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Systematic interviews to technicians in charge of urban drainage were undertaken to assess the distribution of nature-based solutions (NBSs) for hydraulic risk mitigation in the Veneto region (Italy) and to investigate interventions that are priorities to address the challenges of urban growth and hydraulic risk. Specifically, this paper investigated stakeholders’ preference for green and gray infrastructure and for some NBSs in particular among those more frequently adopted, where they are predominantly implemented, and why. The results were interpreted in the context of significant geomorphological, socioeconomic, and regulatory parameters and how they relate to NBS implementation. The survey demonstrated that, among technical experts in one of Italy’s most developed regions, there may be a certain skepticism about the effectiveness of NBSs in counteracting the hydraulic risk of flooding, the close interrelation between political decisions in favour of NBS and the constrains of national and regional legislation, and the willingness to involve the population in the decision-making process. Further investigation showed that what (de)motivates the use of NBSs may be a partial disconnection between the academic, technical, and administrative sectors.

The Southern Ocean represents one of the world regions most sensitive to warming and there is an urgent need for quantitative data to understand changes in coastal communities. This goal can be achieved through the establishment of permanent monitoring sites and robust sampling designs. In this study, we used an emerging, photogrammetry-based technique to simulate a pilot study and test the efficiency of different sampling schemes (Simple Random—SRS-, Systematic—SyS- and Strip—SS-) for estimating the abundances of megabenthic taxa. For taxa showing an aggregated distribution, we also applied an adaptive cluster sampling (ACS) design. In almost the totality of cases, the best accuracy of estimates was achieved with SyS combined with plots of 0.0625 m2. ACS design gave better performances but required a calibration of both the initial sample size and the threshold value to increase efficiency. The ‘one-size-fits-all’ 1 m2 plot size never emerged as the best in any sampling schemes, hence the previously published literature data can be biased. This study represents a fine-scale reference baseline for the study area and the simulations performed will be pivotal in establishing sound-monitoring programmes with sufficient statistical power to detect significative changes in the Antarctic benthos.

This new dataset presents occurrence data for Porifera collected in the Ross Sea, mainly in the Terra Nova Bay area, and curated at the Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA, section of Genoa). Specimens were collected in 331 different sampling stations at depths ranging from 17 to 1,100 meters in the framework of 17 different Italian Antarctic expeditions funded by the Italian National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA). A total of 807 specimens, belonging to 144 morphospecies (i.e., 95 taxa identified at species level and 49 classified at least at the genus level) is included in the dataset. Nearly half (45%) of the species reported here correspond to species already known for Terra Nova Bay. Out of the remaining 55% previously unknown records, under a third (~29%) were classified at the species level, while over a quarter (~26%) were ascribed to the genus level only and these would require further study. All vouchers are permanently curated at the MNA and are available for study to the scientific community. A 3D model of an uncommon species from the Ross Sea, i.e. Tethyopsisbrondstedi (Burton, 1929), is also presented and will be made available for outreach purposes.

In polar areas, where benthic sampling is constrained by a series of limitations imposed by climate and logistic challenges, knowledge about the key elements required to plan a successful survey is fundamental. During the International Polar Year (IPY, 2007/2008), under the Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML), new sampling campaigns were undertaken in several Antarctic areas comprising the Ross Sea. In this region, the 2008 NIWA IPY-CAML voyage obtained benthos samples from shelf to abyssal depths. In the present study, we focus on the Mollusca from this expedition and on the possible variations in their richness and composition with latitude and depth. Given the use of sampling gears selective for different size fractions of the macrofauna, we also assess which size fraction contained the highest biodiversity. Differences were detected in species composition with latitude (averaged across depth groups) but not for depth (averaged across latitudinal groups). Richness varied locally and showed a variety of patterns depending on the areas and depths considered. The greatest diversity of molluscs was found in the fine fraction (i.e.

The distributional records of Ophiuroidea stored at the Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA, Section of Genoa) are presented, corresponding to 1595 individuals that belong to 35 species and 17 genera. Specimens were collected in 106 different sampling stations at depths ranging from 21 to 1652 m in the framework of 14 Antarctic expeditions to the Ross Sea, one to the Antarctic Peninsula, and one to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). Three species, Amphiura joubini Koehler, 1912, Amphiura (Amphiura) angularis Lyman, 1879, and Ophiura flexibilis (Koehler, 1911), are reported as new records for the Terra Nova Bay area, whose check-list of species increases from 15 to 18 species. The determination of these three new records was based both on morphological identification and molecular analyses (COI barcoding). Some of the genetically characterised specimens were also documented through photogrammetry and micro-computed tomography and represent the first bulk of 3D models that will be available through the MNA and Sketchfab websites, both for research and educational purposes.

