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Background. In the past decades, the abandonment of traditional land use practices has determined landscape changes inducing reforestation dynamics. This phenomenon can be contrasted with rewilding practices, i.e., the reintroduction of animals that may promote the recovery of landscape diversity. In this study, we explore the dynamics of expansion of two reintroduced populations of wild ungulates, Italian roe deer (Capreolus capreolus italicus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus), assessing their contribution in the recovery of landscape diversity. Methods. By using direct and indirect information on the two species, collected by nocturnal and diurnal surveys and camera trapping, we modelled a habitat suitability map, and estimated the density and distribution of the populations. We also performed a land use changes analysis, combining the presence of wild ungulates and livestock. Results and Discussion. We demonstrated that deer dispersed gradually from their release location, increasing in population size, and this occurred in the entire study area. Moreover, we show that areas with lower grazing density are significantly affected by forest encroachment. A possible interpretation of this result could be that wild grazers (roe deer and red deer) prefer semi-open areas surrounded by the forest. This, in association with other factors, such as domestic grazing, could be one of the main responsible in maintaining landscape mosaic typical of the Apennine mountain, confirming the value of grazers as a landscape management tool. Moreover, we show the possibility to conserve through reintroduction the vulnerable C.c. italicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In the past decades, the abandonment of traditional land use practices has determined landscape changes inducing reforestation dynamics. This phenomenon can be contrasted with rewilding practices, i.e., the reintroduction of animals that may promote the recovery of landscape diversity. In this study, we explore the dynamics of expansion of two reintroduced populations of wild ungulates, Italian roe deer (Capreolus capreolus italicus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus), assessing their contribution in the recovery of landscape diversity. Methods By using direct and indirect information on the two species, collected by nocturnal and diurnal surveys and camera trapping, we modelled a habitat suitability map, and estimated the density and distribution of the populations. We also performed a land use changes analysis, combining the presence of wild ungulates and livestock. Results and Discussion We demonstrated that deer dispersed gradually from their release location, increasing in population size, and this occurred in the entire study area. Moreover, we show that areas with lower grazing density are significantly affected by forest encroachment. A possible interpretation of this result could be that wild grazers (roe deer and red deer) prefer semi-open areas surrounded by the forest. This, in association with other factors, such as domestic grazing, could be one of the main responsible in maintaining landscape mosaic typical of the Apennine mountain, confirming the value of grazers as a landscape management tool. Moreover, we show the possibility to conserve through reintroduction the vulnerable C.c. italicus.

Question: Vegetation around the alpine–treeline ecotone faces changes in both climate and land use (i.e. grazing abandonment). Broad‐scale shrub encroachment is considered an effect of these changes, but it remains unclear how this process is mediated by local‐scale environmental heterogeneity. Our goal is to determine which local‐scale environmental factors shape the spatial distribution and temporal trends of alpine dwarf shrub vegetation dominated by Juniperus communis in Mediterranean mountains. Location: Three sites in the Central Apennine Mountain Range (Italy): Mt. Terminillo, Mt. Duchessa and Mt. Ernici. Methods: Combining a set of environmental variables obtained at a fine scale (25‐m resolution) from multi‐year remote sensing imagery and field‐collected vegetation data, we modelled the occurrence and cover of Juniperus communis‐dominated dwarf shrubland, as well as its change over time, as a function of local climate, topography and land use, using linear and generalized mixed effects models. Results: Over a period of almost 60 years (1954–2012) shrubland occurrence increased by 12% and shrubland cover by 10% in our study sites. Its current distribution and change over time appear to be strongly shaped by the joint influences of fine‐scale topography, above‐ground biomass, land use and microclimate. Shrublands have been favoured locally in areas with harsher alpine environmental constraints and stronger resource limitations. Conclusions: Our study shows that in the Mediterranean high‐mountain environment J. communis dwarf shrubland acts as a stress‐tolerant pioneer vegetation, occurring in areas that are otherwise sparsely vegetated. Contrary to our expectations, at fine scales, warmer temperatures and the regional decline in grazing did not favour shrub encroachment. Despite increasing overall, J. communis shrubs have little competitive ability to successfully encroach grasslands, and remain restricted to less‐productive areas. Our results confirm that fine‐scale environmental heterogeneity can strongly influence shrub distribution and dynamics, thereby modulating future responses in evolving