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Although the role played by phylogeny in the assembly of plant communities remains as a priority to complete the theory of species coexistence, experimental evidence is lacking. It is still unclear to what extent phylogenetic diversity is a driver or a consequence of species assembly processes. We experimentally explored how phylogenetic diversity can drive the community level responses to drought conditions in annual plant communities. We manipulated the initial phylogenetic diversity of the assemblages and the water availability in a common garden experiment with two irrigation treatments: average natural rainfall and drought, formed with annual plant species of gypsum ecosystems of Central Spain. We recorded plant survival and the numbers of flowering and fruiting plants per species in each assemblage. GLMMs were performed for the proportion of surviving, flowering, fruiting plants per species and for total proportion of surviving species and plants per pot. In water limited conditions, high phylogenetic diversity favored species coexistence over time with higher plant survival and more flowering and fruiting plants per species and more species and plants surviving per pot. Our results agree with the existence of niche complementarity and the convergence of water economy strategies as major mechanisms for promoting species coexistence in plant assemblages in semiarid Mediterranean habitats. Our findings point to high phylogenetic diversity among neighboring plants as a plausible feature underpinning the coexistence of species, because the success of each species in terms of surviving and producing offspring in drought conditions was greater when the initial phylogenetic diversity was higher. Our study is a step forward to understand how phylogenetic relatedness is connected to the mechanisms determining the maintenance of biodiversity.

We here analysed the populations’ genetic structure ofCoscinasterias tenuispina,an Atlantic-Mediterranean fissiparous starfish,focusing on the western Mediterranean,to investigate: the distribution and prevalence of genetic variants, the relative importance of asexual reproduction, connectivity across the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition, and the potential recent colonisation of the Mediterranean Sea. Individuals from 11 Atlantic-Mediterranean populations of a previous study added to 172 new samples from five new W Mediterranean sites. Individuals were genotyped at 12 microsatellite loci and their gonads histologically analysed for sex determination. Additionally, four populations were genotyped at two-time points. Results demonstrated genetic homogeneity and low clonal richness within the W Mediterranean, due to the dominance of asuperclone, but large genetic divergence with adjacent areas. The lack of new genotypes recruitment over time, and the absence of females, confirmed that W Mediterranean populations were exclusively maintained by fission and reinforced the idea of its recent colonization. The existence of different environmental conditions among basins and/or density-depend processes could explain this lack of recruitment from distant areas. The positive correlation between clonal richness and heterozygote excess suggests that most genetic diversity is retained within individuals in the form of heterozygosity in clonal populations, which might increase their resilience.

In natural and agricultural ecosystems, plants are often simultaneously or sequentially exposed to combinations of stressors. Here we tested whether limited water availability (LWA) affects plant response to insect herbivory using two populations of Eruca sativa from desert and Mediterranean habitats that differ in their induced defenses. Considering that such differences evolved as responses to biotic and possibly abiotic stress factors, the two populations offered an opportunity to study ecological aspects in plant response to combined stresses. Analysis of chemical defense mechanisms showed that LWA significantly induced total glucosinolate concentrations in the Mediterranean plants, but their concentrations were reduced in the desert plants. However, LWA, with and without subsequent jasmonate elicitation, significantly induced the expression of proteinase inhibitor in the desert plants. Results of a no-choice feeding experiment showed that LWA significantly increased desert plant resistance to Spodoptera littoralis larvae, whereas it did not affect the relatively strong basal resistance of the Mediterranean plants. LWA and subsequent jasmonate elicitation increased resistance against the generalist insect in Mediterranean plants, possibly due to both increased proteinase inhibitor expression and glucosinolate accumulation. The effect of LWA on the expression of genes involved in phytohormone signaling, abscisic acid (ABA-1) and jasmonic acid (AOC1), and the jasmonate responsive PDF1.2, suggested the involvement of abscisic acid in the regulation of defense mechanisms in the two populations. Our results indicate that specific genotypic responses should be considered when estimating general patterns in plant response to herbivory under water deficiency conditions.

Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is increasing worldwide, which has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to list these bacteria in the critical priority pathogens group. Infections by such pathogens pose a serious threat to hospitalised patients and are associated with clinical and economic consequences. What worsens the case is the weak pipeline of available antimicrobial agents to treat such infections and the absence of new drugs. The aim of this review was to shed light on all studies tackling carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae, A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa in the Eastern Mediterranean region, with indication for each country, description of studies timeline, prevalence of carbapenem resistance, and carbapenem resistance-encoding genes detected in these countries.

Thalassemia is a common genetic disorder. We aimed to present thalassemia mutation data that covers a period of 7 years from the Mediterranean region of Turkey by comparing with hemoglobin indices and to contribute to prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling studies which should be decided very quickly. In this study, in which a retrospective archive was scanned, the cases were first grouped as α and β thalassemia, and then β thalassemia mutations were examined in a total of 5 groups as UTR-Pro, Codon, IVS, β0, and β+. We have reached the family of the proband that analyzed their Hb indices and genetic mutation. All mutations were statistically compared with Hb indices, HbF, and HbA2. We have identified two new β thalassemia mutations that have the feature of not being defined previously [HBB:C*62 A>G. (3'UTR+1536 A>G) and HBB:C*1 G>A (3'UTR+1475 G>A)]. The most commonly encountered 23 mutations account for 74.7% of all mutations which is unlike the literature. In the β thalassemia group, 73 different mutations were detected. The most common β thalassemia mutation was HBB: c.93-21 G>A (IVS I-110 G>A) with a frequency of 19.72%. A statistically significant difference was found when comparing the mutation groups with Hb indices. We think that it may be useful to evaluate the mutations we have newly identified too together with the Hb indices especially in evaluating the carriers of thalassemia and it will contribute to prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling studies which should be decided very quickly.

Departamento de Reproducción animal, Flea infestations of wild rabbits were examined monthly in central Spain in a meso-Mediterranean area for 5 yr. A total of 1,180 wild rabbits were trapped and 7,022 fleas were collected from them. Overall, the prevalence was 74.1% with a mean flea index of 5.95 fleas per rabbit. Four flea species were identified: Spilopsyllus cuniculi (Dale, 1878) was the most abundant species (accounting for 74.3% of fleas collected) followed by Xenopsylla cunicularis (Smit, 1957), Odontopsyllus quirosi (Gil Collado, 1934), and Nosopsyllus fasciatus (Bosc, 1800) (18.9, 6.7, and 0.1%, respectively). The highest prevalence was observed in S. cuniculi (48.6%) followed by X. cunicularis, O. quirosi, and N. fasciatus (34.3, 20.0, and 0.6%, respectively). Odontopsyllus quirosi and S. cuniculi were mainly collected from autumn to spring with the peak of infestation in winter, while X. cunicularis was mainly found from spring to autumn with maximum levels of infestation during the summer months. The relevance of these findings is discussed.

The possibility of Toxoplasma gondii transmitted from game meat to humans is of public health concern. Here we determined seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii in large game ungulates that cohabit in Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park (SCSV-NP) (Southern Spain), a natural park with high human-animal interaction. Antibodies against T. gondii in 328 wild ungulates were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT ≥ 1:25). Antibodies were found in 39 (11.9%, 95% CI: 8.4-15.4) wild ungulates, with seroprevalence levels of 20.8% in wild boars (Sus scrofa) (5/24), 19.0% in fallow deer (Dama dama) (12/63), 13.9% in Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) (14/101), 7.9% in red deer (Cervus elaphus) (6/76), and 3.1% in mouflons (Ovis aries musimon) (2/64). Significantly higher seroprevalence was observed in fallow deer and wild boars compared to mouflons. Animals living close to urban areas (2 km) had 4.6-times higher risk compared to those living at5 km of urban areas. The results indicate high circulation of T. gondii in wild ungulates in SCSV-NP, which is of animal and public health concern. The increased seroprevalence of T. gondii detected in wildlife ungulates living close to urban areas may increase human infection in those areas if meat from infected animals is consumed raw or undercooked.

