Nutritional and commercial quality of the striped venus clam, Chamelea gallina, from the Adriatic sea

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to evaluate the microbiological quality of striped venus clams (Chamelea gallina L.) harvested in the north Adriatic Sea during an 8-year monitoring period. A total of 387 samples were analyzed to assess the presence of Escherichia coli. Environmental parameters (salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, seawater temperature, and freshwater outflow) were collected to find out a possible relationship between the E. coli counts and environmental factors. The results evidenced that the microbiological quality of the clams was good, with only about 5% of the samples not complying with European and Italian regulations for this product, that is, with E. coli counts higher than 230 most probable number (MPN) per 100 g of flesh and intravalvar liquid. Statistical analyses revealed a relationship between microbial contamination and the season and water temperature, probably due to the difference in the filtering activity of the mollusks. However, the main factor affecting the E. coli concentration in the clams turned out to be the flow rate of Marecchia, the major river that reaches the sea in the area of harvesting. In fact, a model fitted to evaluate the probability of finding a higher E. coli count in relation to the environmental parameters evidenced that it was an increase of the level of the Marecchia led to a higher probability of elevated E. coli contamination. This result could be explained by the higher supply of both nutrients and coliforms (including E. coli) when the river is higher and by the anthropogenic characteristics of the lands crossed by the river.

Download Full-text

Modelling the Quality of Bathing Waters in the Adriatic Sea

Water ◽

10.3390/w13111525 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 1525

Author(s):

Christian Ferrarin ◽

Pierluigi Penna ◽

Antonella Penna ◽

Vedrana Spada ◽

Fabio Ricci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adriatic Sea ◽

Management Tool ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Sea Temperature ◽

Bathing Water Directive ◽

Bathing Waters ◽

Diffusion Dynamics ◽

Study Sites

The aim of this study is to develop a relocatable modelling system able to describe the microbial contamination that affects the quality of coastal bathing waters. Pollution events are mainly triggered by urban sewer outflows during massive rainy events, with relevant negative consequences on the marine environment and tourism and related activities of coastal towns. A finite element hydrodynamic model was applied to five study areas in the Adriatic Sea, which differ for urban, oceanographic and morphological conditions. With the help of transport-diffusion and microbial decay modules, the distribution of Escherichia coli was investigated during significant events. The numerical investigation was supported by detailed in situ observational datasets. The model results were evaluated against water level, sea temperature, salinity and E. coli concentrations acquired in situ, demonstrating the capacity of the modelling suite in simulating the circulation in the coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea, as well as several main transport and diffusion dynamics, such as riverine and polluted waters dispersion. Moreover, the results of the simulations were used to perform a comparative analysis among the different study sites, demonstrating that dilution and mixing, mostly induced by the tidal action, had a stronger effect on bacteria reduction with respect to microbial decay. Stratification and estuarine dynamics also play an important role in governing microbial concentration. The modelling suite can be used as a beach management tool for improving protection of public health, as required by the EU Bathing Water Directive.

Download Full-text

Chamelea gallina reproductive biology and Minimum Conservation Reference Size: implications for fishery management in the Adriatic Sea

BMC Zoology ◽

10.1186/s40850-021-00096-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Giada Bargione ◽

Fortunata Donato ◽

Giulio Barone ◽

Massimo Virgili ◽

Pierluigi Penna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Maturity ◽

Adriatic Sea ◽

Seawater Temperature ◽

Reproductive Capacity ◽

Great Effort ◽

Important Species ◽

Spawning Period ◽

The Past ◽

Chamelea Gallina ◽

Size At Sexual Maturity

Abstract Background The striped venus clam Chamelea gallina is an economically important species in Adriatic Sea fisheries. The use of hydraulic dredging for its catch has a long history in Italy and its management faced several stages of development in the last 40 years. A great effort has been made in the past two decades to move from poorly or weakly managed fisheries to a well-structured co-management system to improve the sustainability of this fishery. However, a prerequisite for appropriate resource management is a sound knowledge of the biology and reproductive strategy of the species. Results We investigated three major biological features– the gametogenic cycle, size at sexual maturity and partial fecundity – by microscopic, histological and video analysis techniques. We demonstrated that its breeding season is driven by rises in seawater temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration and that its spawning period lasted from March to September. Size at sexual maturity was reached very early in the life cycle. As regards partial fecundity – the number of mature oocytes potentially released by females with ripe gonads in a single release event – varied in relation to size. Nevertheless, the reduction on the Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) from 25 to 22 mm (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2237) lead to a 40% reduction in the number of emitted eggs. Conclusions We suggest that the ability of Adriatic clam stocks to withstand the strong fishing pressure of the past 40 years and the present one is due to their high reproductive potential and multiple spawning events combined with the effect of management measures (closed areas/seasons, quota, MCRS) and technical constraints on the gear and the sieve on board. Moreover, since the reduced MCRS for Venus shells is still larger than the size at maturity, it will probably not be detrimental to the reproductive capacity of the stock.

