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)

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 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

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

Este trabalho teve por principal objetivo o levantamento bioeconômico das pescarias artesanais, a fim de comparar o lucro médio dos pescadores, considerando os diferentes ambientes (reservatórios e leito do rio) e épocas (seca e chuvosa). Para a execução das comparações financeiras das pescarias artesanais no Complexo de Urubupungá no rio Paraná (Brasil) foram considerados 3 ambientes: I) reservatórios de Ilha Solteira e Jupiá; II) rio Paraná entre as barragens de Jupiá e Primavera; e III) rio Paraná a jusante da barragem de Primavera. O levantamento de dados foi realizado mediante a aplicação de questionários, num total de 187 pescadores entrevistados, sendo consideradas válidas 164 entrevistas. As entrevistas foram realizadas em julho/98 (época seca) e fevereiro/99 (época chuvosa). O lucro médio diário nas épocas seca e chuvosa, respectivamente, foi de R$13,19 e R$ 19,54 para os pescadores dos reservatórios; de R$4,10 e R$ 12,92 para os pescadores do rio Paraná entre as barragens de Jupiá e Primavera; e de R$1,48 e R$ 23,01 para os pescadores do rio Paraná a jusante da barragem de Primavera (R$1,00 = US$ 0,86 durante a época seca e R$1,00 = US$ 0,52 durante a época chuvosa). Buscou-se determinar um modelo para explicar a variável-resposta lucro, em função das variáveis ligadas diretamente à atividade pesqueira (ambiente em que o pescador atua, época da entrevista - seca ou chuvosa -, aparelhos utilizados na pesca, dias em que pesca), bem como de algumas variáveis sócio-econômicas (idade, estado civil, número de dependentes, instrução). Porém, como a variabilidade do lucro é muito grande, o modelo proposto explicou 48,4% dessa variabilidade e apenas os fatores educação, aparelhos de pesca e a covariável número de dias que pesca foram significativos.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.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

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