Biology subjects

Cocozza, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Cocozza, C..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Big Isotopic Data link millet consumption under Lombard rule in early medieval northern Italy

Archaeobotanical and biomolecular evidence from northern Italy has highlighted a significant increase in millet cultivation during the early medieval period. This study applies Bayesian spatiotemporal modelling to the Isotopia and CIMA databases, which collected isotopic measurements on bioarchaeological remains from ancient and medieval Europe, respectively, to investigate a debated historical link between this agricultural shift and the Lombard rule in northern Italy (568-774 CE). Results confirm that this period coincides with an increased reliance on millet, particularly in regions associated with the Po Valley. This shift is primarily attributed to the need for food security in a politically fragmented and unstable environment, with millet offering reliable yields due to its phenotypic traits for tolerance. While political agenda and environmental factors appear to impact millet cultivation to varying degrees, specific links with social or ethnic affiliations remain largely unclear and require additional research. The approach used in this study demonstrates the potential for Big Isotopic Data to identify major historical trends.

paleontology↗

bioRxiv2023

Introducing Isotopia: a stable isotope database for Classical Antiquity

We present Isotopia, an open-access database compiling over 36,000 stable isotope measurements ({delta}13C, {delta}15N, {delta}18O, {delta}34S, 87Sr/86Sr, 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/206Pb, and 208Pb/206Pb) on human, animal, and plant bioarchaeological remains dating to Classical Antiquity (approximately 800 BCE - 500 CE). These were recovered from different European regions, particularly from the Mediterranean. Isotopia provides a comprehensive characterisation of the isotopic data, encompassing various historical, archaeological, biological, and environmental variables. Isotopia is a resource for meta-analytical research of past human activities and paleoenvironments. The database highlights data gaps in isotopic classical archaeology, such as the limited number of isotopic measurements available for plants and animals, limited number of studies on spatial mobility, and spatial heterogeneity of isotopic research. As such, we emphasise the necessity to address and fill these gaps in order to unlock the reuse potential of this database.

paleontology↗

bioRxiv2021

Presenting the Compendium Isotoporum Medii Aevi (CIMA) and Bayesian Case Studies

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWThe Compendium Isotoporum Medii Aevi (CIMA) gathers more than 50 000 isotopic measurements for bioarchaeological samples located within Europe and its margins dating between AD 500-1500. This volume of isotopic data, together with collected supporting information, offers multiple research opportunities. This is illustrated here using novel Bayesian modelling methods on selected case studies to reconstruct medieval human lifeways (i.e. human subsistence, spatial mobility), animal management practices, and paleo-environmental conditions. We also discuss how the integration of isotopic data with other types of archaeological and historical data can improve our knowledge of historical developments throughout medieval Europe.

paleontology↗

bioRxiv2018

Impact of high phosphorous and sodium on productivity and stress tolerance of Arundo donax plants

Arundo donax L. is an invasive species recently employed for biomass production that emits large amounts of isoprene, a volatile compound having important defensive role. Here, the potential of A. donax to grow in degraded soils, characterized by poor fertility, eutrophication and/or salinization, has been evaluated at morphological, biochemical and transcriptional level. Our results highlight sensitivity of A. donax to P deficiency. Moreover, we show that A. donax response to salt stress (high sodium, Na+), which impaired plant performance causing detrimental effects on leaf cells ultrastructure, is characterized by enhanced biosynthesis of antioxidant carotenoids and sucrose. Differently from Na+, high phosphorous (P) supply did not hamper photosynthesis although it affected carbon metabolism through reduction of starch content and by lowering isoprene emission. In particular, we revealed on salt-stress leaves that high P enhanced the expression of genes involved in abiotic stress tolerance, but further increased diffusive limitations to photosynthesis and slowed-down sugar turnover without modifying isoprene emission. Therefore, despite limiting productivity, high P improved A. donax tolerance to salinity by favouring the accumulation of carbohydrates that protect cells and increase osmotic potential, and by stimulating the synthesis of antioxidants that improves photo-protection and avoids excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species.\n\nHighlightsArundo donax is sensitive to elevated salinity. High phosphorous supply to salt-stressed A. donax enhances transcriptomic changesthat induce the onset of physiological mechanisms of stress tolerance but limits productivity.

physiology↗