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Environments
Special Issues
Biomonitoring and Risk Assessment of Marine Ecosystems
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Biomonitoring and Risk Assessment of Marine Ecosystems

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 1312

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vincenzo Di Martino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean, National Council of Research, Via Empedole, 58, 95128 Catania, Italy
Interests: biodiversity and conservation; invasive species; benthic ecology
Dr. Francesco Tiralongo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
Interests: ichthyology; biological invasions; fishery biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine ecosystems are facing unprecedented challenges due to increasing anthropogenic pressures, ranging from overfishing and pollution to climate change and the spread of invasive species. These stressors threaten biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the sustainability of fisheries worldwide. In this context, biomonitoring and risk assessment are crucial tools for understanding ecosystem health, predicting potential impacts, and guiding conservation and management strategies.

This Special Issue focuses on advancing scientific knowledge and methodologies in marine ecosystem biomonitoring and risk assessment. We invite contributions that explore innovative approaches to monitor the health of marine communities, assess ecological risks, and develop strategies to mitigate adverse effects. Particular attention will be given to research that integrates biological monitoring with cutting-edge risk assessment techniques to address the complex challenges faced by coastal ecosystems, such as habitat loss, chemical contamination, and alien species proliferation.

We are seeking high-quality submissions that address a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the following:

  • Monitoring of fish, algae, seagrasses, and invertebrate populations as indicators of ecosystem health;
  • Risk assessments of marine biodiversity loss, with a focus on invasive species;
  • Approaches for assessing the impacts of fishing activities on marine ecosystems;
  • Multidisciplinary studies linking ecological, socio-economic, and regulatory dimensions of marine conservation.

By contributing to this Special Issue, authors will help shape the future of marine ecosystem management, providing insights into how these essential ecosystems can be better monitored, managed, and protected. We encourage submissions that offer novel perspectives, including the use of citizen science, new technologies, or interdisciplinary approaches, to ensure the long-term resilience of marine environments.

We look forward to receiving your innovative research and advancing this field together.

Dr. Vincenzo Di Martino
Dr. Francesco Tiralongo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • marine biomonitoring
  • ecological risk assessment
  • invasive species management
  • coastal ecosystem monitoring
  • fishery impact assessment

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2607 KiB  
Article
An Easy-to-Implement Decision Support Tool for the Prioritization of Management Actions: The Case Study of Procambarus clarkii in Sicily (Italy)
by Francesco Paolo Faraone, Federico Marrone, Francesco Lillo, Elena Tricarico, Marco Arculeo, Vincenzo Arizza, Dario Savoca, Manuela Mauro and Luca Vecchioni
Environments 2025, 12(4), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12040111 - 6 Apr 2025
Viewed by 270
Abstract
The frequent introduction and rapid spread of invasive alien species (IAS) along with the limited resources available for their management highlight the need to adopt simple and effective methods for prioritizing management efforts. Here, we propose a technically simple model for prioritizing management [...] Read more.
The frequent introduction and rapid spread of invasive alien species (IAS) along with the limited resources available for their management highlight the need to adopt simple and effective methods for prioritizing management efforts. Here, we propose a technically simple model for prioritizing management actions, using Sicily (southern Italy) as a case study. Despite its invasion being relatively recent and the species not yet widespread, the highly invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii proved to be able to colonize different habitat types on this Mediterranean island. We adopted a multicriteria analysis method based on geographic information systems (GIS) to identify both the vulnerability of different areas to its invasion, the likelihood of their invasion, and the impact that the occurrence of the red swamp crayfish might have on habitats or species of conservation relevance. The data used in our analysis are routinely available to local administrations and can be easily processed to map the most vulnerable areas for biodiversity protection. The simplicity of the model makes it particularly suitable for local administrative bodies to plan and implement effective invasive species management interventions, optimizing time and costs and allowing the development of concrete nature conservation actions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomonitoring and Risk Assessment of Marine Ecosystems)
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16 pages, 2438 KiB  
Article
Bioaccumulation Patterns in Different Tissues of Twelve Species of Elasmobranchs from the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Sea (Calabria, Southern Italy)
by Samira Gallo, Francesco Luigi Leonetti, Francesca Romana Reinero, Primo Micarelli, Luigi Passarelli, Gianni Giglio, Concetta Milazzo, Sandra Imbrogno, Donatella Barca, Massimiliano Bottaro and Emilio Sperone
Environments 2025, 12(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12010012 - 3 Jan 2025
Viewed by 797
Abstract
Marine ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pollutants, including trace elements (TEs) such as heavy metals, which bioaccumulate and pose risks to both marine fauna and human health. Sharks and rays are particularly susceptible to metal uptake and retention, making them sentinel species for [...] Read more.
Marine ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pollutants, including trace elements (TEs) such as heavy metals, which bioaccumulate and pose risks to both marine fauna and human health. Sharks and rays are particularly susceptible to metal uptake and retention, making them sentinel species for assessing environmental contamination. This study investigated the bioaccumulation of 16 TEs across 12 elasmobranch species sampled from the Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts of Calabria, southern Italy, over an 11-year period. Muscle tissue was analyzed for all species, while additional comparisons among skin, muscle, and brain tissues were conducted for Galeus melastomus. Statistical analyses revealed significant variability in TEs concentrations across trophic levels (TRLs), with higher levels observed in species occupying higher trophic positions. Positive correlations were noted for elements such as Al, Ba, and Se, while negative correlations were found for Co, Cu, Mn, and U, indicating species-specific metabolic adaptations. Tissue-specific analyses identified the skin as a primary site for TEs accumulation, likely due to its barrier functions and external exposure. This study highlights the complex interplay of ecological, dietary, and physiological factors influencing TEs bioaccumulation in elasmobranchs and emphasizes the need for further research to understand the implications for marine food webs and conservation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomonitoring and Risk Assessment of Marine Ecosystems)
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