Killing in the Pliocene: shark attack on a dolphin from Italy

Shark bite marks, including striae, sulci and abrasions, in a well-preserved fossil dolphin skeleton referred to Astadelphis gastaldii (Cetacea, Delphinidae) from Pliocene sediments of Piedmont (northern Italy), are described in detail. The exceptional combination of a fossil dolphin having a significant part of the skeleton preserved and a large number of bite marks on the bones represents one of the few detailed documentations of shark attack in the past. Most bite marks have been referred to a shark about 4 m long with unserrated teeth, belonging to Cosmopolitodus hastalis, on the basis of their shape and their general disposition on the dolphin skeleton. According to our hypothesis, the shark attacked the dolphin with an initial mortal bite to the abdomen from the rear and right, in a similar way as observed for the living white shark when attacking pinnipeds. A second, less strong, bite was given on the dorsal area when the dolphin, mortally injured, probably rolled to the left. The shark probably released the prey, dead or dying, and other sharks or fishes probably scavenged the torn body of the dolphin

Evaluation of a low-cost, non-invasive survey technique to assess the relative abundance, diversity and behaviour of sharks on Sudanese reefs (Southern Red Sea)

A low-cost and non-invasive survey technique focused on pelagic sharks was evaluated during an ecotourism cruise on two Sudanese reefs, Angarosh and Sha'ab Rumi, in the Southern Red Sea. The research technology was based on a set of small, underwater video recording cameras and a pair of laser pointers. Video footage provided insight into shark biodiversity on the two reefs, detecting five species, Alopias vulpinus, Sphyrna lewini, Triaenodon obesus, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos and Galeocerdo cuvier, during 15.8 h of video recording. These recordings also provided preliminary information on aggregations of S. lewini. The laser pointers were used to measure the size of sharks, providing seven total length (TL) measurements for S. lewini (N = 2) and C. amblyrhynchos (N = 5), confirming the possibility of easily obtaining size parameters using this tool. These low-cost and user-friendly instruments provide ecotourism divers with an opportunity to become involved in marine research projects. © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2014

Distribution, ecology, and status of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in the Mediterranean Sea

The occurrence of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in the Mediterranean Sea has been reported since the Middle Ages (476–1453). Several studies have documented its presence in various areas of the basin, but no comprehensive review of the distribution and status of this species is available for the area. We compiled a total of 628 white shark records from 476 to 2015. Data suggests that the white shark is more common in the western Mediterranean Sea, especially in the Adriatic Sea and in the Sicilian Channel and is more frequently observed during summer months. However, analysis using night-time satellite imagery showed the existence of an anthropogenic bias in the distribution of white sharks. All size classes have been recorded in the region. However, the highest occurrence of young of the year has been recorded in the Sicilian Channel, in the Adriatic Sea and in the Aegean Sea, in summer, suggesting these areas might serve as nursery grounds. In the Mediterranean Sea, the white shark exhibits a broad diet. The most common prey found include small cetaceans (Tursiops truncatus, Stenella coeruleoalba), tuna (Thunnus spp.), swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). A total of 53 white shark records refer to interactions between sharks and humans that resulted in a detrimental impact on humans, which include 42 bites and 11 reports of the presence of human remains in the stomach of captured animals. Analysis of the temporal variation in mean total lengths of white sharks found a decreasing trend from 1913 to 2012. The decreasing length of white sharks suggests this species might be declining in the Mediterranean Sea

The Sardinian large elasmobranch database

Elasmobranchs have been recorded off Sardinia (Central Mediterranean Sea) since ancient times, however their biodiversity has been little studied until now. The Sardinian Large Elasmobranch Database (SLED) is a non-government project, carried out by the Istituto di Scienze Naturali e Biologia Marina of Olbia, the DNAquA laboratory of Cagliari and the cooperation of other independent researchers. The main objective of this project is the compilation of historical and recent records of Elasmobranch species in Sardinian waters. Since 2004, the research has identified 26 species of sharks, representing 15 families. The resulting database will be a useful tool for various studies on Sardinian coastal biodiversity and monitoring

