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Laura Ghigliotti
IAS, National Research Council of Italy, Genoa, Italy

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Original paper
Published: 19 August 2021 in Polar Biology
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The Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica is a key species in the Southern Ocean ecosystem, and it is potentially threatened by the climate change affecting Antarctic ecosystems. Assessing the possible exposure to similar or different environmental conditions at early life stages and gathering information about connectivity or segregation between local populations of P. antarctica can be key for planning sound management strategies for this species. By using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, we characterized the otolith chemical composition of 163 adult Antarctic silverfish collected from three areas located thousands of kilometers apart from each other: Cape Hallett, Adelie Land, and Joinville Island. Otoliths were analyzed for chemical composition of both the edge (reflecting the exposure of individuals to environmental conditions at the site where they were sampled) and the core (reflecting exposure to environmental conditions during early life periods after the egg fertilization). We found that the chemical composition along otolith edges was heterogeneous between samples collected at Joinville Island and those collected at the other two sampling areas. In contrast, the chemical composition of otolith cores was homogenous. Our study suggests that adult Antarctic silverfish inhabiting areas very distant from each other have been exposed to similar environmental conditions at early life stages, and could have experienced similar growth rates and physiological processes. This would imply that environmental drivers probably do not play a role in determining potential spatial variability in individual fitness at early life stages, and should not have a major impact on population replenishment.

ACS Style

Antonio Di Franco; Antonio Calò; Giuseppe Egidio De Benedetto; Laura Ghigliotti; Antonio Pennetta; Mathieu D. M. Renard; Eva Pisano; Marino Vacchi; Paolo Guidetti. Otolith chemical composition suggests local populations of Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica (Boulenger, 1902) around Antarctica are exposed to similar environmental conditions at early life stages. Polar Biology 2021, 1 -13.

AMA Style

Antonio Di Franco, Antonio Calò, Giuseppe Egidio De Benedetto, Laura Ghigliotti, Antonio Pennetta, Mathieu D. M. Renard, Eva Pisano, Marino Vacchi, Paolo Guidetti. Otolith chemical composition suggests local populations of Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica (Boulenger, 1902) around Antarctica are exposed to similar environmental conditions at early life stages. Polar Biology. 2021; ():1-13.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonio Di Franco; Antonio Calò; Giuseppe Egidio De Benedetto; Laura Ghigliotti; Antonio Pennetta; Mathieu D. M. Renard; Eva Pisano; Marino Vacchi; Paolo Guidetti. 2021. "Otolith chemical composition suggests local populations of Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica (Boulenger, 1902) around Antarctica are exposed to similar environmental conditions at early life stages." Polar Biology , no. : 1-13.

Original article
Published: 16 June 2021 in Fisheries Oceanography
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Gametes from gravid Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) were combined in vitro and buoyancy measurements were made on fertilised eggs during early development. Eggs were strongly positively buoyant, indicating that they would ascend quickly in the water column and reside near or in association with the underside of sea ice, which covers most of the spawning habitat during winter. An association with sea ice may provide: protection from the turbulence of ice-free surface waters, a mechanism that modifies the velocity of advection by surface currents, and a habitat with a concentrated planktonic food source during spring months. An association with sea ice would also create spatial differences in egg advection patterns for eggs produced spanning a large geographic area. The effects of climate change on sea ice formation and melting patterns, or fishery-induced changes in the spatial density of adults could then influence juvenile advection patterns and influence survival.

ACS Style

Steven J. Parker; Svein Sundby; Darren Stevens; Davide Di Blasi; Stefano Schiaparelli; Laura Ghigliotti. Buoyancy of post‐fertilised Dissostichus mawsoni eggs and implications for early life history. Fisheries Oceanography 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Steven J. Parker, Svein Sundby, Darren Stevens, Davide Di Blasi, Stefano Schiaparelli, Laura Ghigliotti. Buoyancy of post‐fertilised Dissostichus mawsoni eggs and implications for early life history. Fisheries Oceanography. 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Steven J. Parker; Svein Sundby; Darren Stevens; Davide Di Blasi; Stefano Schiaparelli; Laura Ghigliotti. 2021. "Buoyancy of post‐fertilised Dissostichus mawsoni eggs and implications for early life history." Fisheries Oceanography , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 28 February 2021 in Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
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In situ observation of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) is challenging as they typically live at depths greater than 500 m, in dark and ice-covered Antarctic waters. Searching for adequate methodologies to survey Antarctic toothfish in their habitat, we tested a miniaturized Baited Remote Underwater Video camera (BRUV), deployed through holes drilled in the sea ice in the Ross Sea region, over three field seasons. In 2015 three BRUVs were deployed at McMurdo Sound, and paired with a vertical longline sampling. In 2017, three opportunistic deployments were performed at Terra Nova Bay. In 2018 seven deployments at Terra Nova Bay provided preliminary data on the habitat preferences of the species. The design and configuration of the mini-BRUV allowed to collect high-quality video imagery of 60 Antarctic toothfish in 13 deployments from the fast sea ice. The behaviour of fish at the bait, intra-species interactions, and potential biases in individual counting were investigated, setting baselines for future studies on the abundance and distribution of Antarctic toothfish in sea-ice covered areas. This work represents the first step towards the development of protocols for non-extractive monitoring of the Antarctic toothfish in the high-Antarctica coastal shelf areas, of great value in the Ross Sea region where the largest MPA of the world has recently been established.

