Search results for "mediterranean islands"
showing 6 items of 56 documents
Hybridization and competition between the endangered sea marigold (Calendula maritima, Asteraceae) and a more common congener
2013
Occurrences of hybridization between the rare, endangered Sicilian endemic, Calendula maritima, and other congeners in the wild have been suspected by several authors, but never demonstrated. In San Cusumano (Trapani), one of the only three Sicilian mainland populations, C. maritima occurs in close proximity to the more common congener C. suffruticosa subsp. fulgida, and individuals morphologically intermediate between the two taxa have been observed. In order to determine whether hybridization is occurring at this site, and, if so, begin to assess the impact it could have on C. maritima, two independent tests of hybridity were conducted by studying (1) the pollen morphology and viability a…
2015–2020. Sicily and Italy as electricity hub in the mediterranean area for the development of the European power grids interconnections
2015
Falling demand and explosion of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are redesigning the criteria for planning the power grids interconnections by ENTSO-E. In particular, the interconnections between networks of different countries have been acquiring importance more and more, in view of an unique European market for electricity and an increase of RES. Italy and Sicily, placed in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, play a fundamental role as a bridge between Central Europe, North Africa area and Mediterranean islands (electricity hub). This paper aims to show how power system exchanges tend to follow the direction from South to North, and how the impact of North-African power — mainly generated …
Origination and extinction patterns of mammals in three central Western Mediterranean islands from the Late Miocene to Quaternary
2008
Abstract An overview of the population histories of three insular realms (Gargano palaeo-archipelago, Sardinia–Maritime Tuscany palaeo-bioprovince and the Sicilian insular complex) during the Late Miocene and Quaternary are here presented. The complexity of biodiversity changes in the islands is analysed to propose an interpretation of origination and extinction patterns. The study highlighted several important aspects of insular faunas. Evolutionary radiations were found to contribute significantly only to the Gargano faunal diversity, likely because the area was an archipelago at the time. Another interesting result is that large and small mammals do not disperse and become extinct all at…
Alternative energy scenarios for small islands: A case study from Salina Island (Aeolian Islands, Southern Italy)
2012
Abstract The Aeolian archipelago is made up of seven main islands situated in the Tyrrhenian sea (Sicily Italy). They represent a suitable scenario for the development of a sustainable energy production system, that could easily be reproduced on other Mediterranean Islands. The fact that these islands depend on the mainland for energy supplies and the high cost of bringing fuel in tanker boats are factors that should strongly encourage the use of renewable energy source technologies. Taking into account the European Commission guidelines, this paper sets out to evaluate potential energy production using photovoltaic and small scale wind power, in order to verify their contribution to overal…
Late Pleistocene vertebrate - bearing deposits at San Teodoro Cave (North-Eastern Sicily): Preliminary data on faunal diversification and chronology
2008
Abstract This paper deals with the chronology and the possible correlations among levels of different excavated areas in the Pleistocene vertebrate-bearing deposits at the large San Teodoro Cave (North-Eastern Sicily). Two trenches have been excavated along the eastern side of the cave, located at a distance from the entrance, respectively, of 8 m ( α trench) and 28 m ( β trench) and at different depths. Lithological features, biometrical data from small mammals and ecological data from molluscs point to similar environmental conditions for the α trench deposits and those located along the eastern wall of the cave in the eastern part of the β trench. The same evidence, and the taphonomic fe…
Tourism in Mediterranean Islands: a comparative analysis.
2011
This chapter analyses the main dimensions of 24 Mediterranean islands representing seven European countries. It highlights some of the economic barriers to sustainability. Islands are classified by area into large, medium, small and micro, and also by population density- from high to low. The Mediterranean islands represent a wide variety of situations and common problems, and every economic decision has had an immediate impact on the sustainability of the economies of each island.