Search results for "MEDITERRANEAN BASIN"

2021

Abstract The Mediterranean Basin has experienced extensive change in geology and climate over the past six million years. Yet, the relative importance of key geological events for the distribution and genetic structure of the Mediterranean fauna remains poorly understood. Here, we use population genomic and phylogenomic analyses to establish the evolutionary history and genetic structure of common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). This species is particularly informative because, in contrast to other Mediterranean lizards, it is widespread across the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan Peninsulas, and in extra-Mediterranean regions. We found strong support for six major lineages within P. muralis, …

Red Listing plants under full national responsibility: Extinction risk and threats in the vascular flora endemic to Italy

2018

Abstract Taxa endemic to a country are key elements for setting national conservation priorities and for driving conservation strategies, since their persistence is entirely dependent on national policy. We applied the IUCN Red List categories to all Italian endemic vascular plants (1340 taxa) to assess their current risk of extinction and to highlight their major threats. Our results revealed that six taxa are already extinct and that 22.4% (300 taxa) are threatened with extinction, while 18.4% (247; especially belonging to apomictic groups) have been categorized as Data Deficient. Italian endemic vascular plants are primarily threatened by natural habitat modification due to agriculture, …

Chlorophyll fluorescence as a tool for management of plant resources

1994

Abstract Light-induced chlorophyll fluorescence has become a tool which has ever-increasing potential application to experimental plant physiology. The effects of frost, heat, and drought have been analyzed using the kinetics of individual leaves of two representative types of life form: an evergreen tree (holm oak) dominant in the Mediterranean Basin and an annual cultivated legume (soybean). Various indices were used to quantify their response to environmental stress. Canopy fluorescence for the two types of plants was simulated. For two levels of measurement, leaf or canopy, light-induced fluorescence appears to be helpful for forest or crop management in the Mediterranean area.

Taxonomic remarks on Scilla anthericoides Poir. (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a neglected species from Algeria

2016

Scilla anthericoides is a neglected name traditionally considered as Urginea maritima var. anthericoides. Based on recent field observations of living plants completed by karyological analyses, we promote again this taxon at species rank, under the genus Charybdis. It differs from other species of Charybdis maritima aggregate by many characters of flowers, fruits, bulbs, leaves and by ploidy level. It is endemic to the regional hotspot Kabylias-Numidia-Kroumiria in north-eastern Algeria. It is a threatened species that has been assessed as vulnerable.

Tamarix arborea var. arborea and Tamarix parviflora: Two species valued for their adaptability to stress conditions.

2016

The choice of stress resistant and highly adaptable species is a fundamental step for landscaping and ornamental purposes in arid and coastal environments such as those in the Mediterranean basin. The genus Tamarix L. includes about 90 species with a high endurance of adversity. We investigated the water relations and photosynthetic response of Tamarix arborea (Sieb. ex Ehrenb.) Bge. var. arborea and T. parviflora DC. growing in an urban environment. Both species showed no evidence of drought or salt stress in summer, and appeared to follow two strategies with T. arborea var. arborea investing in high carbon gain at the beginning of the summer, and then reducing photosynthetic activity at t…

Ethnobotany of dye plants in Southern Italy, Mediterranean Basin: floristic catalog and two centuries of analysis of traditional botanical knowledge …

2020

Abstract Background Since ancient times, man has learned to use plants to obtain natural dyes, but this traditional botanical knowledge (TBK) is eroding. In the late, during, and the early 1800s, there was an increase in research related to dye species, and this allowed the development of industry and economy in rural contexts of Southern Italy. Today, dyes are mainly obtained from synthetic products, and this leads to risks for human health related to pollution. Methods Starting from the literature, three catalogs of the dyeing species (plants, algae, fungi, and lichens) used in the Mediterranean Basin and mainly in Southern Italy have been created. Percentages of parts used and colors ext…

Trends in summer presence of fin whales in the Western Mediterranean Sea Region: new insights from a long-term monitoring program

2020

Background The Mediterranean subpopulation of fin whale Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) has recently been listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of threatened species. The species is also listed as species in need of strict protection under the Habitat Directive and is one of the indicators for the assessment of Good Environmental Status under the MSFD. Reference values on population abundance and trends are needed in order to set the threshold values and to assess the conservation status of the population. Methods Yearly summer monitoring using ferries as platform of opportunity was performed since 2008 within the framework of the FLT Med Network. Data were collected along sever…

The urban vascular flora of Palermo (Sicily, Italy)

2019

This article presents a comprehensive inventory of the urban vascular flora of the town of Palermo. The data were gathered from extensive field collections, from specimens kept in different herbaria, and publications of the last 30 years. The floristic catalogue includes all the vascular plants that occur spontaneously within the urban area. Thirteen taxa are endemic to Sicily and one of these, Clinopodium raimondoi, is exclusive to Palermo’s area. The inventory comprises 1052 taxa belonging to 119 families and 225 genera, and contains 170 taxa non-native to the Italian flora.

Comparison of intra- and inter-pool crosses in faba beans (Vicia faba L.). I. Hybrid performance and heterosis in Mediterranean and German environmen…

1996

Two recently detected, promising CMS systems in faba bean have opened up new possibilities in hybrid breeding. This study was conducted to determine hybrid performance and heterosis of 33 intra-pool and 66 inter-pool crosses from a factorial of six European small-seeded (Minor), six European large-seeded (Major), and eight Mediterranean faba bean lines. The parent lines and F 1 crosses were evaluated at two German and seven Mediterranean environments for anthesis, maturity, yield, yield components and plant height. Yield in the Mediterranean environments was 60% of that in the German environments. European Minor lines and their intra-pool crosses were unadapted to Mediterranean environments…

Scent of Jasmine Attracts Alien Invaders and Records on Citizen Science Platforms: Multiple Introductions of the Invasive Lacebug Corythauma ayyari (…

2020

Simple Summary The distribution of the lacebug Corythauma ayyari, a pest species associated to jasmine plants, has been updated using collections and citizen-science data. The path of introduction of this species in Italy has been inferred with molecular analysis. The results revealed an extent of occurrence in Italy wider than was previously known and the evidence of multiple introduction events. The work shows that citizen science can represent a further tool within the early warning information system for alien species introduction. Abstract The jasmine lacebug Corythauma ayyari is a pest of cultivated and ornamental plants mainly associated to Jasminum spp. This invasive insect is nativ…