Search Results (139)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent, surface-active contaminants for which soil represents the largest terrestrial reservoir. This review synthesizes a rapidly expanding but fragmented body of literature in order to reframe PFAS not merely as a groundwater transport problem but as a systemic stressor of soil health, drawing together their reported effects on the chemical, physical and biological properties of soils and giving particular attention to the calcareous, alkaline, carbon-poor and seasonally dry soils of the Mediterranean. The reviewed evidence suggests that, chemically, PFASs perturb the coupled carbon and nitrogen cycles rather than the bulk soil reaction, transiently stimulating and then depressing organic carbon turnover, drawing down the dissolved organic carbon pool and disturbing nitrification, while their retention and bioavailability are governed chiefly by organic carbon, chain length and pH. Physically, the surfactant character that defines these molecules lowers the surface tension of soil water and concentrates PFASs at the air–water interface, so that in unsaturated and drought-prone soils much of the burden is retained and then released episodically, most clearly on rewetting after dry periods. Biologically, the literature consistently reports dose-dependent declines in microbial viability, diversity and enzyme activity, alongside toxicity to earthworms and other soil fauna, with sensitivity strongly modulated by soil texture and organic matter. Across all three domains, the Mediterranean emerges as both potentially vulnerable and conspicuously understudied, the available data being clustered in a few western countries and effectively absent for much of the eastern and southern basin, so that the regional assessment offered here rests largely on mechanistic inference rather than on direct observation. The review argues that these coupled mechanistic and geographic gaps define an urgent, region-specific research agenda for the protection of soil health. Full article

Offshore wind energy droughts are quantified at eight strategic sites using a Standardized Renewable Energy Production Index referenced to an 86-year-ERA5 baseline. Events are extracted via multi-threshold run theory and projected to 2100 using bias-corrected CMIP6 models under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. Drought climatology shows that mean drought duration and severity exhibit spatial heterogeneity, peaking in the Aegean–Cretan sector. Under future warming, a robust, false-discovery-rate-controlled intensification is predominantly concentrated in the central–western basin, associated with structural shifts toward weaker, heavy-tailed wind distributions. The Sicily Channel and Gulf of Lion emerge as hotspots for drought intensification, exhibiting consistent annual total duration increases of up to 20% and 15%, respectively, under the SSP5-8.5 scenario. Winter droughts across the basin are associated with a complex interplay of the AO, NAO, EA, and EA/WR teleconnections, alongside a pronounced winter MOI influence in the west. Summer droughts in the Aegean–Cretan sector are strongly coupled with the weakening of the MOI, reflecting the collapse of the basin-scale pressure gradient that sustains the Etesian winds. The central–western Mediterranean emerges as a key region for adaptive, long-duration energy storage planning, whereas the climatology of the eastern basin remains a defensible baseline for future capacity design. Full article

Water availability is the primary environmental factor limiting plant establishment in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, and increasing drought-stress due to climate change is making forest restoration efforts in the Mediterranean basin increasingly critical. The Eastern Mediterranean region of Türkiye, particularly Kahramanmaraş Province, is characterized by increasingly severe drought stress resulting from low natural precipitation and rising temperatures under global warming. This study comparatively evaluates the ecophysiological responses of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle and Crataegus orientalis Pall. ex M. Bieb., under adequate irrigation and drought-stress conditions. To determine plant water status, pre-dawn and midday leaf water potentials were measured, and leaf gas exchange was characterized by measuring net photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate (E); water-use efficiency (WUE) was then derived from these parameters as the ratio of net photosynthesis to transpiration (A/E). Both species sustained positive net photosynthesis under drought, although at rates significantly below those of the well-watered controls in the driest months, and both attained higher WUE than the controls in most months, with marked seasonal variation. However, significant differences in physiological adaptation strategies emerged between the species. Ailanthus altissima exhibited a water-saving strategy, restricting stomatal conductance to maintain a stable leaf water status, whereas Crataegus orientalis adopted a water-spending strategy, sustaining high leaf gas exchange while tolerating pronounced tissue dehydration. Modeling results, supported by spatial drought stress indices, have shown that both species have high adaptation potential in arid and semi-arid rehabilitation areas. The findings reveal that ecophysiological characteristics play a critical role in the selection of drought-tolerant woody species and provide a scientific basis for sustainable forest restoration under climate change. Full article

