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Dr. Giuseppina Grazia Lai
Department of Architecture, Design and Urban Planning, University of Sassari

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0 Biodiversity
0 Biogeography
0 Freshwater Ecology
0 Diatoms
0 Running waters

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Journal article
Published: 04 March 2021 in Phytotaxa
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Planothidium marganaiensis sp. nov. is described from periphytic samples collected at the karst spring San Giovanni at Domusnovas, Sardinia (Italy). Light and scanning electron microscope observations revealed that the taxon shares similarities with species within the Planothidium frequentissimum sensu lato, such as P. naradoense and P. victori. Planothidium marganaiensis seems to be morphologically closely related to P. frequentissimum but stands out for its smaller valves, lower striae density, subrostrate to slightly protracted apices, and areolation pattern of the striae in the rapheless valve (four to five areolae per stria). Planothidium marganaiensis was found in slightly alkaline waters presenting medium hardness and mineralization and phosphorus enrichment.

ACS Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Luc Ector; Bachisio M. Padedda; Carlos E. Wetzel. Planothidium marganaiensis sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta), a new cavum-bearing species from a karst spring in south-western Sardinia (Italy). Phytotaxa 2021, 489, 140 -154.

AMA Style

Giuseppina G. Lai, Luc Ector, Bachisio M. Padedda, Carlos E. Wetzel. Planothidium marganaiensis sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta), a new cavum-bearing species from a karst spring in south-western Sardinia (Italy). Phytotaxa. 2021; 489 (2):140-154.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Luc Ector; Bachisio M. Padedda; Carlos E. Wetzel. 2021. "Planothidium marganaiensis sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta), a new cavum-bearing species from a karst spring in south-western Sardinia (Italy)." Phytotaxa 489, no. 2: 140-154.

Journal article
Published: 10 December 2019 in Water
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Karst ecosystems are considered as priority environments for the protection of biodiversity on a global scale. This study provides a first comparative analysis of epilithic diatom flora from karst springs in two Mediterranean geographic areas (Spain and Italy) with contrasting characteristics (islands vs mainland). We investigated twenty-three springs with different anthropogenic impact levels once in the winter season between 2007 and 2017 (N = 23). A total of 176 diatom taxa (56 genera) were found of which 101 (44 genera) were observed in single sites. A general good biotic integrity was revealed by structural indices (species richness, diversity and evenness). However, crenophilous species were generally present and abundant in less impacted springs. Comparing islands and mainland, significant differences were found in species composition and diversity (H’) based on multivariate analyses (global R = 0.610; p = 0.001) and t-test (t = 2.304; p = 0.031). Discharge and Cl− were the most significant variables in determining diatom assemblages. Our results confirm the role of springs as multiple ecotones and refuges for rare species and suggest that the geographic insularity may be an important factor in maintaining diatom biodiversity.

ACS Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Sara Burato; Bachisio M. Padedda; Raffaella Zorza; Elisabetta Pizzul; Cristina Delgado; Antonella Lugliè; Marco Cantonati. Diatom Biodiversity in Karst Springs of Mediterranean Geographic Areas with Contrasting Characteristics: Islands vs Mainland. Water 2019, 11, 2602 .

AMA Style

Giuseppina G. Lai, Sara Burato, Bachisio M. Padedda, Raffaella Zorza, Elisabetta Pizzul, Cristina Delgado, Antonella Lugliè, Marco Cantonati. Diatom Biodiversity in Karst Springs of Mediterranean Geographic Areas with Contrasting Characteristics: Islands vs Mainland. Water. 2019; 11 (12):2602.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Sara Burato; Bachisio M. Padedda; Raffaella Zorza; Elisabetta Pizzul; Cristina Delgado; Antonella Lugliè; Marco Cantonati. 2019. "Diatom Biodiversity in Karst Springs of Mediterranean Geographic Areas with Contrasting Characteristics: Islands vs Mainland." Water 11, no. 12: 2602.

