New papers out!

Dr. Gabriele Procaccini is Director of Research at the Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples, and leads the research group on marine macrophytes, focusing on studies that span from ecology to molecular biology. The group’s overarching goal is to understand and predict how marine macrophytes—particularly seagrasses—respond to environmental change, a critical challenge in the face of global climate shifts and human impact on marine ecosystems. 

Research activities combine classical ecological studies with cutting-edge molecular and genomic tools. Phylogeography and population genetics are studied by applying microsatellite DNA polymorphisms and DNA markers to assess genetic diversity and structure in natural populations. These approaches are complemented by functional studies aiming to uncover the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying seagrass resilience and adaptability.

Current projects investigate the genetic basis of response diversity in seagrasses, develop assisted evolution strategies, explore stress memory mechanisms and photobiology. High-throughput methods such as RNA-Seq are employed to analyze gene expression, while genome-wide DNA methylation profiling provides insights into epigenetic regulation. These molecular analyses are integrated with ecophysiological assessments to link genetic variation with functional traits.