Search Results (233)

Glacier retreat is creating extensive areas of newly exposed terrain where primary succession drives the transition from abiotic substrates to developing ecosystems. Monitoring these early successional stages remains challenging because pioneer communities, including biological soil crusts (BSCs), often exhibit weak and heterogeneous spectral signatures. This study investigates the potential of Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery for detecting and mapping primary succession within the Forni Glacier forefield (Italian Alps), using terrain exposed by glacier retreat between 1954 and 2015 as a natural chronosequence. A hierarchical classification framework integrating vegetation-sensitive (NDVI-Narrow), moisture-sensitive (NDMI-Narrow), and water-sensitive (NDWI) indices was developed to identify four major land-cover classes: Water/Snow/Ice, Intermediate Pioneer Stage, Initial Moisture-Sensitive Stage, and Barren Rock/Debris. The classification revealed that Barren Rock/Debris was the dominant class (73.4%), followed by Initial Moisture-Sensitive Stage (13.9%), Water/Snow/Ice (10.7%), and Intermediate Pioneer Stage (2.0%). Independent validation yielded Overall Accuracy values ranging from 72.5% to 80%, supporting the robustness of the proposed approach despite the intrinsic heterogeneity of proglacial environments. Analysis of seven exposure-age intervals revealed significant age-related changes in land-cover distribution. Spearman’s rank correlation showed a strong positive association between the Initial Moisture-Sensitive Stage and terrain exposure age (rs = 0.93), whereas Water/Snow/Ice exhibited a strong negative correlation (rs = −0.78), supporting the existence of a directional successional trajectory following glacier retreat. The results also suggest the presence of a possible ecological transition occurring approximately 18–25 years after deglaciation, potentially associated with increasing ecosystem stabilization. The proposed framework provides a scalable and transferable approach for monitoring ecosystem development in glacier forefields and demonstrates that moisture-sensitive spectral information can complement vegetation-based indicators by identifying distinct moisture-sensitive transitional surfaces within recently deglaciated terrain. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is an underdiagnosed hereditary disorder that predisposes individuals to lung and liver disease. While its prevalence is higher in Northern Europe, data from specific, isolated populations in other regions are scarce. This study assessed the prevalence of pathogenic SERPINA1 variants in the adult population of Ponte di Legno, a secluded town in the Italian Alps, to investigate potential founder effects involving rare genotypes. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based screening was conducted. Adult residents without previously diagnosed chronic respiratory diseases were invited to undergo spirometry and provide venous blood samples for serum AAT and CRP measurement. Buccal swabs were collected for genotyping, which was performed using a validated multiplex Luminex xMAP assay detecting 14 common and rare SERPINA1 variants, with isoelectric focusing and Sanger sequencing for further characterization when required. Results: Ninety-one subjects were enrolled (median age 61 years; 37.4% male). Five individuals (5.5%) carried pathogenic SERPINA1 variants: one Pi*MS heterozygote (1.1%), two Pi*MZ heterozygotes (2.2%), and two individuals heterozygous for the rare Pi*Mheerlen variant (Pi*M/Mheerlen) (2.2%). Median serum AAT levels were significantly lower in carriers of deficient alleles compared with Pi*MM individuals (100 mg/dL vs. 125 mg/dL, p = 0.0218). Conclusions: This community-based screening revealed a notable prevalence of AATD carriers in a geographically isolated Italian community, including two cases of the rare Pi*Mheerlen variant, suggesting a possible local founder effect. These findings underscore the value of targeted screening programs using rare variant panels to uncover hidden genetic architectures in isolated populations. Full article