Articles
Published: 25 October 2019 in Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology
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Mediterranean karst springs are affected by strong climatic seasonality, with long, dry and hot summers and are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures. In Sardinia (western Mediterranean Sea, Italy), they are largely unexplored and their biocoenoses are mostly unknown. The diatom flora from two substrates (cobbles and macrophytes) in eight springs of different areas of the island was investigated in summer 2016 and winter 2017. A total of 162 diatom taxa (58 genera) were found of which 27 (17 genera) only on cobbles and 26 (18 genera) only on macrophytes. The most abundant species from both substrates were Achnanthidium minutissimum, Amphora indistincta, Amphora pediculus, Cocconeis euglypta, Planothidium frequentissimum, and P. lanceolatum. Overall, 67 taxa (40 genera) were recorded in single sites and some of these taxa showed high affinity with specific environmental conditions. Hydrological stability (water flow permanence), discharge and nutrients were the main environmental factors influencing diatom assemblages. Our results suggest that diatoms can reflect important local factors related to the vulnerability of these spring ecosystems and underline the importance of their preservation both for biodiversity and water quality maintenance.

ACS Style

Giuseppina Grazia Lai; Bachisio Mario Padedda; Luc Ector; Carlos Eduardo Wetzel; Antonella Lugliè; Marco Cantonati. Mediterranean karst springs: diatom biodiversity hotspots under the pressure of hydrological fluctuation and nutrient enrichment. Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology 2019, 154, 673 -684.

AMA Style

Giuseppina Grazia Lai, Bachisio Mario Padedda, Luc Ector, Carlos Eduardo Wetzel, Antonella Lugliè, Marco Cantonati. Mediterranean karst springs: diatom biodiversity hotspots under the pressure of hydrological fluctuation and nutrient enrichment. Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology. 2019; 154 (5):673-684.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppina Grazia Lai; Bachisio Mario Padedda; Luc Ector; Carlos Eduardo Wetzel; Antonella Lugliè; Marco Cantonati. 2019. "Mediterranean karst springs: diatom biodiversity hotspots under the pressure of hydrological fluctuation and nutrient enrichment." Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology 154, no. 5: 673-684.

Journal article
Published: 15 July 2019 in PeerJ
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This study investigated and compared the diatom flora from thermo-mineral springs in Auvergne (France) and Sardinia (Italy). Samples were collected from rock/cobbles and fine sediments in 16 springs between January 2015 and March 2017. A total of 207 taxa (59 genera) were found. Multivariate analyses revealed significant differences in species composition and abundance among diatom assemblages both within each geographic region and between Auvergne and Sardinia (global R = 0.516; p = 0.002), suggesting the importance of local and climatic factors in species distribution. Based on abundance and common occurrence in multiple sites, some taxa can be considered more representative of springs in each region: Crenotia thermalis for Auvergne and Lemnicola exigua, Nitzschia amphibia, N. inconspicua and Rhopalodia operculata for Sardinia. pH, conductivity and HCO3- were the most significant environmental variables for diatom assemblages. Our results highlight the high heterogeneity of these spring systems. Future taxonomic insights can be useful to define the identity of some abundant and dominant taxa not identified at the species level in this study. Their identification is a crucial step for a more precise ecological characterization and comparison of these peculiar spring systems.

ACS Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Aude Beauger; Carlos E. Wetzel; Bachisio M. Padedda; Olivier Voldoire; Antonella Lugliè; Elisabeth Allain; Luc Ector. Diversity, ecology and distribution of benthic diatoms in thermo-mineral springs in Auvergne (France) and Sardinia (Italy). PeerJ 2019, 7, e7238 .