ACS Style

Davide Di Blasi; Simonepietro Canese; Erica Carlig; Steven Parker; Eva Pisano; Marino Vacchi; Laura Ghigliotti. The Challenge to Observe Antarctic Toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) under Fast Ice. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 2021, 9, 255 .

AMA Style

Davide Di Blasi, Simonepietro Canese, Erica Carlig, Steven Parker, Eva Pisano, Marino Vacchi, Laura Ghigliotti. The Challenge to Observe Antarctic Toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) under Fast Ice. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2021; 9 (3):255.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Davide Di Blasi; Simonepietro Canese; Erica Carlig; Steven Parker; Eva Pisano; Marino Vacchi; Laura Ghigliotti. 2021. "The Challenge to Observe Antarctic Toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) under Fast Ice." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 9, no. 3: 255.

Journal article
Published: 18 December 2020 in Genes
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The ice cod Arctogadus glacialis (Peters, 1872) is one of the few fish species endemic to the Arctic. With a circumpolar distribution, the species is confined to the fjords and shelves of the Arctic seas. Biological information on A. glacialis is scarce, with genomic information restricted to microsatellites. Within the frame of the TUNU-Programme: Arctic Ocean Fishes—Diversity, Adaptation and Conservation, we studied A. glacialis at the chromosomal level to explore fish diversity and evolutionary aspects. The analysis of over 50 individuals from the Northeast Greenland fjords between latitudes 71°09′ N and 76°42′ N revealed a remarkable intraspecific diversity epitomized by chromosome numbers spanning from 28 to 33, the occurrence of putative B chromosomes, and diversified patterns of distribution of heterochromatin and rDNAs. The number of B chromosomes followed a latitudinal gradient from 0–2 in the north to 2–5 in the south. Considering the benthic and rather stationary life history of this species, the observed chromosomal differences might have arisen independently, possibly driven and/or fostered by the dynamics of repetitive sequences, and are being fixed in relatively isolated fjord populations. The resulting latitudinal cline we observe today might have repercussions on the fate of local populations facing the ongoing climate-driven environmental changes.

ACS Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Jørgen S. Christiansen; Erica Carlig; Davide Di Blasi; Eva Pisano. Latitudinal Cline in Chromosome Numbers of Ice Cod A. glacialis (Gadidae) from Northeast Greenland. Genes 2020, 11, 1515 .

AMA Style

Laura Ghigliotti, Jørgen S. Christiansen, Erica Carlig, Davide Di Blasi, Eva Pisano. Latitudinal Cline in Chromosome Numbers of Ice Cod A. glacialis (Gadidae) from Northeast Greenland. Genes. 2020; 11 (12):1515.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Jørgen S. Christiansen; Erica Carlig; Davide Di Blasi; Eva Pisano. 2020. "Latitudinal Cline in Chromosome Numbers of Ice Cod A. glacialis (Gadidae) from Northeast Greenland." Genes 11, no. 12: 1515.

Journal article
Published: 28 December 2019 in Marine Genomics
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This paper describes the cytogenetic features of the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica (Boulenger 1902), a keystone species of the Antarctic coastal marine ecosystem. Conventional cytogenetic analyses and physical mapping of repetitive DNA sequences were performed on metaphase plates obtained through direct chromosome preparation from P. antarctica early larvae. The Antarctic silverfish have a diploid number (2n) = 48, and a karyotype made up of a majority of two-armed chromosomes (karyotype formula36m/sm + 10st + 2a, fundamental number = 94). Major ribosomal gene repeats were detected on three chromosome pairs (20, 21, and 23), in correspondence of dim DAPI stained regions. Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements (LINEs) were abundant and wide spread over all chromosomes. Overall, the cytogenetic data presented herein are consistent with a long independent cytogenetic and evolutionary history for the species. The large number of two-armed chromosomes, indicative of highly-rearranged karyotype, coupled with a diploid number of 48, a presumed primitive character for this fish group, and the spread of the major ribosomal genes on three chromosome pairs, make the Antarctic silverfish distinct from all other notothenioid species.

ACS Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Chi-Hing C. Cheng; Catherine Ozouf-Costaz; Chantal Guidi-Rontani; Marino Vacchi; Sara Federici; Eva Pisano. Cytogenetic characterization of the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica (Boulenger 1902) through analysis of mitotic chromosomes from early larvae. Marine Genomics 2019, 52, 100737 .

AMA Style

Laura Ghigliotti, Chi-Hing C. Cheng, Catherine Ozouf-Costaz, Chantal Guidi-Rontani, Marino Vacchi, Sara Federici, Eva Pisano. Cytogenetic characterization of the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica (Boulenger 1902) through analysis of mitotic chromosomes from early larvae. Marine Genomics. 2019; 52 ():100737.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Chi-Hing C. Cheng; Catherine Ozouf-Costaz; Chantal Guidi-Rontani; Marino Vacchi; Sara Federici; Eva Pisano. 2019. "Cytogenetic characterization of the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica (Boulenger 1902) through analysis of mitotic chromosomes from early larvae." Marine Genomics 52, no. : 100737.

