Untitled - CNR

Marine research at CNRFigure 5: For many macroalgal species, thallus fragmentation is an effective way of reproductionand dispersion. (Photo by E. Cecere)[15] (Figure 7). They can affect:- the environment• substituting the native species and modifyingthe community structure andtrophic chains;• altering the local biodiversity and thefunctioning of the ecosystem;- the human activities• damaging fishing, directly or indirectlyas a result of the replacement of speciesof commercial value, or making dirty andheavier the nets;• damaging aquaculture, either causing thedeath of reared organisms in case ofboth toxic phytoplanktonic species andpathogens or competing with the farmedspecies for the substrate colonization;- the human health• toxins produced by phytoplanktonicspecies can accumulate along the trophicchain reaching the last consumer, i.e. thehumans and causing different types ofsyndromes, even very serious such asthe gastro-intestinal and neurologic ones(Figure 8).4 Taranto, an area at riskof NIS introduction4.1 Vectors1. Port activities (Figure 9)Taranto houses the moorage of the region’sfishing fleet, the most importantbase of the Italian Navy, a commercialport and a new container terminal.The increase of the harbouractivities, specially along the transcontinentalcourse connecting the FarEast with Europe through Suez Canal,makes Taranto the third vertex of themotorway-maritime triangle made byTrieste-Taranto-Genoa.2. Aquaculture activities (Figure 10)Taranto is an important area for mus-2129