Sicily Research Articles

Sicily: art and invention between Greece and Rome

Sicily: art and invention between Greece and Rome

THE SMALL MAMMALS (INSECTIVORES, BATS AND RODENTS) FROM THE HOLOCENE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VALLONE INFERNO (SCILLATO, LOWER IMERA VALLEY, NORTHWESTERN SICILY)

The Vallone Inferno rock-shelter is an archeological site located at 770 m a.s.l. in the Madonie massif in Sicily. This massif is modeled into the Triassic and Oligocene sedimentary rocks of the Imerese Basin. Thearchaeological excavations conducted since 2008 have provided a long prehistoric and historic sequence from the Neolithic to the medieval period. From the four sedimentary complexes identified, only levels 3.4 to 3.1 from complex 3 and 4.2 from complex 4 have yielded small-mammal material. Level 4.2 is poor in remains and as yet without cultural ascription, though it has a radiocarbon age of 9450±50 years BP. Level 3.4 has yielded fragments of ceramic characteristic of the Middle Neolithic-Bronze Age period, with a radiocarbon age between 3948±35 and3244±42 years BP. Levels 3.3 to 3.1 have provided ceramic fragments ascribed to the Late Roman-Byzantine period, with a radiocarbon age between1332±26 and 1260±34 years BP.The small-mammal assemblages recovered from the sieving-washing of all the sediment from the excavation campaigns include a total of at least 14 taxa (three insectivores, four chiropterans and seven rodents). The materials from this locality provide the first mention in the fossil record of Sicily for Suncus etruscus , Muscardinus avellanarius , Eliomys quercinus and Rattus norvegicus , as well as the last occurrence for Arvicola amphibius . The scarcity of the remains recovered from stratigraphic levels 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 4.2 makes it difficult to undertake a palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatical interpretation of them. However, the richness in small mammal contents from level 3.4 allow us to show that this level is dominated by dry meadows and woodland areas with a temperature and precipitation range that lies within the current values for the surrounding area, coinciding with the dry and temperate phase detected previously by marine surveys and pollen and microcharcoal studies.

Sustainability evaluation of Sicily's lemon and orange production: An energy, economic and environmental analysis

The island of Sicily has a long standing tradition in citrus growing. We evaluated the sustainability of orange and lemon orchards, under organic and conventional farming, using an energy, environmental and economic analysis of the whole production cycle by using a life cycle assessment approach. These orchard systems differ only in terms of a few of the inputs used and the duration of the various agricultural operations. The quantity of energy consumption in the production cycle was calculated by multiplying the quantity of inputs used by the energy conversion factors drawn from the literature. The production costs were calculated considering all internal costs, including equipment, materials, wages, and costs of working capital. The performance of the two systems (organic and conventional), was compared over a period of fifty years. The results, based on unit surface area (ha) production, prove the stronger sustainability of the organic over the conventional system, both in terms of energy consumption and environmental impact, especially for lemons. The sustainability of organic systems is mainly due to the use of environmentally friendly crop inputs (fertilizers, not use of synthetic products, etc.). In terms of production costs, the conventional management systems were more expensive, and both systems were heavily influenced by wages. In terms of kg of final product, the organic production system showed better environmental and energy performances.

Genetic structure of wildcat (Felis silvestris) populations in Italy

AbstractSevere climatic changes during the Pleistocene shaped the distributions of temperate‐adapted species. These species survived glaciations in classical southern refuges with more temperate climates, as well as in western and eastern peripheral Alpine temperate areas. We hypothesized that the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) populations currently distributed in Italy differentiated in, and expanded from two distinct glacial refuges, located in the southern Apennines and at the periphery of the eastern Alps. This hypothesis was tested by genotyping 235 presumed European wildcats using a panel of 35 domestic cat‐derived microsatellites. To provide support and controls for the analyses, 17 know wildcatxdomestic cat hybrids and 17 Sardinian wildcats (F. s. libyca) were included. Results of Bayesian clustering and landscape genetic analyses showed that European wildcats in Italy are genetically subdivided into three well‐defined clusters corresponding to populations sampled in: (1) the eastern Alps, (2) the peninsular Apennines, and (3) the island of Sicily. Furthermore, the peninsular cluster is split into two subpopulations distributed on the eastern (Apennine mountains and hills) and western (Maremma hills and lowlands) sides of the Apennine ridge. Simulations indicated Alpine, peninsular, and Sicilian wildcats were isolated during the Last Glacial Maximum. Population subdivision in the peninsula cluster of central Italy arose as consequence of a more recent expansions of historically or ecologically distinct European wildcat subpopulations associated with distinct the Continental or Mediterranean habitats. This study identifies previously unknown European wildcat conservation units and supports a deep phylogeographical history for Italian wildcats.

