Riviste Online SApienza - R.O.SA - 2 (Sapienza University of Rome)
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The increase of artropodofauna as an action of defense against pollution
Get PDFThis paper illustrates the importance of biodiversity, in particular of the arthropodofauna, as it guarantees a series of ecosystem services needed to improve the quality of life. The importance of biodiversity has been acknowledged globally since it depends on a wide range of ecological functions defined as “ecosystem services” such as the production of essential goods, the reduction of pollutants, climate regulation and the regulation of waters. In this context, among environmental improvements is included in the increase in biodiversity and restoring natural processes typical of an equilibrium ecosystem by creating shelter and supply areas. Specifically, the increase in arthropodofauna can be facilitated by the design and management of structures and natural elements such as bug’s hotels, hedges and rows, which can provide shelter and trophic resources to the various species
Detection and analysis of drought events in Calabria (Southern Italy)
Get PDFDrought phenomena are one of the greatest damaging climate events. For this reason it is necessary to detect several drought features such as its intensity, duration, recurrence probability and spatial extent, also in order to alleviate the impacts of droughts. In this study, drought, expressed using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), has been analyzed in a region of southern Italy (Calabria) using a homogenized database for 24 monthly rainfall series in the 1951-2016 period. First, both the short-term (3 months) and the long-term (24 months) SPI were estimated and, in order to identify the worst events, the percentages of rain gauges falling within severe or extreme dry conditions have been evaluated. Then, the occurrence frequencies of severe/extreme droughts have been evaluated for each rain gauge. Finally, possible trends in the SPI values have been detected by means of a new graphical technique, Sen’s method, which allows the trend identification of the low, medium and high values of a series. Results evidenced that, considering the 3-month SPI, the occurrence frequency of severe and extreme drought events increased from the late 1970s to the early 2000. As to what concerns the 12-month SPI, droughts were more frequent throughout the 1980s and the 1990s and at beginning of this century. The trend analysis showed a general reduction in all the values of the SPI, that is a tendency towards heavier droughts and weaker wet periods
Validation of swash model for run-up prediction on a natural embayed beach
Get PDFThe work presents the evaluation of performance in wave run-up predicting of the well-known numerical model SWASH (Zijlema et alii, 2011), used to reproduce the swash zone hydrodynamics of a natural embayed beach. Field data collected at the bay of Torre Lapillo (Lecce, Italy) by means of video-analysis techniques are used for such purpose. A new automated coastal remote video-monitoring system has been recently installed in collaboration with the Apulian Basin Authority (AdBP), allowing image processing and geo-correction, shoreline extraction and results storage in real time on a public web portal. The model-numerical chain is based on coupling different models, starting from waves predicted by the MeteoOean model (Mentaschi et alii, 2015) up to a one-way nesting of 2D SWAN-SWASH models, in order to obtain an accurate representation of wave processes from deep to shallow waters. The topographic input derives from the combination of different surveys performed by means of Multibeam probe and GPS d-RTK together with a DSM reconstructed from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, resulting in a submerged as well as emerged digital model with a high resolution of about 0.015 m. Results show a good agreement between the measured and the simulated values, and confirm the possibility of reconstructing, even on non-instrumented beaches, the hydrodynamics of the nearshore area by numerical means. Simulations are performed with the default empirical coefficients as documented for the model, and a sensitivity analysis is presented on the key wave-breaking parameters (α, b) and the minimum depth threshold (δ), in order to optimize them to most accurately reproduce the observations
Block structures (restraining bends) and great landslides in the coastal and in Pollino Chains (Northern Calabria - Southern Italy)
Get PDFSome block structures present along the faults with weak transcurrent components, crossing the Coastal Chain from SW to NE, due to pushes from south by thrust nappe, especially useful in the seismic field, are identified and described. Some of them are particularly interesting for possible seismic relapse towards the Roggiano Gravina dam, one of the most important hydraulic works in the province of Cosenza. Associated with these structures, there are numerous DSGSDs and large ancient landslides, both in the metamorphic of the Alpine units and in the limestones of the Apennines that distinguish the territory. A hint is also made to the tectonic structure of M.t Pollino Chain, with ancient movements of units with a plastic mechanical behaviour (Liguridi and Sicilidi Units) (Ogniben, 1973) towards N and S in consequence of its raising
The new pipes choice criteria for water distribution system