Journal article
Published: 06 February 2019 in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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By their faculty to transpose, transposable elements are known to play a key role in eukaryote genomes, impacting both their structuration and remodeling. Their integration in targeted sites may lead to recombination mechanisms involved in chromosomal rearrangements. The Antarctic fish family Nototheniidae went through several waves of species radiations. It is a suitable model to study transposable element (TE)-mediated mechanisms associated to genome and chromosomal diversifications. After the characterization of Gypsy (GyNoto), Copia (CoNoto), and DIRS1 (YNoto) retrotransposons in the genomes of Nototheniidae (diversity, distribution, conservation), we focused on their chromosome location with an emphasis on the three identified nototheniid radiations (the Trematomus, the plunderfishes, and the icefishes). The strong intrafamily TE conservation and wide distribution across species of the whole family suggest an ancestral acquisition with potential secondary losses in some lineages. GyNoto and CoNoto (including Hydra and GalEa clades) mostly produced interspersed signals along chromosomal arms. On the contrary, insertion hot spots accumulating in localized regions (mainly next to centromeric and pericentromeric regions) highlighted the potential role of YNoto in chromosomal diversifications as facilitator of the fusions which occurred in many nototheniid lineages, but not of the fissions.

ACS Style

Juliette Auvinet; Paula Graça; Laura Ghigliotti; Eva Pisano; Agnès Dettaï; Catherine Ozouf-Costaz; Dominique Higuet. Insertion Hot Spots of DIRS1 Retrotransposon and Chromosomal Diversifications among the Antarctic Teleosts Nototheniidae. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2019, 20, 701 .

AMA Style

Juliette Auvinet, Paula Graça, Laura Ghigliotti, Eva Pisano, Agnès Dettaï, Catherine Ozouf-Costaz, Dominique Higuet. Insertion Hot Spots of DIRS1 Retrotransposon and Chromosomal Diversifications among the Antarctic Teleosts Nototheniidae. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2019; 20 (3):701.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Juliette Auvinet; Paula Graça; Laura Ghigliotti; Eva Pisano; Agnès Dettaï; Catherine Ozouf-Costaz; Dominique Higuet. 2019. "Insertion Hot Spots of DIRS1 Retrotransposon and Chromosomal Diversifications among the Antarctic Teleosts Nototheniidae." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 20, no. 3: 701.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2018 in Fisheries Research
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ACS Style

Richard L. O’Driscoll; Simonepietro Canese; Yoann Ladroit; Steve J. Parker; Laura Ghigliotti; Sophie Mormede; Marino Vacchi. First in situ estimates of acoustic target strength of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni). Fisheries Research 2018, 206, 79 -84.

AMA Style

Richard L. O’Driscoll, Simonepietro Canese, Yoann Ladroit, Steve J. Parker, Laura Ghigliotti, Sophie Mormede, Marino Vacchi. First in situ estimates of acoustic target strength of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni). Fisheries Research. 2018; 206 ():79-84.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Richard L. O’Driscoll; Simonepietro Canese; Yoann Ladroit; Steve J. Parker; Laura Ghigliotti; Sophie Mormede; Marino Vacchi. 2018. "First in situ estimates of acoustic target strength of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni)." Fisheries Research 206, no. : 79-84.

Journal article
Published: 04 August 2018 in Environmental Pollution
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The Arctic is a unique and fragile ecosystem that needs to be preserved and protected. Despite its remoteness, plastic pollution has been documented in this region. In the coming years, it is likely to worsen since, with climate changes and the opening of new shipping routes, the human presence is going to increase in the whole area. Here, we investigated the presence of microplastics (MPs) in sub-surface water and in two mid-trophic level Arctic fishes collected off Northeast Greenland: the demersal bigeye sculpin, Triglops nybelini, and the pelagic polar cod, Boreogadus saida. Plastics debris were found in the water samples at a concentration of 2.4 items/m3 ±0.8 SD which is higher than in most seas at lower latitudes. Both fish species had eaten MPs with different proportion among the species, 34% for T. nybelini (n = 71) and 18% for B. saida (n = 85). The significant difference in the occurrence of MPs between the two species is likely a consequence of their feeding behavior and habitat. Polyethylene was the main plastic polymer for water samples (41%, n = 17) and polyester (34%, n = 156) for fish samples as analyzed by Fourier Transformed Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Our data underscore that the Arctic regions are turning into a hotspot for plastic pollution, and this calls urgently for precautionary measures.

ACS Style

Silvia Morgana; Laura Ghigliotti; Noelia Estévez-Calvar; Roberto Stifanese; Alina Wieczorek; Thomas Doyle; Jørgen S. Christiansen; Marco Faimali; Francesca Garaventa. Microplastics in the Arctic: A case study with sub-surface water and fish samples off Northeast Greenland. Environmental Pollution 2018, 242, 1078 -1086.

