Mediterranean Region Research Articles

Mulching with Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Compost Has Beneficial Side Effects on Vineyard Soil Compared to Mulching with Synthetic Films

Municipal solid waste (MSW) compost represents a sustainable alternative to plastic film for mulching in viticulture. This study investigated the effects of MSW compost on vineyard soil properties, specifically focusing on side effects such as soil temperature and microbial decomposition activity, independently from its role in weed control. The experiment was conducted in a vineyard located in the Mediterranean region (Southern Italy), with six different mulching treatments: black polyethylene (PE) film, black and white biodegradable film, three different amounts of MSW compost (8, 15, and 22 kg plant−1), and a control without mulching. Weed growth was monitored to determine the optimal compost application amount. The 15 kg plant−1 treatment was selected for further analyses, as it did not significantly impact weed growth compared to the control. Results indicated that MSW compost mulching maintained lower soil temperatures compared to other treatments (up to 5 °C in the warmest hours) and reduced the amplitude of the thermal wave up to 50% compared to the non-mulched soil and even more compared to black film mulched soil, particularly during the warmest periods. This suggests that MSW compost can mitigate heat stress on plant roots, potentially enhancing plant resilience and preserving crop production also in stressful growing conditions. Microbial decomposition activity, assessed using the tea bag index, was higher in the MSW compost treatment during spring compared to the control, indicating temperature as a key driver for organic matter decomposition, but this effect disappeared during summer. These findings highlight the potential of MSW compost to support sustainable viticulture by reducing reliance on synthetic mulching materials and promoting environmental sustainability through the recycling of organic municipal waste.

Modelling land and water based movement corridors in the Western Mediterranean: a least cost path analysis from chalcolithic and early bronze age ivory records

The transportation of Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age ivory raw materials and artefacts across the Mediterranean has been in the focus of archaeological research for over a century now. However, tracing the flow of ivory has mostly been restricted to traditional theoretical models of raw materials distribution deriving from socio-culturally centred considerations. Environmental conditions, potential transportation networks and dissemination routes have not yet been considered decisive for the spread of ivory raw material from the African shores and the eastern Mediterranean towards the Iberian Peninsula. Implementing computational environmental and archaeological modelling, we present a fully reproducible quantitative approach to estimate potential communication and transportation networks based on environmental covariates. We deploy a Network Analysis model and a predictive model based on Least Cost Path density to propose a potential land- and sea-based movement corridor for the western Mediterranean Basin that could have enabled the cultural spread of resources during the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC. Using the presented model and the open-source data underlying the analyses, distribution patterns of multiple material resources from different chronological subsets or regions can be developed, which will contribute to understanding prehistoric human patterns across the Mediterranean.

Fruit anatomy and histogenesis in Mediterranean species of Arbutus (Ericaceae: Arbutoideae): ecological and morphogenetic aspects

Abstract Details of fruit anatomy and pericarp histogenesis were studied in Mediterranean species of Arbutus with the aim to determine the morphogenetic fruit type, to reveal the functional and ecological significance of fruit structure, and to suggest the most probable scenarios of fruit structural transformations in Arbutoideae (Ericaceae). The pericarp of the coenocarpous berries of Arbutus is differentiated into: one-layered exocarp, multilayered parenchymatous mesocarp with scattered solitary and groups of sclereids, and one-layered endocarp composed of thin-walled cells. The warts covering the fruit surface are formed by parenchymatous cells of the mesocarp and the exocarp. The process of pericarp development in Arbutus is divided into four periods, which correlate with the phenology and climatic factors of the Mediterranean region. The origin of the dormancy period in the middle part of fruit development in Arbutus is interpreted as an important adaptation to the arid Mediterranean climate. The data obtained suggest that both the berry of Arbutus and the pyrenariums of Arctostaphylos and Arctous are highly specialized fruit types that could not have derived from each other. The capsule of Hamamelis type of Enkianthoideae is recognized as the original fruit type of the berries and pyrenariums of Arbutoideae.

