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In the Northern Apennines, the Internal Ligurian Units are considered deformed and metamorphosed fragments of the Ligure-Piemontese oceanic basin. In this paper, we report on the temperature and pressure conditions of the metamorphic peak for four Internal Ligurian Units, estimated using different geothermometers and geobarometers based on the white mica and chlorite compositions. These minerals were formed during the D1 deformation phase in the pre-Oligocene. The results indicate that the Portello and Gottero units are both characterized by metamorphic conditions pertaining to low blueschists facies, while the Colli-Tavarone and Bracco-Val Graveglia Units show a lower metamorphic imprint that produces assemblages of prehnite-pumpellyite facies. The estimated geothermal gradient for the metamorphic peak achieved by the analyzed Internal Ligurian Units during the D1 phase is 7–15 °C/Km, which is indicative of deformation in a subduction setting. Under these conditions, the D1 phase developed in these units as a result of underplating at the base of the accretionary wedge during the closure of the Ligure-Piemontese basin. These data indicate a close geodynamic correlation among the Internal Ligurian Units and the ophiolite-bearing units of the Alps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents palynological data obtained from a trench excavated at the Neolithic pile-dwelling archaeological site of Palù di Livenza (northeastern Italy). The site is in a wetland located in a tectonic basin at the foot of the Cansiglio plateau, crossed by the Livenza river. Environmental conditions have made this wetland a suitable area for settlements since prehistoric times. Thanks to the peaty sediments that characterise the area, archaeological materials and botanical remains have been exceptionally well preserved. Their study has shed light on a Neolithic pile-dwelling settlement that developed in various phases between c. 6350 and 5600 cal BP (c. 4400 and 3650 BC), and has also allowed for a detailed environmental reconstruction of the surrounding environment. A vertical sequence of 20 samples was analysed to study pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs and microcharcoals. An age-depth model was performed based on three radiocarbon dates. The palynological analysis provided insight into the response of vegetation to environmental changes caused by both climatic fluctuations and human pressure. In this sense, it was possible to highlight differences in vegetation cover, some fires, the use of woody resources, the spread of cereal fields, as well as the presence of other cultivated plants and plant processing by the people within the village. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Italy plays a central role in the research on Europe's biogeography because of its position in the middle of the Mediterranean, which is a global hotspot of diversity. This study investigated how present patterns of earwig species richness and composition in Italy are affected by climatic, geographical, and historical factors. Earwig richness does not decrease from the base to the tip of the Italian peninsula, which contrasts with the so-called 'peninsula effect'. However, richness does not increase southward either, suggesting that southern regions did not play a crucial role as a refuge during Pleistocene glaciations. Inter-regional similarities in species composition between regions is more influenced by their geographical proximity than climatic similarity, although richness is positively correlated with precipitation, in accordance with earwig preferences for humid conditions. The similarity in species composition with central European fauna decreases southward, indicating possible exchanges between central Europe and Italy. The majority of the earwigs of the Italian fauna are either widespread across Europe and the Palearctic, or confined to the main Italian mountain ranges, that is, the Alps and the Apennines. The isolation of ancient earwig populations on mountains resulted in the development of a high proportion of endemics, making the Italian earwig fauna one of the richest in Europe. Placed in the center of the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, Italy plays a central role for the study of Europe's biogeography. In this paper, the influence of climatic, spatial, and historical factors on current patterns of variation in earwig species richness and composition is investigated. The Italian earwig fauna is mainly composed of species which are either widely distributed in Europe and the Palearctic region or that are endemic to the Alps and the Apennines. Variation in species richness does not follow any obvious geographical patterns, but a positive influence of precipitation on richness is consistent with earwig preferences for humid climates. European mainland territories did not contribute substantially to the current biodiversity of Italian earwigs, which explains the lack of a distinct peninsula effect, although a southward decrease in similarity with the central European fauna was observed. However, southern areas did not exert a pivotal role during Pleistocene glaciations in determining current patterns of species richness. Variation in species composition among Italian regions can be mostly explained by geographical proximity, while climatic differences and historical (paleogeographical and paleoecological) events seem to have played a minor role. However, the isolation of ancient earwig stocks on Italian mountains led to the origin of a relatively large number of endemics, which makes the Italian earwig fauna one of the richest in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide hazard management usually requires time-consuming campaigns of data acquisition, elaboration, and modeling. However, in the post-emergency phase management, time is a factor, and simpler but faster methods of analysis are needed to support decisions even in the short-term. This paper