Search results for "Mediterranean sea"

STUDY OF LARGE PELAGIC FISH LIFE-HISTORY TRAITS IN THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND PROJECTION UNDER FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIOS

2022

One of the most sensitive life periods for each species is the first life stages (larval and juvenile). The survival rates of pelagic fish larvae in these phases are usually very low and subject to fluctuations, consequently affecting the recruitment of new generations. From historical Tuna landing data, the stock's abundance is fluctuating, especially for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) (Thunnus thynnus, Linnaeus, 1758) Eastern stock. It is the largest Mediterranean Tuna and one of the most expensive species in the world. Some studies hypothesized that the fluctuations are dictated by environmental factors, particularly in the early life stages. Therefore, it appears necessary to better unders…

Unveiling the Relationship Between Sea Surface Hydrographic Patterns and Tuna Larval Distribution in the Central Mediterranean Sea

2021

Thunnus thynnus (Atlantic bluefin tuna, ABT) and other tuna species reproduce in the Mediterranean Sea during the summer period. Despite the Central Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Sicily in particular, being a key spawning site for many tuna species, little is known on the effects of oceanographic variability on their larval distribution in this area. The abundance and presence-absence of larval specimens for three tuna species (ABT, bullet tuna and albacore) were modeled in order to examine their relationships with environmental factors, by analysing historical in situ information collected during seven annual surveys (2010–2016). The results revealed that most tuna larvae for the three …

CHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE INVASIVE ALGA CAULERPA TAXIFOLIA VAR. DISTICHOPHYLLA FROM SICILIAN COASTS

2018

Biological invasions by non-indigenous species have been widely recognized among the most important threats to the integrity of Mediterranean ecosystems, often resulting in huge economic and societal impacts. The success of non-indigenous macrophytes in the new range may be due to a variety of factors such as their vegetative reproductive strategy and synthesis of toxic compounds. These toxic compounds may influence native consumers by reducing their performance with negative implications for their overall grazing activity and, ultimately, for their ability to control the spread of the invasive algae in the new area. In particular, the invasive algae Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh (Ct)…

Overwiew to the International Workshop “Status and management of the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in Mediterranea sea”

2010

Dati preliminari sulla variabilità spazio-temporale di Paracentrotus lividus nell’ AMP “Capo Gallo Isola delle Femmine”

2009

Towards a framework for assessment and management of cumulative human impacts on marine food webs

2015

Effective ecosystem-based management requires understanding ecosystem responses to multiple human threats, rather than focusing on single threats. To understand ecosystem responses to anthropogenic threats holistically, it is necessary to know how threats affect different components within ecosystems and ultimately alter ecosystem functioning. We used a case study of a Mediterranean seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) food web and expert knowledge elicitation in an application of the initial steps of a framework for assessment of cumulative human impacts on food webs. We produced a conceptual seagrass food web model, determined the main trophic relationships, identified the main threats to the fo…

First Evidence of Contourite Drifts in the North-Western Sicilian Active Continental Margin (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea)

2021

We present the results of an integrated geomorphological and seismo-stratigraphic study based on high resolution marine data acquired in the north-western Sicilian continental margin. We document for the first time five contourite drifts (marked as EM1a, EM2b, EM2, EM3a, and EM3b), located in the continental slope at depths between ca. 400 and 1500 m. EM1a,b have been interpreted as elongated mounded drifts. EM1a,b are ca. 3 km long, 1.3 km wide, and have a maximum thickness of 36 m in their center that thins northwards, while EM1b is smaller with a thickness up to 24 m. They are internally characterized by mounded seismic packages dominated by continuous and parallel reflectors. EM2 is loc…

Effets du bruit marin sur le changement des poissons sparidés juvéniles entre les espèces et les stades de développement

2023

International audience; Marine noise is an emerging pollutant inducing a variety of negative impacts on many animal taxa, including fish. Fish population persistence and dynamics rely on the supply of early life stages, which are often very sensitive to disturbance. Impacts of marine noise pollution (MNP) on juvenile fish have rarely been investigated in temperate regions. This is particularly true for the Mediterranean Sea, which is considered as an MNP hotspot due to intensive maritime traffic. In this study, we investigate the relationship between MNP related to boat traffic and (i) assemblage structure and (ii) the density of juvenile fishes (post-settlers at different stages) belonging…

Genetic variability of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus in the Western Mediterranean Sea inferred by DNA microsatellite loci

2012

Genetic variation at eight microsatellite loci was studied in nine populations of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus to investigate whether distinct stocks are present in the Western Mediterranean Sea. A high level of gene flow and no evidence of genetic partitioning were discovered. No significant variation was found (FST = 0.00673, P-value = 0.067) even when shrimps from exploited and those from deep-water unexploited grounds were compared. No evidence of reduction or expansion of population size in the recent past was found, as indicated by the bottleneck and interlocus g-tests. Our results are consistent with previous studies using mitochondrial gene methods and allozymes, indi…

Stranding patterns of the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba, Meyen 1833, Delphinidae) along the Sicilian coast (Mediterranean Sea)

2019

Along the coasts of Sicily, 73 striped dolphins strandings were recorded from 2013 to 2016. The specimens were collected at the Centro di Monitoraggio e Controllo per Tartarughe marine e Cetacei [Monitoring and Control Centre for Marine Turtles and Cetaceans] at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia. Subsequent necropsies were performed to determine the cause of death. The date and stranding location were recorded for each specimen. Total body length, weight, sex, and other key biometric measurements were also recorded for fresh and moderately decomposed specimens. The individuals were divided into three life stage categories on the basis of total body length: (1) newborns…