150 research outputs found
Antarctic Special Protected Area 161 as a Reference to Assess the Effects of Anthropogenic and Natural Impacts on Meiobenthic Assemblages
The Antarctic region is usually considered a pristine area. Nevertheless, regional warming
effects and increasing human activities, including the presence of several research stations, are
inducing considerable environmental changes that may affect the ecosystemâs functions. Therefore,
during the XXXIII Antarctic expedition, we carried out an investigation in Terra Nova bay (Ross
Sea), close to the Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) n.161. In particular, we compared the
effects of two different types of impacts on the meiobenthic assemblages: anthropogenic impact
(AI), associated with the activity of Mario Zucchelli Research Station (MZS), and natural impact
(NI) attributable to a large colony of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) in Adelie Cove. For each
impacted site, a respective control site and two sampling depths (20 and 50 m) were selected. Several
environmental variables (pH, dissolved oxygen, major and minor ions, heavy metals, organic load,
and sediment grain size) were measured and analysed, to allow a comprehensive characterization
of the sampling areas. According to the criteria defined by Unites States Environmental Protection
Agency (US EPA 2009), heavy metal concentrations did not reveal critical conditions. However,
both the MZS (AI20) and penguin colony (NI20) sites showed higher heavy metal concentrations,
the former due to human activities related to the Italian research station, with the latter caused by
the penguins excrements. Meiobenthic richness and abundance values suggested that the worst
ecological condition was consistently related to the Adélie penguins colony. Furthermore, the higher
contribution of r-strategists corroborates the hypothesis that the chronic impact of the penguin
colonies may have stronger effects on the meiobenthos than the human activities at the MZS. Food
is not limited in shallow Antarctic bottoms, and microscale differences in primary and secondary
production processes can likely explain the greater spatial heterogeneity, highlighted both by the
univariate and multivariate attributes of meiobenthic assemblage (i.e., richness, diversity, abundance,
whole structure assemblage, and rare taxa) at the deeper stations. As reported in other geographical
regions, the assemblage structure of rare meiobenthic taxa is confirmed to be more susceptible to
environmental variations, rather than the whole assemblage structure
In situ recordings of large gelatinous spheres from NE Atlantic, and the first genetic confirmation of egg mass of Illex coindetii (VĂ©rany, 1839) (Cephalopoda, Mollusca)
In total, 90 gelatinous spheres, averaging one meter in diameter, have been recorded from ~ 1985 to 2019 from the NE Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterranean Sea, using citizen science. More than 50% had a dark streak through center. They were recorded from the surface to ~ 60â70 m depth, mainly neutrally buoyant, in temperatures between 8 and 24°C. Lack of tissue samples has until now, prohibited confirmation of species. However, in 2019 scuba divers secured four tissue samples from the Norwegian coast. In the present study, DNA analysis using COI confirms species identity as the ommastrephid broadtail shortfin squid Illex coindetii (VĂ©rany, 1839); these are the first confirmed records from the wild. Squid embryos at different stages were found in different egg masses: (1) recently fertilized eggs (stage ~ 3), (2) organogenesis (stages ~ 17â19 and ~ 23), and (3) developed embryo (stage ~ 30). Without tissue samples from each and every record for DNA corroboration we cannot be certain that all spherical egg masses are conspecific, or that the remaining 86 observed spheres belong to Illex coindetii. However, due to similar morphology and size of these spheres, relative to the four spheres with DNA analysis, we suspect that many of them were made by I. coindetii
The politics of vibrant matter: consistency, containment and the concrete of Mussoliniâs bunker
This article explores the idea of how vibrancy can be produced. Specifically, the attempt is to investigate the multiplicities of vibrancy by considering one of Mussoliniâs bunkers. The author examines the location of the bunker in the EUR (Esposizione Universale Romana) neighbourhood in Rome, the bunkerâs materiality, and the context and social meaning of the bunker through a contemporary art exhibition called âConfrontiâ (Confrontations) that took place in the bunker in 2009. The article argues that while emphasizing matterâs inherent vibrancy may be useful in some cases, there is also merit in further unpacking the ways in which vibrancy is produced. In this example, the concrete bunker expresses vibrancy through the processes involved in the emergent material form, and in the sustained politics and social considerations embedded in valuing tangible urban heritage
International entrepreneurship in SMEs: a study of influencing factors in the textile industry
The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11365-012-0242-3International entrepreneurship is an incipient research area with a rapidly increasing body of knowledge and contributions. An important part of this literature has focused on the analysis of the contributing factors to IE development. From these studies, this work attempts to analyse and validate through an integrative model the effect on this construct in SME of some of the main factors proposed by the literature such as Skills and Competences, Attitude and Proactiveness, Creativity and Innovation, Networking, Employees and Activity. To proceed with this aim, we conducted an empirical research focused on 174 textile SME in Spain. The results obtained confirm a positive relationship between the studied factors and the IE development. 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Determinants of Unlawful File Sharing: A Scoping Review
We employ a scoping review methodology to consider and assess the existing evidence on the determinants of unlawful file sharing (UFS) transparently and systematically. Based on the evidence, we build a simple conceptual framework to model the psychological decision to engage in UFS, purchase legally or do nothing. We identify social, moral, experiential, technical, legal and financial utility sources of the decision to purchase or to file share. They interact in complex ways. We consider the strength of evidence within these areas and note patterns of results. There is good evidence for influences on UFS within each of the identified determinants, particularly for self-reported measures, with more behavioral research needed. There are also indications that the reasons for UFS differ across media; more studies exploring media other than music are required
Is the meiofauna a good indicator for climate change and anthropogenic impacts?
Our planet is changing, and one of the most pressing challenges facing the scientific community revolves around understanding how ecological communities respond to global changes. From coastal to deep-sea ecosystems, ecologists are exploring new areas of research to find model organisms that help predict the future of life on our planet. Among the different categories of organisms, meiofauna offer several advantages for the study of marine benthic ecosystems. This paper reviews the advances in the study of meiofauna with regard to climate change and anthropogenic impacts. Four taxonomic groups are valuable for predicting global changes: foraminifers (especially calcareous forms), nematodes, copepods and ostracods. Environmental variables are fundamental in the interpretation of meiofaunal patterns and multistressor experiments are more informative than single stressor ones, revealing complex ecological and biological interactions. Global change has a general negative effect on meiofauna, with important consequences on benthic food webs. However, some meiofaunal species can be favoured by the extreme conditions induced by global change, as they can exhibit remarkable physiological adaptations. This review highlights the need to incorporate studies on taxonomy, genetics and function of meiofaunal taxa into global change impact research
Response of estuarine meiofauna assemblage to effects of fertilizer enrichment used in the sugar cane monoculture. Pernambuco, Brazil
LA MEDIAZIONE FINALIZZATA ALLA CONCILIAZIONE DELLE CONTROVERSIE CIVILI E COMMERCIALI DOPO LA SENTENZA DELLA CORTE COSTITUZIONALE
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