Characterization of black crusts developed on historic stones with diverse mineralogy under different air quality environments

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Black crusts (BCs) are one of the most critical alteration forms found on stones belonging to architectural heritage. Since they could be considered...     

Calcitic-based stones protection by a low-fluorine modified methacrylic coating

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Atmospheric pollutants, such as NOx, SO2, and particulate matter, together with water percolation inside the stone pores, represent the main causes of...     

Microplastics as vectors of metals contamination in Mediterranean Sea

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microplastics are contaminants of great concern all over the world. Microplastics constitute pollutants themselves; moreover, other contaminants such...     

The role of iron nanoparticles on anaerobic digestion: mechanisms,limitations, and perspectives

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the most widely used technology for organic matter treatment. However, multiple types of research have reported on...     

Feeding habits of the albacore tuna <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus alalunga</Emphasis> (Perciformes,Scombridae) from central Mediterranean Sea

In order to assess feeding habits and trophic level of this species, we analysed the stomach content of 189 specimens collected monthly in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea (central Mediterranean Sea). The results showed that this species is a pelagic predator focusing on paralepidid fish and, more in detail, on two species such as Paralepis speciosa and Paralepis coregonoides. Among cephalopods, Heteroteuthis dispar was the most abundant prey item in the stomach contents, whereas among crustaceans the hyperidean amphipods Phrosina semilunata and Brachyscelus crusculum were the most representative species. In the present study, the diet of the albacore did not vary significantly throughout the period of study focusing, in the different season of catch, on the same prey species. Not even a size-related diet shift was observed, with a partitioning of the albacore sample into five size groups. Levin’s standardized index showed a low value indicating a limited trophic niche width, with a diet dominated by a limited number of taxa and then a specialist behaviour for this predator. The estimated TROPH value for T. alalunga resulted very similar to that calculated in Mediterranean Sea for other species as well as Xiphias gladius, Thunnus thynnus, Euthynnus alletteratus and Sarda sarda. Then, the albacore tuna can be considered as a top carnivore.