305 research outputs found
Coral distribution and bleaching vulnerability areas in Southwestern Atlantic under ocean warming
Global climate change is a major threat to reefs by increasing the frequency and severity of coral
bleaching events over time, reducing coral cover and diversity. Ocean warming may cause shifts in
coral communities by increasing temperatures above coralâs upper thermal limits in tropical regions,
and by making extratropical regions (marginal reefs) more suitable and potential refugia. We used
Bayesian models to project coral occurrence, cover and bleaching probabilities in Southwestern
Atlantic and predicted how these probabilities will change under a high-emission scenario (RCP8.5).
By overlapping these projections, we categorized areas that combine high probabilities of coral
occurrence, cover and bleaching as vulnerability-hotspots. Current coral occurrence and cover
probabilities were higher in the tropics (1°Sâ20°S) but both will decrease and shift to new suitable
extratropical reefs (20°Sâ27°S; tropicalization) with ocean warming. Over 90% of the area present
low and mild vulnerability, while the vulnerability-hotspots represent ~ 3% under current and future
scenarios, but include the most biodiverse reef complex in South Atlantic (13°Sâ18°S; Abrolhos Bank).
As bleaching probabilities increase with warming, the least vulnerable areas that could act as potential
refugia are predicted to reduce by 50%. Predicting potential refugia and highly vulnerable areas can
inform conservation actions to face climate change.Postprint2,92
Bottom up approach to manage data privacy policy through the front end filter paradigm
An increasing number of business services for private companies and citizens are accomplished trough the web and mobile devices. Such a scenario is characterized by high dynamism and untrustworthiness, as a large number of applications exchange different kinds of data. This poses an urgent need for effective means in preserving data privacy. This paper proposes an approach, inspired to the front-end trust filter paradigm, to manage data privacy in a very flexible way. Preliminary experimentation suggests that the solution could be a promising path to follow for web-based transactions which will be very widespread in the next future
Three years field trials to assess the effect of kaolin made particles and copper on olive-fruit fly (B.oleae Gmelin) infestations in Sicily
In most countries of Mediterranean Basin, Bactrocera oleae (Gmel), the olive fruit fly, is the key pest insect on olives. In Sicily this pest causes losses of fruits and a poor quality olive oil. Many researchers have recently carried out some field studies which were based on the use of kaolin and copper against the olive-fruit fly. In the last years these products have been effective several times in reducing olive fly infestation. Kaolin had, also, some important effect in reducing heat-stress in fruit crops and olive-trees.
The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of kaolin and copper treatment on olive infestations in Sicily and to evaluate chemical and sensory parameters of oils extracted. For this reason, within 2003-2005, the IX Servizio of Assessorato Regionale Agricoltura e Foreste, selected some olive groves where to carry out trials with kaolin and copper and to realize information and divulgation activities
Modeling The Habitat Distribution Of Spiny Dogfish (Squalus Acanthias), By Sex, In Coastal Waters Of The Northeastern United States
A hierarchical Bayesian approach was used to model the spatiotemporal habitat distribution of spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) of both sexes (adults) caught during trawl surveys conducted by the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program in inshore coastal waters between New England and North Carolina during 2007-2013. The best model for predicting catch per unit of effort (CPUE) for this species includes the following relevant variables: bathymetry, sea surface temperature, salinity, chlorophyll- a (chl-a) concentration, season and time of survey, and a random spatial effect for both sexes. Predicted CPUE was related to depth for both sexes; females occurred in shallower waters than those in which males occurred. Also, more females than males were predicted to occur in warmer, less saline and more productive (higher chl-a concentration) waters. Seasonality and time of predicted CPUE indicated that the abundance of females was higher in inshore coastal waters in the spring and in the morning, and the abundance of males was greater in the afternoon and in the fall in the same area. Collectively, these results provide information that enhances our understanding of differences in habitat selection and spatiotemporal distribution of the 2 sexes of this species-information that can help to modify present management strategies for the U.S. Atlantic fishery
Bottom up approach to manage data privacy policy through the front end filter paradigm
An increasing number of business services for private companies and citizens are accomplished trough the web and mobile devices. Such a scenario is characterized by high dynamism and untrustworthiness, as a large number of applications exchange different kinds of data. This poses an urgent need for effective means in preserving data privacy. This paper proposes an approach, inspired to the front-end trust filter paradigm, to manage data privacy in a very flexible way. Preliminary experimentation suggests that the solution could be a promising path to follow for web-based transactions which will be very widespread in the next future
Effects of vessel traffic on relative abundance and behaviour of cetaceans : the case of the bottlenose dolphins in the Archipelago de La Maddalena, north-western Mediterranean sea
Acknowledgements This study was part of the Tursiops Project of the Dolphin Research Centre of Caprera, La Maddalena. Financial and logistical support was provided by the Centro Turistico Studentesco (CTS) and by the National Park of the Archipelago de La Maddalena. We thank the Natural Reserve of Bocche di Bonifacio for the support provided during data collection. The authors thank the numerous volunteers of the Caprera Dolphin Research Centre and especially Marco Ferraro, Mirko Ugo, Angela Pira and Maurizio Piras whose assistance during field observation and skills as a boat driver were invaluable.Peer reviewedPostprin
STRATIGRAPHIC AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF A HIGH RESOLUTION SEISMIC SURVEY PERFORMED IN THE BAY OF AUGUSTA (SE SICILY)
The Bay of Augusta is located along the NE margin of the Hyblean Plateau (SE Sicily). In this area a mostly
bioclastic and terrigenous Quaternary succession outcrops. This area recorded a constant regional uplift rate
of <1 mm/yr during the Late Pleistocene and recurrent, strong (up to 7.0 Md) historical earthquakes.
