1,720,967 research outputs found
Morphometric analysis of the kingfisher cranium (AVES)
Full text linkThis study demonstrates that both size and shape are important components of the morphological differentiation of the skull of subfamilies of kingfishers. Our findings are in partial agreement with those of previous taxonomic studies on kingfishers. Alcedinids and Halcyon spp. have a very similar braincase. The similarity among crania of the Cerylidae and Alcedinidae are largely related to the shape of the bill and the morphology of the musculature, which are in turn related to similarities in feeding habits. Halcyon amauroptera has a highly divergent bill and cranial shape compared to species of the genus Halcyon
Preliminary study on butterflies of the Colfiorito plateaus: Annifo plain and Colfiorito marsh (Lepidoptera).
No full textThe authors present the results of the first year of sampling that took place between April and September 2006 within the
catchment basin of the Colfiorito plateaus in the eastern part of the Umbria region. The study area was located in two of seven plateaus of Colfiorito, known for their historical value and natural beauty: the Annifo plain (cod. IT5210032) and the Colfiorito marsh (cod.IT5210034). A preliminary fauna list was compiled in which Euphydryas aurinia (Rottemburg, 1775) and Eriogaster catax (L., 1758) are of particular interest as they are included in the EC Habitats Directive 92/43 EEC. Subsequently, the lepidopteran community diversity was analysed using the following ecological indices: Margalef ’s, Shannon-Wiener’s, Simpson’s and Species evenness. Diversity was calculated each month throughout the sampling period as well as for the vegetation that characterises the sampling stations
Ciliated Protozoa and Microarthropod Communities as Indicators of Soil Quality in Long-term Organically Managed Vineyards: A Case Study in the Verdicchio Terroir of Matelica (Marche, Italy)
No full textThe aim of our study was to assess the long-term effects of organically managed vineyards on soil quality by means of two indicators: protozoan ciliates and microarthropods. The study was conducted in the district of Verdicchio of Matelica (Marche, Italy), on three vineyards that were organically managed since 1992, 1998 and 2009 respectively. In each vineyard, soil samples were taken every month from March to October 2011. For microarthropods, the measured biological parameters were: abundances, QBS-ar index, number of biological and euedaphic forms and diversity indices; for ciliates: abundances and diversity indices. In total, 27 ciliate species belonging to 6 classes, 11 orders, 19 genera were identified. Species diversity (H’), evenness (J) indicate that the “older” (V92) vineyard could be considered as the most stable habitat for ciliates. Microarthropod communities were consistently characterised by the presence of biologica forms well adapted to soil such as Diplura, Pauropoda, Chilopoda and Protura. In general, QBS-ar values were higher in the “older” (V92) vineyard. Collectively, the data seem to indicate that the long-term organic management of the soil contributes to global soil quality in vineyards at least in this particular pedoclimatic area and for the investigated bioindicator
Primi dati sulla valutazione della qualità biologica (QBS-ar) nei suoli agricoli a conduzione biologica
No full textLo scopo di questa indagine è stato quello di valutare biologicamente gli agro-ecosistemi sulla base dei benefici derivanti dalle pratiche relative all’agricoltura biologica; per far questo ci siamo indirizzati all’utilizzo del metodo del QBS-ar (Parisi et al., 2000), indice di qualità biologica dei suoli che utilizza i microartropodi. Il metodo consiste nella valutazione della presenza/assenza di alcune forme biologiche di microartropodi, attribuendo ad ognuna di esse un punteggio secondo il grado di adattamento a questa matrice.
Sono stati presi in esame tre siti appartenenti alla fascia collinare (300-400 m slm) della provincia di Macerata (Marche), dove sono stati fatti ripetuti campionamenti in primavera e in autunno, per verificare la presenza delle forme biologiche che presentano gli adattamenti più efficaci (forme euedafiche caratterizzate da un valore max EMI di 20). Queste forme con il punteggio più alto sono ritenute indicatrici di buona qualità del suolo. Inoltre, le specie di questo gruppo sono anche le più vulnerabili a stress di origine diversa.
