Search Results (49)

Mediterranean biogeography is characterized as a global “hotspot” for climate change; understanding the impacts of these changes on local agricultural systems through high-resolution analyses has thus become a critical need. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the holistic effects of climate change on site-specific agriculture systems, focusing on the Eğirdir–Karacaören (EKB) and Beyşehir (BB) lake basins in the Lakes Region of Türkiye. This study employed machine learning modeling techniques to forecast changes in the yields of key crops, such as wheat, maize, apple, alfalfa, and sugar beet. Detailed spatial analyses of changes in agro-climatic conditions (heat stress, chilling requirement, frost days, and growing degree days for key crops) between the reference period (1995–2014) and two decadal periods projected for 2040–2049 and 2070–2079 were conducted under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP3-7.0). Daily temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, and solar radiation data, derived from high-resolution climate simulations, were aggregated into annual summaries. These datasets were then spatially matched with district-level yield statistics obtained from the official data providers to construct crop-specific data matrices. For each crop, Random Forest (RF) regression models were fitted, and a Leave-One-Site-Out (LOSOCV) cross-validation method was used to evaluate model performance during the reference period. Yield prediction models were evaluated using the mean absolute error (MAE). The models achieved low MAE values for wheat (33.95 kg da⁻¹ in EKB and 75.04 kg da⁻¹ in BB), whereas the MAE values for maize and alfalfa were considerably higher, ranging from 658 to 986 kg da⁻¹. Projections for future periods indicate declines in relative yield across both basins. For 2070–2079, wheat and maize yields are projected to decrease by 10–20%, accompanied by wide uncertainty intervals. Both basins are expected to experience a substantial increase in heat stress days (>35 °C), a reduction in frost days, and an overall acceleration of plant phenology. Results provided insights to inform region-specific, evidence-based adaptation options, such as selecting heat-tolerant varieties, optimizing planting calendars, and integrating precision agriculture practices to improve resource efficiency under changing climatic conditions. Overall, this study establishes a scientific basis for enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change in two lake basins within the Mediterranean biogeography. Full article

The genus Agave L. is a key component of Mediterranean alien flora, yet its inland distribution in the Iberian Peninsula remains poorly understood. This research integrates exhaustive field surveys with Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to characterize the genus diversity and, specifically, the spatial patterns and environmental niche of Agave americana in the southern Iberian Peninsula (Andalusia). Our results reveal a diversity of 23 taxa, yet crucially, the widespread occurrence of A. americana demonstrated that its actual inland distribution is significantly more extensive than previously recorded. Spatial Point Pattern Analysis (SPPA) revealed a strong aggregated distribution pattern (Clark & Evans R = 0.277; p < 0.001). The MaxEnt Spatial Distribution Model demonstrated robust predictive performance (Mean AUC = 0.770 ± 0.007; Mean TSS = 0.420 ± 0.009). The distribution was primarily driven by elevation range (26.9%) and land use (23.1%), with maximum suitability peaking in anthropized, low-to-intermediate elevation areas. Projections to the broader Andalusian region confirmed high suitability in the Guadalquivir valley and coastal zones, validated by low spatial uncertainty (SD < 0.05 in optimal areas). These findings provide new insights into the biogeography of Agave in the region, emphasizing the significance of anthropogenic drivers within a cultural landscape context. Full article