The accurate characterization of global precipitation regimes, encompassing not only the mean quantities but also the seasonal structure, concentration, and spatial heterogeneity, is essential for understanding the hydroclimatological dynamics and supporting climate-sensitive applications. This study presents a multi-scale precipitation climatology based on the IMERG Final Run V06B dataset (2001–2021) integrating satellite-derived monthly precipitation fields, unsupervised K-means clustering, Walsh–Lawler concentration metrics, and pixel-scale regime-dynamics indicators. The analysis identifies eight physically interpretable global precipitation regimes and six Italian sub-regional regimes characterized by distinct seasonal structures and precipitation persistence patterns. The resulting classifications exhibit a strong consistency with major atmospheric circulation domains, including monsoonal, mediterranean, continental, and equatorial precipitation regimes. A Hovmöller diagram highlights the seasonal northward migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) from approximately 5° S in January to 10° N in August. The K-means classification identifies eight physically interpretable global regimes, including a perhumid equatorial regime, a South-Asian monsoonal regime, a Southern-Hemisphere Mediterranean type, and a transitional autumn-peaked Mediterranean–Atlantic regime covering most of Italy and the broader Mediterranean basin. At the Italian scale, a dedicated K = 6 clustering reveals six distinct precipitation regimes, characterized by contrasting seasonal structures: the Alpine Convective regime, unique to the Alps and pre-Alpine foothills; the Po Valley Padano regime, the least seasonal regime in Italy; the Apennine Hybrid; the Tyrrhenian Mediterranean; the Adriatic Transition; and the Semi-arid Mediterranean regime, dominant across Sicily, Sardinia, and coastal southern Italy. The Walsh–Lawler Concentration Index increases markedly from north to south (~0.58), indicating a pronounced intensification of the temporal concentration of precipitation toward the Mediterranean climatic extreme. Overall, the study demonstrates the capability of high-resolution satellite climatologies to identify dynamically coherent precipitation-regime structures across multiple spatial scales and provides a quantitative baseline for future applications in hydrology, climate-risk assessment, and climate-change impact analysis. Full article

Understanding the trophic ecology of fish in mountain lakes is essential for interpreting their functional roles and managing these ecosystems. This study investigated the diet, population structure, and prey selectivity of lake charr (Salvelinus umbla) in three glacial basins of the Eastern Italian Alps: Fusine Superiore, Fusine Inferiore, and Raibl Lakes. In summer 2024, 106 fish were sampled using multi-mesh gillnets, alongside Surber sampling of littoral macrobenthos. Biometric analysis revealed populations dominated by larger size classes (>18 cm), with significant sexual dimorphism, as females were longer and heavier than males. Dietary analysis showed strong reliance on littoral Hexapoda (~90% of prey). High Schoener’s overlap index values (α > 0.90) indicated no clear ontogenetic dietary shifts in the sampled size classes, suggesting that the productive littoral zone provides a stable resource. Ivlev’s electivity index revealed lake-specific prey selection patterns, with Hexapoda positively selected in Lake Fusine Inferiore, Bivalvia and Malacostraca positively selected in Lake Raibl, and weak or absent selectivity in Lake Fusine Superiore. S. umbla appears to be a broad opportunistic feeder with site-specific prey selectivity shaped by local resource structure. Given its debated native status, these findings provide an ecological baseline for assessing its potential effects on benthic communities. Full article

Slush flows are rapid mass movements of water-saturated snow and debris that develop when the liquid water content of the snowpack exceeds the critical threshold for the fully funicular regime, resulting in viscoplastic flow behavior fundamentally distinct from that of dry snow avalanches. These phenomena have been extensively documented globally as responsible for fatalities and economic damage comparable to those of snow avalanches. In the northwestern Italian Alps, the situation is markedly different. Until 2025, rain-on-snow (ROS) events in this region had produced amplified effects on the ground in the form of increased landslide activity, debris flow mobilization, and flooding, as typical consequences of snowmelt superimposed on pre-saturated soils but had not generated widespread slush flow phenomena. The 2025 season marked a critical threshold: for the first time, diffuse and unambiguous slush flow events were documented in Italian northwestern Alpine sectors, signaling a qualitative shift in the hazard regime rather than a mere quantitative intensification of known processes. Documented emergence of slush flows in the Italian Alps must be interpreted not as an anomaly but as a measurable indicator of climate change and of its progressive effects on the Alpine environment. Full article

