Geometric morphometrics, Fourier analysis of otolith shape, and nuclear-DNA markers distinguish two anchovy species (Engraulis spp.) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Using DNA barcoding markers, we inferred the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Anacyclus including for the first time the three Eastern Mediterranean species, A. anatolicus, A. latealatus and A. nigellifolius. Our results conclusively reveal the polyphyletic condition of this genus in its current circumscription. The molecular data show that A. anatolicus, A. latealatus and A. nigellifolius do not belong to Anacyclus. According to the current knowledge of the Anthemideae systematics, these three species should be placed within the genus Cota and thus the new combinations Cota anatolica, Cota latealata, and Cota nigellifolia are proposed. Such a taxonomic placement is congruent with the achene morphology and biogeography although the circumscription of Cota itself requires further studies.

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The Sensitivity of Middle East Precipitation and Cloud Forecasts to Changes in Eastern Mediterranean Sea Surface Temperatures

10.21236/ada207864 ◽

1989 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen Brenner

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Sea Surface Temperatures ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽

Surface Temperatures

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Comparison of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Consortia from Surface and Deep Waters of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: Characterization and Degradation Potential

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14082246 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 2246

Author(s):

Georgia Charalampous ◽

Efsevia Fragkou ◽

Konstantinos A. Kormas ◽

Alexandre B. De Menezes ◽

Paraskevi N. Polymenakou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Sole Source ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽

Deep Waters ◽

Degradation Rates ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

Set Up

The diversity and degradation capacity of hydrocarbon-degrading consortia from surface and deep waters of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea were studied in time-series experiments. Microcosms were set up in ONR7a medium at in situ temperatures of 25 °C and 14 °C for the Surface and Deep consortia, respectively, and crude oil as the sole source of carbon. The Deep consortium was additionally investigated at 25 °C to allow the direct comparison of the degradation rates to the Surface consortium. In total, ~50% of the alkanes and ~15% of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were degraded in all treatments by Day 24. Approximately ~95% of the total biodegradation by the Deep consortium took place within 6 days regardless of temperature, whereas comparable levels of degradation were reached on Day 12 by the Surface consortium. Both consortia were dominated by well-known hydrocarbon-degrading taxa. Temperature played a significant role in shaping the Deep consortia communities with Pseudomonas and Pseudoalteromonas dominating at 25 °C and Alcanivorax at 14 °C. Overall, the Deep consortium showed a higher efficiency for hydrocarbon degradation within the first week following contamination, which is critical in the case of oil spills, and thus merits further investigation for its exploitation in bioremediation technologies tailored to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

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