Benthic marine diatoms are speciose but vastly underexplored eukaryotic microbes. Diatoms are identified by their intricately ornamented silica cell walls known as frustules, following removal of all organic matter with acid or strong oxidants. When living samples of diatom communities are examined, it is impossible to detect all the species present, as rare ones are easily obscured among the other materials present, and taxonomic identification of living diatoms can be uncertain or impossible, even with isolated cells. These features of diatom taxonomy have important consequences for biogeography, which we illustrate and discuss using new observations from two species. Despite being the mainstay for diatom descriptions, species described by light microscopy (LM) alone may conflate two species or (as in the case presented) lead to spurious new species; both need ultrastructural study to ascertain taxonomic and geographical boundaries. The species studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) over the last 45 years by Stephens & Gibson, Pennesi et al., and Lobban under the name of Mastogloia hustedtii is shown to be synonymous with M. grunovii. The former became known in the SEM era to bear both pseudoconopea (longitudinal flaps parallel to the sternum, invisible in LM) and silica plaques on the inner margins of the partecta (chambers on the valvocopulae), with the latter supposedly bearing neither, but there is a single, pantropical/Mediterranean species encompassed in the original description of M. grunovii. A new ultrastructural feature for the genus is reported from this species: marginal chambers formed by laminae over the mantle areolae and the first 2–3 areolae on the valve face. The second species studied, M. meisteri, had been reported a few times from one region based on very rare frustules, which do not meet the first criterion for biogeography: where did they live? Although we, too, did not observe living cells, the number of specimens present is evidence for a living population epiphytic on a Virgin Islands coral reef. The ultrastructure of this species is also shown for the first time. Because absence of evidence is overwhelming in microbial biogeography, the best we can say is that this species is potentially a regional endemic. Full article

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, 2n = 4x = 36, AABB subgenomes) is a highly nutritious crop with the potential to diversify global diets and alleviate malnutrition. It is also adaptable for production in soils increasingly affected by salinization and water scarcity. Quinoa was domesticated and artificially selected as a crop within the Andes Mountains, the geographically isolated Mediterranean climate zone of coastal Chile, and along the northwestern fringe of the Argentine dry Pampas. In addition, there is now abundant information regarding the wild species that were its immediate ancestors and which should be viewed as its secondary and tertiary breeding gene pools. These same ancestors contributed to independent domestications of the other forms of “quinoa” in ancient Mesoamerica and eastern North America from a common AABB ancestor-species, C. berlandieri, known commonly as pitseed goosefoot (PG). This review explores the biogeography of the diploid and polyploid relatives of the AABB allotetraploid goosefoot complex (ATGC). The seven or more ecotypes of PG, including the South American taxon C. hircinum, or avian goosefoot (AG), contain broad genetic variability, and some can be used directly as crossing partners in making quinoa breeding populations. Of the extant diploid relatives, C. subglabrum (SMG) is most closely related to the original maternal subgenome A of PG, while C. suecicum (SWG) or C. ficifolium (FG) are most closely related to paternal subgenome B. These and the other AA and BB diploids are valuable model organisms for locating and modifying genes of interest and their expression, the ultimate goals being to increase quinoa’s yield potential, improve its nutritional attributes, explore value-adding industrial uses, and enhance quinoa’s already formidable mechanisms to resist environmental stresses. This review is an update on the current state of quinoa breeding, with an emphasis on the value of wild genetic resources for quinoa improvement. It provides a comprehensive review of the scientific literature for scientists interested in adding quinoa to their breeding program. Full article

The fossil record of marine molluscs has been used as evidence to test marine island biogeography theories and to complement the evolutionary patterns of biodiversity and endemicity found in oceanic islands and archipelagos. Although long-distance dispersal patterns have been the subject of several studies, important questions may still be posed. For instance, are these processes random, or do they show distinct patterns? And are they restricted to “windows of opportunities”, or do they occur continuously? In the NE Atlantic, the dispersal of tropical species towards higher latitudes associated with the last interglacial period is a well-known phenomenon. However, the most probable dispersal route remains a matter of debate. To test these ideas, we used the Atlantic and Mediterranean last interglacial fossil records, and compared the present geographic distribution of shallow-water marine molluscs with that registered during the last interglacial episode, aiming to detect changes. Our results show that 27 species became extinct during the course of the last glacial episode, and that 55 marine mollusc species (43 gastropods and 12 bivalves) are ecostratigraphic indicators for the MIS 5e fossiliferous deposits in the Macaronesian archipelagos, the Atlantic coasts of Morocco, and the Mediterranean. Finally, we provide arguments for the timing of dispersal, which occurred during a restricted “window of opportunity” associated with the inception of the last interglacial, and for the most probable route of dispersal of the tropical species, most of them denoting a Cabo Verdean origin. Full article