Objectives To explore the evolutionary history of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Latin American and Mediterranean (L4.3/LAM) sublineage in Tunisia, where it predominates. Methods High-resolution genotyping of 252 L4.3/LAM clinical strains was undertaken, and whole-genome sequencing was performed on 31 representative isolates. Results Genotyping data coupled with Bayesian analyses split the Tunisian L4.3/LAM strain collection into two divergent entities (65.07% vs 34.92%): a major subpopulation, dominated by a single clonal complex (CC), TUN4.3_CC1 (94.51%); and a minor subpopulation, dominated by TUN4.3_CC2 (42.04%). TUN4.3_CC1 is clearly thriving in Tunisia, accounting for 61.5% of the L4.3/LAM sublineage. TUN4.3_CC1 displayed higher mean allelic richness compared with TUN4.3_CC2 and predominated throughout the entire region, indicating a long-established history. The very low proportion of drug resistance among TUN4.3_CC1 isolates is indicative of their intrinsic ability to spread successfully in the host population. Genomic analyses further confirmed the clear genetic separation between the two main CCs (pairwise fixation index 0.56), and suggested the relatively ancient origin of TUN4.3_CC1. Consistent with its successful expansion, TUN4.3_CC1 showed reduced mean pairwise genetic distance between genomes. Conclusions These findings link the successful expansion of L4.3/LAM in Tunisia to a single long-established clone.

Increases in the levels of environmental contaminants are reflected in wild animals, which are early indicators of pollution. Hatay is an ecologically important region with a high intensity of industrial and agricultural activities. This study aimed to investigate the contamination levels of metals and organochlorine pesticides associated with environmental pollution in tissues of wild boars from Turkey. The highest mean levels (mg kg−1) of metals were 0.05 for As, 0.51 for Cd, 6.30 for Cu, 0.07 for Hg, 0.54 for Ni, and 0.57 for Pb in kidney tissues and 0.22 for Cr, 353.38 for Fe, 2.86 for Mn, and 46.76 for Zn in liver tissues. The Cd and Pb levels exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) in some tissues. Among the studied pesticides, only p,p′-DDE contamination was quantified, and the mean levels were 3.6, 0.1, and 0.5 µg kg−1 in liver, kidney, and muscle tissues respectively. In conclusion, Hatay Province requires monitoring in terms of environmentally important contaminants, mainly Cd, Pb, and DDT isomers.

The Mediterranean region is identified as one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, with the Earth’s most biologically rich yet threatened areas. Lebanon is a hub for Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) biodiversity with 9116 characterized plant and animal species (4486 fauna and 4630 flora). Using DNA barcoding as a tool has become crucial in the accurate identification of species in multiple contexts. It can also complement species morphological descriptions, which will add to our understanding of the biodiversity and richness of ecosystems and benefit conservation projects for endangered and endemic species. In this study, we create the first reference library of standard DNA markers for mammals and plants in the EMR, with a focus on endemic and endangered species. Plant leaves were collected from different nature reserves in Mount Lebanon, and mammal samples were obtained from taxidermized museum specimens or road kills. We generated the 12S rRNA sequences of 18 mammal species from 6 orders and 13 different families. We also obtained the trnL and rbcL barcode sequences of 52 plant species from 24 different families. Twenty-five plant species and two mammal species included in this study were sequenced for the first time using these markers.

Due to climate change, winter temperatures are predicted to increase worldwide. For thermophilic trees, highly sensitive to low temperatures, an increase in winter temperatures may be beneficial for survival and regeneration. Ziziphus spina-christi is a thermophilic tree that has recently become more abundant and widespread in the eastern Mediterranean, presumably due to a gradual increase in winter temperatures. We aim to define the temperature limitations for seed germination and the growth and survival of young seedlings to broaden our understanding of the future geographical distribution of this species. We studied effects of temperature on germination, growth, and photosynthesis in a controlled environment with four different day/night temperature regimes (34/28 °C, 28/22 °C, 22/16 °C and 16/10 °C). Effects of endocarp on germination and seed germination in the field were also studied. Results showed that germination has a lower thermal optimum (34–22 °C, 63.5–67.5% germination) than growth and photosynthesis (34–28 °C). Moderate cold stress (22/16 °C), did not affect germination capacity, but strongly reduced seedling growth (71%) and photosynthetic capacity (44.6%). Under severe cold stress (16/10 °C), germination still occurs (22%), but seedlings cannot perform growth and photosynthesis. We conclude that slow seedling growth, not germination, is the main barrier for successful establishment of Z. spina-christi under low temperature. Warmer winters could lead to earlier establishment of seedlings and increase their chance of survival the following summer. This may explain the recent increase in the tree’s relative abundance and further highlight the potential spread of this species at higher altitudes and latitudes across the Mediterranean.

A study on the occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis and its vectors was carried out in order to assess the prevalence of the disease in dogs in previously non-endemic areas of southern Italy. Blood samples (n = 385) and mosquitoes (n = 1540) were collected in two dog shelters and analysed by Knott’s test and duplex real-time PCR, respectively. Dirofilaria immitis was the most prevalent filarioid (44.2%), while Culex pipiens was the most prevalent mosquito species (68.8%). This high prevalence of D. immitis infection confirms this location as one of the most hyperendemic foci of dirofilariosis in Europe.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this research are to explore the diet, mobility, social organization, and environmental exploitation patterns of early Mediterranean farmers, particularly the role of marine and plant resources in these foodways. In addition, this work strives to document possible gendered patterns of behavior linked to the neolithization of this ecologically rich area. To achieve this, a set of multiproxy analyses (isotopic analyses, dental calculus, microremains analysis, ancient DNA) were performed on an exceptional deposit (n = 61) of human remains from the Les Breguieres site (France), dating to the transition of the sixth to the fifth millennium BCE. MATERIALS AND METHODS The samples used in this study were excavated from the Les Breguieres site (Mougins, Alpes-Maritimes, France), located along the southeastern Mediterranean coastline of France. Stable isotope analyses (C, N) on bone collagen (17 coxal bones, 35 craniofacial elements) were performed as a means to infer protein intake during tissue development. Sulfur isotope ratios were used as indicators of geographical and environmental points of origin. The study of ancient dental calculus helped document the consumption of plants. Strontium isotope analysis on tooth enamel (n = 56) was conducted to infer human provenance and territorial mobility. Finally, ancient DNA analysis was performed to study maternal versus paternal diversity within this Neolithic group (n = 30). RESULTS Stable isotope ratios for human bones range from -20.3 to -18.1‰ for C, from 8.9 to 11.1‰ for N and from 6.4 to 15‰ for S. Domestic animal data range from -22.0 to -20.2‰ for C, from 4.1 to 6.9‰ for N, and from 10.2 to 12.5‰ for S. Human enamel 87 Sr/86 Sr range from 0.7081 to 0.7102, slightly wider than the animal range (between 0.7087 and 0.7096). Starch and phytolith microremains were recovered as well as other types of remains (e.g., hairs, diatoms, fungal spores). Starch grains include Triticeae type and phytolith includes dicotyledons and monocot types as panicoid grasses. Mitochondrial DNA characterized eight different maternal lineages: H1, H3, HV (5.26%), J (10.53%), J1, K, T (5.2%), and U5 (10.53%) but no sample yielded reproducible Y chromosome SNPs, preventing paternal lineage characterization. DISCUSSION Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios indicate a consumption of protein by humans mainly focused on terrestrial animals and possible exploitation of marine resources for one male and one undetermined adult. Sulfur stable isotope ratios allowed distinguishing groups with different geographical origins, including two females possibly more exposed to the sea spray effect. While strontium isotope data do not indicate different origins for the individuals, mitochondrial lineage diversity from petrous bone DNA suggests the burial includes genetically differentiated groups or a group practicing patrilocality. Moreover, the diversity of plant microremains recorded in dental calculus provide the first evidence that the groups of Les Breguieres consumed a wide breadth of plant foods (as cereals and wild taxa) that required access to diverse environments. This transdisciplinary research paves the way for new perspectives and highlights the relevance for novel research of contexts (whether recently discovered or in museum collections) excavated near shorelines, due to the richness of the biodiversity and the wide range of edible resources available.