analyzes the Theilly landslide (Western Italian Alps), which was recently affected by a series of reactivations. While some instrumental campaigns are being carried out to support the design of protection measures, simple tools are also needed to assess the hazard of future reactivations and to evaluate the possibility of damming the torrent at the footslope. Therefore, state-of-the-art empirical methods were used and customized for the specific case study: a set of intensity–duration rainfall thresholds depicting increasing hazard levels was defined to monitor and forecast possible reactivations, while a methodology based on hydro-morphometric indices was applied to the case of study, to assess the possible evolution scenarios (landslide that does not dam the river, formation of a stable dam, formation of an unstable dam), based on the landslide volume. The proposed empirical methodologies have the advantage of requiring only ready-available input data and quick elaborations, thus allowing the rapid set up of tools that could be used for hazard management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector is amidst an industrial revolution driven by the integration of sensing, communication, and artificial intelligence (AI). Within this context, the internet of things (IoT) takes center stage, particularly in facilitating remote livestock monitoring. Challenges persist, particularly in effective field communication, adequate coverage, and long-range data transmission. This study focuses on employing LoRa communication for livestock monitoring in mountainous pastures in the north-western Alps in Italy. The empirical assessment tackles the complexity of predicting LoRa path loss attributed to diverse land-cover types, highlighting the subtle difficulty of gateway deployment to ensure reliable coverage in real-world scenarios. Moreover, the high expense of densely deploying end devices makes it difficult to fully analyze LoRa link behavior, hindering a complete understanding of networking coverage in mountainous environments. This study aims to elucidate the stability of LoRa link performance in spatial dimensions and ascertain the extent of reliable communication coverage achievable by gateways in mountainous environments. Additionally, an innovative deep learning approach was proposed to accurately estimate path loss across challenging terrains. Remote sensing contributes to land-cover recognition, while Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) enhances the path loss model's precision. Through rigorous implementation and comprehensive evaluation using collected experimental data, this deep learning approach significantly curtails estimation errors, outperforming established models. Our results demonstrate that our prediction model outperforms established models with a reduction in estimation error to less than 5 dB, marking a 2X improvement over state-of-the-art models. Overall, this study signifies a substantial advancement in IoT-driven livestock monitoring, presenting robust communication and precise path loss prediction in rugged landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Climate warming has already changed the distribution and composition of European dragonflies, and this process is ongoing. One example is Trithemis annulata, which had been limited to southern Italy for over 150 years and which has expanded its range to the Po Plain in four decades. Recently, this species has established in some alpine valleys. We tracked the spread of this species by analysing all available data and modelled its preferred climatic conditions in Italy. Our results, which consider the years 1825–2023, indicate that Trithemis annulata has been moving northward since 1980 at a rate of approximately 12 km per year. Upon reaching the Po Plain in 2016, this rate increased to 34 km per year. Even though this species is known for its good dispersal ability, it was unable to keep up with the speed of the advancing climate. Trithemis annulata has expanded into new areas due to climate warming and is now established in Alpine valleys, which are potential gateways for the colonisation of central Europe. Climate warming has already influenced the distribution, community composition, and phenology of European Odonata. Trithemis annulata had been confined to the southern regions of Italy for over 150 years. In only four decades, it has expanded its range and has recently been observed inhabiting several alpine valleys. A dataset of 2557 geographical distribution data points spanning the years 1825–2023 was compiled using various resources, with the aim to analyse the chrono-story of the expansion of T. annulata. A further aim was to investigate the climatic conditions that best explain its current and future distribution. Over a period of 43 years, the species steadily extended its northern range margin at an approximate rate of 12 km/year. Once it reached the Po Plain, the expansion accelerated to an average speed of 34 km/year. However, its northward shift lagged behind the warming climate as we estimated an average speed of 28 km/year. In the future, the area suitable for T. annulata is expected to significantly increase in Italy. Surprisingly, we did not observe any consistent upward shift. Trithemis annulata has considerably expanded its distribution due to human-induced climate warming. The northernmost populations now inhabit Alpine valleys, potential gateways to central Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the rainfall infiltration process within homogeneous and stratified colluvial deposits caused by short (1–3 h) and intense (40–90 mm/h) rainfall, using both analytical and numerical infiltration modelling. The findings of the investigation demonstrate that the classic Green–Ampt model can be employed effectively to study homogeneous colluvial covers with permeability equal to or lower than kw = 10−5 m/s and that are subject to a 1 h rainfall with intensity I ≥ 45–50 mm/h. In these circumstances, a top-down saturation