The coastal waters of the Emilia-Romagna Region (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy) have been periodically affected by microalgal blooms. Since the late 60', studies showed that blooms were caused by Diatoms and Dinoflagellates: starting from 1976, coastal waters have been monitored for better evaluating the eutrophication phenomenon. In this talk we outline some findings concerning spatio-temporal data produced by a phytoplankton monitoring program carried out between 1999 and 2009. Our aim is the description of seasonal patterns of microalgal biodiversity and spatio-temporal trends by taking account of the relationships between hydrological characteristics and biological features. A preliminary descriptive study is followed by the application of a Generalized Additive Model suitable for describing the effect of hydrological parameters on species abundance and richness.

Keywords: Phytoplankton; North Adriatic sea; Biodiversity; Eutrophication

Biography: Master's Degree Biological Sciences

Master Avanced Study Course The role of methane in marine envionment

Master Avanced Study Course Sperimental Approach and study models of interdital rochy shore zone

Master Ecological foundations for the governance of the Adriatic coastal space: ecology, monitoring and management of transitional aquatic ecosystems”, EU INTEREG/CARDS-PHARE

Currently I working for marine phytoplankton ecology, sampling protocols standardization, marine mollusca identification;

in additional to my responsibilities as ecological study, I also developed Ecotoxicological bioassays skills.