Preprint volume - SIBM

Pre-print Volume - Oral presentations
Topic 2: MARINE ORGANISMS AND ECOSYSTEMS AS MODEL SYSTEMS
This phenomenon has to be read not only as a new case of warm-water affinity species
which extends its range north-wards. Its potential is of becoming a new indicator of
Mediterranean Sea meridionalization characterized by cheap and easy monitoring.
Its size and morphological characters allow easy identification. The species can’t be
misidentified with others. It lives in the mesolittoral, most populations can be accessed
without entering the water, therefore no special techniques nor any diving equipment is
needed for observations and collections. However, its reproductive cycle which is the
key factor in its distribution expansion is strictly associated to the sea water
temperature. Last, but not least, the wide latitudinal range of the Italian coastline is
perfect for the study of these phenomena.
Our plans, funding pending, are to establish a richer database of presence data of E.
punctata from the Italian coastline, obtain a wider SST time series, look for a formal
correlation between distribution and temperature data, fully understand the biological
reproductive mechanism of the species (comparing, for example, the time of the gonad
maturation at different latitudes) and the origin of populations (with molecular
markers), define a monitoring protocol and evaluate the possibility of a previsional
model.
References
ALBANO P.G., TRONO D. (2008) – On the occurrence of Echinolittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791)
(Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in Puglia, South-Eastern Italy. Boll. Malacol., 44 (9-12): 123-126.
ANTIT M., GOFAS S., AZZOUNA A. (2007) – New records of upper shore Mollusca for the
Tunisian coast: newcomers or overlooked? Mar. Biodiv. Rec., 1, published on-line doi:
10.1017/S1755267207000206.
BIANCHI C.N. (2007) – Biodiversity issues for the forthcoming tropical Mediterranean Sea.
Hydrobiologia, 580: 7-21.
D'ANNA G. (1997) – Segnalazione di Nodilittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791) per Zambrone (Vibo
Valentia). Notiziario SIM, 15 (1-4): 20.
PALANT B., FISHELSON L. (1968) – Littorina punctata (Gmelin) and Littorina neritoides (L.),
(Mollusca, Gastropoda) from Israel: ecology and annual cycle of genital system. Isr. J. Zool., 17:
145-160.
SOPPELSA O., CROCETTA F., FASULO G. (2004) – Prime segnalazioni di Nodilittorina punctata
(Gmelin, 1791) per il Golfo di Salerno, il Golfo di Napoli ed i litorali laziali (Tirreno centromeridionale).
Boll. Soc. Naturalisti Napoli, Nuova Serie, 2 (2003-2004): 41-44.
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