Alpine glaciers are a vital resource for mountain regions. They provide water reserves, support energy production and tourism, and promote biodiversity. However, they are highly susceptible to climate change. In fact, they are recognised as being among the areas most affected by, and increasingly exposed to, natural hazards. The Rutor glacier in Aosta Valley, Italy, which has been the subject of repeated measurements since the 19th century and currently covers an area of around 8 km², is undergoing significant and continuous retreat. It thus serves as an exemplary case study of the impact of climate change on the Italian Alps. This ongoing research has made it possible to conduct multi-temporal analysis of the glacier. Within this framework, Politecnico di Torino, in collaboration with ARPA Valle d’Aosta, has developed a multidisciplinary research approach focused on the characterisation of alpine environments. This study illustrates the geomatic workflows and derived geospatial products that can be used to carry out a 4D monitoring of the extent and volume of the Rutor Glacier and estimate its mass balance over the past six years. A specific focus of the study is the propagation of errors in multi-temporal analyses used to quantify glacier melt, with particular attention to the precision of input 3D geospatial data and to the Limit of Detection of elevation differences, ultimately enabling the estimation of the uncertainty associated with the derived quantities and their temporal trends. Finally, advantages and limitations in the multi-temporal and multi-sensor monitoring of glaciers are presented and discussed. Full article

Fatal intraspecific aggression in brown bears (Ursus arctos) remains poorly documented, yet elucidating its dynamics is critical in order to understand species’ physiology, informing management strategies, and advancing wildlife forensic science applications, which are useful in cases where a natural or illegal cause of death needs to be discerned. In this study, we reported four confirmed cases of lethal aggression (two yearlings and two adults) in the Italian Alps. Comprehensive autopsies were performed to characterize lesion patterns and infer the aggressor identity. Claw-induced lacerations, bite marks and the aspect of hemorrhages suggested the attack sequence. Aggressor identity was investigated by using forensic odontology through inter-canine distance (I-CD) and genetic analysis of peri-lesional saliva. I-CD allowed us to plausibly hypothesize the aggressor’s species and, in the cases where it was possible, to classify the sex and/or age group of the aggressors. While genetic analysis allowed the identification of the four brown bear victims, it did not provide informative results on the aggressors. The cause and manner of death were coded according to international criteria (International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision [ICD-11], WHO). Adult fatalities, supported by gastric content analysis, reflect trophic competition regardless of the mating context and highlight the role of anthropogenic food sources in conflict emergence. These findings underscore the value of integrated approaches in wildlife investigations and provide new insights into ecophysiological factors driving lethal intraspecific aggression. Full article

Forest structure is fundamental for linking ecological processes with management outcomes, and it influences key ecosystem services. However, the high cost and complexity of field data collection often limit the application of structural indices to small-scale studies, constraining operational assessments of forest multifunctionality. This study develops and tests an operational indicator of forest multifunctionality based on the structural heterogeneity index derived from forest management plans (FMPs). We analyzed the dendrometric data from 134 management units across 15 FMPs in the Lombardy region (Italy). Horizontal diversity was quantified using a Gini-based index, calculated from tree diameter-class distributions and combined with stand age, timber stock, and tree density using principal component analysis. Two orthogonal gradients emerged: a productivity gradient and a maturity–structural heterogeneity gradient. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess their effects on carbon sequestration, timber yield, and touristic–recreational value. Structural heterogeneity was positively associated with all three functions, while productivity showed contrasting effects, particularly a negative relationship with recreational value. These results demonstrate that structural complexity and productivity are not necessarily in conflict and highlight the potential of FMPs as cost-effective data sources for operational, landscape-scale assessments of forest multifunctionality. Full article

