Aeolian Archipelago Research Articles

Coastal Erosion and Flooding Threaten Low-Lying Coastal Tracts at Lipari (Aeolian Islands, Italy)

Lipari is the largest and most populated island in the Aeolian Archipelago, a UNESCO site, and a highly frequented touristic destination. As in many other insular settings, the low-lying coastal stretches in the E and NE sectors of Lipari are locally exposed to coastal erosion and flooding, enhanced by subsidence effects leading to local sea level rise. Most of these coastal sectors appear critical, being narrow and increasingly threatened by the risk of permanent inundation and beach disappearance. In this study, this setting is placed in the wider context of the decadal evolution of the main beaches, analysed through a multidisciplinary approach, which includes remote sensing techniques (aero-photogrammetry, unmanned aerial vehicle survey, and satellite data), offshore geophysical surveys (high-resolution multibeam bathymetry), and field observations. The results show a variable interaction in space and time between natural and anthropogenic factors in the long- and mid-term evolution of the studied coastal areas. Considering that part of the local economy at Lipari depends on beach tourism, proper future management is required in the view of natural risk reduction and in the light of future climate changes and related impacts.

Polymer composition analysis of plastic debris ingested by loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in Southern Tyrrhenian Sea through ATR-FTIR spectroscopy

The ingestion of anthropogenic plastic debris by marine wildlife is widespread in the Mediterranean Sea. The endangered status (in the IUCN Red List) of Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus, 1758) is a consequence of its vulnerability. In this study, macro-/meso-plastics (5–170 mm) collected from faeces of twelve loggerhead turtles rescued (live) in the Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) were analyzed by size, weight, shape, color and polymer type through Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The defecation rate during hospitalization (7–14 days) varied among turtles (from 0.08 to 0.58). The mean number of plastic expulsions (2.7 ± 1.8 items for turtle) was higher during the 5th day of hospitalization (Kruskal-Wallis test, P = 0.01). However, the mean number of plastic-like items defecated during the common days of hospitalization did not vary among turtles (Kruskal-Wallis test, P > 0.05). All turtles were found to have ingested plastic. A total of 114 debris items were recovered from their faeces, 113 of which were identified as plastic. Their color was mostly white-transparent (64.9%) and light (19.3%). Shape was mainly fragments (52.6%), sheets (38.6%), followed by nylon, net-fragments, elastic plastic, foamed plastic and industrial granules (8.8%). Meso-plastics (5–25 mm) represented 72% of the total number of debris and were found more frequently in turtle with Curved Carapace Length (CCL) ≤ 60 cm (CCL = 30–60 cm, n = 5) than those with CCL >60 cm (CCL = 60–71 cm, n = 7). Plastic items were composed mainly of polyethylene (48.2%) and polypropylene (34.2%). Polypropylene (R2 = 0.95, P < 0.001) and polyisoprene (R2 = 0.45, P = 0.017) were more common in meso-plastics while polyethylene (R2 = 0.44, P < 0.01) in macro-plastics. Finally, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide and polyurethane were also found in some turtles. This study reveals high spreads of plastic contamination in faeces of both turtles with CCL ≤60 cm and CCL >60 cm, particularly vulnerable to the increasing quantity of floating plastic into their foraging sites highlighting the need of further research to associate debris ingestion with turtle diet and their size.

Metabolomic Study of Dactylis glomerata Growing on Aeolian Archipelago (Italy)

The Aeolian Islands (Italy) are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea comprising seven main islands, among which are two active volcanoes. The peculiar geological features and the wide variety of environments and soils have an important impact on native plants, and in particular, the Aeolian populations of Dactylis glomerata (a perennial cool-season bunchgrass) exhibit remarkable phenotypic variability. Considering that environmental drivers also strongly affect the production of plant metabolites, this work aimed at comparing the metabolomic profiles of D. glomerata (leaves) harvested at different altitudes on four islands of the Aeolian archipelago, namely: Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli and Panarea. Samples were analyzed by 1H NMR profiling, and data were treated by PCA. Samples collected on Stromboli were very different from each other and from the samples collected in the other islands. Through an Orthogonal Partial Least Squares (OPLS) model, using altitude as the y variable, it emerged that the concentration of proline, glycine betaine, sucrose, glucose and chlorogenic acid of D. glomerata growing on Stromboli decreased at increasing altitude. Conversely, increasing altitude was associated with an increment in valine, asparagine, fumaric acid and phenylalanine.

