Central Iberia Research Articles

Genome-wide SNP assessment of contemporary European red deer genetic structure highlights the distinction of peripheral populations and the main admixture zones in Europe.

Genome-wide technologies open up new possibilities to clarify questions on genetic structure and phylogeographic history of taxa previously studied with microsatellite loci and mitochondrial sequences. Here, we used 736 individual red deer (Cervus elaphus) samples genotyped at 35,701 single nucleotide polymorphism loci (SNPs) to assess the population structure of the species throughout Europe. The results identified 28 populations, with higher degrees of genetic distinction in peripheral compared to mainland populations. Iberian red deer show high genetic differentiation, with lineages in Western and Central Iberia maintaining their distinctiveness, which supports separate refugial ranges within Iberia along with little recent connection between Iberian and the remaining Western European populations. The Norwegian population exhibited the lowest variability and the largest allele frequency differences from mainland European populations, compatible with a history of bottlenecks and drift during post-glacial colonization from southern refugia. Scottish populations showed high genetic distance from the mainland but high levels of diversity. Hybrid zones were found between Eastern and Western European lineages in Central Europe as well as in the Pyrenees, where red deer from France are in close contact with Iberian red deer. Anthropogenic restocking has promoted the Pyrenean contact zone, admixture events in populations on the Isle of Rum and in the Netherlands, and at least partly the admixture of the two main lineages in central-eastern Europe. Our analysis enabled detailed resolution of population structure of a large mammal widely distributed throughout Europe and contributes to resolving the evolutionary history, which can also inform conservation and management policies.

Statuary Qualities of White and Black Göktepe Identified in the Hispanic Valdetorres de Jarama Marble Collection

This paper focuses on the role of the most common mineralogical techniques applied to the identification of the different statuary qualities in white, grey, and black Göktepe marble. For this purpose, the case of a Roman sculpture marble collection from the rural villa of Valdetorres de Jarama (central Iberia), dating to the 4th century AD, is presented. The mythological statuary, combining white, grey, and black marbles, is one of the most outstanding marble collections in the Aphrodisian style found in Hispania. The analytical results (achieved through Petrography, Cathodoluminescence, C and O isotopes, and Sr and Mn concentration) support the identification of two varieties of “black” Göktepe, traditionally referred to as bigio morato and bigio antico, as well as the best statuary quality of white Göktepe. In addition, the analytical identification of other Asiatic marbles in the Valdetorres collection, a white coarse-grain originally from the quarries of Aphrodisias city, and one small piece identified as Carian red from Iasos, corroborates the already suggested strong connection existing between artists and the stone material they chose for their works. Finally, the identification carried out on the marble of the bases that served as seats for the sculptures is noteworthy, as it is a white marble of lower quality whose analytical characteristics are consistent with the Microasiatic marble of Denizli. The use of these exotic and exceptional raw materials confirms the taste for luxury and decorative richness in Late Antique Hispanic rural villae and contributes to a better understanding of the distribution of Aphrodisian production and trade networks with the Western Roman provinces.

Oroclinal arcs of the Variscan Belt: a consequence of transpression during the consolidation of Pangaea

Arcuate traces of large structures characterize many mountain chains. The Variscan Belt is not an exception and traces one of the tightest oroclines on Earth, the Ibero-Armorican Arc, as well as more open oroclines in the Eastern Moroccan Meseta, Central Iberia, the French Massif Central and the Bohemian Massif. All the Variscan arcs are considered to be true or secondary oroclines and are late orogenic features, but their timing and mechanisms of deformation differ. Models explaining their origin have been proposed for some individual arcs and are generally controversial. This paper aims to interprete the ensemble of Variscan arcs, highlighting their age relative to previous orogenic features as well as to those associated with arc development. Several mechanisms operated to form the arcs, the most important being ductile transcurrent shearing and rigid–plastic indentation, with shortening parallel to the orogen having a secondary role. These mechanisms acted at different time intervals, their participation or relative importance differs for each arc and they gave rise to distinct associated structures. The development of the arcs is viewed as related to late Variscan dextral transpression provoked by the displacement of Laurussia to the east relative to Gondwana during the Serpukhovian to early Permian.