Seasonal prediction of summer rainfall over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin (MLYRB) remains challenging because the linkage between preceding climate signals and regional precipitation anomalies involves complex dynamic and thermodynamic processes. This study examines March precipitation over the eastern Mediterranean–West Asia region, hereafter referred to as PE, as an upstream spring signal associated with July rainfall anomalies over the MLYRB. The central objective is to determine, through a relative humidity decomposition framework, whether the humidification accompanying PE-related July rainfall anomalies is dominated by moisture changes or by temperature-related saturation effects. The results indicate that high-PE years are associated with a significant increase in July rainfall over the MLYRB. This rainfall enhancement is accompanied by anomalous circulation patterns favourable for moisture transport and convergence over eastern China. Meanwhile, positive relative humidity anomalies extend from the lower to the upper troposphere, with the 400 and 300 hPa levels showing a particularly close spatial correspondence with the significant rainfall anomalies over the rainfall region. Although absolute water vapour content decreases with height, the coherent upper-tropospheric relative humidity response indicates the presence of a deep moist layer, which is favourable for sustained condensation, reduced dry-air entrainment, and persistent monsoon rainfall. A further moisture–temperature decomposition shows that the PE-related relative humidity response is jointly controlled by changes in atmospheric moisture content and saturation vapour pressure. Over the MLYRB, the increase in relative humidity is primarily associated with enhanced moisture content, whereas temperature-induced changes in saturation conditions are more evident in regions with more coherent temperature anomalies. These findings suggest that the PE-related July rainfall anomaly is supported by a combination of dynamic moisture supply and thermodynamic humidification of the atmospheric column. The study provides a physically consistent explanation for the potential precursor relevance of the PE signal and emphasizes the importance of vertical humidity structure in understanding and predicting summer rainfall anomalies over eastern China. Full article

During the last two decades, non-indigenous species of the genus Isognomon have been increasingly reported in the Mediterranean Sea, yet their taxonomy and distribution remain poorly resolved because of pronounced shell plasticity and limited molecular reference data. In the present study, Isognomon specimens collected along the coasts of Crete (Greece) were examined, using an integrative approach combining adult morphometric analyses with mitochondrial (COI and 16S rRNA) and nuclear (28S rRNA) genetic markers. The results confirm the establishment of Isognomon bicolor in the eastern Mediterranean and document the presence of specimens morphologically consistent with I. australicus, which clustered within the unresolved I. legumen–I. aff. legumen complex in both mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenetic analyses. Morphometric analyses revealed pronounced shell plasticity, with shell width, hinge length, and nacreous height providing the greatest discriminatory power, although considerable overlap between taxa limited reliable identification based solely on shell morphology. Molecular analyses confirmed the identity of I. bicolor and further supported its eastward expansion within the Mediterranean basin. In contrast, the concordance between mitochondrial and nuclear datasets indicates that the unresolved taxonomy of the I. australicus–I. legumen complex is unlikely to result solely from the use of mitochondrial markers. These findings expand the available morphometric and genetic data for Mediterranean Isognomon populations and highlight the need for integrative taxonomic approaches, incorporating additional nuclear and genomic data to resolve species boundaries. Full article