AMA Style

Silvia Morgana, Laura Ghigliotti, Noelia Estévez-Calvar, Roberto Stifanese, Alina Wieczorek, Thomas Doyle, Jørgen S. Christiansen, Marco Faimali, Francesca Garaventa. Microplastics in the Arctic: A case study with sub-surface water and fish samples off Northeast Greenland. Environmental Pollution. 2018; 242 ():1078-1086.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silvia Morgana; Laura Ghigliotti; Noelia Estévez-Calvar; Roberto Stifanese; Alina Wieczorek; Thomas Doyle; Jørgen S. Christiansen; Marco Faimali; Francesca Garaventa. 2018. "Microplastics in the Arctic: A case study with sub-surface water and fish samples off Northeast Greenland." Environmental Pollution 242, no. : 1078-1086.

Journal article
Published: 30 June 2018 in Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria
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ACS Style

Davide Di Blasi; Erica Carlig; Sara Ferrando; Laura Ghigliotti; Peter Psomadakis; Marino Vacchi. A new record and biological evidence supporting the establishment of Beryx splendens (Actinopterygii: Beryciformes: Berycidae) in the western Mediterranean basin. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 2018, 48, 183 -188.

AMA Style

Davide Di Blasi, Erica Carlig, Sara Ferrando, Laura Ghigliotti, Peter Psomadakis, Marino Vacchi. A new record and biological evidence supporting the establishment of Beryx splendens (Actinopterygii: Beryciformes: Berycidae) in the western Mediterranean basin. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria. 2018; 48 (2):183-188.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Davide Di Blasi; Erica Carlig; Sara Ferrando; Laura Ghigliotti; Peter Psomadakis; Marino Vacchi. 2018. "A new record and biological evidence supporting the establishment of Beryx splendens (Actinopterygii: Beryciformes: Berycidae) in the western Mediterranean basin." Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 48, no. 2: 183-188.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2018 in Marine Genomics
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Antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) are a novel evolutionary innovation in members of the northern cod fish family (Gadidae), crucial in preventing death from inoculative freezing by environmental ice in their frigid Arctic and sub-Arctic habitats. However, the genomic origin and molecular mechanism of evolution of this novel life-saving adaptive genetic trait remained to be definitively determined. To this end, we constructed large insert genomic DNA BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) libraries for two AFGP-bearing gadids, the high-Arctic polar cod Boreogadus saida and the cold-temperate Atlantic tomcod Microgadus tomcod, to isolate and sequence their AFGP genomic regions for fine resolution evolutionary analyses. The BAC library construction encountered poor cloning efficiency initially, which we resolved by pretreating the agarose-embedded erythrocyte DNA with a cationic detergent, a method that may be of general use to BAC cloning for teleost species and/or where erythrocytes are the source of input DNA. The polar cod BAC library encompassed 92,160 clones with an average insert size of 94.7 kbp, and the Atlantic tomcod library contained 73,728 clones with an average insert size of 89.6 kbp. The genome sizes of B. saida and M. tomcod were estimated by cell flow cytometry to be 836 Mbp and 645 Mbp respectively, thus their BAC libraries have approximately 10- and 9.7-fold genome coverage respectively. The inclusiveness and depth of coverage were empirically confirmed by screening the libraries with three housekeeping genes. The BAC clones that mapped to the AFGP genomic loci of the two gadids were then isolated by screening the BAC libraries with gadid AFGP gene probes. Eight minimal tiling path (MTP) clones were identified for B. saida, sequenced, and assembled. The B. saida AFGP locus reconstruction produced both haplotypes, and the locus comprises three distinct AFGP gene clusters, containing a total of 16 AFGP genes and spanning a combined distance of 512 kbp. The M. tomcod AFGP locus is much smaller at approximately 80 kbp, and contains only three AFGP genes. Fluorescent in situ hybridization with an AFGP gene probe showed the AFGP locus in both species occupies a single chromosomal location. The large AFGP locus with its high gene dosage in B. saida is consistent with its chronically freezing high Arctic habitats, while the small gene family in M. tomcod correlates with its milder habitats in lower latitudes. The results from this study provided the data for fine resolution sequence analyses that would yield insight into the molecular mechanisms and history of gadid AFGP gene evolution driven by northern hemisphere glaciation.

ACS Style

Xuan Zhuang; Katherine Murphy; Laura Ghigliotti; Eva Pisano; C.-H. Christina Cheng. Reconstruction of the repetitive antifreeze glycoprotein genomic loci in the cold-water gadids Boreogadus saida and Microgadus tomcod. Marine Genomics 2018, 39, 73 -84.

AMA Style

Xuan Zhuang, Katherine Murphy, Laura Ghigliotti, Eva Pisano, C.-H. Christina Cheng. Reconstruction of the repetitive antifreeze glycoprotein genomic loci in the cold-water gadids Boreogadus saida and Microgadus tomcod. Marine Genomics. 2018; 39 ():73-84.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xuan Zhuang; Katherine Murphy; Laura Ghigliotti; Eva Pisano; C.-H. Christina Cheng. 2018. "Reconstruction of the repetitive antifreeze glycoprotein genomic loci in the cold-water gadids Boreogadus saida and Microgadus tomcod." Marine Genomics 39, no. : 73-84.

