Eastern Coast Of Sicily Research Articles

Spread of Paraleyrodes minei Iaccarino (nesting whitefly) in Italian citrus groves

Outbreaks of Paraleyrodes minei Iaccarino have been noted on citrus in a wide area along the whole eastern coast of Sicily (South Italy), in the districts of Catania, Messina and Siracusa. Until this year, the whitefly was only reported in Italy from a few samples collected on a limited number of ornamental sour orange trees in a town park in Portici, in the district of Naples. Findings in 2014 of the insect in Sicily were made not only on ornamental citrus trees in urban areas, but more importantly in orange, lemon and mandarin commercial orchards. This severe and extremely rapid spread of P. minei in Sicily (where more than half of Italian citrus are produced) represents a potential threat for the local citrus industry and requires careful monitoring to define both the actual pest status of the whitefly as well as the occurrence and role of eventual natural enemies. Brief notes on morphology, bio‐ecology and present geographical distribution of P. minei are given in this paper, together with details on the occurrences in Sicily and short considerations on the pest importance and control possibilities for this insect.

Characterisation of lipid fraction of marine macroalgae by means of chromatography techniques coupled to mass spectrometry

In this work the characterisation of the lipid fraction of several species of marine macro algae gathered along the eastern coast of Sicily is reported. Two species of green marine algae (Chloropyceae), two species of red marine algae (Rhodophyceae) and four species of brown marine algae (Pheophyceae) were evaluated in terms of fatty acids, triacylglycerols, pigments and phospholipids profile. Advanced analytical techniques were employed to fully characterise the lipid profile of these Mediterranean seaweeds, such as GC–MS coupled to a novel mass spectra database supported by the simultaneous use of linear retention index (LRI) for the identification of fatty acid profile; LC–MS was employed for the identification of triacylglycerols (TAGs), carotenoids and phospholipids; the determination of accurate mass was carried out on carotenoids and phospholipids.Quantitative data are reported on fatty acids and triacylglycerols as relative percentage of total fraction.

Marine magnetic investigation of the submarine base of Mt. Etna and Hyblean Plateau

Two marine magnetic surveys were carried out during 1997 and 1999 in the Ionian Sea off the eastern coast of Sicily to investigate the magnetic structures of the eastern base of Mt. Etna and the Hyblean Plateau. The investigated area is approximately 85 km long and 15 km wide, running from North to South, in the Western Ionian Sea. Models along two profiles parallel to the coast and over the entire area provide a possible distribution of volcanic bodies and volcaniclastic deposits off the eastern coast of Sicily and their relations with the sedimentary substratum. 3D modeling suggests the presence of magnetized bodies, inserted in the sedimentary substratum, plausibly related to Hyblean Plateau volcanism in the south sector and to Mt. Etna activity in the north. We speculate that the Malta Escarpment could have produced preferential ways for magma ascents off the Hyblean Plateau. The spatial continuity of the volcanism affecting the entire investigated area could testify spatial transition between Hyblean and Etnean volcanism supporting the hypothesis that the magma process migrated with time from south-east to north-west.

Feeding habits of the Madeira rockfish Scorpaena maderensis from central Mediterranean Sea

In order to assess diet composition and niche breadth of this species, we analysed the stomach content of 182 specimens collected monthly along the eastern coast of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea). Overall, 50 prey taxa belonging to five major groups (algae, gastropods, crustaceans, polychaetes, fishes) were identified in 102 full stomachs. Benthic or epibenthic crustaceans, such as decapods, amphipods and isopods were the most important prey, whereas algae, gastropods, polychaetes and fishes were only occasionally ingested. In terms of composition by species, the diet of Scorpaena maderensis was characterized by a variety of rare or unimportant prey, which was consumed by few individuals only, although sometimes in large amount. As a result, S. maderensis can be considered a generalized and opportunistic feeder. The feeding intensity followed roughly a seasonal trend, with a minimum food intake in summer. The individual fish size was the most important factor affecting diet. According to the observed ontogenetic shift, small-sized individuals fed primarily on small crustaceans (i.e. amphipods and isopods), whereas large-sized specimens consumed preferably bigger and more vagile prey, such as walking and swimming decapods. No significant differences in diet were observed in relation to sex of predator and sampling season.