A new species, Sarcophaga (Pandelleisca) mersinensissp. nov.is described from the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The male terminalia are documented with line drawings, photographs and scanning electron microscope images. The species is compared with the two most similar species, Sarcophaga (Pandelleisca) baudeti (Lehrer) and Sarcophaga (Pandelleisca) theodori (Lehrer), both known from Israel. A key is provided to the western Palaearctic species ofPandelleiscaRohdendorf.

International audience; Three‐spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) living at the southern limit of the species distribution range could possess specific morphological and physiological traits that enable these fish to live at the threshold of their physiological capacities. Morphological analysis was carried out on samples of sticklebacks living in different saline habitats of the Camargue area (Rhone delta, northern Mediterranean coast) obtained from 1993 to 2017. Salinity acclimation capacities were also investigated using individuals from freshwater‐low salinity drainage canals and from mesohaline–euryhaline lagoons. Fish were maintained in laboratory conditions at salinity values close to those of their respective habitats: low salinity (LS, 5‰) or seawater (SW, 30‰). Fish obtained from a mesohaline brackish water lagoon (BW, 15‰) were acclimated to SW or LS. Oxygen consumption rates and branchial Na+/K+‐ATPase (NKA) activity (indicator of fish osmoregulatory capacity) were measured in these LS or SW control fish and in individuals subjected to abrupt SW or LS transfers. At all the studied locations, only the low‐plated “leiurus” morphotype showed no spatial or temporal variations in their body morphology. Gill rakers were only longer and denser in fish sampled from the LS–freshwater (FW) drainage canals. All fish presented similar physiological capacities. Oxygen consumption rates were not influenced by salinity challenge except in SW fish transferred to LS immediately and 1 h after transfer. However, and as expected, gill NKA activity was salinity dependent. Sticklebacks of the Camargue area sampled from habitats with contrasted saline conditions are homogenously euryhaline, have low oxygen consumption rates and do not appear to experience significantly greater metabolic costs when challenged with salinity. However, an observed difference in gill raker length and density is most probably related to the nutritional condition of their habitat, indicating that individuals can rapidly acclimatize to different diets.

Molecular ecologists often rely on phylogenetic evidence for assessing the species-level systematics of newly discovered lineages. Alternatively, the extent of introgression at phylogeographic transitions can provide a more direct test to assign candidate taxa into subspecies or species categories. Here, we compared phylogenetic versus hybrid zone approaches of species delimitation in two groups of frogs from the Western Mediterranean region (Discoglossus and Pelodytes), by using genomic data (ddRAD). In both genera, coalescent analyses recovered almost all nominal taxa as “species”. However, the least-diverged pairs D. g. galganoi/jeanneae and P. punctatus/hespericus admix over hundreds of kilometers, suggesting that they have not yet developed strong reproductive isolation and should be treated as conspecifics. In contrast, the comparatively older D. scovazzi/pictus and P. atlanticus/ibericus form narrow contact zones, consistent with species distinctiveness. Due to their complementarity, we recommend taxonomists to combine phylogenomics with hybrid zone analyses to scale the gray zone of speciation, i.e., the evolutionary window separating widely admixing lineages versus nascent reproductively isolated species. The radically different transitions documented here conform to the view that genetic incompatibilities accumulating with divergence generate a weak barrier to gene flow for long periods of time, until their effects multiply and the speciation process then advances rapidly. Given the variability of the gray zone among taxonomic groups, at least from our current abilities to measure it, we recommend to customize divergence thresholds within radiations to categorize lineages for which no direct test of speciation is possible., Our study was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, under grant 31003A_166323 to NP andfellowship P2LAP3_171818 to CD. BA was supported by a fellowshipfrom the Fyssen Foundation, and MV by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant VE247/16-1—HO 3492/6-1) in the framework of the “TaxonOmics” priority program.

α-Thalassemia (α-thal) is the most common autosomal recessive hemoglobinopathy. There is a vast diversity and geographical variability in underlying genotypes in Hb H (β4) patients. Herein, we describe the genotypes found in the largest report of Omani Hb H patients. Moreover, we reviewed and summarized the literature published from the Eastern Mediterranean region. A retrospective review of all genetically confirmed Hb H disease patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2017 at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, was performed. Hematological parameters and clinical presentations were assessed. Both α-globin genes were screened for deletional and nondeletional mutations using a stepwise diagnostic strategy as described before. A total of 52 patients (27 females and 25 males) with a mean age of 20.6 years (range 0.23-80.0) were molecularly confirmed to carry Hb H disease. The patients had a hemoglobin (Hb) level of 9.3 g/dL (range 5.7-13.0) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 58.4 fL (range 48.2-82.1). A total of eight genotype combinations were identified, with α2 polyadenylation signal mutation (polyA1) (AATAA

[Key message] The strong genetic structure observed in Mediterranean oats affects the predictive ability of genomic prediction as well as the performance of training set optimization methods., [Abstract] In this study, we investigated the efficiency of genomic prediction and training set optimization in a highly structured population of cultivars and landraces of cultivated oat (Avena sativa) from the Mediterranean basin, including white (subsp. sativa) and red (subsp. byzantina) oats, genotyped using genotype-by-sequencing markers and evaluated for agronomic traits in Southern Spain. For most traits, the predictive abilities were moderate to high with little differences between models, except for biomass for which Bayes-B showed a substantial gain compared to other models. The consistency between the structure of the training population and the population to be predicted was key to the predictive ability of genomic predictions. The predictive ability of inter-subspecies predictions was indeed much lower than that of intra-subspecies predictions for all traits. Regarding training set optimization, the linear mixed model optimization criteria (prediction error variance (PEVmean) and coefficient of determination (CDmean)) performed better than the heuristic approach “partitioning around medoids,” even under high population structure. The superiority of CDmean and PEVmean could be explained by their ability to adapt the representation of each genetic group according to those represented in the population to be predicted. These results represent an important step towards the implementation of genomic prediction in oat breeding programs and address important issues faced by the genomic prediction community regarding population structure and training set optimization., This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [PID2019-104518RB-100], (AEI/FEDER, UE) and the regional government through the AGR-253 group and the European Regional and Social Development Funds. LGS is holder of a FPI fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [BES-2017-080152]. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 818144, and also the Severo Ochoa Program for Centres of Excellence in R&D. JIS was supported by the Beatriz Galindo Program (BEAGAL18/00115) from the Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional of Spain and the Severo Ochoa Program for Centres of Excellence in R&D from the Agencia Estatal de Investigación of Spain, grant SEV-2016-0672 (2017-2021) to the CBGP.