Original paper
Published: 02 May 2018 in Polar Biology
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The Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni Norman 1937) is the largest notothenioid inhabiting high-latitude Antarctic waters, where it is an important fishery resource and plays a key ecological role at a high trophic level. Despite the considerable amount of data on D. mawsoni biology and distribution developed since the fishery began in 1997, crucial aspects of the life cycle, including spawning and early life history, remain undescribed. During the first winter longline survey to the northern Ross Sea region in 2016, ripe male and female D. mawsoni were collected for the first time, and in vitro fertilisation of eggs was performed. Here, we report on the first characterisation of D. mawsoni egg structure and initial embryonic development. The duration of the egg cleavage period was similar to that of other nototheniid species releasing pelagic eggs. The structural features of fertilised eggs, including chorion thickness and structure, support the hypothesis that eggs of D. mawsoni are pelagic. The data presented here contribute to the description of the potential habitat of the eggs of this species, and provide the first diagnostic information to recognise the eggs of D. mawsoni.

ACS Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Sara Ferrando; Davide Di Blasi; Erica Carlig; Lorenzo Gallus; Darren Stevens; Marino Vacchi; Steven J Parker. Surface egg structure and early embryonic development of the Antarctic toothfish, Dissostichus mawsoni Norman 1937. Polar Biology 2018, 41, 1717 -1724.

AMA Style

Laura Ghigliotti, Sara Ferrando, Davide Di Blasi, Erica Carlig, Lorenzo Gallus, Darren Stevens, Marino Vacchi, Steven J Parker. Surface egg structure and early embryonic development of the Antarctic toothfish, Dissostichus mawsoni Norman 1937. Polar Biology. 2018; 41 (9):1717-1724.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Sara Ferrando; Davide Di Blasi; Erica Carlig; Lorenzo Gallus; Darren Stevens; Marino Vacchi; Steven J Parker. 2018. "Surface egg structure and early embryonic development of the Antarctic toothfish, Dissostichus mawsoni Norman 1937." Polar Biology 41, no. 9: 1717-1724.

Original paper
Published: 24 March 2018 in Polar Biology
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During their evolution and speciation in the Antarctic waters, notothenioid fish occupied a variety of habitats and ecological niches. The diversification led to important variations in several morphological features related to particular aspects of their ecologies. We investigated the feeding structures and biomechanics of three phylogenetically related species (family Nototheniidae) with different ecologies: the bentho-pelagic Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni, the pelagic Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica, and the benthic emerald rockcod Trematomus bernacchii. The suction index (SI), the mechanical advantage in jaw closing (MA), and 14 morphological traits related to their feeding activity were analyzed. Significant differences among the species were found for all the parameters considered, supporting a high level of specialization.

ACS Style

Erica Carlig; Davide Di Blasi; Laura Ghigliotti; Eva Pisano; Marco Faimali; Richard O’Driscoll; Steve Parker; Marino Vacchi. Diversification of feeding structures in three adult Antarctic nototheniid fish. Polar Biology 2018, 41, 1707 -1715.

AMA Style

Erica Carlig, Davide Di Blasi, Laura Ghigliotti, Eva Pisano, Marco Faimali, Richard O’Driscoll, Steve Parker, Marino Vacchi. Diversification of feeding structures in three adult Antarctic nototheniid fish. Polar Biology. 2018; 41 (9):1707-1715.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Erica Carlig; Davide Di Blasi; Laura Ghigliotti; Eva Pisano; Marco Faimali; Richard O’Driscoll; Steve Parker; Marino Vacchi. 2018. "Diversification of feeding structures in three adult Antarctic nototheniid fish." Polar Biology 41, no. 9: 1707-1715.

Article
Published: 11 July 2017 in The Anatomical Record
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Several papers regard the anatomy of the peripheral olfactory organ, the olfactory rosette, in the class of Chondrichtyes. The complex shape of this organ and the differences among species give clues to functional, evolutionary, and ecological observations; data on a larger number of species are needed in order to have a more complete insight. The rosette is made up of a central support and of numerous lamellae, which are lined by the sensory epithelium. The size, shape and number of these lamellae, which are highly variable among species, are noteworthy because they affect the sensory surface area, the water dynamic within the olfactory chamber, and the organization of the olfactory bulb. In the literature about Chondrichthyes, the definition of olfactory lamella is confused, because authors use the same words for different structures. The average number of lamellae is distinctive for each species, and the meaning of this difference is not completely understood and, in this frame, a not unambiguous definition of lamella leads to difficulties in comparing data from different publications and analyzing them together. We aim to give here an unambiguous definition of olfactory lamella, that should be each single fold of tissue extending from the raphe, and of lamellar number of a given species, that should be the average number of lamellae in one olfactory organ. Anat Rec, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Anat Rec, 300:2039–2045, 2017.