I valori di QBS-ar ottenuti dalle seletture dei suoli a gestione biologica, durante un anno di rilievi, sono stati confrontati con quelli ricavati da suoli naturali o semi-naturali quali boschi, prati e pascoli. Da questo confronto è emerso che in entrambi i casi (suoli naturali e a conduzione biologica) i valori di QBS risultano comparabili ed elevati (tra 121 e 191). Questo risultato conferma sia la sostenibilità delle pratiche di agricoltura biologica (rispettose della biodiversità) sia l’importanza degli elementi naturali ad esempio siepi, margini inerbiti (a supporto della diversità medesima), che caratterizzano il paesaggio della fascia collinare dell’Alto Maceratese in cui sono inserite le aree coltivate oggetto dello studio
CILIATES AS BIOINDICATORS OF SOIL QUALITY: FROM BIOMARKER TO COMMUNITY STRUCTURE ANALYSIS
No full textIn recent years the potential of protozoan ciliates, as valuable bioindicators of ecosystem quality
has been highlighted by a large number of authors. These eukaryotic, single-celled organisms are
essential component of freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover free-living ciliates,
due to their amazing molecular, cellular and physiological flexibility, have been able to colonise
every type of environment up to now surveyed, from deep oceans, to polar regions and every soil
types. Ciliates shown many desirable characteristics as test organisms for the design of convenient
and cost effective assays, from the biomarker to the population-community level, to be used for
environmental assessment. Firstly, ciliates occupy the first trophic levels and consequently
represent ideal early warning indicators of ecosystem deterioration. Secondly, they play key roles
in the transfer of matter and energy within the microbial loop. Moreover, numerous ciliate species
can be easily cultured with a short generation time and for some species (i.e. Tetrahymena,
Paramecium) genomic data and various molecular tools are available. Thus, this communication
aim to describe the potential of ciliates as bioindicators of soil quality and to highlight their
usefulness for the development of “prognostic” assays (i.e. able to detect sub-lethal toxicant effects
of soil eluates), based on the exploitation of stress gene activation responses (biomarkers and
biosensors), as well as, of “diagnostic” assays (i.e. able to detect overall ecosystem impairment),
based on the analysis of the community structures of ciliates in arable soils to evaluate the
potential impact of different agricultural management
SOIL QUALITY IN LONG-TERM ORGANICALLY MANAGED VINEYARDS: ANALYSIS OF CILIATED PROTOZOA AND MICROARTHROPOD COMMUNITY STRUCTURES
No full textOrganic wine represents an emerging market that is showing potential for growth. There is, in fact,
a growing worldwide interest and attention for environmental friendly products and sustainable
agricultural practices. Organic farming employs a set of farming practices that contribute in
preserving soil quality. The aim of this study was to assess the soil quality of organically managed
vineyards by means of two bioindicators: protozoan ciliates and microarthropods. The study was
conducted in a farm in the district of “Verdicchio” of Matelica (Marche, Italy), on three vineyards
with different years of implant (1992, 1998, 2009). Soil samples were taken monthly in the period
from March to October 2011. A total of 252 samples including those sampled from an adjacent
permanent pasture as reference site, were collected. Ciliate analysis showed a total of 20 species
belonging to 6 classes, 11 orders, 15 genera. The species richness ranged from 12 to 6.
Interestingly, the ciliate species (6) in V92 belongs to Spirotrichea. This situation seems to indicate
a possible species coexistence due to a mature, stable soil. Microarthropod communities with the
presence of biological forms well adapted to soil as Diplura, Pauropoda, Chilopoda and Protura
and QBS-ar values up to 247 (V92), showed great biological value in all vineyards. Moreover and
exclusively in V92, Palpigrada a rare and highly euedaphic form considered as a good indicator of
soil quality, were repeatedly observed. Collectively, data indicate that the long-term organic
management of the soil contribute to global soil quality in vineyards
MICROARTHROPOD AND CILIATED PROTOZOA SOIL COMMUNITIES IN SIX CENTRAL ITALIAN BEECH FORESTS
No full textEdaphic fauna play a key role in many soil functions such as organic matter decomposition, humus
formation and nutrient elements cycling; moreover, they affect the porosity, aeration, infiltration and
distribution of organic matter in soil horizons, modifying soil structure and improving soil fertility. In
this study, six beech forests located in three areas of the centre of the Italian Apennine were
studied to evaluate the microarthropod and ciliate communities, in order to evaluate their potential
as a soil biodiversity reservoir. Microarthropod abundances, Acari/Collembola ratio, biodiversity
indices and QBS-ar index were calculated. Microarthropod communities were found to be rich and
well diversified in all of the six beech forests, characterized by typical groups generally present in
woods with good natural conditions. The number of taxa ranged between 10 and 14 in the six
forests and in all sites important groups such as Symphyla, Chilopoda, Pauropoda and Protura
were present. Pseudoscorpiones were found in four forests while Isopoda were present only in two
forests. Ciliate communities were investigated by means of qualitative and quantitative methods.