Phytogeographic transition zones are often considered areas rich in biodiversity due to their ecological and landscape diversity. This study constitutes the first floristic investigation of the Sharaan Natural Reserve (SNR) located in the northwest of the KSA, which is supposed to be a phytogeographic transition zone due to its location between the central zone of the country dominated by Saharo-Arabic flora and the northern zone characterized by a Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian floristic affinities. The floristic studies carried out in the vegetation season from 2022 to 2024 led to the identification of 166 plant taxa belonging to 38 botanical families. The flora of the SNR is dominated by Therophytes, while the Saharo-Arabian element dominates the chorology of the taxa. The comparative phytogeographic analysis of SNR flora compared to the available literature on published floristic inventories in different phytogeographic regions of the country has confirmed the floristic affinities of the flora of the reserve, especially with the northern and Nefud regions. Among the identified plants, 13 taxa were not mentioned in the 44 consulted references and seem more or less exclusive to the reserve/phytogeographic region. Also, 12 taxa are considered of Least Concern according to the IUCN red list while the presence of Calligonum comosum L’Hér. allows the classification of its natural habitat (dunes) as a Critical Habitat according to the PS6 criteria. This study reports that SNR constitutes a phytogeographic and floristic transitional area by the presence of a significant number of Irano-Turanian (43) and Mediterranean (21) taxa mixed with the dominant Saharo-Arabic species. The SNR region contains a rich and diverse flora due to the biogeographical situation as a transitional zone and the protection due to the closure. This conservation should be strengthened and extended to other neighboring areas with the same biological wealth. Full article

Gastrotrichs (hairy bellies) are microscopic, acoelomate worms that live in freshwater and marine environments and represent one of the significant components of the meiobenthic communities. There are over 520 marine species, and several of them are also found in the Mediterranean Sea. However, data on the gastrotrich fauna from Tunisia is negligible, with nearly zero annotated records. We have initiated a series of investigations along the Tunisian shores to address this gap. Herein, we report data from four collecting sites on the northern Tunisian coastline. Sandy samples from 2 m water depth yielded 21 species, 11 in the order Macrodasyida and 10 in Chaetonotida. One chaetonotidan new to science is formally described, while morphometric data and photomicrographs are provided for all the others. Incidentally, we report on the longest gastrotrich ever found. Information about the microhabitat’s characteristics, including the water’s salinity and temperature and granulometric parameters of the sediment, are also reported. Finally, we provide information on Tunisian species previously discovered by our team and involved in phylogenetic studies for which morphological data and details about their findings have never been published. We explicitly address and correct the errors in GenBank concerning the attribution of gene sequences for these species. Full article

Crabs are the most widely studied marine crustaceans due to their high economic value, ecological significance, and worldwide range in the subtropics and tropics zones. In this study, we adopted a molecular barcoding approach for rapid identification of blue crab species by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI), which has previously been used for phylogenetic analysis in wide taxonomic groups, and particularly for Crustaceans. The results indicated the evidence of Callinectes sapidus and Portunus pelagicus in different localities along Tunisian coast. Data were confirmed by BLAST analysis (Basic Local Alignment Tool) and phylogenetic trees. The molecular identification showed the ability of the COI region to differentiate between two similar blue crab species, Portunus segnis and Portunus pelagicus, which were confused by morphological analysis. The adoption of this protocol may be useful in revealing the biogeography of these invasive species across Mediterranean and to support the authentication of crab-meat processed products, according to the normative control. Full article

