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1. Climate change is causing shifts in the distribution of many species and populations inhabiting mountain tops are particularly vulnerable to these threats because they are constrained in altitudinal shifts. Apennines are a relatively narrow and low mountain chain located in Southern Europe, which hosts many isolated populations of mountain species. The butterfly Erebia pandrose was recorded for the last time in the Apennines in 1977, on the top of a single massif (Monti della Laga). 2. We confirmed the presence of a small, isolated population of E. pandrose in the Apennines, at a distance of more than 400¿km to any other known populations. Then, we examined the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial DNA marker of this species across the Palaearctic area and estimated the potential decline over the Alps and the Apennines due to future climatic changes. 3. The Apennine population represents an endemic lineage characterised by eight mutations over the 658¿bp analysed (1.2%). In the Alps and Apennines, this species has shifted uphill more than 3 m per year since the end of the 19th century and more than 22 m per year since 1995. Species distribution models suggested that these mountain populations will experience a generalised loss of climatic suitability, which, according to our projections, could lead to the extinction of the Apennine population in a few decades. 4. Erebia pandrose has the potential to become a flagship species for advertising the risk of losing unique fractions of genetic diversity for mountain species., funded by the project: ‘Ricerca e conservazione sui lepidotteri diurni di sei Parchi Nazionali dell'Appennino centro-settentrionale’. Support for this research was also provided by ‘La Caixa’ Foundation (ID 100010434) to M.M. (grant LCF/BQ/DR20/11790020), by the Academy of Finland to V.D. (Academy Research Fellow, decision no. 328895) and by project PID2019-107078GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 to R.V., 1 Introduction 2 Materials and methods 2.1 Data collection 2.2 COI analyses 2.3 Species distribution modelling 2.4 Elevational shifts of E. pandrose records through time 3 Results 3.1 COI structure 3.2 Climate change effects 4 Discussion 4.1 The population of Monte Gorzano 4.2 What is the future for E. pandrose on the Apennines? 4.3 Erebia pandrose in the context of preserving Apennine butterflies 5 Conclusions Acknowledgements Conflict of interest

Wildfires represent an important factor in the disturbance in Mediterranean ecosystems, although the effects of wildfires on the insect communities of mountain environments remain largely unknown. This research investigated the effect of fire on dung beetles in a Mediterranean high-altitude area, located in Central Italy (1500 m elevation). Sampling in each of the three main vegetation types of the study area (conifer plantation, beechwood forest and grassland) used pitfall traps during Spring to Autumn. For each habitat, three burnt and three unburnt sites were sampled. We considered the following community structure parameters: abundance, richness, Shannon diversity and Simpson diversity. Effects of fire, habitat and sampling period were investigated using generalised mixed-effects models. Abundance, species richness and diversity were higher in the grassland than in the two forest habitats and June was the month with the lowest values because of the late emergence of insects at high altitudes. Fire negatively affected dung beetle abundance, but not diversity. Forest habitats were less favourable to dung beetle recolonisation than the secondary grassland. Thus, dung beetles are sensitive to vegetation type, but not to fire, possibly because of their high recolonisation capabilities and preference for open habitats.

Plantations of conifers are widespread in Europe, often occurring outside of their native range. Reduction in species richness linked to increases in altitude has been previously reported for natural forests, although there is a lack of specific studies for mature pine plantations in both the Apennines and Europe. The aim of this study was to quantify the long-term effects of the extensive Pinus nigra plantations carried out between 1900 and 1956 in protected areas on floristic richness, species composition, and ecological traits of the understorey vegetation. We compared 20 mature pine plantations selected along an altitudinal gradient (700-1700 m a.s.l.) with neighbouring deciduous natural forests dominated by Ostrya carpinifolia and Fagus sylvatica, which represent the most widespread forest types in the central Apennines. The results showed that floristic richness follows two distinct altitude trends in pine plantations and natural forests. A strong reduction in species richness with elevation was observed in the natural forests, as well as a consequent increase in the local contribution to beta diversity, with a turnover of the ecological traits of the species. Contrastingly, no significant changes in richness and beta diversity were found for pine plantations in the same altitude range. Indeed, mature pine plantations up to 1400-1500 m a.s.l. showed the presence of many heliophilous and thermophilous species that are usually distributed at lower elevation. We discuss how such pine plantations can mitigate the effect of increasing altitude which is usually observed in the natural forests, slowing down the typical diversification of the forest communities along the altitudinal gradient.

We present a 130 km2 wide geological map for the NE side of the fault-bounded High Agri Valley Southern Italy, that formed in the Quaternary in response to extensional tectonics dissecting the folds and thrusts of the Lucanian Apennine. To prepare the map, at 1:25,000 scale, we integrated information obtained through field surveys and the review of pre-existing geological data. Our work describes a number of significant map-scale structures, which can be related to well-constrained tectonic episodes. The new geological map provides important constraints that can be used to distinguish ancient structures from those that were active during the Quaternary, allowing a more detailed reconstruction of the processes that operate during the development of a post-orogenic trough. We expect that the new map will be used for different types of geological investigations, including studies of inversion tectonics, active tectonics, geosite mapping, 3D modelling of geological structures.

The main geomorphological, geological, and climatic features of the mountains of the Italian Peninsula are discussed. The Apennines are the dominated mountain range and given their arch-like shape represents the backbone of the peninsula, which has its southern termination in the mountains of Sicily. After briefly commenting on the general geology, the variability of the climatic condition is illustrated, reporting annual average values of air temperature and precipitation. The geographical definition of the main mountain ranges, their altimetric variability, and the distance from the coasts complete this description. The main geomorphological landforms in the various mountain sectors are also commented, also providing relations with the regional geological characteristics. Among the several landforms, particular care is dedicated to the traces of past glaciations that have led to the discovery that glaciations affected the Italian Peninsula also before the Last Glacial Cycle. Finally, the history of research on Apennine glaciations is briefly summarised starting from the first pioneering studies of the end of the 19th century. The controversies and the investigation criteria evolution are illustrated, along with the research difficulties imposed by the regional tectonics.

Despite the increasing interest in elevational patterns in biodiversity, few studies have investigated variations in life forms and biogeographical composition, especially in the Mediterranean biome. We investigated elevational patterns in species richness, biogeographical composition (chorotypes) and life forms (Raunkiaer classification) along an elevational gradient in a Mediterranean mountain (Central Italy). We found a general hump-shaped pattern of species richness, which can be explained by harsher conditions at the lowest and highest elevations. This pattern is distinctly related to prevalence at mid elevations of species with European and Euro-Asiatic distribution, which are favored by a temperate climate. Phanerophytes and geophytes (which are mainly associated with woods) were concentrated at mid elevations where woodlands prevail. Hemicryptophytes increased with elevation, consistently with their ability to cope with high altitude climatic conditions. Mediterranean species declined with elevation because they are negatively affected by decreasing temperatures. Chamaephytes showed a U-shaped pattern, suggesting they are able to cope with arid and cold conditions at the extremes of the gradient. Endemics increased with elevation because of their association with mountainous areas as key places for endemism evolution. These results illustrate how elevational patterns in species richness, biogeographical composition and life forms are interrelated and demonstrate reciprocal insights for understanding current vegetation settings.

