| 1. |
- Alessi, Nicola, et al.
(författare)
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Phytocoenological approach to the ecology of Laurus nobilis L. in Italy
- 2018
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Ingår i: Rendiconti Lincei SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI. - : SPRINGER-VERLAG ITALIA SRL. - 2037-4631 .- 1720-0776. ; 29:2, s. 343-354
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Laurus nobilis L. (Laurel) is considered one of the most emblematic epigones of the late-Tertiary laurophyllous biome, persisting within the Mediterranean vegetation. Describing its present ecology and coenology is crucial to understand its biogeographical history as well as to develop consistent conservation and management practices in the context of the European Habitat Directive. We used recently available vegetation and environmental databases to investigate the coenological amplitude of Laurus in Italy, and to elucidate significant aspects of its persistence in the country. The coenological amplitude was assessed using the clustering method. Ordination techniques and regression trees were used to understand which environmental factors influence, respectively, the occurrence and the abundance of the species and, therefore, characterize its niche. Our results show a wide coenological amplitude of Laurus with respect to other laurophyllous species, growing within a wide range of forest communities. While the occurrence of the species is limited by winter temperature and favored by precipitation seasonality, changes in its abundance show a more refined pattern. In this latter case, two main groups of Laurus populations were differentiated based on water availability. The first group depends on abundant precipitations during the year while the second one buffers the summer aridity with soils rich in nutrients and moisture. Our findings provide crucial knowledge on Laurus habitats in Italy. However, discrepancies between our results and guidelines of the European Habitat Directive arose. The results presented here allow scientifically sound procedures for the regional conservation and management program.
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| 2. |
- Alessi, Nicola, et al.
(författare)
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Population structure of Laurus nobilis L. in Central Italian forests : evidence for its ongoing expansion
- 2021
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Ingår i: Rendiconti Lincei SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI. - : Springer. - 2037-4631 .- 1720-0776. ; 32, s. 365-376
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During the last decades, an ongoing spread of broad-leaved evergreen laurophyllous species has been reported for forests of Southern Europe. Several factors were suggested as the main drivers of the phenomenon, namely global warming, land-use change, evolutionary history, and increase in atmospheric CO2. Among laurophylls, Laurus nobilis L. is considered one of the most prominent from the morphological, evolutionary, and ecological point of view. We studied the population structure of L. nobilis in Central Italy in its natural habitat to investigate its regeneration and potential expansion along with the influence biotic and abiotic factors. To define types of population structures, we collected proportions of six growth classes of L. nobilis in 16 sites. We obtained three types of population structure, i.e., (1) stable, (2) dynamic, and (3) regressive. The first two types are the most frequent, suggesting a potential increase of L. nobilis abundance within forests of Central Italy. The regressive population type occurs mainly in sites with heavy ungulate impact. High propagule pressure along with shaded and moist environmental conditions favor L. nobilis regeneration. Accordingly, we found evidence of a recent L. nobilis spread in Central Italian forests. We suggest the increase of forest cover and age, due to the abandonment of traditional rural practices, as key factors for the regeneration of this apparently late-successional laurophyll. In conclusion, the recent expansion of L. nobilis that we observed in the Italian forest stands can therefore be ascribed to a process of natural recover of a potential niche following land-use change.
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| 3. |
- Benella, Simone, et al.
(författare)
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Kramers-Moyal analysis of interplanetary magnetic field fluctuations at sub-ion scales
- 2022
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Ingår i: Rendiconti Lincei SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI. - : Springer Nature. - 2037-4631 .- 1720-0776. ; 33:4, s. 721-728
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the framework of statistical time series analysis of complex dynamics, we present a multiscale characterization of solar wind turbulence in the near-earth environment. The data analysis, based on the Markov process theory, is meant to estimate the Kramers-Moyal coefficients associated with the measured magnetic field fluctuations. In fact, when the scale-to-scale dynamics can be successfully described as a Markov process, first- and second-order Kramers-Moyal coefficients provide a complete description of the dynamics in terms of Langevin stochastic process. The analysis is carried out using high-resolution magnetic field measurements gathered by Cluster during a fast solar wind period on January 20, 2007. This analysis extends recent findings in the near-Sun environment with the aim of testing the universality of the Markovian nature of the magnetic field fluctuations in the sub-ion/kinetic domain.
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| 4. |
- Farahat, Emad, et al.
