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Visitor studies in open archaeological sites are becoming a fundamental tool for their management. This paper states the usefulness of nonparticipant timing and tracking of visitors. This methodology is applied in four case studies of the Mediterranean context, where more than 200 visitors to archaeological sites from Malta, Sicily, Ibiza and Menorca are sampled. The results not only give information about the public’s behaviour, but also about relational and physical aspects of the sites which impact their management., Los estudios de visitantes al patrimonio arqueológico se están convirtiendo en una parte indispensable de la gestión de los yacimientos abiertos al público. En este artículo se defiende la utilidad de la observación no participante a través de un estudio de timing y tracking de públicos. La metodología es puesta a prueba en cuatro yacimientos de las islas mediterráneas de Malta, Sicilia, Ibiza y Menorca, contextos caracterizados por una gran afluencia de turistas de sol y playa. Se recogen datos procedentes de más de 200 visitantes. Los resultados muestran la capacidad de las observaciones no participantes para informar no solo del comportamiento del público, sino también de los aspectos relacionales y físicos que posibilita un yacimiento y que son fundamentales para su gestión

The biotas of old islands formed from continental terranes usually have a more complex biogeographical history than those of young oceanic islands, including taxa which have originated by vicariance and/or colonisation, over a variety of timescales. The Tyrrhenian Islands of Corsica, Sardinia and the Tuscan Archipelago in the Mediterranean have a complex geological history, shaped by interactions between the African and Eurasian plates since the Mesozoic. Our understanding of the historical biogeography of Tyrrhenian endemics remains limited for many groups, including freshwater invertebrates. Here we use a time-calibrated phylogeny, derived from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data, to explore the evolutionary history of Tyrrhenian endemic Hydraena water beetles, an ecologically important group in the islands’ streams. Whilst no endemic Hydraena appear to date from the initial separation of Corsica-Sardinia from the European mainland in the Oligocene, we show that Tyrrhenian species stem from five colonisation events, occurring at different intervals in the last ca. 15 Ma, at least two endemic lineages apparently arising through isolation at the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Hydraena reflexa Rey, 1884, long considered a geographical form or subspecies of the widespread H. pygmaea Waterhouse, 1833, is reinstated as a valid species, endemic to Corsica and Sardinia. H. reflexa can be distinguished from H. pygmaea on external and aedeagal characters, documented here in detail. Specimens of ‘H. reflexa’ from southern continental Italy are shown to differ from those on Corsica and Sardinia, having identical male genitalia to H. pygmaea from elsewhere in its range. Genetically, this Calabrian form also clusters with H. pygmaea, and may have arisen through past introgression between a reflexa-like ancestor and H. pygmaea following the connection of the Calabrian block with the nascent Apennines in the Pliocene. The degree of genetic divergence seen between H

Formentera was one of the last Mediterranean islands to be colonized by humans at the end of the third millennium BC. This island is rather small (83¿km2) with marked biogeographical constraints. Typical of a semi-arid environment, the island is poor in resources and biodiversity. Macrolithic tools from the prehistoric sites of Ca na Costa (ca. 2130¿1790 cal BC), Cap de Barbaria II (ca. 1740¿900 cal BC), and Sa Cala (ca. 800¿570 cal BC) showed similar technological, typological, and functional patterns documented in other prehistoric tool assemblages from the Balearic Islands. This common technology is reflected in the way the raw materials were procured, as well as the manufacture, the maintenance strategies, and the use of macrolithic tools (e.g., grinding stone tools, abraders, and percussion tools). Integrated phytolith and starch analyses from grinding toolkits show evidence of people¿s exploitating millet-tribe species (Paniceae) during the Bronze Age, cereals that are well-adapted to nutrient-poor soils, including exotic taxa such as possible foxtail millet (Setaria cf. italica). The production and use of this stone technology suggests how the first human communities on the island achieved and shared social knowledge about the insular landscape and its environmental constraints. This integrative archaeological research in Formentera has shown development of a set of innovative, diversified, and intensive resource exploitation strategies, underlining the high adaptability and resilience of prehistoric societies as well as the sharing of technology within the Balearic archipelago and its independent evolution from mainland technologies.

In this work we report the ongoing characterization of the Sos Enattos former mine (Sardinia, Italy), one of the two candidate sites for the Einstein Telescope (ET), the European third-generation underground interferometric detector of Gravitational Waves. The Sos Enattos site lies on a crystalline basement, made of rocks with good geomechanical properties, characterized by negligible groundwater. In addition, the site has a very low seismic background noise due to the absence of active tectonics involving Sardinia. Finally, the area has a low population density, resulting in a reduced anthropic noise even at the ground level. This location was already studied in 2012-2014 as a promising site for an underground detector. More recently, in March 2019, we deployed a new network of surface and underground seismometers at the site, that is currently monitoring the local seismic noise. Most of the energy carried by the seismic waves is due to the microseisms below 1 Hz, showing a significant correlation with the waves of the west Mediterranean sea. Above 1 Hz the seismic noise in the underground levels of the mine approaches the Peterson's low noise model. Exploiting mine blasting works into the former mine, we were also able to perform active seismic measurements to evaluate the seismic waves propagation across the area. In conclusion we also give a first assessment about the acoustic and magnetic noise in this underground site.

