Search results for "ZOOLOGIA"

First record of a representative of the subfamily Paradiaptominae (Copepoda Calanoida Diaptomidae) in Italy: Metadiaptomus chevreuxi (Guerne & Richar…

2005

Metadiaptomus chevreuxi (Guerne & Richard 1894), a diaptomid calanoid copepod belonging to the subfamily Paradiaptominae, has been found in two neighbouring temporary pools in the Egadi Archipelago (Sicily, southern Italy). This finding constitutes the first record of a representative of this subfamily in Italy and the second known European record for this species. M. chevreuxi, commonly found in the arid areas of Maghreb, has already been reported to occur in Mallorca Island (Balearic Archipelago, Spain), while it seems to be rare in the eastern quadrants of the Mediterranean basin. The characteristics of the new Italian site are briefly described and drawings of morphological details …

Crustacean dynamics in two argillotrophic, temporary ponds (North-Western Sicily, Italy)

2004

AN ANALYSIS OF SURFACE ACTIVITY OF BEACH RESIDENT INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY DURING STORM EVENTS

2022

Increasing storminess is among the expected effects of climate change; systems such as sandy beaches –and especially those on islands- are particularly exposed to these events. Data related to behavioural reactions of resident beach fauna to storms could hence provide useful insights for the study of beaches’ resilience. A study was carried out on two beach units on the NE coast of Crete island (Greece), seasonally subjected to violent storms. Daily surface activity of resident fauna was analysed through temporal replicates (four different moon phases) during the months of March and April 2016. Pitfalls were placed along transects perpendicular to the shoreline and emptied every three hours…

Cladocera (Branchiopoda, Anomopoda, Ctenopoda, and Onychopoda) from Sicilian inland waters: an updated inventory

2005

An extensive survey aimed at updating and increasing the knowledge on species richness and distribution of Cladocera (Branchiopoda) in Sicily has been carried out in the period 2000-2004. More than 250 water bodies, mainly temporary, have been sampled on the whole Sicilian territory and the circum-Sicilian islands. This sampling effort led to the discovery of several species new to the fauna of the island and, coupled with a careful bibliographic review, allowed the realization of an updated checklist that includes 57 species definitely present on the island (only 33 were formerly known), and two more, whose actual presence in Sicily is dubious and needs confirmation. The chorological spect…

Ecology and distribution of Calanoid Copepods in Sicilian inland waters (Italy)

2006

(2006). Ecology and distribution of calanoid copepods in Sicilian inland waters (Italy) SIL Proceedings, 1922-2010: Vol. 29, No. 5, pp. 2150-2156.

Variazioni delle comunità avifaunistiche, uso dell’habitat e loro ruolo nella costruzione dei sistemi agroforestali: il caso studio di Ficuzza.

2017

Le comunità avifaunistiche degli agro e silvosistemi del sud Italia subiscono una forte variazione stagionale dovuta al passaggio dei migratori ma soprattutto allo svernamento di intere comunità. Anche se questo fenomeno è ben noto, in Sicilia poche sono state le indagini per cercare di quantificare in modo sistematico queste variazioni. La ricerca è stata realizzata in un’area eterogenea della Riserva Naturale Orientata del Bosco di Ficuzza coprendo il gradiente dal bosco verso le aree arbustive e pascolive, con gli obiettivi di valutare le variazioni stagionali di questa comunità e in particolare di effettuare una indagine sull’uso dell’habitat. Parallelamente è stata condotta un indagine…

Climate change and population genetic structure of marine species

2011

Climate change influences populations by reducing or extirpating local populations, by disrupting patterns of migration and by shifting geographical distributions. These events can affect genetic population structure in several ways. Molecular markers have been used in numerous population genetic and phylogeographical studies of marine species and have detected population responses to climate change in the last few decades, such as range expansions, adaptative shifts and declines or increases in abundance. Little is known, however, about the molecular and physiological basis of adaptive responses to climate change in marine Mediterranean species. The Mediterranean Sea ecosystem is a ‘living…

Effects of structural complexity on epifaunal assemblages associated with two intertidal Mediterranean seaweeds

2023

Brown foundation seaweeds are key elements increasing substrate heterogeneity and shaping the biodiversity in rocky coastal ecosystems. They are, however, vulnerable species that are declining due to multiple anthropogenic and climate change stressors, leading to a shift to less structural complex habitats. We investigate the role of structural attributes of two intertidal macroalgae, Ericaria amentacea and Laurencia obtusa, in shaping the abundance and diversity of their associated epifaunal assemblages. For this aim, we measured seaweeds’ biomass, thallus volume and length (used here as proxy of substrate complexity), and explored which seaweeds’ substrate attribute explained better varia…

Crushing predation of the spiny star Marthasterias glacialis upon the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus

2009

Literature data report that only fish predators are able to crush sea urchin tests in Mediterranean rocky reefs. This experimental study showed that the spiny star Marthasterias glacialis is able to break Paracentrotus lividus tests and that the breaking event is more likely to occur for small-sized sea urchins than for big ones. Our results show that the role of M. glacialis in regulating P. lividus population density can be important in specific locations. They may have important implications, moreover, for the use of tethering techniques aimed at identifying predator types of sea urchins.

Impact of Heavy Metals in Eggs and Tissues of C. caretta along the Sicilian Coast (Mediterranean Sea)

2022

In this study we compared the heavy metal concentration found in different tissues and eggs of the loggerhead sea turtle and evaluated the potential ecotoxicological risk for this important species. Eighteen heavy metal elements were determined in different tissues (liver, gonads, fat, kidney, heart, brain, and spleen) of nine individuals of Caretta caretta found stranded along the coasts of Messina (Sicily, Italy) and in the shell and yolk of six eggs from the island of Linosa (Sicily, Italy). For the analysis of the heavy metals, we used the analytical procedures in accordance with the EPA 200.8 method supplemented by EPA 6020b with three replicates for each measurement. The elements anal…