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C. Paoli
DiSTAV (Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences), University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy

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Journal article
Published: 21 April 2021 in Sustainability
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Forest ecosystems are important providers of ecosystem functions and services belonging to four categories: supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural ecosystem services. Forest management, generally focused on timber production, has consequences on the ability of the system to keep providing services. Silviculture, in fact, may affect the ecological structures and processes from which services arise. In particular, the removal of biomass causes a radical change in the stocks and flows of energy characterizing the system. Aiming at the assessment of differences in stored natural capital and ecosystem functions and services provision, three differently managed temperate forests of common beech (Fagus sylvatica) were considered: (1) a forest in semi-natural condition, (2) a forest carefully managed to get timber in a sustainable way and (3) a forest exploited without management. Natural capital and ecosystem functions and services are here accounted in biophysical terms. Specifically, all the resources used up to create the biomass (stock) and maintain the production (flow) of the different components of the forest system were calculated. Both stored emergy and empower decrease with increasing human pressure on the forest, resulting in a loss of natural capital and a diminished ability of the natural system to contribute to human well-being in terms of ecosystem services provision.

ACS Style

Paolo Vassallo; Claudia Turcato; Ilaria Rigo; Claudia Scopesi; Andrea Costa; Matteo Barcella; Giulia Dapueto; Mauro Mariotti; Chiara Paoli. Biophysical Accounting of Forests’ Value under Different Management Regimes: Conservation vs. Exploitation. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4638 .

AMA Style

Paolo Vassallo, Claudia Turcato, Ilaria Rigo, Claudia Scopesi, Andrea Costa, Matteo Barcella, Giulia Dapueto, Mauro Mariotti, Chiara Paoli. Biophysical Accounting of Forests’ Value under Different Management Regimes: Conservation vs. Exploitation. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (9):4638.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Vassallo; Claudia Turcato; Ilaria Rigo; Claudia Scopesi; Andrea Costa; Matteo Barcella; Giulia Dapueto; Mauro Mariotti; Chiara Paoli. 2021. "Biophysical Accounting of Forests’ Value under Different Management Regimes: Conservation vs. Exploitation." Sustainability 13, no. 9: 4638.

Journal article
Published: 26 November 2019 in Marine Pollution Bulletin
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Understanding which drivers cause diversity patterns is a key issue in conservation. Here we applied a spatially explicit model to predict marine benthic diversity patterns according to environmental factors in the NW Mediterranean Sea. While most conservation-oriented diversity studies consider species richness only and neglect equitability, we measured separately species richness, equitability, and ‘overall’ diversity (i.e., the Shannon-Wiener H′ function) on a dataset of 890 benthic species × 209 samples. Diversity values were predicted by means of Random Forest regression, on the basis of 10 factors: depth, distance from the coast, distance from the shelf break, latitude, sea-floor slope, sediment grain size, sediment sorting, distance from harbours and marinas, distance from rivers, and sampling gear. Predictions by Random Forests were accurate, the main predictors being latitude, sediment grain size, depth and distance from the coast. Based on predicted values, diversity hotspots were identified as those localities where indices were in the 15% top segment of ranked values. Only a minority of the diversity hotspots was included within the boundaries of the protection institutes established in the region. Marine protected areas are often created in sites harbouring important coastal habitats, which risks neglecting the diversity hidden in the sedimentary seafloor. We suggest that marine protected areas should accommodate portions of sedimentary habitat within their boundaries to improve diversity conservation.

ACS Style

Paolo Vassallo; Chiara Paoli; Stefano Aliani; Silvia Cocito; Carla Morri; Carlo Nike Bianchi. Benthic diversity patterns and predictors: A study case with inferences for conservation. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2019, 150, 110748 .

AMA Style

Paolo Vassallo, Chiara Paoli, Stefano Aliani, Silvia Cocito, Carla Morri, Carlo Nike Bianchi. Benthic diversity patterns and predictors: A study case with inferences for conservation. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2019; 150 ():110748.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Vassallo; Chiara Paoli; Stefano Aliani; Silvia Cocito; Carla Morri; Carlo Nike Bianchi. 2019. "Benthic diversity patterns and predictors: A study case with inferences for conservation." Marine Pollution Bulletin 150, no. : 110748.

