Obelia (Cnidaria,Hydrozoa, Campanulariidae): a microphagous,filter‐feeding medusa

Obelia is used in many zoology textbooks to exemplify the Hydrozoa life cycle. The body plan of Obelia medusae, however, is unique among the Hydrozoa. Contrary to all other hydromedusae, Obelia medusae do not derive from a medusary nodule, have neither a velum nor a subumbrellar cavity, the umbrella is flat, and swimming is achieved by umbrellar flapping and does not involve jet propulsion. The medusae of most Obelia species do not grow well on a diet of Artemia salina nauplii, the usual food for laboratory‐reared hydrozoans, and their rearing is often difficult. Previous observations reported that Obelia medusae might eat phytoplankton, driven to the mouth by movements of both the bell and the tentacles. To evaluate the efficiency of this feeding mechanism, we gave a suspension of genetically modified Escherichia coli expressing GFP to starved, newly released medusae of both O. dichotoma and Clytia hemisphaerica (the other campanulariid genus with medusae). Obelia medusae are able to concentrate bacteria in their gastric cavity, whereas Clytia medusae are not. Contrary to other Hydromedusae that are macrophagous, Obelia is a microphagous and filter‐feeding medusa, at least at the onset of its medusan life. As Cnidaria evolved before their current metazoan prey, their ancestral diet was probably microphagous. Obelia’s microphagous feeding habits could thus represent an example of the ancestral feeding condition in Cnidaria, but the apomorphic characters of its medusa suggest that its body architecture is not ancestral, and that its microphagy evolved relatively recently.     

Role of melting process and melt–rock reaction in the formation of Jurassic MORB-type basalts (Alpine ophiolites)

This study reports a geochemical investigation of two thick basalt sequences, exposed in the Bracco–Levanto ophiolite (northern Apennine, Italy) and in the Balagne ophiolite (central-northern Corsica, France). These ophiolites are considered to represent an oceanward and a continent-near paleogeographic domain of the Jurassic Liguria–Piedmont basin. Trace elements and Nd isotopic compositions were examined to obtain information about: (1) mantle source and melting process and (2) melt–rock reactions during basalt ascent. Whole-rock analyses revealed that the Balagne basalts are slightly enriched in LREE, Nb, and Ta with respect to the Bracco–Levanto counterparts. These variations are paralleled by clinopyroxene chemistry. In particular, clinopyroxene from the Balagne basalts has higher Ce_N/Sm_N (0.4–0.3 vs. 0.2) and Zr_N/Y_N (0.9–0.6 vs. 0.4–0.3) than that from the Bracco–Levanto basalts. The basalts from the two ophiolites have homogeneous initial Nd isotopic compositions (initial ε_Nd from +?8.8 to +?8.6), within typical depleted mantle values, thereby excluding an origin from a lithospheric mantle source. These data also reject the involvement of contaminant crustal material, as associated continent-derived clastic sediments and radiolarian cherts have a highly radiogenic Nd isotopic fingerprint (ε_Nd at the time of basalt formation?=???5.5 and ??5.2, respectively). We propose that the Bracco–Levanto and the Balagne basalts formed by partial melts of a depleted mantle source, most likely containing a garnet-bearing enriched component. The decoupling between incompatible elements and Nd isotopic signature can be explained either by different degrees of partial melting of a similar asthenospheric source or by reaction of the ascending melts with a lower crustal crystal mush. Both hypotheses are reconcilable with the formation of these two basalt sequences in different domains of a nascent oceanic basin.     

Nutrient budgets for European seas: a measure of the effectiveness of nutrient reduction policies

Socio-economic development in Europe has exerted increasing pressure on the marine environment. Eutrophication, caused by nutrient enrichment, is evident in regions of all European seas. Its severity varies but has, in places, adversely impacted socio-economic activities. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of recently adopted policies to reduce anthropogenic nutrient inputs to European seas. Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets were constructed for three different periods (prior to severe eutrophication, during severe eutrophication and contemporary) to capture changes in the relative importance of different nutrient sources in four European seas suffering from eutrophication (Baltic Proper, coastal North Sea, Northern Adriatic and North-Western Black Sea Shelf). Policy success is evident for point sources, notably for P in the Baltic and North Seas, but reduction of diffuse sources has been more problematic.     

