Applicability of the lichen biodiversity method (L.B.) to a Mediterranean area (Liguria,nw Italy)

This study is part of the work aimed to standardise air quality biomonitoring methods in Italy. Some practical problems of the application of the lichen biodiversity (L.B.) method to a coastal area of the eastern Ligurian Riviera are analysed. In the first phase we studied the influence of variability on the parameters of the phorophytic substrata, on which we carried out the relevés. We considered the inclinations and circumferences of the tree trunks, and the exposure and height from the ground of the sampling grid. In the second phase, the study deals with the influence of the great geomorphologic variability on the microclimate and epiphytic lichen vegetation. The L.B. values were considered in relation to versant exposure, height above sea level and distance from the coast. We have suggested the use of less restrictive parameters for the L.B. sampling protocol. Furthermore, the distribution of two of the principal types of epiphytic lichen vegetation of the area, Xanthorion and Parmelion, were analysed in relation to the microenvironmental conditions.     

Notes on Quercus ilex L. in Liguria (NW Italy)

The climatic characteristics of the Liguria region have been outlined by means of raw data and derived indices (water balance related to potential evapotraspiration, Rivas-Martinez's index of mediterraneity and thermicity, De Martonne's index of dryness, and Emberger's pluviothermic quotient and index of summer dryness). Their interpretation suggests that Liguria is a boundary region between two different climatic areas: the Mediterranean and that of Central Europe.The distribution of Quercus ilex communities in Liguria have suffered the heavy consequences of human activity on the coastal belt of the region. There is, however, sufficient evidence to show that their presence is closely linked to climatic conditions. Quercus ilex communities are absent from the western coastal belt where the annual water balance is below –50 mm and high mean temperatures occur. They are also absent from marly limestone dominated areas where annual water balance is below 300 mm. Quercus ilex woods show a preference for water balance values between 0 and 600, with the better developed forests being found in central and eastern coastal Liguria.The Ligurian Quercus ilex woods are ascribed to Quercetum ilicis Br.-Bl. 1915. Given that the presence within their floristic composition of a group of species of Querco-Fagetea (more species in eastern stands, few in western ones) is an almost constant characteristic, the subass. fraxino-ostryetosum Mariotti 1984 can be retained for many of them. Quercus ilex is not present in the initial succession stages of Mediterranean Liguria vegetation. It can be found in later stages when the vegetation is more fully developed towards a maquis type structure. In this case it tends to become dominant and the community develops (if no fire or other human interference occurs) into a Quercus ilex forest. Frequently, this succession takes place under an old tree layer cover (generally Pinus sp.), a remanant of man's past management of the vegetation in the area.     

The influence of climate on the distribution of lichens: a case study in a borderline area (Liguria,NW Italy)

The purposes of this article are to quantify the relationship between epiphytic lichen distribution and macroclimatic variables in the study area and to provide a case study for evaluating the predictive role of epiphytic lichens as bioclimatic indicators. The study was carried out in the Liguria region (NW-Italy), a small (5432 km²) borderline area, where phytoclimatic features range from the dry Mediterranean to the Alpine in a few kilometers. Epiphytic lichen diversity was sampled using a standardized protocol [Asta et al (2002) In: Nimis et al (eds) Monitoring with lichens: monitoring lichens. Kluwer, Dordrecht]. Abundance of the species in the sampling sites was related to macroclimatic parameters (yearly average temperature and rainfall) and non-parametric multivariate models were calculated to find significative relationships among predictive and response variables. A total of 59 species showed highly significant relation with macroclimatic parameters. Four groups were selected, by means of a cluster analysis, related to four climatic niches (warm-humid, cold-humid, mesothermic-humid, warm-dry). Distributional pattern of the groups in the survey area showed a good correspondence with the bioclimatic units of Liguria region described by Nimis [(2003) Checklist of the Lichens of Italy 3.0. University of Trieste, Dept of Biology. http://www.dbiodbs.univ.trieste.it. Cited 1 Jun 2006]. A significant subset of epiphytic lichen species in the study area have been proved to be efficient bioclimatic indicator and it is supposed to give good results to monitor climatic changes, in a long-term perspective.     

Ecology and diversity of Cortinarius species (Agaricales,Basidiomycota) associated with Quercus ilex L. in the Mediterranean area of Liguria (North-western Italy)

Cortinarius is one of the most widespread macrofungal genera. Although Mediterranean basin is considered a biodiversity hotspot, very few studies have addressed the presence and importance of Cortinarius species in such area. Surveys were carried out in Liguria (NW Italy) in different habitats characterized by the presence of Quercus ilex. Altogether 67 taxa were observed: 49 of them are new records for Liguria while 23 represent new records for Italy. In addition, we report the distinguishing characters and ecological traits of the species which are also rare in Europe.     

