Filippo Ferrario

Fisheries and Oceans Canada | DFO

The world's coastal zones are experiencing rapid development and an increase in storms and flooding. These hazards put coastal communities at heightened risk, which may increase with habitat loss. Here we analyse globally the role and cost effectiveness of coral reefs in risk reduction. Meta-analyses reveal that coral reefs provide substantial prot...

1. With nearly two-thirds of the human population concentrated along coastlines, coastal development and urbanized seascapes are inevitable. Proliferation of coastal and marine infrastructures, such as breakwaters, ports, seawalls and offshore installations, is associated with loss of natural habitats. This calls for new strategies aimed at elevati...

Boring sponges of the genus Pione (Hadromerida, Clionaidae) are easily recognizable due to their spiculation. However, species identification is challenging, as the potentially diagnostic morphological character states of different species often overlap. For this reason, this group of species is frequently referred to as the ‘Pione vastifica comple...

Plankton imaging systems supported by automated classification and analysis have improved ecologists' ability to observe aquatic ecosystems. Today, we are on the cusp of reliably tracking plankton populations with a suite of lab‐based and in situ tools, collecting imaging data at unprecedentedly fine spatial and temporal scales. But these data have...

Ports play a central role in our society, but they entail potential environmental risks and stressors that may cause detrimental impacts to both neighboring natural ecosystems and human health. Port managers face multiple challenges to mitigate risks and avoid ecosystem impacts and should recognize that ports are embedded in the wider regional coas...

Kelp ecosystems provide habitat to many ecologically and commercially important species. They are declining globally but trends are highly variable at small geographic and temporal scales. Understanding what constrains kelp distribution at a scale relevant to management efforts is thus fundamental. Here, we examined the abiotic correlates of the di...

We investigated the diversity of the invertebrate communities relying on kelp exported detritus both at 10m (euphotic) and at 40m (dysphotic) depth in a subarctic system, and tested whether these commmunities would change according to the kelp species and level of freshness of the detritus. We hypothesized that some invertebrates would show prefere...

The assessment of natural ecosystem status is a fundamental premise to enable environmental management at local scales to maintain ecosystem functioning, services and resilience. Ecologists have developed many biological and environmental indices to inform and support environmental management and policies. To promote efficient use of resources, exi...

Kelp habitats are threatened across the globe, and because of their ecological importance, active conservation and restoration solutions are needed. The use of man-made structures as artificial reefs is one way to enhance kelp habitat by providing suitable substrata, but in the past the ecology of artificial structures has been investigated mainly...

In 2010 the Conference of the Parties (COP) for the Convention on Biological Diversity revised and updated a Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, which included the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Here a group of early career researchers mentored by senior scientists, convened as part of the 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, reflects o...

Artificial structures are sprawling along the coast affecting the aspect and the functioning of shallow coastal seascapes. For years, the ecology of artificial structures has been investigated mainly in contrast to natural coastal habitats. However, it is increasingly emerging that structuring processes, such as trophic interactions, can depend on...

The Baie des Sept Îles, part of the provincial program “Plan Nord”, hosts one of the largest deep water ports in North America. Many human activities (e.g. fisheries, ore transformation) occur in the bay, which can affect natural ecosystems and potentially modify services they provide. As coastal ecosystems rank among the most vulnerable ecosystems...

Conservation of coastal habitats is a global issue, yet biogenic reefs in temperate regions have received very little attention. They have a broad geographic distribution and are a key habitat in marine ecosystems impacted by human activities. In the Mediterranean Sea coralligenous reefs are biodiversity hot spots and are classified as sensitive ha...

Whether we want to conserve, restore or enhance biodiversity, or use it to assess the environmental status of our coasts, the indissoluble link between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is influenced by the spatial context of an ecosystem (the seascape). Using field-based research conducted in subarctic regions, we will show how the seascape c...

Whether we want to conserve, restore or enhance biodiversity, or use it to assess the environmental status of our coasts, the indissoluble link between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is influenced by the spatial context of an ecosystem (the seascape). Using field-based research conducted in subarctic regions, we will show how the seascape c...

Artificial structures are sprawling in marine seascapes as a result of burgeoning coastal populations, increasing development and energy demand, and greater risks from climate change, storm surges and sea level rise. Interest in designing marine developments that maintain vital ecosystems and critical services is growing, but progress requires unde...

Natural coastal habitats play an important role in protecting coastal areas from sea water flooding caused by storm surge events. Many of these habitats, however, have been lost completely or degraded, reducing their ability to function as a natural flood defense. Once degraded, natural habitats can potently be destroyed by storm events, further th...

Coastal defence structures are proliferating as a result of rising sea levels and stormier seas. With the realisation that most coastal infrastructure cannot be lost or removed, research is required into ways that coastal defence structures can be built to meet engineering requirements, whilst also providing relevant ecosystem services—so-called ec...

Here we report the results of a field experiment designed to identifying and quantifying possible local changes in sedimentary environments and associated assemblages related to the deposition of two common but different types of detritus produced by hard bottom species (green algae and mussels) along the coast of the north Adriatic sea.

Sandy shores are some of the most degraded environments on earth. Loss of these habitats is continuing at impressive rates. We discuss how these losses will be likely exacerbated by climate change and related rising sea levels and flooding. We also discuss threats related to coastal defence measures (both hard structures and beach nourishments), wh...