The research topic aims

1. to explore marine waste as sources of bioactive compounds for innovative applications for human and animal’s health and
2. to investigate the efficacy of acoustic enrichment as a novel tool for enhancing the recovery of marine ecosystems.

We have previously demonstrated that applying smart multidisciplinary waste management strategies to purple sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) food waste, it is possible to obtain both a high biocompatible collagen to produce novel skin substitutes and potent antioxidant pigments. The RT focuses on identifying and characterizing bioactive molecules from various marine organisms, from corals to elasmobranchs, with therapeutic properties.
Additionally, the RT will investigate the acoustic enrichment as a novel tool for enhancing the restoration of marine ecosystems (such as Posidonia oceanica beds or degraded coral reefs) and as a potential tool for improving animal welfare in captive conditions. The deployment of these systems will integrate renewable energy solutions on a small scale, ensuring that the restoration process aligns with sustainability goals and contributes to the broader transition toward clean energy in marine operations. Thanks also to private sponsorship we will confirm if the acoustic enrichment is a valuable addition tool to marine ecosystems restoration efforts, offering a cost-effective and scalable technique to boost their resilience.

Five publications related to the Research Topic for the candidate interview:

1. Acoustic enrichment can enhance fish community development on degraded coral reef habitat Timothy A.C. Gordon1,2*, Andrew N. Radford3, Isla K. Davidson3, Kasey Barnes4, Kieran McCloskey1, Sophie L. Nedelec1, Mark G. Meekan2, Mark I. McCormick 4,5 & Stephen D. Simpson 1 Nat Commun 2019 Nov 29;10(1):5414. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13186-2
2. Repairing recruitment processes with sound technology to accelerate habitat restoration Brittany R. Williams, Dominic McAfee, Sean D. Connell Ecol Appl 2021 Sep;31(6):e02386. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2386
3. Mutable Collagenous Tissue: A Concept Generator for Biomimetic Materials and Devices. Candia Carnevali MD, Sugni M, Bonasoro F, Wilkie IC.Mar Drugs. 2024 Jan 7;22(1):37. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/md22010037.
4. Biomaterials and Bioactive Natural Products from Marine Invertebrates: From Basic Research to Innovative Applications. Romano G, Almeida M, Varela Coelho A, Cutignano A, Gonçalves LG, Hansen E, Khnykin D, Mass T, Ramšak A, Rocha MS, Silva TH, Sugni M, Ballarin L, Genevière AM.Mar Drugs. 2022 Mar 22;20(4):219. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/md20040219
5. Natural Coral as a Biomaterial Revisited. LH Yahia, G Bayade, Y Cirotteau. Am J Biomed Sci & Res. 2021 - 13(6). AJBSR.MS.ID.001936. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.34297/AJBSR.2021.13.001936

Tutor: Prof. Marco Vincenzo Patruno
mail: marco.pat@unipd.it