Nobody's land? The oldest evidence of early Upper Paleolithic settlements in inland Iberia.

The Iberian Peninsula is a key region for unraveling human settlement histories of Eurasia during the period spanning the decline of Neandertals and the emergence of anatomically modern humans (AMH). There is no evidence of human occupation in central Iberia after the disappearance of Neandertals ~42,000 years ago until approximately 26,000 years ago, rendering the region "nobody's land" during the Aurignacian period. The Abrigo de la Malia provides irrefutable evidence of human settlements dating back to 36,200 to 31,760 calibrated years before the present (cal B.P.) This site also records additional levels of occupation around 32,420 to 26,260 cal B.P., suggesting repeated settlement of this territory. Our multiproxy examination identifies a change in climate trending toward colder and more arid conditions. However, this climatic deterioration does not appear to have affected AMH subsistence strategies or their capacity to inhabit this region. These findings reveal the ability of AMH groups to colonize regions hitherto considered uninhabitable, reopening the debate on early Upper Paleolithic population dynamics of southwestern Europe.

Salt production by ignition during the prehistory in the Iberian Peninsula with special focus on the archaeological site of Espartinas (Ciempozuelos, Spain)

One of the prehistoric techniques of salt production consisted of using ceramic vessels, known as briquetage, for the artificial evaporation of salt water. This paper summarizes all the archaeological sites throughout the Iberinan Peninsula where briquetage has been described to date, with special focus on the well-studied archaeological site of Espartinas saltworks. At Espartinas we found the use of two different kinds of ceramics, which points to a two-step process also involving halfah or esparto grass, which may well have been used for transport or/and as an insulating layer between the vessels walls and the mass of salt to facilitate the extraction of whole salt cakes. Palaeoenvironmental conditions at Espartinas have also been described based on local and regional pollen records and compared with the dry conditions associated to the so-called “4.2 cal kyr BP abrupt climatic event”. Despite the reduced amount of radiocarbon dating, the briquetage appears have been present in the studied region from the Late Neolithic to at least the Bronze Age. However, we cannot discard the fact that it might have reached the early Roman period, when salt evaporation ponds replaced this laborious technique. Moreover, briquetage distribution has been compared with evaporite outcrops throughout the Iberian Peninsula and it has been observed a characteristic pattern with a preference for peripheral, near to coast regions, with the exception of from Aranjuez-Getafe lower-Miocene lacustrine evaporites in central Iberia. Briquetage spread also shows a marked correlation with sites characterized by the presence of Atlantic halberds the first true metal weapon ever made in Western Europe and part of the warrior panoply of Late Copper Age/Early Bronze Age elites. At least during this period, these findings suggest that briquetage was used to obtain solid salt cakes easily transportable to medium and large distances by Atlantic and intra-Iberian trade exchange networks, which confirms previous studies that associate Bell Beaker phenomenon with salt circulation.

Exploring the atmospheric conditions increasing fire danger in the Iberian Peninsula

AbstractThe fire danger is particularly sensitive to meteorological conditions. The present study discusses the atmospheric conditions during three periods to evaluate how they can increase fire danger. A set of three convection‐permitting simulations was configured at 2.5 km resolution using the Meso‐NH model. In the first period, the intense surface heating induced by a heatwave favoured the development of the Iberian thermal low in July 2019, leading to the formation of precipitating systems and resulting in convective outflows that affected the central Iberian Peninsula. The outflows were shown to be an important feature in evaluating fire danger during the period; however, the simulation also highlighted the orographic effect as another phenomenon playing an important role in fire development and consequently enhancing the fire danger in some regions such as in the extreme southwest of Portugal. The orographic effect in this specific region was identified and analyzed in detail for two megafire events that occurred in Monchique in August 2003 and 2018. The Monchique Mountain's shape and orientation interacting with the airflow induced upslope and downslope winds that favoured the rapid propagation of the fire fronts in August 2018. The third experiment showed that the circulation of a sea breeze from the southern coast of Portugal may act as an enhancer for fire danger in the region when interacting with the regional mountain, such as verified in the 2003 megafire. The study shows that the fire danger over specific regions can be increased by different atmospheric phenomena and explored from atmospheric modelling. The convective outflows were an important factor enhancing fire danger; however, the orographic effect was confirmed as the main factor producing two megafires events in the extreme southwest of Portugal.