Improving the capability of seismic network to detect weak seismic events is one of the timeless challenges in seismology: the greater is the number of detected and locatable seismic events, the greater insights on the mechanisms responsible for seismic activation may be gained. Here we implement and apply a single-station template matching algorithm to detect events belonging to the fluid-injection induced seismicity cluster located in the High Agri Valley, Southern Italy, using the continuous seismic data stream of the closest station of the INSIEME network. To take into account the diversity of waveforms, albeit belonging to the same seismic cluster, eight different master templates were adopted. Afterwards, using all the stations of the network, we provide a seismic catalogue consisting of 196 located earthquakes, in the magnitude range − 1.2 ≤ Ml ≤ 1.2, with a completeness magnitude Mc = − 0.5 ± 0.1. This rich seismic catalogue allows us to describe the damage zone of a SW dipping fault, characterized by a variety of fractures critically stressed in the dip range between ~ 45° and ~ 75°. The time-evolution of seismicity clearly shows seismic swarm distribution characteristics with many events of similar magnitude, and the seismicity well correlates with injection operational parameters (i.e. injected volumes and injection pressures).

The relationships between structural complexity, deadwood abundance, microhabitat type and species-diversity indicators are excellent tools to monitor biodiversity in forest ecosystems. In spite of their importance, correlations between structural traits and Coleoptera communities in Mediterranean mountain forests have only rarely been investigated. Consequently, the magnitude and direction of the relationships between forest traits and biodiversity indicators remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed whether biodiversity indices of saproxylic and non-saproxylic beetle communities could be influenced by stand structure, microhabitat type, and deadwood abundance in two protected beech forests located in the central and southern Apennines (namely Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, GSML, and Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni National Park, CVDA). Standard measurements of forest structural traits and quantitative assessment of tree microhabitats and deadwood were carried out. Adult beetles were collected using window flight traps and emergence traps on decaying deadwood. The two beech forests were different in terms of both beetle communities and structural traits. A two-block partial least squares analysis 2B-PLS highlighted differences in biodiversity indices and structural traits between the two forest ecosystems. In GSML, we observed that biodiversity indices were positively correlated with the volume of coarse woody debris and the presence fungal infections, clefts into the sapwood, and woodpecker cavities, while more dominant beetle communities were found under denser canopy cover. In CVDA, Coleoptera abundance was positively correlated with the basal area and crown broken microhabitats. Our results point toward the relevance of ecological attributes in tracking changes in beetle biodiversity in specific forest contexts. In these protected Mediterranean mountain beech stands, in which the main forest management strategies have the primary objective of biodiversity conservation, we suggest to progressively increase the structural diversity and canopy dynamics, as well as the volume of coarse woody debris.

Caves are one of the most conservative environments on Earth, where archaeological, anthropological, climatic and tectonic data can be well-preserved. Here, we present the results of a multidisciplinary method that allowed us to recognize, for the first time in this area, the interaction between Late Pleistocene to Anthropocene neotectonic and archaeological evolutionary stages of a cave of the Apennines (La Sassa cave), that encompass also its surroundings (Volsci Range and Pontina Plain). Both structural and 3D survey highlighted a step-wise shape of the cave due to normal fault steps that allowed the localized formation of concretions also enveloping archaeological layers. Sixteen 14C ages on fauna and human bones and thousands of archaeological finds provided chronological constraints of faulting in the Late Pleistocene and possibly also after the Middle Bronze Age. In the frame of a region that was not previously recognized as tectonically active, the structural evidence is relevant for understanding the speleogenesis of the cave from the Late Pleistocene and its human occupation. Burial and ritual activities in the cave from the Copper Age to the Middle Bronze Age have been recognized with implications on possible settlement pattern schemes with the La Sassa cave as a “persistent place” in the prehistoric human landscape. The analyses of the ceramic style in a regional framework also suggests the presence of a cultural boundary near La Sassa, which becomes highly osmotic just after the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age. The La Sassa findings provide as well implications for the seismic hazard assessment in a region inhabited by about 0.4 million people.

Human activities and natural processes over millennia have shaped the forest landscapes of European mountain ranges. In the Apennines, the second largest range in Italy, the post–World War II abandonment of traditional activities has led to forest expansion. Previous analyses of land use change related to forest landscape were performed for relatively small localities and used different sampling protocols. Consequently, a replicate landscape approach and a systematic sampling design were crucial for quantifying changes at the regional scale. We investigated land cover change and landscape configurational shifts comparing different slope exposures and altitudinal zones and discussed the main drivers affecting post-agricultural forest dynamics. We selected two paired study landscapes (North-East vs South-West) of 16 km2 for each of 10 sites located along the entire range. We applied object-based classification to aerial photography from 1954 and 2012, resulting in 40 land cover maps. We assessed (i) overall landscape changes by computing land cover transitions, (ii) landscape patterns through key metrics, and (iii) reforestation dynamics through multivariate statistics and binomial generalized linear models (GLMs). Apennine landscape mosaics experienced structural simplification at lower elevation due to tree establishment in abandoned pastures, but a diffuse fragmentation of historical grasslands at higher elevation due to development of woody vegetation patches beyond the forest-grassland ecotone. Forest expansion occurred more rapidly at lower elevations, on steeper slopes, and closer to existing forests and cultivated areas. A replicate landscape approach proved useful for quantifying changes to forest cover and landscape structure along complex gradients of topography and land use history, following a diffuse agro-pastoral abandonment.

Since 1986, vegetation monitoring of alpine plant communities has been performed at the Gran Sasso d’Italia LTER site (https://deims.org/c0738b00-854c-418f-8d4f-69b03486e9fd) in the Central Apennines, through phytosociological relevés and abundance and coverage estimation of the vascular flora at fine scale. The monitoring activities for abiotic parameters regard air and soil temperatures, rainfall, snowfall and snow cover persistence. A comparative analysis of changes in species composition, life forms, life strategies and morpho-functional types allowed recognition of dynamical processes (fluctuation and degeneration) and an increase in stress- and drought-tolerant and ruderal species, probably linked to a general process of climate change. A trend of variation forced by increasing drought was recorded in high-mountain plant communities, normally within a dynamic fluctuation process. There has been a 50–80% change in species composition with respect to the total number of species observed over the years. Whereas the total number of species has increased in all communities, in high-mountain mesic grassland 20% of sensitive species have completely disappeared. Early signs of a degeneration process were already discernible after seven years: such signs are more evident in snow-dependent communities, with a quantitative increase in more thermophilic and drought-tolerant species and a parallel decrease in more mesic, cryophilic and competitive species. In particular, the following phenomena have been recorded in high-mountain mesic grassland, in agreement with predicted or observed phenomena in other Alpine or Arctic areas: (a) coverage increase (or appearance) of ruderal and stress- and drought-tolerant species; (b) coverage decrease (or disappearance) of cryophilic, mesic and competitive species. These short-term changes could lead, in the medium- or long-term, to a disgregation process affecting the high elevation plant communities of the Apennines (including the local extinction of most of the cold-adapted species), due to their very low resilience. The phenomena described may be linked to the observed climate change which occurred during the last century (in particular in the last 50 years) in the Apennines, consisting mainly, in the mountains, of a strong reduction in the duration of snow-cover and an increase in mean and minimum annual temperatures.

A coral interpreted as a shallow-water zooxanthellate (z-) form has been recovered from the uppermost part of a condensed, pelagic carbonate platform-top succession, in levels with transitional characters between the Jurassic Bugarone Group and the Maiolica Formation, a calpionellid-bearing pelagic deposit. While the existence of z-corals in the Jurassic pelagic facies of northern Apenninic structural highs is well documented, with early Tithonian forms diagnostic of the lower layers of the photic zone, the species described in this paper is slightly younger (late Tithonian), possesses a different morphology and is known from typical reef facies. While this finding provides welcome evidence for the paleodepth interpretation of otherwise enigmatic facies, it also challenges our understanding of pelagic deposits, in paleoenvironments that have no modern counterparts.