ACS Style

Sara Ferrando; Lorenzo Gallus; Laura Ghigliotti; Andrea Amaroli; Ghulam Abbas; Marino Vacchi. Clarification of the Terminology of the Olfactory Lamellae in Chondrichthyes. The Anatomical Record 2017, 300, 2039 -2045.

AMA Style

Sara Ferrando, Lorenzo Gallus, Laura Ghigliotti, Andrea Amaroli, Ghulam Abbas, Marino Vacchi. Clarification of the Terminology of the Olfactory Lamellae in Chondrichthyes. The Anatomical Record. 2017; 300 (11):2039-2045.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sara Ferrando; Lorenzo Gallus; Laura Ghigliotti; Andrea Amaroli; Ghulam Abbas; Marino Vacchi. 2017. "Clarification of the Terminology of the Olfactory Lamellae in Chondrichthyes." The Anatomical Record 300, no. 11: 2039-2045.

Journal article
Published: 29 June 2016 in BMC Evolutionary Biology
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Over the past 40 million years water temperatures have dramatically dropped in the Southern Ocean, which has led to the local extinction of most nearshore fish lineages. The evolution of antifreeze glycoproteins in notothenioids, however, enabled these ancestrally benthic fishes to survive and adapt as temperatures reached the freezing point of seawater (−1.86 °C). Antarctic notothenioids now represent the primary teleost lineage in the Southern Ocean and are of fundamental importance to the local ecosystem. The radiation of notothenioids has been fostered by the evolution of “secondary pelagicism”, the invasion of pelagic habitats, as the group diversified to fill newly available foraging niches in the water column. While elaborate craniofacial modifications have accompanied this adaptive radiation, little is known about how these morphological changes have contributed to the evolutionary success of notothenioids. We used a 3D-morphometrics approach to investigate patterns of morphological variation in the craniofacial skeleton among notothenioids, and show that variation in head shape is best explained by divergent selection with respect to foraging niche. We document further an accelerated rate of morphological evolution in the icefish family Channichthyidae, and show that their rapid diversification was accompanied by the evolution of relatively high levels of morphological integration. Whereas most studies suggest that extensive integration should constrain phenotypic evolution, icefish stand out as a rare example of increased integration possibly facilitating evolutionary potential. Finally, we show that the unique feeding apparatus in notothenioids in general, and icefish in particular, can be traced to shifts in early developmental patterning mechanisms and ongoing growth of the pharyngeal skeleton. Our work suggests that ecological opportunity is a major factor driving craniofacial variation in this group. Further, the observation that closely related lineages can differ dramatically in integration suggests that this trait can evolve quickly. We propose that the evolution of high levels of phenotypic integration in icefishes may be considered a key innovation that facilitated their morphological evolution and subsequent ecological expansion.

ACS Style

Yinan Hu; Laura Ghigliotti; Marino Vacchi; Eva Pisano; H. William Detrich Iii; R. Craig Albertson. Evolution in an extreme environment: developmental biases and phenotypic integration in the adaptive radiation of antarctic notothenioids. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2016, 16, 1 -13.

AMA Style

Yinan Hu, Laura Ghigliotti, Marino Vacchi, Eva Pisano, H. William Detrich Iii, R. Craig Albertson. Evolution in an extreme environment: developmental biases and phenotypic integration in the adaptive radiation of antarctic notothenioids. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 2016; 16 (1):1-13.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yinan Hu; Laura Ghigliotti; Marino Vacchi; Eva Pisano; H. William Detrich Iii; R. Craig Albertson. 2016. "Evolution in an extreme environment: developmental biases and phenotypic integration in the adaptive radiation of antarctic notothenioids." BMC Evolutionary Biology 16, no. 1: 1-13.

Journal article
Published: 21 April 2016 in Polar Biology
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The Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica is the most abundant pelagic fish inhabiting the Ross Sea. Given its ecological relevance in the local food web, it is considered a keystone species in the Antarctic coastal ecosystems. Many aspects of its biology have been elucidated, but knowledge of important parts of its life cycle, including reproduction, is still poor. Here we use macroscopic and histological approaches to describe the reproductive features of the Antarctic silverfish based on fish sampled in late summer in the Ross Sea. Both males and females were at an early developmental stage, consistent with what has been reported for the same species from other Antarctic sectors and with spawning occurring in late winter. Widespread follicular atresia has been detected in the fish examined. The analysis of its intensity and prevalence suggests that skipped spawning (not all adults spawn every year) is likely to be a reproductive strategy of the Antarctic silverfish.

ACS Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Sara Ferrando; Erica Carlig; Davide Di Blasi; Lorenzo Gallus; Eva Pisano; Stuart Hanchet; Marino Vacchi. Reproductive features of the Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarctica) from the western Ross Sea. Polar Biology 2016, 40, 199 -211.

AMA Style

Laura Ghigliotti, Sara Ferrando, Erica Carlig, Davide Di Blasi, Lorenzo Gallus, Eva Pisano, Stuart Hanchet, Marino Vacchi. Reproductive features of the Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarctica) from the western Ross Sea. Polar Biology. 2016; 40 (1):199-211.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Sara Ferrando; Erica Carlig; Davide Di Blasi; Lorenzo Gallus; Eva Pisano; Stuart Hanchet; Marino Vacchi. 2016. "Reproductive features of the Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarctica) from the western Ross Sea." Polar Biology 40, no. 1: 199-211.