[EN] The temporal evolution of the electrical signal generated by Pinus halepensis was measured in a sample of 15 trees. Weekly experiments were carried out during a long-term campaign lasting over a year, while trials with a high frequency of measurements were also performed during several days. In the latter case, day-night oscillations of the electrical magnitudes were observed. Additionally, punctual meteorological events such as rainfall and electrical storms affect the electrical signal as well. The measured electrical intensity grows exponentially with the voltage. In fact, no electrical intensity that exceeds the threshold of 0.01 ¿A is gathered when voltage values are lower than 0.6 V. In general, higher electrical signals were gathered during the rainy seasons with moderate temperatures; while very low signals, including few measures of zero intensity, were obtained during the most stressful periods over the year, mainly by mid-summer. There is a strong correlation between the rainfall and the electrical signal. The rain-intensity correlation, together with sustained intensity values during the reproductive period in spring, suggests that this electrical magnitude could be an indicator of the physiological state of the tree and thus used for in situ and minimally invasive forest monitoring.

Maintaining and improving the aquatic ecosystems in the community is the aim of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC. The WFD requires the water quality to be classified into five categories. Lagoons are dynamic ecosystems. The fish communities inhabiting them are highly affected by the environmental conditions prevailing both in the freshwater systems and in the marine environment. The current paper presented the first effort to develop a fish-based index (Lagoon Fish-based Index—LFI) for the assessment of the Mediterranean shallow lagoons, as almost all indices produced to date refer to freshwater or estuarine systems. For the development and calibration of the index, data were collected from nine lagoons situated in three estuarine systems in the East Macedonia and Thrace regions. The development of the LFI was based on the principles of the Indices of Biological Integrity (IBIs) that were primary used for the assessment of aquatic ecosystems in the USA. A total number of 25 metrics were selected as potential metrics for the LFI. These metrics describe attributes such as the abundance and composition of the fish fauna, the feeding strategies of the species, and the presence of sentinel species. Finally, eight metrics were included in the LFI.

Tropical fruit flies are considered among the most economically important invasive species detected in temperate areas of the United States and the European Union. Detections often trigger quarantine and eradication programs that are conducted without a holistic understanding of the threat posed. Weather-driven physiologically-based demographic models are used to estimate the geographic range, relative abundance, and threat posed by four tropical tephritid fruit flies (Mediterranean fruit fly, melon fly, oriental fruit fly, and Mexican fruit fly) in North and Central America, and the European-Mediterranean region under extant and climate change weather (RCP8.5 and A1B scenarios). Most temperate areas under tropical fruit fly propagule pressure have not been suitable for establishment, but suitability is predicted to increase in some areas with climate change. To meet this ongoing challenge, investments are needed to collect sound biological data to develop mechanistic models to predict the geographic range and relative abundance of these and other invasive species, and to put eradication policies on a scientific basis., Gutierrez et al. model the potential geographic range in temperate regions of four species of invasive tropical fruit flies under extant weather and climate change using physiologically-based demographic models. Their models show increased habitat suitability for many areas under climate change.

Earthworms have a central role in ministering the terrestrial ecosystems and are proving to have an important role in modulating the effects climate change has on soil. Aestivation is a form of dormancy employed by the organisms living in deserts and arid environments, when confronted with prolonged periods of drought. Understanding global metabolic adjustments required for withstanding the harsh conditions of the ever more severe Iberian drought, we performed a global transcriptomic exploration of the endogeic earthworm Carpetania matritensis during aestivation. There were a total of 6352 differentially expressed transcripts in the aestivating group, with 65% being downregulated. Based on GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, downregulated genes seem to be indicative of an overall metabolic depression during aestivation. Indeed we noted a reduction of protein turnover and macromolecule metabolism coupled with suppression of genes involved in digestion. Upregulated genes, namely antioxidant genes and DNA repair genes showed clear signs of abiotic stress caused by ROS generation. Abiotic stress led to transcriptomic changes of genes involved in immune response, mostly affecting the NF-kb signaling pathway as well as changes in apoptotic genes indicating the necessity of investigating these processes in a tissue specific manner. Lastly we uncovered a possible mechanism for water retention by nitrogenous waste accumulation. This study provides the first ever transcriptomic investigation done on aestivating earthworms and as such serves as a general framework for investigation on other earthworm species and other soil invertebrates, which is becoming increasingly important with the current scenario of climate change.

Sand dunes of the Mediterranean region constitute drought-stressed, low-fertility ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are regarded as key components of their biota, that contribute to plant host adaptation and fitness. However, AMF community assembly rules in the roots of the psammophilous plants of coastal sand dunes have not been investigated. We studied the root colonizing AMF communities of four characteristic native plants of eastern Mediterranean coastal foredunes, in nine locations in Greece. Host specificity (plant identity) was the major driver of AMF community assembly in the plant roots, while geographical distance between locations was not related to differences in the AMF communities. Additionally, colonizer AMF communities were characterized by overdominance of a single OTU which was remarkably host-specific among locations. Wider dissimilarity in AMF communities was observed in small and disturbed (SD) sites compared to large and undisturbed (LU) sites, a trait that may be attributed to relaxed environmental filtering and facilitated AMF dispersal/immigration in SD sites from surrounding habitats. Overall, our results indicate that the assembly of root-colonizing AMF communities in the eastern Mediterranean sand dunes is characterized by strong biotic filtering (host identity), suggesting that co-adaptation processes may be more pronounced than previously proposed, under extreme environmental conditions.

1. Despite the fact that insects are suffering a global decline, little is known about the extent to which species loss affects functional diversity. Thus, to understand the relationship between taxonomic and functional diversity metrics, we focused on saproxylic beetles, which perform vital functions in forest ecosystems. 2. Beetles were collected monthly for a year using flight interception traps placed in three protected areas of mature evergreen Mediterranean Quercus forests. Five morphological traits, one phenological trait, and one physiological surrogate trait were measured, and trophic guild identities were determined. Two taxonomic and six functional metrics were assessed to determine their relationships. 3. Taxonomic and functional diversity patterns, as well as trait patterns, differed depending on the protected areas, as they were influenced by habitat and microhabitat characteristics. Generally, a high number of species tended to support high values of functional richness, but did not ensure high values of functional redundancy, thus affecting the resilience of communities. 4. A 5% of species loss strongly affected the functional redundancy of communities, making them more vulnerable. Functional richness, however, was not affected, since it was associated with a high number of redundant species. Thus, the way species loss affected communities is highly dependent on the presence of rare or redundant species. 5. Taxonomic and functional diversity metrics should be used as complementary tools for conservation purposes. In this way, the comparative analysis of taxonomic and functional patterns may help to predict the vulnerability of saproxylic assemblages to changes or disturbances. Financial support was provided by the research Project ‘Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y fondos EUFEDER’ (CGL201231669), ‘Ministerio de economía, industria y competitividad’ (CGL2016-78181-R), and ‘Generalitat Valenciana’ (PROMETEO/2013/034 andAICO 2020/192). This research is part of Diana Pérez-Sánchez PhD studies, funded by ‘Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte’, through the fellowship FPU14/03721.

