scholarly journals A Primer on Spider Assemblages in Levantine Caves: The Neglected Subterranean Habitats of the Levant—A Biodiversity Mine

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Efrat Gavish-Regev ◽  
Shlomi Aharon ◽  
Igor Armiach Steinpress ◽  
Merav Seifan ◽  
Yael Lubin
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Assemblage Composition ◽  
Spider Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Species Pools ◽  
Taxonomic Research ◽  
Cave Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Mechanisms ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Caves share unique conditions that have led to convergent adaptations of cave-dwelling animals. In addition, local factors act as filters on regional species-pools to shape the assemblage composition of local caves. Surveys of 35 Levantine caves, distributed along a climate gradient from the mesic in the north of Israel to hyper-arid areas in the south of Israel, were conducted to test the effect of cave characteristics, location, climate, bat presence, and guano level on the spider assemblage. We found 62 spider species and assigned four species as troglobites, 28 as troglophiles, and 30 as accidentals. Precipitation, elevation, latitude, minimum temperature, and guano levels significantly affected the composition of cave-dwelling spider assemblages. Caves situated in the Mediterranean region had higher species richness and abundance, as well as more troglobite and troglophile arachnids. These discoveries contribute to the knowledge of the local arachnofauna and are important for the conservation of cave ecosystems. By comparing spider assemblages of Levantine caves to European caves, we identified gaps in the taxonomic research, focusing our efforts on spider families that may have additional cryptic or yet to be described cave-dwelling spider species. Our faunistic surveys are crucial stages for understanding the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms of arachnid speciation in Levantine caves.

North Atlantic Oscillation-related impacts on precipitation over the Italian Peninsula during the 1979-2020 period

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Lorenzo Sánchez ◽  
Leonardo Aragão
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
North Atlantic Oscillation ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Italian Peninsula ◽  
The North ◽  
Nao Index ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Resolution Dataset

<p>The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) has been widely recognized as one of the main patterns of atmospheric variability over the northern hemisphere, helping to understand variations on the North Atlantic Jet (NAJ) position and its influence on storm-tracks, atmospheric blocking and Rossby Wave breaking. Among several relevant teleconnection patterns identified through different timescales, the most prominent ones are found for northern Europe during winter months, when positive (negative) phases of NAO are related to wetter (drier) conditions. Although it is not well defined yet, an opposite connection is observed for the Mediterranean region, where negative NAO values are often associated with high precipitation. Therefore, the main goal of this study is to identify which regions and periods of the year are the most susceptible to abundant NAO-related precipitation throughout the Italian Peninsula. For doing so, the last 42 years period (1979-2020) was analysed using the Fifth Generation ECMWF Atmospheric ReAnalysis of the Global Climate (ERA5). The NAO index was calculated using the Mean Sea Level Pressure (MSLP) extracted from the nearest gridpoints to Reykjavik, Ponta Delgada, Lisbon and Gibraltar, with a time resolution of one hour and horizontal spatial resolution of 0.25ºx0.25º. Both NAO index and MSLP time series were validated for different timescales (hourly, daily, monthly and seasonal) using the Automated Surface Observing System data and the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) high-resolution dataset (based on measured data). High correlations, ranging from 0.92 to 0.98, were found for all stations, timescales and evaluated parameters. To quantify the influence of NAO over the Mediterranean region, the monthly averaged ERA5 ‘total precipitation’ data over the Italian Peninsula [35-48º N; 5-20º E] were used. As expected, the results concerning NAO x Precipitation presented the best correlations when analysed monthly, confirming some of the already known NAO signatures over the Italian Peninsula: higher correlations during winter and over the Tyrrhenian coast, and lower correlations during summer and over the Apennines, the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. On the other hand, the precipitation over the Alps and the Tunisian coast presented a remarkable signature of positive NAO values that, despite a lower statistical significance (85-90%), is in agreement with recent findings of observational studies. In addition, significant negative correlations were identified for the spring and autumn months over the Tyrrhenian area. Among those, the high correlations found during May are particularly interesting, as they follow the behaviour described in recent studies performed using the same high-resolution dataset (ERA5), which have identified an increased number of cyclones over the Mediterranean during this month. This connection suggests that NAO could also be used to explore the potential penetration of the North Atlantic depressions into the Mediterranean Basin. </p><p>Keywords: NAO; Teleconnections; ERA5; ReAnalysis; Mediterranean; Climatology.</p>

scholarly journals Pleistocene climate change and the formation of regional species pools

