Riccardo Cattaneo-Vietti | University of Genova (original) (raw)
Papers by Riccardo Cattaneo-Vietti
Coralligenous biocoenoses developed almost 10,000 years ago in the Mediterranean Sea, form· ing e... more Coralligenous biocoenoses developed almost 10,000 years ago in the Mediterranean Sea, form· ing environments characterized by high levels of biodiversity. They are complex biogenic struc· tures growing through the continuous overlapping of organogenic layers, between 20 and 130 m depth. The coralligenous substrate, for the concurrent presence of bio-builders (algae, ser· pulid worms, bryozoans,and scleractinians) and destroying elements (clionid sponges, bivalves) is subject to dynamic evolution. Studies conducted on sections of corall igenous blocks show that algae are the main component responsible for the bui lding of these concretions. Calcareous remains of benthic animals lack in mineral structures and are one of the most impor· tant detritus·forming elements at the bottom of vertical cliffs. This seems to be due to the attack of clionids which selectively bore animal rather than plant carbonates. A study on the population dynamics of some anthozoans with a calcareous skeleton has shown that about 100% of the newly settled specimens are probably removed by cl ion· ids. ln th is way, the substratum is cyclically renewed by the continuous boring action of clionids. It is a sort of intermediate disturbance which controls the evolution and the structure of skio-philous zoocoenosis, through primary space regeneration. A high specific richness, typical of coralligenous biocoenosis, is developed by this action. From a geological point of view, it form s a kind of limestone, characteristic of biogenic constructions and detritic bottoms under the cliff.
Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 2015
Journal of Sea Research, 2015
Marine Biodiversity Records, 2015
Mediterranean Ecosystems, 2001
The Biological bulletin, 2012
The coiling pattern of the whip black coral Cirrhipathes sp. (Antipatharia, Antipathidae) was stu... more The coiling pattern of the whip black coral Cirrhipathes sp. (Antipatharia, Antipathidae) was studied in four sites of the Bunaken Marine Park (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) characterized by different hydrodynamic conditions. The colonies show a helicospiral growth, with the polyps irregularly arranged on the external convex side of the turns of the stem. Only the colonies living in a very slow current environment reach the greatest lengths (up to 5 m) and show the highest number of rotations (up to 10, 3600°). The turns shape changes along the stem of the colonies, from the base to the apex, as evidenced by the ratio between the pitch and the diameter of each coil. In particular, the turns close to the basal plate have a smaller diameter and a larger pitch, while in the most distal turns, the diameter increases and the pitch decreases concurrently. We hypothesize that the shape variation of the whorls is triggered by the relationship between the growing stem and the intensity of the p...
Mediterranean Ecosystems, 2001
Ross Sea Ecology, 2000
ABSTRACT The littoral benthic communities of the Ross Sea, except for McMurdo Sound, are poorly k... more ABSTRACT The littoral benthic communities of the Ross Sea, except for McMurdo Sound, are poorly known. An analysis of the composition and distribution of the communities in Terra Nova Bay has been conducted down to the 150-m depth between Tethys Bay and Adelie Cove. These communities show a clear zonation according to depth and on the basis of some guide species. On hard bottoms, the upper zone down to the 2–3m depths, due to the presence of drifting pack ice, shows a very poor community, mainly composed by cyanobacteria and diatoms and the amphipod Paramoera walkeri. From 2–4m to 70m, the algal communities constitute welldefined belts. These algal belts represent shelter and a food source for diversified and abundant vagile fauna, among which the echinoid Sterechinus neumayeri and the asteroid Odontaster validus. From 70–120m, a complex community of sponges and anthozoans characterizes the rocks, reaching high values in biomass and species richness. Soft bottoms generally start at the 20–30m depth and are constituted by coarse sands and gravel where Alcyonium sp. is often found. Herein the communities are characterized by bivalves (Laternula elliptica, Yoldia eightsi, Adamussium colbecki) and polychaetes (Tharyx cincinnatus, Aglaophamus ornatus; Spiophanes tcherniai, Leitoscoloplos mawsoni). Much deeper, on muddy sands at about the 150-m depth, the polychaete Laonice weddellia characterizes the community, and brachiopods can be found on small gravel.