Journal article
Published: 13 June 2015 in Hydrobiologia
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Cytogenetics provides a unique platform to study in situ structural, functional, and evolutionary aspects of the genome. As such it holds powerful promise in decoding mechanisms and processes of genome architectural changes and their role in organism’s diversification and evolution. Since the early 80s, such an approach has been applied to the study of the Antarctic notothenioid fishes. In almost three decades, the cytogenetic information has expanded to cover half of the known species inhabiting the high Antarctic waters. Although started 10 years later, cytogenetic studies of species from the Ross sea region have provided valuable contributions to this bulk of knowledge. Here, we synthesize the currently available cytogenetic information on Antarctic notothenioid fishes from the Ross Sea Region, inclusive of both conventional karyotyping and gene mapping. In addition, new karyotypic data on four species (Lepidonotothen squamifrons, Trematomus scotti, T. loennbergii, and T. lepidorhinus) are provided. In discussing these data, specific focus is made on the patterns and subtleties of cytogenetic diversity at inter- and intra-specific levels aiming at contributing to the refinement of the knowledge of fish diversity in a region, the Ross Sea area, whose primary ecological value is widely recognized.

ACS Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Christina C.-H. Cheng; Catherine Ozouf-Costaz; Marino Vacchi; Eva Pisano. Cytogenetic diversity of notothenioid fish from the Ross sea: historical overview and updates. Hydrobiologia 2015, 761, 373 -396.

AMA Style

Laura Ghigliotti, Christina C.-H. Cheng, Catherine Ozouf-Costaz, Marino Vacchi, Eva Pisano. Cytogenetic diversity of notothenioid fish from the Ross sea: historical overview and updates. Hydrobiologia. 2015; 761 (1):373-396.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Christina C.-H. Cheng; Catherine Ozouf-Costaz; Marino Vacchi; Eva Pisano. 2015. "Cytogenetic diversity of notothenioid fish from the Ross sea: historical overview and updates." Hydrobiologia 761, no. 1: 373-396.

Journal article
Published: 22 October 2014 in Polar Biology
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In fish, the determination of sex can be controlled by genetic factors, environmental factors or a combination of both. The presence of heteromorphic sex-related chromosomes is widely acknowledged as strongly indicative of genetic control of sex determination (GSD) acting over other sex control systems. Heteromorphic sex-related chromosomes have been observed in a minority of teleosts (approximately 4 %). However, when looking at the fishes of the suborder Notothenioidei the frequency of sex-related chromosomes increases substantially, reaching 26.67 % of the cytogenetically studied species. Noteworthy, sex chromosomes were observed only in cold-adapted species which live in the Antarctic coastal waters, whereas morphologically differentiated sex chromosomes were never observed in the temperate non-Antarctic notothenioid families. Recent evidence suggests that the sex-linked chromosomes across the Antarctic notothenioid families may not share a common origin, but likely originated more than once during notothenioid evolutionary history, thus implying the presence of selection pressures operating toward fixation of GSD system. On the whole, the cytogenetic evidences suggest the Antarctic-specific fixation of differentiated heteromorphic sex-related chromosomes and of a prominent GSD across Antarctic notothenioids that may be an additional manifestation of notothenioid evolution in thermally stable cold environment.

ACS Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Chi-Hing Christina Cheng; Eva Pisano. Sex determination in Antarctic notothenioid fish: chromosomal clues and evolutionary hypotheses. Polar Biology 2014, 39, 11 -22.

AMA Style

Laura Ghigliotti, Chi-Hing Christina Cheng, Eva Pisano. Sex determination in Antarctic notothenioid fish: chromosomal clues and evolutionary hypotheses. Polar Biology. 2014; 39 (1):11-22.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Chi-Hing Christina Cheng; Eva Pisano. 2014. "Sex determination in Antarctic notothenioid fish: chromosomal clues and evolutionary hypotheses." Polar Biology 39, no. 1: 11-22.

Research article
Published: 12 February 2013 in BioMed Research International
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Two genes, that is, 5S ribosomal sequences and antifreeze glycoprotein (AFGP) genes, were mapped onto chromosomes of eight Antarctic notothenioid fish possessing a X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y sex chromosome system, namely,Chionodraco hamatusandPagetopsis macropterus(family Channichthyidae),Trematomus hansoni,T. newnesi,T. nicolai,T. lepidorhinus, andPagothenia borchgrevinki(family Nototheniidae), andArtedidraco skottsbergi(family Artedidraconidae). Through fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH), we uncovered distinct differences in the gene content of the Y chromosomes in the eight species, withC. hamatusandP. macropterusstanding out among others in bearing 5S rDNA and AFGP sequences on their Y chromosomes, respectively. Both genes were absent from the Y chromosomes of any analyzed species. The distinct patterns of Y and non-Y chromosome association of the 5S rDNA and AFGP genes in species representing different Antarctic fish families support an independent origin of the sex heterochromosomes in notothenioids with interesting implications for the evolutionary/adaptational history of these fishes living in a cold-stable environment.