Sphaerocarpos ibericus sp. nov. (Sphaerocarpaceae), a new European liverwort species that includes S. stipitatus auct. eur. non Lindenb.

ABSTRACT Introduction Specimens of Sphaerocarpos collected during 2022 from the central Iberian Peninsula did not match any previously known species of this genus. Examination of other herbarium material revealed three identical specimens from three different localities in Spain. These were also morphologically identical to Portuguese specimens previously identified as S. stipitatus, a southern hemisphere and Himalayan species that in fact is different from these Portuguese plants. Methods The morphology of the newly collected specimens was compared with that of the known European species plus descriptions of South African plants of Sphaerocarpos stipitatus. A phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear gene 26S and plastid psbA and rbcL regions was performed to investigate its relationships in the genus. Key results and conclusions Based on morphological and molecular data, we describe the plant as a new species of bryophyte, Sphaerocarpos ibericus M.Infante, Luceño, Quirós-de-la-Peña, Míguez, J.Muñoz & Heras, hitherto an Iberian endemic. It is diagnosed by having cylindrical female involucres with a partially bistratose wall whose inner cells are finger-like and arranged in more-or-less definite ribs in the medial part of the involucre, and the distal part of its spores covered with complete areolae larger at the centre of the spores than on their sides, gradually becoming incomplete and with the remaining lamellae transforming into ridges towards the line where the individual spores of the tetrad are joined. According to published illustrations, Portuguese specimens identified as S. stipitatus pertain indeed to the new species, and therefore S. stipitatus auct. eur. non Lindenb. should be removed from the European liverwort flora.

Mega‐Folding of a Basement During Incipient Intra‐Plate Continental Subduction (Alpine Central Iberia)

AbstractMetamorphic basements are usually considered rigid and isotropic at a large scale. However, basements contain inherited weaknesses that may potentially accommodate superimposed contraction (e.g., fault reactivation), and that favor fold nucleation (e.g., penetrative foliations). If these conditions are met, what could be the factors that impede the development of basement folds or their recognition? Actual basement folding is rarely documented, especially for large dimensions. Here we provide a case example, discussed from the perspective of structural analysis of surface data and sustained by geophysical data. The basement of the Spanish‐Portuguese Central System is defined by an Alpine mega‐fold (Hiendelaencina Antiform) that trends parallel to this mountain range and affects the basement and its sedimentary cover, collectively. The wavelength of this fold matches or even surpasses the thickness of the crust that hosts it (36–41 km). The Moho under this mega‐fold is displaced by an Alpine fault that accounts for incipient intraplate continental subduction. The topography of the mantle may reflect an up‐warping compatible with the mega‐fold observed on the surface. Mega‐folding is observed in the hanging wall of the Berzosa Fault, which emerges as a SE‐dipping, Variscan (Paleozoic), extensional fault reactivated as a basal decollement upon Alpine (Cenozoic) contraction. The mega‐fold was formed after well‐oriented planar anisotropies in the basement (foliation and bedding). The development of this fold was assisted by heterogeneous shearing (coeval thrusting) plus the buttressing effect of pre‐existing, near‐vertical, crustal‐scale faults (Somolinos and Somosierra), which inhibited slip‐upsection through the basal decollement (Berzosa Fault).

