Genuario Belmonte

A Summative Evaluation of Science Learning: A Case Study of the Marine Biology Museum “Pietro Parenzan” (South East Italy)

ABSTRACT The Basking Shark Hall was recently inaugurated in the Marine Biology Museum “Pietro Parenzan” (University of Salento). This provided opportunities to address subjects such as plankton or filter feeding, which are usually disregarded in Marine Biology displays. A questionnaire was administered to visitors (537 students, 9–18 years old) at 3 different times: before the visit to the Basking Shark Hall, immediately after, and after 3 months. Apart from the general trend of positive results emerging from the questionnaires, and a typical progressive diminishing of the acquired information over time, the results highlighted a lack of previous information, the different learning behaviors of males and females, and a different receptivity according to age. The data obtained will be used in elaborating strategies for future didactic proposals in the Marine Biology Museum.

Plankton dynamics in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto: a pilot plan

Abstract An integrated sampling of both active (cells in water column) and resting stages (cysts sinking to the bottom) of phytoplankton, was carried out on March 1996 in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto. At least 46 taxa were recognized in the water column. Cyst sinking rate was about 23,000 m-2 d-1. Out of 37 recognized morphotypes, mainly dinoflagellates, 18 were previously unrecorded from the area. The present sampling represents the preliminar test to outline an experimental design to an integrated study of plankton dynamics.

Le grotte sommerse dell’Area Marina Protetta "Porto Cesareo"

A census of submarine caves has been carried out along the coast of the Marine Protected Area “Porto Cesareo” in the Gulf of Taranto (South East Italy). The work carried out from September 2007 to June 2010, allowed us to record 11 new caves, formerly unknown, which have to be added to those recently listed by DENITTO and BELMONTE (2008). Maps and rough description of the 11 submerged caves have been deposited at the Regional Catalogue of Karstic structures. The geomorphologic phenomenon (submarine caves) were practically undescribed in the MPA, and after the present results a new habitat, of great naturalistic interest, has been added to those described and already protected by the MPA. The scuba expeditions in the caves of the MPA deal with the biological aspects (fauna and community structure) only marginally, and more deeply with the topography. A small number of submerged caves has been proposed, being in the accessible part of the MPA, for scuba tourism. In the next future, both a study on the biology of MPA submarine caves, and a study on the tourism impact on submarine caves will be proposed to complete the investigation here presented.

Le grotte sommerse della costa neretina (Salento, S-E Italia)

It Otto cavita sommerse sono state individuate,catastate,e cartografate,lungo la costa neretina (Golfo di Taranto,S-E Italia),dove se ne conoscevano altre 7.Tutte le cavita sono state individuate nei primi 20 m di profondita in tre diversi tratti di costa complessivamente lunghi circa 2 km.Tutte le cavita sommerse hanno scarso (massimo 30 m)ma complicato (a raggera,e su piu piani)sviluppo planimetrico. L’erosione da acqua acida (probabilmente sulfurea)ha contribuito alla formazione delle cavita e alla zonazione del benthos che vive sulle pareti.Le concrezioni coralligene hanno contribuito a chiudere o a delimitare gli ingressi.Pseudostalattiti organogene (di natura coralligena)sono state individuate sia a livello degli ingressi che delle aree piu interne (agglomerati claviformi di serpulidi tubicoli). En Eight submarine caves have been discovered along the Nardo coastline (S-E Ita- ly)where seven others were already known.All the caves have been individuated above the isobate of -20 m,in three different coastal traits surveyed,for a total length of about 2 Km.All the caves showed a short (maximum 30 m)but complex (star shaped,and on different levels)structural plant.The presence of acid water (possibly sulphuric)contributed to the formation of cavities on the ceiling and to the spatial distribution of the benthos on the cave walls.Coralligenous concretions contrib- uted to limit and/or to close the cave entrances.Organogenic pseudostalactites were present either at the entrances (where they have a coralligenous origin),and at the innermost portions of the caves (where they appeared club shaped and completely formed by strings of tubules of serpulid worms).Due to the conspicuous number of caves found (notwithstanding the survey was space and depth limited)the naturalistic value of the Nardo coastline grew and more detailed analysis become necessary for the evaluation of the ecological importance of the submarine cave importance.