Search results for " Mediterranean Se"
showing 10 items of 247 documents
Are there any distinct genetic sub-populations of sand smelt, Atherina boyeri (Teleostei: Atherinidae) along Italian coasts? Evidence from allozyme a…
2007
Two hundred and ninety-nine specimens of Atherina boyeri, collected from five Mediterranean sites (three from the open sea (Chioggia, Catania and Gaeta) and two from river mouths (the Birgi and S. Bartolomeo rivers) were analyzed in order to confirm previous genetic studies. Eigtheen loci were scored from 12 enzymatic systems, 3 of which were polymorphic: EST*, PGM* and PGI*. Mean Fst value (0.300, p< 0.05) indicated a high genetic heterogeneity. Pairwise Fst and genetic distance revealed that samples from the river mouths (Birgi and S. Bartolomeo) were grouped separately from the open sea samples (Catania, Chioggia and Gaeta). These results are in agreement with the most recent classificat…
The late Messinian "Lago-Mare" event and the Zanclean Reflooding in the Mediterranean Sea: New insights from the Cuevas del Almanzora section (Vera B…
2020
Abstract The return to normal marine conditions in the Mediterranean Sea after the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), that led to the deposition of thick evaporitic succession followed by settlement of brackish to freshwater conditions of the “Lago-Mare”, is still subject to extensive debate between two opposite scenarios. One scenario implies an abrupt reflooding through the Gibraltar gateway of the Mediterranean Sea previously disconnected from the world ocean and partly desiccated. The second scenario postulates that the Mediterranean Sea kept a high-water level throughout the Messinian Salinity Crisis and was connected continuously to the Atlantic Ocean and to the Paratethys. T…
Microplastics in the Center of Mediterranean: Comparison of the Two Calabrian Coasts and Distribution from Coastal Areas to the Open Sea
2021
Plastic is everywhere—increasing evidence suggests that plastic pollution is ubiquitous and persistent in ecosystems worldwide. Microplastic pollution in marine environments is particularly insidious, as small fragmentation can increase interaction with biota and food chain access. Of particular concern is the Mediterranean Sea, which has become a large area of accumulation of plastic debris, including microplastics, whose polymeric composition is still largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the polymeric composition, particle size distribution, shape, and color of small plastic particles (ranging from 50 to 5000 µm) collected from the sea surface in six stations at the center of the M…
Impact of Plastic Debris on the Gut Microbiota of Caretta caretta From Northwestern Adriatic Sea
2021
Plastic pollution is nowadays a relevant threat for the ecological balance in marine ecosystems. Small plastic debris (PD) can enter food webs through various marine organisms, with possible consequences on their physiology and health. The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), widespread across the whole Mediterranean Sea, is a “flagship species,” useful as indicator of the general pollution level of marine ecosystems. Ingested PD accumulate in the final section of turtles’ digestive tract before excretion. During their transit and accumulation, PD also interact with the residing microbial community, with possible feedback consequences on the host’s health. To explore the possible relati…
Molecular diversity of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) shows the merging of endemic and widespread haplotypes in the Mediterranean Sea
2015
Molecular data on Coryphaena hippurus (Linnaeus, 1758) from western and central Mediterranean Sea were reported and compared. The aim of the study was to study the mitochondrial molecular structuring of the species at different geographical scales: localities, sub-basins, and oceans. Results show the absence of a sharp population structure inside the Mediterranean Sea, and the isolation of the Mediterranean dolphinfishes from those inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean
Conflicting coccolithophore and geochemical evidence for productivity levels in the Eastern Mediterranean sapropel S1
2011
Abstract The cyclic development of anoxic conditions in the eastern Mediterranean deep sea waters is one of the most fascinating research topics in paleoceanographic studies. In combination with bottom water stagnation, enhanced primary production is a common explanation for the deposition of organic-rich layers (sapropels). This is supported by extensive evidence from both geochemical and micropaleontological studies. The correspondence of recent sapropel layers with peaks of the lower photic zone coccolithophore species Florisphaera profunda has been interpreted as a proxy for the development of a deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM), due to the pycnocline/nutricline shallowing into the lower p…
Filamentous fungi transported by birds during migration across the mediterranean sea.
2013
The potential for the transport and diffusion of some pathogenic microorganisms by migratory birds is of concern. Migratory birds may be involved in the dispersal of microorganisms and may play a role of mechanical and biological vectors. The efficiency of dispersal of pathogenic microorganisms depends on a wide range of biotic and abiotic factors that influence the survival or disappearance of a given agent in a geographical area. In the present study, 349 migratory birds were captured in four sites (Mazara del Vallo, Lampedusa, Ustica and Linosa), representing the main stop-over points during spring and autumnal migration, and analyzed for the presence of filamentous fungi. A total of 2,3…
A sustainable energy production: Sea Wave in the small island of Ustica (Italy)
2018
Nowadays the electrical energy production is based on fossil fuels in the greatest part of smaller islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the availability, the renewable energy sources are practically unused, as landscape constraints. So, the paper presents the case of study of Ustica, a small island located at north of Sicily, in the middle of Mediterranean Sea. Starting with the analysis of the electrical energy consumption of public buildings, the paper suggests an energetic scenario, based on solar and sea wave. In particular, in order to use this new resource, the paper presents an innovative wave energy converter. Finally, the energetic and economic evaluations encourage the realiz…
Assessment of Renewable Sources for the Energy Consumption in Malta in the Mediterranean Sea
2016
The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the energy production in the Maltese islands, focusing on the employment of renewable energies in order to increase their energy independence. The main renewable source here proposed is wave energy: thanks to a strategic position, Malta will be able to produce electrical energy using an innovative type of Wave Energy Converter (WEC) based on the prototype of a linear generator realized by University of Palermo. The use of this new technology will be able to cut down the electrical energy production from traditional power plants and, consequently, the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Wave energy source and off-shore photovoltaic (PV) technology are…
264 a.C. Lo spazio conteso tra Roma e Cartagine
2018
Separated by an arm of the sea but brought closer by intense diplomatic relations, Rome, the city made up of a heterogeneous mix of peoples, and Carthage, founded by the Phoenicians, found themselves facing each other on the Strait of Messina. What was at stake was dominance over Sicily. The article traces the stages of the conquest of the island from 264 BC to 210 BC.