Search Results (1,377)

Morocco is among the regions in the Mediterranean basin most exposed to the impacts of climate variability and change. This increasing exposure requires a detailed and rigorous analysis of regional atmospheric dynamics to better understand the mechanisms behind recent climate trends. This study aims to examine the variability of circulation weather types (CWTs) at a regional scale over the period 1980–2019, within a geographical area bounded by latitudes 20° to 40° N and longitudes 10° to 22.5° W. The analysis is based on data from the NCEP-DOE Reanalysis 2, including mean sea level pressure (MSLP) and geopotential height at 500 hPa (Z500), with a spatial resolution of 2.5° in both latitude and longitude. The adopted methodology identifies daily CWT using a principal component analysis (PCA) in S-mode with Varimax rotation (PCAV), followed by the evaluation of their monthly distributions and temporal trends. The analysis highlights a marked trend toward increased atmospheric configurations conducive to hot conditions during the dry season, associated with the intensification and northward shift in the Saharan thermal low. This dynamic is reinforced by the increased frequency of ridges or high geopotential heights at 500 hPa, which transport warm tropical air toward the region. Moreover, the study reveals a notable decrease in the frequency of upper-level troughs at 500 hPa during the wet season. These upper-level troughs play a crucial role in cyclogenesis and the delivery of precipitation. These findings indicate a shift toward a regional atmospheric dynamic unfavorable to Morocco’s hydric balance, characterized by more frequent and intense summer heat and worsening winter drought. Full article

The Mediterranean Basin faces increasing risks from extreme weather events, particularly heat stress, which severely threatens the productivity of sensitive crops, like processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). This study evaluated the agronomic, physiological, quality, and economic performance of using Mater-Bi^®-based biodegradable mulch films—varying in color (black and White/Black) and thickness (12 µm and 15 µm)—in two distinct Southern Italian pedoclimatic sites: Sicily and Campania. The aim was to define site-specific optimization strategies by comparing three biodegradable mulch film treatments, 12 µm (BDM12), 15 µm (BDM15), and Black/White (BDBW), against bare soil (BS). The results confirmed that biodegradable mulching enhances plant physiological status, such as chlorophyll and nitrogen balance index (NBI), and marketable yield compared to BS. The effectiveness of the films depended significantly on the environment. In Sicily, the BDBW (White/Black) film provided the maximum marketable yield (804.7 q ha⁻¹), confirming its crucial role in mitigating high soil temperatures through radiation reflection. Conversely, in the more favorable Campanian environment, the thicker black film (BDN15) achieved the highest yield (867.3 q ha⁻¹), indicating that microclimate stability is prioritized over heat mitigation under optimal conditions. Quality analysis showed high variability; while the Sicilian site generally favored color and antioxidant capacity, total soluble solids (°Brix) exhibited a trade-off. BDBW achieved the highest °Brix (6.1) in Sicily, while BS yielded the highest (6.03) in Campania, suggesting that slight water stress can concentrate sugars at the expense of total yield. The economic analysis demonstrated that the °Brix increase achieved with biodegradable films provided a net additional economic return superior to BS in both sites (up to +52.92% with BDBW). These findings suggest that the adoption of biodegradable mulching represents a key strategy for the sustainable intensification of processing tomato. Future cultivation strategies must mandatorily integrate the personalized selection of film color and thickness as a key element to synergistically maximize yield, quality, and economic return, tailored to the specific pedoclimatic conditions of each production site. Full article