Mountain regions across Europe face demographic decline and institutional fragmentation that hinder sustainable tourism development. This study analyzes the territorial governance system of the Val Canale and Canal del Ferro valleys (Italian Alps) with the aim of designing a stakeholder-based Organizational Model (OM) to strengthen sustainable tourism coordination in a peripheral mountain context. A qualitative single-case study approach integrates Stakeholder Analysis, Actor-Linkage Matrix, Appreciative Inquiry, and spatial contextualization to examine relational, institutional, and territorial dynamics. The findings reveal a territory rich in environmental and cultural assets—characterized by protected areas and extensive trail networks—yet constrained by fragmented inter-municipal cooperation and limited supra-municipal coordination. Governance fragmentation, rather than resource scarcity, emerges as the primary barrier to coherent territorial development. In response, the proposed multi-level Organizational Model introduces a valley-level coordination unit designed to institutionalize collaborative governance, enhance administrative capacity, and align local initiatives with regional strategies. By operationalizing stakeholder theory within a structured territorial framework, the study contributes to place-based governance literature and offers transferable insights for peripheral mountain regions facing similar coordination challenges. Full article

Hieracium L. s. str. is a taxonomically critical genus of perennial herbaceous plants widely distributed across temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. In Italy, its diversity is mainly concentrated in the Alps and northern Apennines, whereas southern Italy hosts only a limited number of relict taxa. Recent floristic surveys conducted in the Pollino National Park (southern Italy) revealed the presence of five Hieracium taxa, which were subsequently subjected to critical taxonomic evaluation. Detailed morphological analyses, supported by original herbarium comparisons and multivariate morphometric analyses, resulted in the description of a new species, here named H. petrocastellanum, the confirmation of H. pallescens subsp. tephrochlorum in the Italian flora after nearly 130 years from its discovery, and the first record for the Pollino area of H. symphytifolium, previously considered endemic to the Madonie Mountains (north-central Sicily), as well as H. pellitum subsp. pellitum and H. caesioides subsp. caesioides. The new species, Hieracium petrocastellanum, differs in having basal leaves with cuneate bases, only 0–1 cauline leaves, and bracts with sparse simple hairs and moderately dense glandular hairs. Ecological information and data on taxonomic relationships are also provided. The conservation status is assessed for H. petrocastellanum, H. pallescens subsp. tephrochlorum, and H. symphytifolium. An analytical key is presented to distinguish the new species from its closest relatives. These results confirm the Pollino National Park as a biodiversity hotspot and improve current knowledge of Hieracium. Full article

The peculiar high-pressure mineral assemblage omphacite, epidote, quartz, calcite, titanite, and opaque minerals, ±phengite, has been observed in the Riffelberg–Garten Unit (RGU), a heterogeneous metasedimentary rock assemblage of the Zermatt–Saas Zone. Microstructural analysis, mineral chemistry, and petrologic modelling allowed to refine the syn-D2 P-T peak conditions for the Alpine tectono-metamorphic evolution. In the upper Valtournenche, S2 foliation is the dominant fabric at the regional scale of the Zermatt–Saas Zone. Petrologic modelling of the syn-D2 mineral assemblage indicates climax conditions of P = 1.85–2.0 GPa and T = 500–525 °C. These estimates are in good agreement with those inferred in the RGU metasedimentary matrix and enclosed eclogite and metagabbro elements. During exhumation, RGU rocks re-equilibrated texturally and mineralogically under blueschist–/epidote–amphibolite (P = 0.4–1.3 GPa and T = 350–500 °C during D3) and greenschist (P ≤ 0.25 GPa and T ≤ 400 °C during) facies conditions. This study highlights the potential of petrologic modelling for constraining the environmental conditions of metamorphism even in anomalous mineral assemblages where conventional thermobarometry is not applicable. Full article

This study aimed to provide the first characterization of the traditional farming systems and meat quality traits of the Black Alpine pig (BAP), an ecotype under recovery originating in the Italian Central Alps, reared under real, actual conditions. Productive and reproductive data were collected through on-farm visits from six BAP farms located in Northern Italy. Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle and backfat samples from BAPs were collected in the same farms and analyzed for color, tenderness, proximate composition, and fatty acid profile. For exploratory purposes and to provide a descriptive benchmark of commercial pork (CP) quality, loin samples were purchased from the retail market. PLS-DA served as a discriminant model between BAP and CP meat samples on a multivariate data matrix. BAP farming was characterized as an en plein air system with high outdoor access and reliance on natural vegetation. BAPs showed high rusticity and slow growth. The LD muscle was characterized by a firm texture, an intense dark-red color, and a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, reflecting traditional rustic meat features associated with the interaction between dietary, environmental, and genetic factors. Our preliminary results provided novel insights into BAP farming practices and meat quality, supporting the maintenance of this genetic resource through traditional farming and the preservation of biodiversity in alpine livestock, offering exploratory evidence of the current BAP farming system. Full article