Journal article
Published: 26 August 2019 in Diversity
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Biotic homogenization is an expected effect of biological invasions. Invasive alien species typically show great adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions and may expand into different habitats, thus reducing the dissimilarity among the recipient communities. We tested this assumption by analyzing a comprehensive database (78 species × 229 samples) collected between 2012 and 2017 in the marine protected area of Portofino (NW Italy), where Caulerpa cylindracea, one of the worst invaders in the Mediterranean Sea, exhibits high substratum cover at depths between 1 m and 45 m in 14 different communities (identified according to the European Nature Information System EUNIS for habitat classification). Five samples for each of the eight depth zones (i.e., 5 m, 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, 25 m, 30 m, 35 m, and 40 m) were randomly re-sampled from the comprehensive database to produce a dataset of 67 species × 40 samples. Then, a second dataset of 66 species × 40 samples was simulated by excluding Caulerpa cylindracea. Both re-sampled datasets underwent multivariate analysis. In the presence of C. cylindracea, the overall similarity among samples was higher, thus indicating homogenization of the rocky reef communities of Portofino Marine Protected Area. Continued monitoring activity is needed to understand and assess the pattern and extent of C. cylindracea’s inclusion in the recipient ecosystems.

ACS Style

Carla Morri; Monica Montefalcone; Giulia Gatti; Paolo Vassallo; Chiara Paoli; Carlo Nike Bianchi. An Alien Invader is the Cause of Homogenization in the Recipient Ecosystem: A Simulation-Like Approach. Diversity 2019, 11, 146 .

AMA Style

Carla Morri, Monica Montefalcone, Giulia Gatti, Paolo Vassallo, Chiara Paoli, Carlo Nike Bianchi. An Alien Invader is the Cause of Homogenization in the Recipient Ecosystem: A Simulation-Like Approach. Diversity. 2019; 11 (9):146.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carla Morri; Monica Montefalcone; Giulia Gatti; Paolo Vassallo; Chiara Paoli; Carlo Nike Bianchi. 2019. "An Alien Invader is the Cause of Homogenization in the Recipient Ecosystem: A Simulation-Like Approach." Diversity 11, no. 9: 146.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2018 in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
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ACS Style

Roberto Carlucci; Giulia Cipriano; Chiara Paoli; Pasquale Ricci; Carmelo Fanizza; Francesca Capezzuto; Paolo Vassallo. Random Forest population modelling of striped and common-bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 2018, 204, 177 -192.

AMA Style

Roberto Carlucci, Giulia Cipriano, Chiara Paoli, Pasquale Ricci, Carmelo Fanizza, Francesca Capezzuto, Paolo Vassallo. Random Forest population modelling of striped and common-bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 2018; 204 ():177-192.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roberto Carlucci; Giulia Cipriano; Chiara Paoli; Pasquale Ricci; Carmelo Fanizza; Francesca Capezzuto; Paolo Vassallo. 2018. "Random Forest population modelling of striped and common-bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea)." Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 204, no. : 177-192.

Journal article
Published: 17 April 2018 in Marine Pollution Bulletin
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The availability of marine habitats maps remains limited due to difficulty and cost of working at sea. Reduced light penetration in the water hampers the use of optical imagery, and acoustic methods require extensive sea-truth activities. Predictive spatial modelling may offer an alternative to produce benthic habitat maps based on complete acoustic coverage of the seafloor together with a comparatively low number of sea truths. This approach was applied to the coralligenous reefs of the Marine Protected Area of Tavolara - Punta Coda Cavallo (NE Sardinia, Italy). Fuzzy clustering, applied to a set of observations made by scuba diving and used as sea truth, allowed recognising five coralligenous habitats, all but one existing within EUNIS (European Nature Information System) types. Variable importance plots showed that the distribution of habitats was driven by distance from coast, depth, and lithotype, and allowed mapping their distribution over the MPA. Congruence between observed and predicted distributions and accuracy of the classification was high. Results allowed calculating the occurrence of the distinct coralligenous habitats in zones with different protection level. The five habitats are unequally protected since the protection regime was established when detailed marine habitat maps were not available. A SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) analysis was performed to identify critical points and potentialities of the method. The method developed proved to be reliable and the results obtained will be useful when modulating on-going and future management actions in the studied area and in other Mediterranean MPAs to develop conservation efforts at basin scale.

ACS Style

Paolo Vassallo; Carlo Nike Bianchi; Chiara Paoli; Florian Holon; Augusto Navone; Giorgio Bavestrello; Riccardo Cattaneo Vietti; Carla Morri. A predictive approach to benthic marine habitat mapping: Efficacy and management implications. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2018, 131, 218 -232.