Download Full-text

Environmental influence on calcification of the bivalve Chamelea gallina along a latitudinal gradient in the Adriatic Sea

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-47538-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Arianna Mancuso ◽

Marco Stagioni ◽

Fiorella Prada ◽

Daniele Scarponi ◽

Corrado Piccinetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Latitudinal Gradient ◽

Adriatic Sea ◽

Environmental Influence ◽

Chamelea Gallina

Download Full-text

The Henetus wave forecast system in the Adriatic Sea

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science ◽

10.5194/nhess-11-2965-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 2965-2979 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

L. Bertotti ◽

P. Canestrelli ◽

L. Cavaleri ◽

F. Pastore ◽

L. Zampato

Keyword(s):

Adriatic Sea ◽

Model Performance ◽

Venice Lagoon ◽

Wind Fields ◽

Forecast System ◽

Meteorological Model ◽

Wave Forecast ◽

Constant Quality ◽

Operational Range

Abstract. We describe the Henetus wave forecast system in the Adriatic Sea. Operational since 1996, the system is continuously upgraded, especially through the correction of the input ECMWF wind fields. As these fields are of progressively improved quality with the increasing resolution of the meteorological model, the correction needs to be correspondingly updated. This ensures a practically constant quality of the Henetus results in the Adriatic Sea since 1996. After suitable and extended validation of the quality of the results at different forecast ranges, the operational range has been recently extended to five days. The Henetus results are used also to improve the tidal forecast on the Venetian coasts and the Venice lagoon, particularly during the most severe events. Extensive statistics on the model performance are provided, both as analysis and forecast, by comparing the model results versus both satellite and buoy data.

Download Full-text

Temporal evolution of the environmental quality of the Vallona Lagoon (Northern Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea)

Marine Pollution Bulletin ◽

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.07.046 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 125 (1-2) ◽

pp. 45-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Chiara Maggi ◽

Maria Teresa Berducci ◽

Bianca Di Lorenzo ◽

Manuela Dattolo ◽

Antonella Cozzolino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Quality ◽

Adriatic Sea ◽

Temporal Evolution

Download Full-text

Genetic variability of the striped venus Chamelea gallina in the northern Adriatic Sea

Fisheries Research ◽

10.1016/j.fishres.2018.01.006 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 201 ◽

pp. 68-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Chiara Papetti ◽

Luca Schiavon ◽

Massimo Milan ◽

Magnus Lucassen ◽

Jilda Alicia Caccavo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variability ◽

Adriatic Sea ◽

Northern Adriatic Sea ◽

Northern Adriatic ◽

Chamelea Gallina

Download Full-text

Review of Generated Waste from Cruisers: Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar Port Case Studies

Resources ◽

10.3390/resources7040072 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 72 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Merica Slišković ◽

Helena Ukić Boljat ◽

Igor Jelaska ◽

Gorana Jelić Mrčelić

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Management Practices ◽

Adriatic Sea ◽

Recent Analysis ◽

Domestic Waste ◽

Cruise Industry ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Waste Management Practices ◽

Harmful Effects

The amount of waste generated is becoming an increasing problem both in terms of inefficient use of resources and its harmful effects. Large quantities of waste originate from land, but a certain amount of waste is generated at sea, in which shipping holds its share. A recent analysis for 2015–2016 has rated the Croatian ports of Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar in the top 10 out of 20 main cruising ports in the Adriatic Sea. As it is clear that a large number of persons present onboard generate a large amount of waste, the aim of this paper is to estimate the amount of waste (plastic, domestic, and food) and examine the significance of its increasing quantity produced by cruisers in the three main cruiser ports in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea for the period 2014–2017. Cruise calls correlation, together with repeated measures one-way Analysis of variance -ANOVA, showed that a future increase in the port calls for Zadar can be expected while, for the port of Dubrovnik, a decrease is projected, which is in correspondence with the taken measures for a reduction in the adverse effects of the cruise industry. Regarding the type of waste, domestic waste contributes the most with 62%, followed by the plastic waste with 26%, and food waste, which makes only 11% of the total amount of waste for that year. Waste minimization practices and further recommendations for the improvement of waste management practices are presented and put into relation with specific measures to protect and preserve the quality of the environment.

Download Full-text

Concentrations of Contaminants with Regulatory Limits in Samples of Clam (Chamelea gallina) Collected along the Abruzzi Region Coast in Central Italy

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-15-082 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 78 (9) ◽

pp. 1719-1728 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

PIERINA VISCIANO ◽

GIAMPIERO SCORTICHINI ◽

GIOVANNA SUZZI ◽

GIANFRANCO DILETTI ◽

MARIA SCHIRONE ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽

Total Mercury ◽

Adriatic Sea ◽

Central Italy ◽

Coastal Region ◽

Principal Component ◽

Lead And Cadmium ◽

Regulatory Limits ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

Chamelea Gallina

Concentrations of pollutants with regulatory limits were determined in specimens of Chamelea gallina, a species of clam collected along the Abruzzi coastal region of the central Adriatic Sea. Nine sampling sites were selected to evaluate the distribution of contaminants in the environment and the health risk for consumers. The concentrations of all the examined compounds were lower than the maximums set by European legislation. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and total mercury were below the detection limit (0.18 μg/kg for benzo[a]anthracene, 0.30 μg/kg for chrysene, 0.12 μg/kg for benzo[b]fluoranthene, 0.08 μg/kg for benzo[a]pyrene, and 0.0050 mg/kg for total mercury) in all the analyzed samples. Mean concentrations of lead and cadmium were 0.104 and 0.110 mg/kg, respectively. Of the non–dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, PCB-153, PCB-180, and PCB-138 were the most abundant at all sampling sites (1a to 9a) at 0.25 mi (ca. 0.4 km) and at some sampling sites (1b, 2b, 3b, 5b and 7b) at 0.35 mi (ca. 0.56 km). Principal component analysis revealed that the concentrations of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls were similar at the majority of sampling sites, and O8CDD and 2,3,7,8-T4CDF were the predominant dioxin congeners.

Download Full-text