Environment In Italy Research Articles

Physiological, biochemical, and ultrastructural characters of some strains of Viridiella fridericiana (chlorophyta, chlorococcales)

According to the ultrastructural, biochemical and physiological characters, three Chlorella -like strains, isolated from extremely low p H environments in Italy, were assigned to the species Viridiella fridericiana . The characters used were: absence of sporopollenin in the cell wall and of a pyrenoid in the chloroplast; hydrogenase activity, formation of secondary carotenoids under nitrogen deficiency, liquefation of gelatin, hydrolysis of starch; ability to grow on nitrate or ammonium containing media, thiamine requirement, acid-tolerance, salt-tolerance, termophily. The features considered, if compared to those of the type strain, did not reveal significant differences among the strains of V. fridericiana .

Three-dimensional single Doppler radar analysis of an occluded front

Single Doppler radar analysis has been applied to an occluded front associated with the last stages of cyclonic activity over the Norrkoping area in Central Sweden. Validation was conducted of the analysis methods, such as reflectivity contouring and wind calculation from Doppler radial velocity using velocity azimuth display (VAD). The structure of the cloud system was identified as composed of a stratocumulus cloud layer, horizontally divided into two sectors of high reflectivity (>20 dBZ), oriented parallel to the surface occluded front, each extending around 80 km W-E and 50 km S-N. Embedded in these two precipitating areas were local regions of very high reflectivity (up to 50 dBZ), indicating the presence of scattered heavy precipitation and showers. The case study represents a test of the capabilities of single Doppler radar analysis techniques to be introduced in the next future into the operative forecasting environment in Italy.

An ultrastructural research on natural populations of picoplankton from two brackish water environments in Italy

An ultrastructural research on natural populations of picoplankton from two brackish water environments in Italy

The diffusion of ostracode fauna in Lake Ragogna (Friuli, Italy)

BIOGEOGFIAPHIA - vol. XIII - 1987 Biogeografia delle Alpi Sud-Orientali The diffusion of ostracode fauna in Lake Ragogna (Friuli, Italy) (1) ESTER COLIZZA*, GIOVANNI PAOLO FANZUTTF‘, NEVIO PUGLIESE“? (*)Istz'tut0 (ii Geologic: e Pzzleoiztologzkz - Um’11eI'sz'tci di Trieste (q“q‘)Isz‘z'tut0 di Geologzkz, Paleontologia e Geogmfzkz — Um'versz'tc2 dz’ Pcmmz SUMMARY The study of 62 sediment samples collected in different seasons from 1981 to 1986 in lake Ragogna, has permitted the recognition of relationships between the biotopes and ostracode species belonging to the biocoenoses. In particular, the species idenfitied are 14, pertaining to 10 genera. The comparison between the Ostracoda found and those of other Italian and foreign lake environments has brought to light the existence of some species common to the central-northern European basin. The finding of Metacypris cordzzta for the first time in Italy results as being its most southern European location. Future research will be turned to the verification as to whether this species in Italy is exclusive to lake Ragogna or if it is present in other fresh-water environments within Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in order to determine if also among Ostracoda there exist microthermal species explainable as Ice Age relicts, as already proved in other vegetal and animal taxonomic groups. INTRODUCTION Papers concerned with fresh-water Ostracoda of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region are still very rare. An exception are a few studies undertaken by Fox (1962) and Stoch (1983) which respectively describe the Ostracoda of the mouth of the river Timavo and those of the ponds and lilly pools of the Triestine Karst. The study of the Ostracoda of lake Ragogna is the first such contribution to knowledge about the systematic and environmental value of Ostracoda in the lake environments of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. This also per— mits a comparison with the Ostracoda of other fresh-water environments in Italy and abroad, in order to obtain an indication of their geographical diffu- sion. MATERIALS AND METHODS SiXty~two samples were taken by unsing different methodologies (grab, skin—diver, plankton net) over the four seasons in the biotopes recognized in the lake (Fig. 1). (1) Research supported by M.P.I. (60%) programmes «Dinarnica ed evoluzione degli ambienti umidi italiani» (Director: Prof. A. Brambati) and «Evoluzione delle microfaune marine dal Miocene all’Attualegg (Director: Prof. N. Pugliese). 529

Culture and the environment in Italy

This essay evaluates the historical development and current background of human-environment relationships in Italy. The Italian landscape consists of very varied terrain, and periodically suffers from all kinds of natural hazard, especially earthquakes, landslides, floods, and accelerated soil erosion. Some measure of environmental conservation was achieved by the Etruscans and Romans, but the Classical period also marked the beginning of serious lowland waterlogging, malarial infestation, upland soil erosion, and deforestation, which all increased during the Middle Ages. From the Renaissance to the 18th century, there was a diffusion of planned landscapes and carefully managed estates; but by the 20th century, many rural areas could not support growing populations and much land was in need of improvement. Underdevelopment and latifundium agriculture increased the vulnerability to environmental hazards of the Mezzogiorno (Italian South), while the subsequent disappearance of the peasant culture seems not to have led to greatly improved conservation or land management. Poorly farmed or managed landscapes and poorly maintained historic towns have undergone some virtually irreversible degradation, especially with respect to landslides and earthquake damage. Elsewhere in Italy, unchecked urbanization, weak planning laws, and their inadequate enforcement have helped both to reduce environmental quality, by overdevelopment of valued landscapes, and to increase natural disaster vulnerability, by encouraging occupance of natural hazard zones. Although there are signs that the government is beginning to respond to the cumulative effect of environmental degradation, the measures are insufficient to reverse the overall trend toward decadence that characterizes human-land relationships in Italy.

Experimental data and critical review of the occurrence of hexachlorobenzene in the Italian environment

After an introduction on the toxicological and physicochemical characteristics of HCB and its methods of analysis in waters, food, etc., the communication draws a picture of HCB contamination in Italy, as seen from experimental data obtained from 1969 to 1974. The results given refer to samples of surface waters, soils, fauna, cows milk, uncooked and cooked total diets, human fatty tissue. In 120 samples of surface waters HCB was found to be present in 90% at an average level of 2.5 ppt (n.d. 25.1), 40 ppb were found in the soil and as much as 7.2 ppm in the liver of birds found dead. HCB was also found in 63 samples of whole cows milk (100% positive) at an average level of 4.2 ppb (0.2–17.2), while researches on total diets made it possible to evaluate an intake of about 4.2/μg/man/day in the diet of the “average man” (reference body weight: 60kg); this represents 11–12% of the allowable daily intake suggested provisionally by FAO/WHO. Finally HCB was measured in 28 samples of human fatty tissue (100% positive) at an average level of 0.491 ppm (0.126–1.359) in fresh tissue or 1.021 ppm (0.311–2.577) referred to the fat extracted. All these data have made it possible to calculate some indices of bioconcentration of the product and comparisons are made with the data obtained in other countries. In conclusion, attention is drawn to the fact that distribution of HCB in the environment in Italy and the levels found, are not consistent with its rather limited uses in the agricultural sector (dressing of seeds), so it is likely that other sources contribute to the pollution. The following are indicated among the possible sources: the presence of HCB as an impurity in other pesticides, its formation during the synthesis of products of the chemical industry and its presence in industrial wastes.