Investigation of Mn and Fe Substitution Effects on the Characteristics of High-Voltage LiCo1–xMxPO4 (x=0.1, 0.4) Cathodes Prepared by Sol–gel Route

Herein, we provide a fundamental study revealing the substantial changes promoted by manganese and iron substitution for cobalt in a high-voltage LiCoPO4 olivine cathode. Therefore, LiCoPO4, LiCo0.9Fe0.1PO4, LiCo0.6Fe0.4PO4, LiCo0.9Mn0.1PO4, and LiCo0.6Mn0.4PO4 are synthesized by a sol–gel pathway and comparatively investigated in terms of structure, morphology, and electrochemical features in lithium battery. Besides the observed effects on structure, particle size, and metals distribution, the work reveals a gradually enhancing electrode reaction by increasing the Fe content in LiCo0.9Fe0.1PO4 and LiCo0.6Fe0.4PO4, with Co3+/Co2+ and Fe3+/Fe2+ signatures at 4.8 and 3.5 V vs Li+/Li, respectively. On the other hand, the introduction of Mn leads to a progressive electrode deactivation in LiCo0.9Mn0.1PO4 and LiCo0.6Mn0.4PO4 due to an intrinsic hindering of the Mn3+/Mn2+ process at 4.1 V vs Li+/Li. The reasons accounting for such an intriguing behavior are investigated in detail using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy within the potential range of the redox processes. The study reveals that manganese and iron substitutions in the high-voltage olivine have opposite effects on the charge transfer resistance, i.e., detrimental for the former while beneficial for the latter, with remarkable enhancement of the reversible capacity, the Coulombic efficiency, and the cycle life. Such results provide to the scientific community useful information on possible strategies to enhance the emerging LiCoPO4 high-voltage electrode by transition metal substitution

First record and otolith morphometric description of an adult lightfish, Ichthyococcus ovatus (Actinopterygii: Stomiiformes: Phosichthyidae), caught in the Strait of Sicily (central Mediterranean Sea)

On July 2018, one specimen ofIchthyococcus ovatus (Cocco, 1838) was caught in the Strait of Sicily during the International Bottom Trawl Survey in the Mediterranean (MEDITS). The adult I. ovatus measured 49 mm in total length and weighed 1.44 g. In this context, the presently reported study constitutes the first and deepest record of an adult of I. ovatus as well as the morphometric description of its sagittal otoliths. In addition, we provide an age estimation as well as an update of the geographical distribution of this bathypelagic species around the Mediterranean Sea. Based on the growth increments of sagittal otoliths, the estimated age was five years. Specifically, the otolith from the presently reported specimen of I. ovatus tended to be elliptic in shape related to aspect ratio and high rectangularity while circularity showed high complexity of otolith contour complexity. The absence of economic val-ue of rarely reported species may underestimate their abundance. Therefore, more studies and research surveys would be necessary to fill the information gap on the biology of these deep-water species

Programma Nazionale Italiano per la raccolta di dati alieutici. Modulo H “Campionamento biologico delle catture” (CAMP-BIOL; Risorse demersali) GSA 16 (Stretto di Sicilia): rapporto finale

Il campionamento biologico delle catture/sbarchi commerciali, modulo H, (Camp-Biol Risorse Demersali), nell’ambito del Programma Nazionale per la Raccolta Dati Alieutici (PNDA), ai sensi dei regolamenti ex Reg CE. 1543/2000; Reg. CE 1639/2001; Reg. CE 1581/2004, si propone di campionare pesci, molluschi e crostacei, provenienti dalle catture/sbarchi commerciali, al fine di conoscere il prelievo e l’impatto dei diversi segmenti e dei diversi sistemi di pesca della flotta sulle principali specie commerciali, in termini di struttura di lunghezza ed età delle risorse

The role of juveniles in structuring demersal assemblages in trawled fishing grounds

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Assessing Cephalopods Fisheries in the Strait of Sicily by Using Poor Data Modeling

Cephalopods, including octopuses, squids, and cuttlefishes, are exploited by both bottom trawl and small-scale fisheries (SSF) in most of the Mediterranean areas. Bottom trawl fisheries regard cephalopods as a valuable bycatch, whereas for SSF, they are among the main target species. Cephalopods account for a relatively small proportion of the total landings in the Mediterranean. However, from an economic point of view, four cephalopods, Eledone cirrhosa, Eledone moschata, Octopus vulgaris, and Sepia officinalis, account for approximately 15% of the total landing value. Despite their economic importance, there are very few stock assessments of cephalopods in the Mediterranean because it is difficult to assess them by classical age-based methods, given their short life-cycles, and highly variable growth and recruitment. The production of E. cirrhosa, E. moschata, Illex coindettii, Loligo vulgaris, O. vulgaris, S. officinalis, and Todaropsis eblanae in the waters off the south of Sicily accounts for approximately 8% of the total Mediterranean yield of cephalopods. This study presents the first attempt to assess the state of these cephalopods in the Strait of Sicily by using surplus production models. Since species-wise landing statistics may be unreliable because of their morphological similarity, some octopuses (E. cirrhosa and E. moschata) and ommastrephid squids (I. coindetii and T. eblanae) were assessed combined. Landing data and abundance indices from trawl surveys were used to describe cephalopod stock dynamics through the Bayesian State Space Schaefer model (BSM) and Surplus Production model in Continuous Time (SPiCT) models. As survey data were not considered reliable indicators of their abundance, O. vulgaris, S. officinalis, and L. vulgaris stocks were assessed using the Catch-Maximum Sustainable Yield (CMSY) model. Overall, squid and cuttlefish stocks were observed to be in healthy conditions. However, assessments of octopus stocks indicated that their condition was critical or recovering. Here, we discuss the different stock statuses in the light of evolving fisheries and environmental factors in the area over time. Although cephalopods are not a priority in the current management system of Mediterranean fisheries, the importance of these species in the food web and their relevance for SSF underline their importance and their exploitation status should be periodically evaluated