front forms within the colluvial deposit, leading to the saturation of a 70–100 cm-thick layer. This critical condition occurs every 5–10 years in the mountain area of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (NE Italy), which corresponds to a lower return period of critical hydrologic events when compared with other mountain basins in the Alps due to the higher initial degree of saturation characterising colluvial covers in this area (70–95%). When analysing stratified colluvial covers, the Dagan–Bresler approximate model, as well as the numerical modelling, emphasised the strong influence that abrupt variations in the permeability of the various soil layers have on the infiltration process at depth. In particular, the presence of a top organic soil horizon that is rich in macro-pores and is characterised by a higher permeability (k = 10−4 m/s) actually reduces the possibility of surficial ponding, which is the basic condition of the "piston" models. The highly permeable top soil allows for a rapid downward infiltration up to contact with the underlying colluvial material, which is less permeable (k = 10−5 m/s). Therefore, a perched water table forms starting from the organic soil–colluvium interface, originating pore–water overpressures within the colluvial deposit, with maximum values in the order of 5–10 kPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Italy, the debate regarding the presence of crosses and crucifixes in public places is long-standing and involves their detractors, supporters and defenders. Over time, these conflicting positions have gained media resonance, becoming a sociopolitical controversy that has led to lawsuits at various levels, including the European Court of Human Rights. In the social sphere, the issue has oscillated between the recognition of the universal value of religious symbols and advocacy for secularism, even in open spaces such as mountaintops. During the last few decades, several initiatives have been undertaken in the Italian Alps, driven by ecological concerns and opposition to the presence of crosses on the mountains. These initiatives have resulted in collective actions against the positioning and erection of crosses, and there have even been attempts to diversify the Italian peaks. By providing a historical overview of the Christianisation of Italian mountaintops and focusing on the mobilisation against the presence of crosses, this article contributes to the understanding of the role of such symbols in Italian public opinion, which is intertwined with the vitality of the Catholic Church and the sociopolitical implications of these initiatives. The research questions will investigate the process of legitimisation and delegitimisation of Christian symbols. The cross on the mountaintop serves as an example of culturalised religion, where this cultural object can become a "passive religious symbol," polarising claims for the defence of the natural environment and the sustainability of religion in the mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale slow-moving deep-seated landslides are complex and potentially highly damaging phenomena. The detection of their dynamics in terms of displacement rate distribution is therefore a key point to achieve a better understanding of their behavior and support risk management. Due to their large dimensions, ranging from 1.5 to almost 4 km2, in situ monitoring is generally integrated using satellite and airborne remote sensing techniques. In the framework of the EFRE-FESR SoLoMon project, three test-sites located in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (Italy) were selected for testing the possibility of retrieving significant slope displacement data from the analysis of multi-temporal airborne optic and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) surveys with digital image correlation (DIC) algorithms such as normalized cross-correlation (NCC) and phase correlation (PC). The test-sites were selected for a number of reasons: they are relevant in terms of hazard and risk; they are representative of different type of slope movements (earth-slides, deep seated gravitational slope Deformation and rockslides), and different rates of displacement (from few cm/years to some m/years); and they have been mapped and monitored with ground-based systems for many years (DIC results can be validated both qualitatively and quantitatively). Specifically, NCC and PC algorithms were applied to high-resolution (5 to 25 cm/px) airborne optic and LiDAR-derived datasets (such as hillshade and slope maps computed from digital terrain models) acquired during the 2019–2021 period. Qualitative and quantitative validation was performed based on periodic GNSS surveys as well as on manual homologous point tracking. The displacement maps highlight that both DIC algorithms succeed in identifying and quantifying slope movements of multi-pixel magnitude in non-densely vegetated areas, while they struggle to quantify displacement patterns in areas characterized by movements of sub-pixel magnitude, especially if densely vegetated. Nonetheless, in all three landslides, they proved to be able to differentiate stable and active parts at the slope scale, thus representing a useful integration of punctual ground-based monitoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic threats are responsible for habitat degradation and biodiversity decline. The mapping of the distribution and intensity of threats to biodiversity can be useful for informing efficient planning in protected areas. In this study, we propose a cumulative spatial and temporal analysis of anthropogenic impacts insisting on an alpine protected area, the Gran Paradiso National Park. The applied methodology starts with the construction of a spatial and temporal dataset of anthropogenic impacts and normalization based on relative intensity. The impacts analyzed include overgrazing, helicopter flights, road networks, built-up areas, worksites, derivations and discharges, sports activities, and