Abundance, dominance, species diversity and C/P quotient (ratio of r-selected colpodean and kselected
polyhymenophorean ciliates) were calculated. A total of 27 ciliate species belonging to 10
order, 14 families and 17 genera were recorded from three sites. Colpoda, Gonostomum and
Spathidium were the dominant genus. Species richness ranged from 13 to 16 for all the sites.
Biological quality and edaphic community composition highlighted the importance of beech forests
in the protection policy of soil biodiversity
Morphology, Morphogenesis, and Molecular Phylogeny of Paraparentocirrus sibillinensisn. gen., n. sp., a “Stylonychine Oxytrichidae” (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida) Without Transverse Cirri
No full textA terrestrial oxytrichid ciliate Paraparentocirrus sibillinensis n. gen., n. sp., which was found in soil samples of a beech forest stand within the National Park of Sibillini Mountains, Italy, was investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. The morphology of interphase, morphogenesis, and molecular phylogeny inferred from SSU rDNA sequences of this ciliate were studied. Paraparentocirrus n. gen., is mainly characterized by a semirigid body, an undulating membrane in the Oxytricha pattern, six fronto-ventral (FV) rows, the absence of transverse cirri, one right and one left row of marginal cirri, four dorsal kineties, two dorsomarginal rows, and caudal cirri at the end of dorsal kinety 4. During morphogenesis, oral primordia develop through the proliferation of basal bodies from some cirri of FV rows 4 and 5, and FV row 6 takes part in the anlagen formation of the proter. The dorsal morphogenesis was typical of oxytrichids, with simple fragmentation of dorsal kinety 3, and the dorsomarginal rows developed from the right marginal row. Phylogenetic analyses based on the SSU rDNA sequences support the classification of this new genus in the stylonychines
CILIATE COMMUNITIES AS A TOOL TO ASSESS SOIL QUALITY IN AGROECOSYSTEM: INVESTIGATION ON AGRICULTURAL SOILS UNDER ORGANIC FARMING
No full textCiliated protozoa are ubiquitous eukaryotic microorganisms, which constitutes an essential
component of aquatic and soil ecosystems. Ciliates are very sensitive to any change in their
habitat and fluctuations in their communities can affect the food web and energy transfer within the
ecosystem. Thus, the monitoring of the structure of ciliate communities can represent a valuable
tool to assess ecosystem quality and functioning. Currently, few studies have been addressed to
the analysis of soil ciliate communities and in particular, in agricultural soils under organic
management. In our study, the first one to be performed in Italy, the ciliate communities in three
fields under organic management located in a hill area (300-550 m asl) of the province of Macerata
(Marche), were investigated by means of qualitative and quantitative methods. Soil samples were
taken twice in autumn and spring. Furthermore, six more sites representative of natural and seminatural
soils were sampled for comparison. Our surveys showed a total of 79 species belonging to
3 classes, 19 orders, 42 genera from all sites under study with the dominance of the ciliates genus:
Colpoda, Gonostomum, Oxytricha, and Halteria. The species richness ranged from 37 to 15 and it
is higher in agricultural fields as compared with the natural habitats. These results highlight the
high bio-indicative potential of ciliate species number. This research aims to develop molecular
profiling assay of ciliate communities and finally to merge taxonomic and molecular data to
evaluate, more rigorously, soil ciliate biodiversity
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