Characterization of summer easterly winds over the inner Iberian Peninsula

In summer, a humid and relatively intense easterly regional wind appears in the Inner Plateau of the central Iberian Peninsula. It is known as Solano in some regions, has great ecological and cultural importance in these areas and has also been associated with flows in the northern regions. In this work, a first quantitative definition of this regional wind is proposed based on wind direction and speed and humidity gradient thresholds both in the central and the northern Iberian Peninsula. COSMO-REA6 high-resolution reanalysis has been used to describe the main statistical features of this wind. Its validation, comparing it with observational data, concluded that the reanalysis describes sufficiently well the wind and humidity of the study area in the chosen period. Solano appears in the central region around 41% of all July and August days (1995–2018 period), and in 73% of those days it is also detected in the northern Iberian Peninsula. It adopts an easterly direction, reaches speeds >3 m/s and causes a humidity variation. Solano presents large interannual variability, happening between around 30–60% summer days per year. It also has a marked daily cycle as it appears in the morning, spreads throughout the territory and disappears at night. Finally, this flow frequently occurs accompanied by low pressure conditions in the center-west of the Peninsula. In the northern region other easterly wind flows that do not seem related to the low pressure system or to Solano are also detected.

Iron Age Connectivity Revealed by an Assemblage of Egyptian Faience in Central Iberia

Research concerning transactions in the early first millennium bc in the westernmost Mediterranean has tended to focus on colonial coastlands occupied by scattered Levantine outposts, whereas cross-cultural interactions in hinterland regions have remained ill-defined. This article presents an assemblage of Egyptian vitreous artefacts, namely beads, a Hathor amulet, and further items from the seventh-century bc rural village of Cerro de San Vicente (Salamanca) in the interior of Spain. Macroscopic and chemical analyses demonstrate their likely manufacture in Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdom (second millennium bc), attesting to a far-reaching Phoenician maritime network that connected both ends of the Mediterranean. The authors interpret the items as liturgical objects, rather than mere high-status trinkets, that formed part of a widely shared Mediterranean world view and associated ritual mores. They consider the impact of cultural syncretism, which reached even remote and allegedly isolated peripheral settings in Iberia.

Alkaline Silicate Metasomatism Recorded through Fe-Ti-Rich Mantle Xenoliths from the Calatrava Volcanic Field (Spain)

Much of the lithospheric subcontinental mantle (SCLM) sampled in the Calatrava Volcanic Field (CVF) shows refertilization by alkaline metasomatic agents. The Cerro Pelado and El Palo ultramafic xenolith suites record the best evidence of this type of metasomatism in this volcanic field. Several groups of peridotite (lherzolite, wehrlite, and dunite) and pyroxenite (clinopyroxenite and websterite) xenoliths have been distinguished. Despite having scarce phlogopites and amphiboles as modal metasomatic phases, all studied xenoliths present a variable cryptic metasomatism, highlighted by the strong Fe-Ti enrichment and fractionated REE patterns in the most evolved wehrlite and pyroxenite varieties. They show a common trend of an Fe-Ti-Ca increase, whereas the pyroxenites are more depleted in Fe compared to the lherzolites and wehrlites. Trace-element (REE and multi-trace) patterns are roughly similar among them, suggesting different interactions and refertilization degrees by alkaline silicate melts. The same Sr–Nd isotopic EAR composition, combined with trace-element chemistry of metasomatic xenolith phases and phenocrysts from the Calatrava volcanics, highlights the main role of this magmatism in percolation processes beneath Central Iberia. These mantle xenoliths also show variable amounts of interstitial glass that originated by in situ partial melting, favored by the enriched chemical nature of cryptically metasomatized clinopyroxene during their volcanic transport. This alkaline-refertilized mantle type represents the main domain within the SCLM beneath Central Iberia, as was also recorded in other Western European Cenozoic volcanic fields.

On the Precursor Environments to Mountain Lee Wave Clouds in Central Iberia under CMIP6 Projections