The increasing accuracy and spatiotemporal resolution of space geodetic techniques have positively impacted the study of shallow crustal deformation in response to the redistribution of water masses. Measurable deformations have been documented in areas where snow and water variability is large and persists over sufficiently long periods. Here we analyze GPS time series and hydrological data from the Central-Southern Apennines, a tectonically-active region hosting large karst aquifers. We document the occurrence of regional-scale horizontal and vertical transient deformation that is clearly correlated to seasonal and multiyear hydrological variability. These transient signals, which are most strongly observed at GPS sites surrounding the main karst aquifers, modulate long term tectonic deformation. Our results suggest that the karst aquifers in this region experience alternating periods of expansion and contraction in response to increasing/decreasing precipitation and, consequently, higher/lower hydraulic head in the aquifers. Thanks to the availability of a dense continuous GPS network and complementary hydrological datasets, we are able to verify the processes causing the observed deformation. We model the shallow crust in the region as a continuous anelastic solid and use Green's functions for finite strain cuboid sources to estimate the strain rate distribution associated with the GPS observations. We use the Mw 6.1 L'Aquila earthquake, which struck the Central Apennines in 2009 and whose effects are evident in geodetic data, to document the potential effects of moderate earthquakes on karst aquifers and to demonstrate the importance of correctly discerning tectonic from nontectonic signals in geodetic time series. Enhanced understanding of the karst aquifers behavior is of primary interest for improved management of this vital water resource and for a better understanding of the possible interactions between groundwater content and pore pressure variations in the crust and seismicity.

Unravelling the burial-deformation history of sedimentary rocks is prerequisite information to understand the regional tectonic, sedimentary, thermal, and fluid-flow evolution of foreland basins. We use a combination of microstructural analysis, stylolites paleopiezometry, and paleofluid geochemistry to reconstruct the burial-deformation history of the Meso-Cenozoic carbonate sequence of the Cingoli Anticline (Northern Apennines, central Italy). Four major sets of mesostructures were linked to the regional deformation sequence: (i) pre-folding foreland flexure/forebulge, (ii) fold-scale layer-parallel shortening under a N045 σ1, (iii) syn-folding curvature of which the variable trend between the north and the south of the anticline is consistent with the arcuate shape of the anticline, (iv) the late stage of fold tightening. The maximum depth experienced by the strata prior to contraction, up to 1850 m, was quantified by sedimentary stylolite paleopiezometry and projected on the reconstructed burial curve to assess the timing of the contraction. As isotope geochemistry points towards fluid precipitation at thermal equilibrium, the carbonate clumped isotope thermometry (Δ47) considered for each fracture set yields the absolute timing of the development and exhumation of the Cingoli Anticline: layer-parallel shortening occurred from ~6.3 to 5.8 Ma, followed by fold growth that lasted from ~5.8 to 3.9 Ma.

Profound socioeconomic changes affected mountains of Central Italy during the last century and many traditional agro-pastoral activities were abandoned. A few ethnobotanical studies in this area have specifically documented local wild plants used decades ago, but without analyzing in-depth how and why Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) has eroded or changed over time. In this study, we 1) document ethnobotanical uses of four high-altitude remote villages of Central Italy, 2) discuss how these uses have changed over time, comparing them with fieldwork that was conducted 40 years earlier; and 3) assess how plant uses have changed across space, particularly whether the remoteness of villages or the occurrence of Sacred Natural Sites (SNS) have affected TEK linked to wild plants. Sixty semi-structured interviews revealed the use of 83 taxa belonging to 35 families. We did not find any relationship between SNS and the richness of TEK, as these SNS were not inhabited by monastic communities that could have shared their scholarly knowledge. There was not a relationship between remoteness and richness of TEK. The common statement emerging from the field, “We became rich and lost everything”, revealed how socio-economic changes resulted in the rapid abandonment of traditional practices, while the ubiquity of pharmacies may have contributed to the erosion of ethnomedicinal knowledge.

The Major Highlands of Abruzzo is one of the largest and best preserved areas with marsh vegetation in the Apennines. Fairly well known similar plant systems extend from the Umbrian-Marche Apennines to those of the Matese. The marshy and wet vegetation of the large sedge vegetation (Magnocaricetalia) of the ���Major Highlands of Abruzzo��� is analysed. Other ecotonal or transitional plant communities mainly characterised by smaller sedges are also included in this study. Fifteen vegetation types have been identified, belonging to the following higher syntaxa: (1) Magnocaricetalia (Caricetum gracilis, Caricetum vulpinae, Caricetum vesicariae, Galio palustris-Caricetum buxbaumii ass. nova, Caricetum ripariae, Caricetum distichae, and Caricetum paniculatae); (2) Caricetalia davallianae (Carex fusca community); (3) Eleocharito palustris-Sagittarion sagittifoliae (Eleocharitetum palustris); (4) Potentillion anserinae (Carex panicea and C. tomentosa communities, Ranunculo repentis-Caricetum divisae ass. nova, and Ranunculo acri-Caricetum hirtae); (5) Cynosurion cristati (Carex leporina and C. spicata communities). Nine of these communities are new for the investigated area and seven of them are new for the Abruzzo region. Several of the associations are very rare in Central and Southern Apennines and many endangered plant species are linked to them. Nevertheless, these vegetation types are not sufficiently protected today, especially those outside the National Parks.

Groundwater from karst circulation systems of Central Italy were sampled and analyzed, in 2018, for delineating a preliminary, general geochemical framework of their relationship with neotectonics, in an area characterized by a frequent and often destructive seismicity. We determined field physical-chemical parameters, concentrations of main dissolved ions and gases and isotopic composition of water (d18O, dD) and total dissolved inorganic carbon (d13C TDIC). We discriminated between &ldquo, normal&rdquo, hydro-karst systems and multi-component aquifers, composed of meteoric groundwater that have also interacted with rocks of different lithological nature and/or deep fluids. These multicomponent aquifers are of potential interest in the monitoring of neotectonics activity, because changes in the stress field associated with the preparatory phase of an earthquake may affect the permeability of rocks, in turn causing variation of their chemical-isotopic character. The geographical distribution of these aquifers seems to be controlled by tectonics. In fact, the Olevano&ndash, Antrodoco&ndash, Sibillini thrust separates the more anomalous sites, located westwards of it, from the groundwater bodies at its eastern side, showing a more typical karst character.

Three new species of the genus Centromerus from Italy, C. tongiorgii sp. nov., C. hanseni sp. nov., and C. gatoi sp. nov., are described for the first time on the basis of both male and female specimens. Their relationships with other congeneric species, as well as their diagnoses, are discussed using morphological characters. New records of poorly known species of Centromerus from Italy are furthermore reported. Among them, C. desmeti Bosmans, 1986 is reported for the first time for the Italian fauna and for continental Europe.