The role of site effects in the comparison between code provisions and the near field strong motion of the Emilia 2012 earthquakes

A damaging seismic sequence hit a wide area mainly located in the Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy) during 2012 with several events of local magnitude \(\hbox {M}_\mathrm{l} \ge 5\) , among which the \(\hbox {M}_\mathrm{l}\) 5.9 May 20 and the \(\hbox {M}_\mathrm{l}\) 5.8 May 29 were the main events. Thanks to the presence of a permanent accelerometric station very close to the epicentre and to the temporary installations performed in the aftermath of the first shock, a large number of strong motion recordings are available, on the basis of which, we compared the recorded signals with the values provided by the current Italian seismic regulations, and we observed several differences with respect to horizontal components when the simplified approach for site conditions (based on Vs30 classes) is used. On the contrary, when using the more accurate approach based on the local seismic response, we generally obtain a much better agreement, at least in the frequency range corresponding to a quarter wavelength comparable with the depth of the available subsoil data. Some unresolved questions still remain, such as the low frequency behaviour ( \(<\) 1 Hz) that could be due either to complex propagation at depth larger than the one presently investigated or to near source effects, and the behaviour of vertical spectra whose recorded/code difference is too large to be explained with the information currently available.     

Skin biopsies for cell cultures from Mediterranean free-ranging cetaceans.

The aim of this study was to develop a useful method for obtaining viable tissue samples for establishing cell cultures from skin biopsies of free-ranging cetaceans. The skin biopsies were performed by two methods: dart from an air gun and dart from a crossbow. The dart tip was modified to collect tissue. The tissue was kept in tissue culture medium at ambient temperature, then processed within 24 h. Many modifications in culture technique, with respect to conventional culture methods for human fibroblasts, were made. The cultures thus obtained can be used for many purposes, including genetic and toxicological studies. In toxicology they are an alternative in vitro system for studying threatened animals such as marine mammals. In particular, fibroblasts can be used to test the vulnerability of cetaceans and pinnipeds to different environmental contaminants such as organochlorine compounds, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Dynamic response analysis of nonlinear secondary oscillators to idealised seismic pulses

The paper deals with the seismic response analysis of nonlinear secondary oscillators. Bilinear, sliding and rocking single-degree-of-freedom dynamic systems are analysed as representative of a wide spectrum of secondary structures and nonstructural components. In the first stage, the equations governing their full dynamic interaction with linear multi-degree-of-freedom primary structures are formulated, and then conveniently simplified using primary-secondary two-degree-of-freedom systems and dimensionless coefficients. In the second stage, the cascade approximation is applied, whereby the feedback action of the secondary oscillator on the primary structure is neglected. Owing to the piecewise linearity of the secondary systems being considered, efficient semi-analytical and step-by-step numerical solutions are presented. The semi-analytical solutions allow the direct evaluation of the seismic response under pulse-type ground excitations and are also used to validate step-by-step numerical schemes, which in turn can be used for general-type seismic excitations. In the third stage, a set of decoupling criteria are proposed for the pulse-type base excitations, identifying the conditions under which a cascade analysis is admissible from an engineering standpoint. Finally, the influence and relative dependencies between the input parameters of the ground motion and the primary-secondary assembly are quantified on the response of the secondary systems through nonlinear floor response spectra, and general trends are identified and discussed.     

Origin and timing of the post-Variscan gabbro–granite complex of Porto (Western Corsica)

The post-Variscan complex of Porto consists of metaluminous to slightly peraluminous A-type biotite granites mingled with gabbro-dioritic rocks, and late dykes with basaltic to trachyandesitic composition. U-Pb zircon dating by LA-ICP-MS on two mafic intrusive samples constrains the time of the gabbro–granite crystallisation at 281 ± 3 Ma and 283 ± 2 Ma. Hornblende ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages from a late trachyandesite dyke date the dyking event at 280 ± 2 Ma, which is within error the U-Pb zircon ages of the intrusives. Biotite granites show variable major and trace element compositions and similar initial ε_Nd (−0.3 to +0.9). Whole rock chemistry variations and trace element compositions of plagioclase and allanite indicate that the granites are genetically linked, essentially through fractional crystallisation of feldspars and minor allanite. On the basis of whole-rock chemistry e.g. initial ε_Nd +4.9 to +1.7 and trace element clinopyroxene compositions, we have ascertained that the mafic intrusives and basic dykes formed from isotopically depleted mantle source-derived melts with similar trace element signature. These basic melts experienced slightly different evolutionary histories, controlled by fractional crystallisation and crustal contamination, mainly by the acid magma that gave rise to the associated biotite granites, but also by the enclosing older Variscan granitoids. U-Pb zircon data suggest that the Porto complex was affected by hydrothermal fluid circulation at 259 ± 9 Ma.     

Ability of soil bacterial composition as an indicator of levels of soil erosion in a badland

Calanchi(plural of calanco) are typical Italian badlands created by a combination of morphogenetic processes(rill and interrill erosion, gullying, piping, and mass movements) mainly originated by the effect of water. Calanchi are characterized by the sparse and patchy distribution of vegetation, and, in interplant areas, the soil surface is colonized by an association of organisms known as biological soil crust(BSC). A morphometric analysis of 45 basins in the studied calanchi area, based on a h...