Mountain lee waves present significant hazards to aviation, often inducing turbulence and aircraft icing. The current study focuses on understanding the potential impact of global climate change on the precursor environments to mountain lee wave cloud episodes over central Iberia. We examine the suitability of several Global Climate Models (GCMs) from CMIP6 in predicting these environments using the ERA5 reanalysis as a benchmark for performance. The dataset is divided into two periods: historical data (2001–2014) and projections for the SSP5–8.5 future climate scenario (2015–2100). The variations and trends in precursor environments between historical data and future climate scenarios are exposed, with a particular focus on the expansion of the Azores High towards the Iberian Peninsula, resulting in increased zonal winds throughout the Iberian Peninsula in the future. However, the increase in zonal wind is insufficient to modify the wind pattern, so future mountain lee wave cloud events will not vary significantly. The relative humidity trends reveal no significant changes. Moreover, the risk of icing precursor environments connected with mountain lee wave clouds is expected to decrease in the future, due to rising temperatures. Our results highlight that the EC-EARTH3 GCM reveals the closest alignment with ERA5 data, and statistically significant differences between the historical and future climate scenario periods are presented, making EC-EARTH3 a robust candidate for conducting future studies on the precursor environments to mountain lee wave cloud events.

Los Enebrales rock-shelter (Tamajón, Guadalajara, Spain): First Gravettian site in central Iberia

The stratigraphy and materials from a survey carried out in 1994 and 1995 in a rock-shelter in Tamajón (southwestern Iberian Central Range) are studied here. The Pleistocene deposits were generated by high-energy channelled fluvial flows and dense currents of debris flow and mud flow type. The recovered lithic industry, created mainly in low-quality local materials, can be associated with Gravettian technocomplexes. Three radiocarbon dates obtained from the stratigraphic sequence are located in a temperate interstadial of OIS 3a and in a cold episode at the beginning of OIS 2. The faunal remains, which come from human consumption, display cut and percussion marks. They reveal a predominance of equines, followed by deer, in a mosaic environment. A shale plaque-pendant, worked and decorated, was found outside the stratigraphy. The human occupations of the shelter must have been sporadic, but reflect, with the growing evidence nearby, a thriving population in this area of anatomically modern humans. The association of pre-Solutrean archaeological materials, together with the dates obtained, establishes the human occupation of the Los Enebrales shelter as the oldest evidence of the Upper Palaeolithic in the inner Iberian Plateau.

Searching for traces of human activity in earthen floor sequences: high-resolution geoarchaeological analyses at an Early Iron Age village in Central Iberia

The Northern Iberian Plateau during the Early Iron Age witnessed the proliferation of villages, showcasing well-preserved earthen architectural remains that offer valuable insights into past daily life practices. However, the application of high-resolution geoarchaeological approaches to these contexts has been largely overlooked, despite their significance in assessing complex sedimentary sequences predominantly composed of earth-based construction materials. This paper presents the outcomes of a microcontextual geoarchaeological study conducted on earthen dwellings from the Early Iron Age village of Cerro de San Vicente (Salamanca, Northern Iberia). Our study employed soil micromorphology, lipid biomarker analysis, XRD, and XRF analyses to investigate site formation processes, characterize construction materials and techniques, and explore aspects of daily life practices, functionality, and dwelling life histories. Our results have enabled the identification of three distinct construction layers within the dwellings, shedding light on recurrent events of floor use, maintenance, and repaving. Additionally, we have detected periods of abandonment and decay of the earth-based construction material that inform on the dynamics of abandonment and reuse within the village. Furthermore, our analysis has revealed the presence of well-preserved lipid biomarkers throughout the sequences, possibly associated with the past functionality of the dwellings. Ongoing and future analyses will further contribute to our understanding of ancient construction practices and the utilization of domestic spaces at Cerro de San Vicente. This study significantly enhances the limited availability of high-resolution, microcontextual data sets concerning Iron Age contexts in Iberia, underscoring the potential of our approach for future consolidation and advancement. By combining different geoarchaeological methodologies, we demonstrate the importance of integrating diverse analytical techniques to gain comprehensive insights into the socio-cultural dynamics of the Early Iron Age settlements.

