scholarly journals Human Genomic Diversity Where the Mediterranean Joins the Atlantic

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 1041-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Candela L Hernández ◽  
Guillermo Pita ◽  
Bruno Cavadas ◽  
Saioa López ◽  
Luis J Sánchez-Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
African Ancestry ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Southern Portugal ◽  
Human Genomic ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract Throughout the past few years, a lively debate emerged about the timing and magnitude of the human migrations between the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb. Several pieces of evidence, including archaeological, anthropological, historical, and genetic data, have pointed to a complex and intermingled evolutionary history in the western Mediterranean area. To study to what extent connections across the Strait of Gibraltar and surrounding areas have shaped the present-day genomic diversity of its populations, we have performed a screening of 2.5 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 142 samples from southern Spain, southern Portugal, and Morocco. We built comprehensive data sets of the studied area and we implemented multistep bioinformatic approaches to assess population structure, demographic histories, and admixture dynamics. Both local and global ancestry inference showed an internal substructure in the Iberian Peninsula, mainly linked to a differential African ancestry. Western Iberia, from southern Portugal to Galicia, constituted an independent cluster within Iberia characterized by an enriched African genomic input. Migration time modeling showed recent historic dates for the admixture events occurring both in Iberia and in the North of Africa. However, an integrative vision of both paleogenomic and modern DNA data allowed us to detect chronological transitions and population turnovers that could be the result of transcontinental migrations dating back from Neolithic times. The present contribution aimed to fill the gaps in the modern human genomic record of a key geographic area, where the Mediterranean and the Atlantic come together.

A revised typification of Jasione corymbosa and J. glabra (Campanulaceae) from the Western Mediterranean area

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 233 (1) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
PEDRO PABLO FERRER-GALLEGO ◽  
Ángel Romo ◽  
Roberto Roselló ◽  
Emilio Laguna ◽  
Juan Bautista Peris
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Coastal Dunes ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Maximum Expression

The genus Jasione Linnaeus (1753: 163) (Campanulaceae Juss.) is represented by ca. 16 species distributed throughout Europe and the Mediterranean Region, from coastal dunes to alpine zones, and growing on a wide variety of substrates as well (Sales & Hedge 2001b). The genus shows a high degree of polymorphism, which can be partially caused by its representation accross a wide range of ecological niches. This variability reaches its maximum expression within the Iberian Peninsula (Bokhari & Sales 2001).

First record of the Levantine species Scoloplos haasi (Orbiniidae: Scolecida: Annelida) from the Mediterranean coast of Spain

2009 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 1051-1054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo López
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
British Museum ◽  
First Record ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Geographical Range ◽  
Polychaete Species ◽  
The Mediterranean

During an investigation devoted to characterize all the Orbiniidae polychaete species present in the Iberian Peninsula, several individuals previously identified as Scoloplos armiger showed to actually belong to Scoloplos haasi, a species to date considered endemic from Israel. The comparison with the holotype deposited in the British Museum of Natural History confirmed the identification. This record of S. haasi is not only a new one for the western Mediterranean but also the first one out of its original locality, extending largely westwards the geographical range of the species.

Trade and stowaways: molecular evidence for human-mediated translocation of eastern skinks into the western Mediterranean

