Riviste Online SApienza - R.O.SA - 2 (Sapienza University of Rome)
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Calliptamus italicus at 3050 m: a first evidence of dispersal across the Alps? (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
Get PDFCalliptamus italicus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a polyphagous grasshopper widely distributed from Europe to central Asia, known to perform long-range migrations during its gregarious phase, especially in the eastern part of its range. In the Alps, this species mostly occurs in dry grassland habitats in valley floors or on well-exposed slopes, usually establishing resident populations below 2000 m, but information on its dispersal patterns in this geographical area are still lacking. This short note reports an unusual observation of C. italicus at high eleva- tion (3050 m) in the Cottian Alps, with a description of the associated local habitat features and short-term weather conditions. Although based on a single record, hypotheses on the possible underlying dispersal processes are provided, discussing whether this observation may represent or not a first evidence of a migration behaviour by Italian locusts across the Alpine ridge. The performance of either a local movement or a long-range migration is firstly hypothesized, due to the apparent suitability of the short-term weather conditions (i.e. no rain, increase in temperatures and wind intensity). However, since the specimen was missing the left hind leg, thus potentially compro- mising its dispersal capacity, a third hypothesis of an animal- or human-mediated transport is also considered. Given that the available data are not sufficient to definitely ascertain whether C. italicus is able to disperse in autonomy across the Alps or not, further records are needed in future to verify the hypotheses presented here and to enhance the detail of the environmental variables possibly involved
The Ceratocanthinae of Madagascar and Comoro Islands: a revision of the genera Synarmostes and Goudotostes, and of the flightless Philharmostes, with description of 64 new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Hybosoridae)
No full textAbstract
The Ceratocanthinae (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea Hybosoridae) genera Synarmostes Germar, 1843 Goudotostes Paulian, 1979, and Philharmostes Kolbe, 1895 (partim) are revised. The genera Synarmostes and Goudotostes, endemic to Madagascar and Comoro Islands, score respectively 24 species, 18 occurring in Madagascar and six in the Comoro Islands (20 of them new to science: Synarmostes aes sp. nov., Synarmostes annamariae sp. nov., Synarmostes beankae sp. nov., Synarmostes benaraensis sp. nov., Synarmostes bekaraokae sp. nov., Synarmostes caterinae sp. nov., Synarmostes chonguimontis sp. nov., Synarmostes compactus sp. nov., Synarmostes dapaniensis sp. nov., Synarmostes eugenii sp. nov., Synarmostes fortis sp. nov., Synarmostes grinteri sp. nov., Synarmostes karthalaensis sp. nov., Synarmostes lavasoae sp. nov., Synarmostes makirovanae sp. nov., Synarmostes monoculus sp. nov., Synarmostes occidentalis sp. nov., Synarmostes parrilloi sp. nov., Synarmostes separatus sp. nov., and Synarmostes zahamenae sp. nov.) and 33 species, two of them occurring in the Comoro Islands and the remaining in Madagascar (32 of them new to science: Goudotostes andohahelae sp. nov., Goudotostes andreonei sp. nov., Goudotostes angelii sp. nov., Goudotostes antsahabensis sp. nov., Goudotostes electrimontis sp. nov., Goudotostes elegans sp. nov., Goudotostes fisheri sp. nov., Goudotostes hirtellus sp. nov., Goudotostes insularis sp. nov., Goudotostes laevis sp. nov., Goudotostes lapidisilvae sp. nov., Goudotostes litoralis sp. nov., Goudotostes lokobensis sp. nov., Goudotostes mayottensis sp. nov., Goudotostes masoalae sp. nov., Goudotostes montanellus sp. nov., Goudotostes orangeanus sp. nov., Goudotostes parvus sp. nov., Goudotostes phantasticus sp. nov., Goudotostes pittinoi sp. nov., Goudotostes rafanomezantsoai sp. nov., Goudotostes rajemisonae sp. nov., Goudotostes rakotonirinai sp. nov., Goudotostes ramamonjisoae sp. nov., Goudotostes ranaivoi sp. nov., Goudotostes randrianirinai sp. nov., Goudotostes rasoamananae sp. nov., Goudotostes rugatulus sp. nov., Goudotostes siccaesilvae sp. nov., Goudotostes similis sp. nov., Goudotostes simplicipennis sp. nov., and Goudotostes trapeticollis sp. nov.). Finally, the genus Philharmostes, shared with Continental Africa but absent from Comoro Islands, is here revised only partly. Only the 12 flightless species occurring in Madagascar are revised, all them endemic and new to science (Philharmostes acutus sp. nov., Philharmostes apterus sp. nov., Philharmostes centralis sp. nov., Philharmostes fereocellatus sp. nov., Philharmostes indri sp. nov., Philharmostes manomboensis sp. nov., Philharmostes metallicus sp. nov., Philharmostes nelsoni sp. nov., Philharmostes ornatulus sp. nov., Philharmostes rotundatus sp. nov., Philharmostes scapulatus sp. nov., and Philharmostes schweikerti sp. nov.). The volant species of Philharmostes will be the subject of a future paper. With the new species here described Madagascar scores a total of 81 species of Ceratocanthinae, all them endemic, becoming the richest country in the world with respect to Ceratocanthinae diversity. The majority of the Ceratocanthinae species dealt with this paper are flightless (65 on a total of 69). All species have been found in forested habitats, the majority of them (53 species) in rainforests and 17 species in dry deciduous forests. Three species have been found in nests of Nasutitermes sp. (Isoptera). Some remarks on eye development are provided. In some species of all the genera it is hypothesized the presence of a vestigial dorsal ocular area. A key to all species, distribution maps and photos of the habitus and the male genitalia of all species are provided.
