Collective behaviour is a widespread phenomenon in biology, cutting through huge span of scales, from cell colonies up to bird flocks and fish schools. The most prominent trait collective the emergence global order: individuals synchronize their states, giving stunning impression that group behaves as one. In many biological systems, though, it unclear whether order present. A paradigmatic case insect swarms, whose erratic movements seem suggest formation mere epiphenomenon independent...

Collective behavior in biological systems is often accompanied by strong correlations. The question has therefore arisen of whether correlation amplified the vicinity to some critical point parameters space. Biological systems, though, are typically quite far from thermodynamic limit, so that value control parameter at which and susceptibility peak depend on size. Hence, a system would need readjust its according size order be maximally correlated. This readjustment, never been observed...

Abstract Aims The main aim of this study was to fill a gap in barcoding data the European Chironomidae Balkan region, developing and testing efficiency reference DNA barcode library for ancient Lake Skadar basin species (Montenegro/Albania), region Europe never before subjected studies on Chironomidae. Another test identification Chironomidae, including estimation optimal thresholds, using >12,000 barcodes. Location adjacent area (Montenegro/Albania). Methods Through study, 770...

A major deterrent to a full understanding of the ecological ramifications river regulation at catchment scale is lack fundamental knowledge structural and functional attributes morphologically intact systems. For example, both River Continuum Serial Discontinuity Concepts, in their original formulations, had implicit assumption stable, single-thread channel from headwaters sea. The Fiume Tagliamento traverses course 172 km its Italian Alps Adriatic Sea. No high dams impede river's passage as...

We analyzed responses of chironomid (Diptera:Chironomidae) communities to environmental factors in 124 natural, moderately, and highly disturbed springs the Italian Prealps Alps investigate influencing species distribution evaluate chironomids as bioindicators spring water quality. Self-Organizing Map analysis found differences among types effects anthropogenic pressures. Natural or little-disturbed at high altitude with low temperature, conductivity, current velocity differed from lowland...

Some rare species from Italian Alps, belonging to the genus Diamesa Meigen, 1835 (Diptera, Chironomidae) are here redescribed as adult males, because only old, incomplete descriptions available for these taxa. Terminology of male genitalia is reviewed, diagnostic features illustrated in detail, and notes on biology geographical distribution examined provided. An identification key known males presented.

1. A study on glacial stream ecosystems was carried out in six regions across Europe, from Svalbard to the French Pyrenees. The main aim test validity of conceptual model Milner & Petts (1994) with regard zonation chironomids glacier‐fed rivers along altitudinal and latitudinal gradient. 2. Channel stability varied considerably, both scale, being lowest northern (Svalbard, Iceland Norway) Swiss Alps. Water temperature at upstream sites always <2 °C. 3. There a prominent difference...

Response curves for the abundance value of chironomid species against water temperature were analyzed and optimum, tolerance, skewness kurtosis calculated. The data base consisted 127 taxa 991 sites in running waters Italy. Optimum was calculated as weighted mean temperature, tolerance standard deviation, 3rd 4th moment statistics respectively. Species sorted according to optimum temperature. Most are cold stenothermal show a narrow range, very few have clearly plurimodal response. Cold an...

Rapid and efficient DNA-based tools are recommended for the evaluation of insect biodiversity high-altitude streams. In present study, focused principally on larvae genus Diamesa Meigen 1835 (Diptera: Chironomidae), congruence between morphological/molecular delimitation species as well performances in taxonomic assignments were evaluated. A fragment mitochondrial cox1 gene was obtained from 112 larvae, pupae adults (Diamesinae, Orthocladiinae Tanypodinae) that collected different mountain...

Abstract 1. The spatio‐temporal approach was used to evaluate the environmental features influencing carabid beetle assemblages along a chronosequence of an Italian Alpine glacier foreland. influence variables on species richness, morphology (wing and body length), distribution tested. 2. Species richness found be poor indicator habitat due weak influences by variables. It seems that neighbouring habitats foreland are not able determine significant changes in richness. 3. Instead it appears...

Semiaquatic organisms depend on the features of both water bodies and landscapes; interplay between terrestrial aquatic systems might influence semiaquatic communities, determining scale at which management would be more effective. However, consequences such are not frequently quantified, particularly community level. We analyzed distribution amphibians to evaluate whether landscape freshwater ecosystems can have indirect species surveyed 74 streams in northern Italy obtain data breeding...

The 154-year (1850–2004) chronosequence of the Forni Glacier foreland has been studied by sampling ant, centipede, ground beetle, and spider species assemblages. Species numbers increase with terrain age along from 2 to 26 on oldest soils. Thirty-nine were collected; richness diversity (Shannon's Index) communities are correlated year soil deglaciation. Shannon Index values sites deglaciated between 1 61 years ago; 78 ago produce similar values, those 154 show a further in diversity. Ground...

Abstract Chironomid larvae and pupae were studied in selected Mediterranean rivers with the aim of identifying pool riffle taxa assemblages analysing their response to ecological quality gradients. Macroinvertebrate samples collected six Italian along a pool‐riffle sequence three seasons following multihabitat sampling technique. Chironomids identified as genus/species, other macroinvertebrates family/genus. The main physico‐chemical, hydromorphological geographical data collected. Samples...

The response of 443 chironomid species to water temperature was analyzed, with the aim defining their thermal optimum, tolerance limits and habitat. database included 4442 samples mainly from Italian river catchments collected 1950s up date. Thermal preferences were calculated separately for larval pupal specimens different habitats: high altitude lowland lakes in Alpine ecoregion; Mediterranean heavily modified bodies; kryal, krenal, rhithral potamal running waters. Optimum as mean...

The diversity and distribution of chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae) were studied in relation to environmental factors 81 springs under pristine conditions the Italian Prealps Alps (Trentino Veneto, NE-Italy, 46°N, 10-11°E). Each spring was surveyed once, between May November, 2005 or 2007-2008, within 50 m spring's source (eucrenal). A total 173 macroinvertebrate samples collected, which 26,871 (including larvae, pupae, pupal exuviae adults) counted. Five subfamilies (Tanypodinae,...

Rice fields can be considered man-managed temporary wetlands. Five rice handled with different management strategies, their adjacent channels, and a spring were analysed by benthic macroinvertebrate community to i) evaluate the role of agroe- cosystem in biodiversity conservation; ii) find indicator species which used compare ecological status natural wetlands agroecosystems; iii) influence environmental variables on biodiversity. Different methods data analysis increasing degree complexity...

The Toce River (Northern Italy) is characterized by legacy contamination of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), mercury, and arsenic deriving from an industrial plant active between ca. 1915 1996. Chironomidae taxa assemblages sediments were collected in 2014 2019 upstream downstream the area to analyze species responses toxic substances a river stretch with relatively uniform natural (i.e., hydro-morphological) characteristics. A total 32 chironomid identified. Sediment concentrations...