(författare)
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Phenology, biomass and reproductive characteristics of Calotropis procera (Aiton) WT Aiton in South Cairo, Egypt
- 2016
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Ingår i: Rendiconti Lincei-Scienze Fisiche E Naturali. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2037-4631. ; 27:2, s. 197-204
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Phenology is a major trait structuring life history strategies and its role in shaping plant invasions that has increasing attention. The present study aimed to examine the role of phenology, reproductive, and morphological attributes of Calotropis procera in colonizing urban areas, besides assessing its biomass and developing allometric regression equation for prediction of its biomass. Sixty-three permanent quadrats were selected to represent the distribution of C. procera in urban habitats at South Cairo Province, Egypt. The present study revealed significant positive correlation between fruiting phase of the species and temperature, as well as the vegetative phase and precipitation. C. procera is characterized by continuous flowering for 8 months, with a peak in April and May, which help in reproductive success of the species. It had its highest biomass in November (439 kg ha(-1)), but the lowest in March (343 kg ha(-1)), with an annual mean of 388 kg ha(-1). The linear regression based on plant volume as an independent variable was found to be the best fit for biomass prediction, with the highest coefficient of determination (R (2) = 0.81). The above-ground biomass of this plant encourages its potential use as a renewable energy source. Our study suggests that C. procera has efficient plastic phenological and functional attributes that may enable it to dominate many ecosystems in the future. Efficient management plans are needed to mitigate the risk of this plant on other ecosystems and conserve other native species.
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| 5. |
- Ianniello, A., et al.
(författare)
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Air-snow exchange of reactive nitrogen species at Ny-lesund, Svalbard (Arctic)
- 2016
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Ingår i: Rendiconti Lincei-Scienze Fisiche E Naturali. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2037-4631. ; 27:supplement 1, s. 33-45
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Measurements of atmospheric concentrations and fluxes of reactive nitrogen (NO, NO2, HNO3, NO3 (-) (fine) and NO3 (-) (coarse)) above the snow surface were performed from 29 March to 30 April 2010 at Ny-lesund, Svalbard. Determinations of chemical and physical properties of snow were also carried out. Both NO and NO2 showed clear diurnal cycles with noontime maxima and nighttime minima. Significant emission fluxes of NO and NO2 were observed, reaching noontime values up to 19.42 and 25.20 pmol/m(2) s, respectively. The snow surface was the source of NO and NO2 but these observed releases were small due to almost alkaline snow environment and chemical forms of snow NO3 (-). Significant deposition fluxes of HNO3, fine and coarse particulate NO3 (-) fluxes were also observed, reaching peak values up to -18.00, -37.80 and -12.50 pmol/m(2) s, respectively, during snowfall events. Measurements of surface snow provided experimental data that the total contribution of dry deposition of these species to the NO3 (-) -N in the snow was about 24 %. However, wet deposition in falling snow seemed to be the major contribution to the nitrate input to the snow.
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| 6. |
- Longo, Emanuela, et al.
(författare)
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Inter- and intra-specific variation in movement behaviour of benthic macroinvertebrates from a transitional habitat : a laboratory experiment
- 2016
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Ingår i: Rendiconti lincei scienze fisiche e naturali. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2037-4631. ; 27:2, s. 281-290
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The movement behaviour of vagile organisms has long been acknowledged as a key determinant of species distribution and biodiversity patterns. Yet, scant information is available for aquatic invertebrates; in addition, the effects of inter-specific differences in morphology and intra-specific variations in body size have been inadequately investigated. In the present study, the movement behaviour of three crustacean species [Proasellus coxalis and Lekanesphaera hookeri (Isopoda) and Gammarus aequicauda (Amphipoda)] and two gastropod species (Ecrobia ventrosa and Bithynia leachii) dominating the macrobenthic assemblage of a Mediterranean transitional habitat (Giammatteo channel estuary, SE Italy) was analysed under resource-free laboratory conditions. The average path length and speed were determined for individuals encompassing a 16-fold range in body sizes. The scale-independent fractal dimension D was used to quantify the tortuosity of their trajectories. In general, significant differences were observed in movement metrics between crustaceans and gastropods; however, species-specific effects were obscured within each taxonomic group by a strong intra-specific variability. All crustacean species were characterized by a significant negative relationship between body size and path tortuosity; specifically, breaks in the slopes of the regression curve were observed, coinciding with sexual maturation. In contrast, negligible relationships were observed for gastropod species. The results of the study suggest that body size may represent a good predictor of movement behaviour for crustaceans but not for gastropods. Specifically, crucial steps of the biological cycle of amphipods and isopods may reflect on considerable variations in movement metrics. The metabolic and ecological implications of these findings are discussed.
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| 7. |
- Lupi, Angelo, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-seasonal ultrafine aerosol particle number concentration measurements at the Gruvebadet observatory, Ny-lesund, Svalbard Islands
- 2016
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Ingår i: Rendiconti lincei scienze fisiche e naturali. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2037-4631. ; 27, s. 59-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The object of this study was to investigate the different modal behavior of ultrafine aerosol particles collected at the Gruvebadet observatory located in Ny-lesund (Svalbard Islands, 78A degrees 55'N, 11A degrees 56'E). Aerosol particle size distribution was measured in the size range from 10 to 470 nm typically from the beginning of spring to the beginning of fall during four (non-consecutive) years (2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014). The median concentration for the whole period taken into account was 214 particles cm(-3), oscillating between the median maximum in July with a concentration of 257 particles cm(-3) and a median minimum in April with 197 particles cm(-3). The median total number concentration did not present a well-defined seasonal behavior, as shown by contrast looking at the sub/modal number concentration, where distinct trends appeared in the predominant accumulation concentration recorded during April/May and the preponderant concentration of Aitken particles during the summer months. Lastly, the short side-by-side spring 2013 campaign performed at the Zeppelin observatory with a differential mobility particle sizer was characterized by an aerosol concentration mean steady difference between the two instruments of around 14 %, thereby supporting the reliability of the device located at Gruvebadet.