Quaternary carbonate-seated maar-diatremes in the Volsci Range are one of the most intriguing products of the west-directed subduction of the Adriatic slab that drove the development of the Apennine mountain belt in Central Italy. The Volsci Volcanic Field is characterized by phreatomagmatic surge deposits, rich in accidental carbonate lithics, and subordinate Strombolian scoria fall deposits and lava flows, locally sourced from some tens of monogenetic eruptive centers (at least fifty tuff rings and scoria cones). We investigate the subsurface maar-diatreme processes in terms of relationships between faulting and explosive magma-water interaction, as well as the distribution pattern of the eruptive centers. With this aim, we present the following new data: i) description of the fold-and-thrust belt structure and associated eruptive centers, ii) componentry of volcanic rock-types, iii) determination of grain-size, degrees of whiteness and roundness of carbonate lithic inclusions, iv) micropaleontological analysis of carbonate lithics. We show that the clustering of eruptive centers is controlled by tectonic features. A first order control is tentatively related to crustal laceration and deep magma injection along a ENE-trending Quaternary lateral tear in the slab and to Mesozoic rift-related normal faults. A second-order control is provided by orogenic structures (mainly thrust and extensional faults). In particular, magma-water explosive interaction occurred at multiple levels (

The 2016–2017 Amatrice-Norcia seismic sequence was triggered by the reactivation of a complex NNW-SSE trending, WSW-dipping normal fault system cross-cutting the Umbria-Marche fold and thrust belt near M. Vettore. This fault system produced clear and impressive co-seismic ruptures on normal faults in the hangingwall of the M. Sibillini thrust, whereas ruptures in the footwall were observed, but less clear. As a result, a strong controversy exists in the literature about the geometry of the seismogenic faults, their relationships with pre-existing thrusts, and the location of normal-faulting rupture tips. In this work, we present a 3D geological model of the M. Vettore area located between the Castelluccio basin and the outcrop of the M. Sibillini thrust, where the most evident co-seismic ruptures have been observed. The model shows the relationship between the ruptured normal faults and the M. Sibillini thrust, and was constructed using a grid of 14 geological cross-sections parallel and orthogonal to the main structural elements (i.e. normal faults and thrusts) down to a depth of 3 km. The model was built using reference structural surfaces, such as the top of the Early Cretaceous Maiolica Fm., the M. Sibillini thrust and the main seismogenic normal faults belonging to the M. Vettore fault system. The 3D model has allowed us to calculate the vertical cumulative throw distribution for the M. Vettore normal faults. The cumulative geological throw of ca. 1300 m across the normal faults in the proximity of the M. Sibillini thrust indicates that the seismogenic fault system continues into the footwall of the thrust, displacing it in the sub-surface. The results of this study provide important constraints on the cross-cutting relationships between active normal and pre-existing compressional structures in seismically active areas, contributing to a better definition of the faults segmentation, and the related seismic hazard.

The High Agri Valley is a tectonically active area in southern Italy characterized by high seismic hazard related to fault systems capable of generating up to M=7 earthquakes (i.e. the 1857 Mw=7 Basilicata earthquake). In addition to the natural seismicity, two different clusters of induced microseismicity were recognized to be caused by industrial operations carried out in the area: (1) the water loading and unloading operations in the Pertusillo artificial reservoir and (2) the wastewater disposal at the Costa Molina 2 injection well. The twofold nature of the recorded seismicity in the High Agri Valley makes it an ideal study area to deepen the understanding of driving processes of both natural and anthropogenic earthquakes and to improve the current methodologies for the discrimination between natural and induced seismic events by collecting high-quality seismic data. Here we present the dataset gathered by the INSIEME seismic network that was installed in the High Agri Valley within the SIR-MIUR research project INSIEME (INduced Seismicity in Italy: Estimation, Monitoring, and sEismic risk mitigation). The seismic network was planned with the aim to study the two induced seismicity clusters and to collect a full range of open-access data to be shared with the whole scientific community. The seismic network is composed of eight stations deployed in an area of 17 km×11 km around the two clusters of induced microearthquakes, and it is equipped with triaxial weak-motion broadband sensors placed at different depths down to 50 m. It allows us to detect induced microearthquakes, local and regional earthquakes, and teleseismic events from continuous data streams transmitted in real time to the CNR-IMAA Data Centre. The network has been registered at the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN) with code 3F. Data collected until the end of the INSIEME project (23 March 2019) are already released with open-access policy through the FDSN web services and are available from IRIS DMC (https://doi.org/10.7914/SN/3F_2016; Stabile and INSIEME Team, 2016). Data collected after the project will be available with the permanent network code VD (https://doi.org/10.7914/SN/VD, CNR IMAA Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 2019) as part of the High Agri Valley geophysical Observatory (HAVO), a multi-parametric network managed by the CNR-IMAA research institute.

Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) has been exploited over the centuries for different uses. Nowadays, chestnut is mostly managed as coppice or orchard, creating a matrix of different forest structures. In particular, saproxylic species may provide information to correlate forest naturalness with stand structure. In this study, we evaluated how different management methods might influence the diversity of beetles hosted in chestnut agroforestry systems. Three management options were considered: young and mature coppice stands, and the traditional fruit orchard. Microhabitats occurring on veteran trees were also surveyed to investigate their effect on saproxylic communities, in the fruit orchard. The study area is located in Southern Italy, Aspromonte National Park, where Coleoptera were collected using window flight traps and the stand structural traits were also quantified. In the fruit orchard, a census of the occurring microhabitats was also realized. We used the following diversity indeces (α-diversity) to assess the state of conservation of the analysed forests: (i) Shannon Index; (ii) Margalef’s Richness index; (iii) Equitability index; (iv) Dominance index. Results revealed that forest management have a fundamental role in influencing the diversity of Coleoptera communities and saproxylic beetles. A lower species richness was observed in the mature coppice in comparison with the young coppice and fruit orchard. Nevertheless, these agroforestry systems, reflecting differentiated structural traits, allowed the development of highly specialized and threatened species (34.3% included in IUCN risk categories), with important contribution to conservation of biodiversity in the rural landscape. Finally, the abundance and diversity of microhabitats in the traditional fruit orchard had positive effects on many saproxylic beetle families. These beetle communities, particularly saproxylic species, can be used as excellent bioindicators in actively managed agroforestry systems, suggesting sustainable forest management options for chestnut, while the conservation of veteran trees rich in microhabitats can be considered fundamental for preserving many endangered insects.

Melittio-Quercion frainettoand Melittio-Quercion confertaeare two alliances, which were proposed about simultaneously 40 years ago through two different papers regarding southern Italy and southern Greece,respectively. The aims of thispaper are to establish valid name, nomenclatural type and distribution rangeof thesetwo alliancesand to verify whether theydisplay a sufficient degree of syntaxonomic autonomy when compared to the ecologically and geographically neighbouring alliances. Adata matrix composed of 43 frequency columns summing 1242phytosociological relevésx 625 taxa was prepared and statistically analysed. The resultssuggested that the thermophilous Quercus cerrisand Q. frainettooak woods of the southern Apennines and the southern Balkans deserve to be classified in two separated alliances.The application of the principle IV of ICPN established that the correct name of the allianceis Melittio albidae-Quercion frainettoBarbéro, Bonin, Gamisans etQuézelin Bonin etGamisans 1976 and that it was typified insouthern Italy. Accordingly, the new name Geranio asphodeloidis-Quercion frainettoishere proposed for southern Greece in substitution of Melittio-Quercion confertae(nom.illeg.). The syntaxonomic proposal advanced in this paper brings significantmodificationsin the current version of the checklist of the European syntaxa (Eurovegchecklist).

A new inventory of shallows landslides for a study area located within Southern Lunigiana valley has been obtained by means of digital visual interpretation of orthophoto maps acquired in the years 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2013. A total of 331 shallow landslides occurred during the decade 2003-2013 have been identified, resulting in an average landslide density of 1.1 landslides per square kilometers.A spatial analysis has been implemented to investigate landslide distribution in respect to predisposing factors: bedrock geology, land use and morphometry (elevation, slope steepness, flow accumulation, slope aspect). Results highlight that bedrock lithology and land use are important factors affecting shallow landslide distribution. While all the morphometric parameters analyzed are correlated to shallow landslides density, slope aspect seems to be the prominent conditioning for landslide occurrence.