First report on two loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nests in the Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Italy)

The Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) hosts important foraging/overwintering habitats for Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), although nesting sites have never been documented. This study reports the data of two nesting events occurred in summer 2019 at Stromboli and Lipari islands. A hatchling success of 20.69 % (18 hatchlings from 87 eggs) was recorded at Stromboli, while a complete hatchling unsuccess characterised the Lipari nest, where 111 eggs were deposited. Data acquired during the monitoring of the nests suggest that combined factors, mainly temperature, beach morphology, and sand composition, could be the causes for the low success of these nesting events.

Potential Resilience to Ocean Acidification of Benthic Foraminifers Living in Posidonia oceanica Meadows: The Case of the Shallow Venting Site of Panarea

This research shows the results regarding the response to acidic condition of the sediment and Posidonia foraminiferal assemblages collected around the Panarea Island. The Aeolian Archipelago represents a natural laboratory and a much-promising study site for multidisciplinary marine research (carbon capture and storage, geochemistry of hydrothermal fluids and ocean acidification vs. benthic and pelagic organisms). The variability and the complexity of the interaction of the ecological factors characterizing extreme environments such as shallow hydrothermal vents did not allow us to carry out a real pattern of biota responses in situ, differently from those observed under controlled laboratory conditions. However, the study provides new insights into foraminiferal response to increasing ocean acidification (OA) in terms of biodiversity, faunal density, specific composition of the assemblages and morphological variations of the shells. The study highlights how the foraminiferal response to different pH conditions can change depending on different environmental conditions and microhabitats (sediments, Posidonia leaves and rhizomes). Indeed, mineral sediments were more impacted by acidification, whereas Posidonia microhabitats, thanks to their buffer effect, can offer “refugia” and more mitigated acidic environment. At species level, rosalinids and agglutinated group represent the most abundant taxa showing the most specific resilience and capability to face acidic conditions.

Atmospheric Concentration of CO2 and PM2.5 at Salina, Stromboli, and Vulcano Islands (Italy): How Anthropogenic Sources, Ordinary Volcanic Activity and Unrests Affect Air Quality.

Geogenic and anthropogenic sources of atmospheric particulate and CO2 can lead to threats to human health in volcanic areas. Although the volcanic CO2 hazard is a topic frequently debated in the related scientific literature, space and time distribution of PM2.5 are poorly known. The results of combined CO2/PM2.5 surveys, carried out at Salina, Stromboli, and Vulcano islands (Aeolian archipelago, Italy) in the years 2020–2021, and integrated with investigations on bioaccumulation of metallic particulate matter by the mean of data on the magnetic properties of oleander leaves, are presented in this work. The retrieved results indicate that no significant anthropogenic sources for both CO2 and PM2.5 are active in these islands, at the net of a minor contribution due to vehicular traffic. Conversely, increments in volcanic activity, as the unrest experienced by Vulcano island since the second half of 2021, pose serious threats to human health, due to the near-ground accumulation of CO2, and the presence of suspended micro-droplets of condensed hydrothermal vapor, fostering the diffusion of atmophile viruses, such as the COVID-19. Gas hazard conditions can be generated, not only by volcanic vents or fumarolic fields, but also by unconventional sources, such as the outgassing from shallow hydrothermal aquifers through drilled or hand-carved wells.

New perspectives on an “old” technique: Lipari obsidian and Neolithic communities investigated by Fission Track Dating

Abstract “Lipari obsidian and Neolithic human communities in the Aeolian islands” is a project aimed at studying the connection between obsidian flows on the island of Lipari and Neolithic populations on the Aeolian archipelago, in Italy. As it is well known, obsidian is of particular interest to trace prehistorical trading patterns; indeed, Lipari obsidian has the widest distribution and has been found in southern France, Dalmazia, Sicily and mainland Italy. The project outputs will give a general vision of both archaeological and volcanological aspects through the stratigraphic and radiometric dating of eruptions which produced obsidian, in relationship with the first phases of the human settlements and row material exploitation. To reach this goal, we are considering both raw materials (geological samples) from different flows and artefacts from Neolithic settlements (archaeological samples) on the Aeolian islands, and performing fission-track dating to get the age of obsidian sources and artefacts. Obtained results are expected to shed some new light on the raw material procurement and on the ability of the Neolithic populations to move from their locations, with particular attention to the consequences of environmental features on the first human settlements on the Aeolian islands.