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| 8. |
- Marcelli, L., et al.
(författare)
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Integration, qualification, and launch of the Mini-EUSO telescope on board the ISS
- 2023
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Ingår i: Rendiconti Lincei SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI. - : Springer Nature. - 2037-4631 .- 1720-0776. ; 34:1, s. 23-35
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mini-EUSO is a high-sensitivity imaging telescope that observes the Earth from the ISS in the near ultraviolet band (290÷ 430 nm), through the nadir-facing, UV-transparent window in the Russian Zvezda module. The instrument, launched in 2019, has a field of view of 44∘, a spatial resolution on the Earth’s surface of 6.3 km and a temporal sampling rate of 2.5 microseconds. Thanks to its triggering and on-board processing, the telescope is capable of detecting UV emissions of cosmic, atmospheric, and terrestrial origin on different time scales, from a few microseconds up to tens of milliseconds. The optics is composed of two Fresnel lenses focusing light onto an array of 36 Hamamatsu Multi-Anode PhotoMultiplier Tubes, for a total of 2304 pixels. The telescope also contains two cameras in the near-infrared and visible, an 8-by-8 array of Silicon-PhotoMultipliers and a series of UV sensors to manage night-day transitions. The scientific objectives range from the observation of atmospheric phenomena [lightning, Transient Luminous Events (TLEs), ELVES], the study of meteoroids, the search of interstellar meteoroids and strange quark matter, mapping of the Earth’s nocturnal emissions in the ultraviolet range, and the search of cosmic rays with energy above 1021 eV. The instrument has been integrated and qualified in 2019, with the final tests in Baikonur prior to its launch. Operations involve periodic installation in the Zvezda module of the station with observations during the crew night time, with periodic downlink of data samples, with the full data being sent to the ground via pouches containing the data disks. Mission planning involves the selection of the optimal orbits to maximize the scientific return of the instrument. In this work, we will describe the various phases of construction, testing, and qualification prior to the launch and the in-flight operations of the instrument on board the ISS.
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| 9. |
- Podani, Janos, et al.
(författare)
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Categorizing ideas about systematics : alternative trees of trees, and related representations
- 2017
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Ingår i: Rendiconti Lincei SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2037-4631 .- 1720-0776. ; 28:1, s. 191-202
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study is an attempt to expand a previous survey by Fisler and Lecointre (FL) for systematizing ideas on the use of the tree metaphor in classification, as expressed by various historically important figures in their writings. FL used a cladistic approach to analyze their data, as employed in biological classification. We supplement this analysis here using several methods of multivariate data exploration, producing a UPGMA dendrogram, a minimum spanning tree, a neighbor joining additive tree, a plexus graph, a phylogenetic network, and two multidimensional scaling ordinations of the same data used by FL. We confirm the validity of many of FL's smaller clusters of writings, and revealed a new 3-group categorization undetected by the previous study. These three groups largely correspond to Classifiers, who did not consider evolution for historical reasons or on purpose, Non-analytical evolutionists, who recognized evolution but with a more or less na < ve attitude towards the temporal change of life, and Modelers, with more explicit views on evolutionary processes, often applying objective mathematical tools for exploring the past and present of organismal diversity. Some scientists were difficult to assign to any group unambiguously, including J. W. von Goethe, who takes a unique position in the history of biology, and, to a lesser extent, E. Mayr and G. G. Simpson, the leaders of the gradist school of systematics. We argue that cladistic methods are insufficient by themselves, notably in situations where there are no obvious ancestor-descendant relationships underlying the development of the objects being analyzed.
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| 10. |
- Raffi, Isabella, et al.
(författare)
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The role of calcareous nannofossils in building age models for Cenozoic marine sediments : a review
- 2022
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Ingår i: Rendiconti Lincei SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2037-4631 .- 1720-0776. ; 33:1, s. 25-38
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- This review paper has been thought to emphasize the role of Biostratigraphy in Geosciences and, specifically, of calcareous nannofossils as dating tool. This group of calcareous plankton occurs in Mesozoic and Cenozoic carbonate-bearing marine sediments in all depositional settings and is routinely used for stratigraphic purposes. The importance of calcareous nannofossils in relative dating of marine sediments is due to their abundance, taxonomic diversity, rapid evolution and wide distribution in marine environments. Nannofossil biostratigraphy improved over the last few decades due to the use of accurate methods for data gathering, including acquisition of semiquantitative census data on high-resolution samples. These microfossils contribute to obtain reliable biostratigraphic classification in various time-intervals in the last 66 m.y. and often provide the key to the interpretation of other stratigraphic records. Nannofossil biohorizons can be used as control points for constructing cyclostratigraphic composite sections, and for identification of magnetostratigraphic intervals, and have provided a basis for age models subsequently developed into orbitally tuned cyclostratigraphies or used for chronological revision of polarity timescale.
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