Search results for "mediterranean"
showing 10 items of 3196 documents
Geochemical characterization of groundwater and submarine discharge in the south-eastern Sicily
2006
Abstract The main results of a hydrogeochemical survey carried out during 2002–2003 along the coast of the south-eastern Sicily, which aimed at geochemical characterization of both groundwater chemistry and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in the area are presented. A general frame of chemical processes affecting the studied groundwater and SGD point out that most samples fall within the calcite-anhydrite-dolomite field (CAD). The chemical composition of the samples within the CAD triangle is essentially controlled by calcite, dolomite and gypsum dissolution, which are the main minerals of the carbonate rocks hosting the aquifers. An additional process evidenced in this study is a mixi…
Olfactory foraging in temperate waters: sensitivity to dimethylsulphide of shearwaters in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
2014
AbstractMany procellariiforms use olfactory cues to locate food patches over the seemingly featureless ocean surface. In particular, some of them are able to detect and are attracted by dimethylsulfide (DMS), a volatile compound naturally occurring over worldwide oceans in correspondence with productive feeding areas. However, current knowledge is restricted to sub-Antarctic species, and to only one study realized under natural conditions at sea. Here, for the first time, we investigated the response to DMS in parallel in two different environments in temperate waters, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, employing Cory's (Calonectris borealis) and Scopoli's shearwaters (Calonectri…
Association between dietary folate intake and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels in healthy old women
2013
Abstract Objective High serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) seem to coincide with higher rates of some types of cancer and the risk of all-cause mortality in old people. Eating vegetables seems to reduce IGF-1 levels because they are rich in micronutrients such as vitamins. This study investigates the possible association between vitamin intake and IGF-1 levels in a representative group of healthy elderly women with Mediterranean dietary habits. Design This cross-sectional study included 124 healthy women with a mean age of 71.3 ± 4.2 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.37 ± 3.48 kg/m 2 attending a mild fitness program twice a week at public gyms in Padova. The mai…
Phytosociological remarks on residual woodlands of Laurus nobilis in Sicily
2010
A phytosociological study was done of Laurus nobilis woodlands in Sicily. The analysis, based on 18 relevés, supports the definition of a new syntaxon (Acantho mollis-Lauretum nobilis ass. nov.), considered as a vicariant of similar vegetation aspects described in other Mediterranean areas (Iberian and Italian peninsulas). The study mainly includes some unpublished sites where polycormic individuals of laurel, sometimes reaching 13-15 meters in height, dominates the tree layer. This vegetation is also characterized by some laurophyllous species (Hedera helix, Rhamnus alaternus, Smilax aspera and sometimes Viburnum tinus) and lianas (Rubia peregrina var. longifolia, Asparagus acutifolius, Ta…
Relationship between recruitment and mother plant vitality in the alien species Acacia cyclops A. Cunn. ex G. Don
2014
Acacia cyclops is a widespread invader in Mediterranean-climate regions. However, although its naturalization in the Mediterranean Basin dates back only a few years ago, and the invasion process has not been studied hitherto. We investigated seedlings recruitment strategy adopted by A. cyclops in a small island (Lampedusa, Italy) where its natural regeneration was strictly confined under mother plants canopy. Healthy plants (DCP), plants at incipient senescence (SCP) and dead plants (DP) were distinguished according to vitality and canopy status. Living plants were also characterized in relation to leaf C and N isotope composition. Regeneration pattern (seedlings and saplings abundance) was…
Tracking seasonal drought effects on ecosystem light use efficiency in a mediterranean forest using climatic and remote sensing data
2012
Daily values of light use efficiency (LUE) of a Mediterranean forest throughout five years have been analyzed in terms of different spectral indices obtained from MODIS products and which are informative on the water stress conditions. Although correlations between LUE and the different indices are rather high, the inter-annual variation of LUE due to the summer water stress is not well identified in most of them. In particular, the PRI (photochemical reflectance index) inter-annual variation has been found to be mostly attributable to concurrent variations in sun and view zenith angles. For the study area and at MODIS spatial resolution, the different indices are informative on changes in …
Patterns of algal recovery and small-scale effects of canopy removal as a result of human trampling on a Mediterranean rocky shallow community.
2004
The ecological importance of marine algae is widely known but in shallow coastal areas the composition and structure of algal communities may be affected by different human activities. Recovery from different trampling disturbances of two competing morphological groups (i.e. macroalgae and algal turfs) and effects of macroalgal canopy removal on the dominant associated fauna were examined using controlled trampling experiments. Six months after trampling disturbance was removed, the two morphological groups closely resembled control (untrampled) conditions, both in terms of cover and canopy (%). In particular, macroalgal recovery seemed to be very rapid: the higher the impact on the system …
Assessment of MODIS imagery to track light-use efficiency in a water-limited Mediterranean pine forest
2012
Abstract Daily values of gross primary production ( GPP ) derived from an eddy-covariance flux tower have been used to analyze the information content of the MODIS Photochemical Reflectance Index ( PRI ) on the light-use efficiency ( e ). The study has been conducted in a Mediterranean Pinus pinaster forest showing summer water stress. Advanced processing techniques have been used to analyze the effect of various external factors on e and PRI temporal variations. The intra-annual correlation between these two variables has been found to be mostly attributable to concurrent variations in sun and view zenith angles. The PRI has been normalized from these angular effects ( NPRI ), and its abil…
Role of two co-occurring Mediterranean sea urchins in the formation of barren from Cystoseira canopy
2015
Abstract In the Mediterranean Sea the co-occurring sea urchins Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula are usually considered to share the same ecological role in the formation of barren from Cystoseira canopy. However, their foraging ability may vary due to feeding behavior and species-specific morphological traits. The relative effects of P. lividus and A. lixula on Cystoseira canopy was tested experimentally both in the laboratory, at a density of about 20 ind./m 2 , and in the field by gut content analysis. Field and laboratory results show that A. lixula is unable to affect Cystoseira spp. Furthermore, these results confirmed the great ability of P. lividus to consume Cystoseira canop…
Submarine canyon morphologies in the Gulf of Palermo (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea) and possible implications for geo-hazard
2011
12 pages, 12 figures, 1 table.