Valutazione dell’impatto del settore della pesca sull’ecosistema marino - Indicatori ecosistemici (sezione V) Sub-area Geografica (GSA) 16 – Stretto di Sicilia Anno 2015

Il Programma Nazionale Italiano 2014-2016 di Raccolta Dati nel settore della pesca prevede, inter alia, la stima di cinque indicatori dell’impatto della pesca nell’ecosistema marino, in accordo con quanto riportato nell’appendice XIII della Decisione della Commissione del 6 novembre 2008

Assessing the Stock Dynamics of Elasmobranchii off the Southern Coast of Sicily by Using Trawl Survey Data

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays), which have peculiar and vulnerable life-history traits, are highly threatened by fishing activities. Indeed, between 53% and 71% of Mediterranean elasmobranch species are at risk of extinction. In this context, using the abundance MSY (AMSY) model, the present study provides an assessment of 20 batoids and 16 shark species in the Strait of Sicily, sampled during a bottom trawl survey from 1995 to 2020. Overall, the outputs underline a progressively improving condition for shark and ray assemblages of both shelf and eurybathic zones. As for slope-dwelling species, a horseshoe-shaped dynamic, characterized by a progressive decrease in relative harvesting pressure and an increase in relative biomass followed by an increase in fishing pressure and decrease in biomass, was detected. The dynamics of the Elasmobranchii living in the Strait of Sicily appear to be affected by changes in the fishing patterns of trawlers, showing a shift from shallow water to bathyal fishing grounds and targeting deep-water red shrimp. In this context, it seems wise to limit the impact of deep-water fisheries on Elasmobranchii by reducing fishing efforts and implementing ad hoc management measures aimed at safeguarding these vulnerable species

A responsible proposal for Italian seafood consumers'

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Batoid abundances, spatial distribution, and life history traits in the strait of sicily (Central mediterranean sea): Bridging a knowledge gap through three decades of survey

Batoid species play a key role in marine ecosystems but unfortunately they have globally declined over the last decades. Given the paucity of information, abundance data and the main life history traits for batoids, obtained through about three decades of bottom trawl surveys, are presented and discussed. The surveys were carried out in two areas of the Central Mediterranean (South of Sicily and Malta Island), in a timeframe ranging from 1990 to 2018. Excluding some batoids, the abundance trends were stable or increasing. Only R. clavata, R. miraletus, and D. oxyrinchus showed occurrence and abundance indexes notable enough to carry out more detailed analysis. In particular, spatial distribution analysis of these species highlighted the presence of two main hotspots in Sicilian waters whereas they seem more widespread in Malta. The lengths at first maturity (L50) were 695 and 860, 635 and 574, and 364 and 349 mm total length (TL), respectively, for females and males of D. oxyrinchus, R. clavata, and R. miraletus. The asymptotic lengths (L∞) and the curvature coefficients (K) were 1365 and 1240 (K = 0.11 and 0.26), 1260 and 1100 (K = 0.16 and 0.26), and 840 and 800 mm TL (K = 0.36 and 0.41), respectively, for females and males of D. oxyrinchus, R. clavata, and R. miraletus. The lack of detailed quantitative historical information on batoids of Sicily and Malta does not allow to analytically judge the current status of the stocks, although the higher abundance of some species within Malta raises some concern for the Sicilian counterpart. In conclusion, suitable actions to protect batoids in the investigated area are recommended

How is artificial lighting affecting the catches in deep water rose shrimp trawl fishery of the Central Mediterranean Sea?

The effect of artificial lights mounted on the headrope trawl net on the catch of deep water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), and Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) was tested in a survey carried out on-board a commercial trawler off the SW Sicilian coast. A total of 18 repeated nocturnal hauls, alternating without (control) and with (test) LED lights (10 green and 10 white) according to the fishers’ setup, were conducted. Overall, the test net catch rates were not significantly higher than those of the control net (Kruskal-Wallis test, p > 0.05), except for P. longirostris (p < 0.05). Conversely, the two-tailed Kolmogorov–Smirnov test revealed statistical differences in the size structure of P. longirostris, M. merluccius, and T. trachurus between the test and control nets (p < 0.05). Using generalised linear mixed models, the test net was found to yield higher catches of undersized individuals of the three species and adults of P. longirostris than the control net. Our study results are discussed in the context of the exploitation and management of Mediterranean trawl fisheries