Nimisora (Lecanoraceae, Ascomycota), a new genus for a common lecideoid epiphytic species from the central Iberian Peninsula

AbstractThe new genus Nimisora Pérez-Ort., M. Svenss. & J. C. Zamora is introduced to accommodate a puzzling lecideoid epiphyte common in the central Iberian Peninsula. Nimisora is characterized by the following combination of characters: lecideoid apothecia, excipulum composed of sparingly branched radiating hyphae with narrow lumina, thick walls and swollen terminal cells, the presence of a brown K+ olivaceous green pigment in the epihymenium, an ascus tip similar to the Bacidia-type, and the presence of simple ellipsoid ascospores. Molecular analyses based on nrITS, nrLSU and mtSSU sequences unequivocally place the new genus within the Lecanoraceae; however, its phylogenetic affinities with other genera of the family remain largely unresolved. Comparisons with the morphologically closest genera are provided. The single species of the genus, Nimisora iberica Pérez-Ort., Turégano, M. Svenss. & J. C. Zamora sp. nov., is also described as new to science.

Red deer in the Pyrenees: a risky secondary contact zone for conservation genetics

AbstractNatural events over time, and human interventions, influence the genetic structure of species. The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is widely distributed in Europe, with a large‐scale genetic structure largely determined by Pleistocene climatic oscillations. The Iberian Peninsula acted as one of the main glacial refuges for many species; a particular red deer lineage remains on the peninsula and is subjected to special conservation policies. The mountain range of the Pyrenees might be a contact zone where Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) could hybridize with other central European genetic lineages. In the late twentieth century, the natural distribution areas of red deer on both sides of the Pyrenees became closer because of restocking from central Iberia to areas south of the Pyrenees and from French populations to areas north of the Pyrenees. We analyzed the genetic structure of red deer populations in the Pyrenees to investigate the underlying processes of population contact and hybridization. The analysis of microsatellite genotypes showed 2 genetic clusters. One of these clusters associated with Iberian red deer, whereas the other presented European non‐Iberian genetic composition. Migration and hybridization events occurred between both genetic clusters, mostly in the eastern part of the sampling area. The Pyrenees is currently a secondary contact zone caused by anthropogenic translocations, and a risky hybrid belt for red deer genetic conservation.

Diversity and conservation of the Gredos Regional Park peatlands (Iberian Central System, Spain): Geomorphological and geobotanical characterisation and incoming threats

High-mountain peatlands are essential ecosystems for habitats, biodiversity, water, and carbon cycling, butthere is little comprehensive information in central Iberia. We present results of research concerning the distribution,geormorphology, floristic, geobotany, and habitat diversity of peatlands in the Gredos Regional Park (Iberian Central System).We identified 72 peatlands covering 117 ha and ranging in size from 0.01 to 17.34 ha. Peatlands occur primarily in theupper orosubmediterranean bioclimatic belt at 1775–2230 m asl. From a geomorphological point of view, 9 differentpeatland typologies have been defined. Multivariate analyses (agglomerative cluster analysis and principal componentanalysis) of 103 relevés allowed us to classify the sampled peatland stands into 7 plant communities and 4 Europeanhabitats that formed along complex hydrogeomorphic conditions, and to propose a new subassociation of other communitypreviously described (Caricetum echinato-nigrae lycopodielletosum inundatae). The main threat to Gredenseanpeatlands is pastoral pressure, which affects 15 of them intensively, mainly between the upper supramediterranean andthe lower orosubmediterranean bioclimatic belts (~1314–1700 m asl). Seven bryophytes and three vascular plantsdocumented in the Gredos Regional Park peatlands are included in the IUCN Red List. From the point of view ofconservation priority, the most threatened correspond to transition mires communities (Habitat 7140) growing inoligotrophic and minerotrophic peatlands (Caricion nigrae vegetation). Particularly, the Iberian Central System endemicSedo lagascae-Eriophoretum latifolii association is the one that has achieved the highest score in the five criteriaconsidered in this regard because Meesia triquetra, a species with the category of “critically endangered”, inhabits it.

