Prediction scenarios of past, present, and future environmental suitability for the Mediterranean species Arbutus unedo L.

Climate change is a challenge for forests in the coming decades, with a major impact on species adaptation and distribution. The Mediterranean Basin is one of the most vulnerable hotspots for biodiversity conservation under climate change in the world. This research aimed at studying a Mediterranean species well adapted to the region: the Arbutus unedo L. (strawberry tree). The MaxEnt, a presence-only species-distribution software, was used to model A. unedo’s environmental suitability. The current species potential distribution was accessed based on actual occurrences and selected environmental variables and subsequently projected for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the Mid-Holocene (MH), and the years 2050 and 2070, considering the two Representative Concentration Pathways: RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Results from the LGM projection suggest the presence of refugia in the core of the Mediterranean Basin, in particular the Iberian Peninsula (IP). The projections for the MH indicate increasing climatic suitability for the species and an eastward expansion, relatively to LGM. The predicted future environmental changes will most likely act as a catalyst for suitable habitat loss and a range shift towards the North is likely to occur.

Ephedra aurea (Ephedraceae), a new species from Sicily

Ephedra aurea, a new species occurring in Sicily, is described and illustrated. Taxonomically, it shows close relationships with Ephedra nebrodensis mainly for the small size with internodes scabrous-wrinkled not fragile at the nodes, but relevant differences regarding the size and shape of twigs, leaves, male and female cones, ovules, seeds, fruiting strobili and pollen grains allow to distinguish very well the two species. Its ecology, conservation status and relationships with other allied Mediterranean species are discussed.

Differentiation of Mediterranean species of Juniperus from the Sabina section as a result of their migrations

The Sabina section is one of the three groups in the Juniperus genus and the most diverse. The variability of Mediterranean junipers from the Sabina section is related to their Tertiary and Pleistocene migrations and long-term isolations. Their contemporary taxonomic and geographic diversity was influenced by important events such as the migration of continents, the disappearance of Tethys, orogenic movements or the Messinian salinity crisis. The results of morphological measurements of seed cones, seeds and branchlets with leaves of 19 populations of Juniperus phoenicea complex, J. excelsa s.s., J. thurifera subsp. thurifera and subs. africana, J. foetidissima and J. sabina var. sabina and var. balkanensis were statistically compiled using univariate statistics and multivariate analysis. The most important characters differentiating the populations within the taxa were the thickness of the branchlet and the cone diameter, while between the taxa the ratio of cone diameter to the width of the seeds and the number of seeds per cone were used for speciation. J. phoenicea complex is distinguished from the other studied taxa by the greatest number of characters. J. foetidissima, J. sabina var. sabina and J. canariensis are characterized by the highest variability of morphological characters, while J. excelsa and J. sabina var. balkanensis – the lowest. The studies confirmed the ancient nature of the J. phoenicea complex in relation to other taxa from the Sabina section, as a result of an earlier detachment from the ancestor, and no loss of variability due to the effects of colonization and isolation in J. canariensis. In addition, the similarity of J. sabina and J. thurifera was demonstrated, which would confirm the descent from a common ancestor and similar migration routes from the center of Europe towards the Iberian Peninsula, as well as further differentiation of J. thurifera into subspecies caused by isolation due to the opening of the Strait of Gibraltar. The distinctiveness of J. foetidissima from all the other analyzed taxa was also confirmed, and some morphological similarity was shown, proving the original character of J. excelsa s.s. and its similarity to the J. phoenicea complex in this respect.

Ontogenetic instars of Hermannia longisetosa Subías & Shtanchaeva, 2013, with remarks on juveniles of Hermanniidae (Acari: Oribatida)

Information on the morphological ontogeny of the majority species of the family Hermanniidae is still lacking. In this work, the ontogenetic instars of the Mediterranean species, Hermannia longisetosa Subías & Shtanchaeva, 2013 are studied, based on material from northwestern Spain. Comparative characteristics of juveniles of species belonging to different genera of Hermanniidae are given based on our own data and available literature sources, and the major characteristics of larvae and nymphs are presented. An updated family and generic diagnoses based on juveniles of Hermanniidae are proposed. At the moment, the juveniles of two genera, Hermannia and Phyllhermannia are known, which differ from one another in the pattern of cuticle plications of the gastronotum; number of solenidia on leg tarsi I and II; number of setae on palp femur; setal formula of leg IV in protonymph; and the arrangement of gastronotic setae of c- and d-series.

