Marine alien species in Italy: A contribution to the implementation of descriptor D2 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

A re-examination of marine alien species or Non Indigenous Species (NIS) reported in Italian Seas, until December 2018, is provided, focusing on establishment success, year of first record, origin, potential invasiveness, and likely pathways, in particular. Furthermore, their distribution is assessed according to the marine subregions outlined by the European Union (EU) Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Adriatic Sea (ADRIA), Ionian Sea and Central Mediterranean Sea (CMED), and Western Mediterranean Sea (WMED). In Italy, 265 NIS have been detected with the highest number of species being recorded in the CMED (154 species) and the WMED (151 species) subregions, followed by the ADRIA (143) subregion. Most of these species were recorded in more than one subregion. One hundred and eighty (180 or 68%) NIS have established stable populations in Italian Seas among which 26 have exhibited invasive traits. As regards the taxa involved, Macrophyta rank first with 65 taxa. Fifty-five of them are established in at least one subregion, mostly in the ADRIA and the CMED. Crustacea rank second with 48 taxa, followed by Polychaeta with 43 taxa, Mollusca with 29 taxa, and Fishes with 28 taxa, which were mainly reported from the CMED. In the period 2012-2017, 44 new alien species were recorded, resulting in approximately one new entry every two months. Approximately half of the NIS (~52%) recorded in Italy have most likely arrived through the transport-stowaway pathway related to shipping traffic (~28% as biofoulers, ~22% in ballast waters, and ~2% as hitchhikers). The second most common pathway is the unaided movement with currents (~19%), followed by the transport-contaminant on farmed shellfishes pathway (~18%). "Unaided" is the most common pathway for alien Fishes, especially in the CMED; escapes from confinement account for ~3% and release in nature for ~2%. The present NIS distribution hotspots for new introductions were defined at the first recipient area/location in Italy. In the ADRIA, the hotspot, Venice, accounts for the highest number of alien taxa introduced in Italy, with 50 newly recorded taxa. In the CMED subregion, the hotspots of introduction are the Taranto and Catania Gulfs, hosting 21 first records each. The Strait of Sicily represents a crossroad between alien taxa from the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific area. In the WMED, bioinvasion hotspots include the Gulfs of Naples, Genoa and Livorno. This review can serve as an updated baseline for future coordination and harmonization of monitoring initiatives under international, EU and regional policies, for the compilation of new data from established monitoring programs, and for rapid assessment surveys

Means of environment-friendly protection of white cabbage against the onion thrips

fejes káposzta-fajta ellenállóságának felmérésére került sor szabadföldi körülmények között, a dohánytripsz spontán betelepedése mellett kialakuló kártétel mértéke alapján. Minden fajta károsodott kisebb-nagyobb mértékben. Az Autumn Queen F1, Balashi F1, Riana F1, Ammon F1 és Quattro F1 fajták károsodtak a legkevésbé, így rezisztens minősítést kaptak. Az időzített termesztés kártételt mérséklő hatását több augusztusban és az ősz folyamán is értékelt fajta a későbbi időszakban megfigyelt kisebb károsodása szemlélteti. A rendkívül ellenálló Autumn Queen F1 fajta esetében az időzítésnek nem volt kimutatható hatása a kialakult csekély kártételre

Dodatni nalaz rasprostranjenosti Seriola fasciata (Carangidae) u Sredozemnom moru

An additional record of the non-indigenous species (NIS) Seriola fasciata from the southern coast of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea) is here described in this note. The catch record is the first in the area and confirms the key role of the area for NIS spreading. In addition, an updated map of its spatial distribution is provided as well as a discussion on the possible misidentification and competition with the native greater amberjack Seriola dumerili.U ovoj je bilješci opisan dodatni nalaz o vrsti Seriola fasciata s južne obale Sicilije (Sredozemno more). Ovaj nalaz je prvi na tom području i potvrđuje ključnu ulogu područja za širenje stranih vrsta (NIS). Osim toga, prikazana je ažurirana karta prostorne raspodjele vrste Seriola fasciata, kao i rasprava o mogućoj pogrešnoj identifikaciji i kompeticiji s vrstom Seriola dumerili

Communication in A Visual Mode: Papal Apse Mosaics

Apse mosaics are a form of visual communication employed by popes throughout the Middle Ages, from the sixth through to the thirteenth centuries. This essay examines the nature of this visual mode and the means by which viewers could understand it. A theory of viewing widely attributed to Pope Gregory I (590–604) is shown to be especially pertinent to early medieval apse mosaics and to the twelfth-century mosaic in the apse of S. Maria in Trastevere. The apses of thirteenth-century popes display a new, more explicit approach to visual messaging that required less interpretive effort by the viewer. Two mosaics made at the end of this century were signed by the artist who made them. The emergence of the artist as a competing author of the image diminished the utility of this form of papal visual communication, which immediately fell out of use

Developing methods for testing the resistance of white cabbage against Thrips tabaci

Since the damage of the onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindemann) first occurred on white cabbage in Hungary several observations have been carried out, both in Hungary and abroad, to assess varietal resistance. The use of a new evaluation method for field screening is described and the result of the monitoring of 64 varieties is reported. The most susceptible varieties were ‘Bejo 1860’, ‘SG 3164’, ‘Quisto’, ‘Green Gem’ and ‘Ramada’. On the other hand, ‘Golden Cross’, ‘Balashi’, ‘Riana’, ‘Autumn Queen’, ‘Leopard’, Ama-Daneza’ and ‘Galaxy’ suffered the least damage under natural infestation. Methods for testing the patterns of resistance are also described and evaluated. In case of plants at the few leaf growth stage significant negative correlation was found between egg mortality and the egg laying preference of adults. The results of the other antibiotic and antixenotic tests were greatly affected by differences in the physiological age and condition of the varieties

Tres nuevas especies de peces exóticos registrados en el área marina de la isla de Rodas (Mar Egeo sud oriental, Grecia)

Three exotic fish, Iniistius pavo (Labridae) and Lagocephalus sceleratus (Tetraodontidae), Lessepsian immigrants, and Seriola fasciata (Carangidae) of Atlantic origin, were recorded in the marine area of Rhodes Island (SE Aegean Sea, Greece). The first species is a new record for the Mediterranean Sea, the second is new for Greek waters, while the occurrence of the third is registered for the first time in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.Tres peces exóticos, Iniistius pavo (Labridae), Lagocephalus sceleratus (Tetraodontidae), inmigrantes lessepsianos, y Seriola fasciata (Carangidae), especie del Atlántico, se registraron en el área marina de la isla de Rodas (mar Egeo sudoriental, Grecia). La primera especie es nueva para el Mediterráneo, la segunda es nueva para aguas griegas, y la tercera es registrada por la primera vez en el Mediterráneo oriental.