Bongiorni Lucia

Main field of research: microbial ecology in coastal and deep-sea environments.

My research is mainly focused on the study of the dynamic and functioning of microbial communities, in particular of nano-microeukaryotes (including fungi and pseudo-fungi) and viruses, and their relation with bacteria. I am also interested in the role played by microbes in biochemical cycles (Carbon degradation and transfer) and in the interactions between microbes and marine invertebrates (in particular tropical and cold water-corals). Other research interests are related to the study of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and to the structure and functioning of food web, topics which I believe are of priority importance for a better preservation and management of ecosystems good and services. Currently my approach consists in the integration of different methodologies which include microscopy, biochemistry, Carbon and Nitrogen stable isotopes, and genomics for a better understanding of microbial diversity and activities.

In addition I have worked in the field of conservation and restoration of marine environments, developing techniques for the restoration of degraded coral reefs.

Principal investigator of the bilateral project CNR-NRF (South Korea) " Exploring changes in the microbial communities associated to corals and host immune-defences in response to climate and anthropogenic impacts: a coupled metagenomic-transcriptomic approach”, PI of the project BIOMOUNT -“ Microbial biodiversity and functional role in benthic food webs of the Condor seamount (NE Atlantic)” FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, 2010-2013) and responsible for the UO4-WP3, SP3 RITMARE project (2012-2016).

Participated in several EU and national projects: OCEAN CERTAIN, CORALZOO, HERMIONE, REEFRES, MEDVEG, Oceana Lab, PRIN COFIN 2003-NITIDA

Partecipated to oceanic cruises in the NE Atlantic (Azores, RV Noruega), in the western Mediterranean and the Gulf of Lyon (RV Universitatis and Minerva Uno), Adriatic Sea (NRV Alliance, RV Urania), Arabic Sea (ORV Sagar Kanya). PI of 7 scientific expeditions in the Red Sea, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines.

Referee for several international journals (J Exp Mar Biol Ecol, Biogeoscience, Aquat Microb Ecol, Aquaculture, Mare Poll Bull, Environ Sci & Technol, Chemosphere, Ecosystem Eng, Rest Ecol etc) and for national and international project calls (SIR-MIUR and National Science Foundation).

Author and co-author of ca. 30 papers in national and international journals (of which 25 ISI) and 5 book chapters.

http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8amhJ_8AAAAJ&hl=en

Luna GM, Chiggiato J, Quero GM, Schroeder K, Bongiorni L, Kalenitchenko D, Galand PE (2016) Dense water plumes modulate richness and productivity of deep sea microbes. Environmental Microbiology (in press)

Bongiorni L, Fiorentino F, Auriemma R,  Bernardi Aubry F, Camatti E, Camin F, Nasi F, Pansera M, Ziller L, Grall J (2015) Food web of a confined and anthropogenically affected coastal basin (the Mar Piccolo of Taranto) revealed by carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes analyses. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, DOI 10.1007/s11356-015-5380-z

Cibic T, Bongiorni L, Borfecchia F, Di Leo A, Franzo A, Giandomenico S, Karuza A, Micheli C, Rogelja M, Del Negro P (2015) Ecosystem functioning nearby the largest steelworks in Europe and the main Italian naval base: the study case of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4997-2

Zeppilli D, Bongiorni L, Serraõ Santos R, Vanreusel A (2014) Changes in nematode communities in different physiographic sites of the Condor Seamount (North-East Atlantic Ocean) and adjacent sediments. PLoS ONE 9(12): e115601. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0115601

Bongiorni L, Ravara A, Paretti P, Santos RS, Clara F. Rodrigues, Amaro T, Cunha MR (2013) Organic matter composition and macrofaunal diversity in sediments of the Condor Seamount (Azores, NE Atlantic). Deep Sea Research II 98: 75-86

Bongiorni L, Giovannelli D, Pusceddu A, Rinkevich B, Chou LM, Danovaro R (2011) First step in the restoration of a highly degraded coral reef (Singapore) by in situ coral intensive farming. Aquaculture 322-323: 191–200

Luna GM, Bongiorni L, Gili C, Biavasco F, Danovaro R (2010) Vibrio harveyi as a causative agent of the White Syndrome in tropical stony corals. Environmental Microbiology Report 2(1): 120–127

Bongiorni L, Mea M., Gambi C., Pusceddu A., Taviani M., Danovaro R (2010) Deep-water scleractinian corals promote higher biodiversity in deep-sea meiofaunal assemblages along continental margins. Biological Conservation 143(7): 1687-1700

Danovaro R, Bongiorni L, Corinaldesi C, Giovannelli D, Damiani E, Astolfi P, Greci L, Pusceddu A (2008) Sunscreens, viral infection and coral bleaching. Environmental Health Perspective 116: 441-447

Bongiorni L, Armeni M, Corinaldesi C, Dell’Anno A, Pusceddu A, Danovaro R (2007) Viruses, prokaryotes and biochemical composition of organic matter in different types of mucilage aggregates. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 49: 15-23

Bongiorni L, Jain R, Raghukumar S, Aggarwal R (2005) Thraustochytrium gaertnerium sp. nov.: a new thraustochytrid stramenopilan protist from mangroves of Goa, India. Protist 156: 303-315

Bongiorni L, Pusceddu A, Danovaro R (2005) Enzymatic activities of epiphytic and benthic thraustochytrids involved in organic matter degradation. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 41: 299-305

Bongiorni L, Mirto S, Pusceddu A, Danovaro R (2005) Response of benthic protozoa and thraustochytrid protist to fish-farm impact in seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) and soft bottom sediments. Microbial Ecology 50: 268-276

Bongiorni L, Magagnini M, Armeni M, Noble R, Danovaro R (2005) Viral production, decay rates, and life strategies along a trophic gradient in the north Adriatic Sea. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 71: 6644-6650

Bongiorni L, Rinkevich B (2005) The pink-blue spot syndrome in Acropora eurystoma (Eilat, Red Sea): a possible marker of stress? Zoology 108: 247-256

Bongiorni L, Shafir S, Rinkevich B (2003) Effects of  particulate matter released by a fish farm (Eilat, Red Sea) on survival and growth of Stylophora pistillata coral nubbins. Marine Pollution Bulletin 46: 1120-1124

Bongiorni L, Shafir S, Angel D, Rinkevich B (2003) Survival, growth and gonadal development of two hermatypic corals subjected to in situ fish farm nutrient enrichment. Marine Ecology Progress Series 253: 137-144

Bongiorni L, Dini F (2002) Distribution and abundance of thraustochytrids in different Mediterranean coastal habitats. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 30: 49-56

Santangelo G, Bongiorni L, Pignataro L (2000) Abundance of thraustochytrids and ciliated protozoans in a Mediterranean sandy shore determined by an improved, direct method. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 23: 55-61