The paper elaborates on the relationship between land cover changes and transformation drivers, by analysing the dynamics that took place between 1990 and 2010 in Mt. Matese area (Italy). Mt. Matese is an interesting case study which was included as a pilot area in the Italian Strategy for Inner Areas. Drivers related to land cover changes include population characteristics, the agricultural and production system, tourist offer, location and settlements dynamics. Land cover changes and the dynamics of studied drivers are analysed in-depth, through a descriptive and multivariate analysis. Results highlight the difficult situation of the study area for many drivers. However, the slow changes in land cover and the potentialities offered by the natural environment, as well as by the agriculture and tourism sectors, outline some development prospects. The paper outlines the current scenario in the area and provides useful references for future policies aimed at setting up this area as National Park and at implementing the Strategy for Inner Areas.

In this study, we analyse the susceptibility to liquefaction of the Pozzone site, which is located on the northern side of the Fucino lacustrine basin in central Italy. In 1915, this region was struck by a M 7.0 earthquake, which produced widespread coseismic surface effects that were interpreted to be liquefaction-related. However, the interpretation of these phenomena at the Pozzone site is not straightforward. Furthermore, the site is characterized by an abundance of fine-grained sediments, which are not typically found in liquefiable soils. Therefore, in this study, we perform a number of detailed stratigraphic and geotechnical investigations (including continuous-coring borehole, CPTu, SDMT, SPT, and geotechnical laboratory tests) to better interpret these 1915 phenomena and to evaluate the liquefaction potential of a lacustrine environment dominated by fine-grained sedimentation. The upper 18.5 m of the stratigraphic succession comprises fine-grained sediments, including four strata of coarser sediments formed by interbedded layers of sand, silty sand and sandy silt. These strata, which are interpreted to represent the frontal lobes of an alluvial fan system within a lacustrine succession, are highly susceptible to liquefaction. We also find evidence of paleo-liquefaction, dated between 12.1–10.8 and 9.43–9.13 kyrs ago, occurring at depths of 2.1–2.3 m. These data, along with the aforementioned geotechnical analyses, indicate that this site would indeed be liquefiable in a 1915-like earthquake. Although we found a broad agreement among CPTu, DMT and shear wave velocity “simplified procedures” in detecting the liquefaction potential of the Pozzone soil, our results suggest that the use and comparison of different in situ techniques are highly recommended for reliable estimates of the cyclic liquefaction resistance in lacustrine sites characterized by high content of fine-grained soils. In geologic environments similar to the one analysed in this work, where it is difficult to detect liquefiable layers, one can identify sites that are susceptible to liquefaction only by using detailed stratigraphic reconstructions, in situ characterization, and laboratory analyses. This has implications for basic (Level 1) seismic microzonation mapping, which typically relies on the use of empirical evaluations based on geologic maps and pre-existing sub-surface data (i.e., age and type of deposits, prevailing grain size, with particular attention paid to clean sands, and depth of the water table).

The outstanding cultural heritage of Italy is intimately related to the landscape and its long-lasting history. Besides major cities, famous localities, and park areas, several minor places and areas hide important features that allow the enhancing of inner-mountain and hilly areas as well as local natural reserves. This enhancement is supported by combining different types of cultural tourism, such as the archeological and geological ones. In this paper, an integrated geological&ndash, archeological itinerary is presented, which aims to valorize both these aspects in the inner-mountain areas of the central Apennines. The itinerary, called the &ldquo, Fan of the Terre Peligne&rdquo, is focused on the Terre Peligne area located in the Sulmona basin, in the central-eastern part of the Apennines chain (Abruzzo region, central Italy). It is composed of five sectors (one for each of the municipalities included) and incorporates traditional physical tools and digital ones. Here, the evidence of the Apennines formation is preserved from the origin of marine carbonate rocks to their deformation and the landscape shaping. The Terre Peligne intermontane basin became&mdash, and still is&mdash, one of the main transit areas for crossing the Italian peninsula since before Roman times and here many stages of Italian history are preserved. This allows outlining of the presence of man since prehistoric times, and here the name &ldquo, Italia&rdquo, was defined for the first time, in Corfinio, and to testify the connection between human and landscape history. A SWOT (strengths&ndash, weaknesses&ndash, opportunities&ndash, threats) analysis highlighted the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Combining geological and archeological elements, which are intimately connected in this area, this itinerary intends to be an instrument for the enhancement and awareness of the natural and cultural heritage of a poorly known area that features outstanding geological, landscape, and human elements of the history of the inner Apennines.

A major part of the seismicity striking the Mediterranean area and other regions worldwide is hosted in carbonate rocks. Recent examples are the destructive earthquakes of L'Aquila Mw 6.1 2009 and Norcia Mw 6.5 2016 in Central Italy. Surprisingly, within this region, fast (\approx 3km/s) and destructive seismic ruptures coexist with slow (maximum 10 m/s) and non-destructive rupture phenomena. Despite of its relevance for seismic hazard studies, the transitions from fault creep to slow and fast seismic rupture propagation are still poorly constrained by seismological and laboratory observations. Here, we reproduced in the laboratory the complete spectrum of natural faulting on samples of dolostones representative of the seismogenic layer in the region. The transitions from fault creep to slow ruptures and from slow to fast ruptures, are obtained by increasing both confining pressure (P) and temperature (T) up to conditions encountered at 3-5 km depth (i.e., P = 100 MPa and T = 100 $^{o}$C), which corresponds to the hypocentral location of slow earthquake swarms and the onset of regular seismicity in Central Italy. The transition from slow to fast rupture is explained by the increase of the ambient temperature, which enhances the elastic loading stiffness of the fault and consequently the slip velocity during the nucleation stage, allowing flash weakening. The activation of such weakening induces the propagation of fast ruptures radiating intense high frequency seismic waves.

The proposed work concerns the application of a deep geoelectrical survey to a carbonate aquifer in order to define the best location for exploitation well drilling for increasing water supply. However, an optimal characterization of a groundwater resource is the necessary condition to reach the indicated aim. Therefore, the geoelectrical investigation was guided from the previous geological and hydrogeological characterization. Moreover, geophysical methods are good tools to improve the groundwater model when detailed information is necessary, such as the localization of a pumping well. The work summarizes the hydrogeological knowledge at the West of the Basilicata Region (Muro Lucano, Italy). The investigated area is characterized by the presence of a karst aquifer which is made up of a carbonate ridge (Castelgrande, Muro Lucano) that tectonically dips southward and is widely covered by Pliocene deposits (sands and conglomerates), by the Irpinian unit and Sicilide unit formations, and by debris slope and landslide deposits. The assessment of the complex hydrogeological framework of the area was detailed by the use of a new multichannel deep geoelectrical technique (DERT). In details, the proposed technique was able to successfully locate a less resistive zone connected to a more fractured limestone and then it was suitable for the localization of a groundwater exploitation well.

We analyzed thermal data from deep oil exploration and geothermal boreholes in the 1000-7000 m depth range to unravel thermal regime beneath the central-northern Apennines chain and the surrounding sedimentary basins. We particularly selected deepest bottom hole temperatures, all recorded within the permeable carbonate Paleogene-Mesozoic formations, which represent the most widespread tectono-stratigraphic unit of the study area. The available temperatures were corrected for the drilling disturbanceand the thermal conductivity was estimated from detailed litho-stratigraphic information and by taking into account the pressure and temperature effect. The thermal resistance approach, including also the radiogenic heat production, was used to infer the terrestrial heat flow and to highlight possible advective perturbation due to groundwater circulation. Only two boreholes close to recharge areas argue for deep groundwater flow in the permeable carbonate unit, whereas most of the obtained heat-flow data may reflect the deep, undisturbed, conductive thermal regime.