Data for this study come from a recent nearshore geophysical survey performed by URS Corporation Ltd with
the aim to evaluate the potential for seismic hazard. The collected data consist of: 1) a high resolution seismic
survey (sparker source and sub-bottom profiling); 2) five soil borings to characterize and obtain age dates for
shallow subsea sediments.
Four main seismic units have been recognized inside the sedimentary infill:
âą Unit D is the oldest, seawards dipping, unit overlying the acoustic basement. Upwards this unit is bounded
by a rough, erosional truncation (horizon H4).
âą Unit C shows sub-horizontal reflectors with variable seismic attributes, forming a prominent angular
unconformity above H4; in the proximal sector of the Augusta Bay they lie seaward dipping. This unit shows
valuable thickness change across the Bay and is bounded upwards by a very rough erosional truncation
(horizon H3).
âą Unit B shows planar parallel reflectors with good lateral continuity. Its thickness change and it is very thin
along the slope of the morphostructural highs formed by uplift of units D and C. Upwards it is bounded by a
very prominent erosional truncation (H2 horizon).
âą Unit A is imaged by sub-horizontal, continuous reflectors, alternating with intervals of transparent seismic
facies. The reflectors onlap the H2 horizon and, in a few places, display prograding geometry.
On the collected samples biochronological and radiometric age-dating has been performed. The cores drilled
the unit A and the uppermost part of the unit B, where the sediments have revealed absolute age > 50 kA.
Two main groups of faults, referred to as the northwest and the southwest fault zones, are separated by a
central zone where no evident fault planes have been imaged by seismic data. The faults in both groups strike
from N30W to N52W and are also inferred to be steeply dipping.
The faults pertaining to northwestern cluster show a very little offset, < 15 m. These faults have displaced
mostly seismic unit C and have controlled two, NW-SE trending little structural lows in the central and in the
northernmost sectors of the investigated area. These restricted basins have been filled by B and A seismic
units deposits that donât appear displaced by the fault cluster.
The southeastern fault zone is long less than 700 m and show an offset of 1 to 5 m. These faults displaced the
horizons of seismic Unit C in a sector where this unit outcrops at the sea bottom or it is draped by a very thin
veneer of Unit A sediments.
The faults pertaining to the northwestern zone post-date Unit C but they appear older than Units B and A.Radiocarbon age-dating have demonstrated that the most recent horizons involved in the northwestern fault
zone displacement is > 50 kA.
As concern the southeastern fault zone, results coming from radiocarbon age dating donât have sufficient
resolution to correlate deposits to seismic horizons involved in tectonic deformation. Nevertheless, there the
seismic unit A also appears slightly involved by the latest faults activity.
The analysis of the Bay of Augusta seismic grid has shown that very recent tectonic features have displaced
the Late Quaternary sedimentary infill; interpretation of our results could better constrain the neotectonic
setting of an area characterized by high seismic hazard
Oxo-centered carboxylate-bridged trinuclear complexes deposited on Au(111) by a mass-selective electrospray.
We developed an apparatus for nondestructive in vacuum deposition of mass-selected fragile Cr based metal trinuclear complexes, by modifying a commercial Mass Spectrometer containing an electrospray ionization source. Starting from a solution, this system creates a beam of ionized molecules which is then transferred into an evacuated region where the molecules can be mass selected before deposition. To verify the system efficiency, we deposited sub monolayers of oxo-centered carboxylate-bridged trinuclear complexes (Cr3 and Cr2Ni) on Au(111) surface. By XPS and STM we determined the deposited molecule stoichiometry and the surface coverage. The results show that this apparatus is works well for the in vacuum deposition of molecular nanomagnets and, thanks to its reduced dimensions, it is portable
Historical summer distribution of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis): a hypothesis based on environmental preferences of a congeneric species
Aim: To obtain a plausible hypothesis for the historical distribution of North Atlantic right whales (NARWs) (Eubalaena glacialis) in their summer feeding grounds. Previously widespread in the North Atlantic, after centuries of hunt- ing, these whales survive as a small population off eastern North America. Because their exploitation began before formal records started, information about their historical distribution is fragmentary
On the Role of Perception: Understanding Stakeholdersâ Collaboration in Natural Resources Management through the Evolutionary Theory of Innovation
Natural resources management deals with highly complex socioecological systems. This
complexity raises a conundrum, since wide-ranging knowledge from different sources and types
is needed, but at the same time none of these types of knowledge is able by itself to provide
the basis for a viable productive system, and mismatches between the two of them are common.
Therefore, a growing body of literature has examined the integration of different types of knowledge
in fisheries management. In this paper, we aim to contribute to this ongoing debate by integrating
the evolutionary theory of innovationâand specifically the concept of proximityâand the theory of
perception. We set up a theoretical framework that is able to explain not only why the different types
of knowledge differ, but also why they should differ and why this divergence is useful to develop
fisheries management. This framework is illustrated through a well-known complex scenario, as was
the implementation of the Landing Obligation (LO) in Europe. We conclude that diversity (distance)
between types of knowledge is essential for interactive learning, innovation, the incorporation of new
ideas or to avoid lock-in, etc. At the same time, cognitive, institutional, geographical, etc. proximity
is needed for effective communication, participation and dialoguePostprin
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