__(M)__Social

ABSTRACT

Organochlorine residues were measured in the diet, blood, faeces and exhaled air of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to evaluate the absorption efficiency from food and the eliminatory potential via faeces and exhaled air. Differences between air-breathing and water-breathing animals feeding on similar prey are briefly discussed. It is concluded that high concentrations of recalcitrant organochlorines currently found in marine mammals feeding on fish are essentially, due to the lack of branchial elimination and not to their predator status.

1995, Chemosphere

https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-6535(95)00263-8

Please find the .pdf here Recalcitrant organochlorine compounds in captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Biomagnification or bioaccumulation?

ABSTRACT

Organs and physiological internal systems of diving mammals display diverse and peculiar features. The kidney of cetaceans has been extensively studied and characterized. This organ is subdivided in small functional units called "renicules" displaying a peculiar structure, the sporta perimedullaris musculosa. A comparative study of renicules was made in six species belonging to mysticetes and odontocetes. In all six species, the sporta, a connective tissue basket, was located between the medullary and the cortical regions of renicules. The sporta is mainly composed of a connective stroma and, in several species, the connective tissue (histochemically studied) was interposed among muscle fibres. Within the six studied species, the sporta varied in thickness, which appears to be related to the number, thickness and discontinuity of collagenous fibre bundles. The presence of smooth muscle fibres, evidenced by immunostaining and by electron microscopy analysis, was variable: whereas fibres were numerous in examined toothed whales (Stenella, Delphinus, Grampus, Tursiops), they were practically absent in baleen whales such as the fin whale Balaenoptera physalus. The data in the present study shed light on the morpho-functional characterization of diving mammal anatomy and support the need to re-examine the general structure of cetacean phylogeny, in line with the hypothesis of Milinkovitch et al. (1994) and Hasegawa et al. (1997).

2004, Italian Journal of Zoology

https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000409356561

Please find the .pdf here A comparative study of sporta perimedullaris musculosa in the renicule of six species of cetaceans

ABSTRACT

This short note relates about a specimen of fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus (L., 1758) found in the northern Adriatic sea and whose skeleton is preserved at Oltremare, Riccione’s marine theme park (Italy). Data on recovery and preparation are reported, such as presented at the 1991 European Cetacean Society conference in Sandefjord
(Norway).

Museologia Scientifica Memorie N. 12/2014: 192-192. Le collezioni di Cetacei dei musei italiani. Prima parte (Cetacei attuali). Luigi Cagnolaro, Nicola Maio e Vincenzo Vomero (eds)

Please find the .pdf here La Balenottera comune conservata al Parco Oltremare di Riccione

Degree in Biological Sciences, 1992 (University of Milan, Italy)

Deeply involved in environmental communication.

She worked for public institutions (Universities, Museums, Aquaria and schools) and private institutions (private companies, sport companies, diving centers) in Italy.

Past member of Centro Studi Cetacei (CSC), the Italian National Stranding Network.