Composition and spatial distribution of cephalopods in two North-western Mediterranean areas

The faunistic composition and the spatial distribution of the cephalopod fauna were studied and compared in two areas of the north-western Mediterranean: the Catalan Sea (Spanish coast) and the northern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italian coast). In all, 46 species were collected in the Catalan Sea and 36 in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea. The bathymetric distribution of common species does not differ notably between the two areas. In both, cephalopodabundance is greatest between 50 and 200 m deep. To compare the seasonal changes in bathymetric distribution, four representative species were selected. O. vulgaris is more abundant in both areas between 0 and 50 min autumn; E. cirrhosa and I. coindetii between 50 and 200 m. Both the last species and S. elegans are more abundant in spring in the Catalan Sea and in autumn in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea. The results of cluster analysisshow the presence, in both areas, of three clear associations: one group consists of shallow hauls, another of hauls made over the continental shelf and the third of deeper hauls

Lotta alla mosca delle olive in olivicoltura integrata e biologica

Bactrocera oleae, fitofago chiave dell’agroecosistema olivo, è presente in Italia in tutti gli areali interessati dalla coltura, tranne in alcune aree caratterizzate da maggiore altitudine dove il fattore termico non consente lo sviluppo della specie. Il dittero è fortemente legato alle temperature che del resto condizionano anche la fenologia dell’olivo; in effetti il numero di generazioni che la mosca può completare nell’anno varia da 1 fino a 4-5 in zone con temperature medie annue elevate (zone costiere e/o meridionali). La pericolosità della specie è pertanto legata al numero di generazioni e all’andamento climatico che, a seconda dell’annata e della zona, possono variare sensibilmente condizionando la densità di popolazione e quindi il grado di dannosità potenziale del fitofago. Recenti ricerche sul comportamento e sulla biologia del tefritide hanno messo in evidenza come il fitofago, nel tempo, abbia contratto con i batteri una simbiosi mutualistica che permette al dittero di aumentare il proprio potenziale biotico. Nel presente articolo, dopo un breve excursus sulla biologia e sui danni causati dal fitofago, viene fatto il quadro delle attuali strategie di lotta ammesse nei protocolli dell’olivicoltura integrata e biologica.The control of the olive fruit fly in integrated and organic olive crops. Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) is the key pest of the olive agroecosystem; it is distributed in all Italian olive crops, except in some areas at higher altitude where low temperatures do not allow the development of the fly. The olive fruit fly development is strictly affected by temperature. It can complete from one up to five generations per year in areas with high annual average temperature (coastal and/ or southern areas). The harmfulness of the species is related to the number of generations and weather conditions which may fluctuate considerably year by year, region by region. Recent researches on behavior and natural history of the tephritid fly have pointed out that it has developed a mutualistic symbiosis with bacteria which allows an increase of its growth rate. In this article authors present control strategies permitted in integrated and organic olive crops. The currently widespread early harvesting and timely milling reduce the harmful influence of late olive fruit fly infestations; together with mass trapping and with repellent/ oviposition deterrent sprays by copper products and clays, these practices allow an increasingly sustainable effective control of the olive fruit fl

Mercury in Eledone cirrhosa from the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea: Contents and relations with life cycle

The Hg concentration in horned octopus was studied in relation to its biological cycle. The metal was measured in the muscle tissue of specimens of different size, sex and maturity. This species proved to be a strong accumulator of mercury, whose concentration was found to be correlated with length independently of the sex. The relationship with size was found also for the organic form. Consideration was given to the danger of frequent consumption of this cephalopod and to its use as a biomonitor of environmental mercury impact

The importance of cephalopods to trawl fisheries in the western Mediterranean

The aim of the study was to define the commercial importance of cephalopods caught by trawlers from five Italian and Spanish Mediterranean ports. From summer 1995 to spring 1996, samples of the catches of trawlers were taken on board. The type of fishing activity was recorded and data were collected from at least three commercial hauls for each port, season and bathymetric stratum (350 m). The species composition and yield of the retained and discarded portions of the catch were noted for each port. From these data the commercial importance of each species was evaluated. Cephalopods were commercially important particularly in the shallower bathymetric stratum

Analysis of demersal assemblages off the Tuscany and Latium coasts (north-western Mediterranean)

A four-year time series (1994-1997) of groundfish trawl surveys performed within the European Union Project "MEDITS" (Mediterranean International Trawl Surveys), was analysed to identify and describe the fish assemblages along the continental shelf and slope of Tuscany and Latium (Italy), in the north-western Mediterranean. Cluster analysis was used to group samples with similar species composition in terms of abundance, biomass and frequency of occurrence. Results allowed the identification of four to five broad assemblages along the depth gradient: a strictly coastal group (< 50 m depth), two groups in the upper and lower part of the continental shelf (essentially 50-200 m), an epibathyal group (200450 m) and a group derived from hauls made at depths greater than 450 in. Each assemblage corresponded to a faunistic association with relatively homogeneous and persistent species composition, biomass and density indices