Geochemistry of trace metals and Rare Earth Elements in shallow marine water affected by hydrothermal fluids at Vulcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy)

Trace metals and Rare Earth Element (REE) are amply discharged by submarine hydrothermal vents, sometimes leading to the formation of ore deposits of economic interest. We report on first data on the geochemical processes involving REE and trace metals, at the solid-liquid interface, in the hydrothermal area of Levante Bay at Vulcano Island (Aeolian Archipelago, Italy). Samples were collected from several submarine springs and seeps, a mud pool and one thermal well, and analyzed for Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, As, Rb, Sr, Cs, Ba, U and REE, besides major ions.Within the bay, hydrothermal fluids contaminate seawater and promote the leaching of metals from sediments through the dissolution of CO2 and H2S, while the particulate matter removes several elements from the water. The leaching of the bottom sediments and the contribution of steam-heated water produce an enrichment of some metals and REE in the Levante Bay with respect to the concentrations expected in the ambient seawater. An enrichment up to one order of magnitude is measured for Fe, Al, Ba, Cs and Rb, and up to two orders of magnitude for Mn in the submarine samples. Other transition metals (Ti, V, Co, Cr), U, As and Sr have concentrations similar or slightly lower than the ambient seawater. REE are in concentrations higher than in ambient seawater up to two orders of magnitude. Despite being significantly higher than uncontaminated seawater, the concentrations of some metals (namely Fe, Al, Ti, Cr, V, Co, U) and REE in most samples are lower than expected by the mixing between seawater and the steam-heated water, discharging from submarine springs. Indeed, equilibrium and reaction path modeling indicate the likely precipitation of Fe-oxyhydroxides, able to remove minor elements, such as Ti, Cr, Co, V and As, and REE. The last ones are significantly removed by newly-forming solid phases, due to the presence of a large amount of Fe released by the acidic fluids through the leaching of sediments. The low pH limits the formation of solution complexes of REE with carbonate ions (the main complexing agent for REE in seawater), whereas the sorption onto particles is still effective, even at close distance from the submarine springs and seeps.This study brings new insights on the geochemical processes occurring in submarine hydrothermal systems, in particular, those in subduction-related context.

A Newly Discovered Forest of the Whip Coral Viminella flagellum (Anthozoa, Alcyonacea) in the Mediterranean Sea: A Non-Invasive Method to Assess Its Population Structure.

Simple SummarySome corals belonging to the orders Alcyonacea and Antipatharia have elongated, unbranched shapes, and are generally addressed as sea whips. The octocorals Viminella flagellum are the main sea whip species inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea, where they can form large colony aggregations known as coral forests. These habitats are of great conservation importance; they provide a suite of ecosystem goods and services, and their monitoring is essential to plan appropriate conservation strategies. One of the most important indicators on the status of a coral forest is its population structure, such as the frequency of different size classes within the coral population. This is very difficult to assess in sea whips because of the length and high flexibility. Here, we report on the findings of a newly discovered, monospecific forest of V. flagellum in Aeolian Archipelago (Mediterranean Sea), and we present a new method to study its population structure using video analysis. The results of the survey indicate that the Aeolian coral population was in good condition, without significant anthropogenic impacts. The new method presented here proved to be an effective and promising tool for the monitoring of this vulnerable marine ecosystem. It can be applied to every known population of V. flagellum as well as adapted to other sea-whip species.Coral forests are vulnerable marine ecosystems formed by arborescent corals (e.g., Anthozoa of the orders Alcyonacea and Antipatharia). The population structure of the habitat-forming corals can inform on the status of the habitat, representing an essential aspect to monitor. Most Mediterranean corals live in the mesophotic and aphotic zones, and their population structures can be assessed by analyzing images collected by underwater vehicles. This is still not possible in whip-like corals, whose colony lengths and flexibilities impede the taking of direct length measurements from images. This study reports on the occurrence of a monospecific forest, of the whip coral Viminella flagellum in the Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea; 149 m depth), and the assessment of its population structure through an ad-hoc, non-invasive method to estimate a colony height based on its width. The forest of V. flagellum showed a mean density of 19.4 ± 0.2 colonies m−2 (up to 44.8 colonies m−2) and no signs of anthropogenic impacts. The population was dominated by young colonies, with the presence of large adults and active recruitment. The new model proved to be effective for non-invasive monitoring of this near threatened species, representing a needed step towards appropriate conservation actions.

