Alice Rotini - FedOA - Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II

Aim of the study
INTRODUCTION
This work has been devoted to the identification and development of
different generation of "diagnostic" tools to be used in monitoring of the seagrass
meadows conservation status.
These tools are based on biochemical and molecular approaches that can
provide early and reliable information on the ecophysiological status of plants.
The experimental approaches have been selected by applying the criteria of
reproducibility and cost-effectiveness in order to obtain ecologically relevant
information useful for policy and management goals. The outcomes of this work
represent the first step for future identification and validation of a suite of
biomarkers devoted to:
• a better understanding of causes and dynamics of decline phenomena;
• an implementation of effective strategies to assess the marine systems
quality and the development of tools for environmental recovery and
restoration.
In the long run this approach could help to get unequivocal information about
the quality of the environment and affordable standardized methodologies for
marine protection policies.
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