Temperature variations in groundwater discharge from the Giordano karst system (northern Apennines) have been observed continuously for six months (from January 2016 to July 2016), to determine the flow patterns and geometrical properties of aquifer. The karst system discharge about 32.2 L/s on average during over the hydrological year and it’s characterized by two outlets: a basalcontinuousspring (BCS) with a mean discharge of 8.9 L/s and an upper-intermittent spring (UIS) with a mean discharge of 23.3 L/s, located about 60 m above the previous one.Results show significant difference in the two spring outlets between the time lags as well as non-simultaneous and not analogue responses of temperature (T) to the same recharge events: temperature of UIS range from 9.7 to 10.7°C whereas temperature of BCS remain rather stable, ranging from 9.8 to 9.9°C. This data suggests a stratification of the water along the aquifer probably associated by different residence times and linked to the structural organization of karst aquifer (conduit and fracture networks): deeper and oldest water in the BCS and youngest water in the UIS.

Particularly the Liguria region in Northern Italy is highly affected by soil erosion processes. This study was conducted in the Portofino promontory in eastern Liguria, to predict potential annual soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Moreover, we evaluate the relative accuracy of the predictions at detailed scale, using high resolution spatial information for model calibration. The RUSLE factors were calculated for the study area based on terrain survey data and rain gauge measurements. The results were plotted on a 1:10,000 scale soil erosion map and subsequently compared with the European soil loss estimation method (RUSLE2015) developed by the European Joined Research Centre. This study shows that the RUSLE2015 model can be applied in a typical Mediterranean environment such as the Portofino promontory. However, the accuracy of the single factors we calculated using high resolution data sets might improve the results substantially and thus, also model efficiency.

In 2016–2017, a destructive sequence of earthquakes affected a wide portion of Central Italy, activating a complex, 80-km long system of SW-dipping normal faults and causing impressive surface faulting and widespread damage. Former studies providing reconstructions of the fault systems activated during this sequence, are mostly based on high-resolution seismological and geodetic data. In this paper, we integrate surface and subsurface geological data with the ones obtained by an irregular network of seismic reflection profiles, aimed at providing a comprehensive reconstruction of the subsurface lithologies and structures in this area. We have constructed a set of five geological cross-sections, passing through the mainshock epicentral areas (Mw > 5.5) of the seismic sequence. The cross-sections are extrapolated down to a depth of ca. 12 km, along which we have plotted relocated seismicity. Combined geological and seismological data support a new 3D seismotectonic model, illustrating the propagation through time and space of the seismic ruptures during the sequence. Our results show that the litho-mechanical stratigraphy exerted a primary control on the distribution of seismicity, as it is mostly hosted in the more competent lithologies (i.e. the Late Triassic-Paleogene succession, consisting of carbonates and evaporites). In addition, we illustrate the crucial role played by the inherited compressional structures in determining the lateral and vertical variations of the rheological properties of the upper crust and, eventually, the overall geometry and segmentation of the seismogenic extensional system. The workflow proposed here can be applied to other seismogenic zones throughout the world, since reliable seismotectonic models require an accurate reconstruction of the subsurface geological setting, based on a close integration of geological, geophysical and seismological data.

We provide new field data from geologic mapping and bedrock structural geology along the western side of the Matese Mts in central Italy, a region of high seismicity, strain rates among the highest of the entire Apennines (4–5 mm/yr GPS-determined extension), and poorly constrained active faults. The existing knowledge on the Aquae Iuliae normal fault (AIF) was implemented with geometric and kinematic data that better constrain its total length (16.5 km), the minimum long-term throw rate (0.3–0.4 mm/yr, post-late glacial maximum, LGM), and the segmentation. For the first time, we provide evidence of post-350 ka and possibly late Quaternary activity of the Ailano – Piedimonte Matese normal fault (APMF). The APMF is 18 km long. It is composed of a main 11 km-long segment striking NW–SE and progressively bending to the E–W in its southern part, and a 7 km-long segment striking E–W to ENE-WSW with very poor evidence of recent activity. The available data suggest a possible post-LGM throw rate of the main segment of ≳0.15 mm/yr. There is no evidence of active linkage in the step-over zone between the AIF and APMF (Prata Sannita step-over). An original tectonic model is proposed by comparing structural and geodetic data. The AIF and APMF belong to two major, nearly parallel fault systems. One system runs at the core of the Matese Mts and is formed by the AIF and the faults of the Gallo-Letino-Matese Lake system. The other system runs along the western side of the Matese Mts and is formed by the APMF, linked to the SE with the Piedimonte Matese – Gioia Sannitica fault. The finite extension of the APMF might be transferred to the NW towards the San Pietro Infine fault. The nearly 2–3 mm/yr GPS-determined extension rate is probably partitioned between the two systems, with a ratio that is difficult to establish due to poor GPS coverage. The proposed model, though incomplete (several faults/transfer zones need further investigations), aids in the seismotectonic interpretation of poorly-known earthquakes (e.g., 346/355 AD earthquake on the Ailano – Piedimonte Matese – Gioia Sannitica fault system), and stimulates and further orients seismotectonic investigations aimed at constraining the segmentation pattern and seismogenic potential of the area.

Earthquakes are known to affect groundwater properties, yet the mechanisms causing chemical and physical aquifer changes are still unclear. The Apennines mountain belt in Italy presents a rich literature of case studies documenting hydrogeochemical response to seismicity, due to the high frequency of seismic events and the presence of different regional aquifers in the area. In this study, we synthesize published data from the last 30 years in the Apennine region in order to shed light on the main mechanisms causing earthquake induced water changes. The results suggest the geologic and hydrologic setting specific to a given spring play an important role in spring response, as well as the timing of the observed response. In contrast to setting, the main focal mechanisms of earthquake and the distance between epicenter and the analyzed springs seems to present a minor role in defining the response. The analysis of different response variables, moreover, indicates that an important driver of change is the degassing of CO2, especially in thermal springs, whereas a rapid increase in solute concentration due to permeability enhancement is observable in different cold and shallow springs. These findings also leave open the debate regarding whether earthquake precursors can be recognized beyond site-specific responses. Such responses can be understood more comprehensively through the establishment of a regional long-term monitoring system and continuous harmonization of data and sampling strategies, achievable in the Apennine region through the set-up of a monitoring network.

The new alliance Cerastio tomentosi-Globularion meridionalis and the new association Helianthemo alpestris-Globularietum meridionalis are here proposed as a contribute to the prodrome of Italian vegetation. The new syntaxa are related to the chamaephytic high-mountain vegetation and they are characterized by a wide presence of endemics, southern European orophytes, mountain-Mediterranean, and amphi-Adriatic species. The proposal aims to differentiate, on a structural basis, the high-mountain vegetation of the Apennines at higher syntaxonomical levels.