Mobility and subsistence economy: a diachronic comparison between two groups settled in the same geographical area (Liguria, Italy)

The purpose of this article is to investigate temporal shifts in skeletal robusticity to infer behavioral changes in two populations (Neolithic, NEOL and Medieval, MED) settled in the same geographic area but involved in different subsistence economies (pastoralism and coastal resources exploitation). This comparison allows us to test the hypothesis that occupational stress and mobility in the same environment produce predictable changes in the robusticity of both upper and lower limbs. Results show a lower degree of humeral robusticity and a similar degree of humeral asymmetry in the two sexes in the MED population. These results are consistent with the relatively less stressful subsistence economy documented in the MED population relative to that of the NEOL. Lower limb results suggest that femoral robusticity does not correlate directly with the level of logistical mobility, but is instead due to the summation of several diverse factors that place biomechanical loads on the hindlimb, particularly unevenness of the terrain. However, female femoral gracility seems to indicate that below a certain "threshold" of mobility, i.e., movement over the natural terrain, terrain conformation is no longer the main contributing factor to femoral robusticity. The femoral shape index I(x)/I(y) declines through time, particularly in males. This agrees with the expected mobility of the samples based on archaeological and historical data, providing further evidence on the reliability of this index in inferring terrestrial mobility.     

Variability of Essential Oil Content and Composition of Origanum vulgare L. Populations from a North Mediterranean Area (Liguria Region, Northern Italy)

Native populations of Origanum vulgare L. from the Liguria andEmilia regions of northern Italy were analysed for essentialoil content and composition. Morphological characters suggestedthat the Ligurian samples belonged to the ssp. viride. The essentialoil content of inflorescences ranged from less than 5 mg g^-1inthe samples from Emilia, to more than 50 mg g^-1in some Liguriansamples, values similar to those reported for ssp. hirtum fromsouthern Italy. Sixty-four compounds were identified in theessential oil. The samples were allotted to three main groupson the basis of oil composition: the first group had a highcontent of components belonging to the carvacrol/thymol biosyntheticpathway; the second was characterized by a different sesquiterpenecomposition and a high linalool content; and the third, includingthe two samples of ssp. vulgare from Emilia, was characterizedby the presence of abundant sesquiterpenes. The high essentialoil content of the samples studied, and the presence of someparticular morphological characters suggest that the taxonomyof O. vulgare, especially in its western distribution area,needs further investigation. Linalool types, although oftennot considered as ‘typical oregano’, may be usefulin promoting wider utilization of the biodiversity of this species.Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Oregano, Origanum vulgare L., ssp. viride, ssp. vulgare, ssp. hirtum, essential oil, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, genetic resources, chemotypes, quality, Mediterranean     

Crop changes from the XVI century to the present in a hill/mountain area of eastern Liguria (Italy)

Background

Until recently, little attention has been paid to local innovation capacity as well as management practices and institutions developed by communities and other local actors based on their traditional knowledge. This paper doesn't focus on the results of scientific research into innovation systems, but rather on how local communities, in a network of supportive partnerships, draw knowledge for others, combine it with their own knowledge and then innovate in their local practices. Innovation, as discussed in this article, is the capacity of local stakeholders to play an active role in innovative knowledge creation in order to enhance local health practices and further environmental conservation. In this article, the innovative processes through which this capacity is created and reinforced will be defined as a process of "ethnomedicine capacity".

Methods

The field study undertaken by the first author took place in India, in the State of Tamil Nadu, over a period of four months in 2007. The data was collected through individual interviews and focus groups and was complemented by participant observations.

Results

The research highlights the innovation capacity related to ethnomedical knowledge. As seen, the integration of local and scientific knowledge is crucial to ensure the practices anchor themselves in daily practices. The networks created are clearly instrumental to enhancing the innovation capacity that allows the creation, dissemination and utilization of 'traditional' knowledge. However, these networks have evolved in very different forms and have become entities that can fit into global networks. The ways in which the social capital is enhanced at the village and network levels are thus important to understand how traditional knowledge can be used as an instrument for development and innovation.

