196,034 research outputs found
Exposure of key marine species to sunscreens: Changing ecotoxicity as a possible indirect effect of global warming
No full textSunscreens can induce ecotoxicological effects and may cause significant impacts in the aquatic ecosystem. In spite of that, ecotoxicological responses of key marine species to sunscreens are scarcely studied in Mediterranean ecosystems, and literature data are lacking. Furthermore, changes in water salinity induced by global warming could significantly affect the ecotoxicological responses of marine species exposed to sunscreens. This research focuses on the evaluation of ecotoxicological responses of Phaeodactylum tricornutum (algae), Corophium orientalis (macroinvertebrate), and Paracentrotus lividus (echinoderms) exposed to sunscreens, which include both chemical- and physical-based. This study, also, analyzes the changes in ecotoxicological responses of the tested species linked to increase in salinity. Results showed that salinity stress significantly increases the toxicity of sunscreens on the tested marine species. Physical-based sunscreens resulted in more toxicity at higher salinity than chemical-based ones toward C. orientalis and P. tricornutum. This study evidenced that risk classifications of sunscreens recorded under standard salinity conditions could be significantly different from that recorded in the natural environment under salinity stress. The collection of a complete dataset on the ecotoxicological effects of sunscreens on marine species tested under salinity stress could be useful to correctly weigh risks for the marine environment under possible future ecological changing scenarios following the global changing driver
Recent Changes of Ecosystem Surfaces and their Services Value in a Mediterranean Costal Protected Area: the Role of Wetlands
No full textCoastal ecosystems provide key services, but human activities and natural phenomena such as coastal erosion can strongly affect them. These changes can induce severe ecological and economic damages. This study aims to evaluate temporal changes in a protected area (Regional Park of Maremma, Southern Tuscany, Italy) in terms of both ecological and economical damage associated with ecosystem services loss observed over the period 2001–2014. Studies were performed using remote sensing as well as field verification for more critical habitat types. Results show an overall reduction of the habitat in flooded areas. During the study period total Ecosystem Services Values (ESV) decreased by more than 13% and the major contributor to that changes is loss of wetlands (net reduction of about 4.3 M US$/y), not directly beach erosion. Although this study proposes a first order approximation in terms of ESVs of considered biomes, these values are set to increase in the near future as knowledge and technologies improve. Therefore, wetlands management plans are crucial in this context, and could have much more significant effects on ecosystem efficiency and resources for future generations than beach erosion prevention
Pushed to the edge: Environmental factors drive ecological responses of Aphanius fasciatus when in sympatry with invasive Gambusia holbrooki
No full textInterspecific competition may be particularly exacerbated when occurring between native and invasive alien species, with environmental conditions affecting drivers of natural selection and shaping spatio-temporal dynamics of animal communities. The effects of invaders are particularly evident in aquatic ecosystems with delicate and complex balances, such as Mediterranean coastal wetlands, characterized by unpredictable water flows and variable reserves. Understanding how native species respond to human-induced biological invasions is of paramount importance for planning management measures aiming at conservation purposes. This study investigated whether the occurrence of a competing invader species resulted in changes in the ecological adaptations of a native species by comparing two coastal wetland fish species: the invasive eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki and the native Mediterranean killifish Aphanius fasciatus of conservation concern. The hypothesis was tested by sampling fishes at a coastal Ramsar site in central Italy, over 2 years. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the occurrence of killifish in relation to water parameters and the presence of its putative competitor. The aim was to determine whether salinity, temperature, and water depth influenced the presence and abundance of killifish when in sympatry with mosquitofish. Both the probability of presence and abundance of killifish increased with water salinity, but this increase was stronger when mosquitofish was present. Increasing water temperature and water depth were associated with a higher probability of presence and abundance of killifish respectively, although the effect of water depth was small. Both salinity and the presence of the invader acted synergistically in characterizing and shaping the population structure of the native species. Living in the most extreme and stressed environments, the killifish is potentially at higher risk of extinction. These results highlight the importance of considering the interplay between multiple abiotic stressors combined with comparative data between invasive and native species as increasingly critical to aid in conservation efforts
The influence of the explicit and implicit memory processes on the oral-written language learning of children with CIs
No full textRecent improvements in cochlear implants (CIs) and hearing aid technology are providing deaf children better access to sounds, yet many children with CIs and digital hearing aids continue to experience significant difficulties in verbal language learning, reading, and writing. It has been shown that explicit and intentional memory processes, like verbal rehearsal or semantic organizational strategies, can explain the language and literacy outcomes of CI and hearing aid users. More recently, however, researchers have suggested also an involvement of implicit memory, and particularly implicit sequence learning (SL), in the language and literacy delay of these children. This chapter reviews and discusses studies bringing evidence of the involvement of inefficient explicit memory processes and implicit SL in the language and literacy development of children with CIs. It is argued that the interaction between explicit and implicit memory processes (verbal rehearsal and implicit SL) can better account for CI users’ problems with language and literacy acquisition
Plastic levels in sediments closed to Cecina river estuary (Tuscany, Italy)
No full textThis study focuses on plastic distribution levels (shape, size, colour, type) in sediments from the coastal area of Cecina (Tuscany, Italy). Samples are collected in three sampling stations along six transect settled randomly along the shoreline and along the final tract of the Cecina river. Recorded plastic size ranges within 62.51–13,462 μm (average values 1591 ± 837 μm). Microplastics ( Fiber > Granule in each of the tested sampling site. Plastic litter levels recorded in study evidence low pollution compared to the existing literature supporting the occurrence of good environmental levels in Cecina coastline for the “Marine litter” descriptor
I territori della neoruralità. Un repertorio georeferenziato per la Provincia di Lucca
No full textThe paper illustrates the elaborations carried out within the PTC of the Province of Lucca in the identification and description of the innovative practices of multifunctional agriculture in the province.