Emergence and phylodynamics of Citrus tristeza virus in Sicily, Italy.

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) outbreaks were detected in Sicily island, Italy for the first time in 2002. To gain insight into the evolutionary forces driving the emergence and phylogeography of these CTV populations, we determined and analyzed the nucleotide sequences of the p20 gene from 108 CTV isolates collected from 2002 to 2009. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis revealed that mild and severe CTV isolates belonging to five different clades (lineages) were introduced in Sicily in 2002. Phylogeographic analysis showed that four lineages co-circulated in the main citrus growing area located in Eastern Sicily. However, only one lineage (composed of mild isolates) spread to distant areas of Sicily and was detected after 2007. No correlation was found between genetic variation and citrus host, indicating that citrus cultivars did not exert differential selective pressures on the virus. The genetic variation of CTV was not structured according to geographical location or sampling time, likely due to the multiple introduction events and a complex migration pattern with intense co- and re-circulation of different lineages in the same area. The phylogenetic structure, statistical tests of neutrality and comparison of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution rates suggest that weak negative selection and genetic drift following a rapid expansion may be the main causes of the CTV variability observed today in Sicily. Nonetheless, three adjacent amino acids at the p20 N-terminal region were found to be under positive selection, likely resulting from adaptation events.

When the rule becomes the exception. no evidence of gene flow between two Zerynthia cryptic butterflies suggests the emergence of a new model group.

There is increasing evidence that most parapatric cryptic/sister taxa are reproductively compatible across their areas of contact. Consequently, the biological species concept, which assumes absence of interbreeding, is becoming a not so effective criterion in evolutionary ecology. Nevertheless, the few parapatric sister taxa showing complete reproductive barriers represent interesting models to study speciation processes and the evolution of reproductive isolation. In this study, we examined contact populations in northwestern Italy of two butterfly species, Zerynthia polyxena and Z. cassandra, characterized by different genitalic morphotypes. We studied levels of divergence among 21 populations distributed from Sicily to France using three genetic markers (the mitochondrial COI and ND1 genes and the nuclear wingless gene) and genitalic geometric morphometrics. Moreover, we performed species distribution modelling to estimate different climatic requirements of Z. polyxena and Z. cassandra. We projected climatic data into glacial maximum scenarios in order to verify if and to which extent glacial cycles could have contributed to speciation processes. Genetic and morphometric analyses identified two main groups. All specimens showed a concordant pattern of diversification, including those individuals sampled in the contact area. Haplotype distribution and climatic models showed that during glacial maxima both species experienced a strong range contraction and presumably remained separated into different microrefugia in southern France, in the Italian Peninsula and on the islands of Elba and Sicily. Long term separation was probably favoured by reduced dispersal ability and high phylopatry, while genitalic diversification probably favoured interbreeding avoidance. Conversely, the aposematic wing pattern remained almost identical. We compared our results with those obtained in other species and concluded that Z. polyxena and Z. cassandra represent a valuable model in the study of speciation.

