Notes on coastal lagoon typology in the light of the EU Water Framework Directive: Italy as a case study

• 1. The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that Member States differentiate the transitional water bodies into types.
• 2. WFD assigns coastal lagoons to two different water categories, ‘transitional waters’ and ‘coastal waters’ on the basis of freshwater influence.
• 3. The main physical factors that contribute to the genesis and characterization of coastal lagoons are coastal typology, tidal range and climate.
• 4. Italian lagoons are presented as an example of how these physical factors can be used in coastal lagoon characterization and typology. On this basis, a clear distinction of Italian lagoons into two main groups is possible: Northern Adriatic and Mediterranean.
• 5. Large lagoons can be profitably subdivided into a hierarchical system of sub‐basins facilitating both the comparison of parts of the same lagoon and the comparison between different lagoons.
• 6. The basins are consistent water bodies that can be used as managerial units for environmental conservation, species protection and wise use of resources.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Artificial reproduction protocol,from spawning to metamorphosis,through noninvasive methods in Patella caerulea Linnaeus, 1758

Controlled reproduction is a requirement for developing effective mollusc cultivation for commercial or restoration purposes. In this study, a protocol for spawning induction using noninvasive methods in limpets was developed, using the common Mediterranean species, Patella caerulea Linnaeus, 1758. Six nonlethal spawning induction treatments were tested: three chemical (two concentrations of H₂O₂ and KCl) and three physical (bubbling, warm and cold thermal shock). All treatments, except thermal shocks, induced the spawning of fertile gametes. Bubbling resulted the best treatment in providing spawning response, being the easiest and least invasive method tested. After eggs fertilization, larval development was followed until metamorphosis, testing fed and unfed conditions. Settlement took place after 7 days. The developed protocol represents a benchmark for further application to other limpets, for aquaculture or repopulation.     

Rapid detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae on soil,lettuce seeds and plants using loop‐mediated isothermal amplification

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (FOL) is a soil‐ and seedborne pathogen and the causal agent of fusarium wilt on lettuce. Four races have been identified within FOL, with different worldwide distribution. Several molecular techniques have been used to detect and identify this pathogen; however, not all of them have the optimal characteristics in terms of sensitivity to perform FOL detection in plant and seed material. A loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed based on the sequence‐characterized amplified region (SCAR) obtained in a previous rapid amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) study. The LAMP assay has been validated according to the EPPO standard PM7/98. The LAMP assay was tested with lettuce seeds, soil and plant material, and can be used successfully to amplify DNA from each of these matrices. In seed lots artificially inoculated with FOL, the detection limit of the LAMP test was 0.004% infected seed.     

Performance of diagnostic tests for the detection and identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas syringae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">actinidiae</Emphasis> (Psa) from woody samples

The aim of this study was to characterise the performance of new molecular methods for the detection and identification of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) and to provide validation data in comparison to the assays mentioned in official diagnostic protocols and being currently used. Eleven molecular tests for the Psa detection were compared in an inter-laboratory comparison where each laboratory had to analyse the same panel of samples consisting of thirteen Psa-spiked kiwifruit wood extracts. Laboratories had to perform also isolation from the wood extracts. Data from this interlaboratory test performance study (TPS) was statistically analysed to assess the performance of each method. In order to provide complete validation data, both for detection and identification, this TPS was supplemented by a further study of identification from pure culture of phylogenetically closely related Pseudomonas spp., Psa, and bacterial strains associated with kiwifruit. The results of both these studies showed that simplex-PCRs gave good results, whereas duplex-PCR and real-time PCR were the most reliable tools for detection and identification of Psa. Nested and multiplex-PCR gave false-positive results. The use of the most reliable detection test is suggested for routine analyses, but when Psa-free status needs to be accurately assessed, it is recommended that at least two detection tests are used. This work provides a wide comparison of the available diagnostic methods, giving new information for a possible revision of the official diagnostic protocols (e.g. European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) protocol PM7/120 for the detection of Psa).     

Comparison of loss on ignition and thermal analysis stepwise methods for determination of sedimentary organic matter

• 1. Loss on ignition (LOI) is a widely used method to estimate organic matter (OM) in the sediment of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Thermogravimetric‐differential thermal analysis (TG‐DTA) of organic species provides information on thermal reactions, the amount and properties of clay structural water, organic species and carbonates.
• 2. The accuracy of LOI compared with that of TG‐DTA was evaluated in 33 sediment samples from the Lagoon of Venice (Italy).
• 3. In all tests conducted with TG‐DTA the mass loss of OM and the loss of clay structural water (LCSW) from oxidized samples were measured. The mass loss of OM at 350°C (TG‐DTA 350 OM) and the total extraction of organic matter at 567°C (TEOM) calculated from the difference between natural state samples and oxidized samples highlight the presence of both thermally labile and thermally stable substances.
• 4. The grain size data of sediment samples from the Lagoon shows a variable distribution between slightly muddy sand and mud. Loss of clay structural water at 350°C (LCSW 350) and total extraction of clay structural water at 567°C (TECSW) both estimated by TG‐DTA on oxidized samples, were found to correspond approximately to 6% and 10%, respectively of the clay fraction (<4 µm). This percentage may be used to correct LOI measurements of OM in sediments with high clay content.
• 5. LOI 350 (loss on ignition at 350°C) and LOI 550 (loss on ignition at 550°C) proved to be ～80% and ～200%, respectively, of total extraction of mass loss at 350°C (TG‐DTA 350 tot) and at 567°C (TEML) estimated by TG‐DTA on natural samples, meaning that the LOI 550 value represents a significant overestimate. The difference between the LOI 550 and TEML values indicates that the mass loss excess (MLE) may be accounted for by losses due to breakdown of carbonates.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.