ALBERT

Description: Soil fauna in the extreme conditions of Antarctica consists of a few microinvertebrate species patchily distributed at different spatial scales. Populations of the prostigmatic mite Stereotydeus belli and the collembolan Gressittacantha terranova from northern Victoria Land (Antarctica) were used as models to study the effect of soil properties on microarthropod distributions. In agreement with the general assumption that the development and distribution of life in these ecosystems is mainly controlled by abiotic factors, we found that the probability of occurrence of S. belli depends on soil moisture and texture and on the sampling period (which affects the general availability of water); surprisingly, none of the analysed variables were significantly related to the G. terranova distribution. Based on our results and literature data, we propose a theoretical model that introduces biotic interactions among the major factors driving the local distribution of collembolans in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems.

Description: Underway temperature and salinity data was collected along the cruise track with two autonomous measurement systems. Usually, the systems are changed after 6 hours. While temperature is taken at the water inlet in about 6.5 m depth, salinity is estimated within the interior measurement container from conductivity and interior temperature. Salinity was calibrated independently for both measurement containers (MCs). No correction was done for temperature. For details to all processing steps see Data Processing Report.

Description: Climate change is affecting the health and physiology of marine organisms and altering species interactions. Ocean acidification (OA) threatens calcifying organisms such as the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. In contrast, seagrasses, such as the eelgrass Zostera marina, can benefit from the increase in available carbon for photosynthesis found at a lower seawater pH. Seagrasses can remove dissolved inorganic carbon from OA environments, creating local daytime pH refugia. Pacific oysters may improve the health of eelgrass by filtering out pathogens such as Labyrinthula zosterae (LZ), which causes eelgrass wasting disease (EWD). We examined how co-culture of eelgrass ramets and juvenile oysters affected the health and growth of eelgrass and the mass of oysters under different pCO(2) exposures. In Phase I, each species was cultured alone or in co-culture at 12 degrees C across ambient, medium, and high pCO(2) conditions, (656, 1,158 and 1,606 mu atm pCO(2), respectively). Under high pCO(2), eelgrass grew faster and had less severe EWD (contracted in the field prior to the experiment). Co-culture with oysters also reduced the severity of EWD. While the presence of eelgrass decreased daytime pCO(2), this reduction was not substantial enough to ameliorate the negative impact of high pCO(2) on oyster mass. In Phase II, eelgrass alone or oysters and eelgrass in co-culture were held at 15 degrees C under ambient and high pCO(2) conditions, (488 and 2,013atm pCO(2), respectively). Half of the replicates were challenged with cultured LZ. Concentrations of defensive compounds in eelgrass (total phenolics and tannins), were altered by LZ exposure and pCO(2) treatments. Greater pathogen loads and increased EWD severity were detected in LZ exposed eelgrass ramets; EWD severity was reduced at high relative to low pCO(2). Oyster presence did not influence pathogen load or EWD severity; high LZ concentrations in experimental treatments may have masked the effect of this treatment. Collectively, these results indicate that, when exposed to natural concentrations of LZ under high pCO(2) conditions, eelgrass can benefit from co-culture with oysters. Further experimentation is necessary to quantify how oysters may benefit from co-culture with eelgrass, examine these interactions in the field and quantify context-dependency.

Description: We present a Geomorphological Landslide Inventory Map prepared for the Daunia Southern Apennines (Puglia region, south Italy) territory. The map provides information on the spatial distribution, type of movement and relative age of more than 17,000 landslides recognised on a territory of about 1800 km2. The map also provides information on areas with widespread landslides and geomorphological elements in relation to the slopes evolution and dynamics. It was produced through the interpretation of over 350 black and white stereoscopic aerial photographs, taken in the years 1954/55 and 2003, at a scale of approximately 1:33,000, aided by campaign checks. The 2003 aerial photographs were systematically examined over the entire study area, and the interpretation was integrated locally by observation and comparison of the 1954/55 images in complex geomorphological and geological settings, in densely vegetated and urbanized areas. The interpretation of the aerial photographs was carried out using multiple techniques for digital stereoscopic vision. The photo-interpreted thematic information was transferred to a topographic base compatible with a scale of 1:5,000.

Description: We present a lithological map of Italy at a scale of 1:100.000, obtained from classification of a comprehensive digital database. We first obtained the full database, containing about 300.000 geo-referenced polygons, from the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research. We grouped polygons according to a lithological classification by expert analysis of the original 5,456 unique descriptions of polygons, following geo-mechanical criteria. The procedure resulted in a lithological map with a legend including 19 classes, intended mainly for slope stability assessment, geo-morphological and geo-hydrological purposes. Other possible applications, including geo-environmental studies, evaluation of river chemical composition, estimation of raw material resources, are also possible and encouraged.