Accurately reproducing the mechanical and dynamic behavior of fractured rock masses remains a key challenge in rock engineering, especially in marble quarry environments where discontinuity networks, excavation geometry, and topographic effects induce highly non-linear stress distributions. This study presents a multidisciplinary and physically calibrated numerical approach integrating field stress measurements, structural characterization, and dynamic modeling using the Distinct Element Method (DEM). The analysis focuses on a marble quarry located in the Apuan Alps (Italy), a tectonically complex metamorphic massif characterized by intense deformation and pervasive jointing that strongly influence rock mass behavior under both static and seismic loading. The initial stress field was calibrated using in situ measurements obtained by the CSIRO Hollow Inclusion technique, enabling reconstruction of the three-dimensional principal stress regime and its direct incorporation into a 3DEC numerical model. The calibrated model was then employed to simulate the dynamic response of the rock mass under seismic loading consistent with the Italian Building Code (NTC 2018). This coupled static–dynamic workflow provides a realistic evaluation of ground motion amplification, stress concentration, and potential failure mechanisms along pre-existing discontinuities. Results demonstrate that physically validated stress initialization yields a significantly more realistic response than models based on simplified lithostatic or empirical assumptions. The approach highlights the value of integrating geological, geotechnical, and seismological data into a unified modeling framework for a sustainable quarry stability analysis in fractured rock masses. Full article

This study introduces a Hybrid Interferometric Approach (HIA) tailored for the detection, mapping, and measurement of landslides using Sentinel-1 satellite data. The HIA is specifically designed to identify ground displacements that exceed the detection thresholds of the European Ground Motion Service (EGMS), offering an enhanced capacity for monitoring faster-moving landslides. The methodology integrates multi-baseline interferometric analysis, utilizing backscattered signals from both point-like and distributed radar targets at full spatial resolution. The approach utilizes ten interferometric datasets acquired between 2017 and 2021 from both ascending and descending orbits. Each annual dataset is restricted to a six-month observation window to reduce temporal decorrelation effects. The HIA was implemented in a landslide-prone sector of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Eastern Italian Alps. Comparative evaluation against EGMS ground motion products demonstrates that the HIA significantly broadens the range of detectable slope instabilities, thus providing a valuable supplement to existing ground motion monitoring services and contributing meaningfully to landslide hazard assessment and risk reduction efforts. Full article

Detecting topographic change in mountainous areas using historical aerial imagery is challenging due to complex terrain and variable data quality. This study evaluates the potential of Structure from Motion (SfM) for deriving 3D information from archival photograms in the Rabbia basin (Central Italian Alps), a catchment with a well-documented history of debris flow activity. The aim is to assess the impact of input configurations and photogrammetric processing strategies on the quality and interpretability of 3D reconstructions from historical aerial imagery, as a basis for further geomorphological analyses. A 1999 aerial dataset was processed via SfM workflow to generate a point cloud and orthomosaic, and then co-registered with a 2021 LiDAR-derived dataset. Multi-temporal analysis was conducted using point cloud distance computations and visual interpretation of orthomosaics. Additional aerial images spanning nearly 80 years expanded the temporal scale of the analysis, providing valuable retrospective insight into long-term terrain evolution. The results, although considered semi-quantitative due to data quality limitations, are consistent with geomorphological trends in the area. The study confirms that historical SfM-derived products, when supported by robust co-registration and quality checks, can contribute to sediment dynamics and hazard evaluation in alpine environments, though result interpretation should remain cautious due to dataset-specific uncertainties. Full article