Cryptobenthic fishes of the “Ciclopi Islands” marine reserve (central Mediterranean Sea): assemblage composition, structure and relations with habitat features

The fish assemblage of the “Ciclopi Islands” marine reserve, which is located along the eastern coast of Sicily (Central Mediterranean), was unknown until our study provided insight into the cryptobenthic fish assemblage inhabiting this integral reserve zone. Visual census surveys were periodically conducted along the littoral rocky shores of Lachea, the largest island of the Ciclopi archipelago. The fish assemblage, which comprised 20 species belonging to Blenniidae, Gobiidae, Tripterygiidae, Scorpaenidae and Gobiesocidae, was dominated by Scorpaena maderensis and Trypterigion delaisi. Species richness (S) did not show significant differences between the northern, eastern, southern and western island coasts, whereas both species diversity (H′) and evenness (J) were significantly higher on the western coast than on the northern coast. The effect of the island coast on fish density was not significant with regard to the whole assemblage or to single species, except for S. maderensis and T. delaisi. The pattern of variation of assemblage parameters was mainly positively correlated with microhabitat variables, especially substratum composition and type of cover. The best predictors of fish total density were bottom slope, rugosity and substratum composition. Variations in relative species density were specified by a different combination of macro- and microhabitat variables. The density pattern of S. maderensis showed a positive relationship with depth. In T. delaisi, the influence of slope was interrelated to that of exposure to waves. This species preferentially inhabited flat habitat, sheltered from the open sea and covered by small boulders, but also more-exposed rockwalls. The population densities of Tripterygion melanurus and Lipophrys trigloides were negatively affected by depth, thus reflecting their preference for the upper infralittoral. T. melanurus was associated with a more complex habitat (stones and boulders), whereas L. trigloides was mainly censused on a narrow strip of solid rock between the waterline and 1 m depth.

Can ultrasonographic findings of perihepatic lymphadenopathy promote investigations to detect possible presence of virus C infection in non-symptomatic subjects?

Purpose: Only early detection of non-symptomatic patients is able to arrest the diffusion of the non-symptomatic HCV infection and lead to prompt treatment. Our aim was to attempt to correlate the presence of perihepatic lymph nodes and hepatitis C infection and to assess whether ultrasonography can have a role to promote specific investigations for pre-clinical diagnosis of virus C infection. Method: We performed a controlled study on a cohort of 7974 subjects from a town of 27 000 inhabitants on the eastern coast of Sicily. Serologic hepatitis A, B and C markers, alanine aminotransferase levels and abdominal ultrasound examination according to size and number of peri-hepatic lymph nodes were performed on blind basis. Results: One or more pathological lymph nodes were present in 684/7974 subjects. Haematochemical tests revealed the presence of anti-HCV positivity in 528/684 subjects with pathological lymph nodes and in 8/7290 subjects without pathological lymph nodes, there being a significant difference ( P<0.0001) between the two groups. Conclusion: Our results confirm the association between perihepatic lymph nodes and virus C infection. Correct diagnostic assessment of this datum could lead not only to early diagnosis by specific blood test for HCV and consequent prompt aimed treatment, but could pave the way for efficacious territorial prevention and detection of an elevated percentage of likely non-symptomatic carriers.

Contribution of tsunami data analysis to constrain the seismic source: the case of the 1693 eastern Sicily earthquake