Coral gardens have been internationally recognized as unique habitats characterized by numerous s... more Coral gardens have been internationally recognized as unique habitats characterized by numerous structuring species, generating complex and fragile ecosystems, which act as important oases of biodiversity in the deep realm. Deep corals are generally believed to constitute poorly resilient assemblages presenting a low recovery potential from the impact of destructive deep fishing activities. For these reasons, the international scientific community has recently proposed the inclusion of some of these species in many protection lists, recognizing their ecological value and their vulnerability to human activities. A wide ROV video archive was used to characterize the fishing impact on numerous deep rocky shoals along the entire Tyrrhenian and Ligurian Seas (Italy). Lost fishing gears represent the great majority of the marine litter on the bottom, reported in the totality of the explored sites. Some regional differences were highlighted, with Liguria and Campania among the most impacte...
Even though coralligenous habitats are considered to be important hotspots for the Mediterranean ... more Even though coralligenous habitats are considered to be important hotspots for the Mediterranean biodiversity, little is known regarding their response to human pressures. One of the widely recognized threats of coralligenous is recreational and artisanal fishing that may cause severe damage or mortality events to long-lived, key structural species. Consequently, monitoring and sustainable management of fishing are the most important concerns on protecting vulnerable habitats and their biodiversity. However, assessment of fishing activity in the Mediterranean region requires complicated approaches due to the increased heterogeneity on combination of gears, the variation of target species and the poor data availability. Hence, common strategies in fisheries management have failed to capture this heterogeneity and to improve understanding of effort allocation and its effects on benthic habitats. The present study identifies and describes the spatio-temporal patterns of selected recrea...
Toxicon, 2011
Harmful benthic microalgae blooms represent an emergent phenomenon in temperate zones, causing he... more Harmful benthic microalgae blooms represent an emergent phenomenon in temperate zones, causing health, ecological and economic concern. The main goal of this work was to compile records of Ostreopsis at large temporal and spatial scales, in order to study the relationship between cell abundances, the periodicity and intensity of the blooms and the role of sea water temperature in 14 Spanish, French, Monegasque and Italian sites located along the northern limits of the Mediterranean Sea. General trends were observed in the two considered basins: the north-western Mediterranean Sea, in which higher cell abundances were mostly recorded in mid-summer (end of July), and the northern Adriatic Sea where they occur in early fall (end of September). The sea-water temperature does not seem to be a primary driver, and the maximal abundance periods were site and year specific. Such results represent an important step in the understanding of harmful benthic microalgae blooms in temperate areas, and provide a good base for policy makers and managers in the attempt to monitor and forecast benthic harmful microalgae blooms.
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 2003
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 2002
... Scientia Marina, 54, 317^328. Guidetti, P., 2000. Di¡erences among ¢sh assemblages associated... more ... Scientia Marina, 54, 317^328. Guidetti, P., 2000. Di¡erences among ¢sh assemblages associated with nearshore Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds, rocky^algal reefs and unvegetated sand habitats in the Adriatic Sea. ... Vacchi, M., Bussotti, S., Guidetti, P. & La Mesa, G., 1998. ...
Tetrahedron Letters, 1995
The monoglyceryl ester (1) of a new halimane diterpenoic acid has been isolated as diacetyl deriv... more The monoglyceryl ester (1) of a new halimane diterpenoic acid has been isolated as diacetyl derivative (2) from the mantle tissue of the Antarctic nudibranch Austrodoris kerguelenensis. The structure and the relative stereochemistry have been established by means of ...
Scientia Marina, 1999
... (Ross Sea) and in the Straits of Magellan* RICCARDO CATTANEO-VIETTI, MARIACHIARA CHIANTORE, C... more ... (Ross Sea) and in the Straits of Magellan* RICCARDO CATTANEO-VIETTI, MARIACHIARA CHIANTORE, CRISTINA MISIC, PAOLO POVERO and MAURO FABIANO Istituto di Scienze Ambientali Marine, Università di Genova, 16126 Genova - Italy. ...
