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To enrich spatio-temporal information on the distribution of alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, a collective effort by 173 marine scientists was made to provide unpublished records and make them open access to the scientific community. Through this effort, we collected and harmonized a dataset of 12, 649 records. It includes 247 taxa, of which 217 are Animalia, 25 Plantae and 5 Chromista, from 23 countries surrounding the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Chordata was the most abundant taxonomic group, followed by Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Annelida. In terms of species records, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Saurida lessepsianus, Pterois miles, Upeneus moluccensis, Charybdis (Archias) longicollis, and Caulerpa cylindracea were the most numerous. The temporal distribution of the records ranges from 1973 to 2022, with 44% of the records in 2020–2021. Lethrinus borbonicus is reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, while Pomatoschistus quagga, Caulerpa cylindracea, Grateloupia turuturu, and Misophria pallida are first records for the Black Sea ; Kapraunia schneideri is recorded for the second time in the Mediterranean and for the first time in Israel ; Prionospio depauperata and Pseudonereis anomala are reported for the first time from the Sea of Marmara. Many first country records are also included, namely: Amathia verticillata (Montenegro), Ampithoe valida (Italy), Antithamnion amphigeneum (Greece), Clavelina oblonga (Tunisia and Slovenia), Dendostrea cf. folium (Syria), Epinephelus fasciatus (Tunisia), Ganonema farinosum (Montenegro), Macrorhynchia philippina (Tunisia), Marenzelleria neglecta (Romania), Paratapes textilis (Tunisia), and Botrylloides diegensis (Tunisia).

The International Union of Geological Sciences Executive Committee (IUGS EC) voted on 13 October 2021 to ratify a proposal for the Neogene subseries/subepochs to have formal status. They are now incorporated into a six-tiered chronostratigraphic hierarchy within the International Chronostratigraphic Chart (ICC). The Lower/Early Miocene Subseries/Subepoch comprises the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages/ages, the Middle Miocene Subseries/Subepoch comprises the Langhian and Serravallian stages/ages, the Upper/Late Miocene Subseries/Subepoch comprises the Tortonian and Messinian stages/ages, the Lower/Early Pliocene Subseries/Subepoch comprises the Zanclean Stage/Age and the Upper/Late Pliocene Subseries/Subepoch comprises the Piacenzian Stage/Age. This ratification is an important move towards both a common language in the wider Earth Sciences community and a step forward in the unification of Cenozoic chronostratigraphy, with Neogene and Quaternary subseries/subepochs now formalized.

Calcifying organisms such as benthic foraminifera are susceptible to changes in ocean pH and alkalinity. Responses to these changes include variations in mortality, calcification rates or assemblage composition, which have been observed in field and experimental studies. Here we applied a growth experiment with benthic foraminiferal propagules under different pH conditions to gather insights into the effect of pH on the composition of grown assemblages. A homogeneous propagule assemblage from a local mudflat in Corfu Island (Greece) was exposed to a range of pH conditions (6.5, 7.2, 7.8 and 8.5) for 5 weeks. In a second experiment, the assemblages were first exposed to low and subsequently to high conditions for a total of 8 weeks. After termination of the experiments, we recorded high survivability and growth throughout the treatments. Analysis of the assemblage composition of the first experiments revealed a shift from porcelaneous dominated taxa in the higher pH treatments to an assemblage with higher numbers of agglutinated taxa in the lower pH treatments. Soft-shelled monothalamous species were common throughout. The second experiment revealed assemblages that were significantly dominated by porcelaneous taxa with monothalamous taxa being almost absent. The results of this study are congruent with other observations on changing assemblage compositions with changing pH from both laboratory and field studies. The fast response of the assemblages through activation of potentially dormant propagules adds insights into the mechanisms behind seasonal composition changes in naturally variable environments such as river estuaries. They also shed new light on possible effects of continuous decreases in ocean pH on shallow-water foraminiferal assemblages in future.

Phytoplankton community was investigated during two contrasting periods using offshore plankton samples in the volcanic area of Methana peninsula (Saronikos Gulf): the first at early autumn (warm period, September 2016) and the second one at early spring (cold period, March 2017). In order to investigate the phytoplankton community structure in the complex geo-biochemical conditions of the area, samples were collected from stations near the CO2 hydrothermal vents, at the hydrothermal sulfur and radioactive springs and at a fishery nearby Methana town. Three major phytoplankton groups, Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae, and Prymnesiophyceae, were studied, using inverted microscopy. In early autumn, Dinophyceae were dominant in the majority of the stations with cell concentrations of Prorocentrum spp. up to ~ 35.5 × 103 cells l−1. In early spring, the dominant class was Bacillariophyceae with dominant genus Nitzschia/Pseudo-nitzschia presenting cell concentrations up to ~ 33.9 × 103 cells l−1. Furthermore, Prymnesiophyceae appeared in both spring and autumn samples with small fluctuations. Total phytoplankton cell concentrations followed a seasonal trend, presenting slightly lower values in the hydrothermal-effected area in comparison with the broader Saronikos Gulf, confirming the prevalence of oligotrophic conditions. Seasonal variation was very strong, revealing an association with water temperature and nutrient content. Those environmental variables proved to have a strong effect that was reflected in the phytoplankton community structure.

The present study focuses on the palynological investigation of a sediment core (S2P) recovered from Elefsis Bay, in the western part of Attica Peninsula (southern Greece). Until now, there is quite scarce knowledge about the vegetation history of southern Greece during Late Glacial and Holocene due to a deficiency of long high-resolution pollen records. The analyzed gravity core is a unique continuous and well-dated pollen archive, providing the opportunity for the reconstruction of the plant landscape succession in southern Greece since Late Glacial. In order evidence for the vegetation response to climate oscillations and human impact to be derived, detailed analyses were conducted throughout the sedimentary sequence, spanning the last 13,500 years. The pollen data suggest that temperate deciduous, open oak woodlands of Late Glacial were fully expanded during the onset of Holocene, without any pronounced setback due to climate oscillations as it has been previously indicated by pollen archives from northern Greece. Following this period, Middle Holocene is characterized by the establishment of complex vegetation patterns, partly as the result of human activities, which seem to be the dominant vegetation shaping factor during Late Holocene. Overall, our pollen record highlights the vegetation transition during Late Glacial and Holocene in southern Greece, while offering valuable insight into the plant landscape prior to the first signs of human impact on the environment.