Should I stay or should I go? 6000 years of human presence and abandonments at Stromboli volcano and an overview on the whole Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

T The paper addresses the long-lasting human presence on the island of Stromboli, an active volcano at the northern edge of the Aeolian archipelago, in the Southern Tyrrhenian sea, Italy. A conceptual model has been built to explore the phenomenon, it takes into account a series of aspects comparing Stromboli to other islands: their morphology, natural resources and geography along with the archaeological and historical data and, further, human attitude to volcanic environments, to risk and to insularity has been deeply explored. We propose a complex narrative where a combination of geological, socio-economic, historical, and psychological factors influenced people’s choices and that human presence is related more to the volcanic (and island) environment (and opportunities) than to volcanic activity.

Resilience and adaptation to volcanoes in Late Middle Ages in Lipari island (Aeolian, Italy)

Volcanic activity resumed during early Middle Ages times at Lipari following at least 6000 years of quiescence. This phenomenon occurred in a social context that had continuously developed from prehistoric times to the Roman age and was burdened by a demographic crisis that involved the archipelago between the 6th and 11th century AD. The rare archaeological records relating to the 6th - 11th centuries suggest abrupt changes in the population of the islands. The medieval sources are rich in religious and fantastic references to volcanic events linked to Lipari and Vulcano, testifying the uneasy condition for the human communities. This work concerns the resilience and adaptation of the communities to volcanic activity during the Late Middle Ages in Lipari. Starting from 1083 the Aeolian archipelago was involved in a repopulation program, implemented in 1095 by the Constitutum and organized by the Benedictine Monastery with the annexed S. Bartolomeo Cathedral on the castle. From the 13th century the volcanic phenomena, strictly limited to the northern sector of the island, did not interfere as previously with the anthropic activities. The Monastery will be enlarged in the Norman phase during the first half of the 12th century with the construction of the cloister. New historical documents relating to the 1264, report news of fires and land movements on Lipari. Recent age determinations obtained for the obsidian flow of Rocche Rosse at 1220 ± 30 AD (archaeomagnetic dating) and for an obsidian block of the Lami pyroclastic cone at 1243 ± 190 (fission-track dating) allow to define the age of the last phase of activity of the Monte Pilato-Lami-Rocche Rosse complex, and to associate it the events reported on 1264’s historical documents. This work makes in comparison volcanological, archaeological and historical dates and described an updated summary of one of the lesser known phases of the history of the archipelago. The main consequence of the medieval volcanic activity at Lipari caused a clear division of the territory with the population confined in the southeast quadrant, protected to the north by Serra and Monte Rosa which represented a natural orographic barrier.

Volcanic Gas Hazard Assessment in the Baia di Levante Area (Vulcano Island, Italy) Inferred by Geochemical Investigation of Passive Fluid Degassing

In a volcanic area, the composition of air is influenced by the interaction between fluids generated from many different environments (magmatic, hydrothermal, meteoric, and marine). Any physical and chemical variation in one of these subsystems is able to modify the outgassing dynamic. The increase of natural gas hazard, related to the presence of unhealthy components in air, may depend on temporary changes both in the pressure and chemical gradients that generate transient fluxes of gases and can have many different causes. Sometimes, the content of unhealthy gases approaches unexpected limits, without clear warning. In this case, an altered composition of the air can be only revealed after accurate sampling procedures and laboratory analysis. The investigations presented here are a starting point to response to the demand for a new monitoring program in the touristic area of Baia di Levante at Vulcano Island (Aeolian archipelago, Italy). Three multiparametric geochemical surveys were carried in the touristic area of Baia di Levante at Vulcano Island (Aeolian archipelago, Italy) in 2011, 2014, and 2015. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are the main undesired components, usually present at the local scale. Anomalous CO2 and H2S outputs from soil and submarine bubbling vents were identified; the thermal anomaly of the ground was mapped; atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and H2S were measured in the air 30 cm above the ground surface. Atmospheric concentrations above the suggested limits for the wellbeing of human health were retrieved in open areas where tourists stay and where CO2 can accumulate under absence of wind.

