In this paper, we show the results of research that can inform conservation measures elsewhere in Europe for the endangered butterfly Euphydryas aurinia. A five year field study was undertaken to identify the host plant preference of larvae of Euphydryas aurinia provincialis in the Mediterranean and which signals are used by females to lay their eggs. The females oviposit on Gentiana cruciata, Scabiosa columbaria and Cephalaria leucantha; the larvae feed on all these plants and additionally on Lonicera caprifoliumin the wild and on Gentiana lutea in the laboratory. The females do not show any preference for a specific host plant and the larvae move from one species of plant to another without any difficulty. The most important factors in determining the female oviposition are the visibility, accessibility and sun-exposure of the host plants. The vegetative state of host plants is the key factor in larval use of plants during the pre- and post-diapause period. The large-sized host plants, G. cruciata and C. leucantha, are optimal for the growth and survival of the pre-diapause I-III larval instar, while they are unavailable to the larvae in Spring because of their delayed vegetative growth. The post-diapause larvae preferentially feed on plants of S. columbaria, and to lesser degree L. caprifolium, as they provide and abundant food source compared with G. cruciata and C. leucantha. The results also suggest that, there is an evolutionary advantage in large numbers of caterpillars feeding together, with the females of E. aurinia provincialis preferring to lay their eggs nearby or above egg batches laid previously by another female, and selecting large plants for oviposition. Despite the competition for food among caterpillars, the oviposition behaviour of females is advantageous and increases the larval survival rate on large plants. The gregarious larval behaviour provides several benefits during both pre-diapause period (avoiding starvation) and post-diapause period (efficiency in thermoregulation).

A field study in a dark grey basalt quarry nearby Rome is presented. PM 10 airborne concentration due to typical quarry operations was recorded during a period of two months. The aim of the work is testing the suitability of the laser light scattering method in measuring airborne dust concentration in such typical environmental conditions like those from quarrying operations. To the scope, two sampling campaigns were developed according with two different methods: from one side a traditional gravimetric method (NIOSH 0600) based on an air sampling pump connected with PVC filters through a 37 mm aluminum cyclone was used to assess PM 10 concentration. On the other hand, a light scatter technology developed with a real time dust monitor was applied. This method, which is based on a photo detector that measures laser light scattered by particles in the sampled stream, allows us to assess airborne dust concentration through a specific calibration generally carried out by comparing the time weighed average photometer readings with field measures of a known dust test (A1 Arizona Road Dust in this case). The step of assessing airborne dust concentration from a sampled particle number is a critical passage, as concentration itself is strictly connected to the physical and chemical characteristics of the sampled aerosol, such as particle size distribution, density and refractive index that obviously vary from pollutant to pollutant. So after a preliminary comparison of the sampled sets of values, some further analysis was developed in order to test the accuracy of the sampled values and the correlation factor was assessed. The R 2 value (0.706) showed a fairly good correlation between the two methods suggesting we consider the optical method suitable to survey PM 10 in the specific case. So basalt airborne dust was taken into account and a field calibration was developed. The results showed a fulfilling improvement of correlation factor Air Pollution XXI 75

Quarrying activities and rock extraction generally cause several environmental effects on the surrounding areas. The alteration of landscape due to activities like excavation, drilling or blasting, in particular, often generates a visual impact on the receptors set in the surroundings. Among these effects, the shape, extent, or chromatic contrast of the mining surface with the original land form may represent a huge loss of appeal for the growth of new urban settlements. To eliminate, or if not possible, at least to reduce these effects, two different approaches may be developed. The first, based on the reclamation of the post mined quarry surface is aimed at restoring the ecological balance taking into account geological parameters but also local flora and climate. It may be effective however it requires many years to be developed and above all it implies rock extraction to be suspended.On the other hand the way of prevention is based on the assessment of visual impact when the quarry plant is to be set or when receptor location is to be settled.The contents of this paper are focused on the results of a case study developed in the northern area of Rome in which the existence of a grey dark basalt quarry represented the opportunity to test this preventive approach: in the surroundings of the quarry plant some contractors aimed to build a residential area and a preliminary scheme was in progress. So, in the first part, the two most important visual assessment methods such as that defined by the EC decision 272/02 and the L vi (Level of Visual Impact) are performed and compared. Some scenarios are studied by varying not only the receptor location but the quarry exploitation method too. Then, with regard to the threshold limit values and quality classes defined in the EC decision, the construction of L vi maps is performed by means of geostatistical Ordinary Kriging. This technique allows, as for the presented case study, to identify the best output configuration of future settlements taking into account not only the current configuration but also the development of the quarry itself and its spatial expansion.The residential area is now under construction.

The aim of blasting operations is rock fragmentation. It provides an appropriate rock material granulation or size that is suitable for loading and transportation. However, the blasting process and usage of explosives remain a potential source of numerous human and environmental hazards. The aim of this paper is, first of all, to provide models (and models comparison) concerning one of the major environmental issues related to blasting operations in mining and civil engineering projects: ground vibration propagation. The study displays an assessment of ground vibrations caused by blasting experiments at a whinstone quarry. The vibration source is the blasting of a fixed quantity of explosive burden (200 Kg of an Ammonium Nitrate Slurry Watergel -Tutagex 110, fragmented in 8 different parallel blast holes with a fixed 2 meter spacing). The primary goal of this study was to estimate the peak particle velocity (PPV) of the vibration, in order to protect the dwelling area adjacent to the quarry. Based on the data obtained from field measurements, a new equation was proposed: to achieve this objective we use geostatistical modelling, the branch of statistics that studies the phenomena that are developed on space-based, starting from the information derived from the sampling. The decision to describe the phenomenon with geostatistical modelling stems from having a limited number of samples and a vibration source difficult to repeat, which makes the geostatistics suitable for this purpose. In fact, it is often used to study phenomena characterized by a limited availability of samples. The final goal is the comparative analysis between the results obtained by the geostatistical equation and common empirical predictors currently used in blasting practice. The analysis of the comparison between these two approaches shows that the geostatistical tool seems to be suitable to the purposed scope.