Este artículo contiene 45 páginas, 20 figuras, 5 tablas., Biological invasions have become a defining feature of marine Mediterranean ecosystems with significant impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health. We systematically reviewed the current knowledge on the impacts of marine biological invasions in the Mediterranean Sea. We screened relevant literature and applied a standardised framework that classifies mechanisms and magnitude of impacts and type of evidence. Overall, 103 alien and cryptogenic species were analysed, 59 of which were associated with both negative and positive impacts, 17 to only negative, and 13 to only positive; no impacts were found for 14 species. Evidence for most reported impacts (52%) was of medium strength, but for 32% of impact reports evidence was weak, based solely on expert judgement. Only 16% of the reported impacts were based on experimental studies. Our assessment allowed us to create an inventory of 88 alien and cryptogenic species from 16 different phyla with reported moderate to high impacts. The ten worst invasive species in terms of reported negative impacts on biodiversity include six algae, two fishes, and two molluscs, with the green alga Caulerpa cylindracea ranking first. Negative impacts on biodiversity prevailed over positive ones. Competition for resources, the creation of novel habitat through ecosystem engineering, and predation were the primary reported mechanisms of negative effects. Most cases of combined negative and positive impacts on biodiversity referred to community-level modifications. Overall, more positive than negative impacts were reported on ecosystem services, but this varied depending on the service. For human health, only negative impacts were recorded. Substantial variation was found among Mediterranean ecoregions in terms of mechanisms of impact and the taxonomic identity of impacting species. There was no evidence that the magnitude of impact increases with residence time. Holistic approaches and experimental research constitute the way forward to better understanding and managing biological invasions., The present study was supported by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.) under the “First Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to support Faculty members and Researchers and the procurement of high-cost research equipment grant” (Project ALAS – “ALiens in the Aegean – a Sea under siege”; Project Number: HFRI-FM17-1597; Katsanevakis et al. 2020b). FaCr was partially funded by the project PO FEAMP CAMPANIA 2014-2020 (DRD n.35 of 15th March 2018). XT obtained partial funding from project MARGECH (PID2020-118550RB, MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) from the Spanish Government. AR received grants from the University of Catania through “PiaCeRi-Piano Incentivi per la Ricerca di Ateneo 2020–22 linea di intervento 2”.

Multidisciplinary studies in coastal systems of the eastern Mediterranean region have proven to be excellent tools in understanding paleoenvironmental, paleoecological, and paleoclimatic changes that took place during the Holocene period, and how these changes interacted with urban development and growth. This paper presents sedimentological, high-resolution x-ray fluorescence (XRF scanning), micropaleontological, and x-ray diffraction (XRD) data from three shallow sediment cores that were retrieved from Aliki (ancient Siphai or Tipha) salt pond. The study area is located in a unique, highly tectonic geographical region, at the northeast part of the Gulf of Corinth in Greece. Beachrock deposits that form a barrier between the salt pond and the marine environment seem to play an important role in the evolution of the area. The chronological framework was set at around 3100 cal. BP by four 14C radiocarbon dates, and the evolutionary model that was established indicates four different changes taking place during this period at the study area. From around 3100 to 1600 cal. BP, a transition from a closed to an open lagoonal environment was identified, interrupted by a fluvial terrestrial deposit at around 2500 cal. BP. A shift toward a closed lagoonal system at around 1600 cal. BP and the establishment of a salt pond environment seem to correlate with tectonic activity. The study provides important information about the evolution of coastal landscape in such a tectonic active region and points the interaction between regional human activity and climatic changes during the late-Holocene period.

In this paper, we focus on the southeastern coastal zone of the island of Samos (east-central Aegean Sea), in order to reconstruct the evolution of coastal landscapes and the relative sea-level changes during the late Holocene. We use geomorphological mapping, sedimentological and palaeontological proxies of late Holocene coastal deposits from two lagoon environments. We further compare our results with previously published sea-level data and we show that the southeastern part of Samos was characterized by a subsidence trend at least during the late Holocene, with RSL rise rates of ∼0.8 mm/yr. Our study additionally highlights that local-scale tectonics is responsible for the evolution of the coastal zone of Samos.

Surface sediments were collected from the coastal zone of Drapetsona–Keratsini (Saronikos Gulf, Greece) in December 2012 for determining the local benthic foraminiferal community, identifying their spatial distribution patterns, and evaluating the response of foraminiferal species to geochemical composition through the hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis and Spearman's rho correlation. Foraminifera can be classified into three distinct assemblages associated with the granulometry, elemental geochemistry, particulate organic carbon content and degree of sediment contamination. A relatively low-diversity assemblage, dominated by stress-tolerant taxa with Ammonia tepida Bolivina spathulata and Bulimina elongata being the prevailing species, is characteristic of the silty seabed of the main part of Drapetsona coastal zone and the Keratsini Port central basin, where organic carbon content, aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations and trace metal loads are greatly elevated. On the sandy bottom of the investigated area, relatively high frequencies of miliolids prevail. An epiphytic rotaliid-dominated assemblage is recorded in the slightly-polluted sedimentary bottom of the inner and western part of the Keratsini Port.

The holistic Nested Environmental status Assessment Tool (NEAT), developed for the integrated assessment of the status of marine waters, was applied to Saronikos Gulf, in the Eastern Mediterranean. We used different spatial and decadal time series data covering 9 biological and chemical ecosystem components, 24 indicators and 8 descriptors of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), to test its performance under different ecosystem approaches. The results were evaluated in relation to the anthropogenic pressures affecting the study area as well as the management measures taken, and compared to the results from previous studies. NEAT has shown clear spatial gradients differentiating the impacted and slightly-impacted areas, as well as the response of the ecosystem towards the management measures taken, demonstrating the most responsive and early warning ecosystem components. The application of NEAT to Saronikos Gulf classified the whole basin into good status, with the pelagic habitat components (fish, water column and phytoplankton ecosystem components) contributing strongly to the overall environmental status of the gulf. Sediment, benthic fauna and vegetation, mammals and alien species were the most impacted ecological components in Saronikos Gulf. The most affected areas, Elefsis Bay and Psittalia (wastewater submarine outfall), were assessed as in poor and moderate status, respectively. We conclude that: (i) it is possible to integrate data from different sources, spatial and temporal scales; (ii) this integration has permitted to undertake a real ecosystem assessment; (iii) there is no loss of information, allowing full tracking of problems and cases in no good status that should be addressed at lower levels (e.g. species or species groups); (iv) the results are related with the pressures identified; (v) the assessment demonstrates the recovery of the system and the time needed to recovery; and (vi) these results could be very useful for managers, policy makers and scientists when deciding the method to use in assessing the environmental status under the MSFD.