AMA Style

Giuseppina G. Lai, Aude Beauger, Carlos E. Wetzel, Bachisio M. Padedda, Olivier Voldoire, Antonella Lugliè, Elisabeth Allain, Luc Ector. Diversity, ecology and distribution of benthic diatoms in thermo-mineral springs in Auvergne (France) and Sardinia (Italy). PeerJ. 2019; 7 ():e7238.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Aude Beauger; Carlos E. Wetzel; Bachisio M. Padedda; Olivier Voldoire; Antonella Lugliè; Elisabeth Allain; Luc Ector. 2019. "Diversity, ecology and distribution of benthic diatoms in thermo-mineral springs in Auvergne (France) and Sardinia (Italy)." PeerJ 7, no. : e7238.

Articles
Published: 03 July 2018 in Inland Waters
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In Sardinia, Italy, karst springs are strategic water resources and potential hotspots of biodiversity; however, they are understudied, and their communities remain largely unknown. This study was conducted at Sa Vena spring (Su Gologone system) to characterize the diatom communities, to describe their relationships with environmental variables, and to evaluate the impact of an extreme flash flood. High species richness, diversity, and evenness were found both in epiphytic and epilithic assemblages. Statistical analyses showed significant differences between assemblages from the 2 substrates and in assemblages from the same substrate. Differences seem due to the stronger impact of seasonal water level variations and flash flood on macrophytes than on cobbles. Further, epilithic assemblages showed more stable behavior over time, both on an annual (higher resistence) and a multiannual (higher resilience) scale. Alkalinity (p = 0.002) and dissolved oxygen (p = 0.004) explained a significant amount of variance in epiphytic and epilithic assemblages, respectively, according to RDA analyses; however BOD5, negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen, can be the most probable driver of epilithic diatoms. The results suggest the importance of the proper management and preservation of this biotope, both for the high biodiversity and potential vulnerability to climate change.

ACS Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Luc Ector; Carlos E. Wetzel; Nicola Sechi; Antonella Lugliè; Bachisio M. Padedda. Periphytic diatoms of the Mediterranean karst spring Sa Vena (Su Gologone system, Sardinia, Italy): relationships with environmental variables and effects of an extreme flash flood. Inland Waters 2018, 8, 284 -293.

AMA Style

Giuseppina G. Lai, Luc Ector, Carlos E. Wetzel, Nicola Sechi, Antonella Lugliè, Bachisio M. Padedda. Periphytic diatoms of the Mediterranean karst spring Sa Vena (Su Gologone system, Sardinia, Italy): relationships with environmental variables and effects of an extreme flash flood. Inland Waters. 2018; 8 (3):284-293.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Luc Ector; Carlos E. Wetzel; Nicola Sechi; Antonella Lugliè; Bachisio M. Padedda. 2018. "Periphytic diatoms of the Mediterranean karst spring Sa Vena (Su Gologone system, Sardinia, Italy): relationships with environmental variables and effects of an extreme flash flood." Inland Waters 8, no. 3: 284-293.

Journal article
Published: 14 June 2018 in Phytotaxa
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A new epilithic Sellaphora (Bacillariophyceae) species from a karst spring of Sardinia is described based on light and scanning electron microscopic observations. Sellaphora gologonica sp. nov. shares similarities with small-celled Sellaphora previously described from Europe and particularly with S. atomoides, S. hafnearae and S. seminulum. Sellaphora gologonica seems to be related to S. seminulum based on the striae patterns and valve ultrastructure, as well as the sinuous raphe system. The main differences between S. gologonica and S. seminulum lies in its valve shape (small, elliptic to oval), not presenting capitated nor protracted apices, as in the later taxon. Sellaphora gologonica was discovered in freshwater habitats with slightly alkaline and oligotrophic waters presenting medium hardness and mineralization, at the smaller water emergence of karst spring system Su Gologone (Sardinia).

ACS Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Luc Ector; Antonella Lugliè; Nicola Sechi; Carlos E. Wetzel. Sellaphora gologonica sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta, Sellaphoraceae), a new diatom species from a Mediterranean karst spring (Sardinia, Italy). Phytotaxa 2018, 356, 145 -157.