AMA Style

Paolo Vassallo, Carlo Nike Bianchi, Chiara Paoli, Florian Holon, Augusto Navone, Giorgio Bavestrello, Riccardo Cattaneo Vietti, Carla Morri. A predictive approach to benthic marine habitat mapping: Efficacy and management implications. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2018; 131 ():218-232.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Vassallo; Carlo Nike Bianchi; Chiara Paoli; Florian Holon; Augusto Navone; Giorgio Bavestrello; Riccardo Cattaneo Vietti; Carla Morri. 2018. "A predictive approach to benthic marine habitat mapping: Efficacy and management implications." Marine Pollution Bulletin 131, no. : 218-232.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2017 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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Increasing anthropogenic pressure on coastal regions, coupled with a conflicting relationship between ecosystem health and economic growth, has resulted in a worldwide deterioration of marine ecosystems and loss of ecosystem services. The seagrass Posidonia oceanica is an emblematic example, constituting extensive and highly valuable meadows whose extent largely declined in the last decades. In this paper, more than one century of history of P. oceanica meadows has been reconstructed in a NW Mediterranean region combining models and historical information. The equivalent economic value of P. oceanica ecosystem functions was evaluated according to a donor-side approach and compared with the main economic sector of the region. A loss of more than 50% of the original surface of P. oceanica meadow extent has been documented between 1850 and around 1980, followed by stabilization in the last decades. Decline of P. oceanica has often been coupled with its replacement by the more tolerant seagrass species Cymodocea nodosa, only partially compensating for the loss of P. oceanica. The loss of the value of ecosystem functions between 1861 and 2009 was computed in 1106.8 billion emergy-euros (em€), a figure greater than the value added in the same period by tourism-related activities. Protection measures undertaken in the last decades slowed down the decline of P. oceanica meadows, while no concomitant decrease of the regional economic growth occurred. This study illustrates the tradeoffs between ecosystem conservation and economy growth, underlining the importance of long-term monitoring for environmental management and preservation of the natural capital

ACS Style

Elena Burgos; Monica Montefalcone; Marco Ferrari; Chiara Paoli; Paolo Vassallo; Carla Morri; Carlo Nike Bianchi. Ecosystem functions and economic wealth: Trajectories of change in seagrass meadows. Journal of Cleaner Production 2017, 168, 1108 -1119.

AMA Style

Elena Burgos, Monica Montefalcone, Marco Ferrari, Chiara Paoli, Paolo Vassallo, Carla Morri, Carlo Nike Bianchi. Ecosystem functions and economic wealth: Trajectories of change in seagrass meadows. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2017; 168 ():1108-1119.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elena Burgos; Monica Montefalcone; Marco Ferrari; Chiara Paoli; Paolo Vassallo; Carla Morri; Carlo Nike Bianchi. 2017. "Ecosystem functions and economic wealth: Trajectories of change in seagrass meadows." Journal of Cleaner Production 168, no. : 1108-1119.

Book chapter
Published: 01 August 2017 in Marine Animal Forests
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Marine animal forests supply several services based on a multiplicity of ecological functions, thus generating a set of benefits to humans. Services have been studied in coral reefs, whereas less is known about the role of other animal forests. Actual estimates of economic value of the ecosystem services provided by reefs highlighted their ability to generate benefits for humankind, but these approaches cannot be considered complete. The fulfillment of sectorial valuations, adopting an anthropocentric approach, hindered an effective quantification, even economic, of total value and consequently of potential damages imposed to habitats. The adoption of a system view, based on the understanding of the entire habitat functioning generating services, is then required. Only from the assessment of functions, and then of natural capital disposition together with its present exploitation level, managers and scientists will be able to perform long-run plans for conservation. System methodologies, and in particular emergy analysis, can fulfill these needs by reversing the traditional approach to the valuation issue. System methodologies adopt a donor-side approach, which evaluates the ecosystem services as the amount of resources invested by nature independently from the presence of users and the value that humans assign to a service. The fulfillment of donor-side evaluations, free from subjective preferences, can be crucial for those ecosystem functions that are essential for the existence of marine animal forests but are not perceived by humans or scarcely evaluated by the market.

ACS Style

Chiara Paoli; Monica Montefalcone; Carla Morri; Paolo Vassallo; Carlo Nike Bianchi. Ecosystem Functions and Services of the Marine Animal Forests. Marine Animal Forests 2017, 1271 -1312.