This study presents the results derived from micropaleontological and organic geochemical analyses of mud breccia samples obtained (through gravity coring) from five mud volcanoes (Gelendzhik, Heraklion, Moscow, Milano, Leipzig) located at the Olimpi mud volcano field on the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary complex. A thorough calcareous nannofossil semi-quantitative analysis was performed to determine the biostratigraphic assignment of the deep-seated source strata. Mudstone/shale clasts of different stratigraphic levels were identified and assigned to the Miocene nannofossil biozones CNM10, CNM8–9, CNM7, CNM6–7, and Oligocene CNO4/CNO5. A single mudstone clast from the Gelendzhik plateau, assigned to the biozone CNM10, demonstrated unique micropaleontological and geochemical characteristics, suggesting a sapropelic origin. Subsequently, the total organic carbon (TOC) content and thermal maturity of the collected mud breccias was evaluated using the Rock-Eval pyrolysis technique, and their oil and gas potential was estimated. The pyrolyzed sediments were both organic rich and organic poor (TOC &gt, 0.5% or &lt, 0.5%, respectively), with their organic matter showing characteristics of the type III kerogen that consists of adequate hydrogen to be gas generative, but insufficient hydrogen to be oil prone. However, the organic matter of the late Serravallian (CNM10) sapropelic mudstone was found to consist of a mixed type II/III kerogen, implying an oil-prone source rock.

Calcareous nannoplankton, one of the major contributors to marine primary production, not only responds quickly to variations in environmental conditions, but provides excellent means of first-order biostratigraphy. In our study we use early Pliocene sediments from the Cretan Sea (South Aegean; DSDP- Leg 42A, Site 378). The location of the record allows us to investigate formation processes of the Zanclean sapropelic layers in South Aegean Sea, and unravel the effects of monsoonal activity, as well as characterize any high latitude teleconnections of the area, prior to the mid-Pliocene warm period. The obtained nannofossil biostratigraphy provided the first-order bed-to-bed age control during the time interval of 5.08-3.98 Myrs, enabling the astronomical tuning of the marly–sapropelic cycles 12-59 to the target-curves.Geochemical analysis (total organic carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, organic and carbonate carbon stable isotopes) were performed, revealing variations in carbon cycle and paleoceanographic conditions, as also variability in the redox conditions of the basin. Planktonic foraminifera δ18O and δ13C records are comparable to the global and Mediterranean Sea stacks, revealing warmer conditions in between approx. 5.08-4.9, in accordance to high summer insolation variation values. The quantification of the early Pliocene nannoplankton paleofluxes, indicated approximately two times higher average accumulation rates for the past export production during the sapropelic layers in respect to the non-sapropelic intervals; suggesting that primary productivity was a major component of the sapropelic formation procedures. Overall, calcareous nannofossil assemblage was dominated by Reticulofenestra spp. Florisphaera profunda (up to 64%). Other major species of the assemblage composition were Umbilicosphaera spp., Calcidiscus spp. and Helicosphaera spp. F. profunda showed an increase in paleofluxes within the sapropelic layers, coupled with relatively decreased accumulation rates of the upper photic zone taxa and high stratification index, thus suggesting an ecological depth-separation of the water column and a nutrient-rich lower photic zone. AcknowledgmentsWe acknowledge support of this work by the Action ‘National Network on Climate Change and its Impacts – CLIMPACT’, funded by the Public Investment Program of Greece (GSRT, Ministry of Development and Investments). E. Skampa has been granted with a scholarship from the State Scholarships Foundation. This research is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund- ESF) through the Operational Programme « Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning» in the context of the project “Strengthening Human Resources Research Potential via Doctorate Research” (MIS-5000432), implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation (ІΚΥ).

Biotic and abiotic processes that form, alter, transport, and remineralize particulate organic carbon, silicon, calcium carbonate, and other minor and trace chemical species in the water column are central to the ocean’s ecological and biogeochemical functioning and of fundamental importance to the ocean carbon cycle. Sinking particulate matter is the major vehicle for exporting carbon from the sea surface to the deep sea. During its transit towards the sea floor, most particulate organic carbon (POC) is returned to inorganic form and redistributed in the water column. This redistribution determines the surface concentration of dissolved CO2, and hence the rate at which the ocean can absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. The ability to predict quantitatively the depth profile of remineralization is therefore critical to deciphering the response of the global carbon cycle to natural and human-induced changes.Aiming to investigate the significant biogeochemical and ecological features and provide new insights on the sources and cycles of sinking particulate matter, a mooring line of five sediment traps was deployed from 2006 to 2015 (with some gap periods) at 5 successive water column depths (700, 1200, 2000, 3200 and 4300 m) in the SE Ionian Sea, northeastern Mediterranean (‘NESTOR’ site). We have examined the long-term records of downward fluxes for Corg, Ntot, δ13Corg and δ15Ntot, along with the associated ballast minerals (opal, lithogenics and CaCO3), lipid biomarkers, Chl-a and PP rates, phytoplankton composition, nutrient dynamics and atmospheric deposition. The satellite-derived seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton metrics (biomass and phenology) and atmospheric deposition (meteorology and air masses origin) was examined for the period of the sediment trap experiment. Regarding the atmospheric deposition, synergistic opportunities using Earth Observation satellite lidar and radiometer systems are proposed (e.g. Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization - CALIOP, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer - MODIS), aiming towards a four‐dimensional exploitation of atmospheric aerosol loading (e.g. Dust Optical Depth) in the study area.Our main goals are to: i) develop a comprehensive knowledge of carbon fluxes and associated mineral ballast fluxes from the epipelagic to the mesopelagic and bathypelagic layers, ii) elucidate the mechanisms governing marine productivity and carbon export and sequestration to depth and iii) shed light on the impact of atmospheric forcing and deposition in respect to regional and large scale circulation patterns and climate variability and the prevailing oceanographic processes (internal variability).AcknowledgmentsWe acknowledge support of this work by the Action ‘National Network on Climate Change and its Impacts – CLIMPACT’, funded by the Public Investment Program of Greece (GSRT, Ministry of Development and Investments).

Benthic foraminifera are important indicators for ecological studies. The assemblage composition of local communities can be used to analyze influences of environmental variables such as temperature, salinity, pH, and others. In recent years, the experimental propagule method has emerged as an effective tool to evaluate the influence of these variables on assemblage dynamics of benthic foraminifera. Propagules (tiny juveniles) of benthic foraminifera are widespread and can survive outside of a species’ natural distribution range. Their ability to become dormant and be re-activated once local conditions become suitable, is an important driver behind the capacity of foraminiferal assemblages to react quickly to environmental changes. In the laboratory, the propagules are first separated from the coarser fractions by sieving and then cultured under different conditions.In the present study, we analyzed the effect of ocean pH on the composition of shallow-water assemblages from Corfu Island (Greece). Like other calcifying organisms, assemblages of foraminifera are susceptible to pH variations and have revealed compositional shifts along natural or experimental pH gradients. Our experimental set-up included four pH treatments between 6.5 and 8.5 at constant temperature and salinity (22°C and 38 ppt) for 5 weeks.At the conclusion of the cultivation experiment, we found high numbers of grown specimens (825–1564 per replicate) and a high survivability rate throughout all treatments (78–87%). Higher pH (7.8 and 8.5) resulted in assemblages that were dominated by monothalamous and porcelaneous species, whereas lower pH (6.5 and 7.2) lead to a reduction in porcelaneous and an increase in agglutinated species. Several taxa showed significant positive or negative correlations with decreasing pH values.Our results are congruent with previous findings that reported compositional shifts from calcareous to agglutinated taxa with decreasing pH (both from culture and field observations). Our study also indicates that the activation of propagules is an important mechanism behind assemblage dynamics in shallow-water foraminifera. As such, it offers an improved insight into potential resilience and recovery mechanisms of foraminiferal assemblages with regard to local or seasonal pH variations as well as ongoing ocean acidification.