Performance of co-designed diversified Mediterranean cropping systems: Hybridizing stakeholders' knowledge and modelling data

Mediterranean cropping systems, characterised by continuous cereal cropping, are largely dependent on synthetic inputs, such as N fertilisers. On the other hand, they face difficult pedoclimatic conditions, exacerbated by climate change. Diversification is seen as a way to increase cropping systems resilience. The aim of this study was to co-design diversified cropping systems based on the expertise of local stakeholders and co-assess their performance, using modelling data. Our case study is the Ebro valley in Spain, a Mediterranean area with great potential for diversification, particularly where irrigation is available. Two workshops were organized to i) define the reference system in the study area and its limitations ii) co-design diversified systems to overcome these limitations and iii) co-assess reference and diversified systems. Between the two workshops, the STICS soil-crop model was calibrated with local experimental data, enabling to simulate the inter-annual (2000–2021) agronomic and environmental performance of the reference and diversified systems. An economic analysis was conducted. Stakeholders evaluated all economic, agronomic and environmental aspects. The reference system was a continuous winter cereal crop based on synthetic N fertilisation and intensive tillage. The four diversified co-designed systems consisted in introducing pea and/or rapeseed every 2 or 4 years, reducing tillage and partially replacing synthetic N fertilisation with locally sourced livestock manure. Simulation results showed that wheat and barley grain yields remained stable with diversification. Pea and rapeseed yields were lower in rotations where both were introduced compared to when each was the only break crop over 4 years. At the system level, protein yield remained stable with diversification, however, energy yield decreased by 20 % when break crops were introduced twice and by 10 % when introduced once. Gross margins improved with diversification only when pea was introduced once (12 %), mainly due to reduced expenses (-31 %), while incomes remained stable compared to RCS. However, incomes decreased by 5 % when rapeseed was introduced once, and by 10 % when both break crops were introduced. Unexpectedly, environmental performance deteriorated with diversification, with increased N losses through ammonia volatilisation and nitrate leaching in the years following pea and rapeseed cropping, due to greater N availability in the soil. An increased use of pesticides was predicted by the stakeholders in diversified systems, where the environmental impacts were exacerbated with the higher presence of break crops. The reference system presented slightly lower N availability and increased soil organic carbon storage. Overall, the approach proved useful in identifying a diversification strategy that improved agronomic and economic performance, with the system including pea once every four years being the most efficient. However, the environmental trade-offs associated with the increased presence of pea and rapeseed in the crop rotation must be considered in order to mitigate the environmental risks.

Small Islands and Islets: Laboratories or Key Sensors for Environmental Policies in the Mediterranean Basin?

By building the PIM Initiative, the European and International Delegation of France’s Conservatoire du Littoral et des Rivages Lacustres (Coastal Protection Agency) aims to use small islands as laboratories to unite actors and build ambitious environmental policies in the western Mediterranean basin. This study examines the position of these small islands as a relevant model for conservation policies and actions. It is based on data collected during a two-year immersion in the PIM Initiative and uses several methodological and analytical tools. While working on the small islands of the Mediterranean basin, the PIM Initiative uses three main techniques: building a collective, gathering environmental data, and spreading a representation of these territories to wider publics. These techniques are analyzed using the framework of the circulatory system of scientific facts (Latour, 1999). This analysis highlights three preconceptions: (i) small islands group a limited number of actors, (ii) islands attract and facilitate consensus, and (iii) actions implemented on small islands can be replicated on larger islands and the mainland. The article concludes by discussing how the PIM Initiative is poised between considering small islands as laboratories which should become models for environmental policies, or as key sensors, specific territories which highlighted some broader features.

Definition of a PVT coupled water source heat pump system through optimization of individual components

Exploiting renewable resources considering their discontinuity compared to building needs, necessitates energy system designs that simultaneously maximize generation and storage performance in different seasons. This article presents the optimization of RESHeat European project, concerning a high-performance system which combines water-source heat pump, cooled photovoltaic panels and thermal storage. The research regards the Italian demo site, near Rome, to define a solution for Mediterranean regions which alongside the requirement for heating have notable need for summer cooling. The targets are system's efficiency, with a minimum sCOP of 5, and a minimum 70 % coverage from renewable sources focusing ambient temperature management.A dynamic model of plant and building was used for parametric analysis, which covered separately heating and cooling modes, involving significant parameters: operating temperatures of the heat pump, number of strings comprising the photovoltaic array, volume of the buffer tank connecting PVTs and WSHP and setpoint temperature of a cooler added for tank temperature control in cooling. 184 alternative configurations were evaluated by Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method based on energy, economic and logistic criteria, and weighted by five indices. The optimal system includes 15 PVT panels strings for 25 kWp, a 3 m³ storage tank and cooling setpoint temperature of 25 °C.

