Invasional meltdown potential: Facilitation between introduced plants and mammals on French Mediterranean islands

Ecoscience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Bourgeois ◽  
Carey M. Suehs ◽  
Eric Vidal ◽  
Frédéric Médail
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
Invasional Meltdown ◽  
Introduced Plants

The impact of urban effluents on the coastal marine environment of Mediterranean islands

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael O. Angelidis
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Suspended Particle ◽  
Pollution Source ◽  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
Coastal Marine Environment ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

The impact of the urban effluents of Mytilene (Lesvos island, Greece) on the receiving coastal marine environment, was evaluated by studying the quality of the city effluents (BOD5, COD, SS, heavy metals) and the marine sediments (grain size, organic matter, heavy metals). It was found that the urban effluents of Mytilene contain high organic matter and suspended particle load because of septage discharge into the sewerage network. Furthermore, although the city does not host important industrial activity, its effluents contain appreciable metal load, which is mainly associated with the particulate phase. The city effluents are discharged into the coastal marine environment and their colloidal and particulate matter after flocculation settles to the bottom, where is incorporated into the sediments. Over the years, the accumulation of organic matter and metals into the harbour mud has created a non-point pollution source in the relatively non-polluted coastal marine environment of the island. Copper and Zn were the metals which presented the higher enrichment in the sediments of the inner harbour of Mytilene.

scholarly journals Environmental effects of tourism and its seasonality on Mediterranean islands: the contribution of the Interreg MED BLUEISLANDS project to build up an approach towards sustainable tourism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Andolina ◽  
Geraldina Signa ◽  
Agostino Tomasello ◽  
Antonio Mazzola ◽  
Salvatrice Vizzini
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Tourism ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
Local Economies ◽  
Good Opportunity ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Seawater Quality ◽  
Great Burden

Abstract The Mediterranean basin is amongst the world’s main tourist destination, and its islands are a major attraction, being sites of historical, cultural and naturalistic importance. This is beneficial for the local economies, but it may also represent a great burden on the coastal environment, where other human pressures are concentrated. The awareness of detrimental side effects of tourism together with the importance to take into account social and economic facets has led to the concept of sustainable tourism, which, however, represents a goal far from being attained. A good opportunity to promote sustainable tourism was provided by the Interreg MED BLUEISLANDS project, whose main aim was to identify, address and mitigate the effects of the seasonal variation of waste generated by tourism on Mediterranean islands. Here, we present the methodological framework of the project aimed at biomonitoring coastal seawater in highly touristic sites using macroalgae as valuable bioindicators of seawater quality and improving its status through the implementation and assessment of mitigation measures that included also the involvement of stakeholders. Outcomes of the project highlighted the effectiveness of such an integrated approach, confirming the importance of choosing proper indicators and tools that can support the development of management plans aiming to mitigate environmental impact and foster sustainable tourism.

scholarly journals Extensive introgression and mosaic genomes of Mediterranean endemic lizards

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weizhao Yang ◽  
Nathalie Feiner ◽  
Catarina Pinho ◽  
Geoffrey M. While ◽  
Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
The Past ◽  
Island Endemics ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Mediterranean Island ◽  
History Of ◽  
Entire History ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

AbstractThe Mediterranean basin is a hotspot of biodiversity, fuelled by climatic oscillation and geological change over the past 20 million years. Wall lizards of the genus Podarcis are among the most abundant, diverse, and conspicuous Mediterranean fauna. Here, we unravel the remarkably entangled evolutionary history of wall lizards by sequencing genomes of 34 major lineages covering 26 species. We demonstrate an early (>11 MYA) separation into two clades centred on the Iberian and Balkan Peninsulas, and two clades of Mediterranean island endemics. Diversification within these clades was pronounced between 6.5–4.0 MYA, a period spanning the Messinian Salinity Crisis, during which the Mediterranean Sea nearly dried up before rapidly refilling. However, genetic exchange between lineages has been a pervasive feature throughout the entire history of wall lizards. This has resulted in a highly reticulated pattern of evolution across the group, characterised by mosaic genomes with major contributions from two or more parental taxa. These hybrid lineages gave rise to several of the extant species that are endemic to Mediterranean islands. The mosaic genomes of island endemics may have promoted their extraordinary adaptability and striking diversity in body size, shape and colouration, which have puzzled biologists for centuries.

Plant community changes as ecological indicator of seabird colonies’ impacts on Mediterranean Islands

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teddy Baumberger ◽  
Laurence Affre ◽  
Franck Torre ◽  
Eric Vidal ◽  
Pierre-Jean Dumas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
Community Changes ◽  
Seabird Colonies

Biological invasions: are they dependent on disturbance?

1997 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
J D Lozon ◽  
H J MacIsaac
Keyword(s):  
Exotic Species ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Exotic Animals ◽  
Introduced Plants ◽  
Disturbed Habitats

We utilize literature surveys to examine the relationship between establishment of exotic species and human or natural disturbances of ecosystems. Of the 133 papers published in 10 ecological journals between 1993 and 1995, 63 reported on field studies involving 299 and 103 successful, nonredundant plant and animal introductions, respectively. Invasions of terrestrial ecosystems dominated (>>97%) the surveyed literature. Disturbance was associated with establishment of exotic species in 56% of these studies, though its importance differed among papers describing plants (68%) and animals (28%). Plants species (86%) were significantly more dependent on disturbance for establishment than were animals (12%). However, animals and plants that were dependent on disturbance for establishment were almost equally dependent (58 versus 68%) on it for range expansion. In a second survey, 402 plant and 103 animal taxa were identified that explicitly linked establishment of exotic species to disturbance. Human activities were attributed with establishment of species in 97 and 57% of these cases, respectively. Common mechanisms associated with establishment of exotic animals included ballast water discharge, intentional releases, and residential development. Establishment of exotic plants was associated with animal activities (e.g., grazing, seed introduction), soil disturbance, forestry, fire, agriculture, and human activities. In contrast to invasions theory, our survey indicates that the association between establishment and spread of exotic species and disturbance ought not be assumed a priori. Some animals repeatedly invade new habitats once geographic barriers are circumvented, indicating that communities may be more receptive to exotic species than previously acknowledged. By contrast, introduced plants established most often in disturbed habitats.

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