We gathered total organic carbon (%) and relative abundances of benthic foraminifera in intertidal areas and transitional waters from the English Channel/European Atlantic Coast (587 samples) and the Mediterranean Sea (301 samples) regions from published and unpublished datasets. This database allowed to calculate total organic carbon optimum and tolerance range of benthic foraminifera in order to assign them to ecological groups of sensitivity. Optima and tolerance range were obtained by mean of the weighted-averaging method. The data are related to the research article titled "Indicative value of benthic foraminifera for biomonitoring: assignment to ecological groups of sensitivity to total organic carbon of species from European intertidal areas and transitional waters The authors are grateful to the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Agence de l'Eau Artois-Picardie, the Communauté d'Agglomération du Boulonnais, the Université de Lille, the Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, the Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences for their financial support to FOBIMO workshops in Fribourg (Switzerland), Wimereux (France) and Texel (The Netherlands); Additional funding was provided by Spanish MINECO (RTI2018-095678-B-C21, MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE)

International audience; This work contributes to the ongoing work aiming at confirming benthic foraminifera as a biological quality element. In this study, benthic foraminifera from intertidal and transitional waters from the English Channel/European Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean Sea were assigned to five ecological groups using the weighted-averaging optimum with respect to TOC of each species. It was however not possible to assign typical salt marsh species due to the presence of labile and refractory organic matter that hampers TOC characterization. Tests of this study species’ lists with Foram-AMBI on two independent datasets showed a significant correlation between Foram-AMBI and TOC, confirming the strong relation between foraminifera and TOC. For one of the validation datasets, associated macrofaunal data were available and a significant correlation was found between the foraminiferal Foram-AMBI and the macrofaunal AMBI. The here proposed lists should be further tested withsensitivity-based indices in different European regional settings.

Summary This project attempts to extract information regarding the stratigraphy and source rock potential of the deeply buried deposits in the Mediterranean Ridge (South of Crete marine region). Due to the lack of deep wells in the region, the only avaliable material comes from mud volcanic (mud breccia) samples recovered from various scientific expeditions. Sedimentary cores from Gelendzhik, Moscow, Nice, Toronto and Dublin mud volcanoes were used. The actual samples of this study consists of consolidated clasts that were included in the mud breccia deposits of each core. The stratigraphic origin of the clasts were determined by studying its calcareous nannoplankton content and subsequently, rock eval pyrolysis and vitrinite reflectance measurements were performed. Combining the study’s results with seismic reflection profile images, leads to a higher-level understanding of the region’s stratigraphy and source rock distribution.

Summary This study aims to investigate the presence of Cretaceous carbonate platform facies on the island of Kephalonia, which was previously thought to belong entirely to Pre-Apulian slope domains. Such presence may have a deep impact on the regional oil and gas exploration, since Mediterranean Cretaceous reefs have often proved to be excellent reservoir units (e.g., Zohr Field). Micropalaeontologic, sedimentologic, microfacies and geochemical indicators all show that, on the westernmost part of the island, Campanian-age inner platform to platform margin facies are present (Area 1 or “Argostoli platform”), with a shift to progressively more distal time-equivalent Pre-Apulian units eastwards (Areas 2–4). The Argostoli Platform, in western Kephalonia, is characterized by clear evidence of inner platform to platform margin facies, including possible peritidal cycles and redded palaeosol layers intercalated with thick-massive limestone beds, with above-background concentration of Fe2O3, Al2O3, TiO2, SiO2. In this area, microfacies are attributable to inner platform to platform edge, including wackestones/floatstones (FZ7, SMF9), grainstones- grapestones (FZ7, SMF 16, 17), oolitic rudstones/grainstones (FZ6, SMF15) and boundstones (FZ5, SMF7), with bryozoans, mollusks and miliolidae. The Argostoli Platform may represent the easternmost edge of the Apulian Platform and may belong to the Apulian Domain rather than to transitional Pre-Apulian units.

International audience; Thorough faunal (benthic foraminifera, ostracods, molluscs) and palynomorph analyses as well as magnetic susceptibility measurements performed on the Piraeus coastal plain sedimentary sequences have shed light on the paleoenvironmental evolution of the area since ca. 9000 cal BP. Benthic and palynomorph assemblages along with magnetic susceptibility suggest a typical lagoonal environment with significant freshwater inputs at the eastern part of the plain after 8700 cal BP. Between 7500 and 5400 cal BP, microfaunal assemblages, mollusc fauna and magnetic susceptibility suggest a shallow marine paleoenvironment, with Piraeus forming a tied island in the center of the bay. Since ca. 4800 cal BP a closed oligohaline lagoon is evidenced in the western part of the Piraeus plain further developed to a marsh after 2800 cal BP, while a coastal environment associated with the fluvio-deltaic system of Kifissos and Korydallos Rivers is continually developing to the west. Signs of cultivation and grazing activities in the area are evidenced since the Early Bronze Age, culminating during the Classical Period. A comparison with a well-dated marine record, recovered from the nearby shallow Elefsis Bay, provides a reasonable estimation of ~5 mm/yr for the absolute sea level rise rate in the inner Saronikos Gulf during the Mid-Holocene.