The spionid polychaete Boccardia proboscidea Hartman, 1940 is a tube-dweller and shell/stone-borer widely occurring in temperate waters across the world and considered invasive in many areas. It was originally described from California, USA, and later reported from Pacific Canada, the Asian Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, and northern Europe. The Bayesian inference analysis of sequence data of three gene fragments (836 bp in total) of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA, nuclear 28S rDNA, and Historie 3 has shown that individuals from the Pacific coasts of Canada and the USA, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Mediterranean France were genetically very similar (maximal average p-distance value, 0.49%, was between 16S rDNA sequences). We consider these individuals to be conspecific and report the earliest records of B. proboscidea from the UK and a possible first Mediterranean record in the Gulf of Lion. The high 16S haplotype diversity of B. proboscidea detected in the north-eastern Pacific suggests a native distribution for the species in the northern Pacific and subsequent introductions through human activities to other parts of the world. The histories of these introductions are reviewed and the hypotheses about times and places of introductions are updated.

The spionid polychaete Boccardia proboscidea Hartman, 1940 is a tube-dweller and shell/stone-borer widely occurring in temperate waters across the world and considered invasive in many areas. It was originally described from California, USA, and later reported from Pacific Canada, the Asian Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, and northern Europe. The Bayesian inference analysis of sequence data of three gene fragments (836 bp in total) of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA, nuclear 28S rDNA, and Historie 3 has shown that individuals from the Pacific coasts of Canada and the USA, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Mediterranean France were genetically very similar (maximal average p-distance value, 0.49%, was between 16S rDNA sequences). We consider these individuals to be conspecific and report the earliest records of B. proboscidea from the UK and a possible first Mediterranean record in the Gulf of Lion. The high 16S haplotype diversity of B. proboscidea detected in the north-eastern Pacific suggests a native distribution for the species in the northern Pacific and subsequent introductions through human activities to other parts of the world. The histories of these introductions are reviewed and the hypotheses about times and places of introductions are updated.

The spionid polychaete Boccardia proboscidea Hartman, 1940 is a tube-dweller and shell/stone-borer widely occurring in temperate waters across the world and considered invasive in many areas. It was originally described from California, USA, and later reported from Pacific Canada, the Asian Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, and northern Europe. The Bayesian inference analysis of sequence data of three gene fragments (836 bp in total) of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA, nuclear 28S rDNA, and Historie 3 has shown that individuals from the Pacific coasts of Canada and the USA, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Mediterranean France were genetically very similar (maximal average p-distance value, 0.49%, was between 16S rDNA sequences). We consider these individuals to be conspecific and report the earliest records of B. proboscidea from the UK and a possible first Mediterranean record in the Gulf of Lion. The high 16S haplotype diversity of B. proboscidea detected in the north-eastern Pacific suggests a native distribution for the species in the northern Pacific and subsequent introductions through human activities to other parts of the world. The histories of these introductions are reviewed and the hypotheses about times and places of introductions are updated.

The cluster classification of provenances at a site in the NE Iberian Peninsula indicated that in the period of extended winter (December to March, DJFM) fast Atlantic air flows correspond to positive WeMO index (WeMOi), while negative WeMOi are associated to Mediterranean circulations. The amount of winter precipitation was inversely correlated with winter WeMOi. Wet deposition fluxes of marine-derived (Na+, Mg2+ and Cl) and anthropogenic-derived (NO3 and K+) ions were significantly (and negatively) related to winter WeMOi. The negative phase of WeMO causes the entry of air masses from the Mediterranean into the Iberian Peninsula, that are enriched with marine ions. For NO3 this result suggests the advection over the Mediterranean of polluted air masses from southern Europe and the scavenging and deposition of this pollution by rain during WeMO negative phases. This will carry long-range pollutants to the NE Iberian Peninsula, but local pollutants may also contribute, as precipitation events from the Mediterranean (associated to negative WeMOi) may incorporate local anthropogenic emissions that build up during the winter anticyclonic episodes typical of the region., Postprint (published version)

This paper presents an updated overview of the ongoing archaeological research carried out in the Protohistoric sanctuary of Gorham’s Cave (Gibraltar). It is based on the results of recent excavations, focusing on incised pottery with inscriptions or other marks. The catalogue of inscriptions includes both Phoenician and Graeco-Iberian examples, which could be related with the deposition of votive offerings from Archaic to Hellenistic periods., El artículo presenta un nuevo estado de la cuestión arqueológico sobre el santuario protohistórico de la Cueva de Gorham (Gibraltar) a la luz de los resultados de las recientes campañas de excavación y estudia los materiales cerámicos con inscripciones u otro tipo de marcas hallados en la cueva. El catálogo incluye un nuevo grafito fenicio y una inscripción greco-ibérica que se relacionan con las ofrendas depositadas en el lugar desde época arcaica hasta el periodo helenístico.