alpine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Boiano Basin is one of the largest Quaternary intermontane basins of the central‐southern Apennines within one of the most tectonically active areas of the Mediterranean region. In order to reconstruct its entire Quaternary stratigraphic, tectonic, and palaeoenvironment evolution, lithofacies and palaeomagnetic analyses have been performed on a 900 m‐deep borehole (CP1) drilled in the southwestern sector of the basin. The Quaternary succession consists of an alternating of alluvial fan and fluvial–marshy deposits for a total thickness of 240 m, unconformably laying on Lower Miocene deposits of the Sannio Unit, thrusted on upper Miocene deposits of the Molise Flysch. In addition, the stratigraphic study and facies distribution of 29 intermediate and shallow wells drilled in the basin, allowing us to define the thickness and lithofacies variations of the Quaternary sedimentary units inside the entire Boiano Basin in the sector of Campochiaro alluvial fan. Our results demonstrate that the Boiano Basin infilling started during the late Early Pleistocene (c. 1.1 Ma) and developed with variation in lithofacies distribution and thickness. The first depositional unit (Early Pleistocene–early Middle Pleistocene in age) was palustrine and fluvial–marshy, the second (Middle Pleistocene in age) was characterized by the occurrence of the first cycle of alluvial fan deposition, the third (late Middle Pleistocene in age) was newly palustrine and fluvial marshy and, finally, the fourth recorded two cycles of alluvial fan deposition (late Middle Pleistocene and Late Pleistocene in age, respectively), interspersed by short periods of palustrinity, tephra layers deposition, and palaeosols development. The study allows the hypothesizing that the Quaternary infilling was accommodated within a graben (or semigraben) structure, affected mainly by extensional fault systems localized in the inner part of the basin and secondly by fault systems bounding the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We address the modeling of spatial distribution of coseismic landslides, based on an empirical approach applied to both recent and historical well-documented events. We analyze a dataset of 11 historical and recent normal faulting earthquakes in the Italian Central Apennines. Firstly, making use of a kernel density estimator approach, we calculated the regression between the extent of the maximum area affected by landslides (A; km2) and Mw, on the combined dataset of recent and historic earthquakes: Log A = (1.0397 Mw)–3.9288. Then, for recent earthquakes only, we analyzed the attenuation regression of landslide density (Dens; no. of landslides/km2) with distance from surface fault trace (Dfault; meters): Dens = 0.3661 × exp (− 5.053 Dfault). Historical events, still presenting systematically lower values of landslide densities, can be regressed on the same functional form resulting in a similar factor of attenuation with distance but with a different scaling factor. We thus argue that empirical regressions on historical earthquake-triggered landslides can be successfully exported elsewhere if a well-documented catalog is present and a calibration with several recent events can be done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The importance of societal factors in shaping forest area, structure and composition through economic activity, policy, governance, and population changes is frequently acknowledged in ecologic studies, however the specific socioeconomic factors that lead to land use change through time are rarely articulated. Objectives: We present a consilience-driven approach for integrating socioeconomic and paleoecologic data to explore land use legacies and interpret causes of past abrupt environmental change. Methods: We combine paleoecologic history reconstructed from pollen analysis of lake sediments and contemporary historical narratives of socioeconomic change developed from archival sources illustrated by three case studies from two sites in the Italian Apennines. Results: We found that in the Rieti Basin, central Italy, between 850 and 900 AD (coeval with the beginning of the Medieval Climate Anomaly—MCA), under the new Carolingian rule, the imperially sponsored monastery at Farfa consolidated small landholdings, leading to more active land management and significant forest loss for agricultural activities. In contrast, at Pollino in southern Italy between 1050 and 1100 AD, also during the MCA, Norman conquest helped to convert a deforested landscape into an actively managed fir forest for timber needed for construction. At both sites, depopulation and land management between 1350 and 1400 AD caused by the Black Death, led to forest rewilding, however each site took a different trajectory. Conclusions: The studies presented offer examples of how the integration of detailed historical narratives with high-resolution paleoecologic reconstructions can provide a more nuanced examination of the interrelationship between societal factors and climate forcing in shaping land-use legacies and has the capacity to illuminate the link between specific human pressures and pathways of ecological change over many centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevations of numerous coastlines have been measured on wide areas of Italy (central Apennines and Sardinia) and Spain. If we consider small areas, the coastlines are clear and are at precise, distinct elevations; so, it can be inferred that the sea level changes had long stillstands and rapid changes. Sea level