New deep-water cnidarian sites in the southern Adriatic Sea

Recent ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) exploration and bottom sampling in the southern Adriatic Sea (Apulian and Montenegrin margins) resulted in the discovery of cnidarian-rich deep-sea habitats in the depth range of ca. 400-700 m. In particular, ROV inspection of Montenegrin canyons reveals the existence of megabenthic communities dominated by a variety of cnidarians, including scleractinians (Madrepora oculata, Lophelia pertusa, Dendrophyllia cornigera),antipatharians (Leiopathes glaberrima) and gorgonians (Callogorgia verticillata) as major habitat forming taxa, often in association with sponges and, subordinately, serpulids. All such cnidarians are new records for the south-eastern side of the Adriatic Sea. Our investigation indicates that an almost continuous belt of patchy cold water coral sites occurs along the entire south-western margin (Apulian),basically connecting the Adriatic populations with those inhabiting the Ionian margin (Santa Maria di Leuca coral province)

The Neogene mollusc type material from the collection of Lodovico Foresti preserved in the "Giovanni Capellini" Museum of Geology of Bologna University, Italy

Part of Lodovico Foresti\u2019s (1829-1913) palaeo-malacological legacy is preserved in the G. Capellini Museum of Geology (MGGC) of Bologna University. The Foresti collection at MGGC consists of nearly 1500 Neogene and early Pleistocene molluscs representing 111 taxa, mainly from Emilia-Romagna foothills (Northern Italy). During our examination we were able to trace various type series materials on which any information was assumed to be lost. Herein we document type series material of 11 species-group taxa and designate 9 lectotypes in order to ensure the name\u2019s proper and consistent application. Furthermore, for each examined taxon, we report the original description along with comments on present day systematic position and general remarks

Financial comparisons of the artisanal fisheries in Urubupungá Complex in the middle Paraná River (Brazil)

The main objective of this study was a bio-economic survey of artisanal fishing so as to compare average profit of the fishermen, in two different environments (reservoirs and river) and seasons (dry and rainy). To carry out financial comparisons of artisanal fisheries in Urubupungá Complex in the middle Paraná River (Brazil), three habitats were considered: I) Ilha Solteira and Jupiá reservoirs; II) the Paraná River between the Jupiá and Primavera dams; III) the Paraná River downstream from the Primavera dam. Data collection was done through questionnaires addressed to a total of 187 fishersmen; just 164 of the resulting interviews were considered valid. They were held in July 1998 (dry season) and February 1999 (rainy season). The daily average profit of the resevoir fisherman was R$13.19 during the dry and R$ 19.54 during the rainy season; R$4.10 and R$ 12.92 for fishermen located on the Paraná River between Jupiá and Primavera dam; and R$1.48 and R$ 23.01 for those located on the Paraná River below Primavera dam (R$1.00 = US$ 0.86 during the dry season; R$1.00 = US$ 0.52 during the rainy season). A linear model had been tried to explain the profit variable, in relation to those variables directly linked to fishing (e.g., as habitats; seasons, dry or rainy; gear used; days spent fishing) as well as several sociological variables (age, marital states, number of dependents, and education). However, due to large variability in profits, the proposed model only explained 48.4% of variability, and the only significant factors were education, type of gear, and covariant fishing days

The genus Haedropleura (Neogastropoda, Toxoglossa=Conoidea) in the Plio\u2013Quaternary of the Mediterranean basin

The Plio\u2013Quaternary representatives of Haedropleura Monterosato in Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1883 are revised. Protoconch and teleoconch characters of 84 fossil and live-collected specimens belonging to the genus, mainly from the Mediterranean basin, were quantitatively assessed. The characters examined allow better delimitation of variability in the genus along with the recognition of eight morphotypes. In particular, four morphotypes were attributed to known species: H. septangularis (Montagu), H. bucciniformis (Bellardi), H. contii (Bellardi) and H. secalina (Philippi), whereas two are described as new species: H. formosa and H. parva. Another two morphotypes represented in our material by few, poorly preserved specimens remain undescribed. We designate three lectotypes (H. bucciniformis, H. secalina and H. septangularis) in order to stabilize usage of the names. The Haedropleura α-diversity in the Plio\u2013Quaternary of the Mediterranean basin is also discussed

The Circalittoral/Bathyal paleocommunities in the Middle Pliocene of Northern Italy: the case of Korobkovia oblunga-Jupiteria concava Paleocommunity type

The Piacenzian section of Campore (Northern Italy) has been used to determine the paleoecological significance of the muddy upper bathyal mollusc associations of the Mediterranean Pliocene. By employing computer-based strategies (cluster and rarefaction analyses) a Korobkovia oblonga–Jupiteria concava paleocommunity type (KJ pt) has been defined. The KJ pt comprises a mosaic of local paleocommunities and paleocommunities whose taxonomic and trophic structures are mainly controlled by oxygen content, sediment accumulation rate, turbidity, and trophic resources. Comparison with mollusc coenoclines recognized in Northern Italy (Rio Merli and River Reno sections) suggests that the KJ pt is bracketed between the deepest muddy circalittoral paleocommunities and the deeper bathyal Bathyspinula excisa–Austrotindaria pusio unit (preliminarily described for the Rio Merli section). The KJ pt is very common in Northern Italy outcrops even though reported by previous authors with different names. We interpret this paleocommunity, which does not go beyond the Middle Pliocene, as the last evidence of an upper bathyal environment in the Neogene climatic-oceanographic regime of the Mediterranean