Marine ecosystems are important in discovering novel fungi with interesting metabolites that have shown great potential in pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. Seagrasses, the sole submerged marine angiosperm, host diverse fungal taxa with mostly unknown metabolic capabilities. They are considered to be one of the least studied marine fungal habitats in the world. This review gathers and analyzes data from studies related to seagrasses-associated fungi, including taxonomy and biogeography, and highlights existing research gaps. The significance of the seagrass–fungal associations remains largely unknown, and current understanding of fungal diversity is limited to specific geographical regions such as the Tropical Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indo-Pacific. Our survey yielded 29 culture-dependent studies on seagrass-associated endophytic and epiphytic fungi, and 13 miscellaneous studies, as well as 11 meta-studies, with no pathogenic true fungi described. There is a significant opportunity to expand existing studies and conduct multidisciplinary research into novel species and their potential applications, especially from understudied geographical locations. Future research should prioritize high-throughput sequencing and mycobiome studies, utilizing both culture-dependent and -independent approaches to effectively identify novel seagrass-associated fungal taxa. Full article

The temporal variation in a community of nocturnal and diurnal Lepidoptera was studied in a Mediterranean mid-mountain area of the SW Iberian Peninsula between 2017 and 2019. Monthly samplings that allowed for the identification of 3528 specimens, belonging to 373 species from 40 different families, also provided data on the temporal and seasonal variation in richness and the abundance (dominated by Geometridae and Noctuidae), diet type (mainly oligophagous), voltinism (mostly univoltine) and biogeography of the community, primarily Mediterranean in scope. Richness, abundance and diversity were also found to be highly positively correlated with temperature and solar radiation, and less negatively correlated with precipitation and humidity. Canonical correspondence analyses (CCAs) also indicate that temperature and radiation are the climatic variables with the greatest influence on species occurrence over the different months of the year. The CCAs gave a cumulative variance value of 84.79% when using the monthly mean values of temperature, solar radiation and minimum relative humidity, and 86.4% if only monovoltine species were considered. Guidelines to maintain diversity in the environment of the study area are provided. It is possible that the area may function as a refuge area for Lepidoptera in the face of climate change and deforestation that are occurring in the geographical environment. Full article

The Gelidiales comprises economically valuable species of marine red algae that are found globally, in cold, temperate, and warm waters. Although there is much known about the species diversity and distribution of this order, it remains underexplored on the temperate coast of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. This study aimed to update current knowledge about the intertidal Gelidiaceae found on the temperate coast of Argentina using a combination of rbcL data and morpho-anatomical studies and to evaluate the morphological variability among species related to habitat characteristics. Three morphotypes were found at the six localities surveyed; two were identified as different morphologies of Gelidium crinale and one was identified as Gelidium carolinianum. Populations of both species were widespread and coexisted extensively from 37° S to 40° S along the Argentinean coast. G. carolinianum is newly reported in the Southern Hemisphere, indicating it has a disjunct distribution that includes the North Atlantic and Mediterranean as well. Molecular data confirmed previous reports of G. crinale in Argentina, a species that exhibited broad morphological variability among sites. The development of both spermatangia and carpogonia on the same fertile gametophyte thalli in G. crinale and G. carolinianum was described for the first time and demonstrated that they are monoecious. These findings shed light on the diversity and biogeography of Gelidiales from temperate South America. Full article

Located at the crossroads of two continents and at the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Basin, Anatolia was one of the most important Pleistocene glacial refugia in the Western Palaearctic. As part of the Irano-Anatolian, Caucasus and Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspots, this region is also home to a rich avian community including nearly 400 breeding species. Nevertheless, research addressing the genetic structure and diversity of local bird populations is limited, and information on glacial refugia in this region is still scant, especially when compared to other large Mediterranean peninsulas, namely the Balkan, Italian and Iberian ones. In this study, we contribute to filling this gap by addressing the biogeographic pattern of four common resident songbirds—the Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), the great tit (Parus major), the Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and the Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula)—and one endemic species—the Krüper’s nuthatch (Sitta krueperi)—by amplifying two mitochondrial DNA genes in individuals from Anatolia (n = 329) and comparing their sequences to those of conspecifics from the rest of their distribution range across the western Palaearctic (n = 357) deposited in public databases. The overall genetic structure of these species is consistent with a scenario of isolation for multiple populations in different refugia across Anatolia and subsequent secondary contact in the wake of ice retreat, which makes this region a hotspot of genetic diversity for both widespread and endemic avian species. Full article

