Landscapes of sandy areas along a rainfall gradient (90-450 mm, average annual rainfall) in the south-eastern Mediterranean area, Israel

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Yair Aaron
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Gradient ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Area ◽  
Hydrological Effects

Dryland areas are regarded as highly sensitive to climatic changes. A positive relationship between average annual rainfall, and environmental factors (water availability, species diversity, etc.), is often assumed for areas with an average annual rainfall of 100-300 mm. However, the global climatological models fail to address an important issue. The above assumption disregards the fact that a climate change in some dry-land areas is not limited to climatic factors. It is often accompanied by a pronounced variability in surface properties, such as the deposition of loess in a wet climatic phase, and of sand during a dry climatic phase. Needless to say, the spatial variability of the new surface properties may have variable effects on water resources and related environmental variables. In addition, the climatic models, based on average annual rainfall, disregard the rainfall characteristics at the rain-shower level, which greatly influence the degree to which rainwater will percolate, or will be transformed into runoff, thereby significantly affecting the spatial redistribution of water resources. In other words, a climate change in dryland areas would be expected to have differential hydrological effects in a sandy area, a rocky area, or in a loess covered area. Differential spatial hydrological effects would be also expected within each of the areas listed above. The present manuscript deals with the complex relationships between average annual rainfall, and environmental variables in sandy areas, at three research sites, along a rainfall gradient of 90-450 mm, in the south eastern Mediterranean area, Israel. Data obtained clearly show that average annual rainfall is not a good indicator of water resources, and ecosystem structure, in each of the sites; and the controlling factors vary from one site to another.

scholarly journals Ceramic finds from the Byzantine fort of Gradina on the island of Žirje

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Karađole ◽  
Igor Borzić
Keyword(s):  
Iron Age ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
The Other ◽  
Late Antique ◽  
North African ◽  
The North ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Main Production ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Area

Repeated excavations of the area of the early Byzantine fort on Žirje, an island in the Šibenik archipelago, resulted in recovery of a substantial amount of movable finds, predominantly pottery. Most finds date to the period of Justinian's reconquista in the mid-6th century when the fort was used, but there are also some artifacts of earlier or later dating (Iron Age, Hellenistic and early Imperial periods; medieval and postmedieval periods) whose presence is explained by continuous strategic importance of the fort position. Late antique material has been analyzed comprehensively in terms of typology. Dating and provenance contexts of the finds have also been determined. Presence of pottery from the main production centers that supplied the eastern Adriatic at the time has been attested. This refers in particular to the north African and Aegean-eastern Mediterranean area providing fine tableware and kitchen pottery, lamps and various forms of amphorae. On the other hand, participation of local workshops in supply of the Byzantine soldiers stationed in Gradina probably relates to prevailing forms of kitchenware.

Allium kyrenium (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from Northern Cyprus

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 213 (3) ◽  
pp. 282 ◽  
Author(s):  
GIANPIETRO GIUSSO DEL GALDO ◽  
CRISTIAN BRULLO ◽  
Salvatore Brullo ◽  
CRISTINA SALMERI
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Somatic Chromosome ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Diploid Species ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Somatic Chromosome Number ◽  
Northern Cyprus ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Area ◽  
A New Species

Allium kyrenium, a new species of Allium sect. Codonoprasum, is described and illustrated from northern Cyprus. It is a very circumscribed geophyte growing on the calcareous cliffs of the Kyrenia range. This diploid species, with a somatic chromosome number 2n = 16, shows close morphological relationships with A. stamineum, a species complex distributed in the eastern Mediterranean area. Its morphology, karyology, leaf anatomy, ecology, conservation status and taxonomical relationships with the allied species belonging to the A. stamineum group are examined.

scholarly journals Modelling the response of net primary productivity of the Zambezi teak forests to climate change along a rainfall gradient in Zambia