Scurvy disease in a young Sicilian man: a case report

BACKGROUND Scurvy disease is a condition due to deficiency of ascorbid acid (vitamin C) and it is characterized by weakness, anemia, appearance of mucocutaneous hemorrhages and induration of muscles in the legs. We report a case of a young man living in the island of Sicily, Italy. CASE REPORT A 17 years old man was admitted to our hospital for the appearance of diffused cutaneous manifestations. Cause the perception of being overweight, he began autonomously a diet and he didn’t take any fruit or vegetables for several months. At admission we observed the presence of severe muscular hypotrophy associated to hematomas subcutaneous of thorax, trunk and legs. Blood examination showed a mild anemia and the reduction of serum proteins. Coagulation patterns and electrocardiography were normal. Tomography showed the presence of pericardial and pelvic effusion. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed the reduction in wall thickness and a moderate anterior and posterior pericardial effusion with normal systolic and diastolic function. The blood level of vitamin C was considerably lower than normal range. Definitive diagnosis was “scurvy disease”. We start treatment with ascorbic acid at maximum dose combined with hypercaloric diet. Cutaneous lesions resolved in two weeks. After five months, with normalization of ascorbic acid level and complete disappearance of cutaneous manifestations, we repeated echocardiography showing a significantly increasing left ventricular wall thickness and the reduction in pericardial effusion. CONCLUSIONS Scurvy disease is extremely rare in Sicily where citrus fruit cultivations are extensive and typical of the island. Scurvy disease is historically linked to the era of great maritime expeditions, but it still occurs in developed countries and re-emerging in Western countries. In this case we observed a combination of cutaneous and cardiac findings probably due to combined malnutrition and vitamin C deficiency.

First report of Neofusiccoccum vitifusiforme and presence of other Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with Botryosphaeria dieback of grapevine in Sicily (Italy)

Summary. Since 2007, when a grapevine decline caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae was reported for the first time in Sicily, vines showing similar declining symptoms have been also found in other grape-growing areas of western and central Sicily. We report the result of a study on fungi associated with grapevine decline in Sicily, with particular regard to those belonging to the Botryosphaeriaceae . Four species were found to be associated with declining vines, namely Diplodia seriata , Lasiodiplodia sp., Neofusicoccum parvum and Neofusicoccum vitifusiforme , the latter species reported for the first time on Vitis vinifera in Italy.

Inspective investigation on Atlantic pomfret (Brama raji)

The present study was carried out on 21 specimens of Brama raji collected at fish markets of Sicily and Calabria between april 2011 and march 2012. The detection of total Enterobacteriaceae, Vibrio spp. and Specific Spoilage Bacteria from gills, intestine, skin and muscle during storage (336h) was carried out. 34 Vibrio spp. (rpoA+) strains were isolated from gills and skin. The subsequent identification of species by multiplex PCR (gene collagenase) allowed to establish that 33 strains were V. alginolyticus and one was V. parahaemolyticus. The anatomopathological examination of muscle tissue showed that 15 specimens (71.x4%) were positive for the presence of larvae of Gymnorhynchus gigas. The determination of TVB-N and TMA-N was made on muscle portions around the parasite, on larvae of G. gigas and on muscle portions parasite-free. The TVB-N and TMA-N contents of each sample were measured using the Conway microdiffusion method. The higher values of TVB-N (31.6 mg/100g) and TMA-N (8.5 mg/100g) were observed at 336 hours of storage. No statistically significant differences between muscle parasite-free and muscle around the parasite for TVB-N and TMA-N were observed during storage. Parasites of genus Koellikeria filicollis, Sphiriocephalus tergestinus and Anisakis spp. were also observed.

An updated checklist of the Italian Heleomyzidae (Diptera: Sphaeroceroidea)

An updated critical Italian checklist of heleomyzid flies (Diptera: Heleomyzidae), based on recently reported and newly collected material from the Italian mainland, Sicily and Sardinia, is presented. Seven species are new for the Italian mainland; three genera and five species are new for Sardinia; three genera and six species are new for Sicily. Additional material of examined Heleomyzidae from various Italian areas is recorded. The type specimens of Anorostoma romanum czerny, 1924, described from Rome, were studied by the junior author and the species is synonymized with Neoleria maritima ViLLeneuVe, 1921. A lectotype is designated for A. romanum.

Andamento dei valori fondiari in Italia ed in Sicilia

The present study has two aims, to provide a further contribute to the literature on land market, and to highlight the possible relationships between some macroeconomic factors affecting the land values trend in Italy and in Sicily. The data obtainable from the available information sources in the field were collected and processed. More in detail, in the first part of the paper a reference scenario is described through the presentation of the general features of agricultural land market, relying upon the specific scientific literature. Hereinafter, some time series at national and Sicilian level were built by using average agricultural land values, inflation rates and agricultural value added (at current and constant prices) and the relationships between the above-mentioned economic factors were pointed out.