The authors intend to illustrate the spatialization and systematization of a series of experiences (companies that produce and market the traditional agricultural products, places of social farming and short supply systems for the use of rural areas) whose the data is stored in geographical archives difficult to use in the process of spatial planning.
The elaboration is a very important cognitive phase within the plan for the activation of new alliances between city and countryside
Plastic litter in sediments from the Croatian marine protected area of the natural park of TelašČica bay (Adriatic Sea)
No full textThis paper reports baseline levels of litter (macro, meso and microplastics) in sediments collected from different areas of the Croatian MPA of the Natural Park of Telaščica bay (Adriatic Sea, GSA n. 17). The distribution of total abundance according to size, for all analysed locations evidences that microplastics are the dominant fraction concerning item's numbers. In all analysed samples no macroplastics were found, while microplastics are 88.71% and mesoplastics are 11.29% of the total
Plastic litter in sediments from the coasts of south Tuscany (Tyrrhenian Sea)
No full textThis study estimated the total loads of plastic litter (macro-meso- and micro-plastics) in sediments from a wide stretch of marine and coastal environment of Tyrrhenian Sea. The prevailing category of debris was microplastic. The results obtained, in terms of average amount of microplastic per kilogram of dry sediment, are in agreement with data reported by various Authors internationally. The study area resulted to be uniform for plastic items levels. Particularly evident was the influence of a flood, occurred in November 2012 in Talamone, on sediments collected at the harbour of this locality: in this area, a difference in levels and quality of plastic debris, attributable to periods before and after the flood, was observed in sediments. In addition to focusing on the effect of this phenomenon, this study gives an important overview, for what concerns the presence of plastic litter, of a significant naturalistic area
Pushed to the edge : Environmental factors drive ecological responses of Aphanius fasciatus when in sympatry with invasive Gambusia holbrooki
No full textInterspecific competition may be particularly exacerbated when occurring between native and invasive alien species, with environmental conditions affecting drivers of natural selection and shaping spatio-temporal dynamics of animal communities. The effects of invaders are particularly evident in aquatic ecosystems with delicate and complex balances, such as Mediterranean coastal wetlands, characterized by unpredictable water flows and variable reserves. Understanding how native species respond to human-induced biological invasions is of paramount importance for planning management measures aiming at conservation purposes. This study investigated whether the occurrence of a competing invader species resulted in changes in the ecological adaptations of a native species by comparing two coastal wetland fish species: the invasive eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki and the native Mediterranean killifish Aphanius fasciatus of conservation concern. The hypothesis was tested by sampling fishes at a coastal Ramsar site in central Italy, over 2 years. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the occurrence of killifish in relation to water parameters and the presence of its putative competitor. The aim was to determine whether salinity, temperature, and water depth influenced the presence and abundance of killifish when in sympatry with mosquitofish. Both the probability of presence and abundance of killifish increased with water salinity, but this increase was stronger when mosquitofish was present. Increasing water temperature and water depth were associated with a higher probability of presence and abundance of killifish respectively, although the effect of water depth was small. Both salinity and the presence of the invader acted synergistically in characterizing and shaping the population structure of the native species. Living in the most extreme and stressed environments, the killifish is potentially at higher risk of extinction. These results highlight the importance of considering the interplay between multiple abiotic stressors combined with comparative data between invasive and native species as increasingly critical to aid in conservation efforts
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