AMA Style

Chiara Paoli, Monica Montefalcone, Carla Morri, Paolo Vassallo, Carlo Nike Bianchi. Ecosystem Functions and Services of the Marine Animal Forests. Marine Animal Forests. 2017; ():1271-1312.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Paoli; Monica Montefalcone; Carla Morri; Paolo Vassallo; Carlo Nike Bianchi. 2017. "Ecosystem Functions and Services of the Marine Animal Forests." Marine Animal Forests , no. : 1271-1312.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2016 in Ecological Indicators
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Although the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is largely based on the establishment of environmental targets and associated proxies to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES), a full suite of ecological indicators for all the ecosystem components is not currently available for ongoing assess- ment and regular update of GES targets. This is because effective indicators and management actions aimed at preserving/rebuilding marine biodiversity should be found from the knowledge of the spatial distribution of target species and extension of critical habitats as well as their overlapping with human activities, pressure and impacts. In this regard, the spatial distributions of the striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba and the common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea) were investigated by means of a generalized additive model (GAM) and a Random Forest (RF) based on sighting data collected during standardized vessel- based surveys carried out from 2009 to 2015. Eight predictive variables were considered, taking into account both the local physiographic features and human activities existing in the investigated area, suggesting an innovative approach to habitat modeling. In particular, the explanatory variables depth, distance from industrial areas and distance from the coast proved to significantly influence the distri- bution of both dolphin species. In addition, the distribution of S. coeruleoalba and T. truncatus were also significantly shaped by the distance from the navy exercise areas and the fishing areas, respectively. On the contrary, the slope and the distance from the main commercial routes never provided any significant influence. The reliability of GAM and RF models in predicting the spatial distribution of both dolphins was tested by applying the Youden Index method to the ROC curves. The RF model allowed the projection of the expected presence/absence pattern of S. coeruleoalba and T. truncatus to produce the preference habitat versus non habitat map. In particular, the RF model predicted that the striped dolphin is widely present in the central and deeper part of the Gulf of Taranto. In contrast, the common bottlenose dolphin seems to be mainly distributed along the coasts in both the eastern and western sector of the basin. A clear overlapping of the preference habitats estimated for S. coeruleoalba and T. truncatus is shown north of Punta Alice and in front of Policoro as well as offshore from Ugento in the eastern and western parts of the investigated area, respectively. Finally, the critical habitats of S. coeruleoalba and T. truncatus are the outcome of both the influence of environmental conditions and anthropogenic pressures presently occurring in the Gulf of Taranto, basically indicating the need for conservation measures, especially con- sidering that the area is expected to be considered for hydrocarbon prospecting. These results contribute to setting up a baseline reference for future assessment of environmental marine disturbances using cetaceans, which are considered a key group in the MSFD, as an ecological indicator

ACS Style

Roberto Carlucci; Carmelo Fanizza; Giulia Cipriano; Chiara Paoli; Tommaso Russo; Paolo Vassallo. Modeling the spatial distribution of the striped dolphin ( Stenella coeruleoalba ) and common bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea). Ecological Indicators 2016, 69, 707 -721.

AMA Style

Roberto Carlucci, Carmelo Fanizza, Giulia Cipriano, Chiara Paoli, Tommaso Russo, Paolo Vassallo. Modeling the spatial distribution of the striped dolphin ( Stenella coeruleoalba ) and common bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea). Ecological Indicators. 2016; 69 ():707-721.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roberto Carlucci; Carmelo Fanizza; Giulia Cipriano; Chiara Paoli; Tommaso Russo; Paolo Vassallo. 2016. "Modeling the spatial distribution of the striped dolphin ( Stenella coeruleoalba ) and common bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea)." Ecological Indicators 69, no. : 707-721.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2016 in Ecological Indicators
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The novel Overall Complexity Index (OCI) is proposed to measure ecological complexity, incorporating four complexity indices: (1) exergy and (2) throughput as extensive metrics, (3) specific exergy and (4) information as intensive metrics. Exergy and specific exergy estimate structural complexity while throughput and information functional complexity. OCI was applied to benthic habitats in a coastal marine tract encompassing a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in north-western Italy. The four individual indices did not always show homogeneous results in assigning complexity to different habitats. On the contrary, the additive measure provided by OCI showed that seagrass meadows and coralligenous reefs are in all the most complex habitats. Applying OCI provided results consistent with traditional approaches based on expert judgement, which usually attach more interest to seagrass meadows and hard bottoms with respect to soft bottoms, but expressed a synthetic, objective and quantitative approach. OCI can be mapped for management purposes, resolving the discordances evidenced by the individual indices. Ecological complexity in the study area is concentrated in some hot spots, as mapped by OCI, while the greatest part of the seafloor is occupied by low complexity habitats. Only some of these complexity hotspots are included within the Marine Protected Area, while this study suggests that high complexity areas, adjacent to the existing MPA, should be considered for protection possibly reshaping MPA's limits.

ACS Style

C. Paoli; A. Morten; C.N. Bianchi; C. Morri; M. Fabiano; P. Vassallo. Capturing ecological complexity: OCI, a novel combination of ecological indices as applied to benthic marine habitats. Ecological Indicators 2016, 66, 86 -102.

AMA Style

C. Paoli, A. Morten, C.N. Bianchi, C. Morri, M. Fabiano, P. Vassallo. Capturing ecological complexity: OCI, a novel combination of ecological indices as applied to benthic marine habitats. Ecological Indicators. 2016; 66 ():86-102.