AMA Style

Giuseppina G. Lai, Luc Ector, Antonella Lugliè, Nicola Sechi, Carlos E. Wetzel. Sellaphora gologonica sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta, Sellaphoraceae), a new diatom species from a Mediterranean karst spring (Sardinia, Italy). Phytotaxa. 2018; 356 (2):145-157.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Luc Ector; Antonella Lugliè; Nicola Sechi; Carlos E. Wetzel. 2018. "Sellaphora gologonica sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta, Sellaphoraceae), a new diatom species from a Mediterranean karst spring (Sardinia, Italy)." Phytotaxa 356, no. 2: 145-157.

Journal article
Published: 30 May 2018 in Botany Letters
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ACS Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Bachisio M. Padedda; Carlos E. Wetzel; Marco Cantonati; Nicola Sechi; Antonella Lugliè; Luc Ector. Diatom assemblages from different substrates of the Casteldoria thermo-mineral spring (Northern Sardinia, Italy). Botany Letters 2018, 166, 14 -31.

AMA Style

Giuseppina G. Lai, Bachisio M. Padedda, Carlos E. Wetzel, Marco Cantonati, Nicola Sechi, Antonella Lugliè, Luc Ector. Diatom assemblages from different substrates of the Casteldoria thermo-mineral spring (Northern Sardinia, Italy). Botany Letters. 2018; 166 (1):14-31.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Bachisio M. Padedda; Carlos E. Wetzel; Marco Cantonati; Nicola Sechi; Antonella Lugliè; Luc Ector. 2018. "Diatom assemblages from different substrates of the Casteldoria thermo-mineral spring (Northern Sardinia, Italy)." Botany Letters 166, no. 1: 14-31.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2016 in Acta botanica Croatica
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Karst springs are considered among the most vulnerable groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Despite their ecological value and importance as strategic water sources, Mediterranean karst springs are still poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to analyse the epilithic diatom assemblages and to test their usefulness as indicators of environmental quality on the Su Gologone spring (central-eastern Sardinia, Italy), a biotope of great natural value and a precious source of drinking water. A total of 89 diatom taxa were found with 25 new records for Sardinian running waters. Species richness, Shannon-Wiener and Pielou indices showed good biotic integrity. The dominant taxa were alkaliphilous, halophobous-oligohalobous exigent, xeno- oligosaprobic and characteristic of oligotrophic waters. The eutrophication/pollution index − diatom based (EPI-D) and the Navicula Nitzschia Surirella indices indicated respectively an excellent/good biological water quality and a low physical disturbance. However, the biological and chemical oxygen demand, and the microbiological variables (E. coli, fecal and total coliforms) revealed an organic contamination of the water, although moderate. The judgment provided by the EPI-D should be verified after updating of the index. In fact, 10 taxa found in this study are not currently considered by the EPI-D method.

ACS Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Bachisio M. Padedda; Carlos E. Wetzel; Antonella Lugliè; Nicola Sechi; Luc Ector. Epilithic diatom assemblages and environmental quality of the Su Gologone karst spring (centraleastern Sardinia, Italy). Acta botanica Croatica 2016, 75, 129 -143.

AMA Style

Giuseppina G. Lai, Bachisio M. Padedda, Carlos E. Wetzel, Antonella Lugliè, Nicola Sechi, Luc Ector. Epilithic diatom assemblages and environmental quality of the Su Gologone karst spring (centraleastern Sardinia, Italy). Acta botanica Croatica. 2016; 75 (1):129-143.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppina G. Lai; Bachisio M. Padedda; Carlos E. Wetzel; Antonella Lugliè; Nicola Sechi; Luc Ector. 2016. "Epilithic diatom assemblages and environmental quality of the Su Gologone karst spring (centraleastern Sardinia, Italy)." Acta botanica Croatica 75, no. 1: 129-143.