dams and hydroelectric power plants. Each impact was assigned a weight based on its temporal persistence. Threats maps obtained from the collected, normalized, and weighted geodata are thus obtained. Finally, the risk map is calculated by combining the impact map with the vulnerability map, estimated through the methodology outlined in the Green Guidelines of the Metropolitan City of Turin. The risk map obtained was cross-referenced with the Park's cartography to highlight any critical issues to specific habitats. Results show that most of the territory falls in low-risk (63%) or no-risk (35%) areas. However, there are some habitats that are totally or nearly totally affected by some degree of risk, although different to zero, such as the "Lentic waters with aquatic vegetation [incl. cod. 3130]", the "Lentic waters partially buried", the "Mountain pine forests (Pinus uncinata) [cod. 9430]", and the "Mixed hygrophilous woods of broad-leaved trees [incl. cod. 91E0]". This study highlights both the potential of these analyses, which enable informed management and planning of the fruition of protected areas, and the limitations of such approaches, which require in-depth knowledge of the territory and ecosystems and how they respond to threats in order to refine the model and obtain realistic maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high altitude mountain slopes of the Dolomites (Italian Alps) are characterized by great habitat and landform heterogeneities. In this paper, we investigated the effect of Nature 2000 habitat and landform types in driving the high altitude ground beetle (Carabidae) distribution in the Western Dolomites (Brenta group, Italy). We studied the carabid assemblages collected in 55 sampling points distributed in four Nature 2000 habitat types and four landform types located between 1860 and 2890 m above sea level (a.s.l.). Twenty-two species, half of them Alpine endemics, were sampled. Species richness and taxonomic distinctness did not show any significant difference among habitat types; conversely, these differences became significant when the landform type was considered. Total activity density and the frequency of brachypterous, endemic and predatory species showed significant differences between both habitat and landform types. Indicator species analysis identified twelve species linked to a specific habitat type and thirteen species linked to a specific landform type. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that altitude and vegetation cover drove the species distribution in each habitat and landform type while the aspect had a weak effect. Our results highlight the need for a geomorphological characterization of the sampling points when high altitude ground-dwelling arthropods are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 20th anniversary year of the European Geopark Network, and 5 years on from the receipt of the UNESCO label for the geoparks, this research focuses on geotourism contents and solutions within one of the most recently designated geoparks, admitted for membership in 2013: the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Western Italian Alps). The main aim of this paper is to corroborate the use of fieldtrips and virtual tours as resources for geotourism. The analysis is developed according to: i) geodiversity and geoheritage of the geopark territory; ii) different approaches for planning fieldtrip and virtual tours. The lists of 18 geotrails, 68 geosites and 13 off-site geoheritage elements (e.g., museums, geolabs) are provided. Then, seven trails were selected as a mirror of the geodiversity and as container of on-site and off-site geoheritage within the geopark. They were described to highlight the different approaches that were implemented for their valorization. Most of the geotrails are equipped with panels, and supported by the presence of thematic laboratories or sections in museums. A multidisciplinary approach (e.g., history, ecology) is applied to some geotrails, and a few of them are translated into virtual tours. The variety of geosciences contents of the geopark territory is hence viewed as richness, in term of high geodiversity, but also in term of diversification for its valorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of a field-based structural investigation of a well-exposed paleo-accretionary prism, which experienced complex deformation in a low-grade metamorphic setting. Field analyses focused on the description of structural fabrics, with the main emphasis upon parameters like the orientation, style and kinematics of foliations, folds and shear zones. We address the research to the south-westernmost part of the Alpine chain, the Ligurian Alps, where, despite their origin as turbidite sequences deposited into the closing Alpine Tethys Ocean, the Helminthoid Flysch Nappes are presently distributed in the outer part of the chain, above the foreland. The new dataset highlights different deformation patterns related to the different spatial distribution of the flysch units. This regional-scale partitioning of strain is hence associated with progressive deformation within a two-stage geodynamic evolution. Correlations among the different orogenic domains allow the proposal of a kinematic model that describes the motion of the Helminthoid Flysch from the inner to the outer part of the orogen, encompassing the shift from subduction- to collision-related Alpine geodynamic phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we assessed the potential effects of climate change upon the productivity of mountain pastures in the Valtellina valley of Italy. Two species, Trisetum flavescens and Nardus stricta, among the most abundant in Italian pastures, were chosen for the simulation of low- and high-altitude pastures, respectively. We introduced some agroclimatic indices, related to growing season parameters, climate, and water availability, to evaluate the impacts of climate change upon pasture production. First, the dynamic of the pasture species