Food web reconstruction gives evidence of increased trophic levels in no-trawl areas: the red mullet, Mullus barbatus L. case in northern Sicily

This study was aimed at identifying the food web of the red mullet, Mullus barbatus in order to understand how it is affected by trawling disturbance. To achieve this objective: a) the main features of the red mullet habitat were investigated; b) the food web of this habitat was studied in two no-trawl areas and in two areas open to trawling. The working hypothesis is that trawling affects the biochemistry of the sediment and the trophic structure of the benthic assemblage. It was predicted: a) less biomass, smaller size and higher production rate in the benthic assemblages of protected gulfs; b) higher average trophic level for both the red mullet and its predators in protected gulfs; c) a…

First estimates of density and distribution of the alien crab Percnon gibbesi (Decapoda, Percnidae) in the "Capo Gallo-Isola delle Femmine" MPA

DIEL ACTIVITY AND HOME RANGE OF THE WHITE SEABREAM DIPLODUS SARGUS SARGUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) IN THE GULF OF CASTELLAMMARE (NW SICILY)

Macroalgal forest vs sea urchin barren: Patterns of macro-zoobenthic diversity in a large-scale Mediterranean study: Macro-zoobenthos of barren and macroalgal forests

The study aimed at contributing to the knowledge of alternative stable states by evaluating the differences of mobile and sessile macro-zoobenthic assemblages between sea urchin barrens and macroalgal forests in coastal Mediterranean systems considering a large spatial scale. Six sites (100 s km apart) were selected: Croatia, Montenegro, Sicily (Italy), Sardinia (Italy), Tuscany (Italy), and Balearic Islands (Spain). A total of 531 taxa, 404 mobile and 127 sessile macro-invertebrates were recorded. Overall, 496 and 201 taxa were found in macroalgal forests and in barrens, respectively. The results of this large-scale descriptive study have met the expectation of lower macrofauna complexity …

Impatto di Caulerpa Taxifolia var. Distichophylla su macro- e meiofauna associate a Posidonia oceanica

Macro- and meiofauna associated with Posidonia oceanica meadows colonized by the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla (Caulerpales) in southern Sicily were analyzed and compared with assemblages of control meadows from the same area. Independently from the degree of invasion (severe or partial), the affected macrofaunal assemblages significantly differed from the controls with the former ones characterized by an increase of molluscs and polychaetes and the decrease of crustaceans. Meiofaunal assemblages showed contrasting results being affected by severe algal invasion but not significantly differing from control assemblages under partial invasion conditions, suggesting some…

Long-term earthquake potential of active faults by using coastal and off-shore geological and morphological indicators

Seismogenic fault models and active deformation ones coupled with models of both earthquake rate and earthquake probability were recently used in a time-independent modelling. The integration of models allows to estimates the magnitude, location, and likelihood of potentially damaging earthquake ruptures in regions with high natural seismic hazard. Improvements of these models imply the recognition of the spatial geometry of the larger, active faults, deemed to be the source of the most damaging future earthquakes. However, identifying active faults and calculating their geologic slip rates for deriving earthquake rates are not easy tasks in regions inaccessible to direct field studies like…

MONITORAGGIO DI OPERE STRATEGICHE MEDIANTE TECNICHE SATELLITARI: IL CASO STUDIO DELLA DIGA “CASTELLO SUL FIUME MAGAZZOLO”

Il Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) e il telerilevamento sono stati utilizzati per determinare la relazione tra le deformazioni di una diga di terra e le variazioni di superficie e livello di invaso, durante il periodo di un anno. L’utilizzo di un ricevitore posto sul coronamento della diga e di una stazione permanente attivi durante l’arco della giornata ha permesso la determinazione della serie temporale degli spostamenti dell’opera nel periodo analizzato, riferiti ad un sistema di riferimento locale della diga. La componente ortogonale al coronamento è stata successivamente posta in relazione con le forze di natura idraulica che agiscono sull’opera. Per la determinazione dei liv…