Search results for "Archipelago"
showing 10 items of 115 documents
Diet and feeding habits of nesting and non-nesting ravens (Corvus corax) on a Mediterranean island (Vulcano, Eolian archipelago)
2003
The almost complete absence of information on the trophic ecology of Corvus corax for Mediterranean areas prompted the present research on the small island of Vulcano. Focal observations allowed us to survey the population, which is divided into four territorial pairs and one non-nesting flock (mean n = 23.6 ± 16.3). This flock roosted preferentially near a rubbish dump. Ravens on Vulcano proved to be omnivorous and to feed upon a wide range of food items, with the differences in diet found to be more quantitative than qualitative and related to the season and to the social system. The flock birds consumed more vegetable matter, carrion of domestic animals, other organic matter (eggshells, …
Insular variation in central MediterraneanCrociduraWagler, 1832 (Mammalia, Soricidae)
1990
Morphometric variation of Crocidura mandible in Sicily and surrounding islands (Egadi archipelago, Ustica, Pantelleria and Gozo) was analyzed by principal component and canonical variate analyses in order to integrate recent chromosomal and biochemical observations. Specimens of C. suaveolens and C. leucodon from mainland Italy and of C. russula from Sardinia were used as reference in this analysis. The biometry of the only taxon of shrews living in Sicily is significantly different from the three reference samples. This result, coupled with a recently discovered new karyotype, provides strong evidence for a new Eurasian species, for which the name C. sicula Miller 1901, was chosen. Crocidu…
New records of marine Tardigrada in the Mediterranean Sea
1996
Abstract Meiofauna from Chafarinas archipelago (western Mediterranean, N. Africa) were studied, and marine Tardigrada were identified to species level. A total of 15 species, belonging to families Stygarctidae, Halechiniscidae (Subfamilies Halechiniscinae, Florarctinae, Styraconyxinae and Tanarctinae), Batillipedidae, and Echiniscoididae, were found for the first time from the Alboran Sea and southwestern Mediterranean area. Four species and one subspecies are new records for the Mediterranean Sea: Floractus acer , F. asper , F. stellatus , Actinarctus doryphorus and Echiniscoides sigismundi hispaniensis . The male of Floractus stellatus , previously unknown to science, is described. Many s…
A new species of Ferula (Apiaceae) from Malta
2018
Ferula melitensis, a new species from the Malta Archipelago, is described and illustrated. It belongs to the taxonomic group of F. communis, showing close relationships mainly with F. tunetana, F. arrigonii, F. communis s.str. and F. glauca, from which it differs in several features regarding the stem, leaves (mainly for shape and size of terminal segments), flowers and mericarps; other significant differences regard the ecology and phenology. The investigations, carried out on living plants, herbarium material and literature data, regard the morphological analysis of vegetative and reproductive structures, the anatomy of terminal leaf segments and mericarps, as well as the shape and size o…
The pumice aggregates of Lipari Island (Aeolian Isles-Italy)
1984
In the Island of Lipari (Aeolian Archipelago) there is a large pumice deposit. The pumice is exploited in an open-cast mine through mechanical means and taken to crushing and screening plants. Aggregates for urban construction, gravel and powder are obtained. The aggregates are used in the manufacture of light concrete. Nowadays the possibility of using pumice aggregates in order to obtain light structural concrete is being studied.
Helminth infracommunities of a population of the Gran Canaria giant lizard Gallotia stehlini
2004
AbstractA survey of gastro-intestinal helminth communities of Gallotia stehlini (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Gran Canaria island (Canary Archipelago, Spain), was conducted to determine the prevalence, abundance and species diversity of intestinal parasites in these lizards. Pharyngodonid nematodes were the most common intestinal helminths, three species being Gallotia specialists. Helminth infracommunities of G. stehlini were rich and appear to be closer to the interactive end of the continuum isolationist–interactive helminth communities, according to the high values of helminth diversity. It is the first case of a saurian reptile showing this kind of diverse helminth infracommunity, produced…
Return flight to the Canary Islands – The key role of peripheral populations of Afrocanarian blue tits (Aves: Cyanistes teneriffae) in multi-gene rec…
2012
Abstract Afrocanarian blue tits (Cyanistes teneriffae) have a scattered distribution on the Canary Islands and on the North African continent. To date, the Canary Islands have been considered the species’ main Pleistocene evolutionary center, but their colonization pathways remain uncertain. We set out to reconstruct a dated multi-gene phylogeny and ancestral ranges for Cyanistes tit species including the currently unstudied, peripheral Libyan population of C. t. cyrenaicae. In all reconstructions the most easterly and westerly peripheral populations (in Libya and on La Palma) represented basal offshoots of C. teneriffae. These two peripheral populations shared all four major indels and dif…
TRAVELLING TOWARDS AND FROM MINOR ISLANDS THROUGH NON-CONVENTIONAL AIR TRANSPORT: DEMAND AND COST ANALYSIS
2010
This research addresses the role of innovative forms of passenger air transport in favouring mobility of tourists visiting minor islands. In particular, we studied the feasibility of scheduled transport services using helicopter and seaplane for connecting Sicily in the south of Italy, to the near and very attractive Eolie Islands rapidly. In order to estimate the potential service demand, we allowed for the number of tourists arriving in the Eolie Archipelago during the period 1999-2008. In detail, we considered only the market of visitors with a high willingness-to-pay for time savings (individuals choosing superior hotels) coming from origins at least 300 km away from the Eolie Islands. …
The agricultural heritage of Lampedusa (Pelagie Archipelago, South Italy) and its key role for cultivar and wildlife conservation
2011
As occurred on many other little Mediterranean islands, agricultural activity at Lampedusa (Strait of Sicily) underwent a very strong decline in terms of surface area during the second half of the last century. In particular, cereal crops have ceased and horticulture is disappearing, while vineyards still occupy a reduced area but are quickly vanishing and currently survive thanks to a small number of old farmers. Here are presented the results of a research carried out by interviewing seven farmers in order to study not only the techniques and the germplasm used in local viticulture, but also the final use of grapes and an evaluation on the connection between traditional farming and agro-e…
The detrimental consequences for seagrass of ineffective marine park management related to boat anchoring.
2014
Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadows are recognized as priority habitat for conservation by the EU Habitats Directive. The La Maddalena Archipelago National Park (Mediterranean Sea) P. oceanica meadow. , the dominant coastal habitat of the area, is mostly threatened by boat anchoring. 12. years after the establishment of mooring fields and anchoring restrictions, a study was conducted to measure their effectiveness on the conservation of seagrass and the mitigation of anchoring damage. We found that: (i) the condition of P. oceanica was disturbed, both in the mooring fields and in control locations; (ii) mooring fields and anchoring restrictions did not show to be an efficient system for …