This Y-chromosome study of Moroccan Jews, the largest conducted to date, analyzes the patrilineal origins of 288 men of genealogically verified Moroccan Jewish descent through the Avotaynu DNA Project, identifying 111 distinct founder lineages. The long-standing hypothesis of large-scale Berber Judaization has not previously been tested at full Y-chromosome resolution; our findings provide the first systematic evidence against it. Approximately 71% of founder lineages and 80% of individuals trace to haplogroups common in the Middle East. Only 4.5% of founder lineages are of autochthonous North African origin. Iberian-origin lineages account for 11% of Moroccan Jewish founder lineages reflecting sustained demographic and cultural exchange between Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula over many centuries. Split dates between Moroccan and Ashkenazi or Sephardic subclades cluster between the 5th and 8th centuries CE, suggesting that the ancestral lineages of contemporary Moroccan Jews were already present across the Mediterranean basin during late Antiquity and the early medieval period. Analysis of 190 distinct Moroccan Jewish surname roots identifies 29 polygenic and 30 monogenic surnames, and demonstrates that the linguistic origin of a surname, including surnames of Maghrebi morphology, does not necessarily reflect its bearer’s Y-chromosome ancestry. Unlike Ashkenazi Jews, Moroccan Jews show no evidence of a founder effect or genetic bottleneck, and display a remarkable patrilineal diversity. Among the individual lineages documented here are the first paleogenetic link between a contemporary Moroccan Jewish patriline and a victim of the 1348 Tàrrega pogrom, an Iberian/Ashkenazi split traceable to tenth-century al-Andalus, and an unexpected connection between a predominantly Moroccan Jewish lineage and the Saint Thomas Syrian Christian community of Kerala. Moroccan Jewish patrilineal heritage is overwhelmingly Middle Eastern in origin and has been preserved with remarkable continuity across two millennia of diaspora, persecution, and migration. Full article

Understanding the climate-driven range dynamics of the oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) is essential for ecological risk assessment and biodiversity management. This study utilized Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling to estimate current and future (2050) habitat suitability across the Western Palearctic. The model demonstrated strong predictive performance, yielding a mean cross-validation AUC of 0.95 ± 0.01 and a TSS of 0.78 ± 0.02, indicating high stability and discriminatory capacity. Jackknife analysis and response curves identified temperature annual range (bio7) and annual precipitation (bio12) as the primary environmental drivers. The species exhibits a distinct preference for moderate thermal variability and balanced moisture regimes, while extreme summer heat (bio5) and warm winter conditions (bio11) impose significant constraints. Current projections identify a high-suitability core concentrated within the Mediterranean basin. By mid-century, projections indicate a spatial reorganization marked by localized gains mainly in the eastern part of the study region alongside suitability losses across North Africa and parts of southern Europe. Multivariate Environmental Similarity Surface (MESS) analysis confirmed high model transferability across most expansion zones, despite increased uncertainty in hyper-arid and high-altitude regions. These findings underscore the dynamic nature of the V. orientalis climatic niche and provide a critical baseline for proactive biosecurity and monitoring in emerging high-risk regions. Given the global decline in Hymenoptera diversity, this study provides timely insights into species-specific responses to climate change, supporting broader efforts in biodiversity conservation and ecological risk assessment. Full article

Background: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders caused by impaired adrenal steroidogenesis, most frequently due to pathogenic variants in the CYP21A2 gene leading to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). Epidemiology and management vary across the Mediterranean Basin as a result of genetic and healthcare differences. Objective: To provide an overview of the epidemiology, diagnostic approaches and treatment patterns of CAH in Mediterranean countries. Methods: A structured review of the literature was performed using PubMed, using combined disease-related, geographic and methodological terms. Eligible studies reporting on epidemiology, diagnosis, or management of CAH were included. Data on study design, population characteristics, incidence, diagnostics, genetics and treatment availability were extracted. Results: Data were collected from 23 Mediterranean and neighboring regions covering over 8.7 million screened newborns. In countries with established newborn screening (e.g., Spain, Italy, France, Greece), the incidence of classic CAH ranged from 1:10,000 to 1:25,000 live births. Higher rates were reported in parts of North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Diagnostic set-up and access to biochemical and genetic confirmation varied widely. Hydrocortisone remains the primary therapy, while access to mineralocorticoids and modified-release glucocorticoids differed across settings. Conclusions: Overall, considerable heterogeneity in CAH epidemiology and care exists across the Mediterranean region. Genetic factors such as founder effects, consanguinity and healthcare organization contribute to these differences. Expanding newborn screening, improving diagnostics and availability to treatments are critical to reducing disparities in CAH care. Full article