was evaluated for the present period using the climate-driven, hydrologically based model Poli-Hydro, nesting the Poli-Pasture module simulating plants growth. Poli-Pasture was validated against yield data, at province scale, and at local scale. Then, agroclimatic indices were calculated. Subsequently, IPCC scenarios of the Fifth and Sixth Assessment Reports (AR5 and AR6) were used to project species production and agroclimatic indices until the end of the 21st century. In response to increased temperature under all scenarios, a large potential for an increased growing season length and species yield overall (between +30% and +180% for AR5 at 2100) was found. Potential for decreased yield (until −31% for AR5) is seen below 1100 m asl in response to heat stress; however, it is compensated by a large increase higher up (between +50% and +140% for AR5 above 2000 m asl). Larger evapotranspiration is foreseen and larger water demand expected. However, specific (for hectares of pasture) water use would decrease visibly, and no significant water limitations would be seen. Results provide preliminary evidence of potential livestock, and thereby economic development in the valley at higher altitudes than now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has repercussions on the management of water resources. Particularly, changes in precipitation and temperature impact hydropower generation and revenue by affecting seasonal electricity prices and streamflow. This issue exemplifies the impact of climate change on the water-energy-nexus, which has raised serious concern. This paper investigates the impact of climate change on hydropower with a multidisciplinary approach. A holistic perspective should be favored as the issue is complex, consequently, we chose to investigate a specific case study in Italy. It allows grasping the details, which matters in mountainous area. We integrated a hydrological model, hydropower management model, nine climate scenarios, and five electricity scenarios for a specific storage hydropower plant. Independently from the scenarios, the results show a glacier volume shrinkage upward of 40% by 2031 and minimum of 50% by 2046. The reservoir mitigates losses of revenue that reach 8% in the worst case, however, are lower compared with run-of-the-river configuration. Changes in price seasonality amplitude also determine modifications in revenues, while temporal shifts appear to be ineffective. For run-of-the-river, any variation in hydrological cycle immediately translates into revenue. Comparing the results of all future scenarios with the base scenario, it can be concluded that an increase in temperature will slightly improve the performances of hydropower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rockfalls are widespread, rapid, and high-energy landslide phenomena that could potentially affect large portions of populated lands. The preliminary identification of the most rockfall-prone zones is a challenging task, especially in times of extreme and unpredictable climate change. Even slight environmental modifications can produce significant consequences in terms of exposure, hazard, and risk. Therefore, a timely risk assessment is paramount for territorial administrators to plan and prioritize adequate countermeasures. Risk assessment is crucial to guaranteeing the safety of human lives, the integrity of structures and infrastructures, the preservation of historic and environmental heritage, and the safeguard of economic activities. Hence, new and rapid evaluation methods for rockfall hazard, vulnerability, and risk are needed to identify the most critical areas where more indepth analyses aimed at the design of protective works should be carried out. This study proposes a quick, innovative, and completely GIS-based procedure to preliminarily assess rockfall time-independent hazard and risk in large areas. Propagation analysis is performed by integrating powerful QGIS plugin QPROTO, which can estimate rockfall energy within the invasion area in a simplified way, with the slope units polygons of the Italian territory for the definition of the input parameters. The quantification of risk was obtained by the application of the multidisciplinary IMIRILAND methodology, again within a free and open QGIS environment. Lastly, to test the capabilities of the method, the procedure was applied to a case study of the Sorba Valley (Piemonte, Italy), a tourist region in the northwestern Italian Alps. The findings offer an important contribution to the field of land-planning activities and risk-management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical hydrometeorological events are generally triggered by heavy precipitation. In complex terrain, precipitation may be perturbed by the upslope raising of the incoming humid airflow, causing in some cases extreme rainfall. In this work, the application of LUME—Linear Upslope Model Extension—to a group of extreme events that occurred across mountainous areas of the Central Alps and Apennines in Italy is presented. Based on the previous version, the model has been "extended" in some aspects, proposing a methodology for physically estimating the time-delay coefficients as a function of precipitation efficiency. The outcomes of LUME are encouraging for the cases studied, revealing the intensification of precipitation due to the orographic effect. A comparison between the reference rain gauge data and the results of the simulations showed good agreement. Since extreme precipitation is expected to increase due to climate change, especially across the Mediterranean region, LUME represents an effective tool to investigate more closely how these extreme phenomena originate and evolve in mountainous areas that are subject to potential hydrometeorological risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Debris flow is one of the most dangerous natural processes in mountain regions and it occur in a wide variety of environments throughout the world. In the Italian Alps, some tens of