This study revises the genus Cyanoboletus (Boletaceae) in the Mediterranean Basin, integrating single-locus and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, tef1-α, and rpb2), morphological characterisation, ecology, and arsenic accumulation in basidiomes. Morphological descriptions (including a new form, Cyanoboletus mediterraneensis f. pallidus), comprehensive sampling, type studies, biogeography, macro- and microphotographs, an identification key, and a historical overview of the nomenclatural issues surrounding C. pulverulentus, C. poikilochromus, and C. mediterraneensis are given. An epitype collection is designated for C. pulverulentus. A new method to measure spore suprahilar depression has been proposed, which allowed more clear morphological separation between C. mediterraneensis and C. pulverulentus. This method may prove useful for species delimitation in other fungal groups that have asymmetric basidiospores. Additionally, we generated a new ITS sequence of the C. sinopulverulentus holotype and inferred its conspecificity with the later described C. flavocontextus. Furthermore, notes on the taxonomy of Boletus gabretae are presented, and its placement in the genus Neoboletus is suggested. Cyanoboletus is confirmed as a strongly supported generic clade encompassing 21 monophyletic species-level clades, 14 of which represent known species, and seven are undescribed taxa. The synonymy of Cupreoboletus with Cyanoboletus is also verified. This publication provides the tools to delimit Cyanoboletus species that have important conservation value, which can be used by conservationists, ecologists, and citizen scientists. It also highlights species-specific arsenic hyperaccumulation in C. pulverulentus, contributing to a better understanding of fungal metal uptake. Our study indicates that within Cyanoboletus, only C. pulverulentus demonstrates this characteristic and is the only known member of Boletales that possesses a high arsenic accumulation ability. Full article

One-way joist slab floor systems are commonly favored in modern residential building applications due to their efficiency in architectural and structural design processes. However, a significant number of such buildings experienced heavy damage or collapse mechanisms during the catastrophic earthquakes in Türkiye since they are more vulnerable due to some uncertainties in the design and construction stages. In this regard, although well-known seismic codes such as Eurocode, IBC, and ASCE do not impose additional requirements for the design of structural systems with joist slabs, the seismic codes of some Mediterranean basin countries regulate the ductility levels, use of shear walls, and member/system-based specific requirements. In the present study, the impact of shear wall quantity on the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete buildings with one-way joist slabs was investigated in five-story structural systems, which were basically similar in terms of the slab properties and layout but have different overturning moment ratios (α_M = 0.75, 0.60, 0.45, 0). In this context, a total of 88 bi-directional nonlinear time history analyses were conducted on four structural systems, which were highly representative of buildings in the earthquake zones of Türkiye, under real earthquake ground motions. Hence, the seismic behavior demands—including story displacement, inter-story drift and plastic deformations, distributions of plastic hinges, and member-based performance levels—were discussed by the overturning moment ratio that is directly associated with the shear wall quantity in the system. It can be concluded that when these buildings are jointly designed with the shear walls and frames of a high ductility level—through the capacity design principles—the stipulated performance objective can be successfully achieved. While the shear wall quantities ranging from 0.45 to 0.75 did not have a significant impact on the member-based damage across all floors, the frame-only system was found to be inadequate for controlling the lateral deformations due to insufficient stiffness under design-based seismic events. 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

The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is one of the oldest known cultivated trees worldwide and an iconic species within the Mediterranean Basin. This study evaluated the impact of three bacterial strains, Bacillus subtilis D3, Paenibacillus tundrae M4, and Streptomyces tricolor HM10, on the mortality of the following four mite pests: Oxycenus niloticus, Tegolophus hassani, Aceria olivi, and Tetranychus urticae. B. subtilis D3 confirmed the highest efficacy, causing 91.84–85.36% mortality in laboratory tests and 88.90–84.12% in field trials after five days. In addition, P. tundrae M4 ranked second, achieving 90.49–84.26% mortality in the lab and 87.87–83.81% in the field after one week. S. tricolor HM10 produced 80.06–74.09% mortality in laboratory assays and 76.73–73.36% under the field conditions. Effects on the predatory mites Agistemus exsertus and Amblyseius swirskii were minimal, with mortality ranging from 13.28 to 18.55% in the lab work and 12.46–16.74% in the field experiment. Genome analysis of strain HM10 revealed a biosynthetic gene cluster with predicted terpenes production. Terpenes can cause chemo-osmotic stress and broad membrane-disrupting capabilities. These results highlight the promise of microbial agents for sustainable mite management and provide a foundation for further optimization of bacterial biocontrol strategies. Full article

