Search

Aedes koreicus is an invasive mosquito species which has been introduced into several European countries. Compared to other invasive Aedes mosquitoes, little is known of its biology and ecology. To determine Ae. koreicus’ vectorial capacity, it is essential to establish its feeding patterns and level of anthropophagy. We report on the blood-feeding patterns of Ae. koreicus, examining the blood meal origin of engorged females and evaluating the influence of different biotic and abiotic factors on feeding behavior. Mosquitoes were collected in 23 sites in northern Italy by manual aspiration and BG-sentinel traps; host availability was estimated by survey. The source of blood meals was identified using a nested PCR and by targeting and sequencing the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. In total, 352 Ae. koreicus engorged females were collected between 2013 and 2020 and host blood meals were determined from 299 blood-fed mosquitoes (84.9%). Eleven host species were identified, with the highest prevalences being observed among roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (N = 189, 63.2%) and humans (N = 46, 15.4%). Blood meals were mostly taken from roe deer in forested sites and from humans in urban areas, suggesting that this species can feed on different hosts according to local abundance. Two blood meals were identified from avian hosts and one from lizard. Ae. koreicus’ mammalophilic feeding pattern suggests that it may be a potential vector of pathogens establishing transmission cycles among mammals, whereas its role as a bridge vector between mammals and birds could be negligible.

Nel panorama attuale, la riqualificazione energetica del patrimonio costruito è di fondamentale importanza per ridurre i consumi e le emissioni che provengono dal settore delle costruzioni. Questi interventi inoltre sono di primaria importanza anche per aumentare la resilienza delle città nei confronti dei fenomeni climatici estremi, sempre più frequenti, quali le ondate di freddo (cold spells) e quelle di calore. Ciò è di particolare rilievo in quanto buona parte del “costruito” delle nostre città è datato e carente dal punto di vista prestazionale. Queste motivazioni spingono gli autori a considerare un approccio sostenibile alla realtà urbana non solo dal punto di vista ambientale, ma anche sociale ed economico, proponendo la riqualificazione dell’Edilizia Residenziale Pubblica per migliorarne la prestazione energetica, analizzando l’efficacia dell’impego di materiali isolanti provenienti da scarti e sottoprodotti dell’agricoltura a km 0. Lo studio proposto è condotto mediante indagini sul campo e analisi numeriche della prestazione energetica di un edificio scelto come caso di studio, con e senza l’applicazione sull’involucro murario di diverse soluzioni (per materiali e stratigrafia) che utilizzano materiali naturali di scarto riciclati. La ricerca è portata avanti mediante indagini sul campo, in un edificio esistente (complesso residenziale romano di Val Melaina, costruito dall’ICP a inizio Novecento), esemplificativo di una certa parte del patrimonio suddetto. I risultati numerici della modellazione, validata, dimostrano come le più performanti soluzioni proposte per l’involucro opaco siano in grado di ridurre del 27% in consumo annuale di energia per il riscaldamento, mentre, agendo contemporaneamente sia sull’involucro opaco che su quello trasparente, lo stesso consumo è stato ridotto del 38%.

Strontium isotopes (Sr-87/Sr-86) were evaluated as a potential method for studying the geographical origin of populations and movements patterns of migratory fish from the La Plata Basin (Parana, Uruguay and Bermejo Rivers and Rio de la Plata Estuary, South America). Surface water samples were collected at 43 sites during austral summer and winter (2018) while, Surubi (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans), Pati (Luciopimelodus pati),dorado (Salminus brasiliensis) and sabalo (Prochilodus lineatus) fishes were collected at seven locations. Water Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio was analysed by MC-ICP-MS (N= 74) and otolith core-to-edge Sr-87/Sr-86 transects (N= 50) were measured by LAfs-MC-ICP-MS. Several water bodies presented significantly different (p < 0.05) water Sr-87/Sr-86 values. A similar to 1:1 relationship was found between Sr-87/Sr-86 measured in edge otolith and water. Data provide novel perspectives about migratory behaviour for all species, such as potential cross-border migrations between countries of more than 1,000 km recorded forL. pati, S. brasiliensis and P. lineatus. These species seem to move between the Parana and Uruguay rivers, which imply using the delta or the estuary as a corridor between them. Discriminant analysis based on otolith core Sr-87/Sr-86 suggested that the four species studied originate in sub-basins different from those that were collected and revelled the presence of several potential spawning/nursery areas. The otolith Sr-87/Sr-86 profiles also suggested movements between different environments such as reservoirs, large plain rivers, mountain streams, floodplain valleys and estuaries. These results show the potential of Sr-87/Sr-86 as a tool for tracking the life history of fishes, and depict for the first time a complex use of the La Plata basin by the fishes, providing new information for management plans at the regional level.