thousands of damaging debris flow and, in general, torrential floods associated to intense sediment transport in secondary catchments have been documented in the last 300 years. These have caused socio-economic damage, damage to anthropogenic structures or infrastructures and in many cases casualties. Often, in the same basins, the occurrence of debris-flow processes recurs many years later. Prediction can often be spatial and based on the magnitude of the largest known process, while the temporal forecast is the most uncertain. It is also possible to increase the resilience of the population and of the territory. The present study aims at investigating different levels of debris-flow hazard in urban areas on Alpine alluvial fans and proposes a strategy for debris-flow prevention based on historical research and on a simplified analytical approach, methods that also involve relatively low costs. For such analysis, Ischiator stream catchment (ca. 20 km2) and its alluvial fan (NW Italy) were selected. This area was partly affected by historical torrential flood associated to intense sediment transport and debris-flow processes. Present-day instability conditions along the slope and the stream network were detected and synthesized through surveys and aerial photo interpretation integrated by satellite images (period 1954–2021). An estimation of the potential amount of moving detritus, referred to as debris flow, was carried out regarding the June 1957 debris-flow event, based on the predictive models. The individual hazard index value was estimated based on different methods. The results indicate that 56% of the area is exposed to flood associated to intense sediment transport hazard, which fluctuates from high to very high levels; such results are supported by debris-flow historical records. Since today almost half of the settlement (Bagni di Vinadio) is located on potentially risk-exposed areas, the urban evolution policy adopted after the 1957 event failed to manage the risk connection to debris-flow activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research reports the use of a new method of geomorphological mapping in GIS environments, using a full-coverage, object-based method, following the guidelines of the new geomorphological legend proposed by ISPRA–AIGEO–CNG. This methodology is applied to a tributary valley of the Germanasca Valley, shaped into calcschist and greenschist, of the Piedmont Zone (Penninic Domain, Western Alps). The investigated sector is extensively affected by dep-seated gravitational slope deformation (DSGSD) that strongly influences the geological setting and the geomorphological features of the area. The mapping of these gravitational landforms in a traditional way creates some difficulties, essentially connected to the high density of information in the same site and the impossibility of specifying the relationships between different elements. The use of the full-coverage, object-based method instead is advantageous in mapping gravitational evidence. In detail, it allows for the representation of various landforms in the same sector, and their relationships, specifying the size of landforms, and with the possibility of multiscale representation in the GIS environment; and, it can progressively be update with the development of knowledge. This research confirms that the use of the full-coverage, object-based method allows for better mapping of the geomorphological features of DSGSD evidence compared to classical representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyzed up to 80 detrital quartz grains from four lithic greywackes along the stratigraphic column of the Julian Basin, a synorogenic basin in the southeastern Alps between Italy and Slovenia. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of detrital quartz was used to investigate the sample set with interest to its OH-defect speciation and content of each associated substitution. According to several recent studies, OH-defects in quartz are correlated to petrogenetic conditions of the source material and can be used as a provenance tool. The aim of this study is to compare results based on this method with previous studies that used other methods, to better constrain the palaeogeographical reconstruction of sedimentary fluxes. Detrital quartz within the samples of the basin shows different patterns of OH-defects and water content, indicating substantial petrogenetic differences between the sediment source rocks. For the oldest analyzed sample (ca. 66 Ma), the distribution of OH-defects suggests a mixed source between igneous and non-igneous rocks, with a predominance of metamorphic material supply. Another sample (56 Ma) reveals a great variability of OH-defects and water content, indicating that the magmatic component dominates over the metamorphic component. The distribution of OH-defects in the samples at the top of the sequence (52–53 Ma) suggests an almost solely metamorphic source. These results are in line with previous studies based on heavy minerals and geochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work a rare and attractive blue diopside present in Sissone valley in the Western Alps was investigated through different methodologies: geological survey; standard gemological methods; X-Ray Powder Diffraction; SEM observations; Raman spectrometry; EMP analyses of major elements; and LA-ICP-MS analyses for minor and trace elements. The host rock of investigated gems is represented by a Mg-calcite bearing marble, belonging to the Suretta nappe and composed of blue diopside, lizardite, phlogopite, forsterite, Ca-Mg-amphibole, and thomsonite; the rock was metamorphosed by the intrusion of Masino-Bregaglia pluton. The diopside is generally found in the core of veins in contact with green–blue tremolite and, more externally, with green–yellowish lizardite. The diopside samples show opaque diaphaneity, are inert to long and short-waves UV radiation, and their specific density varies between 3.24 and 3.30 g/cm3 while medium refraction