Chicago/Turabian Style

C. Paoli; A. Morten; C.N. Bianchi; C. Morri; M. Fabiano; P. Vassallo. 2016. "Capturing ecological complexity: OCI, a novel combination of ecological indices as applied to benthic marine habitats." Ecological Indicators 66, no. : 86-102.

Book chapter
Published: 10 June 2016 in Marine Animal Forests
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Marine animal forests supply several services based on a multiplicity of ecological functions, thus generating a set of benefits to humans. Services have been studied in coral reefs, whereas less is known about the role of other animal forests. Actual estimates of economic value of the ecosystem services provided by reefs highlighted their ability to generate benefits for humankind, but these approaches cannot be considered complete. The fulfillment of sectorial valuations, adopting an anthropocentric approach, hindered an effective quantification, even economic, of total value and consequently of potential damages imposed to habitats. The adoption of a system view, based on the understanding of the entire habitat functioning generating services, is then required. Only from the assessment of functions, and then of natural capital disposition together with its present exploitation level, managers and scientists will be able to perform long-run plans for conservation. System methodologies, and in particular emergy analysis, can fulfill these needs by reversing the traditional approach to the valuation issue. System methodologies adopt a donor-side approach, which evaluates the ecosystem services as the amount of resources invested by nature independently from the presence of users and the value that humans assign to a service. The fulfillment of donor-side evaluations, free from subjective preferences, can be crucial for those ecosystem functions that are essential for the existence of marine animal forests but are not perceived by humans or scarcely evaluated by the market.

ACS Style

Chiara Paoli; Monica Montefalcone; Carla Morri; Paolo Vassallo; Carlo Nike Bianchi. Ecosystem Functions and Services of the Marine Animal Forests. Marine Animal Forests 2016, 1 -42.

AMA Style

Chiara Paoli, Monica Montefalcone, Carla Morri, Paolo Vassallo, Carlo Nike Bianchi. Ecosystem Functions and Services of the Marine Animal Forests. Marine Animal Forests. 2016; ():1-42.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Paoli; Monica Montefalcone; Carla Morri; Paolo Vassallo; Carlo Nike Bianchi. 2016. "Ecosystem Functions and Services of the Marine Animal Forests." Marine Animal Forests , no. : 1-42.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2016 in Marine Policy
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This paper discusses the results of a multi-country survey about private stakeholders' contribution to coastal preservation. It was conducted in four coastal sites of Greece, Italy and France, in order to collect information about beach visitors' perception of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and their willingness to pay (WTP) for beach preservation, intended here as defence from erosion. In order to find out whether ICZM perception is a determinant of WTP, regression analysis is applied. Results show that in these sites respondents have a low level of information about the nature of ICZM, despite local authorities having implemented some ICZM strategies for preserving the coast. Nevertheless, those who are informed about ICZM have a higher probability of paying for beach preservation. This suggests to policymakers that promoting public awareness about ICZM may increase the probability of paying. Finally, some categories of visitors, such as women and young and middle-aged people, have a higher probability of paying than men and older people, thus suggesting a more sensitive attitude to beach preservation. Therefore, policy-makers should also pay attention to the categories of visitors less likely to pay.

ACS Style

S. Marzetti; M. Disegna; E. Koutrakis; Argyrios Sapounidis; V. Marin; S. Martino; S. Roussel; H. Rey-Valette; C. Paoli. Visitors' awareness of ICZM and WTP for beach preservation in four European Mediterranean regions. Marine Policy 2016, 63, 100 -108.

AMA Style

S. Marzetti, M. Disegna, E. Koutrakis, Argyrios Sapounidis, V. Marin, S. Martino, S. Roussel, H. Rey-Valette, C. Paoli. Visitors' awareness of ICZM and WTP for beach preservation in four European Mediterranean regions. Marine Policy. 2016; 63 ():100-108.

Chicago/Turabian Style

S. Marzetti; M. Disegna; E. Koutrakis; Argyrios Sapounidis; V. Marin; S. Martino; S. Roussel; H. Rey-Valette; C. Paoli. 2016. "Visitors' awareness of ICZM and WTP for beach preservation in four European Mediterranean regions." Marine Policy 63, no. : 100-108.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2015 in Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management
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ACS Style

Pier Paolo Franzese; Elvira Buonocore; Chiara Paoli; Francesco Massa; Donati Stefano; Giorgio Fanciulli; Antonino Miccio; Emanuele Mollica; Augusto Navone; Giovanni F. Russo; Paolo Povero; Paolo Vassallo. Environmental Accounting in Marine Protected Areas: the EAMPA Project. Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management 2015, 3, 323 -331.