changes have taken place cyclically every 2528 years, giving rise to two main level stillstands, a longer one of about 2200 years and a shorter one of about 160 years. For the area of the Apennines nine elevation sequences relevant to as many zones have been recorded. Each of these zones had an uplift different from those of the other zones. By isolating the differences between couples of elevations which are in common among the various zones and therefore have an eustatic meaning, it was possible to subtract the effects of the uplifts and reconstruct a single, common succession of sea levels that are the traces of a great transgression started 270 Ka and culminated shortly afterwards at an altitude of 822 m above the present level. The same succession was also recognized in Sardinia and Spain, where no correction for uplifting was necessary, showing that these two zones were altimetrically stable in the examined time frame. In the Apennine area the boundaries of the nine zones are outcroppings of normal fault surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest communities dominated by noble broad-leaved trees (maple, lime and ash) in Europe are of elevated scientific and con­servation interest for the European Union. In this paper, we first present a synthesis of the maple and ash forests in peninsular Italy. By classifying these forests, we distinguish seven main groups for the territory, which only broadly match the syntaxa proposed in the literature. The variability of the Apennine data is then analysed floristically and phytogeographically (using chorological components) in a central-southern European context, using numerical classification, INSPAN, and direct ordination of several synoptic tables. These analyses allow us to identify six different groups of European Acer-Fraxinus communities. Canonical Vari­ates Analysis (CVA) of the geographical components confirms the existence of distinct phytogeographical groups. In particular, we highlight the clear distinction between central European (including the Alps) and southern European coenoses. Among the latter there was a clear floristic and chorological distinction between Balkan and Apennine groups. These results reflect the biogeographical subdivisions of Europe, but do not support the syntaxonomical schemes proposed by other authors, which are based only on floristic-ecological information or (recently) use a smaller data set of Italian relevés. This study also shows that syntaxonomical schemes above the association level should pay more attention to phytogeographical aspects rather than focus on floristic-ecological information alone, in order to propose models that are of value on a geographical scale.

Goniolimon italicum is an endemic species to central Apennines (Italy). Here we provide the first report of heterostyly in this species. Two morphological types were identified: an S-morph with stamen filaments longer than gynoecia, stigmas with a papillate surface and finely reticulated pollen grains with very small spinules (Type B); and an L-morph with stamen filaments shorter than gynoecia, stigmas with a cob pattern and coarsely reticulated pollen grains with small spinules (Type A). Two new locations of G. italicum were found and are here reported.

Aim of this study was to investigate the presence and distribution of Hydraenidae in relation to selected abiotic parameters in a single, uniform riffle of the Caramagna Stream (northwestern Italy). Six species belonging to the genus ofHydraenaKugelann, 1794 were found (H. andreiniiD'Orchymont, 1934,H. subimpressaRey, 1885,H. assimilisRey, 1885,H. heterogynaBedel, 1898,H. truncataRey, 1884 andH. devilleiGanglbauer, 1901), with evident niche preferences. Our study provided interesting information about ecological requirements of minute moss beetles at small-scale and evidenced that maintaining elevate habitat diversity is essential to preserve high species abundance at local scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LAQUI-CORE was drilled in the co-seismic subsidence depocenter shown by DinSAR images in the Bazzano sub-basin after the 2009 Mw = 6.1 L'Aquila earthquake. LAQUI-CORE aimed at gathering high-resolution integrated stratigraphy and defining its relationships with the Paganica and other active faults that yielded co-seismic subsidence. Lithostratigraphy and micropaleontological analyses indicate a Late Pleistocene-Holocene fluvial-alluvial sequence, and below 41 m palustrine sediments sandwiching at 84–115 m a thick gravel package. Four 14 C ages gathered from 5 to 15 m yield calibrated ages between 6 and 41 ka BP. Paleomagnetism reveals a normal polarity above 84 m, while below the gravel package (115 m) it shows frequent polarity changes. The occurrence of intervals of clear reverse polarity testifies below 115 m the deposition during the Matuyama Chron. We conclude that the normal polarity package, down to 84 m along with the underlying gravels, were deposited at high sedimentation rate (0.46 mm/yr for the upper 15 m) during the Brunhes Chron (< 0.78 Ma), and lie over a much older Early Pleistocene palustrine sequence that we correlate with the well-known Madonna della Strada Synthem (1.2–1.7 Ma). We assume that the subsidence driving the deposition of the upper normal polarity sequence was due to the activity of the Paganica and neighbour faults during the Middle-Late Pleistocene. The lack of thick volcanostratigraphic markers, widespread in colluvial sediments from the L'Aquila plain older than 460 ka, suggests a normal-polarity sedimentation