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Dr. Marco Bertoli
Life Science Department - University of Trieste (Italy)

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0 Freshwater Ecology
0 biomonitoring
0 energy density
0 fish ecology
0 Benthos

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Journal article
Published: 07 February 2021 in Water
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The monitoring of microplastics pollution in freshwater environments trails behind its practice in marine ecosystems. We evaluated the use of the invasive zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) as a potential bioindicator of microplastic litter in freshwater lakes. Samples were collected from three sites (Lovere, Costa Volpino, Castro) at the northern end of Lake Iseo (one of the major subalpine lakes in north Italy) and compared for water physicochemical parameters, biometrical features of zebra mussels, and microplastics items/specimens (color, shape, size, and chemical composition). We hypothesized that since a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) on the Oglio River discharges into this area of the lake, the microplastics in D. polymorpha could be measured and compared in samples from the three sites at different distances from the WWTP. There was no difference in the physicochemical water parameters and biometric features between the samples from the three sites, whereas there was a significant difference in items/specimen between the sites in decreasing order (mean ± standard deviation): Costa Volpino (0.23 ± 0.43) > Lovere (0.07 ± 0.25) > Castro (0.03 ± 0.18). The chi-square test showed a significant difference in shape, color, and chemical composition frequency in the samples from the three sites. The chemical composition of the microplastics was polyethylene terephthalate (45%), nylon (20%), polypropylene (20%), polyamide resin (10%), and polyvinyl chloride (5%). Our data show that the amount of microplastics the zebra mussel accumulated was greater the closer the sampling site to the WWTP. Our findings suggest that the zebra mussel may provide a useful tool to monitor microplastics pollution in lakes.

ACS Style

Paolo Pastorino; Marino Prearo; Serena Anselmi; Vasco Menconi; Marco Bertoli; Alessandro Dondo; Elisabetta Pizzul; Monia Renzi. Use of the Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Mollusca, Bivalvia) as a Bioindicator of Microplastics Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems: A Case Study from Lake Iseo (North Italy). Water 2021, 13, 434 .

AMA Style

Paolo Pastorino, Marino Prearo, Serena Anselmi, Vasco Menconi, Marco Bertoli, Alessandro Dondo, Elisabetta Pizzul, Monia Renzi. Use of the Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Mollusca, Bivalvia) as a Bioindicator of Microplastics Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems: A Case Study from Lake Iseo (North Italy). Water. 2021; 13 (4):434.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Pastorino; Marino Prearo; Serena Anselmi; Vasco Menconi; Marco Bertoli; Alessandro Dondo; Elisabetta Pizzul; Monia Renzi. 2021. "Use of the Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Mollusca, Bivalvia) as a Bioindicator of Microplastics Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems: A Case Study from Lake Iseo (North Italy)." Water 13, no. 4: 434.

Journal article
Published: 24 November 2020 in Diversity
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The hypothesis that liver lipid accumulation in fish is an adaptive strategy to survive the winter in the high-altitude environment was assessed in this study. During summer 2019, specimens of Cottus gobio were sampled in 15 watercourses of Friuli Venezia-Giulia Region (Italy) to verify if hepatic steatosis is or not normally present in the species. To do this, hepatic vacuolization was assessed by histology using a semiquantitative score. Furthermore, C. gobio were also captured during the ice-free season at Dimon Lake (1872 m a.s.l.) and But Stream (520 m a.s.l.) to compare the trend in lipid accumulation: water temperature, hepatosomatic index (HSI), gonadosomatic index (GSI), Fulton’s condition factor (K), and lipid area percentage (lipid %) were measured monthly. Findings revealed that liver steatosis is rather common in C. gobio. However, the trend in lipid accumulation of this species differed between Dimon Lake and But Stream. Based on the HSI and the GSI, the reproductive cycles differed in fish from the two environments (April–May in But Stream; May–June in Dimon Lake). While K values remained unchanged in the But Stream specimens, significant changes were recorded for Dimon specimens. The increase in lipid % from July to August in the Dimon Lake specimens coincided with greater food availability. With the rapid drop in lake water temperature in October, the lipid % decreased due to slower metabolic rate and lipid utilization from liver stores. There was a slight decrease in lipid % in the But Stream specimens, indicating that lipids were not being accumulated. Introduced years ago, the Dimon Lake bullhead population has since adapted to the winter conditions at high elevation.

ACS Style

Paolo Pastorino; Marco Bertoli; Manuel Kušće; Piero Giulio Giulianini; Vasco Menconi; Marino Prearo; Elisabetta Pizzul. Liver Lipid Accumulation in European Bullhead (Cottus cobio) from a High-Mountain Lake: An Adaptive Strategy to Survive the Adverse Winter Season. Diversity 2020, 12, 442 .

AMA Style

Paolo Pastorino, Marco Bertoli, Manuel Kušće, Piero Giulio Giulianini, Vasco Menconi, Marino Prearo, Elisabetta Pizzul. Liver Lipid Accumulation in European Bullhead (Cottus cobio) from a High-Mountain Lake: An Adaptive Strategy to Survive the Adverse Winter Season. Diversity. 2020; 12 (12):442.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Pastorino; Marco Bertoli; Manuel Kušće; Piero Giulio Giulianini; Vasco Menconi; Marino Prearo; Elisabetta Pizzul. 2020. "Liver Lipid Accumulation in European Bullhead (Cottus cobio) from a High-Mountain Lake: An Adaptive Strategy to Survive the Adverse Winter Season." Diversity 12, no. 12: 442.