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (19) ◽  
pp. 3853-3867
Author(s):  
Justine Ngoma ◽  
Maarten C. Braakhekke ◽  
Bart Kruijt ◽  
Eddy Moors ◽  
Iwan Supit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Primary Productivity ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Gradient ◽  
Local Soil ◽  
Parameter Values

Abstract. Understanding climate change effects on forests is important considering the role forests play in mitigating climate change. We studied the effects of changes in temperature, rainfall, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, solar radiation, and number of wet days (as a measure of rainfall intensity) on net primary productivity (NPP) of the Zambian Zambezi teak forests along a rainfall gradient. Using 1960–1989 as a baseline, we projected changes in NPP for the end of the 21st century (2070–2099). We adapted the parameters of the dynamic vegetation model, LPJ-GUESS, to simulate the growth of Zambian forests at three sites along a moisture gradient receiving annual rainfall of between 700 and more than 1000 mm. The adjusted plant functional type was tested against measured data. We forced the model with contemporary climate data (1960–2005) and with climatic forecasts of an ensemble of five general circulation models (GCMs) following Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. We used local soil parameter values to characterize texture and measured local tree parameter values for maximum crown area, wood density, leaf longevity, and allometry. The results simulated with the LPJ-GUESS model improved when we used these newly generated local parameters, indicating that using local parameter values is essential to obtaining reliable simulations at site level. The adapted model setup provided a baseline for assessing the potential effects of climate change on NPP in the studied Zambezi teak forests. Using this adapted model version, NPP was projected to increase by 1.77 % and 0.69 % at the wetter Kabompo and by 0.44 % and 0.10 % at the intermediate Namwala sites under RCP8.5 and RCP4.5 respectively, especially caused by the increased CO2 concentration by the end of the 21st century. However, at the drier Sesheke site, NPP would respectively decrease by 0.01 % and 0.04 % by the end of the 21st century under RCP8.5 and RCP4.5. The projected decreased NPP under RCP8.5 at the Sesheke site results from the reduced rainfall coupled with increasing temperature. We thus demonstrated that differences in the amount of rainfall received in a site per year influence the way in which climate change will affect forest resources. The projected increase in CO2 concentration would thus have more effects on NPP in high rainfall receiving areas, while in arid regions, NPP would be affected more by the changes in rainfall and temperature. CO2 concentrations would therefore be more important in forests that are generally not temperature- or precipitation-limited; however, precipitation will continue to be the limiting factor in the drier sites.

scholarly journals Hydrologic impact of climate change on Murray–Hotham catchment of Western Australia: a projection of rainfall–runoff for future water resources planning

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 3591-3614 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Islam ◽  
M. A. Bari ◽  
A. H. M. F. Anwar
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Rainfall Data ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Emission Scenarios ◽  
Runoff Reduction ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Hydrologic Impact

Abstract. Reduction of rainfall and runoff in recent years across southwest Western Australia (SWWA) has attracted attention to the climate change impact on water resources and water availability in this region. In this paper, the hydrologic impact of climate change on the Murray–Hotham catchment in SWWA has been investigated using a multi-model ensemble approach through projection of rainfall and runoff for the periods mid (2046–2065) and late (2081–2100) this century. The Land Use Change Incorporated Catchment (LUCICAT) model was used for hydrologic modelling. Model calibration was performed using (5 km) grid rainfall data from the Australian Water Availability Project (AWAP). Downscaled and bias-corrected rainfall data from 11 general circulation models (GCMs) for Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emission scenarios A2 and B1 was used in LUCICAT model to derive rainfall and runoff scenarios for 2046–2065 (mid this century) and 2081–2100 (late this century). The results of the climate scenarios were compared with observed past (1961–1980) climate. The mean annual rainfall averaged over the catchment during recent time (1981–2000) was reduced by 2.3% with respect to the observed past (1961–1980) and the resulting runoff reduction was found to be 14%. Compared to the past, the mean annual rainfall reductions, averaged over 11 ensembles and over the period for the catchment for A2 scenario are 13.6 and 23.6% for mid and late this century respectively while the corresponding runoff reductions are 36 and 74%. For B1 scenario, the rainfall reductions were 11.9 and 11.6% for mid and late this century and the corresponding runoff reductions were 31 and 38%. Spatial distribution of rainfall and runoff changes showed that the rate of changes were higher in high rainfall areas compared to low rainfall areas. Temporal distribution of rainfall and runoff indicate that high rainfall events in the catchment reduced significantly and further reductions are projected, resulting in significant runoff reductions. A catchment scenario map has been developed by plotting decadal runoff reduction against corresponding rainfall reduction at four gauging stations for the observed and projected periods. This could be useful for planning future water resources in the catchment. Projection of rainfall and runoff made based on the GCMs varied significantly for the time periods and emission scenarios. Hence, the considerable uncertainty involved in this study though ensemble mean was used to explain the findings.

Review of the Merodon albifasciatus Macquart species complex (Diptera: Syrphidae): the nomenclatural type located and its provenance discussed

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4374 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTE VUJIĆ ◽  
GUNILLA STÅHLS ◽  
JELENA AČANSKI ◽  
SANTOS ROJO ◽  
CELESTE PÉREZ-BAÑÓN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Complex ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Type Specimen ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Mediterranean Species ◽  
Female Holotype ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Area

The Palaearctic Merodon geniculatus species group (Diptera, Syrphidae: Merodontini) currently comprises six Western Mediterranean species and four species with Eastern Mediterranean distribution. One of this group species, Merodon albifasciatus Macquart, 1842, is the only Merodon species listed from the Oriental Region. We discovered the lost holotype, which fit morphologically with European Merodon females of the M. albifasciatus species complex confirmed here and that occurs in the Palaearctic region. An integrative approach to the taxonomy of M. albifasciatus based on morphological and molecular evidences revealed the existence of two additional closely-related species in the Eastern Mediterranean area, M. luteofasciatus Vujić, Radenković & Ståhls sp. nov. and M. neofasciatus Ståhls & Vujić sp. nov.. The females of these three species can only be separated by molecular and distributional data. With the aim of stabilising species concepts within the complex, the taxon distributed in mainland Greece, including the Peloponnese was associated to the old female holotype of M. albifasciatus. The identity of Merodon fractipes Paramonov, described from Rhodes Island (Greece) as subspecies of M. geniculatus Strobl in Czerny & Strobl, could not be resolved as the type specimen is lost. Thus the name M. fractipes is suppressed as nomen dubium. We discuss the distribution of the species of M. albifasciatus complex, identify host plants of M. neofasciatus, and provide an identification key to males of Eastern Mediterranean species of Merodon geniculatus group. 

A Glass Fishbeaker from Fezzan

1982 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 81-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Tagart
Keyword(s):  
External Surface ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Fourth Century ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Roman World ◽  
Shell Fragment ◽  
Colourless Glass ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Area ◽  
Popular Image ◽  
Conch Shell

AbstractA conch shell fragment from a colourless glass fishbeaker was found during excavations at the Garamantian site of Saniat Gebril in the Wadi el-Agial, Fezzan. Fishbeakers are blown vessels with separately made sea creatures added in rows to the external surface. Complete examples of such vessels come from Rome, Cologne and Trier, with fragments from the Lebanon, Egypt, Italy and ? Spain. A diatretum beaker from southern Hungary is decorated with similar marine creatures. When dated the beakers are ascribed to the fourth century AD. It seems likely that the fishbeaker originated in the eastern Mediterranean area and may be associated with some pagan cults, and Christianity for whom the fish was a popular image. Early Christianity flourished in Antioch and Alexandria, both cities in areas associated with glass making. Egypt is the most likely source for the Fezzan beaker. Not the only Roman luxury glass found in the area, it is however notable that such a sumptious and no doubt expensive vessel should be found in a relatively isolated, and desert part of the Roman world.

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