onset, thus a Paganica fault activity onset, around 400 ka. The 0.25 to 0.50 mm/yr subsidence at Bazzano extrapolated by DinSAR data and paleoseismological trenching at the Paganica fault is roughly consistent with the sedimentation rate (0.46 mm/yr) yielded by radiocarbon dating in the upper LAQUI-CORE. This implies that co-seismic subsidence in the Bazzano sub-basin during Late Pleistocene-Holocene times was mainly controlled by the Paganica fault activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We perform a geomorphologic and structural survey in an earthquake prone area. [•] We discriminate active tectonic lineaments by inherited morpho-structures. [•] We discuss the role of neo-tectonics on the morphologic instabilities of the study area. [•] The finding has an impact on the local earthquake and landslide hazard assessment. [•] Concluding, we stress the importance of integrated approaches to active tectonic studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Central portion of the Western Periadriatic Basin is a foreland basins systems associated to the Central Apennine Outer Orogenic Wedge that stretches along the Marche and Abruzzi regions of Italy; an area that has been studied since long time and where a plenty of surface and subsurface data are available. The present study is aimed to review and synthetize these data, add new surface and subsurface data in order to define a firm stratigraphic and tectonic framework that is base for the reconstruction of the Pliocene-Pleistocene tectonic-stratigraphic evolution of the Central portion of the Western Periadriatic Basin. The study integrates field mapping, published geological maps, seismic lines, well logs and an updated chronostratigraphic scheme. Six major NNE-SSW thrust stacks and eight unconformity bounded stratigraphic units have been defined; then, a NE-SW oriented zone separates a northern from a southern sector which have differences in structural styles, amount of shortening, basins'' widths and thicknesses of stratigraphic units. Despite these differences, the deformation timing, the depositional history and the migration of basins system are common in both sectors and eight tectonic-stratigraphic evolutionary stages have been reconstructed with sequential restoration of two representative cross-sections. The results highlight that the Pliocene-Pleistocene stratigraphic and tectonic evolution of the Central Western Periadriatic Basin preserves the records of supra-regional and global controls which drive thrust propagation, orogen growth, basins'' migration and basins'' sedimentary infill. In particular, the stratigraphy preserves global third-order eustatic/climatic changes that have a strict feed-back and concomitance with tectonic pulses. The latter are regulated 1) by cyclic growth of an orogenic wedge undergoing coeval erosion and sedimentation and 2) by eastward retreat of a westward subducting and flexing continental lithosphere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Volcaniclastic debris flows are dangerous natural phenomena that originate in volcanic areas not only during or shortly after an eruption but also during a period of volcanic quiescence, when heavy and/or persistent rains remobilize unconsolidated pyroclastic deposits. In Italy, one of the areas most affected by these phenomena is that of the Apennine Mountains which border the southern Campania Plain surrounding the Vesuvius volcano. Historical accounts record in these areas that more than 500 debris flow events occurred during the last five centuries. These events caused very dangerous consequences such as loss of life and serious damage to property. An example is the devastating event of Sarno of 5 May 1998 which caused the death of more than 150 people and considerable damage to villages located at the foot of the Apennine Hills. In order to contribute to the assessment and mitigation of the debris flow risk, we propose a zonation map that identifies the areas more prone to generation and invasion by volcaniclastic flows. This map is based on field investigations and morphometric analyses derived from a digital elevation model with spatial resolution of 10 meters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest communities dominated by noble broad-leaved trees (maple, lime and ash) in Europe are of elevated scientific and conservation interest for the European Union. In this paper, we first present a synthesis of the maple and ash forests in peninsular Italy. By classifying these forests, we distinguish seven main groups for the territory, which only broadly match the syntaxa proposed in the literature. The variability of the Apennine data is then analysed floristically and phytogeographically (using chorological components) in a central-southern European context, using numerical classification, INSPAN, and direct ordination of several synoptic tables. These analyses allow us to identify six different groups of European Acer-Fraxinus communities. Canonical Variates Analysis (CVA) of the geographical components confirms the existence of distinct phytogeographical groups. In particular, we highlight the clear distinction between central European (including the Alps) and southern European coenoses. Among the latter there was a clear floristic and chorological distinction between Balkan and Apennine groups. These results reflect the biogeographical subdivisions of Europe, but do not support the syntaxonomical schemes proposed by other authors, which are based only on floristic-ecological information or (recently) use a smaller