AMA Style

Pier Paolo Franzese, Elvira Buonocore, Chiara Paoli, Francesco Massa, Donati Stefano, Giorgio Fanciulli, Antonino Miccio, Emanuele Mollica, Augusto Navone, Giovanni F. Russo, Paolo Povero, Paolo Vassallo. Environmental Accounting in Marine Protected Areas: the EAMPA Project. Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management. 2015; 3 (4):323-331.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pier Paolo Franzese; Elvira Buonocore; Chiara Paoli; Francesco Massa; Donati Stefano; Giorgio Fanciulli; Antonino Miccio; Emanuele Mollica; Augusto Navone; Giovanni F. Russo; Paolo Povero; Paolo Vassallo. 2015. "Environmental Accounting in Marine Protected Areas: the EAMPA Project." Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management 3, no. 4: 323-331.

Journal article
Published: 01 April 2015 in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
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International audienceSustained functioning of ecosystems is predicted to depend upon the maintenance of their biodiversity, structure and integrity. The large consensus achieved in this regard, however, faces to the objective difficulty of finding appropriate metrics to measure ecosystem functioning. Here, we aim at evaluating functional consequence of the phase shift occurring in meadows of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica, a priority habitat that is undergoing regression in many coastal areas due to multiple human pressures. Structural degradation of the P. oceanica ecosystem, consequent to increasing coastal exploitation and climate change, may result in the progressive replacement of this seagrass by opportunistic macrophytes, either native or alien. Reviewing published information and our personal records, we measured changes in biological habitat provisioning, species richness and biomass associated to each of the alternative states characterizing the phase shift. Then, ecosystem functioning was assessed by computing the exergy associated to each state, exergy being a state variable that measures the ecosystem capacity to produce work. Phase shift was consistently shown to imply loss in habitat provision, species richness, and biomass; structural and compositional loss was parallelled by a reduction of exergy content, thus providing for the first time an objective and integrative measure of the loss of ecosystem functioning following the degradation of healthy seagrass meadows

ACS Style

Monica Montefalcone; Paolo Vassallo; Giulia Gatti; Valeriano Parravicini; Chiara Paoli; Carla Morri; Carlo Nike Bianchi. The exergy of a phase shift: Ecosystem functioning loss in seagrass meadows of the Mediterranean Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 2015, 156, 186 -194.

AMA Style

Monica Montefalcone, Paolo Vassallo, Giulia Gatti, Valeriano Parravicini, Chiara Paoli, Carla Morri, Carlo Nike Bianchi. The exergy of a phase shift: Ecosystem functioning loss in seagrass meadows of the Mediterranean Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 2015; 156 ():186-194.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Monica Montefalcone; Paolo Vassallo; Giulia Gatti; Valeriano Parravicini; Chiara Paoli; Carla Morri; Carlo Nike Bianchi. 2015. "The exergy of a phase shift: Ecosystem functioning loss in seagrass meadows of the Mediterranean Sea." Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 156, no. : 186-194.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2013 in Marine Pollution Bulletin
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Making nature’s value visible to humans is a key issue for the XXI century and it is crucial to identify and\ud measure natural capital to incorporate benefits or costs of changes in ecosystem services into policy.\ud Emergy analysis, a method able to analyze the overall functioning of a system, was applied to reckon\ud the value of main ecosystem services provided by Posidonia oceanica, a fragile and precious Mediterranean\ud seagrass ecosystem. Estimates, based on calculation of resources employed by nature, resulted in\ud a value of 172 € m2 a1. Sediment retained by meadow is most relevant input, composing almost the\ud whole P. oceanica value. Remarks about economic losses arising from meadow regression have been made\ud through a time-comparison of meadow maps. Suggested procedure represents an operative tool to provide\ud a synthetic monetary measure of ecosystem services to be employed when comparing natural capital\ud to human and financial capitals in a substitutability perspective

ACS Style

Paolo Vassallo; Chiara Paoli; Alessio Rovere; Monica Montefalcone; Carla Morri; Carlo Nike Bianchi. The value of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: A natural capital assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2013, 75, 157 -167.

AMA Style

Paolo Vassallo, Chiara Paoli, Alessio Rovere, Monica Montefalcone, Carla Morri, Carlo Nike Bianchi. The value of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: A natural capital assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2013; 75 (1-2):157-167.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Vassallo; Chiara Paoli; Alessio Rovere; Monica Montefalcone; Carla Morri; Carlo Nike Bianchi. 2013. "The value of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: A natural capital assessment." Marine Pollution Bulletin 75, no. 1-2: 157-167.