National audience

Sr isotopes are a powerful tool used for provenancing in many disciplines, but their successful application requires the availability of robust Sr baselines of potential target areas. This study presents 87Sr/86Sr signatures and Sr concentrations of water, plants and soil leachates from the Peloponnese peninsula, Greece, to establish the first comprehensive bioavailable Sr isotope baseline for this region. Additionally, this study aims to evaluate which proxy is most suitable to characterise bioavailable Sr in a geologically complex area also exposed to foreign aeolian Sr sources. Our recorded bioavailable Sr isotope signatures correspond well with the surface lithologies characteristic of the Peloponnese. Unradiogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios and a narrow isotope range (0.70779–0.70955) characterise the bioavailable Sr signatures of the sedimentary deposits and more radiogenic and isotopically variable values (0.70791–0.72370) were measured for metamorphic and igneous rock outcrops. The differences in 87Sr/86Sr values measured between proxies of one site are comparatively low for samples from the sedimentary and igneous deposits, while the overall spread in 87Sr/86Sr values is wider for samples from metamorphic deposits. We propose to define bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr baseline ranges as the average bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr ratio of all proxies of each lithology ± its double standard deviation (x ± 2σ). This results in narrow baselines for the sedimentary outcrops of 0.70832 ± 0.00053 (n = 58) for clastic sediments and 0.70835 ± 0.00089 (n = 29) for chemical sediments. The metamorphic deposits are characterised by wider bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr baselines of 0.70906 ± 0.00116 (n = 4) and 0.71429 ± 0.01133 (n = 13) for marble and schist, respectively. The bioavailable Sr baseline for igneous rock outcrops is also characterised by a comparatively wide range with 0.70950 ± 0.00259 (n = 7). The wide range in inter- and intra-site specific bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr variation observed in this study emphasise the need for comprehensive multi-proxy sampling strategies within geologically-complex areas.

The structure of phytoplankton community in the salinity-stratified Northeastern Aegean frontal area adjacent to the Dardanelles Straits was investigated on a seasonal basis (autumn, spring and summer) and in relation to circulating water masses: the modified Black Sea Water (BSW) and the Levantine Water (LW). By employing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for the analysis of phytoplankton pigments in conjunction with conventional cell counting methodologies (i.e. inverted light microscopy, flow cytometry) and primary production measurements, a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative characterization of phytoplankton community composition and its activity was conducted. Chlorophyll-a normalized production and estimated growth rates presented the highest values within the ‘fresh’ BSW mass during summer, though generally growth rates were low (

This study aims to presents the species composition of living coccolithophore communities in the NE Aegean Sea, investigating their spatial and temporal variations along a north-south transect in the area receiving the inflowing surface Black Sea Water (BSW) over the deeper Levantine Water (LW) layer. Coccolithophores in the area were relatively diverse and a total of 95 species over 3 sampling periods studied were recognized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) techniques. R-mode hierarchical cluster analysis distinguished two coccolithophore Groups (I, IIa, IIb, IIc) with different ecological preferences. Emiliania huxleyi was the most abundant species of Group I, whereas Syracosphaera spp., Rhabdosphaera spp. and holococcolithophores were prevailing in the highly diversified Group II assemblages. Biometric analysis conducted on E. huxleyi coccoliths from Aegean water column and Black Sea sediment trap samples, indicated that during autumn, NE Aegean specimens in samples under BSW influence were featured by unimodal distribution concerning the coccolith relative tube width, with values similar to those provided by the Black Sea specimens. In early spring, coccoliths in the stations with increased BSW influx displayed a bimodal pattern of relative tube width with smaller values found mostly in the surface layers, while the distribution became again unimodal and dominated by larger values within the deeper LW layers. In the summer period, the typical LW holococcolithophore species (Group II) presented low cell numbers in the surface layer (

The integration of lithology determination, micropaleontological and molluscan analyses, scanning electron microscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurement, and radiocarbon dating contributed to the interpretation of a sedimentary succession recovered from a 870-cm long borehole drilled at the Paliouras coastal lagoon in the eastern Thermaikos gulf (Greece). In this way, the reconstruction of the creation and evolution of the lagoon during the last 8000 years was accomplished. Four main evolutionary phases are identified: (1) initially, the pre-Holocene basement of the study area was inundated during the early Holocene marine transgression; (2) since ~ 8000–7900 cal yr BP an inner lagoon had been formed in the Paliouras coastal plain, within a rather restricted environment characterized by a Haynesina germanica, Cerastoderma glaucum and Hydrobia sp. assemblage, relatively high sediment magnetic susceptibility and an intense presence of abnormal foraminiferal tests and lenticular gypsum crystals; (3) during 7600–6900 cal yr BP, the inner lagoon presented a transition to an open system, clearly connected to the sea and characterized by an Ammonia beccarii, Aubignyna perlucida, and miliolids assemblage, more diversified molluscan fauna, minimum sediment magnetic susceptibility and the occurrence of lenticular gypsum aggregates; and finally (4) since ~ 5900 cal yr BP to the present time, the lagoon water body appears isolated from the marine environment, except of occasional seawater intrusions. The proposed evolutionary scenario for the Paliouras coastal lagoon is in accordance with the existing models of the sea level rise in the Aegean coastal areas concerning the time span before 4000 yr BP and the mid-late Holocene climate events.

Quantitative coccolithophore analyses were performed on data of 2011–2015 dataset derived from the examination of plankton samples (until 100 m water depth), the sinking particulate matter (collected by a time series sediment trap) and surface and core sediments of the North Aegean Sea sampling site M2 (Athos Basin, NE Mediterranean). The aim was to achieve a better understanding of the potential modifications of the coccolithophore assemblage between the surface waters (plankton), the water column (sidocoenosis) and the underlying sediment (thanatocoenosis). Sediment trap calcareous nannoplankton multiannual mean fluxes (20 × 108 coccoliths m2 day−1) documented similar values to the accumulation rates recorded in the surface sediment (23.6 × 108 coccoliths m−2 day−1), whereas within the last 500 years the rates have ranged from 2.19 × 108 to 5.4 × 108 coccoliths m−2 day−1. The dominant species in all sampling types was Emiliania huxleyi, reaching in some cases striking relative abundances of 85–90%. Morphometric analyses on E. huxleyi coccoliths documented the presence of a lightly calcified morphotype in the water column and sediment trap samples in addition to the seasonal occurrence of heavier calcified E. huxleyi coccoliths, indicating enhanced Black Sea water inflows during May 2011, February 2015 and October 2015. However, such a signal was not preserved in the surface sediment assemblage mostly due to processes of diagenetic calcite overgrowth. Notably, Florisphaera profunda was not included in the upper water column plankton assemblage but in the sediment traps and surface sediments. Thus, it is presumed to flourish in nutrient-enriched layers below the sampled 100 m water column depth. Several fragile Syracosphaeraceae and holococcolithophore species and the delicate Algirosphaera robusta were not present in the sinking assemblage or on the seafloor; however, the main features of the living assemblages were generally preserved. The recorded high relative abundances of E. huxleyi (~60%) in the sediment were in accordance with positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) shifts during recent production of dense water masses in the North Aegean.