data set of Italian relevés. This study also shows that syntaxonomical schemes above the association level should pay more attention to phytogeographical aspects rather than focus on floristic-ecological information alone, in order to propose models that are of value on a geographical scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lathyrus apenninus, from beech woods margins and scrub in the Central Apennine (Italy), is described as a species new to science. The relationship of L. apenninus with L. linifolius, which it had been confused with, is briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lunar Apennines, located in the southeast of Mare Imbrium, is the largest range on the Moon. The gravity anomalies on profiles across the mountains reveal evidence of a great fault zone characteristic. The deep crustal structures of lunar Apennines are analyzed on the basis of topographic data from Chang’E-1 satellite and gravity data from Lunar Prospector. The inverted crust-mantle models indicate the presence of a lithosphere fault beneath the mountains. Inverted results of gravity and the hypothesis of lunar thermal evolution suggest that the lunar lithosphere might be broken ∼3.85 Ga ago due to a certain dynamic lateral movement and compression of lunar lithosphere. This event is associated with the history of magma filling and lithosphere deformation in the mountain zone and adjacent area. Moreover, the formation and evolution of Imbrium basin impose this effect on the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Pennsylvania, the Taconic Orogeny lasted from ∼461 to ∼443Ma as Cambro-Ordovician slope deposits were deformed into mountains edging the Laurentian craton at the same time that materials from an adjacent deep-water basin were being transported ∼50 –70km across a carbonate platform into foreland basins. This paper focuses on shelf-edge hinterland features, mostly the Martic Zone as a folded, stack of imbricate thrust sheets of slope materials that corresponds to Vermont''s Taconic Mountains and Southern Quebec''s zone of Taconic allochthons. Work of the last century is summarized, corrected, and combined with a new ∼450Ma radiometric date and fluid inclusion data from the Pequea Mine within the Martic Zone. These and abundant new graptolite and conodont dates in the foreland paint a revised Pennsylvania picture differing from the northern Taconic areas. Differences are: (1) transport of very large allochthonous masses of deep-water material, the Dauphin Formation, far across the carbonate platform, and (2) deformation migrating progressively across that platform during a ∼15 –20m.y. period, incorporating it and its foreland cover into alpine-scale, recumbent folds and thrusts. The scenario has many analogies to Italy''s modern Apennine Mountains minus the Latian volcanics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, I suggest that studies of motor development, learning and memory may provide important insights into technological change and conservatism in prehistoric craft activities. The physical and mental processes involved in the learning and development of highly skilled motor activities result in strongly rooted changes in an individual's actions and levels of performance. In terms of craft production, this means that mature, skilled artisans have a selective and efficient array of actions and strategies, which they can draw upon to produce competent products of predictable quality and quantity. The reverse of this degree of specialized physical training is, however, the possibility of 'negative transfer' when it comes to learning new skills. The presence within the late second millennium bc in Italy of both handmade and wheelmade pottery technologies can be explained in part by the degree of difficulty mature craftspeople may have experienced in learning the radically different physical processes involved in wheel-manufacture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed 24-h investigation in August 2005 evaluated net dissolved and particulate nutrient budgets in a small trout farm located in the Parma Apennines. During the monitoring period, due to water shortage, the Cedra Creek was almost entirely diverted into the farm; the water flow was 190 l s-1, and the fish standing stock about 20 t. Inflow and outflow waters were characterized for dissolved gases (O2 and CO2) and dissolved and particulate inorganic nutrients ([image omitted] , [image omitted] , [image omitted] , [image omitted] , PN, and PP). Solute concentrations in outflowing waters were found to fluctuate considerably during the day, due to fish metabolic activity and farm-management practices. Despite the small amount of feed supplied to the fish (75 kg d-1) due to high water temperatures (∼20 °C) and the high feed conversion factor (∼1.2), the farm released net amounts of 2.20 and 0.76 kg d-1 of nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively, to the Cedra Creek. Of the nutrients produced, 68% of the nitrogen was as [image omitted] , while 67% of the phosphorus was particulate. Significantly different [image omitted] , [image omitted] , and PP concentrations were measured 500 m downstream of the fish farm compared with inflowing water. This study supports the hypothesis that the ecological quality of creeks or streams receiving fish farm effluents can be seriously affected due to fine particle sedimentation, interstice clogging, simplification of benthic macrofauna communities, and stimulation of microfitobenthos growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]