Zooplankton Ecology

Analyzes of collected samples mainly in the Mediterranean and in polar Antarctic and periantarctic areas are carried out. The experimentation concerns the physiology, the life cycle and the feeding behavior of key species in the meso- and bathypelagic trophic web. The time series of zooplankton data collected from 1987 to today in the Ross Sea and Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica) allows us to relate the trends of zooplankton to climate change, and to evaluate its effects on the most vulnerable key species. Laboratory analysis • Quali-quantitative analyzes of marine and brackish waters zooplankton, with particular reference to mesozooplankton (copepods, cladocerans, amphipods, ostracods, pteropod molluscs), micronekton (fish larvae, euphausiids, misids, pelagic decapods, mesopelagic fishes) and jellyfish organisms (siphonophores, appendicularians, chaetognaths and pelagic tunicates). • Caloric content analysis • Electron Transport System analysis (ETS) • Biomarkers analysis Experimentation systems • Chamber-Walk with temperature and light controlled and different volume incubators for in vivo zooplankton experimentation • Preparation of phytoplankton cultures for grazing experiments • Rotating support (plankton wheel) for micro- and mesozooplankton experimentation • Optical system for video shooting of zooplankton organisms.