In situ time-lapse studies in Polar Regions are uncommon because of the intrinsic limitations of scientific SCUBA diving at sub-zero temperatures and the logistical challenges linked to the deployment of underwater time-lapse systems, which are typically large and heavy. In Antarctica, a number of non-invasive approaches have been adopted to document the behaviour of benthic organisms. For example, in the McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea, Kim et al. (2007) employed time-lapse arrays to study the movement of sea-stars Odontaster validus Koehler in response to organic enrichment, and McClintock et al. (2010) recorded valve clap frequency in scallops Adamussium colbecki (E.A. Smith). At King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Schories (unpublished, https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rKV8s00SFL8) conducted a time-lapse analysis (6 hours) of limpet Nacella concinna (Strebel) and sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri (Meissner) movement. Here we present a simple and portable time-lapse apparatus, which was tested in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea, at a depth of20 m below the pack ice.

Here we present distributional records for Tanaidacea specimens collected during several Antarctic expeditions to the Ross Sea: the Italian PNRA expeditions (“V”, 1989/1990; “XI”, 1995/1996; “XIV”, 1998/1999; “XIX”, 2003/2004; “XXV”, 2009/2010) and the New Zealand historical (New Zealand Oceanographic Institute, NZOI, 1958-1961) and recent (“TAN0402 BIOROSS” voyage, 2004 and “TAN0802 IPY-CAML Oceans Survey 20/20” voyage, 2008) expeditions. Tanaidaceans were obtained from bottom samples collected at depths ranging from 16 to 3543 m by using a variety of sampling gears. On the whole, this contribution reports distributional data for a total of 2953 individuals belonging to 33 genera and 50 species. All vouchers are permanently stored in the Italian National Antarctic Museum collection (MNA), Section of Genoa (Italy) and at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA Invertebrate Collection), Wellington (New Zealand). The tanaidaceans were collected during different Italian and New Zealand research expeditions to the Ross Sea funded by the Italian National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA) and the New Zealand Government, the Ministry for Primary Industries (formerly the Ministry of Fisheries) and the Ocean Survey 20/20 CAML Advisory Group, listed below: Italian PNRA Project 3.2.1 (Oceanography) (“V” expedition, 1989/1990, R/V “Malippo”). Italian PNRA Project 2a and 2d.2 (Ecology and Biogeochemistry of the Southern Ocean) (“XI” expedition, 1995/1996, R/V “Italica”). Italian PNRA Project 2b.3 (Ecology and Biogeochemistry of the Southern Ocean) (“XIV” expedition, 1998/1999, R/V “Malippo”). Italian PNRA Project Program 2002/8.6 (“The costal ecosystem of Victoria Land coast: distribution and structure along the latitudinal gradient”) (“XIX” expedition, 2003/2004, R/V “Italica” 2004). Italian PNRA Project 2006/08.01 (“The coastal ecosystem of Terra Nova Bay” in the Latitudinal Gradient Program (LGP)) (“XXV” expedition, 2009/2010). The Ross Sea Endeavour surveys (1958-59 and 1959-60, HMNZS “Endeavour II” and 1960–1961, “Endeavour III”) conducted by the New Zealand Oceanographic Institute (NZOI, now NIWA) – founded by the New Zealand government. New Zealand BIOROSS voyage (TAN0402, 2004, R/V “Tangaroa”) – funded by NIWA and the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (formerly the Ministry of Fisheries). New Zealand IPY-CAML voyage (TAN0802, 2008, R/V “Tangaroa”) – Census of Antarctic Marine Life programme – funded by the Government of New Zealand and administered by the Ocean Survey 20/20 CAML Advisor Group (Land Information New Zealand and the Ministry of Fisheries, Antarctica New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and NIWA). We would like to acknowledge the Italian National Antarctic Program (PNRA) for funding and logistic support of the scientific expeditions. The TAN0402 BIOROSS” voyage (2004) was undertaken by the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research and financed by the former New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries. The “TAN0802 IPY-CAML Oceans Survey 20/20” voyage (2008) was funded by the New Zealand Government under the New Zealand International Polar Year Census of Antarctic Marine Life Project. We gratefully acknowledge project governance provided by the Ministry of Fisheries Science Team and the Ocean Survey 20/20 CAML Advisory Group (Land Information New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries (Fisheries), Antarctica New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research).