Palynological studies are considered as an excellent tool for palaeoaltitude estimates as sedimentary basins receive abundant pollen grains from surrounding uplands, especially through riverine detritic inputs. Here, we provide new evidence for estimating the palaeoaltitude of the Northern and Central Apennines (Italy) during the late Neogene (from the late Tortonian to the early Zandean), based on vegetation data derived from pollen analysis of five sections (Trave, Legnagnone, Cava Li Monti, Maccarone and Stirone). The past vegetation changes reflect shifts in the vegetation belts on the nearby massifs. The climate reconstruction realised on these sites, at sea-level, suggests that mean annual temperatures were higher than today at the end of the Neogene. Therefore, the different vegetation belts occurred at higher elevation than at present to compensate for the higher temperatures. The results obtained in our study suggest that the Northern and Central Apennines were uplifted as early as the Tortonian attaining significant minimum altitudes around 1350 m up to 1500 m at the end of the Miocene in the Central part, a minimum altitude around 1900 m during the Messinian and around 2150 m during the early Zandean in the Northern part. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In previous papers, we have argued that a close connection may exist between the discontinuous northward displacement of the Adria plate and the spatio-temporal distribution of major earthquakes in the periAdriatic regions [1]-[3]. In particular, five seismic sequences are tentatively recognized in the post 1400 A.D. seismic history, each characterized by a progressive migration of major shocks along the eastern (Hellenides, Dinarides), western (Apennines) and northern (Eastern Southern Alps) boundaries of Adria. In this work, we describe an attempt at gaining insights into the short-term evolution of the strain field that underlies the migration of seismicity in the Apennine belt. The results of this study suggest that seismicity in the study area is mainly conditioned by the fact that the outer (Adriatic) sector of the Apennine belt, driven by the Adria plate, is moving faster than the inner (Tyrrhenian) belt. This kinematics is consistent with the observed Pleistocene deformation pattern and the velocity field inferred by GPS data. The spatio-temporal distribution of major shocks during the last still ongoing seismic sequence (post 1930) suggests that at present the probability of next major shocks is highest in the Northern Apennines. Within this area, we suggest that seismic hazard is higher in the zones located around the outer sector of the Romagna-Marche-Umbria units (RMU), since that wedge is undergoing an accelerated relative motion with respect to the inner Apennine belt. This hypothesis may also account for the pattern of background seismicity in the Northern Apennines. This last activity might indicate that the Upper Tiber Valley fault system is the most resisted boundary sector of the RMU mobile wedge, implying an higher probability of major earthquakes.

Southern European countries are often affected in summer by transboundary air pollution from Saharan dust. However, very few studies deal with Saharan dust pollution at high altitudes in winter. In Italy, the exceptional event occurred on February 19, 2014, colored in red the entire mountain range (Alps and Apennines) and allowed to characterize the particulate matter deposited on snow from a morphological and chemical point of view. Snow samples were collected after this event in four areas in the Alps and one in the Apennines. The particulate matter of the melted snow samples was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). These analyses confirmed the presence of Saharan dust particle components in all areas with similar percentages, supported also by the positive correlations between Mg-Ca, Al-Ca, Al-Mg, and Al-K in all samples.

Low-angle normal faults (LANFs) accommodate extension during late-stage rifting and breakup, but what is more difficult to explain is the existence of LANFs in less-stretched continental rifts. A critical example is the

Aims: This paper reports a syntaxonomic and nomenclatural revision of the high-altitude acidophilous and chionophilous grasslands of the Apennines based on a statistical analysis of synoptic tables. Location: The upper montane, subalpine and alpine belts of the whole Apennine range and the Sicily mountains. Methods: The data matrix was composed of 61 frequency columns and 659 taxa. The communities included in the dataset were classified using UPGMA with Chord distance. Indicator Species Analysis, performed for each partitioning level of the dendrogram up to the 20th level, was used to prune the resulting dendrogram. The statistical significance of Indicator Values were tested by a Monte Carlo Test with 5000 permutations. The floristic relationships among syntaxa were visualized by means of Nonmetric Multi-Dimensional Scaling with Chord distance. Results: The distribution area of the alliance Ranunculo-Nardion was restricted to the subalpine belt of the southern Apennines. The acidophilous and sub-acidophilous grasslands of the subalpine and alpine belts of the central Apennines were included in the new alliance Festuco italicae-Nardion strictae, which is composed of two sub-alliances: Festuco italicae-Nardenion strictae and Ranunculo apennini-Trifolienion thalii. The Ranunculo-Nardion and the Festuco italicae-Nardion were classified in the new order Gentianello columnae-Festucetalia italicae, class Juncetea trifidi. The Nardion strictae was restricted to the northern Apennines. The acidophilous grasslands of the lower montane belt of the northern and central Apennines and of the upper part of the southern Apennines were included in the alliance Nardo-Agrostion caninae (Nardetea strictae), which is composed of three suballiances: Nardo-Agrostenion caninae, Campanulo micranthae-Nardenion strictae and Violo pseudogracilis-Bromopsenion erecti. The secondary acidophilous grasslands of the siliceous subtrates of central and southern Calabria were included in the alliance Cirsio vallis-demonis-Nardion, which represents the southernmost limit of the Nardetalia strictae in the Italian Peninsula. The meso-acidophilous communities of the Sicilian mountains (Cirsietalia vallis-demonis) remain an open issue; they were provisionally maintained in the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. Conclusion: The proposal of the new order Gentianello-Festucetalia fills the gap in the sequence of southern European orders proposed for the acidophilous high-altitude vegetation of the Mediterranean mountains. A solution to the issue of the syntaxonomic classification of the high-altitude Nardus stricta grasslands at the class rank is also proposed. This solution is not exclusively based on the count of the diagnostic species but also on epionthological and syndynamical considerations.

The distribution of the snow vole Chionomys nivalis along the Apennines needs updates and detailed studies. In particular, the presence on some mountains should be confirmed with more recent objective findings. In the present work, a revision is made of the snow vole’s presences on the Sibillini Mountains, considering bibliographic records and a museum specimen. Then details are given about the capture of an individual in 2014. This specimen allows to confirm in an objective way the presence of the species on the Sibillini Mountains in recent times and the genetic analysis allowed the comparison with other European specimens.

The Numidian Flysch shows constant lithological features from the strait of Gibraltar to central Italy. It is characterized by quartzarenites showing grains of monocrystalline, rounded and frosted quartz, and by kaolinitic mudstones. This research has pointed out that in the southern Apennines 1) the Numidian Flysch was deposited exclusively in the Campania-Lucania carbonate platform and in the Lagonegro-Molise basin, both located on the Apulian continental margin, and never is present in tectonic units originated from the oceanic area located west of that margin; 2) in the axial zone of the Lagonegro basin it stratigraphically follows a formation consisting of varicoloured clays (Argille Varicolori Auct.); 3) its age is limited to the early-middle Langhian, that is to say, it begins to sediment about 7 million years later than in the Maghrebian chain and deposited for a time span limited to 1–1.5 Ma. The thickness of the Numidian Flysch gradually decreases towards the north from about 600–1,000 meters to a few tens of meters and in some of the northeastern outcrops it is represented only by some layers of quartzarenites. This is accompanied by a decrease in size of the particles becoming more and more finer. In addition, northwards and frequently in the same section, a lower mineralogical and textural maturity (from quartzarenites to litharenites, and presence of abundant matrix, sub-angular, polycrystalline and deformed quartz grains) is well recognizable. In the Campania-Lucania carbonate platform the Numidian Flysch evolves to pelagic marly-clayey deposits, followed by mineralogically immature turbidite sandstones of Serravallian age. In the Lagonegro basin the Numidian Flysch replaces Cretaceous-lower Miocene turbidite deposits, consisting of limestones and red marls, on the western side of the basin, variegated clays in the axial zone and calcareous turbidites or variegated clays in the eastern side. Since the late Langhian, it evolves to pelagic sediments followed by lower Tortonian immature turbidite sandstones. In the successions of the Molise basin the Numidian Flysch is interbedded in a succession consisting of calcareous turbidites and pelagic limestones and marls, reaching the Messinian. The lithological features and the age of the Numidian Flysch in central-southern Apennines, therefore, point out an evolution different from that of the Numidian Flysch of the Maghrebian chain. During the early Miocene, a paleogeographic barrier or other unknown obstacles prevent Numidian sands from reaching the south-Apenninic domains. In the early Langhian, the disappearance of these obstacles allows sands to reach the deep basins located on the Apulian margin. In the late Langhian the Numidian sedimentation is canceled and replaced by mainly pelagic sediments, which will evolve to foredeep deposits in the Serravallian-Messinian time span. In addition, the significant presence of feldspathic and lithic grains testifies a double detrital supply: polycyclic quartzose sands and kaolinitic mudstones from the African craton and metamorphic and plutonic grains from the Hercynian or older rocks of the internal units of the southern Apennines. The Numidian Flysch of the southern Apennines allows to assign the tectonic units in which is present to the Campania-Lucania carbonate platform or to different zones of the Lagonegro-Molise basin and therefore is of great importance in the reconstruction of both the Mesozoic-Cenozoic paleogeography and a tectono-sedimentary evolution very difficult to decipher, given the convergence of sedimentary facies in the Apenninic deep basins since Cretaceous to Miocene, the presence of several tectonic phases and of out of sequence and back-thrusts.