Provenance controls on volcaniclastic beach sand: example from the Aeolian archipelago, Mediterranean Sea

Abstract Sand and sandstone composition of volcanic origin may be clues to the provenance of the sediments and sedimentary rocks. Volcaniclastic provenance studies contribute significantly to unravelling the generation and provenance of sediment under investigation, which in the Aeolian archipelago comprises preserved units of outcrops dominated by lava flows intercalated with airfall tephras as source rocks. The focus of this paper is the study of the petrographical composition and textures of beach sands, which can then be used as a guide in the interpretation of provenance and origin of beach sand(stone)s rich in volcanic debris transported into deeper water. The composition of Aeolian beach deposits defines a single immature petrofacies with a large amount of unweathered glass and mafic minerals. Panarea island is dominated by dacites and new grain categories have been proposed to differentiate this provenance. Surface processes such as mechanical erosion (mass wasting and surface runoff) produce an overestimation of mafic components compared to the felsic components in the beach sand fraction.

Conditional Seed Dormancy Helps Silene hicesiae Brullo & Signor. Overcome Stressful Mediterranean Summer Conditions.

Investigations on seed biology and ecology are of major importance for the conservation of threatened plants, both providing baseline information and suggesting practical approaches. In our study, we focused on the germination behavior of Silene hicesiae Brullo & Signor., a narrow endemic species to Panarea and Alicudi (Aeolian Archipelago, Italy), as well as one of the 50 most threatened Mediterranean island plants. Specifically, the effects of temperature, light, seed age, seed source, and collection year were evaluated; in addition, threshold temperatures and thermal–time parameters were estimated. The thermal range for fresh seed germination resulted between 5 and 15 °C, reaching up to 20 and 25 °C at increasing seed age, with 30 °C being clearly beyond the ceiling temperature. This behavior indicates that fresh seeds exhibit the Type 1 non-deep physiological dormancy, and that germination is regulated by conditional dormancy. This dormancy syndrome emerged as a highly efficient adaptation strategy for this species and, together with thermo-inhibition, would allow seeds to counteract or take advantage of Mediterranean environmental conditions. The comparison between the wild Panarea population and the corresponding ex situ cultivated progeny has enabled the identification of the latter as a suitable seed source for sustainable in situ reinforcement actions, at least in the short-term; indeed, plant cultivation for a single generation did not produce significant modifications in the germination behavior of the offspring.

Chrono-stratigraphy of the youngest (last 1500 years) rhyolitic eruptions of Lipari (Aeolian Islands, Southern Italy) and implications for distal tephra correlations

The youngest (last 1500 years) volcanic eruptions of Lipari, within the Aeolian Archipelago, produced the prominent pumice cone of Monte Pilato and the obsidian lava flows of Rocche Rosse and Forgia Vecchia, concentrated in the north-eastern sector of the island as well as highly dispersed white-coloured, fine-grained tephra layers of rhyolitic composition in terrestrial and marine settings on the regional scale. Here we describe in detail the stratigraphy of pyroclastic successions and lava flows erupted by different vents - Monte Pilato, Forgia Vecchia, Lami, and Rocche Rosse - combining field observations, sedimentological characteristics of the tephra deposits, and major and trace element compositions of the volcanic glass. All the pyroclastic materials consist of aphyric pumice lapilli and ash with a largely homogeneous rhyolitic composition. The Monte Pilato and Forgia Vecchia deposits primarily consist of highly vesicular pumice fragments and subordinate obsidian clasts, whilst Rocche Rosse and Lami are characterized by moderately vesicular juvenile fragments with a more significant fraction of obsidian. The Lami tephra also contains peculiar pumice clasts with a fibrous texture and breadcrust bombs.Stratigraphic relationships, and paleomagnetic and 14C ages of the lava and pyroclastic deposits are combined with the archaeological information and historical reports, enabling us to provide an accurate chrono-stratigraphic framework for the youngest eruptions of Lipari. Following the 8th century CE eruption of Monte Pilato, which produced a pumice cone and a obsidian lava flow, activity resumed in the second half of 13th century CE with the explosive eruption of Forgia Vecchia that culminated in the emission of a bilobate obsidian lava flow. This eruption was shortly followed by the explosive eruptions of Lami and Rocche Rosse, the latter concluded with the emission of the widely renowned obsidian lava flow.By integrating stratigraphy and geochemistry of tephra deposits with a new chronological scheme, our work facilitates the refinement of proximal-to-distal correlation of Lipari's rhyolitic tephra in continental marine environments of the central Mediterranean area in the last 1500 years. A fine-grained, rhyolitic ash found on Stromboli (~40 km NE from Lipari) has an origin from the Monte Pilato and thus, constrains tephra dispersion towards the NE. Very similar ash beds dispersed southwards and interlayered within the near-source deposits of La Fossa, Vulcano island (~10 km from Lipari) exhibit features that are consistent with the younger activities of the Rocche Rosse eruption. A possible link between previously identified rhyolitic ash layers identified in marine cores of the Ionian Sea and the Forgia Vecchia eruption are postulated, although the age and textural characteristics of these distal tephra are not univocal in indicating a correlation to either Monte Pilato or Forgia Vecchia.