Silicoflagellate populations and fluxes were analyzed from water samples and sediment traps in several basins of the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea, to show species distribution in response to ecological factors and compared with the Quaternary records of the region. In the eastern Mediterranean, Dictyocha stapedia was the most abundant species, represented by two varieties: var. stapedia, smaller and with an apex spine, that dominated in the pelagic settings, and var. aspinosa, larger and lacking an apex spine, that dominated in the north Adriatic Sea. Dictyocha aculeata was the second most abundant species, Octactis pulchra was seasonally dominant in the Adriatic Sea. Stephanocha speculum occurred sporadically in the Adriatic Sea with 6-sided normal-sized specimens, but was nearly absent from pelagic assemblages. In the Black Sea, assemblages and fluxes were characterized by larger 7-sided skeletons of D. speculum with apex spines and a lower abundance of O. pulchra.

Foraminiferal propagule banks occur in fine sediment fractions that contain small individuals of benthic foraminifera. These sediments include locally sourced juveniles and propagules, as well as allochthonous propagules that have dispersed from surrounding areas. Such propagules can remain viable even under unfavorable local conditions. When exposed to more favorable conditions, they may grow to adult stages. Accordingly, during environmental changes, propagule banks have the potential to function as species pools and allow quick assemblage reactions. The propagule method was designed to study responses of foraminiferal assemblages by exposing propagule banks to controlled conditions in the laboratory, an approach that is applicable to a variety of ecological questions. Therefore it is important to understand the nature and dynamics of propagule banks, including local and seasonal influences. To obtain insights into the composition of local propagule banks, we studied experimentally grown assemblages from two shallow-water lagoons on Corfu Island in western Greece, and compared the results with in situ assemblages. We sampled in spring and autumn of 2017 and experimental treatments included the use of different substrates in our experiments to account for potential effects on assemblage compositions. Results revealed that sediments from each lagoon contained a distinct propagule bank. We found abundant allochthonous taxa among specimens grown in all experimental treatments, indicating dispersal of propagules, and possibly also juveniles, from adjacent regions into both lagoons. The time of sampling had a significant effect on experimental assemblages, indicating that the composition of propagule banks can vary throughout the year. However, no significant differences were found in assemblages grown in different substrata, suggesting a stronger influence of water variables (e.g., temperature or salinity) on assemblage compositions. Moreover, the experimental set-ups favored small, fast-growing, sediment-dwelling species tolerant of relatively high organic content. Our findings highlight the potential of propagule banks as species pools and will help to refine and improve future applications of the method.

Summarization: The Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC; 5.97–5.33 Ma) is an enigmatic episode of paleoceanographic change, when kilometer-thick evaporite units were deposited in the Mediterranean basin. Here we use geochemical (biomarker and isotope) data to reconstruct sea surface temperature, salinity, and productivity-preservation changes in the Mediterranean basin just before the MSC. The proxy data indicate that the Mediterranean Sea was significantly saltier and colder between 6.415 and 6.151 Ma, than between 6.151 and 5.971 Ma. Salinity decrease at 6.151 Ma seems to be a relatively fast event just preceding the inception of a warming phase that lasted almost uninterrupted until the MSC onset. The water exchange with the Paratethys could have caused, along with the African rivers, an increased freshwater supply, resulting in normal marine Mediterranean waters between 6.151 and 5.971 Ma, despite the severe restriction of marine connections with the Atlantic at that time. Sea surface temperature changes determined a sharp drop in productivity and/or preservation of organic matter, marked by deposition of calcareous marls. Productivity and preservation were relatively high and constant until 6.01 Ma. Afterward, increased influx of terrestrial organic matter and probably enhanced water column stratification prevailed. Around 5.971 Ma, modifications in aquatic versus terrestrially derived biomarkers indicate changes in organic matter influx at the MSC onset. Παρουσιάστηκε στο: Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology

Coastal landscapes are sensitive to changes due to the interplay between surface and submarine geological processes, climate variability, and relative sea level fluctuations. The sedimentary archives of such marginal areas record in detail the complex evolution of the paleoenvironment and the diachronic biota response. The Elefsis Bay is nowadays a landlocked shallow marine basin with restricted communication to the open Saronikos Gulf. A multi-proxy investigation of a high-resolution sediment core recovered from the deepest part of the basin offered a unique opportunity to record the paleoenvironmental and aquatic ecosystem response to climate and glacioeustatic sea level changes since the Late Glacial marine transgression. The retrieved sedimentary deposits, subjected to thorough palynological (pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, dinoflagellates), micropaleontological (benthic foraminifera, calcareous nannoplankton, ostracods), and mollusc analyses, indicates isolation of the Elefsis Bay from the Saronikos Gulf and the occurrence of a shallow freshwater paleolake since at least 13,500 cal BP, while after 11,350 cal BP the transition towards lagoon conditions is evidenced. The marine transgression in the Elefsis Bay is dated at 7500 cal BP, marking the establishment of the modern marine realm.

The current Special Issue of Revue de Micropaleontologie, entitled “Updating Micropaleontology and Stratigraphy in Greece and Eastern Mediterranean” includes contributions from the T1S1 special Session [conveners Maria Triantaphyllou (NKUA), Dimitris Kostopoulos (AUTH), George Iliopoulos (UPAT)] organized by the Hellenic Committee for Paleontology and Stratigraphy at the 15th Conference of the Geological Society of Greece (May 2019, Athens, Greece).

The multi-proxy investigation of the deep-marine Kottafi Hill section (KHS), a part of the carbonate system of the Miocene Pakhna Formation, Cyprus, involved such proxies as calcareous nannofossil analysis, measurements of the oxygen and carbon isotope composition of the planktonic foraminifer Orbulina universa, and determination of the pollen and palynomorph contents, revealed the importance of these sedimentary sequences in the assessment of the impact of major global events during the middle Miocene on the regional scale. The KHS spans the 20.89–11.6 Ma time interval, during which eighteen OC-rich siltstone intercalated laminae have been deposited under warm and humid climate at 15.5–11.6 Ma. These layers can be possibly considered as the precursors of sapropelic layers mostly developed in the eastern Mediterranean Basin during Pliocene–Holocene. The global glacial events Mi3a–Mi5, traced by δ18O planktonic foraminifera records in the KHS, represent the stepwise cooling phase during the middle Miocene Climate Transition.

