Transmission patterns of Leishmania tropica around the Mediterranean basin: Could Morocco be impacted by a zoonotic spillover?

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due to Leishmania tropica is a neglected tropical disease characterized by a wide geographical distribution in the Mediterranean basin and is endemic in several of its countries. In addition, the vector Phlebotomus sergenti is abundantly present all around the basin. Its transmission cycle is still subject to debate. In some countries, the presence of an animal reservoir has been confirmed. In Morocco, CL due to L. tropica has risen since the 1980s and has spread widely to become the most abundant form of leishmaniasis in the territory. However, the anthroponotic transmission is so far the only recognized mode, despite recordings of L. tropica infection in animal hosts. In this review article, we assess the situation of CL due to L. tropica in the Mediterranean basin with a focus on Morocco and gather knowledge about any potential zoonotic transmission in the country. A concomitant zoonotic transmission could explain the persistence of the disease in areas where human protective measures combined with vector management did not help reduce the disease burden.

Reusing Grey Water to Lower Temperatures in the Mediterranean Basin Cities

The Mediterranean region is a hot spot for climate change, and cities of this area will be exposed to both increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitations. Green Infrastructures (GIs) can lower urban temperatures through evapotranspiration with an adequate soil moisture content. Grey water reuse can both guarantee the right soil moisture content and reduce freshwater exploitation. In order to test the effectiveness of soil moisture on reducing air temperature, two modelling simulations ran with the microclimate CFD-based model ENVI-met 4.0. The chosen day was a registered heat wave (7 July 2019) in Lecce, a city of south Italy, which was selected as case study for the Mediterranean area. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of soil moisture on evapotranspiration in reducing air temperature. From a circular economy perspective, the supply of grey water for urban GIs represents a strategic adaptation strategy to the expected effects of climate change on the Mediterranean basin.

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.

LEGU-MED: Developing Biodiversity-Based Agriculture with Legume Cropping Systems in the Mediterranean Basin

Environmental degradation and the decrease of ecosystem service provision are currently of major concern, with current agricultural systems being a major driver. To meet our future environmental and sustainability targets a transformation of the agro-food systems and current agricultural value chain are crucial. One approach to redesign farming systems is the concept of biodiversity-based agriculture (BBA) which relies on sustainable diversification of biological components and their natural interactions in farming systems to maximize fertility, productivity, and resilience to external perturbations. Despite minimizing anthropogenic inputs, BBA is not yet able to meet all beneficial environmental objectives. BBA applied in the Mediterranean basin requires urgent innovation in approaches, methodologies, and models for small-holder traditional farming systems to ensure a stable provision of ecosystem services and better resilience to environmental stresses linked to climate change. Legumes are the backbone of the Mediterranean agro-ecosystems from ancient times, but their unique and wide biodiversity was not sufficiently valorized, especially by North-African countries. Here, we present LEGU-MED, a three-year international project funded by PRIMA initiative 2019. An international consortium was established involving five universities, 5 research institutes, and one private company from 8 countries: Italy, Germany, Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, and Croatia. The main objective of this project is to put forward an international and well-integrated plan to valorize the legume agrobiodiversity of the Mediterranean in biodiversity-based farming systems and consequently enhance agro-ecosystem functions and services in the Mediterranean basin. The successful completion of LEGU-MED will have the following impacts on Mediterranean legume-based farming systems: (1) improve water use efficiency, (2) reduce the use of anthropogenic inputs through the maintenance of soil fertility, (3) enhance pollination and improve ecological connectivity with flora and fauna, (4) protect close-by wildland ecosystems, (5) enhance other ecosystem services (e.g., pest, disease, and weed suppression), and (6) provide healthier and safer protein-rich food.

Rola południowej Galii w produkcji i handlu winem w VI w. p.n.e. – II w. n.e. na tle przemian politycznych w zachodniej części Morza Śródziemnego

The article describes the role of southern Gaul in the production and trade of wine, with particular consideration for the Gauloise flat-bottomed amphorae produced in this area. It provides a brief outline of the history of this area of Mediterranean basin, shaped by the political and economic activities of several Mediterranean peoples – Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Etruscans and Romans. It discusses the types of archaeological sites where the remains of amphorae for Gallic wine were discovered, exemplary stamps characteristic of southern Gaul and the influence of the Romans on the emergence and development of the culture of producing and consuming wine in southern Gaul