River fragmentation caused by dam construction threatens global fish conservation. Mediterranean ecosystems are particularly affected, and the Iberian Peninsula, with its highly fragmented rivers, exemplifies this challenge. Endemic allopatric congeneric barbels (Luciobarbus bocagei and L. sclateri) are particularly vulnerable cyprinids because they rely on river connectivity for migration. Despite the deployment of fishways, their effectiveness in Mediterranean rivers with variable hydrology and high endemism remains unclear. This study compares the passage of L. bocagei (Duero basin) and L. sclateri (Segura basin) across two fishway types: Vertical Slot and Submerged Notch with Bottom Orifice. Passage trials were analysed using standardised metrics, motivation, ascent success, and transit time, under a time-to-event framework. Results suggest that species, size, ecohydrological context, and fishway interact to shape passage outcomes. L. sclateri exhibited higher motivation and faster passage attempts, likely reflecting adaptation to ephemeral flows. Ascent success was similar between species and fishway type. Larger individuals demonstrated greater motivation and shorter transit times, regardless of species or fishway. These findings highlight the importance of integrating ecohydrological context and behavioural variability into fishway assessment. Adaptive management accounting for species- and site-specific traits is essential to enhance connectivity and support endemic populations under growing anthropogenic and climatic pressures. Full article

Cladocora caespitosa is an endemic hermatypic scleractinian in the Mediterranean Sea, currently threatened by both environmental and anthropogenic pressures, whereas Oculina patagonica is a cryptogenic hermatypic scleractinian that is expanding across the basin. This study provides the first assessment of co-occurring natural populations of these shallow-water taxa, examining their population structures, habitat preferences, and responses to environmental stressors based on SCUBA surveys conducted in the summers and autumns of 2022 and 2023. Both species were dominated by medium- to large-sized colonies, indicating relatively stable population structures, with C. caespitosa exhibiting significantly higher densities than O. patagonica. Both scleractinians showed a preference for sub-vertical and vertical rocky substrates, although O. patagonica appeared more tolerant of horizontal surfaces. Disease events were more frequent and severe in C. caespitosa, particularly affecting larger colonies during autumn 2022, whereas O. patagonica showed lower incidence and greater resilience overall. Temporal comparisons suggest that O. patagonica may act as a strong competitor to C. caespitosa; however, both species demonstrate a considerable capacity for recovery, likely due to adaptation to high-stress environments. These findings highlight key differences in ecological strategies and vulnerability to environmental stressors, emphasizing the need for targeted conservation approaches to preserve Mediterranean shallow-water coral communities under accelerating climate change. Full article

This study investigated sub-basin variability in dissolved (dBa)–excess particulate (Ba_xs) barium relationships and Ba flux patterns across the western and central Mediterranean Sea during late spring 2017 (PEACETIME cruise). The dBa concentrations increased from ~35 nmol L⁻¹ near the surface to ~70 nmol L⁻¹ at 2500 m, consistent with the relatively weak vertical dBa gradient typical of the Mediterranean. Depth profiles of dBa showed distributions consistent with Ba_xs dynamics associated with organic matter remineralization at mesopelagic depths (100–1000 m). Ba_xs exhibited basin-dependent maxima, with lower (<300 pM) depth-weighted average concentrations confined to the upper mesopelagic in the Tyrrhenian and Ionian basins and higher (up to 650 pM) and deeper concentrations (to ~1000 m) in the Algero–Provençal basin, suggesting contrasted remineralization horizon structures. A simplified steady-state 1-D approach yielded first-order mesopelagic dBa removal fluxes of ~0.3 ± 0.1 µmol m⁻² d⁻¹ in the Algero–Provençal basin to 1.7 ± 1.0 µmol m⁻² d⁻¹ in the Ionian basin, consistent with previous estimates obtained from a coupled dBa and parametric optimum multiparameter approach. Together, these paired dissolved and particulate Ba observations refined the Mediterranean Ba cycle framework and provided additional geochemical constraints for interpreting mesopelagic carbon remineralization processes. Full article