Coralligenous biocoenoses developed almost 10,000 years ago in the Mediterranean Sea, form· ing e... more Coralligenous biocoenoses developed almost 10,000 years ago in the Mediterranean Sea, form· ing environments characterized by high levels of biodiversity. They are complex biogenic struc· tures growing through the continuous overlapping of organogenic layers, between 20 and 130 m depth. The coralligenous substrate, for the concurrent presence of bio-builders (algae, ser· pulid worms, bryozoans,and scleractinians) and destroying elements (clionid sponges, bivalves) is subject to dynamic evolution. Studies conducted on sections of corall igenous blocks show that algae are the main component responsible for the bui lding of these concretions. Calcareous remains of benthic animals lack in mineral structures and are one of the most impor· tant detritus·forming elements at the bottom of vertical cliffs. This seems to be due to the attack of clionids which selectively bore animal rather than plant carbonates. A study on the population dynamics of some anthozoans with a calcareous skeleton has shown that about 100% of the newly settled specimens are probably removed by cl ion· ids. ln th is way, the substratum is cyclically renewed by the continuous boring action of clionids. It is a sort of intermediate disturbance which controls the evolution and the structure of skio-philous zoocoenosis, through primary space regeneration. A high specific richness, typical of coralligenous biocoenosis, is developed by this action. From a geological point of view, it form s a kind of limestone, characteristic of biogenic constructions and detritic bottoms under the cliff.
Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 2015
Journal of Sea Research, 2015
Marine Biodiversity Records, 2015
Mediterranean Ecosystems, 2001
The Biological bulletin, 2012
The coiling pattern of the whip black coral Cirrhipathes sp. (Antipatharia, Antipathidae) was stu... more The coiling pattern of the whip black coral Cirrhipathes sp. (Antipatharia, Antipathidae) was studied in four sites of the Bunaken Marine Park (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) characterized by different hydrodynamic conditions. The colonies show a helicospiral growth, with the polyps irregularly arranged on the external convex side of the turns of the stem. Only the colonies living in a very slow current environment reach the greatest lengths (up to 5 m) and show the highest number of rotations (up to 10, 3600°). The turns shape changes along the stem of the colonies, from the base to the apex, as evidenced by the ratio between the pitch and the diameter of each coil. In particular, the turns close to the basal plate have a smaller diameter and a larger pitch, while in the most distal turns, the diameter increases and the pitch decreases concurrently. We hypothesize that the shape variation of the whorls is triggered by the relationship between the growing stem and the intensity of the p...
Mediterranean Ecosystems, 2001
Ross Sea Ecology, 2000
ABSTRACT The littoral benthic communities of the Ross Sea, except for McMurdo Sound, are poorly k... more ABSTRACT The littoral benthic communities of the Ross Sea, except for McMurdo Sound, are poorly known. An analysis of the composition and distribution of the communities in Terra Nova Bay has been conducted down to the 150-m depth between Tethys Bay and Adelie Cove. These communities show a clear zonation according to depth and on the basis of some guide species. On hard bottoms, the upper zone down to the 2–3m depths, due to the presence of drifting pack ice, shows a very poor community, mainly composed by cyanobacteria and diatoms and the amphipod Paramoera walkeri. From 2–4m to 70m, the algal communities constitute welldefined belts. These algal belts represent shelter and a food source for diversified and abundant vagile fauna, among which the echinoid Sterechinus neumayeri and the asteroid Odontaster validus. From 70–120m, a complex community of sponges and anthozoans characterizes the rocks, reaching high values in biomass and species richness. Soft bottoms generally start at the 20–30m depth and are constituted by coarse sands and gravel where Alcyonium sp. is often found. Herein the communities are characterized by bivalves (Laternula elliptica, Yoldia eightsi, Adamussium colbecki) and polychaetes (Tharyx cincinnatus, Aglaophamus ornatus; Spiophanes tcherniai, Leitoscoloplos mawsoni). Much deeper, on muddy sands at about the 150-m depth, the polychaete Laonice weddellia characterizes the community, and brachiopods can be found on small gravel.