[EN] This paper presents an updated overview of the ongoing archaeological research carried out in the Protohistoric sanctuary of Gorham’s Cave (Gibraltar). It is based on the results of recent excavations, focusing on incised pottery with inscriptions or other marks. The catalogue of inscriptions includes both Phoenician and Graeco-Iberian examples, which could be related with the deposition of votive offerings from Archaic to Hellenistic periods., [ES] El artículo presenta un nuevo estado de la cuestión arqueológico sobre el santuario protohistórico de la Cueva de Gorham (Gibraltar) a la luz de los resultados de las recientes campañas de excavación y estudia los materiales cerámicos con inscripciones u otro tipo de marcas hallados en la cueva. El catálogo incluye un nuevo grafito fenicio y una inscripción greco-ibérica que se relacionan con las ofrendas depositadas en el lugar desde época arcaica hasta el periodo helenístico

Aim Distinct insular populations are generally considered important units for conservation. In islandmainland situations, unidirectional introgressive gene flow from the most abundant, typically continental, populations into the smaller island populations can erase native insular genetic units. As an indication of threat, the concept of phenetic slope is developed, a measure proportional to differentiation and to geographical proximity. Location The Western Mediterranean, including the following islands: Sardinia, Sicily, Corsica, Balearics, circum-Italian, circum-Sicilian and circum-Sardo-Corsican archipelagos. Eastern Europe is included for comparison. Methods Geometric morphometrics was applied to 2392 male genitalia of seven butterfly species groups. Geographic Information System techniques were used to depict the pattern in the distribution of morphotypes. The slope of variation in genital shape was computed to highlight geographical areas showing abrupt morphological changes. Correlation analyses were performed between the mean slope values across sea straits separating islands and nearest sources and ecological traits of the species that underlie their colonization and migration capacity. Results Phenetic slope analysis has revealed that the strait of Messina and the northern Tyrrhenian Sea support particularly contrasting populations. In these areas, mean slopes for species also correlated with certain ecological traits of the species. Sardinia emerges as the most stable refugium for ancestral mediterranean populations. Main conclusions There is strong support for the hypothesis that Italy has experienced invasion by populations from Eastern Europe with postglacial expansion of these populations across Italy. However, propagules are impeded from invading islands by the expanse of sea straits. Even so, sea straits are not invariably barriers. Our results suggest that wind direction in combination with habitat occupancy may have maintained ancestral insular po, AuthorCount:5

[Aim] Distinct insular populations are generally considered important units for conservation. In island-mainland situations, unidirectional introgressive gene flow from the most abundant, typically continental, populations into the smaller island populations can erase native insular genetic units. As an indication of threat, the concept of phenetic slope is developed, a measure proportional to differentiation and to geographical proximity. [Location] The Western Mediterranean, including the following islands: Sardinia, Sicily, Corsica, Balearics, circum-Italian, circum-Sicilian and circum-Sardo-Corsican archipelagos. Eastern Europe is included for comparison. [Methods] Geometric morphometrics was applied to 2392 male genitalia of seven butterfly species groups. Geographic Information System techniques were used to depict the pattern in the distribution of morphotypes. The slope of variation in genital shape was computed to highlight geographical areas showing abrupt morphological changes. Correlation analyses were performed between the mean slope values across sea straits separating islands and nearest sources and ecological traits of the species that underlie their colonization and migration capacity. [Results] Phenetic slope analysis has revealed that the strait of Messina and the northern Tyrrhenian Sea support particularly contrasting populations. In these areas, mean slopes for species also correlated with certain ecological traits of the species. Sardinia emerges as the most stable refugium for ancestral mediterranean populations. [Main conclusions] There is strong support for the hypothesis that Italy has experienced invasion by populations from Eastern Europe with postglacial expansion of these populations across Italy. However, propagules are impeded from invading islands by the expanse of sea straits. Even so, sea straits are not invariably barriers. Our results suggest that wind direction in combination with habitat occupancy may have maintained ancestral

[IT] Viene Qui proposto un nuovo inquadramento tassonomico di Polygonum romanum Jacq., con il riconoscimento di tre taxa sottospecifici: Polygonum romanum Jacq. subsp. romanum dell' Italia centro-meridionale, P. romanum Jacq. subsp. gallicum (Raffaelli) Raffaelli & Villar, comb. & stat. nov., della Francia meridionale (Linguadoca) e P. romanum Jacq. subsp. balearicum Raffaelli & Villar, subsp. nov., dell' isola di Maiorca (Baleari, Spagna)., [EN] A taxonomic rearrangement of Polygonum romanum Jacq. is proposed.Three taxa have been recognized at a subspecific rank: Polygonum romanum Jacq. subsp. romanum from C. and S. ltaly, P. romanum Jacq. subsp. gallicum (Raffaelli) Raffaelli & Villar, com. & stato nov., from S. France (Languedoc) and P. romanum Jacq. subsp. balearicum Raffaelli & Villar, subsp. nov., from Mallorca (Baleares, Spain).