ACS Style

Laura Ghigliotti; C.-H. Christina Cheng; Céline Bonillo; Jean-Pierre Coutanceau; Eva Pisano. In SituGene Mapping of Two Genes Supports Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Cold-Adapted Antarctic Fish. BioMed Research International 2013, 2013, 1 -8.

AMA Style

Laura Ghigliotti, C.-H. Christina Cheng, Céline Bonillo, Jean-Pierre Coutanceau, Eva Pisano. In SituGene Mapping of Two Genes Supports Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Cold-Adapted Antarctic Fish. BioMed Research International. 2013; 2013 ():1-8.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Laura Ghigliotti; C.-H. Christina Cheng; Céline Bonillo; Jean-Pierre Coutanceau; Eva Pisano. 2013. "In SituGene Mapping of Two Genes Supports Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Cold-Adapted Antarctic Fish." BioMed Research International 2013, no. : 1-8.

Short reports
Published: 26 September 2012 in Marine Biology Research
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Here we provide the first karyological characterization of the Arctic gadoid fish Gaidropsarus argentatus (Arctic rockling), through conventional and molecular cytogenetics. The analysis of six specimens collected along the coasts of Greenland during TUNU-MAFIG (Marine Fishes of North East Greenland – diversity and adaptation) expeditions, consistently indicated 48 chromosomes, with the karyotypic formula 12 m/sm+36 st/t and Fundamental Number (FN)=60. The description of the species-specific karyotype for a fish living in Arctic marine waters per se adds a significant piece of information to the necessary biological baseline for monitoring of biodiversity changes in polar regions. In addition, comparison of our data on the Arctic G. argentatus with those of the Mediterranean co-generic G. mediterraneus revealed a surprisingly high level of cytogenetic diversity between the two species (2n=48 vs. 2n=28), laying the basis for future analyses aimed at tracing the chromosomal evolution and diversification within this geographically widespread genus.

ACS Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Jørgen Schou Christiansen; Svein-Erik Fevolden; Eva Pisano. Biodiversity of Arctic fishes: first karyological information onGaidropsarus argentatus(Reinhardt, 1837), a new piece to the puzzle. Marine Biology Research 2012, 8, 1032 -1035.

AMA Style

Laura Ghigliotti, Jørgen Schou Christiansen, Svein-Erik Fevolden, Eva Pisano. Biodiversity of Arctic fishes: first karyological information onGaidropsarus argentatus(Reinhardt, 1837), a new piece to the puzzle. Marine Biology Research. 2012; 8 (10):1032-1035.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Laura Ghigliotti; Jørgen Schou Christiansen; Svein-Erik Fevolden; Eva Pisano. 2012. "Biodiversity of Arctic fishes: first karyological information onGaidropsarus argentatus(Reinhardt, 1837), a new piece to the puzzle." Marine Biology Research 8, no. 10: 1032-1035.

Journal article
Published: 27 May 2012 in Polar Biology
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Pleuragramma antarcticum is the dominant pelagic fish in the waters of the continental shelf in high Antarctic regions, where it plays a key role in the food web. A nursery ground for eggs of this species was first identified in 2002 in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea), where eggs were found trapped in ice platelets under the sea-ice during the spring. As part of a monitoring program aimed at understanding the geographic and temporal characteristics of this nursery ground, the present study reports on surveys carried out in the austral springs of 2005 and 2006 using a simple and effective method for sampling from the sea-ice. These surveys enabled the evaluation of the spatial range of the nursery area of the Antarctic silverfish in the sea-ice of the coastal area of Victoria Land between the Coulman Island and the Drygalski Glacier Tongue. P. antarcticum eggs were concentrated in an area of Terra Nova Bay of about 270 km2, encompassing two adjacent sites, Gerlache Inlet and Silverfish Bay. The present results add information on life cycle and hatching period of the Antarctic silverfish and confirm the importance of the Terra Nova Bay as a nursery area for this important species. Moreover, the survey points to the sea-ice cover and platelet ice as important environmental features of the nursery area.

ACS Style

Marino Vacchi; Arthur L. Devries; Clive W. Evans; Massimiliano Bottaro; Laura Ghigliotti; Laura Cutroneo; Eva Pisano. A nursery area for the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum at Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea): first estimate of distribution and abundance of eggs and larvae under the seasonal sea-ice. Polar Biology 2012, 35, 1573 -1585.

AMA Style

Marino Vacchi, Arthur L. Devries, Clive W. Evans, Massimiliano Bottaro, Laura Ghigliotti, Laura Cutroneo, Eva Pisano. A nursery area for the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum at Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea): first estimate of distribution and abundance of eggs and larvae under the seasonal sea-ice. Polar Biology. 2012; 35 (10):1573-1585.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marino Vacchi; Arthur L. Devries; Clive W. Evans; Massimiliano Bottaro; Laura Ghigliotti; Laura Cutroneo; Eva Pisano. 2012. "A nursery area for the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum at Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea): first estimate of distribution and abundance of eggs and larvae under the seasonal sea-ice." Polar Biology 35, no. 10: 1573-1585.