 
Bivariate landslide susceptibility analysis in the Lorestan Arc (Zagros Mountains, Iran)
Get PDFLandslide susceptibility analysis based on the assessment of a quantitative relationship between multiple controlling factors and landslide occurrence is a consolidated approach for land-use planning in risk mitigation. The Zagros Mountain range (Iran) is one of the most spectacular examples of a landscape whose evolution has been controlled by the erosion of rock outcrops and the growth of thrust-fold structures (predisposing factors for gravity-driven deformations). This paper covers a preliminary study on the landslide susceptibility of the Lorestan region of the Zagros Mountains. Use was made of a bivariate Frequency Ratio, computed on a 30 m pixel size Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model. In particular, reliance was made on an unpublished inventory of landslides in the Lorestan Arc. Landslide susceptibility was assessed in the “Falls” (323) and “Slides” (297) categories, the numbers of which (unlike those of other categories) were regarded as suitable for robust modelling. A multi-parametric analysis was carried out to determine the susceptibility of each type of landslide to a set of contributing factors. These factors, most of which are commonly used in the literature, can be grouped in two main categories: a) static, including morphological, hydraulic, and geological factors, and b) pseudo-dynamic, including distance from active faults and steepness index (ksn), a morphometric tectonic uplift proxy computed along stream networks. The latter were considered as potentially landslide-triggering factors in the medium-long term, combining both the effects of transient tectonic forces of individual seismic events and morphotectonic effects on the slope-valley system. The statistical significance of these pseudo-dynamic factors was initially demonstrated via a univariate logistic regression with a randomly generated set of “stable” and “unstable” points. Then, models were built, and the importance of each conditioning factor was assessed by calculating the contribution of the factors in determining the mean landslide susceptibility index value in actual landslides, and the percentage of landslide cases in which the frequency ratio relative to each variable was above 1. With regard to the “Falls” category, the model showed (with a high reliability) that susceptible areas were those with a slope angle greater than 38°, associated with a 5000 m radius relief energy of about 1100-1550 m and a median fault distance of about 10 km. Conversely, the susceptibility model obtained for the “Slides” category showed that highly susceptible areas were those with slope angle values of 18°-35° and featuring outcrops of the most resistant lithotypes, such as limestone and marly limestone, especially close to flatiron landforms. The resulting model accuracy (validated with the prediction rate curve method on a sample dataset not used in the susceptibility analysis), was equal to 0.94 for “Falls” and 0.77 for “Slides”, indicating a good prediction accuracy
A revision of distribution, ecology and conservation issues of the threatened comb-claw beetle Gerandryus aetnensis (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae)
Get PDFGerandryus aetnensis (Rottenberg, 1871) is a rare and localized beetle, previously known only for Maritime Alps and Sicily. In this paper we provide a revision of geonemy, ecology and status of conservation, including a proposal for a new assessment of its extinction risk in the framework of the European saproxylic beetles, based upon several new records from western Alps, northern, central, southern Apen- nine, and Sicily. Thus, the species is a W-Alpino-Apenninic subendemic saproxylic species, associated to tree hollows in both coniferous and deciduous forests. We also propose to assess G. aetnensis as Vulnerable at global and Italian level
Description of the larva of Zwicknia gattolliati Vinçon & Reding, 2018, with notes on the distribution of the genus Zwicknia Murányi, 2014 in Italy (Plecoptera: Capniidae)
Get PDFThe specimens of the genus Zwicknia Murányi, 2014 from the Ravizza collection stored in the Museum of Zoology, Lausanne, Switzerland, are revised and re-identified to species level. Whereas most of them were identified as belonging to the species Zwicknia gattolliati, one male collected in Southern Italy corresponded to Z. bifrons. The hitherto unknown larva of Zwicknia gattolliati is described and illustrated on the basis of morphology
New stadiums between urban regeneration, socio-economic impact, territorial constraints