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1905) ◽  
pp. 20190291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquín Calatayud ◽  
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez ◽  
Rafael Molina-Venegas ◽  
María Leo ◽  
Jose Luis Horreo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Historical Events ◽  
Deep Time ◽  
The North ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Pleistocene Climate ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Species Pools ◽  
Dispersal Barriers ◽  
Climate Cooling ◽  
Associated Species

Although the description of bioregions dates back to the origin of biogeography, the processes originating their associated species pools have been seldom studied. Ancient historical events are thought to play a fundamental role in configuring bioregions, but the effects of more recent events on these regional biotas are largely unknown. We used a network approach to identify regional and sub-regional faunas of European Carabus beetles and developed a method to explore the relative contribution of dispersal barriers, niche similarities and phylogenetic history on their configuration. We identify a transition zone matching the limit of the ice sheets at the Last Glacial Maximum. While southern species pools are mostly separated by dispersal barriers, in the north species are mainly sorted by their environmental niches. Strikingly, most phylogenetic structuration of Carabus faunas occurred during the Pleistocene. Our results show how extreme recent historical events—such as Pleistocene climate cooling, rather than just deep-time evolutionary processes—can profoundly modify the composition and structure of geographical species pools.

scholarly journals Contribution to the Orophilous Cushion-Like Vegetation of Central-Southern and Insular Greece

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1678
Author(s):  
Carmelo Maria Musarella ◽  
Salvatore Brullo ◽  
Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
High Mountains ◽  
New Class ◽  
The North ◽  
Aegean Islands ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Taxonomic Research ◽  
Phytosociological Relevés

The results of a phytosociological investigation regarding the orophilous cushion-like vegetation occurring in the top of the high mountains of central-southern Greece and in some Ionian (Lefkas, Cephalonia) and Aegean Islands (Euboea, Samos, Lesvos, Chios and Thassos) are provided. Based on 680 phytosociological relevès (460 unpublished and 220 from literature), a new syntaxonomical arrangement is proposed with the description of a new class, including two new orders, eight new alliances, and several associations (many of them new). Compared to the previous hierarchical framework usually followed in the literature, this study provides a more realistic and clear phytosociological characterization of this peculiar and archaic vegetation type, which is exclusive to the high mountains of the north-eastern Mediterranean. The new arrangement is mainly based on the phytogeographical role of the orophytes featuring this very specialized vegetation, which is essentially represented by endemics or rare species belonging to the ancient Mediterranean Tertiary flora. In addition, taxonomic research on the orophilous flora occurring in these plant communities allowed to identify six species new to science (i.e., Astragalus corinthiacus, Allium cremnophilum, A. cylleneum, A. orosamium, A. karvounis, and A. lefkadensis) and a new subspecies (i.e., Allium hirtovaginatum subsp. samium), and two new combinations (i.e., Astragalus rumelicus subsp. euboicus and subsp. taygeticus) are proposed.

New occurrences of Leukadiella and Paroniceras (Ammonoidea) from the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) of the Canadian Cordillera

1995 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. K. Jakobs
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Lower Jurassic ◽  
Canadian Cordillera ◽  
Rare Occurrence ◽  
Western Tethys ◽  
North American Cordillera ◽  
Queen Charlotte Islands ◽  
The North ◽  
New Occurrences

Previous studies of the Toarcian of the North American Cordillera have mentioned the rare occurrence of Paroniceras in the Queen Charlotte Islands. Recent work has identified the presence of Leukadiella in the Middle Toarcian of the Queen Charlotte Islands, the Spatsizi area, and the Hazelton area. They occur with Rarenodia planulata, Peronoceras pacificum, Peronoceras verticosum, and Phymatoceras cf. P. pseudoerbaense. The Leukadiella specimens are well preserved and generally larger than those found in the Mediterranean region. Taxa present in North America include Paroniceras sternale, Leukadiella ionica, Leukadiella amuratica, Leukadiella aff. L. helenae, and Leukadiella aff. L. ionica. Morphologically Leukadiella is closely related to such genera as Hildaites and Hildoceras and is more suitably placed within the subfamily Hildoceratinae rather than the Bouleiceratinae. The distribution of Leukadiella and Paroniceras indicates the influence of the Hispanic Corridor linking western Tethys and the eastern Pacific during the Middle Toarcian.