Conclusion

The case study analyzed highlights examples of innovation systems in a developmental context. They demonstrate that networks comprised of several actors from different levels can synergistically forge linkages between local knowledge and formal sciences and generate positive and negative impacts. The positive impact is the revitalization of perceived traditions while the negative impacts pertain to the transformation of these traditions into health commodities controlled by new elites, due to unequal power relations.     

Pollen deposition in country villages of Eastern Liguria (Northern Italy)

Summary Recent pollen rain in 14 country villages of Ligurian hinterland was examined, in the framework of pollen deposition studies based upon moss polsters analysis, now in progress. The above mentioned localities are prevailingly situated in the Trebbia, Aveto and Vara valleys, within 300 and 1000 m a.s.l. For each locality a moss sample was examined (two for Torriglia: north and south) consisting of several sub-samples from various zones of the built-up area. All the samples have proved rich in pollen and provided spectra in accordance with qualitative and quantitative features of the urbanized areas vegetation and the spontaneous one of the neighbourhood. Sticking to general considerations, an attempt was made to compare the present results with those of the city area of Genova, previously obtained with the same methods.     

The lichen genus Xanthoparmelia (Ascomycotina,Parmeliaceae) in Italy

Abstract:Eleven Xanthoparmelia species have been identified from Italy. A key to the species is provided and the distinguishing morphological and chemical characters, distribution, ecology, substratum preference and interrelationships of each are discussed. Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia is reported for the first time from Europe; X. angustiphylla and X. plittii are new to Italy.     

Testing indicators of epiphytic lichen diversity: a case study in N Italy

The predictability of a standardized and widely used biomonitoring method for estimating total lichen diversity on trunks (LDV-index) was tested. The study was carried out in Veneto (NE Italy), on 34 randomly selected trees in five sites in different landscape contexts. Two sets of biodiversity data were obtained from each tree: (1) the LDV index based on species frequency within a standard sampling grid positioned on a limited part of the trunks only (2) the total number of species found on the trunks. Total species richness on trunks is significantly related with the LDV index, which suggests that the LDV standard methodology can be used also for estimates of lichen diversity. Even a LDV index based on macrolichens, or on large-lobed foliose lichens only, still permits reliable estimates of total diversity on the trunks.     

Sexual polymorphism and spatial segregation of Thymelaea hirsuta in Liguria (north-west Italy)

Abstract

Flowering phenology, sexual polymorphism and spatial segregation were studied over two consecutive years in a population of Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. (Thymelaeaceae) growing on coastal cliffs in north-western Italy. The study population was geographically segregated and, together with Croatian sites, it constituted the northernmost margin of the species' distribution range. Very frequent observations highlighted a sexual tendency towards dioecy already shown by T. hirsuta in other parts of the Mediterranean coast. The flowering period lasted 10?–?11 months, more or less. A high proportion of female flowers and a low number of hermaphrodite flowers were recorded, in contrast with the abundance borne by the species elsewhere; gender segregation into two different subgroups was noted, one consisting mainly of male and protogynous plants, the second consisting basically of female and protandrous specimens.     

Microbial Biomineralization in Biotic Crusts from a Pleistocene Marine Cave (NW Sicily,Italy)

Biotic crusts occurring in the Early Pleistocene Rumena Cave, in NW Sicily, have been analyzed from a geomicrobiological point of view. The crusts consist largely of scleractinians and of subordinate bryozoans and serpuloideans, all typical of submarine cave biota. Encrustations document a blind cave in a shadowed setting, or possibly below the fair weather swell zone. Autochthonous and, subordinately, detrital fractions were observed within the skeletal framework of biotic crusts. The syndepositional lithified fraction occurs mainly as very fine-grained laminations. Clotted peloidal and aphanitic (structureless) textures occur in the micrites as well. Autochthonous micrite is always associated with a significant amount of organic matter remains. In caves from the Plemmirio area in SE Sicily, the autochthonous microbial micrite, occurring in the bioconstructions, contains bacterial lipid biomarkers, including abundant compounds derived from sulfate-reducing bacteria. It is likely that a similar microbial mediation was involved in the formation of the autochthonous micrite present in the biotic crusts of the Rumena Cave.     