Distribution, ecology, and status of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in the Mediterranean Sea

The occurrence of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in the Mediterranean Sea has been reported since the Middle Ages (476–1453). Several studies have documented its presence in various areas of the basin, but no comprehensive review of the distribution and status of this species is available for the area. We compiled a total of 628 white shark records from 476 to 2015. Data suggests that the white shark is more common in the western Mediterranean Sea, especially in the Adriatic Sea and in the Sicilian Channel and is more frequently observed during summer months. However, analysis using night-time satellite imagery showed the existence of an anthropogenic bias in the distribution of white sharks. All size classes have been recorded in the region. However, the highest occurrence of young of the year has been recorded in the Sicilian Channel, in the Adriatic Sea and in the Aegean Sea, in summer, suggesting these areas might serve as nursery grounds. In the Mediterranean Sea, the white shark exhibits a broad diet. The most common prey found include small cetaceans (Tursiops truncatus, Stenella coeruleoalba), tuna (Thunnus spp.), swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). A total of 53 white shark records refer to interactions between sharks and humans that resulted in a detrimental impact on humans, which include 42 bites and 11 reports of the presence of human remains in the stomach of captured animals. Analysis of the temporal variation in mean total lengths of white sharks found a decreasing trend from 1913 to 2012. The decreasing length of white sharks suggests this species might be declining in the Mediterranean Sea

Bycatch of large elasmobranchs in the traditional tuna traps (tonnare) of Sardinia from 1990 to 2009

The species composition and extent of large elasmobranch bycatch in the Sardinian tuna trap fisheries have received minimal attention in the primary literature. The Sardinian Large Elasmobranch Database (SLED), a non-governmental project, contains records from direct observations, fishing industry sources and reviews from the literature regarding the extent and composition of large elasmobranch bycatch from the only six tuna traps at six fishing sites (Saline; Capo Testa; Carloforte: Portoscuso; Calasetta; and Portopaglia) from the period of 1990 to 2009. During this time period, 42 bycatch events were documented that were comprised of the incidental capture of 15 Mobulid rays and 27 large sharks representing ten species and seven families (23% of the total elasmobranch species previously reported in Sardinian waters). Even though the low number of collective elasmobranchs captured (n = 42) in this study does not pose a conservation concern several bycatch species considered rare and/or depleted in this region were among the species observed. Mobula mobular was the most abundant elasmobranch species caught, with Alopias vulpinus the most commonly caught shark species. There were differences in the catch per unit effort between the six sites with the highest CPUE occurring in Saline, Carloforte and Porto Paglia. Although the sheer volume and conservation impact of traditional tuna traps on large elasmobranchs is exceeded by other fishing gears in Mediterranean waters, small scale (long term) bycatch monitoring programs are vital when evaluating the presence, biodiversity and conservation of elasmobranchs in previously unstudied areas. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

LA STANZA ROSSA Trasversalit\ue0 artistiche e realt\ue0 virtuali negli anni Novanta

All\u2019inizio degli anni Novanti, \u201cLa Stanza Rossa\u201d \ue8 stata la prima rivista in Italia a occuparsi in maniera \u201cprogrammatica\u201d del rapporto fra l\u2019arte e le nuove tecnologie, che cominciavano allora a diffondersi, e a permeare concretamente la vita e i costumi delle societ\ue0 \u201cavanzate\u201d. I saggi e le interviste raccolti in questo volume, che coinvolgono i personaggi pi\uf9 prestigiosi della riflessione contemporanea, da Regis Debray a Enrico Ghezzi, da Jean Fran\ue7ois Lyotard a John Cage, sono solo alcuni degli interventi ospitati sulla rivista, durante quasi un decennio di lavoro, dal 1991 al 1998. Ma forniscono un\u2019importante testimonianza di quella che \ue8 stata la posta in gioco di quel periodo, quando l\u2019impatto dei media e delle nuove tecnologie sembrava mutare per sempre il ruolo e la pratica dell\u2019arte. E anticipano, con lucidit\ue0, situazioni e percorsi che il futuro prossimo avrebbe avverato e che oggi sono al centro delle nostre preoccupazioni