Journal article
Published: 29 January 2013 in Ecological Engineering
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Authors analyzed a beach restoration project performed in Liguria region, NW of Italy. Main purpose was to evaluate the environmental cost associated with project fulfillment to (1) evaluate if they are correctly estimated by economy and (2) provide a valid tool to managers to consider them in cost benefits analysis or in overall evaluation of environmental projects. To this aim authors applied to case study Emergy analysis, a system evaluation method able to convert all employed items in a sole unit of measure. Results proved that environmental cost is largely greater than economic cost (two orders of magnitude). This cost, limited, in the specific case, by an effective good planning of the intervention, is principally ascribable to material (riverine removed, material from other existing hard structures destroyed and re-employed and quarry material) used to replenish beach. This testifies that, humans are imposing a double pressure to the environment: first by worsening, with their activities, littoral erosion, that implies the loss of natural habitat and the decay of beach ecosystem; second when, to manage negative outcomes caused by erosion to nature and human settlements, humans draw natural materials subtracting them to other possible uses by ecosystems. As a consequence a particular attention should be devoted to ecosystem preserving rather than to ecosystem restoring.

ACS Style

C. Paoli; I. Gastaudo; Paolo Vassallo. The environmental cost to restore beach ecoservices. Ecological Engineering 2013, 52, 182 -190.

AMA Style

C. Paoli, I. Gastaudo, Paolo Vassallo. The environmental cost to restore beach ecoservices. Ecological Engineering. 2013; 52 ():182-190.

Chicago/Turabian Style

C. Paoli; I. Gastaudo; Paolo Vassallo. 2013. "The environmental cost to restore beach ecoservices." Ecological Engineering 52, no. : 182-190.

Original articles
Published: 07 June 2010 in Coastal Management
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The Mediterranean area plays a pivotal role within the definition and implementation of regional strategies for integrated coastal zone management (ICZM). Under the umbrella of the Regional Framework Operation BeachMed-e, a research project was carried out in five Mediterranean EU regions (East Macedonia and Thrace in Greece, Lazio, Liguria, and Emilia Romagna in Italy and Languedoc-Roussillon in France), in order to study the different approaches to ICZM that have been applied and also to test new approaches to these regions. The aim of this article is to present and discuss the results of the common surveys conducted in order to investigate the institutional stakeholders’ perception on ICZM in the five Mediterranean regions considered. The results are presented region by region, while comparisons are carried out among regions. Summarizing the results it can be stated that some differences and common problems affecting the coastal decision-makers of the five Mediterranean regions considered were identified. Particularly, stakeholders involved in coastal management generally perceived a lack of collaboration and a poor information exchange in all the regions, resulting sometimes in a lack of awareness on coastal erosion issues.

ACS Style

Emmanouil T. Koutrakis; Argyrios Sapounidis; Silva Marzetti; Valentino Giuliani; Simone Martino; Mauro Fabiano; Valentina Marin; Chiara Paoli; Emmanuel Roccatagliata; Paola Salmona; Helen Rey-Valette; Sebastian Roussel; Daria Povh; C. G. Malvárez. Public Stakeholders' Perception of ICZM and Coastal Erosion in the Mediterranean. Coastal Management 2010, 38, 354 -377.

AMA Style

Emmanouil T. Koutrakis, Argyrios Sapounidis, Silva Marzetti, Valentino Giuliani, Simone Martino, Mauro Fabiano, Valentina Marin, Chiara Paoli, Emmanuel Roccatagliata, Paola Salmona, Helen Rey-Valette, Sebastian Roussel, Daria Povh, C. G. Malvárez. Public Stakeholders' Perception of ICZM and Coastal Erosion in the Mediterranean. Coastal Management. 2010; 38 (4):354-377.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emmanouil T. Koutrakis; Argyrios Sapounidis; Silva Marzetti; Valentino Giuliani; Simone Martino; Mauro Fabiano; Valentina Marin; Chiara Paoli; Emmanuel Roccatagliata; Paola Salmona; Helen Rey-Valette; Sebastian Roussel; Daria Povh; C. G. Malvárez. 2010. "Public Stakeholders' Perception of ICZM and Coastal Erosion in the Mediterranean." Coastal Management 38, no. 4: 354-377.