Get PDFThe water network pipeline materials evolution has introduced market innovations for improving static, hydraulic and cost performance. Over time, o the technical and cost-effective selection criteria of pipelines, related to the materialsused, has added environmental assessments linked to the construction and management phases impact. The new scientific and regulatory references have highlighted the need to carry out environmental impact assessments, particularly on the materials and works life cycle. The impacts assessment generated by a product and process, such as the pipeline for water network and integrated water systems management, requires the utilization of a complex technical and scientific supports. In the present paper, a methodology is proposed to introduce new water pipeline selection criteria in the water system sustainability assessment by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. In this study some piping materials have been selected and analyzed. The results obtained can also be used for the synthetic indexes construction, which are interest to water system design choice
High resolution 2D modelling of rapidly varying flows: some case studies
No full textAfter a brief characterization of rapidly varying flows, a multi-resolution GPU-parallel numerical model implemented in CUDA/C++ for the solution of the 2D Shallow Water Equations is illustrated. Then, the activities developed with the aim of simulating two flooding events occurred in Emilia-Romagna (northern Italy) are detailed. The first event, happened on October 13th 2014 on the basin of the rivers Parma and Baganza, caused the flooding of wide districts of the town of Parma, with damages of several tens of millions of euros. The positive role of the river Parma flood detention reservoir during the event is also highlighted, as well as the possible consequences of the same event in the absence of the reservoir. The second event, occurred on September 13th 2015 on the river Nure (Piacenza), caused huge damages to the Farini village and to the Nure valley road infrastructure. The numerical simulations performed adopting the 2D high resolution numerical model allowed the correct reproduction of the real flooding events, with low computational time despite the high spatial resolution
New bioethological observations on Brahmaea (Acanthobrahmaea) europaea and its host plants in Special Area of Conservation “Grotticelle di Monticchio” (Basilicata, Southern Italy) (Lepidoptera: Brahmaeidae)
Get PDFBrahmaea (Acanthobrahmaea) europaea Hartig, 1963, is an Italian endemic exhibiting an exceedingly restricted geographic distribution. In 1971, a protected site was established for the species: the Nature Reserve of “Grotticelle” (Basilicata Region). Then, the Reserve area was incorporated into the perimeter of the Special Area of Conservation “Grotticelle di Monticchio”. In 1997, for the first time, a group of B. (A.) europaea caterpillars was found in nature. During research conducted in 2013-2014, an egg cluster of B. europaea was observed for the first time, and other groups of larvae were found inside the Reserve. Additional information was acquired about mobility of the caterpillars during their development. Palatability tests allowed to attest Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa, Ligustrum vulgare and Phyllirea latifolia as food plants of the moth among those present in the Reserve. From spring 2015 to spring 2017 other bioethological observations on B. europaea were conducted, as well as surveys aimed to study the distribution of its host plants in the habitats of SAC “Grotticelle di Monticchio”. During 2016, ten egg clusters and numerous groups of caterpillars have been identified on 12 different trees. In 2017, an egg cluster was observed, and other groups of larvae were found. These finding allowed to observe other details on spawning and behaviour of the caterpillars, until to pupate. In addition, a map of local habitat 91B0 “Thermophilous Fraxinus angustifolia woods” is also presented
Notes on the Italian distribution of Dolomedes plantarius (Clerck, 1757), species assessed for the IUCN Red List (Araneae: Pisauridae)
Get PDFThe great raft spider, Dolomedes plantarius, is a semi-aquatic spider species with an Eurosiberian distribution. As a result of habitat loss and degradation, in 1996 the species was classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, but since then the status has never been updated. We present the frame of the existing knowledge on the distribution of this rare spider species in Italy, based on literature data and on original records gathered in recent years. Finally, we discuss the conservation value of the Italian populations, in light of their peripheral position within the species range and in light of the future reduction of the bioclimatic range of the species due to climate and land cover changes associated with anthropic disturbanc
Yet another alien: a second species of Lepisiota spreading across the Canary Islands, Spain (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Get PDFThe Canary Islands are a biologically important archipelago hosting many unique species, whose myrmecofauna is peculiarly rich in both endemic and introduced species. Lepisiota frauenfeldi cfr. kantarensis Forel, 1911 is reported for the first time from Fuerteventura and Tenerife. It is the second species of Lepisiota introduced in the archipelago in the last few years, and one of the few documented cases in which Lepisiota frauenfeldi (Mayr, 1855) s.l. acts as a successful tramp species. Comments are also given on taxonomic problems involving the L. frauenfeldi-group and related taxa. Finally, new additional information and comments are presented on the distribution of other alien ants species from the Canary Islands [Lasius neglectus Van Loon, Boomsma & Andrásfalvy, 1990, Lepisiota capensis (Mayr, 1862) and Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802)]
First records of Eyprepocnemis plorans plorans in southeastern Italy (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
Get PDFNew populations of Eyprepocnemis plorans plorans (Charpentier, 1825) are first reported for southeastern Italy. The species was found in the period 2013-2017 in different lowland habitats of Apulia and Basilicata. These data may document a most recent colonization of southeastern Italy, which is potentially due to a wide range shift or expansion of species distribution from adjacent regions or countries