Durum wheat production in the Mediterranean basin faces increasing climate variability and thus the need for computationally efficient tools to support agronomic decision-making at regional scale. Process-based crop models such as AquaCrop provide mechanistically sound yield estimates but require substantial computation time when screening large numbers of soil–climate–management combinations. The present study addresses this constraint by developing and evaluating five machine learning (ML) surrogate models—Linear Regression (LR), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Machine for regression (SMOreg), RandomTree, and Reduced Error Pruning Tree (REPTree)—trained to emulate the AquaCrop-GIS response surface for durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) grain yield across the Capitanata plain (Southern Italy). A dataset of 342 instances was constructed by crossing 25 soil profiles, three sowing dates, and two irrigation regimes across 15 climatic grid cells (2014–2023), evaluated by stratified 10-fold cross-validation. The MLP achieved the highest accuracy (R = 0.983; R² = 0.966; RMSE = 0.083 t ha⁻¹); the four interpretable models were clustered at R = 0.891–0.907 (RMSE = 0.192–0.203 t ha⁻¹). All models converged on consistent agronomic signals: standard sowing (1 November) yielded +0.53 t ha⁻¹ over late sowing (15 November), supplemental irrigation added +0.17 t ha⁻¹, and fine-textured soils produced superior yields. The convergence of directional signals across linear, kernel-based, and tree-based architectures confirms that ML surrogates trained on process-model outputs can efficiently emulate AquaCrop response surfaces and deliver actionable management guidance for durum wheat producers and agricultural planners in Mediterranean dryland farming systems. Full article

Mediterranean-type ecosystems (METs) occur on five continents and represent some of the most climatically constrained yet biologically rich regions on Earth. In these environments, legumes and their nitrogen-fixing rhizobial symbionts—including widely distributed genera such as Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Ensifer—play a pivotal role in sustaining plant productivity, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem resilience. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the environmental regulation of legume–Rhizobium symbiosis specifically within Mediterranean-type ecosystems, focusing on how nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability, light conditions, and carbon allocation trade-offs shape symbiotic performance across the five Mediterranean-type regions of the world (California, central Chile, the Cape Region of South Africa, southwestern Australia, and the Mediterranean Basin). By integrating physiological, ecological, and biogeochemical perspectives, we highlight how the shared features of these regions—strong seasonal drought, chronic nutrient limitation (particularly P in southwestern Australia and the Cape Region), recurrent fires, and exceptionally high plant diversity—constrain and, at the same time, favor the ecological success of symbiotic legumes. Throughout the review, we use case studies from key legume genera such as Lupinus in Chile and southwestern Australia, Virgilia and other Cape legumes in South Africa, Acacia in Australian kwongan and woodlands, and Medicago and Cytisus in the Mediterranean Basin and California to illustrate how general principles of legume–Rhizobium ecology manifest under Mediterranean-type climatic and edaphic constraints. Beyond summarizing established mechanisms, we critically examine the limitations of current metagenomic approaches, which often provide descriptive inventories of soil microbial communities without linking microbial composition to functional outcomes. We argue that advancing the field requires integrated, hypothesis-driven research that combines multi-omic tools with plant eco-physiology, soil nutrient dynamics, and temporal replication. Finally, we outline key priorities for future research, including the integration of functional ‘omics’, the study of microbiome interactions beyond rhizobia, the development of predictive models for Mediterranean-type ecosystems under climate change, and the application of symbiotic principles to restoration and agroecological management. By bridging molecular, physiological, and ecosystem perspectives, this review provides a conceptual framework for understanding and enhancing legume–Rhizobium symbiosis across five continents in a rapidly changing world. Full article

Coastal socio-ecological systems are increasingly exposed to the combined pressures of climate change, land-use intensification, hydrological alterations and expanding infrastructure networks. These pressures interact across the land–catchment–lagoon–sea continuum, generating complex feedbacks that challenge traditional planning instruments, which remain sectoral and fragmented. The Mar Menor (SE Spain), a semi-enclosed Mediterranean lagoon affected by intensive agriculture, urbanisation, hydrological modifications and recurrent extreme climatic events, exemplifies this systemic vulnerability. Existing planning frameworks—local urban plans, regional territorial plans, river basin management plans, maritime spatial plans and lagoon-specific strategies—operate independently, each addressing only a fragment of the system and none integrating climate change as a structuring axis. This article introduces Integrated Spatial Planning (ISP) as a novel territorial–climatic framework designed to overcome these limitations. ISP integrates climate forcing, land uses, catchment processes, lagoon dynamics, marine conditions, critical infrastructures, intermodal and energy corridors and multilevel governance into a single analytical structure. A central component of the methodology is a four-zone multilevel zoning system that connects municipal, regional, basin, marine and EEZ planning domains within a unified territorial–climatic logic. The ISP matrix is applied to the Mar Menor to produce the first holistic diagnosis of the system. Results reveal strong land–sea–catchment interactions, high climatic exposure, vulnerable infrastructures and structural governance fragmentation. The matrix exposes systemic incompatibilities and vulnerabilities that remain invisible in sectoral planning instruments. The discussion demonstrates how ISP clarifies the roles and responsibilities of each governance level, supports multilevel coherence and integrates critical infrastructures and intermodal corridors into climate-resilient planning. ISP reframes climate change as the organising principle of territorial planning and provides a replicable, scalable methodology for coastal socio-ecological systems facing accelerating climate pressures. The Mar Menor case illustrates the urgent need for integrated territorial–climatic governance and positions ISP as a scientifically robust and operationally viable pathway for long-term adaptation and resilience. Full article

