scholarly journals On the Occurrence of Metadiaptomus chevreuxi (Calanoida, Diaptomidae, Paradiaptominae) in the Iberian Peninsula, With Notes on the Ecology and Distribution of its European Populations

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1989
Author(s):  
Federico Marrone ◽  
Fernando Ortega ◽  
Francesc Mesquita-Joanes ◽  
Francisco Guerrero
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
First Record ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Temporary Ponds ◽  
Small Water ◽  
The North ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Migrating Birds

Temporary ponds are one of the most peculiar ecosystems in the world, being characterized by an extraordinarily rich crustacean fauna, with a high degree of endemism. Among them, diaptomid copepods are among the most biogeographically interesting taxa. However, the present knowledge on diaptomid distribution is still far from being exhaustive, even in the relatively well-studied western European countries. In this study, we report the first record of the diaptomid calanoid copepod Metadiaptomus chevreuxi for the Iberian Peninsula, where it was collected in five temporary ponds in Andalusia (Spain). The characteristics of the new sites are described, the literature dealing with the European localities of the species is reviewed, and a molecular phylogenetic tree has been built, based on new and previously available mitochondrial DNA sequences, thus expanding the knowledge on the ecology and phylogeography of this rare species. The species mainly occupies small isolated temporary ponds in (semi-)arid regions, suggesting adaptations to unpredictable aquatic habitats. The existence of two molecular clades separating the Iberian from the Sicilian and Tunisian populations supports the existence of a longitudinal long-term disjunction, whereas the north-south flow is probably facilitated by migrating birds. Further research on the biota of the small water bodies of the western Mediterranean area may help to expand our knowledge on rare aquatic species, such as M. chevreuxi, and to better interpret their natural history.

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.

SIMILARITIES IN THE SURNAMES OF ISLAND AND CONTINENTAL POPULATIONS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA

2008 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. LUCCHETTI ◽  
M. TASSO ◽  
P. PIZZETTI ◽  
S. DE IASIO ◽  
G. U. CARAVELLO
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Recent History ◽  
Local Populations ◽  
The North ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Mediterranean Regions ◽  
Geographical Position ◽  
North Western

SummaryThis paper compares the structures of the surnames of 75 municipal populations living in six north-western Mediterranean regions. Its purpose is to unravel the relations between the local populations in Corsica and Sardinia and the links between these populations and those living in the Italian and French continental territory. On the basis of the matrix of similarity of surnames, some topological representations have been drafted showing the above-mentioned relations between populations under the light of their geographical position, their recent history and studies of genetic analysis. Corsica has an eterogeneous surname structure and evident similarity of the north with Tuscany and some centres of continental France. When only the populations of Sardinia were taken into consideration, it emerged that they differ among each other in relation to their geographical position and their history; when, instead, they were considered in relation to other populations outside the island, it was possible to observe that they form a highly different cluster. This study also identified many differences in the analysed geographical areas of Sardinia. In the minor islands – Elba, Giglio, Capraia – the structure of the surnames has a Tuscan origin as well as some similarity with other geographically distant areas, as in the case of the island of Giglio, if compared with some communities of Liguria.

scholarly journals Past African dust inputs in the western Mediterranean area controlled by the complex interaction between the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the North Atlantic Oscillation, and total solar irradiance

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 283-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Sabatier ◽  
Marie Nicolle ◽  
Christine Piot ◽  
Christophe Colin ◽  
Maxime Debret ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Total Solar Irradiance ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Climatic Forcing ◽  
African Dust ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic Oscillation ◽  
Wavelet Analyses

Abstract. North Africa is the largest source of mineral dust on Earth, which has multiple impacts on the climate system; however, our understanding of decadal to centennial changes in African dust emissions over the last few millenniums is limited. Here, we present a high-resolution multiproxy analysis of sediment core from high-elevation Lake Bastani, on the island of Corsica, to reconstruct past African dust inputs to the western Mediterranean area over the last 3150 cal BP. Clay mineralogy with palygorskite and a clay ratio associated with geochemical data allow us to determine that terrigenous fluxes are almost exclusively related to atmospheric dust deposition from the western Sahara and Sahel areas over this period. High-resolution geochemical contents provide a reliable proxy for Saharan dust inputs with long-term (millennial) to short-term (centennial) variations. Millennial variations have been correlated with the long-term southward migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), with an increase in dust input since 1070 cal BP. This correlation suggests a strong link with the ITCZ and could reflect the increased availability of dust sources to be mobilized with an increase in wind and a decrease in precipitation over western and North Africa. For centennial to decadal variations, wavelet analyses show that since 1070 cal BP, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) has been the main climatic forcing, with an increase in Saharan dust input during the positive phase, as suggested by previous studies over the last decades. However, when the ITCZ is in a northern position, before 1070 cal BP, wavelet analyses indicate that total solar irradiance (TSI) is the main forcing factor, with an increase in African dust input during low TSI. With climate reanalysis over the instrumental era, during low TSI we observe a significant negative anomaly in pressure over Africa, which is known to increase the dust transport. These two climatic forcing factors (NAO, TSI) modulate Saharan dust inputs to the Mediterranean area at a centennial timescale through changes in wind and transport pathways.

