Nicola Cantasano | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Nicola Cantasano | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nicola Cantasano | National Research Council of Italy | Italy

Dr. Nicola Cantasano’s research integrates marine biology, astrobiology, and freshwater ecosystem monitoring, focusing on developing innovative methodologies to measure, map, and interpret complex ecological systems on Earth and beyond. His work spans both marine and planetary environments, uniting biological and geological perspectives to enhance understanding of life’s signatures in diverse contexts. In marine science, he has made significant contributions to the taxonomy of seaweeds, monitoring of Posidonia oceanica meadows, and the management of beach-cast seagrasses, which are vital for Mediterranean coastal stability and biodiversity. His studies have also explored the surveillance of invasive algal species such as Caulerpa racemosa, contributing to regional environmental management and conservation strategies. Through the development of water mapping and ecological assessment methods, including the Indice di Funzionalità Fluviale (I.F.F.), he has advanced tools for evaluating the ecological status of fluvial systems, particularly within the Calabrian region. Dr. Cantasano’s research extends into astrobiology, where he investigates potential biosignatures on Mars by analyzing digital imagery from NASA missions. He explores analogies between terrestrial stromatolites—layered microbial structures formed by cyanobacteria—and Martian organosedimentary formations, proposing biogenic interpretations of textures observed in Martian rocks. This work contributes to the broader understanding of planetary habitability and the possible existence of ancient microbial life on Mars. His extensive publications cover topics such as marine and freshwater ecosystem management, coastal zone conservation, nutrient dynamics, and biogeochemical assessments. He has published in leading journals including Ocean & Coastal Management, International Journal of Astrobiology, Plant Biosystems, and Rendiconti Lincei. By bridging marine ecology and planetary science, his research provides innovative frameworks for sustainable ecosystem management on Earth and supports the scientific quest for life beyond it.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Research Gate

Featured Publications 

Cantasano, N. (2025). Ecological and fluvial corridor of the Verri Stream as a connecting step in the Natura 2000 network along the Calabria coastal region, Italy. Environments, 12(11), 426. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12110426

Cantasano, N., Di Martino, V., & Pellicone, G. (2024). The invasion of Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder 1845 in the Calabria coastal seas. Coasts, 4(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts4010003

Ietto, F., Pellicone, G., & Cantasano, N. (2023). Silting process and loss of Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Tyrrhenian waters of Calabria (Southern Italy). Sustainability, 15(17), 13102. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151713102

Ietto, F., Pellicone, G., & Cantasano, N. (2023, May 25). Silting process and loss of Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Tyrrhenian Calabria waters (Southern Italy). Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202305.1751.v1

Cantasano, N. (2022). Marine pollution by microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 10(7), 858. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10070858

Bentaallah, M. E. A., Taibi, N. E., & Cantasano, N. (2021). Additional new records of Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder 1845 along the West Algerian coasts. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 50(1), 97–103.*

Cantasano, N., Caloiero, T., Pellicone, G., Aristodemo, F., De Marco, A., & Tagarelli, G. (2021). Can ICZM contribute to the mitigation of erosion and of human activities threatening the natural and cultural heritage of the coastal landscape of Calabria? Sustainability, 13(3), 1122. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031122

 

Gustavo Darrigran | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Gustavo Darrigran | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Gustavo Darrigran | Research Scientist of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council | Argentina

Dr. Gustavo Darrigran is a distinguished Argentine biologist and malacologist whose career has been centered on the ecology, systematics, and environmental impact of freshwater and marine mollusks. A Doctor in Natural Sciences (Zoology) from the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), he has over four decades of academic and research experience at national and international levels. His doctoral thesis, “Aspectos Ecológicos de la Malacofauna Litoral del Río de la Plata”, laid the foundation for his lifelong research on aquatic invertebrates, particularly invasive bivalve species that have transformed South American freshwater ecosystems. Dr. Darrigran is recognized as one of Latin America’s leading experts on aquatic bioinvasions, focusing on invasive mollusks such as Limnoperna fortunei and Corbicula fluminea. His research has advanced understanding of species invasion dynamics, ecological impacts on native biodiversity, and bioindicator applications for environmental monitoring. Through collaborations with international organizations—including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Zoological Society of London, and the Encyclopedia of Life—he has contributed to global conservation initiatives, notably the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the Libro Rojo de Moluscos Argentinos (2020–2025), which he coordinated. A prolific educator, Dr. Darrigran has held professorships at UNLP’s Faculties of Natural Sciences and Humanities, teaching zoology, ecology, and conservation biology. He has also been an invited lecturer in postgraduate programs across Argentina, Brazil, and Spain. His mentorship has fostered a generation of scientists dedicated to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. His scientific contributions and leadership have earned him numerous honors, including the Científico Cultural Award from Prefectura Naval Argentina, the MercoPremio Award (Brazil), and recognition as an Honorary Member of the Félix de Azara Natural History Foundation. Dr. Darrigran’s career exemplifies excellence in research, education, and international cooperation toward the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems.

Profiles: Orcid

Featured Publications 

De Lucía, M., Darrigran, G., & Gutiérrez Gregoric, D. E. (2023). Diversity of non-marine mollusks in the southernmost Paranaense forest of the world. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 95(1), e20220212. https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202320220212

Roche, A., Cetra, N., Nuñez, V., & Darrigran, G. (2023, April 25). Catálogo de las especies de Nudibranchia (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) de la Colección de Moluscos del Museo de La Plata, Argentina. Acta Zoológica Lilloana, 67(1), e2023-04-13. https://doi.org/10.30550/j.azl/2023.67.1/2023-04-13

Darrigran, G., Agudo-Padrón, I., Baez, P., Belz, C., Cardoso, F., Collado, G. A., Correoso, M., Cuezzo, M. G., Damborenea, C., Fabres, A. A., et al. (2023, March). Species movements within biogeographic regions: Exploring the distribution of transplanted mollusc species in South America. Biological Invasions, 25(3), 1007–1023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02942-z

De Lucía, M., Darrigran, G., & Gutiérrez Gregoric, D. E. (2023, January). The most problematic freshwater invasive species in South America, Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857), and its status after 30 years of invasion. Aquatic Sciences, 85(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-022-00907-x

Darrigran, G., Custodio, H., Legarralde, T. I., & Vilches, A. M. (2022, November 30). Colecciones biológicas y virtualidad: Un recurso para la enseñanza de la biodiversidad. Bio-grafía, 16(30), 17823. https://doi.org/10.17227/bio-grafia.vol.16.num30-17823

Miyahira, I. C., Clavijo, C., Callil, C. T., Cuezzo, M. G., Darrigran, G., Gomes, S. R., Lasso, C. A., Mansur, M. C. D., Pena, M. S., Ramírez, R., et al. (2022, September). The conservation of non-marine molluscs in South America: Where we are and how to move forward. Biodiversity and Conservation, 31(11), 2859–2882. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-022-02446-1