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-62
Author(s):  
Josep Francesc Bisbal-Chinesta ◽  
Karin Tamar ◽  
Ángel Gálvez ◽  
Luís Albero ◽  
Pablo Vicent-Castelló ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Human Movements ◽  
Allochthonous Species ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Chalcides Ocellatus ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Human movements in the regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea have caused a great impact in the composition of terrestrial fauna due to the introductions of several allochthonous species, intentionally or not. Reptiles are one of the groups where this anthropic impact is most evident, owing to the extensive intra-Mediterranean dispersals of recent chronologies. Chalcides ocellatus is a widespread skink with a natural distribution that covers almost the entire Mediterranean Basin. Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain its origin: natural dispersions and human translocations. Previous molecular data suggest the occurrence of a recent dispersal phenomenon across the Mediterranean Sea. In this study we present the first record of this species in the Iberian Peninsula, in Serra del Molar (South-east Spain). We combined molecular analyses and archaeological records to study the origin of this population. The molecular results indicate that the population is phylogenetically closely related to specimens from north-eastern Egypt and southern Red Sea. We suggest that the species arrived at the Iberian Peninsula most likely through human-mediated dispersal by using the trade routes. Between the Iron to Middle Ages, even now, the region surrounding Serra del Molar has been the destination of human groups and commercial goods of Egyptian origins, in which Chalcides ocellatus could have arrived as stowaways. The regional geomorphological evolution would have restricted its expansion out of Serra del Molar. These findings provide new data about the impact of human movements on faunal introductions and present new information relating to mechanisms of long-distance translocations.

Coastal climatology of the North-Western Mediterranean area for long-term and short-term risk assessment.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Brandini ◽  
Stefano Taddei ◽  
Valentina Vannucchi ◽  
Michele Bendoni ◽  
Bartolomeo Doronzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Climate Trends ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The North ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
North Western

<p>In this work we present the results obtained through a dynamic downscaling of the ERA5 reanalysis dataset (hindcast) of ECMWF, using high-resolution meteorological and wave models defined on unstructured computation grids along the Mediterranean coasts, with a particular focus on the North-Western Mediterranean area. Downscaling of the ERA5 meteorological data is obtained through the BOLAM and MOLOCH models (up to a resolution of 2.5 km) which force an unstructured WW3 model with a resolution of up to 500 m along the coast. Models were validated through available meteorological stations, wave buoy data and X-band wave radars, the latter for the purposes of wave spectra validation.</p><p>On the one hand, this allowed, by extracting the time series of some attack parameters of the waves along the coast, and according to the type of coast (rocky coasts, sandy coasts, coastal structures etc.), to compute the return periods and to characterize the impact of any individual storm. On the other hand, it is possible to highlight some trends observed in the last 30 years, during which recent research is showing an increasing evidence  of some changes in global circulation at regional to local scales. These changes also include effects of wind rotation, wave regimes, storm surges, wave-induced coastal currents and coastal morphodynamics. For example, in the North-Western Mediterranean extreme events belonging to cyclonic weather-types circulation with stronger S-SE components (like the storm of October 28-30th 2018 and many others), rather than events associated with perturbations of Atlantic origin and zonal circulation, are becoming more frequent. These long-term wind/wave climate trends can have consequences not only in the assessment of long-term risk due to main morphodynamic variations (ie. coastal erosion), but also in the short-term risk assessment.</p><p>This work was funded by the EU MAREGOT project (2017-2020) and ECMWF Special Project spitbran  “Evaluation of coastal climate trends in the Mediterranean area by means of high-resolution and multi-model downscaling of ERA5 reanalysis” (2018-2020).</p>

scholarly journals Diatom-oxygen isotope record from high-altitude Lake Petit (2200 m a.s.l.) in the Mediterranean Alps: shedding light on a climatic pulse at 4.2 ka

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 253-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosine Cartier ◽  
Florence Sylvestre ◽  
Christine Paillès ◽  
Corinne Sonzogni ◽  
Martine Couapel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Oxygen Isotope ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Southern Alps ◽  
Precipitation Regime ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
High Altitude Lake