Presence of the leech Placobdella costata in the south of the Iberian Peninsula

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Romero ◽  
Jesús Duarte ◽  
Lucía Narváez-Ledesma ◽  
Miguel Farfán ◽  
Raimundo Real
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Southern Spain ◽  
Freshwater Turtle ◽  
Emys Orbicularis ◽  
The North ◽  
Mauremys Leprosa ◽  
Fragmented Population

AbstractPlacobdella costata is a leech specific to freshwater turtle Emys orbicularis. Both genera are native to North America and have co-evolved and undergone dispersion through the Palearctic. The leech is present throughout the Mediterranean area, always associated with E. orbicularis. Their only known presence in the Iberian Peninsula is in the north and center of the peninsula. Here we present the first description of the leech in southern Spain (Andalusia) in association with a small fragmented population of fresh-water turtles in which E. orbicularis and Mauremys leprosa coexist. Unusually, the leech was found attached to the carapace of a male M. leprosa.

Kinematic reconstructions of the Western Mediterranean area since Triassic time: possible scenarios and their implications for the Apennines

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eline Le Breton
Keyword(s):  
Tectonic Evolution ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Magnetic Anomalies ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Plate Boundaries ◽  
The Past ◽  
The North ◽  
Kinematic Evolution

<p>The Western Mediterranean-Alpine belt is remarkable for its tectonic complexity, i.e. strong arcuation of plate boundaries, fast trench retreat, upper-plate extension and switch of subduction/collision polarity around the Adriatic plate (Adria). The kinematic evolution of the Western Mediterranean area is enigmatic due to the intermittently motion of small continental plates (Adria, Iberia and Sardinia-Corsica) that are caught between two major plates (Africa and Europe), converging since Cretaceous time. Reconstructing the past motion of these micro-plates is challenging due to the strong deformation of their boundaries but is key to understand the geodynamic evolution of the whole area.</p><p>The Neogene tectonic evolution is well constrained using magnetic anomalies and transform zones in the Atlantic Ocean for the motion of Europe, Iberia and Africa, and by reconstructing the amount of convergence along fold-and-thrust belts (Apennines, Alps, Dinarides, Provence) and coeval divergence along extensional basins (Liguro-Provencal and Tyrrhenian basins, Sicily Channel Rift Zone) for the motion of Adria and Sardinia-Corsica. Those reconstructions show that Adria had a slight independent motion from Africa and rotated counter-clockwise of about 5º relative to Europe since 20 Ma. However, uncertainties increase and debates arise as one goes back in time. The main debates concern the past motion of Iberia and where its motion relative to Europe is being accommodated in Mesozoic time. Different kinematic scenarios have been proposed depending on the interpretation of paleomagnetic dataset of Iberia, magnetic anomalies in the North Atlantic, and geological-geophysical record of deformation in the Pyrenees and between Iberia and Sardinia-Corsica. Those scenarios have different implications for the tectonic evolution of the Apennines, especially for the Permian-Triassic paleo-tectonic setting of Sardinia, Calabria and Adria, and for the extent and timing of closure of the Liguro-Piemont Ocean. It is important to discuss those implications to better understand subduction processes in the Apennines and their driving forces.</p>

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 Understanding Precipitation Changes in Iberia in Early Spring: Weather Typing and Storm-Tracking Approaches

2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Paredes ◽  
Ricardo M. Trigo ◽  
Ricardo Garcia-Herrera ◽  
Isabel Franco Trigo
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
The North ◽  
Western Mediterranean Basin ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
Circulation Changes ◽  
Precipitation Trends