The Mediterranean Sea is both a global biodiversity hotspot and the world’s most heavily invaded marine region, where non-indigenous species arrivals are accelerating under intensifying shipping, Suez Canal traffic, aquaculture, and climate warming. Yet, despite rapidly growing research activity, a comprehensive synthesis of the scientific literature on Mediterranean marine invasions has been lacking. This study provides the first Mediterranean-wide combined bibliometric and topic-modeling analysis of invasive marine species research, using 3521 unique documents retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science. We quantify temporal growth in publications and citations, map the conceptual structure of the field through co-citation, co-word, and topic modeling, and reveal pronounced regional and thematic biases. Latent Dirichlet Allocation resolves 13 coherent topics, dominated by first records of non-native species, invasive macroalgae, alien species diversity, and ecological impacts, with strong signals for Lessepsian migration and climate-driven range shifts, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean. Spatial and thematic analyses reveal pronounced regional biases, with invasion hotspots in the Aegean and Levantine seas contrasted by comparatively sparse coverage of western and central sub-basins, and notable gaps in predictive modeling and socioeconomic assessments. The results underscore the need to rebalance effort toward under-studied regions and themes, while leveraging existing collaboration networks and methodological advances to support MSFD (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) implementation, International Maritime Organization (IMO) instruments, and broader ecosystem-based management. The reproducible framework presented here offers a baseline for periodically tracking research evolution and guiding adaptive, transboundary governance of Mediterranean marine bio-invasions. Full article

In recent years, the Mediterranean basin has been characterized as a climate change hotspot due to its rapid transition to warmer conditions and the strong agreement among most climate models predicting a significant decrease in precipitation by the end of the 21st century. These robust signals of climate change highlight the region’s high susceptibility to hydrometeorological extremes, such as droughts, which are expected to become more frequent, prolonged, and intense. In this context, the study focuses on Greece, where rising water scarcity threatens critical sectors such as food security, energy production, public health, and, more broadly, the resilience of ecosystems. Future drought conditions were assessed using the 12-month Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI-12) for 58 meteorological stations during 2071–2100, based on high-resolution regional climate simulations under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Spatial drought variability was examined using Principal Component Analysis, while drought severity and duration were quantified through Run Theory. The results indicate increasingly prolonged and severe droughts by the late 21st century, particularly in eastern Crete and southeastern Peloponnese, highlighting the urgent need for targeted adaptation measures. Full article

Cassiopea andromeda is an invasive alien jellyfish that is increasingly reported across the Mediterranean Sea, yet its invasion dynamics and ecological implications remain poorly understood. This study provides an updated assessment of its spatial and temporal distribution, evaluates its potential impacts on ecosystem services and biodiversity, and explores management options through the 8Rs framework. An aggregated dataset of georeferenced records (1886–2025) was compiled from scientific literature and citizen-science platforms. Spatio–temporal analyses—including kernel density, key spatial distribution characteristics, spatial autocorrelation, and local hotspot detection—were applied to identify invasion phases, aggregation patterns, and directional dispersion. Results reveal two distinct invasion stages: a century-long arrival phase confined to the Levantine Basin, followed by an accelerated expansion since 2008, with a persistent hotspot in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and a westward dispersal trajectory. Evidence of ecological impacts within the Mediterranean Sea remains limited, however studies from other regions indicate both potential benefits and localized negative interactions with marine organisms. Application of the 8Rs model highlights implemented, feasible and challenging coordinated basin-wide strategies to support adaptive management of this alien resource. Full article

Climate change and irregular precipitation patterns have increasingly threatened groundwater sustainability in semi-arid regions like the Eastern Mediterranean. Specifically, in coastal Syria, the lack of quantitative understanding regarding aquifer recharge mechanisms hinders effective water resource management. To address this, this study investigates the dynamic relationship between rainfall and groundwater levels in the Al-Hsain Basin coastal plain using 48 months of monitoring data (2020–2024) from 35 wells. We employed a unified analytical framework combining statistical methods (correlation, regression) with advanced time–frequency techniques (Wavelet Coherence) to capture recharge behavior across diverse Quaternary, Neogene, and Cretaceous strata. The results indicate strong climatic control on groundwater dynamics, particularly in shallow Quaternary wells, which exhibit rapid recharge responses (lag < 1 month). In contrast, deeper aquifers showed delayed and buffered responses. A dual-variable model incorporating temperature significantly improved prediction accuracy (R² = 0.97), highlighting the role of evapotranspiration. These findings provide a transferable diagnostic framework for identifying recharge zones and supporting adaptive groundwater governance in data-scarce semi-arid environments. Full article