Campylomorphus homalisinus has been found on Mt. Lesima (Northern Apennines) and it is the first record for the Lombardy region. Campylomorphus homalisinus is a rare orophilous species: it has a discontinuous chorology that may have been caused by glaciers dynamics during the Pleistocene era. Little is known about the ecology of the species. This record and the expert-based investigation we performed determined that Campylomorphus homalisinus inhabits shrublands and grasslands, but may also occur in the forests. This survey includes the only record of Campylomorphus homalisinus foraging on flowers, a behavior that is not rare in the family Elateridae. We hypothesize that adults integrate their diet with flower resources according to a generalist strategy.

The geological record of the western and northern Mediterranean region (Apennines, Alps, Carpathians) contains relics of an ocean basin of Jurassic age known as the Piemonte–Ligurian (PL), Alpine or Alpine Tethys ocean. We here reconstruct the age, direction and amount of extension in the PL basin by analyzing the differences in spreading rates based on marine magnetic anomalies and fracture zones in the Central Atlantic ocean between Africa and North America, and the North Atlantic Ocean between Iberia and North America. The difference in spreading rate must have been accommodated between Iberia and Adria, which we assume to be rigidly attached to the African plate in the late Jurassic. We compute a maximum of ∼450 km of WSW-ENE extension between Iberia and Africa, largely between ∼170 and ∼150 Ma. Relative Adria (Africa)–Europe motion predicts up to 670 km of extension at the longitude of the western Alps – distributed over the PL and Valaisan basins – decreasing to ∼315 km along the easternmost boundary of the PL basin formed by the Tornquist–Tesseyre line. We note that the Africa–Europe plate boundary in the late Jurassic was probably not discretely localized along the Tornquist–Tesseyre line, but distributed over several fault zones including the Severin oceanic basin to the west of the Moesian platform; the 315 km of PL extension in the east should hence be considered a maximum. It is unknown to what extent PL extension was accommodated by genuine ocean spreading, but full spreading rates in the western PL basin were slow, no more than 20 mm/yr. This ultraslow spreading is consistent with characteristics of western Mediterranean ophiolites, including exposure of upper mantle rocks at the sea floor, the alternation of volcanic and avolcanic segments, and the petrologic features of the pertinent magmas and peridotites.

The discussed case study is represented by the Reno river basin, in northern Apennines (Italy), where a hydrological and geochemical monitoring has been carried out for three of the major tributaries: Lavino, Savena and Sillaro streams, where the gauging stations were built from 1997 to 2000yr’ at the outlet of the mountain basins. Each monitoring station was equipped with an ultrasonic flow meter, interfaced to an automatic pumped sampler. The rising interest for nutrients migration and the availability of more than 1500 water samples/river, have led to the analysis for total nitrogen, nitrate and phosphorus and grain size on the suspended sediment collected during flood events. The monitored watersheds, although very close, are different for lithology and anthropogenic contamination levels. These differences are recognizable in the particle size distribution and in the nutrient level of the water samples collected. Suspended sediment from the Savena torrent shows a higher component of coarser material (26% sand and 22% clay) than Sillaro and the Lavino rivers which have higher clay-silt content. Aggregates dominate the suspended sediment load and catchments lithology and soil type are thought to be important controls on the effective particle size characteristics of suspended sediment mobilized from the main sub-catchments. This study shows the results of a detailed analysis concerning suspended sediment concentration and particle size distribution in water samples collected mainly during storm events from three tributaries of the Reno River and it gives interesting elements on behavior of the concentration of total Nitrogen and Phosphorous to grain size. Concentration of Ntot and Ptot in sediments increases from Sillaro to Lavino to Savena. Relationships of nutrient concentration with soil use, agricultural and anthropic activity are expected to exist, possibly with the presence of a seasonality component. Despite their close geographical proximity, analyses of nutrient in the streams and a detailed study of data set have revealed dissimilar properties, which have been related to the different agricultural, geological and hydrological properties of catchments.

Following the earthquake (ML=6.0) of 24 August 2016 that affected large part of the central Apennine between the municipalities of Norcia (PG) and Amatrice (RI) (central Italy), two soil gas profiles (i.e., 222Rn, 220Rn, CO2 and CO2 flux) were carried out across buried and exposed coseismic fault rupture of the Mt. Vettore fault during the seismic sequence. The objective of the survey was to explore the mechanisms of migration and the spatial behaviour of different gas species near still-degassing active fault. Results provide higher gas and CO2 flux values (about twice for 222Rn and CO2 flux) in correspondence of the buried sector of the fault than those measured across the exposed coseismic rupture. Anomalous peaks due to advective migration are clearly visible on both side of the buried fault (profile 1), whereas the lower soil gas concentrations measured across the exposed coseimic rupture (profile 2) are mainly caused by shallow and still acting diffusive degassing associated to faulting during the seismic sequence. These results confirm the usefulness of the soil gas survey to spatially recognise the shallow geometry of hidden faults, and to discriminate the geochemical migration mechanisms occurring at buried and exposed faults related to seismic activity.

Euphorbia spinosa, a perennial xerophilous shrub naturally distributed across the Italian peninsula, was selected for examination of the role of the Ligurian Alps and Apennines in glacial survival. The Italian Peninsula is considered to be one of the principal glacial refugia in Europe, but few plant population genetic and phylogeography studies have been undertaken in this region. The combined analysis of chloroplast and nuclear loci (ITS, cpSSR and ISSR) enabled us to detect extensive DNA variation and proved to be a very powerful tool for the reconstruction of the phylogeography. Molecular data support the hypothesis of a long-term separation of the Northwestern (Maritime Alps, Sardinia, Corsica, Northern Apennines) and Southeastern (Southern Apennines and Balkan area) lineages in glacial refugia. The existence of allopatrically fragmented lineages is most probably the result of isolation in different glacial refugia, possibly due to the Last Glacial Maximum cooling and the topographic complexity of the Italian peninsula. The most plausible hypothesis assumes the formation of two migration paths during more recent periods: the first one starting with southward migration and the second one moving northwards. The Central Apennines should be considered the confluence of migration routes radiating from separate refugia according to this hypothesis.