A revision of the nomenclature of lithostratigraphic units of Neogene strata at As Sahabi, northeast Libya, is presented, based on new fieldwork conducted during 2006–2008. The Sahabi units are correlated across the Ajdabya Sheet (NH 34-6) in northeastern Libya. Major conclusions are: (1) Miocene (Langhian through Messinian) strata are predominantly carbonate and should be referred to as formation “M”; (2) A local unconformity of Miocene (early Messinian) age overlies strata of the formation “M”; (3) This unconformity is overlain by Messinian gypsiferous sand and mud (formerly formation “P” and partially member “T”), which are designated as the “lower member” (gypsiferous) of the Sahabi Formation; (4) The “lower member” is overlain by sand and mud of late Messinian age (formerly partially member “T” and members “U1”, “UD”, and “U2”) in a generally fining-upwards sequence, and are designated as the “upper member” (non-gypsiferous) of the Sahabi Formation; (5) The latest Miocene sand and mud of the “upper member” are capped by an unconformity that is correlated with the regression and desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea during the Messinian Salinity Crisis and with Eosahabi Channel cutting; (6) The unconformity is overlain by Pliocene medium, coarse, and pebbly sands, which are referred to as the Qarat Weddah Formation (formerly Garet Uedda Formation); (7) The Pliocene sands of Qarat Weddah Formation are overlain by carbonate soil (calcrete) of Late Pliocene age, which is referred to as formation “Z” (formerly member “Z”). The major outcome of this study is a revised stratigraphic description and nomenclature of the Sahabi units that helps to provide a formal and unified context for understanding paleontological discoveries in northeastern Libya, which will serve to facilitate a broader correlation of the Sahabi units with their equivalents elsewhere in Africa and in Europe and Asia.

Quaternary stratigraphy and sea level changes have been extensively investigated in many areas of the Mediterranean. However, numerical dating of coastal deposits and the associated paleoenvironmental information are limited for the coasts of Cyprus, principally based on radiometric and radiation-exposure geochronological techniques on fossils which bear a range of limitations and uncertainties. As such, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating techniques are deemed to be the most suitable in direct dating of the coastal sediments of Cyprus. In the southeastern Cyprus, coastal dunes (aeolianites) now forming elongated ridges appear as morphological features running parallel to the current shoreline presenting an indicator of sea level and climate changes of great paleoenvironmental significance. We present our first chronological results for the exposed aeolianites and underlying littoral deposits formed along the southeastern coastal Cyprus ranging from 78.4 ± 9.9 to 56.2 ± 7.4 ka. The post-infrared–infrared stimulated luminescence (pIR-IRSL) revealed that dune formation took place during the marine isotope stages (MISs) 3, 4, and possibly 5a. Late Holocene reworking is proposed for a distinctively isolated dune with an age of ~1.3 ka ago. This study also showed that pIR-IRSL dating of feldspars may be a reliable alternative to quartz OSL dating when the quartz luminescence characteristics are unsuitable.

This integrated study (field observations, micropalaeontology, magnetostratigraphy, geochemistry, borehole data and seismic profiles) of the Messinian–Zanclean deposits on Zakynthos Island (Ionian Sea) focuses on the sedimentary succession recording the pre‐evaporitic phase of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) through the re‐establishment of the marine conditions in a transitional area between the eastern and the western Mediterranean. Two intervals are distinguished through the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the pre‐evaporitic Messinian in Kalamaki: (a) 6.45–6.122 Ma and (b) 6.122–5.97 Ma. Both the planktonic foraminifer and the fish assemblages indicate a cooling phase punctuated by hypersalinity episodes at around 6.05 Ma. Two evaporite units are recognized and associated with the tectonic evolution of the Kalamaki–Argassi area. The Primary Lower Gypsum (PLG) unit was deposited during the first MSC stage (5.971–5.60 Ma) in late‐Messinian marginal basins within the pre‐Apulian foreland basin and in the wedge‐top (

Saronikos Gulf, including the industrial zone of Elefsis Bay and the Port of Piraeus, is one of the most anthropogenically impacted coastal regions of Greece. Distinct assemblages of benthic foraminifers in sediment samples, collected from this gulf in February 2012, defined three zones that reflect abiotic parameters of the sediments (e.g., organic carbon, metal content). A low-diversity assemblage, dominated by stress-tolerant Ammonia tepida and Bulimina spp., was characteristic of samples from Elefsis Bay. Samples from the western and central part of Saronikos Gulf were the most variable with respect to both abiotic parameters and the foraminiferal assemblage, characterized by a mix of stress-tolerant and more sensitive taxa, especially Bolivina spp. and Nonion fabum. Samples from the coast of Salamis and at the eastern sector of the gulf were characterized by a diverse assemblage that included Peneroplis pertusus, miliolids, and a variety of small, epiphytic rotaliid taxa. A new biotic index, the Foram Stress Index (FSI), is based on the relative percentages of two ecological groups of benthic foraminiferal species, grouped according to their tolerance/sensitivity to organic matter enrichment and weighted proportionately to obtain a formula to define five ecological-status classes. The FSI produced three rankings for these samples (Poor, Moderate and Good), that strongly correlate with the macroinvertebrate-classification tool known as the BENTIX Index. The FSI provides a new tool to assess sediment or substrata quality based upon the benthic foraminiferal assemblages, which are a significant component of living meiobenthic communities that are generally not considered in most biotic benthic indices.

Benthic foraminiferal composition assemblages and their temporal changes, ecological indices and foraminiferal densities are used to compare three coastal environments with different physicogeographical features in the Aegean Sea (coastal environment of Avdira–Vistonikos Gulf and Kitros–Thermaikos Gulf and open lagoonal environment of Vravron–South Evoikos Gulf). Three main foraminiferal assemblages have been recognized: a) “Assemblage A”; high degree of similarity between living and dead foraminiferal species, dominated by Ammonia beccarii, Elphidium spp. and relatively abundant and diverse miliolids, b) “Assemblage B1”; intermediate degree of similarity between live and dead assemblages, characterized by highly-abundant and well-diversified foraminiferal assemblages including the algal symbiont bearing Peneroplis pertusus together with Ammonia tepida and several small epiphytic rotaliids and miliolids, and c) “Assemblage B2”; absence of living individuals, strongly dominated by the opportunistic species A. tepida. Our results suggest a good comparison between living and dead assemblages from different coastal environments in the Aegean Sea, however the prevailing environmental conditions (vegetation cover, hydrodynamics, fresh water influx) have a strong impact on the taphonomic processes.

A 1500-year, high-resolution deep-sea benthic foraminifera record from the Athos Basin of the North Aegean Trough (northeastern Mediterranean) has been analyzed for the development of a paleoclimatic scenario. The data analysis points out that the quantity and quality of the seafloor's organic matter could be a crucial controlling factor for the faunal succession. During 550–1000 AD (within the Medieval Climate Anomaly), the relatively high benthic foraminiferal accumulation rates together with the predominance of meso-eutrophic taxa, such as Bolivina dilatata/spathulata, may be interpreted as the result of high precipitation. Consequently, increased riverine discharges into the North Aegean Sea and the associated warm climatic conditions appear to persist for a long time and are related to a negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation. Later on, the establishment of an oligo-mesotrophic seafloor environment is documented by the diminishing benthic foraminiferal accumulation rates associated with an increment in the abundances of Gyroidinoides altiformis. During a colder phase of the Little Ice Age (17th century), the relative abundances of the opportunistic foraminiferal species Bulimina inflata and Bulimina marginata can be related to high marine productivity, most probably due to enhanced winter mixing conditions. Finally, during the last 100 years, a faunal shift to eutrophication preferent species, and the persistent occurrence of Chilostomella mediterranensis, reflects a pronounced change in trophic conditions, characterized by high amounts of potentially low-quality organic matter in the seafloor, which are the result of a gradual temperature increase accompanied with enhanced terrigenous inputs.

