ROBOT EXPLORES NEPTUNE'S KINGDOM

Risultati immagini per parco regno di nettuno

 Twenty-four different biological areas have been mapped out on the sea bed in the Neptune's Kingdom Protected Marine park in the Bay of Naples around the islands of Procida, Ischia and Vivara.  

Using a robot equipped with the latest hi-tech, scientists combed the 11,256 hectares of the park, studying the different types of biological habitats and communities. Some of the finds were sobering, such as proof that 700 species of marine organisms are troubled with plastic-related problems, as well as pollution from cigarettes thrown carelessly onto the beach and subsequently sucked up by the tides. On the positive side, the robot photographed vast prairies of Posidonia, the aquatic plant essential for preserving the eco-system. Scientists were also surprised and gratified to find large coral colonies on par with those found in tropical waters.

Reasons for concern include continuing signs of a drastic drop in the population of the Pinna Nobilis, or fan mussel, a gigantic clam that can reach up to 120 cms shell length. This is the largest and longest living bivalve mollusk that lives in Italian waters.

The bionomics map of the various habitats traced out during the research project was presented at the recent conference at  Lacco Ameno, Ischia, presided over by the Director of the Area Marino Protetto Regno di Nettuno (AMP),  Antonino Miccio of Naples and Giovanni Fulvio Russo, National President of the Italian Society of Marine Biology and Professor of Ecology at the Parthenope University of Naples.

 

Info: www.nettunoamp.org  

Posted on 28 Mar 2019 by Editor
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