between 1.680–1.683. The diopside shows a polycrystalline texture with interstitial Mg-calcite which acts as binder. The characteristic blue–turquoise color is mainly determined by traces of V and subordinately of Fe, Mn, Cr and Ti. The contents of V and Ti show a good positive correlation. The minerals associated with diopside in the lenticular veins also show enrichments in V. The blue diopside of the Sissone valley could certainly present a good commercial value, but unfortunately it is difficult to reach the outcrop sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Alpine grasslands are among the few terrestrial habitats not obviously dominated by ants. Yet few studies have addressed how ant communities change along tree-line ecotones on mountains. We combined five survey methods to assess ant assemblages along the tree line at five mountains in the south-central Alps of Italy. Ant species richness peaked directly at the tree line, but this was not due to a mixing of forest with grassland species. In subalpine forest and at the tree line, ant assemblages were dominated by mound-building red wood ants. Community composition and functional species traits indicated competition as a potential effect of community assembly in subalpine forest. Further, habitat features such as elevation, dwarf shrub cover, and the extent of a soil humus layer shaped species composition of ant communities around the tree line. Ants are crucial for the functioning of many terrestrial ecosystems, but detailed knowledge of their ecological role is often lacking. This is true for high mountains where a steep environmental gradient exists from mountainous forest, densely populated by ants, to grassland habitats above the tree line, harboring a sparse ant community. We assessed ant communities in and around the tree line ecotone on five slopes in the southern-central Alps, focusing on their species diversity, community composition, and functional dimensions. Species richness and functional diversity were highest directly at the ecotone. Ant community composition was shaped by elevation and shrub cover. Further, the abundance of the dominant mound-building red wood ants (Formica s. str.) influenced the community composition of the subordinate species. We conclude that over the tree line ecotone a shift in predominance from biotic limitations in the forest to abiotic filters in the alpine environment takes place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landraces are an agri-food and historical-cultural heritage but are undergoing losses worldwide. Italy is taking action to counteract this problem by following European guidelines. One of the most important measures is the Agrobiodiversity National Register (ANR), but 12 Italian regions currently appear without any landraces and around 80% of the landraces listed are trees, with less detailed data on herbaceous species. The aim of this study is to investigate the situation for Italian herbaceous landraces preserved on farms (in situ) by merging and analyzing data contained in the main databases on plant agrobiodiversity in Italy. Data were georeferenced, organized by botanic families and Italian regions, and analyzed by GIS and R. A total of 1615 herbaceous landraces were found (versus the 416 recorded in the ANR). Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae together comprise 70% of all herbaceous landraces and are mostly preserved/grown in areas between 150 and 800 m a.s.l. Some hilly and sub-mountain areas of the Apennines and the Alps are hotspots of herbaceous landraces due to anthropic and environmental factors. The results of this research will be useful to enrich the ANR and trigger actions of characterization, conservation, and promotion of these plant resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative studies of seed germination of closely related taxa can help increase our understanding of the ecological limitations of cold-adapted plants and forecast how they might respond to global warming. No studies exist on the relationship between thermoclimatic belts that classify mountain life zones according to bioclimatic criteria and the germination strategy of alpine plants. The aim of this study was to assess this relationship using two closely related species growing in different thermotypes and to test whether their germination responses were related to the climate at natural sites. Fresh Rhaponticum bicknellii and R. scariosum seeds were cold stratified for 0, 30, 60 and 90 days and tested for germination at 10, 15 and 20 °C. At the same time, seed burial experiments were run in the field and in the plant nursery. A GLM analysis showed that the length of cold stratification affected significantly only the germination of R. bicknellii seeds, while increasing temperatures prompted germination in both species. We found that R. bicknellii adopts a drought-avoiding germination strategy, while R. scariosum germination is favoured by warm temperatures. Our findings support the general view that alpine plants do not share common germination requirements and that any conclusions should be interpreted from a biogeographical and bioclimatic perspective. Therefore, seed germination and seedling establishment of endemic alpine species can also be predicted by looking at the bioclimate of the species' range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main aims of the University of Pavia mycology laboratory was to collect wood decay fungal (WDF) strains in order to deepen taxonomic studies, species distribution, officinal properties or to investigate potential applications such as biocomposite material production based on fungi. The Italian Alps, Apennines and wood plains were investigated to collect Basidiomycota basidiomata from living or dead trees. The purpose of this study was to investigate the wood decay strains of the Mediterranean area, selecting sampling sites in North and Central Italy, including forests near the Ligurian and Adriatic seas, or near the Lombardy lakes. The isolation