Abstract March monthly accumulated precipitation in the central and western regions of the Iberian Peninsula presents a clear continuous decline of 50% during the 1960–97 period. A finer analysis using daily data reveals that this trend is exactly confined to the month of March. However, this is merely the most visible aspect of a larger phenomenon over the North Atlantic/European sector. The European precipitation trends in March for the period 1960–2000 show a clear distribution of increasing precipitation in the northern regions (the British Isles and parts of Scandinavia) together with decreasing trends throughout the western Mediterranean Basin. Relevant circulation changes over the North Atlantic and European sectors explain these precipitation trends. First, a regional Eulerian approach by means of a weather-type (WT) classification shows that the major rainfall contributors in March display significantly decreasing frequencies for the Iberian Peninsula, in contrast to the corresponding “wet” weather types for the U.K./Ireland sector, which display increasing frequencies. Within a larger context, a Lagrangian approach, based on the analysis of storm tracks over Europe and the North Atlantic region, reveals dramatic changes in the location of cyclones in the last four decades that coincide with the corresponding precipitation trends in Europe. The North Atlantic Oscillation is suggested to be the most important large-scale factor controlling both the circulation changes and the precipitation trends over the Euro–Atlantic area in March. Finally, the potential impact of reduced precipitation for rivers and water resources in the Iberian Peninsula is considered.

scholarly journals First record of the rare crab Asthenognathus atlanticus Monod, 1933 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) in the North Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-358
Author(s):  
Marco Faasse ◽  
Hendrik Gheerardyn ◽  
Rob Witbaard ◽  
Joël Cuperus
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
First Record ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Marine Waters ◽  
The West ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Northward Expansion ◽  
First Time

Abstract Several species new to the area were collected while monitoring Dutch marine waters using a dredge. The varunid crab Asthenognathus atlanticus Monod, 1933 was recorded for the first time in the North Sea. Until 2008, this relatively rare crab was known from the west coast of Africa and the western Mediterranean to northern Brittany in the north. In recent years, its distribution range has expanded, as indicated by records from the Bay of the Seine and the area around Dieppe-Le Tréport. Our finding from Brown Bank (southern North Sea) indicates a further, northward expansion of its distribution range. We list the hosts with which the crab is associated. Earlier arguments for climate change as an explanation for the northward range expansion are supported.

scholarly journals Assimilation of wind data from airborne Doppler cloud-profiling radar in a kilometre-scale NWP system

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Borderies ◽  
Olivier Caumont ◽  
Julien Delanoë ◽  
Véronique Ducrocq ◽  
Nadia Fourrié
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Wind Data ◽  
Heavy Rainfall Event ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
The North ◽  
W Band ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The article reports on the impact of the assimilation of wind vertical profile data in a kilometre-scale NWP system on predicting heavy precipitation events in the north-western Mediterranean area. The data collected in diverse conditions by the airborne W-band radar RASTA (Radar Airborne System Tool for Atmosphere) during a 45-day period are assimilated in the 3-h 3DVar assimilation system of AROME. The impact of the length of the assimilation window is investigated. The data assimilation experiments are performed for a heavy rainfall event, which occurred over south-eastern France on 26 September 2012 (IOP7a), and over a 45-day cycled period. During IOP7a, results indicate that the quality of the rainfall accumulation forecasts increases with the length of the assimilation window. By contrast, on the 45-day period, the best scores against rain gauges measurements are reached with a 1 hour assimilation window, which recommends to use observations with a small period centred on the assimilation time. The positive impact of the assimilation of RASTA wind data is particularly evidenced for the IOP7a case since results indicate an improvement in the predicted wind at short term ranges (2 hours and 3 hours) and in the 12-hour precipitation forecasts. However, on the 45-day cycled period, the comparison against other assimilated observations shows an overall neutral impact. Results are still encouraging since a slight positive improvement in the 6-, 9- and 12-hour precipitation forecasts of heavier rainfall was demonstrated.

First Record of the Cornich Blackfish Schedophilus Medusophagus (Pisces: Centrolophidae) Larvae from the Adriatic Sea

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 1035-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakov Dulčić
Keyword(s):  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
First Record ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
The North ◽  
Pelagia Noctiluca ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
The Town ◽  
North Western ◽  
Mesopelagic Species

The capture of the cornich blackfish, Schedophilus medusophagus, larvae from the Adriatic Sea represents an easterly extension in range of this species, and the first larval record in Adriatic waters.Schedophilus medusophagus Cocco, 1839, is a mesopelagic species from temperate waters of the north-eastern and north-western Atlantic and the western Mediterranean (Bini, 1968; Tortonese, 1975; Haedrich, 1986). The first record of this fish from the Adriatic Sea was reported in 1880 according to Ninni (1912). The second record was during the invasion of medusae Pelagia noctiluca (Malej, 1982; Rottini-Sandrini & Stravisi, 1982; Vučetić, 1982,1983) in Pelješac channel near the town of Korčula-island Koršula (central Adriatic) in 1982 (Onofri, 1986). Ten juvenile specimens, from 10·0 to 20·0cm total length (TL), were collected with medusae at 2m depth. This record Onofri (1986) connected with the ingression of inter-median waters (50–100 m) in the central Adriatic influenced the increase of salinity and temperature in 1982. Jardas (1996) noted that S. medusophagus is a very rare species in the Adriatic Sea.

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