Spatial and temporal adjustments allowing the coexistence among carnivores in Liguria (N-W Italy)

We investigated the seasonal spatial and temporal co-occurrence of three carnivore species in Liguria region (NW Italy)—the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the European badger (Meles meles) and the wolf (Canis lupus)—using the information provided by camera-trapping monitoring. Data were collected from January 2013 to January 2015 by positioning camera traps in 200 sample stations. During 3479 trap days, we collected 1048 independent videos of target carnivore species, which revealed a general spatial coexistence among carnivores with some differences in seasonal occurrence of species. The red fox and the European badger showed temporal segregation, as their activity patterns suggested a differential use of night-time in all seasons. Activity patterns of the red fox and the wolf revealed moderate-high overlap and similar density distributions in all seasons except during winter. Coexistence between these species may be allowed by temporal segregation during winter and spatial segregation during spring. Finally, results regarding the European badger and the wolf suggest a moderate temporal segregation with a marked avoidance effect for the European badger induced by the presence of tracks left by wolves. Programmes aimed at carnivore conservation, and management should treat the entire guild, as it has been demonstrated that populations of different carnivores interact with each other in complex ways and that fine-scale mechanisms regulating carnivore assemblage influence different aspects of natural communities.     

Postcranial variations in late Epigravettian and Neolithic human remains from Arene Candide cave (Liguria,Italy)

Late Epigravettian postcranial human remains from the Arene Candide cave (Finale Ligure, Savona, Italy) were compared with the Neolithic sample found in the upper levels of the same site. Data on length, diaphyseal circumference and diameter of clavicle, humerus, radius, femur and tibia were collected from male specimens having all these bones. The Epigravettian sample is characterized by significantly greater tibial length, robustness and platycnemia, significantly lower circumferences in the upper limb bones and the clavicle, and a high degree of asymmetry. Variations observed in lower limb bones are those expected on the basis of the different functional requirements of a hunting and gathering economy compared to a more sedentary, food producing economy. Differences in the upper limb bones and the clavicle are less explicable. However, considering that in spite of a more slender structure, the Epigravettian bones show evidence of vigorous use, variation in upper limb could result from qualitatively different involvements.     

Significant decrease in epiphytic lichen diversity in a remote area in the European Alps,Austria

We present long-term (1993–2010) monitoring results of lichens from a remote site in Austria. Whereas gaseous pollution is negligible in this area, levels of long-range air pollution of S and N via rain and fog are high. Lichen cover on tree trunks have decreased significantly. Accordingly, we found that the population of all species had declined. The analyses demonstrated significant changes in lichen community composition. The lichen flora suffered a significant decrease in diversity. Our hypothesis is that the breakdown of epiphytic lichens is mainly due to eutrophication through long-term N deposition, and more particularly to ammonia in precipitation and in fog. Since many areas in the European Alps receive high wet deposition loads, a decrease in the abundance and diversity of epiphytic lichens is most probably a widespread phenomenon.     

Interrelationships of bacteria,meiofauna and macrofauna in a Mediterranean sedimentary beach (Maremma Park,NW Italy)

Collelungo beach (Maremma Park, NW Italy), was sampled quantitatively for macrofauna, meiofauna and bacteria in May 2003; several physicochemical variables and variables associated with food availability and sediment structure were also measured. Replicated samples were collected from three sites representing natural conditions, an erosion regime, and the influence of the Ombrone River, respectively, as well as from four stations each located in the surf and sublittoral zones. Both uni- and multivariate techniques were used to assess the benthic community structure and the associated environmental variables. Different diversity indices revealed no pattern; in contrast, multivariate techniques applied on the macrobenthic fauna and the polychaete taxocommunity distinguished between the sites located in natural and eroding conditions from the one located nearby the discharges of the Ombrone river. Τhe community patterns deriving from meio- and macrofauna are clearly divergent. The overall benthic faunal community appears to be influenced by both groups of organisms. The patterns of the meio- and macrofaunal communities seem to be affected synergistically by a number of environmental variables, in accordance with the multicausal environmental severity hypothesis. Meiofaunal patterns are more often correlated with bacteria and the protein concentration than are macrofaunal patterns, indicating a potential utilization of bacteria as a food source by the meiofaunal organisms. Total bacterial numbers are associated with the macrofaunal pattern under the erosion regime, probably as a consequence of competition for food between macrofauna and meiofauna.     

Assessment of environmental quality by the diversity of epiphytic lichens in a semi-arid mediterranean area (Val Basento, South Italy)

The results of a bioindication study based on the diversity of epiphytic lichens in a semi-arid area of South Italy are presented. The area features the presence of an industrial zone located in a rural context. The survey was performed in 20 sampling sites. The lichen diversity values (LDV) were determined by the frequencies of all lichen species within a sampling grid placed on tree trunks. Lichens demonstrated a condition of environmental alteration extending to the industrial zone, and tending towards a recovery in the rural surroundings. The survey also showed evidence of eutrophication all over the study area.