Coral gardens have been internationally recognized as unique habitats characterized by numerous s... more Coral gardens have been internationally recognized as unique habitats characterized by numerous structuring species, generating complex and fragile ecosystems, which act as important oases of biodiversity in the deep realm. Deep corals are generally believed to constitute poorly resilient assemblages presenting a low recovery potential from the impact of destructive deep fishing activities. For these reasons, the international scientific community has recently proposed the inclusion of some of these species in many protection lists, recognizing their ecological value and their vulnerability to human activities. A wide ROV video archive was used to characterize the fishing impact on numerous deep rocky shoals along the entire Tyrrhenian and Ligurian Seas (Italy). Lost fishing gears represent the great majority of the marine litter on the bottom, reported in the totality of the explored sites. Some regional differences were highlighted, with Liguria and Campania among the most impacte...
Even though coralligenous habitats are considered to be important hotspots for the Mediterranean ... more Even though coralligenous habitats are considered to be important hotspots for the Mediterranean biodiversity, little is known regarding their response to human pressures. One of the widely recognized threats of coralligenous is recreational and artisanal fishing that may cause severe damage or mortality events to long-lived, key structural species. Consequently, monitoring and sustainable management of fishing are the most important concerns on protecting vulnerable habitats and their biodiversity. However, assessment of fishing activity in the Mediterranean region requires complicated approaches due to the increased heterogeneity on combination of gears, the variation of target species and the poor data availability. Hence, common strategies in fisheries management have failed to capture this heterogeneity and to improve understanding of effort allocation and its effects on benthic habitats. The present study identifies and describes the spatio-temporal patterns of selected recrea...
Toxicon, 2011
Harmful benthic microalgae blooms represent an emergent phenomenon in temperate zones, causing he... more Harmful benthic microalgae blooms represent an emergent phenomenon in temperate zones, causing health, ecological and economic concern. The main goal of this work was to compile records of Ostreopsis at large temporal and spatial scales, in order to study the relationship between cell abundances, the periodicity and intensity of the blooms and the role of sea water temperature in 14 Spanish, French, Monegasque and Italian sites located along the northern limits of the Mediterranean Sea. General trends were observed in the two considered basins: the north-western Mediterranean Sea, in which higher cell abundances were mostly recorded in mid-summer (end of July), and the northern Adriatic Sea where they occur in early fall (end of September). The sea-water temperature does not seem to be a primary driver, and the maximal abundance periods were site and year specific. Such results represent an important step in the understanding of harmful benthic microalgae blooms in temperate areas, and provide a good base for policy makers and managers in the attempt to monitor and forecast benthic harmful microalgae blooms.
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 2003
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 2002
... Scientia Marina, 54, 317^328. Guidetti, P., 2000. Di¡erences among ¢sh assemblages associated... more ... Scientia Marina, 54, 317^328. Guidetti, P., 2000. Di¡erences among ¢sh assemblages associated with nearshore Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds, rocky^algal reefs and unvegetated sand habitats in the Adriatic Sea. ... Vacchi, M., Bussotti, S., Guidetti, P. & La Mesa, G., 1998. ...
Tetrahedron Letters, 1995
The monoglyceryl ester (1) of a new halimane diterpenoic acid has been isolated as diacetyl deriv... more The monoglyceryl ester (1) of a new halimane diterpenoic acid has been isolated as diacetyl derivative (2) from the mantle tissue of the Antarctic nudibranch Austrodoris kerguelenensis. The structure and the relative stereochemistry have been established by means of ...
Scientia Marina, 1999
... (Ross Sea) and in the Straits of Magellan* RICCARDO CATTANEO-VIETTI, MARIACHIARA CHIANTORE, C... more ... (Ross Sea) and in the Straits of Magellan* RICCARDO CATTANEO-VIETTI, MARIACHIARA CHIANTORE, CRISTINA MISIC, PAOLO POVERO and MAURO FABIANO Istituto di Scienze Ambientali Marine, Università di Genova, 16126 Genova - Italy. ...