A search of records from different kinds of sources namely, scientific and grey literature, social media, and zoological museum collections, has been carried out to review the incidence of Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758), the Portuguese man-of-war, in the Mediterranean Sea. The temporal frame of the records, considered valid if documented with images or collected specimens, ranged from the second half of the eighteenth century to the year 2021. Thanks to colonies preserved in some Italian historical museum collections, originating from the western basin, it was possible to date the putative first documented record of P. physalis of the Mediterranean Sea in 1850. The dataset shows some massive strandings that occurred in localities of the Strait of Gibraltar and Alboran Sea, the area of the entrance, from the Atlantic toward the Mediterranean waters, and the starting point from where the species spread toward the western and central basin. Physalia physalis does not reach the eastern area of the Mediterranean Sea. As the records of this species from the Italian maritime regions were abundant in the summertime and considering the danger related to contact with humans, they were subdivided into three categories of risk according to the months of occurrence. These categories were created to assign a level of danger for swimmers. The increasing sightings of such a poisonous cnidarian in coastal waters can represent a risk to human health, and a threat to all those activities linked to the marine tourism sector. The overview given goes beyond scientific purposes and aims to reach society and public administrators. The involvement of citizens and touristic structures for the early detection of P. physalis can play a key role in preventing encounters with the species, allowing marine tourist facilities to operate within a range of reasonable security.

Wine by-products, generated in large quantities and wasted with serious environmental and economic consequences, are an exceptional alternative to conventional and non-sustainable food sources. The aim of the study was to understand if these by-products could be reused in feed for broiler chickens, improving certain blood parameters important in immune responses, by testing different concentrations and administration times. The effects of the grape-seed and pomace flour of red-wine waste were evaluated. Three different diets were tested containing pomace (0%, 3%, and 6%), grape seeds (0%, 3%, and 6%), and a mix of pomace and grape seeds (0 and 3%) for 7, 21, and 42 days. Esterase, alkaline phosphatase, and peroxidase activity, along with glucose, reactive oxygen species, and glutathione levels, were evaluated in blood samples. The results showed significant changes in the parameters analyzed, especially after 21 and 42 days of administration. All diets administered showed significant effects based on exposure time and by-product concentration used. The greatest effects seem to have come from grape-seed flour. All the by-products of wine production analyzed in this study showed important antioxidant activities and can be included in the food context of farm animals in different growth phases at different concentrations.

Freshwater ecosystems play a key role in global diversity and are subject to a series of anthropic impacts, often leading to biodiversity loss. The organisms inhabiting these sites continuously release DNA into the environment through cells, excrement, gametes and/or decomposing matter; thus, evaluation of this eDNA could revolutionize the monitoring of biodiversity. In this study, environmental DNA metabarcoding was used for the first time in three Sicilian lakes: Lake Poma, Piana degli Albanesi Lake and Lake Scanzano. Results obtained provide the first snapshot of vertebrate biodiversity in these three lakes, where little is known, to provide valuable information useful for creating a baseline of knowledge regarding the biodiversity in these three lakes. Another important result was the detection of marine species, most likely due to some kind of anthropogenic contamination. Environmental DNA is a useful tool to evaluate both biodiversity and the ecological status of the environment; it has the potential to complement traditional methods, and the use of both approaches may offer a more comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem.

Intensive broiler chicken farming is one of the most important livestock sectors globally. However, intensive production systems raise concerns about farm sustainability, as well as ensuring animal welfare and product quality. For this reason, identifying novel, high-value-added feed ingredients is crucial. Winery by-products (WBPs) are a valuable source of bioactive compounds and can be utilized as functional feed ingredients. This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with grape seed meal and grape pomace meal in diets for broilers up to 42 days of age. Three dietary treatments were formulated—grape seed meal (3% and 6%), grape pomace meal (3% and 6%), and a combination (3% seed meal + 3% pomace meal)—along with a standard diet (control). The proximal composition (moisture, protein, fatty acid profile, fats, ash), antioxidant parameters (ROS, GSH, NO, POV), free radical scavenging activity (DPPH and ABTS^•+), and total phenolic content of the meat and physical characteristics (color) were assessed. While proximal composition of meat was not significantly influenced by the dietary treatment, some parameters, such as total phenolic content, PUFA levels, and antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity, were improved. These results demonstrate enhanced favorable traits improving chicken meat quality and confirm the potential of WBPs as functional feed ingredients, promoting a more sustainable production model aligned with the principles of the circular economy.

Freshwater ecosystems are undergoing rapid species loss due to climate change and human impact. In this context, biomonitoring has become essential for species censusing and biodiversity conservation. In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as a powerful, non-invasive alternative to traditional sampling and morphological identification methods. This study is the first to apply eDNA analysis to the characterization of invertebrate communities in the Oreto River, Sicily (Italy). Water samples were collected at three points of the river (upstream, midstream, downstream), and eDNA was extracted for metabarcoding. Overall, the analysis identified 40 species belonging to different phyla, including Annelida, Arthropoda, Cnidaria, Mollusca, Porifera and Rotifera. Twelve species appear to be newly recorded in Sicily, including confirmed identifications (Simulium trifasciatum, Rotaria rotatoria, Euchlanis dilatata, Lecane clostero-cerca) and other potential new identifications (Microchironomus tener, Micropsectra pallidula, Tinodes dives, Philodina flaviceps, Buchholzia appendiculata, Lecane bulla, Drosophila incompta, Corynoneura coronata). The study also confirmed the presence of alien species (Physella acuta, Craspedacusta sowerbii). Furthermore, species composition varied among the three sampling points, with most taxa detected in the upstream section. These results provide a preliminary snapshot of the biodiversity of river invertebrates, highlighting the potential of eDNA to complement traditional methods.