Il Mezzogiorno e la Grande depressione. Capitale straniero, imprenditori e trafficanti tra crisi e trasformazioni

The long depression that affected Italy and Sicily between 1873 and 1896 exploded in Catania as a serious shortage of liquidity. This resulted in a long chain of economic failures that concerned the main import/export agencies created to market Sicilian agriculture and mining resources. This contribution attempts to introduce the history of the Peratoner family and to provide a second reading intended to examine in depth certain «revisionist» theses regarding the crisis that, far from being a long and still recessive period, appeared as a speculative explosion affecting both the banking and finance systems. However, what the long depression left as heritage to the south was the important development of the railway industry, which completely subverted the patterns of economic, social and political life, as well as people?s way of thinking.

Hüseyin Efendi Ottoman-Sicilian relations and the jizyah Accountant Embassy in Sicily

Hüseyin Efendi Ottoman-Sicilian relations and the jizyah Accountant Embassy in Sicily

Changes in eggshell ultrastructure of Falco naumanni and Tyto alba exposed to pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Changes in the quality of eggs of birds exposed to environmental contaminants have been described, but few reports concern eggshell ultrastructure. In this study, infertile or addled Lesser Kestrels (Falco naumanni) and Barn owls (Tyto alba) eggs were collected from the polluted area of Gela plain (Sicily) during 2007, and compared in terms of organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides, and PCBs levels, and eggshell ultrastructure as determined by scanning electron microscopy. Pesticide and PCB residues in eggs were determined by Gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) [GC Agilent 7890A/MS Agilent 5975C (Agilent technologies) using a DB-5 capillary column in the selected ion monitoring mode]. The GC/MS analysis revealed that eggs contained measurable amounts of some pesticides and PCBs. There was a low detection of organophosphate pesticides while the most abundant organochlorine residues detected were p,p’ DDT, p,p’ DDE, and Hexachlorobenzene. While, the most abundant PCBs detected congeners were PCB 138, 153, 170, 180, and 187. Although the general structure of the eggshell layers was maintained, the results showed ultrastructural differences in mammillary and palisade eggshell layers between high level and low level contaminated eggs in Tyto alba. Furthermore, mammillary cores of the eggshell had an increased distance between themselves with respect to well organized structures present in uncontaminated egg. In this paper we verify the presence of environmental contaminants in the eggs and document structural changes in bird of prey eggshells. The data could suggest that some contaminants can contribute to reduced reproductive performance (infertile or addled egg) by structural changes in the eggshell. The alteration in morphological disposition of mammillary cores could also suggest an impairment of gas exchange.

Using the Meteorological Information for the Regional Rainfall Frequency Analysis: An Application to Sicily

Regional frequency analysis is a useful tool for accurate estimation of precipitation quantiles than at-site frequency analysis, especially in the case of regions with a short rainfall time series. The use of meteorological information, combined with rainfall data analysis, could improve the selection of homogeneous regions. Starting from 1958, 198 meteorological configurations, related to extreme events, have been identified throughout the national territory of Italy. The reanalyzed meteorological data of the 40 Year Re-analysis Archive (ERA-40) of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) have been analyzed to identify homogeneous regions with respect to the Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), the Q vector Divergence (QD) and the Vertically Integrated Moisture Flux (VIMF). The latter index appears to be the better candidate for finding regional homogeneity inside areas where high frequency values of CAPE or QD are present. The paper presents an application based on the delimitation of homogeneous regions using climatic indexes for the island of Sicily. By applying the proposed methodology, seven homogeneous areas over Sicily were found. The consistency of the final results has been validated by using a coupled approach based on the Valuation of Floods in Italy procedure (VAPI) and on the heterogeneity test of Hosking and Wallis (Water Resour Res 29:271–281, 1993, 1997).