Scrophularia lucidaifolia (Scrophulariaceae), a new species from Turkey

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 204 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Mehmet Erkan Uzunhisarcıklı ◽  
Ebru Doğan Güner ◽  
Funda Özbek ◽  
Bilgehan Bilgili
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Temperate Zone ◽  
The North ◽  
Centre Of Diversity ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
A New Species

The genus Scrophularia Linnaeus (1753: 619) (Scrophulariaceae) is represented by approximately 270 taxa (species and subspecies) worldwide (Olivencia 2009). It is restricted primarily to the North Temperate Zone (Carlbom 1968). The primary centre of diversity of Scrophularia is located in the Irano-Turanian region. The Mediterranean region is also an important area of diversity and for the endemism rate of Scrophularia (Scheunert & Heubl 2014).

scholarly journals Late Holocene climate variability in the southwestern Mediterranean region: an integrated marine and terrestrial geochemical approach

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 807-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Martín-Puertas ◽  
F. Jiménez-Espejo ◽  
F. Martínez-Ruiz ◽  
V. Nieto-Moreno ◽  
M. Rodrigo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Medieval Climate Anomaly ◽  
Holocene Climate ◽  
Climate Anomaly ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

Abstract. A combination of marine (Alboran Sea cores, ODP 976 and TTR 300 G) and terrestrial (Zoñar Lake, Andalucia, Spain) geochemical proxies provides a high-resolution reconstruction of climate variability and human influence in the southwestern Mediterranean region for the last 4000 years at inter-centennial resolution. Proxies respond to changes in precipitation rather than temperature alone. Our combined terrestrial and marine archive documents a succession of dry and wet periods coherent with the North Atlantic climate signal. A dry period occurred prior to 2.7 cal ka BP – synchronously to the global aridity crisis of the third-millennium BC – and during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (1.4–0.7 cal ka BP). Wetter conditions prevailed from 2.7 to 1.4 cal ka BP. Hydrological signatures during the Little Ice Age are highly variable but consistent with more humidity than the Medieval Climate Anomaly. Additionally, Pb anomalies in sediments at the end of the Bronze Age suggest anthropogenic pollution earlier than the Roman Empire development in the Iberian Peninsula. The Late Holocene climate evolution of the in the study area confirms the see-saw pattern between the eastern and western Mediterranean regions and the higher influence of the North Atlantic dynamics in the western Mediterranean.

scholarly journals Late Holocene climate variability in the southwestern Mediterranean region: an integrated marine and terrestrial geochemical approach

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 1655-1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Martín-Puertas ◽  
F. Jiménez-Espejo ◽  
F. Martínez-Ruiz ◽  
V. Nieto-Moreno ◽  
M. Rodrigo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Little Ice Age ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Warm Period ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

Abstract. A combination of marine (Alboran Sea cores, ODP 976 and TTR 300 G) and terrestrial (Zoñar Lake, Andalucia, Spain) paleoclimate information using geochemical proxies provides a high resolution reconstruction of climate variability and human influence in southwestern Mediterranean region for the last 4000 years at inter-centennial resolution. Proxies respond to changes in precipitation rather than temperature alone. Our archive documents a succession of dry and wet periods coherent with the North Atlantic climate signal. Drier stages occurred prior to 2.7 cal ka BP, well-correlated with the global aridity crisis of the third-millennium BC, and during the Medieval Warm Period (1.4–0.7 cal ka BP). Wetter conditions prevailed from 2.7 to 1.4 cal ka BP and after the Medieval Warm Period and the onset of the Little Ice Age. Hydrological signatures during the Little Ice Age are highly variable but consistent with more humidity that the period before. Additionally, Pb anomalies in sediments at the end of Bronze Age suggest anthropogenic pollution earlier than the Roman Empire development in the Iberian Peninsula. The evolution of the climate in the study area during the Late Holocene confirms the see-saw pattern previously shown between eastern and western Mediterranean regions and suggests a higher influence of the North Atlantic dynamics in the western Mediterranean.

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