croazia).

Equipment

• Microscopi a luce trasmessa ed epifluorescenza
• Microscopi rovesciati a luce trasmessa ed epifluorescenza
• Sistema di acquisizione ed elaborazione immagini "Axiovision 1"
• Stereomicroscopi
• Apparato di flitrazione (Pompa aspirante e rampa di filtrazione)
• Quantametro
• Criotomo Microm HM 505 N
• Bilancia tecnica elettronica
• pHmetro da banco
• Stufa a convezione naturale
• Camera fitologica
• Critical Point Dryer
• Sputter Coater

Staff

Prof. Cecilia Maria Totti c.m.totti@univpm.it		Prof. Fabio Rindi f.rindi@univpm.it		Dr. Stefano Accoroni s.accoroni@univpm.it
Dr. Tiziana Romagnoli t.romagnoli@univpm.it		Dr. Neri Francesca		Dr. Bellanti Giulia