On Caretta caretta’s shell: first spatial analysis of micro- and macro-epibionts on the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle carapace

ABSTRACT The loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758), is the most common sea turtle species in the Mediterranean Sea, where it can experience severe anthropogenic impacts. Although C. caretta is known to host more than 200 epibiotic taxa (crustaceans, algae and cyanobacteria), no reports have included a detailed evaluation of the microbial community of its carapace scutes. Thus, this study aimed to determine the diversity and composition of the visible and invisible communities on the carapace scutes of wild loggerhead turtles from the Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) by using a combined approach of morphological/spatial examination and molecular analyses. Altogether, our results displayed a higher abundance of crustaceans, macroalgae and Proteobacteria on the posterior carapace scutes, while Firmicutes were more abundant on the anterior scutes. For the first time, this study showed the complexity of the microbial (invisible) and visible epibionts of the loggerhead sea turtles from the Mediterranean Sea and suggests the importance of including evaluation of the microbial components when studying epibiont communities.

Species–area relationship and small‐island effect of vascular plant diversity in a young volcanic archipelago

AbstractAimsAeolian islands form an active volcanic archipelago. By using updated vascular plant checklists for islands and islets, we tested four hypotheses: (i) Island species–area relationship (ISAR) of alien species has lower c‐ and higher z‐values than native species, (ii) islands with active volcanoes have lower species richness than expected for native and alien species, (iii) ISAR of native species shows lower c‐ and higher z‐values than ISARs of Mediterranean land bridge archipelagos and (iv) species richness of smaller islets is independent of area.LocationAeolian Archipelago, Mediterranean Basin.TaxonVascular plants, identified and named according to the Flora of Italy (Pignatti et al., 2017–2019).MethodsChecklists of native and alien plant species were obtained for eight islands and 24 islets. ISARs were fitted by the Arrhenius power function () and used to test the first two hypotheses. The third hypothesis was tested by comparing ISAR of Aeolian Archipelago to those from other central and eastern Mediterranean archipelagos. The fourth hypothesis was tested by fitting models defining the presence and limit of the small‐island effect.ResultsThe checklists included 894 species—749 native and 145 alien. ISARs fitted well for native and alien species and resulted in typical values of c and z parameters. The first and second hypotheses were supported by model fitting. The third hypothesis was not confirmed by the comparison of the ISAR of the Aeolian Archipelago with other archipelagos. The small‐island effect predicted by the fourth hypothesis was supported using S versus LogA for both native and alien species, while for native species it was supported also using the log transformation of the Arrhenius model.Main conclusionsWe reported a first comprehensive analysis of plant species richness in the unique Aeolian Archipelago, verifying typical ISARs, no peculiarity with respect to land bridge archipelagos and a somewhat unclear signal for the small‐island effect.