The European squid Loligo vulgaris inhabits the continental shelf of the North and Central Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, with significant socio-economic value for the associated fisheries. Globally, the stock appears to be maintained at levels close to the optimal sustainable yield, but capture statistics indicate high fluctuations in fisheries production, and some regions might be affected by overexploitation. In this study, we used the mitochondrial marker mtCOI to investigate temporal and spatial genetic structure and variability in the European squid in the eastern part of the Adriatic Sea and put it into context with its Mediterranean and Atlantic conspecifics using data from public databases. High haplotype and low nuclear diversity of mtCOI were detected, with no significant genetic differentiation, suggesting one panmictic homogeneous population in the North and Central Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic cluster appears to diverge from its Mediterranean–Atlantic conspecifics; however, this pattern should be considered preliminary due to the limited and uneven geographic sampling available in public databases. The current dataset lacks comprehensive coverage of several Mediterranean sub-basins, which restricts the resolution of connectivity patterns and may mask subtle population structure. Despite these limitations, our results provide an important baseline for understanding the L. vulgaris Adriatic stock and for developing joint management policies among all countries that exploit this shared resource. Full article

Groundwater recharge sources and residence times in the Sulaimani–Warmawa Sub-basin, located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, were assessed through an integrated hydrogeological, hydrochemical, and isotopic investigation. The study area, located around Sulaimani City, is characterized by a semi-arid climate with precipitation predominantly occurring during winter and early spring. Hydrochemical results indicate groundwater types ranging from Ca–HCO₃ to Mg–Ca–HCO₃, accompanied by a progressive increase in electrical conductivity along the regional flow path. Stable isotope signatures (δ²H and δ¹⁸O) show that groundwater is primarily recharged by winter precipitation derived from both Eastern Mediterranean and Persian Gulf air masses. Two groundwater groups were identified based on isotopic composition and tritium content: recently recharged groundwater and older groundwater, represented by two samples. Tritium values ranging from 0.8 to 4.9 TU correspond to minimum residence times from less than 10 years to approximately 40 years. Higher tritium concentrations near recharge zones reflect recent infiltration, whereas lower values indicate older groundwater with limited modern recharge. The piston flow model provided the best fit for tritium data, suggesting limited mixing and relatively rapid subsurface flow. Samples with higher salinity likely reflect reduced flushing in low-permeability zones, resulting in elevated dissolved solids. Hydraulic-data-based estimated groundwater flow velocities yielded lower values compared to tritium-based estimates, implying preferential flow in karstified formations. The relatively short groundwater residence times mean there is high vulnerability to contamination, emphasizing the need for careful land-use planning and groundwater protection strategies. Full article

Coralligenous assemblages are among the most diverse habitats of the Mediterranean Sea, yet those of the north-eastern basin remain understudied despite their vulnerability to human impacts and climate change. We applied a multimodal underwater sensing approach to map coralligenous formations, assess gorgonian populations and evaluate the effects of marine litter in a conservation-priority area (NE Aegean Sea, Greece). Side-scan sonar enabled seafloor mapping and guided targeted Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys. ROV-based distance sampling and imagery provided quantitative data on Eunicella cavolini and Paramuricea clavata, including density, size structure, and injuries, alongside systematic documentation of marine litter. Gorgonians formed monospecific ecological facies, segregated by location—P. clavata occurred deeper than E. cavolini. Densities were low (E. cavolini: 0.35 colonies m⁻², P. clavata: 1.46 colonies m⁻²) and small colonies (<10 cm) were rare, suggesting limited recruitment. However, the presence of large colonies indicates stable environmental conditions that support long-term persistence, as reproductive output increases with colony size. Colony injuries were minor, but marine litter was abundant, dominated by fishing lines and ropes entangled with gorgonians and sponges. These findings highlight the value of acoustic–optical integration for non-destructive monitoring and provide essential baselines for conservation under EU directives. Full article