Journal article
Published: 18 February 2020 in Water
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This study aimed to assess the biological and sanitary conditions of alien fish in a high-mountain lake (Balma Lake) located in the Cottian Alps. A single fish sampling session (August 2018) using gillnets collected 90 specimens of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Sex and age were determined (59 females and 31 males, age class 0+ to 4+). Regression analysis showed no difference in total weight and total length between males and females (ANCOVA: F = 0.453; p = 0.954). The mean condition factor (Kmean) decreased with increasing age for males and females. Terrestrial insects were the main prey found in the fish stomachs. The parasitological exam was negative, and the bacteriological exam was positive for Carnobacterium maltaromaticum and C. divergens in 33% of specimens. The total mercury, cadmium, and lead concentration in muscle tissue was within the maximum limit established by the European Commission for human consumption. The brook trout population was found to be well structured; these findings may help local administrations in the implementation of eradication measures.

ACS Style

Paolo Pastorino; Marino Prearo; Marco Bertoli; Vasco Menconi; Giuseppe Esposito; Marzia Righetti; Davide Mugetti; Sabina Pederiva; Maria Cesarina Abete; Elisabetta Pizzul. Assessment of Biological and Sanitary Condition of Alien Fish from a High-Mountain Lake (Cottian Alps). Water 2020, 12, 559 .

AMA Style

Paolo Pastorino, Marino Prearo, Marco Bertoli, Vasco Menconi, Giuseppe Esposito, Marzia Righetti, Davide Mugetti, Sabina Pederiva, Maria Cesarina Abete, Elisabetta Pizzul. Assessment of Biological and Sanitary Condition of Alien Fish from a High-Mountain Lake (Cottian Alps). Water. 2020; 12 (2):559.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Pastorino; Marino Prearo; Marco Bertoli; Vasco Menconi; Giuseppe Esposito; Marzia Righetti; Davide Mugetti; Sabina Pederiva; Maria Cesarina Abete; Elisabetta Pizzul. 2020. "Assessment of Biological and Sanitary Condition of Alien Fish from a High-Mountain Lake (Cottian Alps)." Water 12, no. 2: 559.

Journal article
Published: 05 December 2019 in Water
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The aim of this study was to describe liver alterations observed in a bullhead (Cottus gobio) population from a high-mountain lake (Dimon Lake; 1857 m a.s.l.) located in Carnic Alps (Northeast Italy). Two fish sampling campaigns (summer and autumn) were performed in 2017 to explore the possible causes of this phenomenon. In addition, to investigate the typical liver features of C. gobio, control specimens were captured from Degano Creek in the same seasons. Total length, weight, and liver weight were recorded in fish from both sampling sites. In addition, Fulton’s condition factor (K) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) were calculated. Stomach contents were also analyzed. Liver from each specimen was sampled, and histological examination was carried out. Liver steatosis (L) (nuclear displacement and cytoplasm vacuolization) were histologically evaluated by assigning a semiquantitative severity score. A significant difference in L was found between Dimon Lake and Degano Creek in both summer (Mann–Whitney test; p = 0.0001) and autumn (Mann–Whitney test; p < 0.0001). Regarding HSI, a significant difference was also recorded between Dimon Lake and Degano Creek in summer (Mann–Whitney test; p < 0.0001) and also in autumn (Mann–Whitney test; p < 0.0001), but no seasonal change in K values was recorded between the two sites in both summer (Mann–Whitney test; p = 0.8589) and autumn (Mann–Whitney test; p = 0.6415). A significant positive correlation between HSI and L was found (ρS 0.573). The causes of this abnormality might be related to adaptation by the fish to the high-altitude environment, accumulating lipids in the liver to tackle the adverse season, which lasts for 6 months of the year. Nonetheless, our study does not preclude steatosis induced by a nearly exclusive chironomids diet in bullhead from Dimon Lake.

ACS Style

Paolo Pastorino; Marino Prearo; Elisabetta Pizzul; Marco Bertoli; Danila Raffaella Francese; Vasco Menconi; Davide Mugetti; Elena Bozzetta; Katia Varello. Hepatic Steatosis in a Bullhead (Cottus gobio) Population from a High-Mountain Lake (Carnic Alps): Adaptation to an Extreme Ecosystem? Water 2019, 11, 2570 .

AMA Style

Paolo Pastorino, Marino Prearo, Elisabetta Pizzul, Marco Bertoli, Danila Raffaella Francese, Vasco Menconi, Davide Mugetti, Elena Bozzetta, Katia Varello. Hepatic Steatosis in a Bullhead (Cottus gobio) Population from a High-Mountain Lake (Carnic Alps): Adaptation to an Extreme Ecosystem? Water. 2019; 11 (12):2570.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Pastorino; Marino Prearo; Elisabetta Pizzul; Marco Bertoli; Danila Raffaella Francese; Vasco Menconi; Davide Mugetti; Elena Bozzetta; Katia Varello. 2019. "Hepatic Steatosis in a Bullhead (Cottus gobio) Population from a High-Mountain Lake (Carnic Alps): Adaptation to an Extreme Ecosystem?" Water 11, no. 12: 2570.