Abstract. In the Mediterranean area, the 4.2 ka BP event is recorded with contrasting expressions between regions. In the southern Alps, the high-altitude Lake Petit (Mercantour Massif, France; 2200 m a.s.l.) offers pollen and diatom-rich sediments covering the last 4800 years. A multi-proxy analysis recently revealed a detrital pulse around 4200 cal BP due to increasing erosion in the lake catchment. The involvement of a rapid climate change leading to increasing runoff and soil erosion was proposed. Here, in order to clarify this hypothesis, we measured the oxygen isotope composition of diatom silica frustules (δ18Odiatom) from the same sedimentary core. Diatoms were analysed by laser fluorination isotope ratio mass spectrometry after an inert gas flow dehydration. We additionally enhanced the accuracy of the age–depth model using the Bacon R package. The δ18Odiatom record allows us to identify a 500-year time lapse, from 4400 to 3900 cal BP, where δ18Odiatom reached its highest values (>31 ‰). δ18Odiatom was about 3 ‰ higher than the modern values and the shifts at 4400 and 3900 cal BP were of similar amplitude as the seasonal δ18Odiatom shifts occurring today. This period of high δ18Odiatom values can be explained by the intensification of 18O-enriched Mediterranean precipitation events feeding the lake during the ice-free season. This agrees with other records from the southern Alps suggesting runoff intensification around 4200 cal BP. Possible changes in other climatic parameters may have played a concomitant role, including a decrease in the contribution of 18O-depleted Atlantic winter precipitation to the lake water due to snow deficit. Data recording the 4.2 ka BP event in the north-western Mediterranean area are still sparse. In the Lake Petit watershed, the 4.2 ka BP event translated into a change in precipitation regime from 4400 to 3900 cal BP. This record contributes to the recent efforts to characterize and investigate the geographical extent of the 4.2 ka BP event in the Mediterranean area.

Evaluating Cultural Routes for a Network of Competitive Cities in the Mediterranean Sea: The Eastern Monasticism in Western Mediterranean Area

2014 ◽  
Vol 1073-1076 ◽  
pp. 1418-1422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Calabrò ◽  
Daniele Campolo ◽  
Giuseppina Cassalia ◽  
Carmela Tramontana
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Mediterranean History ◽  
Geographical Position ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The One ◽  
Cultural Routes

Calabria region (Southern Italy) has become the nerve center of historical events, decisive for the Mediterranean sea destiny, because of its geographical position, its centrality in the Mediterranean area, the peculiarities of the district and the wealth of natural resources. The effects of its role in the Mediterranean history are still visible in its natural, urban and social structure, thus giving the region a large number of cultural and environmental values, which find root in the three preceding millennia. The paper, starting from the most historic routes that have affected the Calabrian coast, aims to highlight the one that has the greatest impact on the culture of the region trying to figure out if it is possible to identify, protect and promote a cultural route according to the ICOMOS Charter of Cultural Routes criteria, devised by the ICOMOS’ international Scientific Committee of Cultural Routes (CIIC) and ratified by the 16th General Assembly of ICOMOS, in Quebec (Canada), October 4, 2008.

Seasonal assessments of future precipitation extremes in the Mediterranean area considering nonstationarities in predictor-predictand relationships

2020 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-42
Author(s):  
C Merkenschlager ◽  
E Hertig
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Precipitation Extremes ◽  
Max Planck ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Censored Quantile Regression ◽  
The Mediterranean

Within the context of analyzing daily heavy precipitation events in the Mediterranean under enhanced greenhouse gas forcing in the 21st century, a new method considering non-stationarities in the relationships of large-scale circulation predictors and regional precipitation extremes was applied. The Mediterranean area was split into up to 22 precipitation regions, and analyses were performed separately for 3 different seasons (autumn, winter and spring) and 3 different quantiles (90th, 95th and 99th). Estimations are based on a three-step censored quantile regression. Future estimations are performed by means of 3 model runs of the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model with Low Resolution (MPI-ESM-LR) for representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5. Overall, the Mediterranean is mainly characterized by decreasing quantile values. Especially in the regions in the southeast, declines are significant, with up to 71.7% (-1.65 mm) in the Levante region (autumn) and over 16 mm (-38.2%) on Crete (winter). Increased precipitation quantiles were only assessed for a more or less extended region in the northern parts of the Central Mediterranean (winter and spring), for the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula (autumn) and for northern Spain (spring). Overall, analyses showed that non-stationarities seriously affect precipitation behavior in most parts of the Mediterranean. Results indicated that 2 different regimes (western and eastern) inducing non-stationarities are predominant in the Mediterranean area. In autumn (winter), the western (eastern) regime is limited to the Iberian Peninsula (Levante), whereas in spring, the area of influence of both regimes is of equal size.