Coccolithophore export fluxes were investigated via the analysis of sinking matter, obtained from Eastern Mediterranean time-series sediment traps moored in three open sites of the north-eastern Mediterranean Sea located in the Athos Basin of North Aegean (M2 site), Cretan Sea of South Aegean (M3 site) and at Ionian Sea (Nestor site). The aim of our study was to determine the spatial, temporal and seasonal variability in coccolithophore fluxes, as well as to estimate coccolith biogenic carbonate contribution to the sedimentation process. Data from an additional time-series sediment trap located in the southwestern Black Sea were also considered for the comparison of the oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean setting with the eutrophic Black Sea. Coccolithophore fluxes revealed a highly seasonal pattern during February–March in the North Aegean (peak in late February 2015: 85.6 x 105 coccospheres m−2 day−1; 27.9 x 108 coccoliths m−2 day−1), during March–May in the Cretan Sea (peak in late March 2015: 33.7 x 105 coccospheres m−2 day−1; 19.5 x 108 coccoliths m−2 day−1) and during February–March and May–June in the Ionian Sea (peak in late May 2012: 14.3 x 105 coccospheres m−2 day−1; 1.53 x 108 coccoliths m−2 day−1). The recorded maxima coincide with low sea surface temperatures, increased precipitation and high PIC fluxes. Coccosphere fluxes were dominated by Emiliania huxleyi comprising ~70% of the total abundance, in the North Aegean and ~50% in the Cretan and Ionian Seas. Syracosphaera pulchra was also prominent in the study sites, where its abundance reached 14% in the North Aegean and ~10% in the Cretan and Ionian Seas respectively. Florisphaera profunda represented one of the major taxa in the coccolith fluxes of all three Eastern Mediterranean sites (~25% in North Aegean, ~20% in Cretan and Ionian Seas), while Algirosphaera robusta and Umbilicosphaera sibogae were the most abundant among the minor taxa. The North Aegean Sea exhibited a considerably higher coccolith flux when compared to other sediment traps due to the prominent seasonal peak of E. huxleyi during winter (February–March) (>95% of the total abundance). In contrast to the Eastern Mediterranean sediment traps, the time-series data from the Black Sea showed presence of monospecific E. huxleyi assemblage increasing its abundance during late September–November (max 320 x 105 coccospheres m−2 day−1; at least 7.79 x 108 coccoliths m−2 day−1, coccolith flux derived only from coccospheres converted to coccoliths). In the Eastern Mediterranean, biogenic carbonate fluxes followed the general pattern of the total mass flux in all investigated areas, with the Black Sea coccolithophore CaCO3 flux being the lowest due to low the E. huxleyi coccolith mass. Overall, in the North Aegean Sea, coccolithophore fluxes are strongly dependent on surface waters nutrients enrichment due to winter vertical water column mixing, riverine inputs and Black Sea water inflows, while the fertilization and/or formation of fast-sinking aggregates due to episodic dust input event are affecting the coccolithophore fluxes in the Cretan and Ionian Seas. The intercomparison of the coccolith export fluxes in the studied NE-SW mooring transects implies a north-south and east-west decreasing pattern, depending on the variable oceanographic regimes and the associated environmental factors controlling the investigated areas.

The geomorphological evolution of the southeastern coastal area of Farasan Al-Kabir Island (Saudi Arabia) is revealed by the mapping of modern landforms and a multi-proxy and high spatial resolution study including grain size, particulate organic carbon, mineralogy, element geochemistry, benthic foraminifera analysis and radiocarbon dating of a 3.3-m long sediment core. The modern geomorphological features comprise a variety of arid landforms, such as plateau, cliffs and pediments of Pleistocene coral limestones, playa depressions located on plateau surfaces, alluvial fans, butte and sandy beaches. The mid Holocene evolution of the borehole area is resulted from the detailed analysis of five sedimentary units detected along the core Matar-1, and includes three distinct stages: (a) from 5253 ± 223 y cal BP to 3138 ± 223 y cal BP, carbonate coarse-grained material consisting of coral fragments, molluscs, calcareous algae and benthic foraminifera are deposited on a shallow marine fringing reefal platform, which becomes progressively a nearshore backreef (around 3675 ± 215 y cal BP), and later (around 3138 ± 223 y cal BP) a reef ramp; (b) since 3040 ± 220 y cal BP the borehole area obtains the characteristics of a high-energy beach that receives increasing inputs of terrigenous material; (c) subsequently, a supratidal backshore setting is established influenced mostly by terrestrial processes and occasionally by marine processes, as it is indicated by the decreasing and sometimes sporadic presence of benthic foraminifera, and recently, a sedimentary veneer consisting of terrigenous, carbonate and evaporite material is formed by terrestrial, mainly wadi and aeolian, processes.

The distribution and abundance of Emiliania huxleyi ( E. huxleyi ) assemblages in the marine sediments of the Aravonitsa Plateau, Greece, and from the eastern Mediterranean are used (1) to evaluate the calcareous nannoplankton NN21a and NN21b biozones and the NN21a/NN21b boundary, and (2) to analyze the palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic conditions prevailing in this interval. The sediment succession displays varied E. huxleyi assemblages and these are interpreted as reflecting climatic variability during marine isotope stages MIS 1–8.

Quantitative analyses of calcareous nannofossils in the sediments of Pissouri South section on the island of Cyprus have produced a paleoceanographic record reflecting the paleoclimatic conditions during the Zanclean/Piacenzian transition. Pissouri South cyclical lithological alternations between organic-rich laminated layers and grey marls reflect the Earth’s orbital precession. According to the calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy which has been performed, the studied section is correlated with MNN14/15 and MNN16 calcareous nannofossil biozones and is astronomically dated between 4.065 and 3.217 Ma. Intervals of increased organic carbon content, along with the positive values of Florisphaera profunda, Helicosphaera sellii, Discoaster spp. and the subsequent increase of stratification S-index, correspond to the sapropel deposition during periods of wetter climate and intense continental runoff, especially from the river Nile. These layers alternate with grey marly intervals, featured by the increased values of small placoliths of Reticulofenestra and Gephyrocapsa species, which are indicative of eutrophic conditions during intense surface-water mixing. Our data support the prevalence of a generally warm phase characterized by the absence of high-frequency climate variations in the southeastern Mediterranean during the Zanclean/Piacenzian (Early/Late Pliocene) transition.