A revision of the West Palaearctic Scopaeus sericans species group (Staphylinidae, Paederinae: Scopaeina), with description of two new species from Central Asia

The Scopaeus sericans species group, which is distributed in the West Palaearctic, is described and proposed a monophyletic group using apomorphic characters of the aedeagus and the spermatheca. It includes the S. sericans subgroup in the mountains of southern temperate Europe, comprising S. cylindricus Ochs, 1953 (France, Spain) and S. sericans Mulsant & Rey, 1855 (Alps, Carpathians, very north of Apennines), and the Central Asian S. sareptanus subgroup with S. kastcheevi sp. n. (Kazakhstan, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan), S. turkestanicus sp. n. (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan), and S. sareptanus Gusarov, 1992 (Kazakhstan, South Russia, Uzbekistan). The species are described, mainly based on the primary and secondary male and female sexual characters, and their distribution is discussed and mapped. Examined specimens of S. sericans are from Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Reference specimens for records for Poland (Beskid Mts) and Romania seem to be lost. In contrast to the literature records, S. sericans is not distributed in the Canary Islands, North Africa, Iberian Peninsula, Sicily, Corsica, and Croatia. New country records are published for S. cylindricus (France) and S. sareptanus (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan). A lectotype is designated for S. sericans. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

FACIES PARTITIONING AND SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF A MIXED SILICICLASTIC-CARBONATE RAMP STACK IN THE GELASIAN OF SICILY (S ITALY): A POTENTIAL MODEL FOR ICEHOUSE, DISTALLY-STEEPENED HETEROZOAN RAMPS

The Gelasian succession of the Capodarso area (Enna-Caltanissetta basin, Sicily, Italy) consists of an offlapping stack of cycles composed of siliciclastic units passing to carbonate heterozoan, clino-stratified wedges, developed from a growing positive tectonic structure. Identification of a number of facies tracts, based on sedimentary facies, biofacies and taphofacies, provided important information about the differentiation and characterisation of systems tracts and key stratal surfaces of sequence stratigraphy. The bulk of carbonate wedges are interpreted as representing the rapid falling-stage progradation of distally steepened ramps. The inferred highest rate of carbonate production during forced regressions was concomitant with active downramp resedimentation by storm-driven downwelling flows, leading to storing of most carbonate sediment on the ramp slope as clino-beds of the prograding bodies. Comparison of the Capodarso ramps with other icehouse carbonate ramps, with particular regard to the Mediterranean Plio-Pleistocene, provides clues for defining some common features. These are inferred to include: (1) brief, rapid episodes of progradation concomitant with orbitally-forced sea-level changes, resulting in limited ramp width; (2) preferential fostering of growth and downramp resedimentation of heterozoan carbonates during glacial hemicycles marked by enhanced atmospheric and marine circulation; (3) building out from positive features of entirely submerged distally-steepened ramps with storm-wave-graded profile and distinctive clinoforms; (4) ramp stacks generally consisting of mixed clastic-carbonate sequences showing an ordered spectrum of distinct frequencies; (5) rapid, continuous changes in environmental parameters, leading to the short-lived persistence of faunal communities, climax communities generally having insufficient time to form.

A question of time: the land snailMurella muralis(Gastropoda:Pulmonata) reveals constraints on past ecological speciation

The lively debate about speciation currently focuses on the relative importance of factors driving population differentiation. While many studies are increasingly producing results on the importance of selection, little is known about the interaction between drift and selection. Moreover, there is still little knowledge on the spatial-temporal scales at which speciation occurs, that is, arrangement of habitat patches, abruptness of habitat transitions, climate and habitat changes interacting with selective forces. To investigate these questions, we quantified variation on a fine geographical scale analysing morphological (shell) and genetic data sets coupled with environmental data in the land snail Murella muralis, endemic to the Mediterranean island of Sicily. Analysis of a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) and eight nuclear microsatellite loci showed that genetic variation is highly structured at a very fine spatial scale by local palaeogeographical events and historical population dynamics. Molecular clock estimates, calibrated here specifically for Tyrrhenian land snails, provided a framework of palaeogeographical events responsible for the observed geographical variations and migration routes. Finally, we showed for the first time well-documented lines of evidence of selection in the past, which explains divergence of land snail shell shapes. We suggest that time and palaeogeographical history acted as constraints in the progress along the ecological speciation continuum. Our study shows that testing for correlation among palaeogeography, morphology and genetic data on a fine geographical scale provides information fundamental for a detailed understanding of ecological speciation processes.

Archaeology in Sicily 2006–2010

Archaeology in Sicily 2006–2010

A New Threat Looming over the Mediterranean Basin: Emergence of Viral Diseases Transmitted by Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes

A New Threat Looming over the Mediterranean Basin: Emergence of Viral Diseases Transmitted by Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes