Impact of Quaternary glacial cycles on denudation in Western Mediterranean mountains

This paper provides the first description of a Hedysarum species (Hedysarum costaetalentii sp. nov.) of the section Subacaulia (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch discovered in the Western Mediterranean mountains. This section is considered endemic to the northeastern Mediterranean zone. The discovery of this new species significantly enlarges its area of distribution. H. costaetalentii sp. nov. is a rare plant endemic in the upper part (1900–2100 m) of the Sierra de la Grillimona (Granada, Spain). It grows among the cushion-shaped scrubs (dominated by Velia spinosa Boiss.) and dwarf grasses, such as Festuca hystrix Boiss. And F. hackelii K. Rieht. H. costaetalentii is closely related to H. erythroleucon Boiss. The first species is endemic to S. Spain, the second, to S. and SE. Anatolia. This is a southeastern vicariance recalling other pairs of taxa such as Viola delphinanta-V. cazorlensis, Crataegus orientalis-C. presliana, Lonicera nummulariifolia-L. arborea, etc., and suggesting the ancient origin of this new species.

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Geographical speciation related to Pleistocene range shifts in the western Mediterranean mountains (Reseda sect. Glaucoreseda , Resedaceae)

Taxon ◽

10.1002/tax.592012 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 466-482 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Santiago Martín-Bravo ◽

Virginia Valcárcel ◽

Pablo Vargas ◽

Modesto Luceño

Keyword(s):

Western Mediterranean ◽

Range Shifts ◽

Mediterranean Mountains

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Quaternary glacial history of the Mediterranean mountains

Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment ◽

10.1191/0309133306pp481ra ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 334-364 ◽

Cited By ~ 158

Author(s):

P. D. Hughes ◽

J. C. Woodward ◽

P. L. Gibbard

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Region ◽

Global Climate ◽

Radiometric Dating ◽

Middle Pleistocene ◽

Glacial Cycles ◽

Mountain Glaciers ◽

Advanced Phase ◽

Mediterranean Mountains ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Glacial Landforms

Glacial and periglacial landforms are widespread in the mountains of the Mediterranean region. The evidence for glacial and periglacial activity has been studied for over 120 years and it is possible to identify three phases of development in this area of research. First, a pioneer phase characterized by initial descriptive observations of glacial landforms; second, a mapping phase whereby the detailed distribution of glacial landforms and sediments have been depicted on geomorphological maps; and, third, an advanced phase characterized by detailed understanding of the geochronology of glacial sequences using radiometric dating alongside detailed sedimentological and stratigraphical analyses. It is only relatively recently that studies of glaciated mountain terrains in the Mediterranean region have reached an advanced phase and it is now clear from radiometric dating programmes that the Mediterranean mountains have been glaciated during multiple glacial cycles. The most extensive phases of glaciation appear to have occurred during the Middle Pleistocene. This represents a major shift from earlier work whereby many glacial sequences were assumed to have formed during the last cold stage. Glacial and periglacial deposits from multiple Quaternary cold stages constitute a valuable palaeoclimatic record. This is especially so in the Mediterranean mountains, since mountain glaciers in this latitudinal zone would have been particularly sensitive to changes in the global climate system.

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