The atmosphere represents an underexplored temporary habitat for airborne microbial communities such as eukaryotes, whose taxonomic structure changes across different locations and/or regions as a function of both survival conditions and sources. A preliminary dataset on the seasonal dependence of the airborne eukaryotic community biodiversity, detected in PM10 samples collected from July 2018 to June 2019 at a coastal site representative of the Central Mediterranean, is provided in this study. Viridiplantae and Fungi were the most abundant eukaryotic kingdoms. Streptophyta was the prevailing Viridiplantae phylum, whilst Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the prevailing Fungi phyla. Brassica and Panicum were the most abundant Streptophyta genera in winter and summer, respectively, whereas Olea was the most abundant genus in spring and autumn. With regards to Fungi, Botrytis and Colletotrichum were the most abundant Ascomycota genera, reaching the highest abundance in spring and summer, respectively, while Cryptococcus and Ustilago were the most abundant Basidiomycota genera, and reached the highest abundance in winter and spring, respectively. The genus community structure in the PM10 samples varied day-by-day, and mainly along with the seasons. The impact of long-range transported air masses on the same structure was also proven. Nevertheless, rather few genera were significantly correlated with meteorological parameters and PM10 mass concentrations. The PCoA plots and non-parametric Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficients showed that the strongest correlations generally occurred between parameters reaching high abundances/values in the same season or PM10 sample. Moreover, the screening of potential pathogenic fungi allowed us to detect seven potential pathogenic genera in our PM10 samples. We also found that, with the exception of Panicum and Physcomitrella, all of the most abundant and pervasive identified Streptophyta genera could serve as potential sources of aeroallergens in the studied area.

Teuchophorus rifensis sp.n,. is a newly described species, collected at the border of the Talassemtane National Park in northern Morocco. This species can be distinguished from T. bipilosus and T. samraouii by the hind tibia with a slightly thickened apical half; hind tibia with a single fine bristle at 2/3, 3–3.5 times as long as diameter of tibia, and a row of 6–7 bristly hairs; hind tibia with a strong subapical ventral bristle and without ventral bristles in basal half. A key to determining the 14 Mediterranean species of Teuchophorus (males) is compiled.

espanolComo consecuencia de la recoleccion en 61 localidades efectuada en 2018, se amplia a 42 taxones del genero Cladonia, ademas se aportan diez especies nuevas para Montenegro, Cladonia cariosa, C. coccifera, C. cyathomorpha, C. digitata, C. diversa, C. homosekikaica, C. imbricarica, C. merochlorophaea, C. novochlorophaea y C. subulata. Se amplia la distribucion de muchos de los taxones citados con anterioridad para el territorio. Se discute la variabilidad quimica y la distribucion de cada una de las especies encontradas. EnglishAs a result of collections made in 61 locations during the year 2018, the number of Cladonia taxa is enlarged to 42, and ten new records of Cladonia are provided to Montenegro, Cladonia cariosa, C. coccifera, C. cyathomorpha, C. digitata, C. diversa, C. homosekikaica, C. imbricarica, C. merochlorophaea, C. novochlorophaea and C. subulata. The distribution of many taxa previously known for the territory is extended. The chemical variation and the distribution of each species are discussed.

The transition from pollinator-mediated outbreeding to selfing has occurred many times in angiosperms. This is generally accompanied by a reduction in traits attracting pollinators, including reduced emission of floral scent. In Capsella, emission of benzaldehyde as a main component of floral scent has been lost in selfing C. rubella by mutation of cinnamate-CoA ligase CNL1. However, the biochemical basis and evolutionary history of this loss remain unknown, as does the reason for the absence of benzaldehyde emission in the independently derived selfer Capsella orientalis. We used plant transformation, in vitro enzyme assays, population genetics and quantitative genetics to address these questions. CNL1 has been inactivated twice independently by point mutations in C. rubella, causing a loss of enzymatic activity. Both inactive haplotypes are found within and outside of Greece, the centre of origin of C. rubella, indicating that they arose before its geographical spread. By contrast, the loss of benzaldehyde emission in C. orientalis is not due to an inactivating mutation in CNL1. CNL1 represents a hotspot for mutations that eliminate benzaldehyde emission, potentially reflecting the limited pleiotropy and large effect of its inactivation. Nevertheless, even closely related species have followed different evolutionary routes in reducing floral scent.

Techniques of remote sensing are being used to develop phenological studies. Our goal is to study the correlation among the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) related with oak trees included in three set data polygons (15, 25 and 50 km to aerobiological sampling point as NDVI-15, 25 and 50), and oak (Quercus) daily average pollen counts from 1994 to 2013. The study was developed in the SW Mediterranean region with continuous pollen recording within the mean pollen season of each studied year. These pollen concentrations were compared with NDVI values in the locations containing the vegetation under a study based on two cartographic sources: the Extremadura Forest Map (MFEx) of Spain and the Fifth National Forest Inventory (IFN5) from Portugal. The importance of this work is to propose the relationship among data related in space and time by Spearman and Granger causality tests. 9 out of 20 studied years have shown significant results with the Granger causality test between NDVI and pollen concentration, and in 12 years, significant values were obtained by Spearman test. The distances of influence on the contribution of Quercus pollen to the sampler showed statistically significant results depending on the year. Moreover, a predictive model by using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was applied with better results in NDVI25 than for NDVI15 or NDVI50. The addition of NDVI25 with the lag of 5 days and some weather parameters in the model was applied with a RMSE of 4.26 (Spearman coefficient r = 0.77) between observed and predicted values. Based on these results, NDVI seems to be a useful parameter to predict airborne pollen.

The understanding of the effects of past climatic changes on the distribution of vector arthropods can strongly support the understanding of the future potential impact of anthropogenic climatic change on the geographical risk of vector-borne diseases. The zoogeographical patterns of the European sandfly vectors may suffer the continuously changing climate of the last 140 kys. The former range of L. infantum and six Phlebotomus species were modelled for the Last Interglacial, the Last Glacial Maximum and the Mid-Holocene Periods. It was found that the potential distribution of the parasite was much smaller in the Last Glacial Period L. infantum mainly could persist in the western shelves of the Mediterranean Sea. West and East Mediterranean sandfly species inhabited partly distinct refugia. The Apennine Peninsula, Sicily and the Iberian refugium formed a habitat chain along with the coastal areas of the West Mediterranean Basin. There was no direct connection between the Eastern and the Western sandfly refugia in the last 140 kys. The modelled distribution of sandfly taxa for the Middle Holocene Period can explain the relict populations of sandfly taxa in such Central European countries. The former genetic studies strongly confirm the existence of the modelled glacial refugees.

Introduction Most secondary metabolites from plants have a prominent defensive role and repellency against predators and microbial pathogens. These properties largely vary among plant species and offer potential applications as biologically active compounds in medicine as well in agriculture. Objectives We propose a new procedure that combine different spectroscopic techniques and multivariate data analysis to determine the chemical composition and the relative amounts of each metabolites and/or each class of organic compounds. The approach was used for a rapid identification of secondary metabolites from leaf and root of eight Mediterranean plants species. Methodology The polar and the apolar extracts of two leaves and roots of each plant were analysed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. Multivariate data analysis was used for a faster interpretation of data. Results The metabolic fingerprint of the Mediterranean plants, Acanthus mollis, Dittrichia viscosa, Festuca drymeja, Fraxinus ornus, Fagus sylvatica, Hedera helix, Quercus ilex, and Typha latifolia, showed a complex chemical composition, being specific for each species and plant tissue. Two alditols, mannitol and quercitol, were found in manna ash (Fraxinus ornus) and holm oak (Q. ilex) polar leaf extracts, respectively. The highest levels of aromatic compounds were found in D. viscosa and T. latifolia. Fatty acids were the predominant class of compounds in all apolar extracts under investigation. Triterpene were almost exclusively found in roots, except for holm oak, where they constitute 58% of total extract. Steroids were widespread in leaf extracts. Conclusion The major advantages of the proposed approach are versatility and rapidity, thus making it suitable for a fast comparison among species and plant tissue types.