Meso-Meteorological Studies in the Iberian Peninsula and Western Mediterranean Area

1991 ◽  
pp. 371-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Millán ◽  
B. Artíñano ◽  
I. Palomino ◽  
J. C. Bezares ◽  
M. Martín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean

scholarly journals Massive gene presence/absence variation in the mussel genome as an adaptive strategy: first evidence of a pan-genome in Metazoa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Gerdol ◽  
Rebeca Moreira ◽  
Fernando Cruz ◽  
Jessica Gómez-Garrido ◽  
Anna Vlasova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Structural Variations ◽  
Pan Genome ◽  
Adaptive Value ◽  
Mediterranean Mussel ◽  
The Mediterranean

AbstractMussels are ecologically and economically relevant edible marine bivalves, highly invasive and resilient to biotic and abiotic stressors causing recurrent massive mortalities in other species. Here we show that the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis has a complex pan-genomic architecture, which includes a core set of 45,000 genes shared by all individuals plus a surprisingly high number of dispensable genes (∼15,000). The latter are subject to presence/absence variation (PAV), i.e., they may be entirely missing in a given individual and, when present, they are frequently found as a single copy. The enrichment of dispensable genes in survival functions suggests an adaptive value for PAV, which might be the key to explain the extraordinary capabilities of adaptation and invasiveness of this species. Our study underpins a unique metazoan pan-genome architecture only previously described in prokaryotes and in a few non-metazoan eukaryotes, but that might also characterize other marine invertebrates.Significance statementIn animals, intraspecific genomic diversity is generally thought to derive from relatively small-scale variants, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms, small indels, duplications, inversions and translocations. On the other hand, large-scale structural variations which involve the loss of genomic regions encoding protein-coding genes in some individuals (i.e. presence/absence variation, PAV) have been so far only described in bacteria and, occasionally, in plants and fungi. Here we report the first evidence of a pan-genome in the animal kingdom, revealing that 25% of the genes of the Mediterranean mussel are subject to PAV. We show that this unique feature might have an adaptive value, due to the involvement of dispensable genes in functions related with defense and survival.

scholarly journals Analysis of the atmospheric composition during the summer 2013 over the Mediterranean area using the CHARMEX measurements and the CHIMERE model

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 23075-23123 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Menut ◽  
S. Mailler ◽  
G. Siour ◽  
B. Bessagnet ◽  
S. Turquety ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transport Model ◽  
Mineral Dust ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Chemistry Transport Model ◽  
Dust Emissions ◽  
Adequate Representation ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Local Dust

Abstract. The ADRIMED campaign provides measurements of all key parameters regarding atmospheric composition in the Mediterranean area during the summer 2013. This is an opportunity to quantify the ability of current models to adequately represent the atmospheric composition in this complex region, which is influenced by anthropogenic emissions from Europe, Africa, the Middle-East and from shipping activities as well as mineral dust emissions mostly from the arid areas in Africa, sea-salt emissions, biomass burning emissions and biogenic emissions from the vegetation. The CHIMERE model in its present version is a chemistry-transport model which takes into account all these processes. We show here by simulating the period from 5 June to 15 July 2013 with the CHIMERE model and comparing the results to both routine and specific ADRIMED measurements that this model allows an adequate representation the atmospheric composition over the western Mediterranean, in terms of ozone concentration, particulate matter (PM) and aerosol optical depth (AOD). It is also shown that the concentrations of PM on all the considered area is dominated by mineral dust, even though local dust emissions in Europe are certainly overestimated by the model. A comparison with sulphate concentrations at Cape Corsica exhibits some discrepancies related to the regridding of shipping emissions.

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