The critically endangered fan mussel Pinna nobilis is under strict protection in the Mediterranean waters and exhibited a documented fishing history in Greece dating back to 19th and early of 20th centuries. The present study examined historical documentary evidence from Greek archives, technical reports, and oral testimonies to reconstruct traditional fishing methods and their ecological implications. Historical records revealed the widespread use of specialized fishing tools called “pinologos”, a Y-shaped iron attached to a wooden poles, deployed primarily in shallow waters (2–7 m depth) across various Greek coastal regions in the Ionian and Aegean Seas. Two types of fishing gear existed, a simple Y-shaped tong and a scissor-type gear, both designed to encircle and extract individual fan mussels, through quarter-turn rotation. Fishers selectively targeted only large, established individuals of fan mussel, as small specimens with thin shells were unsuitable for this method. Historical fishing pressure on the species was spatially and size-limited, unlike current basin-wide mortality events. These findings demonstrate that structured populations persisted even under traditional exploitation, suggesting potential for recovery if contemporary threats are mitigated. Management strategies should reference historical population structures as restoration targets. Full article

Climate change exacerbates water scarcity in semi-arid and arid regions, particularly across the Mediterranean Basin, posing severe challenges to food security and freshwater availability. Non-conventional water resources, such as desalinated seawater, are increasingly considered for supplementing irrigation; however, their exclusive use can induce osmotic stress, nutrient imbalances, and soil alkalinity, thereby limiting crop performance. This study evaluated the agronomic, and physiological impacts of blending freshwater (FW) and desalinated seawater (DSW) for two zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivars, Radia and Kayssar, under greenhouse conditions. Five irrigation regimes were tested: T1 (FW^100%), T2 (FW^75%-DSW^25%), T3 (FW^50%-DSW^50%), T4 (FW^25%-DSW^75%), and T5 (DSW^100%). Moderate blending, particularly T2 and T3, optimized vegetative growth, biomass accumulation, and reproductive performance, maximum yields were obtained under T3, reaching 6.65 kg/plant for Radia and 5.49 kg/plant for Kayssar, while fruit quality, including caliber and soluble solids content (°Brix), was also highest under this regime. These findings support the suggestion that implementing such combined/blended irrigation regimes can enhance vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality in the face of increasing water scarcity and energy constraints. Full article

Mountainous Mediterranean rivers provide essential ecosystem services but are increasingly affected by land-use change, hydraulic works, and inadequate wastewater management. This study investigates the links between geomorphological transformation and river water quality in the Central Eurytania drainage basin (Greece) over the past two decades, within the institutional framework of European and Greek environmental legislation, with emphasis on the protection and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Georeferenced satellite imagery from 2003/2010 and 2023, Google Earth Engine (GEE, Python Earth Engine API: 1.7.20)-based spatial analysis, high-resolution UAV orthomosaics, and seasonal spectrophotometric analyses were integrated to assess spatial and temporal dynamics. Results indicate that land-use changes, including the construction of solar parks, expansion of tourism infrastructure, and partial agricultural abandonment, reflect ongoing socio-economic shifts influencing fluvial processes. Water-quality analyses further showed that channel alteration and wastewater inputs jointly degrade ecological conditions. The findings highlight the need for integrated watershed management focused on riparian buffer restoration, improved wastewater control, and systematic monitoring of hydromorphological change. The proposed interdisciplinary framework contributes to the assessment of environmental resilience in Mediterranean mountainous watersheds, which are increasingly vulnerable to climatic and socio-economic pressures. Full article