Genomic phylogeography illuminates deep cyto-nuclear discordances in midwife toads (Alytes)

The advent of genomic methods allows us to revisit the evolutionary history of organismal groups for which robust phylogenies are still lacking, particularly in species complexes that frequently hybridize. In this study, we conduct RAD-sequencing (RAD-seq) analyses of midwife toads (genus Alytes), an iconic group of western Mediterranean amphibians famous for their parental care behavior, but equally infamous for the difficulties to reconstruct their evolutionary history. Through admixture and phylogenetic analyses of thousands of loci, we provide a comprehensive phylogeographic framework for the A. obstetricans complex, as well as a fully resolved phylogeny for the entire genus. As part of this effort, we carefully explore the influence of different sampling schemes and data filtering thresholds on tree reconstruction, showing that several, slightly different, yet robust topologies may be retrieved with small datasets obtained by stringent SNP calling parameters, especially when admixed individuals are included. In contrast, analyses of incomplete but larger datasets converged on the same phylogeny, irrespective of the reconstruction method used or the proportion of missing data. The Alytes tree features three Miocene-diverged clades corresponding to the proposed subgenera Ammoryctis (A. cisternasii), Baleaphryne (A. maurus, A. dickhilleni and A. muletensis), and Alytes (A. obstetricans complex). The latter consists of six evolutionary lineages, grouped into three clades of Pliocene origin, and currently delimited as two species: (1) A. almogavarii almogavarii and A. a. inigoi; (2) A. obstetricans obstetricans and A. o. pertinax; (3) A. o. boscai and an undescribed taxon (A. o. cf. boscai). These results contradict the mitochondrial tree, due to past mitochondrial captures in A. a. almogavarii (central Pyrenees) and A. o. boscai (central Iberia) by A. obstetricans ancestors during the Pleistocene. Patterns of admixture between subspecies appear far more extensive than previously assumed from microsatellites, causing nomenclatural uncertainties, and even underlying the reticulate evolution of one taxon (A. o. pertinax). All Ammoryctis and Baleaphryne species form shallow clades, so their taxonomy should remain stable. Amid the prevalence of cyto-nuclear discordance among terrestrial vertebrates and the usual lack of resolution of conventional nuclear markers, our study advocates for phylogeography based on next-generation sequencing, but also encourages properly exploring parameter space and sampling schemes when building and analyzing genomic datasets.

Geophysical survey at the frontier of medieval Iberia: The castles of Molina de Aragón and Atienza (Guadalajara, Spain)

AbstractThis paper presents the results of geophysical surveys conducted within two castles in central Iberia: the fortifications of Molina de Aragón and Atienza, both located within the modern province of Guadalajara in Spain. They represent essential case studies for understanding the transformations of the frontier societies of medieval south‐western Europe, because both were founded during the Andalusi period, both played a fundamental role at the time of the military confrontations between opposing Islamic and Christian states, and both became capitals within the feudal dependencies of the Crown of Castile during the Late Middle Ages. At present, these castles are uninhabited and protected archaeological sites, with no modern developments within their wards; the adjacent towns have developed on the outskirts of their outer walls. Although both castles have been the focus of uneven amounts of archaeological research, geophysical surveys, the first conducted at these sites, have proved to be a fundamental tool not only for planning future archaeological investigations but also for the data that they have provided on the potential roles of these castle wards.

An Evaluation of the Atmospheric Instability Effect on Wildfire Danger Using ERA5 over the Iberian Peninsula

The Fire Weather Index (FWI) is used to assess meteorological fire danger worldwide. It has been argued that it lacks an atmospheric instability term. A new enhanced FWI (FWIe) was recently developed incorporating atmospheric instability in the form of the Continuous Haines Index (CHI). Here, the first climatological and evolution analysis of these indexes was performed using ERA5 data for the 1980–2020 period. There was a prevalence of higher values over central Iberia; these were heavily modulated by the climate types, topography, and land cover. Southwest and east Iberia suffered the greatest decadal increases in all three indexes. Relating both indexes to occurrences detected by satellite, through fire radiative power (FRP), showed that FWIe provided an improved meteorological fire danger assessment in higher-risk conditions. This showed that greater-risk observations were more prone to be affected by atmospheric instability than lower-danger observations. Case studies for the 2017 central Portugal and 2003 and 2018 Monchique wildfires were additionally conducted to verify these conclusions. This work points to the usefulness of FWIe when/where atmospheric instability may play a critical role in the development of wildfires, which may contribute to a more focused deployment of suppression mechanisms by the authorities.