Journal article
Published: 31 October 2009 in Journal of Environmental Management
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Sustainable development of coastal zones must balance economic development that encourages human visitation from a larger population with desires that differ from the local residents with the need to maintain opportunities for the local resident society and conserve ecological capital, which may serve as the basis for residents. We present a case study in which the sustainability level of a coastal zone (Riviera del Beigua), located along the Ligurian coast of north-western Italy, was assessed through the lens of systems ecology using emergy synthesis to integrate across economic, social and environmental sub-systems. Our purposes were (1) to quantify the environmental sustainability level of this coastal zone, (2) to evaluate the role of tourism in affecting the economy, society and environment, and (3) to compare emergy synthesis to Butler's Tourism Area Life Cycle model (TALC). Results showed that 81% of the total emergy consumption in the coastal zone was derived from external sources, indicating that this tourist-heavy community was not sustainable. Tourism, as the dominant economic sub-system, consumed 42% of the total emergy budget, while local residents used the remaining 58%. The progressive stages of the TALC model were found to parallel the dynamic changes in the ratio of external emergy inputs to local emergy inputs, suggesting that emergy synthesis could be a useful tool for detecting a tourist region's TALC stage. Use of such a quantitative tool could expedite sustainability assessment to allow administrative managers to understand the complex relationship between a region's economy, environment and resident society so sound policies can be developed to improve overall sustainability.

ACS Style

Paolo Vassallo; Chiara Paoli; David R. Tilley; Mauro Fabiano. Energy and resource basis of an Italian coastal resort region integrated using emergy synthesis. Journal of Environmental Management 2009, 91, 277 -289.

AMA Style

Paolo Vassallo, Chiara Paoli, David R. Tilley, Mauro Fabiano. Energy and resource basis of an Italian coastal resort region integrated using emergy synthesis. Journal of Environmental Management. 2009; 91 (1):277-289.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Vassallo; Chiara Paoli; David R. Tilley; Mauro Fabiano. 2009. "Energy and resource basis of an Italian coastal resort region integrated using emergy synthesis." Journal of Environmental Management 91, no. 1: 277-289.

Journal article
Published: 06 October 2008 in Ecological Engineering
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The current challenge concerning renewable energy sources resides in making them efficient and competitive in comparison with traditional ones without neglecting the appraisal of environmental performances. In particular, envisaging a sustainability perspective, this task must be accomplished from a wider, and then holistic, viewpoint. For this purpose, authors identified emergy analysis as a valid approach. Actually, during the implementation of a previous work, authors found incomplete (for the attainment of their aims) the information concerning emergy evaluation of energy production by sunlight. This study represents an attempt to fill this gap, aiming at supplying a starting basis to evaluate these technologies. Emergy parameters were then calculated for two suggested plants (a thermal and a photovoltaic one) and results were compared with traditional energy production systems. This comparison revealed that solar technologies imply a remarkable emergy saving (5.72E+15 sej/year for thermal and 4.77E+15 sej/year for photovoltaic). These evaluations make solar power technologies advisable in order to save non-renewable resources. Moreover, the analysis demonstrated recent and remarkable improvements in photovoltaic electricity production efficiency. This condition sets a positive scenario considering the expected and outstanding further improvements in solar technologies.

ACS Style

C. Paoli; P. Vassallo; M. Fabiano. Solar power: An approach to transformity evaluation. Ecological Engineering 2008, 34, 191 -206.

AMA Style

C. Paoli, P. Vassallo, M. Fabiano. Solar power: An approach to transformity evaluation. Ecological Engineering. 2008; 34 (3):191-206.

Chicago/Turabian Style

C. Paoli; P. Vassallo; M. Fabiano. 2008. "Solar power: An approach to transformity evaluation." Ecological Engineering 34, no. 3: 191-206.

Journal article
Published: 03 June 2008 in Ecological Engineering
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The construction and the activity of a marina could imply some detrimental effects on the coastal and marine environment. Actually, small marinas activities and the increase in tourism pressure linked with their presence have many interactions with the surrounding environment. Because of the tight links among economic interests, environmental protection and development policies an integrated approach to sustainability is compulsory. In order to give adequate answers to various demands arising from different stakeholders (i.e. marinas managers, policy makers, private owners and users), emergy analysis seems to be an appropriate approach. Emergy is a methodology able to consider both environmental and economic aspects in terms of energy previously used up (directly or indirectly) to make a product. The approach has been applied to two marinas, both located on the western Ligurian coast (Italy, North-western Mediterranean). Both structures emerged as attended by guests exploiting a huge quantity of electricity and fuels, making energy saving a critical issue. The adaptability of the analysis allows further comparison with other key sectors in the same geographical area and with marinas characterized by different natural conditions but it also allows detection the relevance of different management practices and highlighting of changes due to variations in external constraints.

ACS Style

C. Paoli; P. Vassallo; M. Fabiano. An emergy approach for the assessment of sustainability of small marinas. Ecological Engineering 2008, 33, 167 -178.

AMA Style

C. Paoli, P. Vassallo, M. Fabiano. An emergy approach for the assessment of sustainability of small marinas. Ecological Engineering. 2008; 33 (2):167-178.

Chicago/Turabian Style

C. Paoli; P. Vassallo; M. Fabiano. 2008. "An emergy approach for the assessment of sustainability of small marinas." Ecological Engineering 33, no. 2: 167-178.