Seasonal accumulation of hormonal and photoprotective isoprenoids, particularly α-tocopherol, carotenoids and abscisic acid, indicate their important role in protecting Cistus albidus plants from environmental stress during a Mediterranean winter. The high diurnal amounts of α-tocopherol and xanthophylls 3 h before maximum light intensity suggest a photoprotective response against the prevailing diurnal changes. The timing to modulate acclimatory/defense responses under changing environmental conditions is one of the most critical points for plant fitness and stress tolerance. Here, we report seasonal and diurnal changes in the contents of isoprenoids originated from the methylerythritol phosphate pathway, including chlorophylls, carotenoids, tocochromanols, and phytohormones (abscisic acid, cytokinins, and gibberellins) in C. albidus during a Mediterranean winter. Plants were subjected not only to typically low winter temperatures but also to drought, as shown by a mean plant water status of 54% during the experimental period. The maximum PSII efficiency, however, remained consistently high (Fv/Fm > 0.8), proving that C. albidus had efficient mechanisms to tolerate combined stress conditions during winter. While seasonal α-tocopherol contents remained high (200–300 µg/g DW) during the experimental period, carotenoid contents increased during winter attaining maximum levels in February (minimum air temperature ≤ 5 °C for 13 days). Following the initial transient increases of bioactive trans-zeatin (about fivefold) during winter, the increased abscisic acid contents proved its important role during abiotic stress tolerance. Diurnal amounts of α-tocopherol and xanthophylls, particularly lutein, zeaxanthin and neoxanthin including the de-epoxidation state, reached maximum levels as early as 2 h after dawn, when solar intensity was 68% lower than the maximum solar radiation at noon. It is concluded that (1) given their proven antioxidant properties, both α-tocopherol and carotenoids seem to play a crucial role protecting the photosynthetic apparatus under severe stress conditions; (2) high seasonal amounts of abscisic acid indicate its important role in abiotic stress tolerance within plant hormones, although under specific environmental conditions, accumulation of bioactive cytokinins appears to be involved to enhance stress tolerance; (3) the concerted diurnal adjustment of α-tocopherol and xanthophylls as early as 3 h before maximum light intensity suggests that plants anticipated the predictable diurnal changes in the environment to protect the photosynthetic apparatus.

Winter and summer nitrate/nitrite concentrations in 11 salad vegetables were surveyed using a validated HPLC-DAD method. Nitrate was highest in rocket, both in winter (x = 3974 mg kg−1 fw) and summer (x = 3819 mg kg−1 fw). High nitrate accumulators included spinach, purslane, chards, dill, coriander and parsley. Wide intra-species variability and levels in excess of permitted maxima highlighted the importance of monitoring vegetable production methods to protect consumer health. Occurrence of detectible nitrite (14–352 mg kg−1 fw) was most frequent in winter head cabbage. Three additional experiments examined the seasonal effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization rate, application method, formulation and postharvest storage on nitrate and nitrite levels in lettuce, rocket and spinach. Violation of current nitrate limits is likely when total N exceeds 200 kg ha−1, particularly in rocket and spinach. Postharvest nitrate reduction requires exogenous microbial nitrate reductase activity, which is unlikely to be achieved without visible loss of quality.

Major cereal yields are expected to decline significantly in coming years due to the effects of climate change temperature rise. Agroforestry systems have been recognized as a useful land management strategy that could mitigate these effects through the shelter provided by trees, but it is unclear how shade affects cereal production. Most cereal species and cultivars have been selected for full light conditions, making it necessary to determine those able to acclimate to low irradiance environments and the traits that drive this acclimation. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in central Spain to assess the photosynthetic response, leaf morphology and grain yield of nine cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) at three levels of photosynthetic active radiation (100%, 90% and 50%). Cultivars were selected according to three different precocity categories and were widely used in the studied area. The main objective was to assess whether the species and cultivars could acclimate to partial shade through physiological and morphological acclimations and thus increase their grain yield for cultivation in agroforestry systems. Both species increased grain yield by 19% in shade conditions. However, they used different acclimation strategies. Barley mostly performed a physiological acclimation, while wheat had a major morphological adjustment under shaded environment. Barley had lower dark respiration (42%), lower light compensation point (73%) and higher maximum quantum yield (48%) than wheat in full light conditions, revealing that it was a more shade-tolerant species than wheat. In addition, to acclimate to low irradiance conditions, barley showed a 21% reduction of the carotenoids/chlorophyll ratio in the lowest irradiance level compared to 100% light availability and adjusted the chlorophyll a/b ratio, photosystem II quantum efficiency, electron transport rate and non-photochemical quenching to shade conditions. On the other hand, wheat showed a 48% increase in single leaf area in the 50% irradiance level than in full light to maximize light capture. Our results showed that current commercialized wheat and barley cultivars had sufficient plasticity for adaptation to shade, supporting tree presence as a tool to reduce the negative effects of climate change.

Introduction Mediterranean plants are characterised by a high content of bioactive secondary metabolites that play important roles in plant-plant interactions as plant growth regulators and could be useful for the development of new eco-friendly herbicides. Objective An NMR-based metabolomics approach was reported to seek selective phytotoxic plant extracts and putative plant-derived active molecules. Methods Plant extracts derived from five Mediterranean donor species (Pistacia lentiscus, Bellis sylvestris, Phleum subulatum, Petrohrhagia saxifraga and Melilotus neapolitana) were used to treat the hydroponic cultures of three receiving plants (Triticum durum, Triticum ovatum and Avena fatua). Morphological analyses of the treated receiving plants were carried out. NMR-based metabolomics was applied both to characterise the donor plant extracts and to study the effects of the treatments on the receiving plants. Results This study allowed the identification of Melilotus neapolitana and Bellis sylvestris as phytotoxic plant and good candidates for further studies. Specifically, the NMR-based metabolomics investigation showed that these species affect a specific set of metabolites (such as sugars, amino and organic acids) and therefore metabolic pathways [i.e. tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, amino acid metabolism, etc.] that are crucial for the plant growth and development. Moreover, it was possible to identify the metabolite(s) probably responsible for the phytotoxicity of the active extracts. Conclusion The NMR-based metabolomics approach employed in this study led to the identification of two phytotoxic plant extracts and their putative active principles. These new insights will be of paramount importance in the future to find plant derived molecules endowed with phytotoxic activities.

