Nesto Nicoletta

She is a biologist working in the field of marine ecotoxicology.  Her research activity is mainly focused on the evaluation of biological responses of marine organisms to pollutants. Biological effects induced by pollutants are investigated at biochemical, cellular and physiological levels through the evaluation of several stress biomarkers applied to marine biomonitors such as bivalves, polychaetes and fish. Moreover she is interested in the study of the reproductive biology and  in the development of laboratory rearing tecniques for commercially important polychaetes species.

In the framework of the marine ecotoxicology, the main investigated biological responses include the spettrophotometric and/or spettrofluorimetric determination of detoxifing enzyme activity (expecially the mixed function oxidase system), acetylcholinesterases, the evaluation of antioxidant defenses and metallothioneins content.
The activities regarding the development of polychaetes rearing techniques are focused on the study of the reproductive biology and the evaluation of the influence of endogenous and exogenous parameters on organism growth and survival.

9 International papers, 5 papers in international Books, 7 papers in national Journals, 8  international proceedings, 11 national proceedings,  3 Technical Reports

• Nesto N., Cassin D., Da Ros L. 2009 Is the polichaete, Perinereis rullieri (Pilato, 1974), a reliable indicator of PCB and PAH contaminants in coastal sediments? Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2009.09.004
• Nesto N., Romano S., Moschino V., Mauri M., Da Ros L., 2007. Bioaccumulation and biomarker responses of trace metals and microorganic pollutants in mussels and fish from the lagoon of Venice, Italy. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 55: 469-484.
• Da Ros L., Nesto N., 2005 – Cellular alterations in Mytilus galloprovincialis (LMK) and Tapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve, 1850) as biomarkers of environmental stress: field studies in the Lagoon of Venice (Italy). Environment International 31: 1078-1088.
• Nesto N., Bertoldo M., Nasci C., Da Ros L., 2004 – Spatial and temporal variation of biomarkers in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Lagoon of Venice, Italy. Marine Environmental Research, 58: 287-291.
• Marin M.G., Moschino V., Pampanin D.M., Nesto N., Ballarin L., Casellato S., Da Ros L., 2003 - Effects of hydraulic dredging on target species Chamelea gallina from the northern Adriatic Sea: physiological responses and shell damage. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 83: 1281-1285.
• Da Ros. L., Nesto N., Nasci C., Moschino V., Pampanin D., Marin M.G., 2003 - Biochemical and behavioural effects of hydraulic dredging on the target species Chamelea gallina. Fisheries Research, 64: 71-78.
• Nasci C., Nesto N., Monteduro R.A., Da Ros L., 2002 - Field application of biochemical markers and a physiological index in the mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis: transplantation and biomonitoring studies in the Lagoon of Venice (NE Italy). Marine Environmental Research, 54: 811-816.
• Nasci C., Da Ros L., Nesto N., Sperni L., Passarini F., Pavoni B., 2000 – Biochemical and histochemical response to environmental contaminants in clam Tapes philippinarum, transplanted to different polluted areas of Venice Lagoon, Italy. Marine Environmental Research, 50: 425-430.
• Da Ros L., M.G. Marin, N. Nesto and S. Ford, 1998 - Preliminary results of a field study on some stress-related parameters in Tapes philippinarum naturally infected by the protozoan Perkinsus sp.. Marine Environmental Research, 46 (1-5): 249-252.