No full textThis work aims at summarizing the guidelines that the most recent geographical economic literature has identified in an attempt to investigate the evolution of the relationship between the latest generation of sports facilities and the economic repercussions linked to their realization. In particular, it illustrates the link between the last generation stadia, the change in their urban function, the spatial planning and finally the impact of these infrastructures in terms of environmental sustainability. The comparison of different approaches experienced in the organization of major sporting events allows to focus effectively the issues referred to. This is because the organization of international events and the construction of sports facilities linked to them represent the juncture in which potential and criticality linked to the new functional and economic dimension of the stadia find the most relevant expression territorial. The brief analysis of some concrete cases a us to understand the not always unambiguous repercussions determined by the impact of urban and suburban arenas
Bed-level adjustements in the Po River catchment (Northern Italy)
Get PDFAn analysis of bed elevation changes by comparing two or more sets of bed profiles was carried out along the Po River and 11 other streams of its catchment, totalling 21 segments, over a period covering approximately the past 70 years. A comparison of two sets of aerial photos, taken during the same period, was also carried out with a view to discussing relations between bed-level and planform adjustments. The results showed that bed incision was ubiquitous in all rivers, occurring in 20 out of 21 segments, with segment-averaged values of 0.27 to 5.49 m and at-a-site values of 2.37 to 12.08 m. A first period of major bed lowering (during the first few decades after 1950) was followed by a trend reversal in 7 out of 21 cases, whereas aggradation was followed by further incision in 5 cases. The results of changes in channel width and planform pattern showed that narrowing occurred in all cases and that changes in channel morphology occurred in 31% of the total analysed river length, the most frequent case being a change from transitional to single-thread. Changes from an initial multi-thread to a transitional or single-thread morphology were associated with a higher degree of narrowing, whereas changes from a transitional to a single-thread morphology were associated with the highest degree of bed lowering. A summary evolutionary model was derived, representing an application of the original Surian and Rinaldi model to the alluvial rivers of the Po River catchment
A GIS based tool for the sediment delivery ratio comparison
Get PDFThe note deals with a new tool implementation for evaluating Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) in a river basin, through GRASS GIS software. The definition of a spatially distributed value of SDR is a very important task as the sediment routing can affects losses of soil productivity, increase of solid transport in stream channels, and water quality degradation. For such reason the SDR evaluation, coupled with GIS approach, has been extensively used in scientific literature. Geographic information systems provide a fundamental support for a better prediction of SDR, since it can consider the space variability of factors influencing the sediment routing processes. Actually a specific GIS module to estimate the spatial variability of SDR does not exist. We implemented a GRASS GIS module (in python language) called r.sdr where the sediment delivery ratio is evaluated by GIS procedure using several equations available in literature. We applied the tool to the Feo Creek watershed, located in the Apennines area of northeastern Umbria (Italy)
Analysis of chlorinated ethenes behaviour in fractured and karstic limestone
Get PDFThe understanding of the transport and degradation phenomena of chlorinated ethenes in fractured aquifers as well as the assessment of the cleanup times poses an extreme technical challenge. In the present study a method to analyze reactive transport and reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents in fractured aquifers is presented. Reductive dechlorination pathway, adsorption processes, mass exchange phenomena between mobile and stagnant zones as well as the non – linear flow behaviour in fractures are considered. The developed methodology, considering reductive dechlorination processes in a Lagrangian framework, is able to simulate the motion of particles affected by first-order network reactions, so that particles move according to their chemical state affecting physical transport processes (advection, dispersion, mass transfer exchange between mobile and stagnant zone). The developed model is applied to a case study of groundwater contamination in the industrial area of Modugno – Bari (Italy), where the limestone aquifer has a fractured and karstic nature. The steady state distribution of the contamination by chlorinated ethenes with the source at the hot spot is obtained and compared with the observed scenario of contamination in order to estimate the plausible transport and degradation processes as well as the mass loading at source. The carried out study represents and valuable tool for deciding the role of natural attenuation in a treatment where the natural attenuation capacity of groundwater can be integrated with engineering methods for site remediation