The epidemiology of viral infections transmitted by arthropods is changing due to a variety of parameters related to the virus, the host and the environment. The Mediterranean region is highly affected by changes in the intensity and extension of global-scale climate patterns, and, due to its location, it provides a vulnerable environment for emergence of arboviral diseases. The main arboviruses that pose currently a public health threat in the Mediterranean region are West Nile virus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and, in less extend, tick-borne encephalitis virus. Usutu virus that affects mainly birds, can infect also humans, while Dengue and Chikungunya viruses showed that they are capable to cause sporadic autochthonous cases, and even outbreaks in the Mediterranean region. Sandly-transmitted viruses continue to have a public health impact, and novel ones have been identified. The presence of competent vectors (mainly mosquitoes), combined by arbovirus introduction through viremic travelers returning from endemic regions, prompt for increased surveillance to mitigate the risk for local transmission. In order to tackle efficiently and effectively the emerging arboviral diseases, an integrated "One Health initiative" is required to be maintained, involving public health, animal health and environmental authorities. Awareness of medical and veterinary staff and laboratory capacity are crucial for the early detection of pathogens, while reporting the unusual and enhance surveillance are important.

Ancestry estimation from skeletal remains is a challenging task, but essential for the creation of a complete biological profile. As such, the study of human variation between populations is important for the fields of biological and forensic anthropology, as well as medicine. Cranial and dental morphological variation have traditionally been linked to geographic affinity resulting in several methods of ancestry estimation, while the postcranial skeleton has been systematically neglected. The current study explores metric variation of the tibia in six Mediterranean populations and its validity in estimating ancestry in the Mediterranean. The study sample includes 909 individuals (470 males and 439 females) from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Turkey. The sample was divided in two subsamples: a reference and a validation sample. Multinomial regression models were created based on the reference sample and then applied to validation sample. The first model used three variables and resulted in 57% and 56% accuracy for the two samples respectively, while the second model (6 variables) resulted in 80% and 74% respectively. Classification between groups ranged from 28% to 95% for the reference sample and from 15% to 91% for the validation sample. The highest classification accuracy was noted for the Greek sample (95% and 90% for the reference and validation sample respectively), followed by the Turkish sample (74% and 78% respectively). The Spanish, Portuguese and Italian samples presented greater morphological overlap which resulted in lower classification accuracies. The results indicate that although the tibia presents considerable variation amongst neighbour populations it is not suitable as a sole skeletal element to separate all groups successfully. A combination of different skeletal elements may be required in order to achieve the levels of reliability required for forensic applications.

The explosive growth of genomic data provides an opportunity to make increased use of sequence variations for phenotype prediction. We have developed a prediction machine for quantitative phenotypes (WhoGEM) that overcomes some of the bottlenecks limiting the current methods. We demonstrated its performance by predicting quantitative disease resistance and quantitative functional traits in the wild model plant species, Medicago truncatula, using geographical locations as covariates for admixture analysis. The method’s prediction reliability equals or outperforms all existing algorithms for quantitative phenotype prediction. WhoGEM analysis produces evidence that variation in genome admixture proportions explains most of the phenotypic variation for quantitative phenotypes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13059-019-1697-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The control of agricultural pests is key to maintain economically viable crops. Increasing environmental awareness, however, is leading to more restrictive European policies regulating the use of certain pesticides due to their impact on human health and the soil system. Given this context, we evaluated the efficacy of three alternatives to the soil fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), which is currently banned in Europe: two non-fumigant nematicides [oxamyl (OX) and fenamiphos (FEN)] and the soil fumigant dimethyl disulfide (DMDS). We analysed the efficiency of these pesticides against root-knot nematodes and soil fungal pathogens (determined by qPCR) as well as the soil biological quality after treatments application (estimated by enzyme activities). Among treatments, 1,3-D and DMDS significantly reduced nematode populations. FEN was more effective in sandy soil, while OX had no effect in any soil. OX and FEN had no effect on fungal pathogens, whereas DMDS reduced the abundance of Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani at the root level in clay-loam soil. Soil quality decreased after treatment application but then recovered throughout the experiment, indicating the possible dissipation of the pesticides. Our findings support DMDS as a potential sustainable alternative for controlling root-knot nematodes and fungal pathogens due to its effectiveness in both studied soils, although its negative impact on soil biological quality in sandier soils must be taken into account. Main finding of the work. DMDS is a reliable alternative to 1,3-D for controlling agricultural pest but its inhibitory effect on soil enzyme activities varied according to the soil characteristics.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) quality is strongly influenced by genotype but individuating the most appropriate harvesting time is essential to obtain high quality fruits. In this trial we studied the influences of the ripening stage at harvest (mature-ripe or green-ripe) on quality of ready to eat mango fruits from nine cultivars (Carrie, Keitt, Glenn, Manzanillo, Maya, Rosa, Osteen, Tommy Atkins and Kensington Pride) grown in the Mediterranean subtropical climate through physicochemical, nutraceutical, and sensory analysis. Our results show a large variability among the different observed genotypes and in dependence of the ripening stage at harvest. With the exception of Rosa, mature-ripe fruits are well-colored, sweet and aromatic, and better suited for short supply chains. On the other hand, post-harvest ripened fruits are firmer, frequently (Carrie, Glenn, Keitt, Manzanillo, Maya) possess interesting nutraceutical value and, in the case of Glenn, Maya, Osteen, and Kensington Pride, they can reach market standard quality.

Searching for Amnesic (ASP), Paralytic (PSP) and Lipophilic (LT) toxins in seafood is of great importance for consumer protection. Studies are usually focused on the most aquacultured species, the mussel. But, there are a number of potentially commercially important shellfish species as rough cockle Acanthocardia tuberculata (Linnaeus, 1758) and smooth clam Callista chione (Linnaeus, 1758) which are common in the Croatian Adriatic Sea. Investigation of marine biotoxins accumulation in these two species of shellfish from the Adriatic Sea has not been conducted up to now. In order to detect the potential marine biotoxin profile of A. tuberculata and C. chione wild populations, samples were taken monthly during one-year survey from the estuarine area in the central Adriatic Sea. HPLC-FLD with pre-column oxidation and HPLC-UV-DAD methods were employed for PSP and ASP toxins determination, respectively, while LTs were determined by LC-MS/MS. This research had revealed the differences in the accumulation of ASP, PSP and LT toxins between the two studied species, as Acanthocardia tuberculata showed more diverse profile with higher concentrations of analysed toxins. Both investigated shellfish species had shown levels of these biotoxins under the legal limits set by the European Commission.

This is the first description of a Mediterranean mesophotic coral reef. The bioconstruction extended for 2.5 km along the Italian Adriatic coast in the bathymetric range −30/−55 m. It appeared as a framework of coral blocks mostly built by two scleractinians, Phyllangia americana mouchezii (Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897) and Polycyathus muellerae (Abel, 1959), which were able to edify a secondary substrate with high structural complexity. Scleractinian corallites were cemented by calcified polychaete tubes and organized into an interlocking meshwork that provided the reef stiffness. Aggregates of several individuals of the bivalve Neopycnodonte cochlear (Poli, 1795) contributed to the compactness of the structure. The species composition of the benthic community showed a marked similarity with those described for Mediterranean coralligenous communities and it appeared to be dominated by invertebrates, while calcareous algae, which are usually considered the main coralligenous reef-builders, were poorly represented. Overall, the studied reef can be considered a unique environment, to be included in the wide and diversified category of Mediterranean bioconstructions. The main reef-building scleractinians lacked algal symbionts, suggesting that heterotrophy had a major role in the metabolic processes that supported the production of calcium carbonate. The large amount of available suspended organic matter in the area could be the main nutritional source for these species, as already suggested in the literature referred to Mediterranean cold-water corals.