Ferro-fluoro-edenite, a new amphibole endmember from Vulcano Island (Sicily, Italy)

ABSTRACT Ferro-fluoro-edenite, ideally NaCa2Fe2+5(Si7Al)O22F2, was found as prismatic crystals up to 1.00 mm inside cavities in ejecta of the 1873 eruption at La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Aeolian Archipelago, Sicily, Italy. It is associated with quartz, magnetite, and vonsenite. Crystals are dark brown to black, transparent or semitransparent with vitreous luster, and non fluorescent. The Mohs hardness is 5–6. Cleavage is fair on {110} and fracture is uneven. Density (calc.) is 3.358 g cm–3 using the empirical formula and single-crystal cell data. The mineral is biaxial negative, α = 1.629(2), β = 1.659(2), γ = 1.667(2), 2V (calc.) = –53.8°, Y = b. Dispersion is weak to very weak, r &amp;lt; v, pleochroism not visible. Ferro-fluoro-edenite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 9.9132(10), b = 18.1736(19), c = 5.2943(6) Å, β = 104.85(1)°, V = 922.0(2) Å3, Z = 2. The strongest X-ray diffraction peaks in the powder pattern are [d(I, hkl)]: 8.54(100, 1 1 0), 4.506(16, 0 4 0), 3.154(52, 3 1 0), 2.833(43, 3 3 0), 2.057(14, 2 0 2), 1.910(12, 5 1 0), 1.662(15, 4 6 1). The FTIR spectrum shows a broad band at about 950 cm–1 and no bands in the OH stretching region. The structure refinement led to a final R = 0.0210 for 1444 observed reflections with I &amp;gt; 2σ(I) and allowed cation site assignment and ordering. Microprobe analysis gave the following empirical formula calculated on the basis of 24 (O + F + Cl) apfu: (Na0.69K0.23□0.08)(Ca1.69Mg0.16Mn0.10Na0.05)Σ2(Fe2+2.86Mg2.04Ti0.10)Σ5(Si6.93Al1.05Ti0.02)Σ8O22(F1.89Cl0.09OH0.02)Σ2.

Acoustic deterrent devices as mitigation tool to prevent dolphin-fishery interactions in the Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

In this study, acoustic deterrent devices (Pingers) have been tested to reduce dolphin-fishery interaction in the Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Italy), where ecosystem degradation and overfishing have increasingly brought bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) and striped dolphin ( Stenella coeruleoalba ) into conflict with local artisanal fishery. Thirty-six trials with FishTek banana Pingers have been performed between April and September 2017 on Spicara maena gillnet, trammel net, “Lampara” net, and hand-operated squid jig line (“Totanara”). A conspicuous decrease in depredation-related damages was recorded on S. maena gillnet (100 %) and Lampara net (86 %) tests, corresponding to a great increase in catch weight (Kg) and profit (€). On the contrary, in squid hand-jig lines, the depredation events were high (60 %) and a dramatic decrease of catch and profit was recorded. No significative differences in weight and profit and any dolphin-related damages have been observed between test and control trammel nets, but fish species included in dolphin diet were more abundant in test than in control nets. Our results suggested that different factors, such as dolphin species, season, habitat and fish species distribution, may affect the efficacy of Pingers. Furthermore, discard represent about 49 % of total catch and include potentially valuable bycaught (namely non-target) fish species, such as Sparisoma cretense , highly abundant in the area but poorly evaluated on the local market. Pingers and inclusion of non-target species in the local market represent potential mitigation tools to reduce the conflict, but they need adequate planning.

Behaviour and vocalizations of two sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) entangled in illegal driftnets in the Mediterranean Sea.

Illegal driftnetting causes each year several entanglements and deaths of sperm whales in different Mediterranean areas, primarily in the Tyrrhenian Sea. In summer 2020, during the June-July fishing season, two sperm whales were found entangled in illegal driftnets in the Aeolian Archipelago waters, Southern Italy. These two rare events were an exceptional chance to collect behavioural and acoustics data about entangled sperm whales. We analysed 1132 one-minute sets of breathing/behavioural data and 1575 minutes of acoustic recording, when the whales were found entangled, during the rescue operation, immediately after release, and in the days thereafter. The first whale was generally quiet showing a general status of debilitation/weakness, numerous skin lesions, and low breathing rate (0.31 (0.60)); it collaborated during rescue operations. On the contrary, the second whale showed a high level of agitation with a high breathing rate (1.48 (1.31)) during both the entanglement period and the net cutting operations, vigorously moving its fluke and pectoral fins, opening its mouth, sideway rolling or side fluking and frequently defecating. Acoustically, the first whale produced mainly single clicks in all phases except for two series of creaks during rescuing operations while the second whale produced a wide range of vocalizations (single clicks, likely either slow clicks or regular clicks, creaks, and codas). Our observations indicate that acoustics, respiratory and behavioural parameters may be useful to monitor the physical/physiological status of sperm whales during disentanglement operations.