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Marine coastal areas are highly dynamic and fragile environments characterised by a complex interplay of biological, physical, and chemical factors. These areas are also affected by anthropogenic activities with the discharge of organic and inorganic contaminants that alters the quality of the environment. In this work, the effects of anthropogenic activities (i.e., urban and industrial development) on benthic foraminifera have been investigated along the A2TM core collected from the Sant'Elia-Foxi Canyon (Gulf of Cagliari, Sardinia—western Tyrrhenian Sea). The Gulf of Cagliari has experienced intense urbanisation since the beginning of the twentieth century with the establishment of petrochemical complexes and harbour activities. The A2TM core, dating from 1907 to 2013, was analysed with an integrated approach that includes grain size, organic matter, and benthic foraminifera characterisation compared with geochemical characterisation. The variations in the composition of the benthic foraminiferal assemblages and the Margalef diversity index are related to the altered environmental conditions that reflect the historical development of the area and to the land-based activities surrounding the Gulf of Cagliari. The statistical analysis identifies two main intervals (i.e., the years 1907–1986 and 1986–2013) that are typified by different benthic foraminiferal assemblages and diversity values. Accordingly, the increases in organic matter content and both organic and inorganic contaminants are well mirrored by a major drop in foraminiferal diversity after 1973 and a major foraminiferal turnover after 1989. The composition of the benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the uppermost part of the core (i.e., 1989–2013) might suggest a lowering of the oxygen availability at the seafloor. These changes might be related to the increase in organic matter and the silty fraction in the same interval likely triggered by damming on land and wetland reclamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a comprehensive cartographic product, this paper aims to illustrate the evolution of the urban geomorphological setting of the urban coastal belt of Cagliari (southern Sardinia, Italy, western Mediterranean Sea). The geomorphological map (1:14,000) presented herein summarizes different data (e.g. urban development, anthropogenic features, geomorphological elements, recent deposits, sedimentological distribution, hydrodynamics and ecological components) acquired through an integrated sea-land approach and a multidisciplinary-multitemporal investigation. The main significant environmental changes are linked to urbanization, the development of port infrastructures (embankments along the shoreline and the construction of the canal harbour), remediation work and filling activities, and the hardening of dune and beach systems and cliffs. These man-made interventions have increased the vulnerability of the shore zones to flood hazards and risks, which are linked to sea-level rises and global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents new paleobiological data from the skeletal remains founded in the necropolis of Cap de Forma; the site is located on a narrow isthmus that links a 30-m-high coastal promontory in the island of Minorca (Mahon). The archeological complex, made of rock tombs called Cuevas, surrounds a complex cyclopean monument that is an atypical example of Talayotic architecture. The excavations of the necropolis were carried out between 1997 and 2001, and during these years two tombs, the number 3 and 22, respectively, were excavated. This paper describes the digging operations and the subsequent anthropological investigations focused on the analysis of the skeletal remains from the tomb 3. It was possible to identify 37 adult individuals, including 5 females and 12 males, and 7 subadults. The preliminary investigations of pathologies and stress markers reveled good health conditions characterized by an intense physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small, intramontane San Giorgio Basin in southwestern Sardinia has yielded plant macrofossils dominated by sphenophytes, but with subsidiary pteridosperms, ferns, (?)noeggerathians and cordaitanthaleans. They belong to the upper part of the Crenulopteris acadica Zone or possibly the Odontopteris cantabrica Zone, indicating a late Asturian or Cantabrian (≡ late Moscovian) age. They therefore correlate with the post-Leonian deposits in northern Spain, the Nýřany Member in Western and Central Bohemia, and the Llantwit Beds in South Wales. The presence of post-tectonic deposits of this age is further evidence of the widespread influence of the Leonian Phase of tectonic activity in middle Asturian times, whose effect can be observed across Europe. The San Giorgio Basin is therefore a late Variscan rather than post-Variscan basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to present a new morphodynamic map (1:10,000 scale) of a wave-dominated sector of a Mediterranean ria-type coast (NE Sardinia, Italy). The area has been studied since 1995 with respect to its geomorphological and sedimentological processes. Our map is produced using topographic-bathymetric, textural and compositional data collected during different surveys conducted from 1995 to 2014. TheMain Mapshows forms, processes and deposits of the coastal belt, as well as the main geological outcrops, structural elements and the areal distribution of seagrass, mainlyPosidonia oceanica(L.) Delile andCaulerpa prolifera(Forsskaal) Lamouroux. The map is useful for beach management purposes. It is noteworthy that the role ofP. oceanicain the littoral area is twofold: (1) acts as a barrier to siliciclastic material from the backshore; and (2) a producer of biogenic/bioclastic sediment. Based on side-scan sonar images, theP. oceanicameadow appears to be threatened by direct mechanical damage caused by boat anchoring and mooring activities. The human impact on dune habitats has also been recognized and is related to pedestrian and vehicular transit, boat storage and infrastructure for bathing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The results from scientific literature evidence that the benthic foraminifera are excellent indicators to monitoring the marine-coastal environments (Armynot du Châtelet et al., 2004; Coccioni, 2000; Debenay et al., 2000; Kravchuk, 2006; Murray, 2006; Samir & El-Din, 2001; Scott et al., 2005). This study is based on an analysis of eighteen samples of surface sediment collected in the lagoon of Santa Gilla in October 2006. The physical-chemical characterization of waters, geochemical and sedimentological analysis have integrated the analysis of benthic foraminifera. Statistical analysis revealed a possible control of trace element on the benthic foraminiferal assemblage, faunal density, species diversity and the development of specific morphological abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]