Global warming is causing poleward expansion of species ranges. Temperate seas, in particular, are undergoing a process known as ‘tropicalisation’, i.e., the combination of sea-water warming and establishment of southern species. The Ligurian Sea is one of the coldest sectors of the Mediterranean and has thus been characterized by a dearth of warm-temperate species and a comparative abundance of cold-temperate species. This paper uses a time series of sea surface temperature (SST) and new records of thermophilic fish species to reconsider the biogeography of the Ligurian Sea. SST has risen by about 0.7 °C on average between 1948 and 2023, but two phases may be distinguished: a cool one (ended in the mid-1980s) and a warm one (still ongoing); the latter phase shows alternating periods of rapid warming and comparatively stationary temperature. The arrival of thermophilic species coincided with the periods of rapid warming; some of these species were established in the subsequent stationary periods. Heatwaves and climate-related diseases associated with the periods of rapid warming have caused mass mortalities of autochthonous species. Our knowledge on the biogeography of the Ligurian Sea was established during the cool phase; the present situation, however, calls for re-defining the chorological spectrum of the Ligurian Sea biota. Full article

Vegetation tends to vary in a systematic fashion along elevational gradients, leading to the possibility of recognizing distinct vegetational belts, which are frequently used to describe and interpret elevational variations in biodiversity. However, anthropogenic changes can create landscapes dominated by secondary grasslands in areas formerly occupied by forests, thus altering the natural sequence of vegetation types. The present research illustrates how the distribution of tenebrionid beetles in central Italy is influenced by secondary vegetation. Classical schemes of vegetational belts were modified into a scheme of main vegetation types that include secondary vegetations. Tenebrionid species presence/absence in each vegetation type was then assessed. Species richness tended to decrease with elevation in both natural and secondary vegetations. Geophilous (ground-dwelling) species (which include many endemics) prevailed in natural and secondary grasslands, while xylophilous species (associated with trees) prevailed in the natural forests. Similarities in tenebrionid composition indicated the presence of two main groups: one associated with forests and the other with natural and secondary grasslands. Geophilous species prevailed among tenebrionids with Mediterranean distributions, whereas xylophilous species prevailed among species distributed mainly in Europe and the Palearctic. High values of richness, biogeographical complexity and proportion of endemics make secondary vegetations of high conservation concern. Full article

Biogeographically, Anatolia harbours a rich diversity of short-horned grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Caelifera). The number of species recorded from Anatolia so far stands at 300. They inhabit diverse habitats ranging from arid Eremial to Euro-Siberian-like montane meadows, aligning with the topographical and climatological heterogeneity of Anatolia. Alongside some swarming species, the pest potential of several pullulating species needs attention. This is especially important concerning global warming, a scenario expected to be more severe in the Northern Mediterranean Basin in general and Anatolia specifically. A faunal list of biogeographic Anatolia, the area extending from the Aegean Sea in the west to the intermountain basin of the Caucasus in the northeast, the lowlands of Lake Urmia in the east, and Mesopotamia in the southeast, was developed. The recorded species were classified according to the phytogeographical provinces of Anatolia. Distributions of the species with the potential for pullulating were modelled using ecological-niche-modelling approaches for the present and future. The results have the potential to lead to the development of a concept that merges biogeography and the pest potential of certain Anatolian grasshopper species. Our results reveal the following: (i) Acrididae and Pamphagidae are the most diverse families represented in Anatolia; (ii) roughly 40% of Caelifera and 71% of Pamphagidae are endemics, suggesting Anatolia is a biodiversity hotspot; (iii) according to Caelifera diversity, the phytogeographical provinces of Anatolia follow an order of Irano-Anatolia, Euro-Siberia, Mediterranean, and Mesopotamia; and (iv) based on ecological modelling and personal observations, Dociostaurus maroccanus, Locusta migratoria, Calliptamus italicus, Heteracris pterosticha, Notostaurus anatolicus, Oedipoda miniata, and O. schochii should be monitored regarding their pest potential. Full article