Background Two classes of antiviral drugs are available for influenza antiviral therapy: the adamantanes and the neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs). Due to the emergence of adamantane-resistant variants, the use of these drugs has been largely limited in the world. The NAIs became the drugs of choice for treatment of influenza A infections. However, amino acid substitutions in the NA protein might lead to reduced sensitivity to NAIs. Methods The frequency and distribution of matrix protein 2 (M2) and neuraminidase (NA) variants which confer resistance to antiviral drugs was investigated in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) between 2005 and 2016. A total of 314 M2 and 1209 NA protein sequences from influenza A/H1N1, A/H1N1pdm09, A/H3N2, and A/H5N1 available in the public database were analyzed. Results Eighty-six percent of the influenza A viruses detected in the EMR were resistant to adamantanes, among which, H3 strains exhibited the highest (95.32%) level of adamantane resistance. Approximately 98.51% (265/269) of influenza A/H1N1 and H3N2 resistant viruses had the S31N substitution in their M2 sequences. The V27A mutation was the only resistance marker found in A/H5N1 viruses and was detected at a frequency of 7.40% among the investigated viruses. Other resistant mutations L26F, A30T, G34E, and L38F were not detected in any of the variants. We found that 2.81% (n = 34) of the detected NA sequences from influenza A viruses possessed at least one NAI-resistant mutation and the vast majority of resistant viruses 79.41% (27/34) bear the H274Y mutation. The frequency of NAI-resistant viruses was 3.29% (24/729) for the H1N1pdm09, 10.64% (5/47) for the seasonal H1N1, and 4.06% (5/123) for H5N1 viruses. None of the H3N2 viruses analyzed during the study period were resistant to NAIs. Conclusion Our study reveals the emergence and spread of antiviral drug resistant influenza A viruses in the EMR and emphasizes the importance of continuous surveillance to maintain the effective use of the current antivirals.

Zika virus infection (ZIKV) has caused major outbreaks in tropic and sub-tropic areas. No case from ZIKV has yet been reported in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) despite the presence of competent vector Aedes mosquitoes in many of these countries.This study addresses appropriate surveillance strategies for early detection of ZIKV infection, which is important for EMR countries with established Aedes populations, but with no known or documented autochthonous transmission of ZIKV.The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean developed a strategic framework for enhancing surveillance for ZIKV infection in EMR countries with established Aedes populations through a consultative process and review of available evidence.The framework calls for enhancing surveillance for early detection of ZIKV infection using a combination of both syndromic and event-based surveillance approaches.Enhancing surveillance for ZIKAV would require no shift in the existing system. A number of considerations would be required to integrate this syndromic and event-based surveillance approaches within the existing system.تعزيز الترصُّد للكشف المبكر عن عدوى فيروس زيكا: استراتيجيات لبلدان إقليم شرق المتوسط.مجدولين أوبطيل، مأمون مالك، تران نهو نجويين، إيفانس بوليفا، أحمد الخوبي، سالم عبد الرحمن سالم، ندى غصن، بيمان همتي، فو توان، بيتر مالا.سببت عدوى فيروس زيكا أوبئة كبرى في المناطق المدارية وشبه المدارية. ولم يتم الإبلاغ بعد عن أي حالات لعدوى فيروس زيكا في بلدان إقليم شرق المتوسط، رغم وجود الناقلات المختصة للبعوض الزاعج في العديد من هذه البلدان.تتناول هذه الدراسة استراتيجيات الترصُّد المناسبة للكشف المبكر عن عدوى فيروس زيكا، والتي تُعَد مهمة لبلدان إقليم شرق المتوسط التي يوجد فيها البعوض الزاعج، ولكن دون أي حالات انتقال محلية الأصل معروفة أو موثقة للعدوى.وضع المكتب الإقليمي لشرق المتوسط لمنظمة الصحة العالمية إطار عمل استراتيجي لتعزيز ترصُّد عدوى فيروس زيكا في بلدان الإقليم التي يوجد فيها البعوض الزاعج، وذلك من خلال عملية تشاورية واستعراض للبيّنات المتاحة.يدعو إطار العمل إلى تعزيز الترصُّد بهدف الكشف المبكر عن عدوى فيروس زيكا، باستخدام مجموعة من نُُوج الترصُّد القائم على الأحداث والمتلازمات.لا يتطلب تعزيز ترصُّد عدوى فيروس زيكا أي تغيير في النظام الحالي. ومن المطلوب أخذ عدة اعتبارات في الحسبان من أجل دمج نُُوج الترصُّد القائم على الأحداث والمتلازمات في النظام الحالي.Renforcement de la surveillance pour le dépistage précoce de l’infection par le virus Zika : stratégies destinées aux pays de la Région de la Méditerranée orientale.L’infection par le virus Zika est à l’origine d’importantes flambées épidémiques dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales. Aucun cas d’infection par le virus Zika n’a encore été signalé dans les pays de la Région de la Méditerranée orientale malgré la présence, dans nombre d’entre eux, de moustiques compétents du genre Aedes, vecteurs du virus.La présente étude porte sur les stratégies de surveillance à mettre en oeuvre pour le dépistage précoce de l’infection par le virus Zika, particulièrement important dans les pays de la Région de Méditerranée orientale où des populations d’Aedes sont établies mais dans lesquels aucune transmission autochtone de ce virus n’est connue ou documentée à ce jour.Par l’intermédiaire d’un processus consultatif et d’examen des données disponibles, le Bureau régional de l’OMS pour la Méditerranée orientale a développé un cadre stratégique en vue d’améliorer la surveillance de l’infection par le virus Zika dans les pays de la Région de Méditerranée orientale où sont établies des populations d’Aedes.Afin de dépister de façon précoce l’infection par le virus Zika, ce cadre préconise une meilleure surveillance en recourant à la fois à la surveillance syndromique et basée sur les événements.Le renforcement de la surveillance du virus Zika n’impliquerait pas le changement du système actuel. Un certain nombre d’aspects devraient être pris en compte afin d’intégrer ces approches de surveillance syndromique et basée sur les événements dans le système existant.

Multi-proxy analyses of an 8 m sediment core from Lake Hayk, a closed, freshwater lake in the north-central highlands of Ethiopia, provide a record of changing lake level and inferred regional climatic change for the last 15.6 cal ka years. Between ca. 15.6–15.2 cal ka BP, a lowstand was synchronous with Heinrich Event 1 and an intense drought across Eastern Africa. At ca. 15.2 cal ka BP a lake began to develop at the core site in response to wetter conditions, at the onset of the African Humid Period (AHP). However, in contrast to other lakes in eastern Africa, Hayk lake level fell around ca. 14.8 cal ka BP, indicating a climate shift towards aridity. The lake began filling again at ca. 12.3 cal ka BP and reached maximum water depth between ca. 12.0–10.0 cal ka BP. Lake level declined slowly during the Holocene, culminating in the termination of the AHP at Hayk between ca. 5.2–4.6 cal ka BP. In the late Holocene, ca. 2.2–1.3 cal ka BP, Lake Hayk was again deep and fresh with some evidence of short-term lake level variability. The palaeo-record from Lake Hayk indicates that while it experienced, to a broad degree, the same glacial-interglacial dynamics and sub-millennial shifts in climate found in other palaeolimnological records from eastern Africa, there are offsets in timing and rate of response. These differences reflect chronological discrepancies between records, as well as the varying climate sensitivities and site-specific factors of individual lake basins. This record highlights the different responses by lakes in a climatically vulnerable area of Ethiopia.