The Benthos Laboratory is concerned with the study and monitoring of transitional and marine coastal ecosystems through the analysis of zoo- and phyto-benthos.
The Laboratory studies the effects of anthropogenic activities and/or natural events on the benthic diversity of transitional and marine environments. Research activities concern taxonomic, trophic, functional and ecological aspects of macrozoobenthic species of Mediterranean transitional and marine coastal waters, including invasive alien species. The laboratory conducts research to study and assess the impact of anthropogenic pressures of various origins on sensitive Mediterranean habitats, including Zostera noltii, Cymodocea nodosa and Posidonia oceanica, through and study of macrostructural, functional and ecological descriptors.
Instrumentation available to the laboratory
– a lagoon boat and a dinghy;
– Van-Veen grab, Box-corer;
– coring system;
– photographic equipment;
– CTD multiparametric probe;
– current-meters;
– sediment redox meter
– 0.5 to 1.0 cm sieves
– 1 optical microscope
– 2 stereomicroscopes
– dichotomous keys and specific monographs
– precision weight scale
– muffle furnace and stove
– 1000, 500, 250,125, 63 µm sieves
– freezer
• muffle furnace
– stove
The research activities of the Institute are carried out in the context of research, development and innovation projects, both national and international, based on regional funding programs (POR FEAMPA - Regional Operational Program of the European Maritime Affairs Fisheries Fund and Aquaculture and POR FESR - Regional Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund) or ministerial (PRIN - Projects of relevant national interest, PNRA - National Research Program in Antarctica, PO FEAMPA - National Operational Program European Maritime Affairs Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) , programs for European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg), direct funding programs of the European Commission (Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe, Life, JPI - Joint Programming Initiatives, ERA-NET Cofund) and thematic collaboration initiatives managed by international organizations such as, for example , the FAO - GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean). The Institute also develops funded projects in the context of collaborations with private companies in the sectors of the blue economy as well as technology transfer and research results. Research projects, mainly of a collaborative nature, are developed through a wide network of partners that include major Italian and foreign research institutions and universities.