The January 11, 1693 eastern Sicilyearthquake is comparable only with the December 28,1908 Messina Straits event in the Italian seismichistory as regards magnitude (ML ≅ 7), level ofdestruction and number of victims. The shock generateda strong tsunami, which hit the entire eastern coastof Sicily and particularly the town of Augusta. Theproblem of which fault was responsible for theearthquake is still open. Several hypotheses have beenformulated in the literature on the basis of differentkinds of geological, macroseismic and tectonic data,but a general agreement has not been reached yet. Animportant contribution to the discussion may come fromthe analysis of the tsunami data. In two previouspapers (Piatanesi et al., 1996; Piatanesi and Tinti,1998), the hydro-dynamical study of the tsunami basedon finite-element (FE) numerical simulations wascarried out taking into consideration mostlytheoretical faults, i.e. faults selected for theirsignificance in tsunami generation irrespective of thecorresponding geological evidence. This paper has tobe considered the continuation of the mentioned works.We have studied new sources proposed in theliterature, consistent with macroseismic data and/orgeological observations, and simulated thecorresponding tsunamis. We also built a new FE gridintroducing significant improvements in the coastlinerepresentation, and developed and applied a newalgorithm in order to account for the effect of thesea-bottom topography on the tsunami initialcondition. Some of the examined faults are located inthe Scordia-Lentini (SL) graben region and interceptthe coastline, others are placed in correspondencewith the Hyblaean-Malta (HM) escarpment and runparallel or sub-parallel to the coast. The conclusionof our work is that none of these faults respectsfully the available observations on tsunami, and thatthe faults exhibiting the best fit are those placed inthe SL region. It is worth stressing that our resultsare important for the assessment of seismic andtsunami hazard/risk in eastern Sicily, keeping also inmind that the 1693 earthquake has been selected as thereference event for an earthquake-scenario study inCatania and in south-eastern Sicily, called `CataniaProject', funded by CNR/GNDT (Consiglio Nazionaledelle Ricerche/Gruppo Nazionale Difesa dai Terremoti).

On the structure, typology and periodism of a cystoseira brachycarpa J. Agardh emend. giaccone community and of a cystoseira crinita duby community from the eastern coast of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)

A study of a Cystoseira brachycarpa community from the coast near Catania and of a C. crinita community from the coast near Syracuse (eastern coast of Sicily) is presented. It is based on periodic sampling carried out throughout one year, permitting a better characterisation of the communities with regard to both their periodism and floristic composition. The study proved that the C. crinita community showed a reduced seasonal periodism compared with that showed by the C. brachycarpa community. A comparative study including all samples showed that the communities differ from each other not only in the dominance of the two Cystoseira species but also in their overall floristic composition.

On the structure, typology and periodism of Cystoseira spinosa Sauvageau community and of Cystoseira zosteroides C. Agardh community from Eastern coast of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract A study on Cystoseira spinosa community and Cystoseira zosteroides community from Catania (Eastern coast of Sicily) is presented. It is based on monthly samples carried out throughout a year. That permitted to better characterize the communities as regards their periodism and floristic composition. From the comparative examination of samples made, resulted that the communities differ each other mainly in the Cystoseira species since their floristic composition are on the whole quite similar.

Hypnea furnariana sp. nov. (Hypneaceae, Rhodophyta) from eastern Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)

A new species of the genus Hypnea Lamouroux, H. furnariana sp. nov., from the eastern coast of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) is described. Plants form entangled mats with anastomosing branches. Branches and branchlets are subulate and much more slender than the main axes. In transverse section the axial cells are very small, while pericentral cells are quite larger and rounded or slightly oblong‐shaped. Tetraspo‐rangial swellings (annular or unilaterally exserted) and cystocarps are localized in the sub‐apical or in the middle part of fertile branches. A comparison was made with the closely related species H. spinella and H. pannosa.

Rules of address in secondary schools in Catania: Linguistic variation and its social/cultural value

ABSTRACTThe present research was carried out in Catania, a town of 600,000 inhabitants on the eastern coast of Sicily, and was motivated by the observation of cases of nonreciprocity of address to female teachers in secondary schools. While male teachers were always addressed with their academic, professional titles, which have great, overt prestige in southern Italy, women, on the contrary, were often addressed as signora or signorina ‘Mrs./Miss’ in the vocative form. The main objectives of the research were to find out (a) which schools were involved in this case of nonreciprocity; (b) how many female teachers considered it a sign of respect or an act of discrimination; (c) if the linguistic imbalance reflected a social one; and (d) what were its psychological causes. (Linguistic imbalance, nonreciprocity of titles, asymmetrical address, social imbalance, Italian)