Distribution of deer keds (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) in free-living cervids of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, central Italy, and establishment of the allochthonous ectoparasite Lipoptena fortisetosa

Lipoptena fortisetosa and L. cervi are hematophagous ectoparasites belonging to the Hippoboscidae family and preferentially living on cervids. In recent years, they have received specific attention due to the great increase in the abundance of their host species, and to their medical and veterinary importance as possible vectors of pathogens harmful to humans and animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the parasitism level of both of these flies on their main hosts in Italy, which are red deer, fallow deer, and roe deer, and to highlight a possible preference for a species, sex, or age class among the hosts. Deer keds were collected by examining 326 cervids hunted in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. Outcomes showed that L. fortisetosa has greatly spread throughout the study area, where it competes with the autochthonous L. cervi. Moreover, red deer was the favored host species of both ectoparasites, while different preferences for host sex and age classes were observed in the two hippoboscids. The regular monitoring of deer ked populations, especially the allochthonous L. fortisetosa, which is continuously spreading in Europe, is recommended to expand the knowledge on these parasitic species that are potentially dangerous to public health

Asia and europe: So distant so close? the case of lipoptena fortisetosa in Italy

In Europe, 5 Lipoptena species have been recorded, including Lipoptena fortisetosa. This species, native to Asian countries, was described as a parasite of sika deer and its appearance in Europe dates back to more than 50 years ago. Lipoptena fortisetosa has been recently reported in Italy, sharing its hosts with Lipoptena cervi. A morpho-molecular approach was developed to determine the phylogenetic interrelationship of Italian and Asian CO1 haplotypes sequenced from Lipoptena fly individuals collected in Italy, and their DNA sequences were compared with conspecifics available in GenBank; morphological key-characters (terminalia) of L. fortisetosa were compared with the original description. Two haplotypes were recorded from Italy and assigned to L. cervi and L. fortisetosa, respectively. The latter was part of the monophyletic clade L. fortisetosa, along with 2 Central European and 2 Korean haplotypes (100% identical with one of the Korean haplotypes); moreover, Italian L. fortisetosa female terminalia were consistent with the original description of Asian individuals. Pending more in-depth investigations, this study provides a first answer to the hypothesis of the recent colonization of Italy by L. fortisetosa from Asia as we did not detect any obvious and stable morphological and molecular differences in specimens from the 2 geographical areas. The presence of the sika deer in Europe was retraced and the possible route traveled by the parasite from Asia and the eco-biological factors that may have enhanced its settlement are discussed

Colour preference of the deer ked Lipoptena fortisetosa (Diptera: Hippoboscidae)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Insects use visual stimuli to find habitats, food, or a mate while moving around. This trait might be exploited to intercept flying insects to monitor their populations and reduce their presence. Among the various visual stimuli, colours are commonly used to attract insects. Lipoptena fortisetosa is a hematophagous deer ectoparasite native to Japan that has spread to several central European countries and was recently recorded in Italy. Measures to monitor and control L. fortisetosa would be helpful given its potential threat as a pathogen vector for animals and humans. The objective of this research was to assess the potential use of colour to attract and trap L. fortisetosa. The response of the winged adults was evaluated through an experimental trial carried out in a wooded area of Tuscany using differently coloured sticky panels as traps. Blue panels attracted the highest number while yellow panels showed the lowest performance. This preference for blue could be useful in the design of traps to reduce the population of this parasitic fly which, at certain times, can reach a very high density, causing annoyance to wildlife and humans visiting natural areas. ABSTRACT: Lipoptena fortisetosa, a deer ked native to Japan, has established itself in several European countries and was recently recorded in Italy. This hippoboscid ectoparasite can develop high density populations, causing annoyance to animals and concern regarding the potential risk of transmitting pathogens to humans. No monitoring or control methods for L. fortisetosa have been applied or tested up to now. This research evaluated the possible response of L. fortisetosa winged adults to different colours as the basis for a monitoring and control strategy. In the summer of 2020, a series of six differently coloured sticky panels were randomly set as traps in a wooded area used by deer for resting. The results indicated a clear preference of the deer ked for the blue panels that caught the highest number of flies during the experimental period. Lower numbers of flies were trapped on the red, green, black, and white panels, with the yellow panels recording the fewest captures. The response clearly demonstrates that this species displays a colour preference, and that coloured traps might be useful for monitoring and limiting this biting ectoparasite in natural areas harbouring wildlife and visited by people