of mycelia in pure culture was performed according to the current methodology and the identity of the strains was confirmed by molecular analyses. The strains are maintained in the Research Culture Collection MicUNIPV of Pavia University (Italy). Among the 500 WDF strains in the collection, the most interesting isolates from the Mediterranean area are: Dichomitus squalens (basidioma collected from Pinus pinea), Hericium erinaceus (medicinal mushroom), Inocutis tamaricis (white-rot agent on Tamarix trees), Perenniporia meridionalis (wood degrader through Mn peroxidase) and P. ochroleuca. In addition, strains of species related to the Mediterranean climate (e.g., Fomitiporia mediterranea and Cellulariella warnieri) were obtained from sites with a continental-temperate climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several prior studies investigated the use of stable isotopes of water in hydrogeological applications, most on a local scale and often involving the isotopic gradient (evaluated by exploiting the so-called altitude effect), calculated on the basis of rainwater isotopes. A few times, this gradient has been obtained using the stable isotopic contents of low-yield springs in a limited time series. Despite the fact that this method has been recognized by the hydrogeological community, marked differences have been observed with respect to the mean stable isotopes content of groundwater and rainwater. The present investigation compares the stable isotopic signatures of 23 low-yield springs discharging along two transects from the Tyrrhenian sea to the Po Plain of Italy, evaluates the different isotopic gradients and assesses their distribution in relation to some climatic and topographic conditions. Stable isotopes of water show that groundwater in the study area is recharged by precipitation and that the precipitation regime in the eastern portion of the study area is strongly controlled by a shadow effect caused by the Alps chain on the air masses from central Europe. Stable isotopes (in particular the δ18O and deuterium excess (d-excess) contents together with the obtained isotopic gradients) allow us to identify in the study area an opposite oriented orographic effect and a different provenance of the air masses. When the windward slope is located on the Tyrrhenian side, the precipitation shows a predominant oceanic origin; when the windward slope moves to the Adriatic side, the precipitation is characterized by a continental origin. The main results of this study confirm the usefulness of low-yield springs and the need for a highly detailed survey-scale hydrological investigation in the mountainous context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultramafic soils are characterized by severe edaphic conditions induced by a low content of essential nutrients, an adverse Ca/Mg ratio, a low water-holding capacity, and high contents of geogenic potentially toxic elements (PTEs), in particular Cr, Ni, and Co. These metals commonly exceed the content limits set by environmental agencies and governments, representing serious environmental risks for ecosystems and human health. In alpine environments, ultramafic soils are characterized by modest thickness and poor horizon differentiation. Several studies on ultramafic soils have shown that their properties may be directly related to the characteristics of the parent rocks, but most of these studies deal with soil chemistry, metal availability, isotopic composition, and pedological characterization. The aim of this research is to investigate how much the geotectonic characteristics of ultramafic bedrocks, such as the degree of serpentinization, metamorphic imprint, and deformation, may affect the mineralogical and chemical variations of ultramafic soils, including the occurrence and potential mobility of the PTEs. Using a multiscale and multi-analytical approach, we fully characterize the properties and mineralogical composition of soil profiles with different ultramafic parent rocks, i.e., partially serpentinized peridotite, massive serpentinites, and foliated serpentinites, sampled within the Voltri Massif High Pressure–Low Temperature (HP–LT) metaophiolite (Western Alps, Italy). Our results, related to soils located at comparable latitude, altitude, landscape position, and pedological environment, outline that the degree of serpentinization, the metamorphic imprint, and the deformation history of the ultramafic parent rocks are key factors influencing soil evolution, mineralogy, and chemistry, as well as PTEs distribution and mobility. Moreover, this study shows that the high content of Cr, Ni, and Co in the studied ultramafic soils has to be considered of geogenic origin and highlights the need for new approaches and methods to obtain indications on the potential contamination of natural or anthropogenic soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atmospheric background CO2 concentration is a key quantity for the analysis and evaluation of the ongoing climate change. Long-term CO2 observations have been carried out at the high Plateau Rosa mountain station, in the north-western Alps since 1989. The complete time series covers thirty years, and it is suitable for climatological analysis. The continuous CO2 measurements, collected since 1993, were selected, by means of a BaDS (Background Data Selection) filter, to obtain the hourly background data. The monthly background data series was analysed in order to individuate the parameters that characterise the seasonal cycle and the long-term trend. The growth rate was found to be 2.05 ± 0.03 ppm/year, which is in agreement with the global trend. The increased background CO2 concentration at the Plateau Rosa site is the consequence of global anthropic emissions, whereas the natural variability of the climatic system taken from the SOI (South Oscillation Index) and MEI (Multivariate ENSO Index) signals was detected in the inter-annual changes of the Plateau Rosa growth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]