Biology, ecology and management perspectives of overexploited deposit-feeders sea cucumbers, with focus on Holothuria tubulosa (Gmelin, 1788)

The increasing harvesting of low trophic level organisms is rising concern about the possible consequences on the ecosystem functioning. In particular, the continuous demand of sea cucumbers from the international market lead to the overexploitation of either traditionally harvested and new target species, including the Mediterranean ones. Sea cucumbers are mostly deposit feeders able to consume sedimentary organic matter and, thus, are ideal candidate for the remediation of eutrophicated sediments, like those beneath aquaculture plants. Breeding and restocking of overexploited sea cucumbers populations are well established practice for Indo-Pacific species like Holothuria scabra and Apostichopus japonicus. Some attempts have been also made for the Mediterranean species Holothuria tubulosa, but, so far, the adaptation of protocols used for other species presented several issues. We here summarize narratively the available information about sea cucumbers rearing protocols with the aim of identifying their major flaws and gaps of knowledge and fostering research about new triggers for spawning and feasible protocols to reduce the high mortality of post-settlers.

The Mediterranean species of genus Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe, 1832 (Araneae: Sicariidae): Loxosceles imazighen sp. n. from Morocco and first description of the female of L. mrazig Ribera & Planas, 2009 from Tunisia

The aim of this paper is to describe a new species of the genus Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe, 1832 from Morocco, Loxosceles imazighen sp. n., and to describe for the first time a female of Loxoxceles mrazig Ribera & Planas, 2009 from Tunisia. Both species live in xeric and desert environments and are located in southern Atlas Range. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, using mitochondrial (cox1, 16S) and nuclear (H3, 28S) markers, revel that these species are closely related and that they constitute a separate evolutionary lineage of L. rufescens (Dufour, 1820) and of the set of endemic species of the Canary Islands. L. imazighen sp. n. differs from L. mrazig, the closest species morphologically and geographically, in the shapes and proportions of the male palpal tibia and the shapes and dispositions of the female seminal receptacles. In addition, L. mrazig females show morphological variability in their genitalia, mainly in the inner and outer lobes. Although that variability cannot be associated with different populations, since it also appears within individual populations, and is not related to genetic or geographic distances.

Ferula sommieriana (Apiaceae), a new species from Pelagie Islands (Sicily)

Ferula sommieriana, a new species occurring in Lampedusa and Linosa, islands of Pelagie Archipelago in the Sicilian Channel, is described and illustrated. Previously it was attributed to F. communis, from which it differs in several features regarding mainly the morphology and anatomy of terminal leaf lobes and mericarps, as well as the shape and size of reproductive structures. Its ecology, conservation status and relationships with other allied Mediterranean species of the sect. Ferula are provided, as well as the analytical keys of the species belonging to the aforesaid section.

Variations in Plant Richness, Biogeographical Composition, and Life Forms along an Elevational Gradient in a Mediterranean Mountain

Despite the increasing interest in elevational patterns in biodiversity, few studies have investigated variations in life forms and biogeographical composition, especially in the Mediterranean biome. We investigated elevational patterns in species richness, biogeographical composition (chorotypes) and life forms (Raunkiaer classification) along an elevational gradient in a Mediterranean mountain (Central Italy). We found a general hump-shaped pattern of species richness, which can be explained by harsher conditions at the lowest and highest elevations. This pattern is distinctly related to prevalence at mid elevations of species with European and Euro-Asiatic distribution, which are favored by a temperate climate. Phanerophytes and geophytes (which are mainly associated with woods) were concentrated at mid elevations where woodlands prevail. Hemicryptophytes increased with elevation, consistently with their ability to cope with high altitude climatic conditions. Mediterranean species declined with elevation because they are negatively affected by decreasing temperatures. Chamaephytes showed a U-shaped pattern, suggesting they are able to cope with arid and cold conditions at the extremes of the gradient. Endemics increased with elevation because of their association with mountainous areas as key places for endemism evolution. These results illustrate how elevational patterns in species richness, biogeographical composition and life forms are interrelated and demonstrate reciprocal insights for understanding current vegetation settings.

Analysis of species floristics within the oak forests of Guerrouche (Jijel, Algeria)

The Guerrouche forest is home to a fairly important flora heritage which offers this massif a forest cover by the presence of quite remarkable forest stands, from a floristic point of view by the presence of natural vegetation characterized by a diverse flora. This study aims to quantify the floristic diversity of the vegetation associated with the three main tree species (zeen oak, cork oak and afares oak) that inhabit the Guerrouche forest on the basis of distributed floristic surveys, according to a sampling strategy. stratified and systematic, which took into account the species present in each type of tree stand. The floristic surveys thus carried out, numbering 55, made it possible to establish a list of a floristic list made up of 172 species, which belonged to 69 genera and 45 botanical families. Of these, 42 were endemic species, including 4 specific to the study area. The number of rare and very rare species was 70 taxa. The study also revealed the clear degradation of the genus Erica of this ecosystem. Analysis of the overall chorological spectrum showed a dominance of Mediterranean species (209 species), with a dominance (82.3%) of species that were therophyte species. The forest stands of the genus Quercus inhabiting the Guerrouche massif must be supported by the authorities to preserve and conserve this forest heritage against fires, illegal logging, etc. The results of this study will be the subject of development actions and rational management of these natural forest ecosystems.