Investigating environmental prioritization: role of financial resources and female entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean region

PurposeIn this study, we aim to define a new ecological financial pecking order. We examine how SMEs' adherence to the environment in the Mediterranean region is impacted by their financial resources and how women Entrepreneurship could play a moderating role in this relationship.Design/methodology/approachOur data are pooled cross-sectional firm level data across 14 Mediterranean countries, with a total of 5,949 observations over the period from 2018 to 2020. We look into the moderating influence of SMEs’ female ownership on the financial sources-environmental engagement link using GLS estimations. To reach our aim we focus on seven funding sources and develop a green engagement construct using JCA. Besides, we distinguish between the least and most environmentally engaged companies in the EU and its neighborhood and compare the different interactions and possible moderations.FindingsResults show that government subsidies foster environmental engagement, followed by supplier credits with a less significant positive impact. The bank credits have the least significant beneficial influence, while non-bank financial institutions have a non-significant effect. We underline that environmental engagements are hindered by the other funds, issued bonds and internal funds.Research limitations/implicationsSMEs in the Mediterranean region, particularly the less environmentally conscious, require strong legal frameworks to enforce environmental responsibility and raise awareness. Integrating less environmentally committed EU SMEs into state subsidy strategies is a chance to improve environmental responsibility in the region.Originality/valueTo our knowledge, there are no prior studies that present a detailed financial structure and environmental management investigation for SMEs within the Mediterranean region while considering the moderating effect of women's entrepreneurship.

A new species of Leptomastax Pirazzoli in Israel (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae)

Leptomastax Pirazzoli includes 25 species mainly distributed in the Mediterranean region. Leptomastax minutissima sp. n. is described, based on a male collected in northern Israel. This is the smallest member of this genus known so far, with the body length merely 1.13 mm, and it belongs in a group of eyeless species with a strongly reduced pattern of macrosetae. Identification key to Leptomastax of Israel is given.

Evaluating climate-dependent distribution of orthohantaviruses with monitoring wild rodents: One Health Perspective†.

Orthohantaviruses, cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, nephropathia epidemica, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, are major public health problems all over the world. Wild rodent surveillance for orthohantaviruses is of great importance for the preparedness against these human infections and the prediction of possible outbreak regions. Thus, we aimed to screen orthohantaviruses in wild rodents in Southern Anatolia, where the area has some of the glacial period refugia in the Mediterranean Basin, and interpret their current epidemiology with climatic biovariables in comparison with previously positive regions.We trapped muroid rodents between 2015 and 2017, and screened for orthohantaviruses. Then, we evaluated the relationship between orthohantavirus infections and bioclimatic variables. In spite of the long-term and seasonal sampling, we found no evidence for Orthohantavirus infections. The probable absence of orthohantaviruses in the sampling area was further evaluated from the climatic perspective, and results led us suggest that Orthohantavirus epidemiology might be relatively dependent on precipitation levels in driest and warmest quarters, and temperature fluctuations.These initial data might provide necessary perspective on wild rodent surveillance for orthohantaviruses in other regions, and help to collect lacking data for a such habitat suitability study in a bigger scale in the future.

Comparative analysis of cultivated and wild olive genotypes to salinity and drought stress.

The Mediterranean region's harsh conditions, characterized by low rainfall, high solar radiation, and elevated temperatures, pose challenges for vegetation, particularly in the face of climate change. Cultivated olive (Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. europaea) holds historical and economic significance as one of the oldest crops in the Mediterranean. Due to their high germplasm diversity and greater flowering abundance compared to the offspring of cultivated olives, wild olives (Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris) could be utilized for selecting new olive cultivars capable of adapting to a changing climate. This research aimed to compare the effects of salt and drought stress on wild and cultivated genotypes by analyzing morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters. Results showed that shoot length, shoot dry mass, and leaf area are key drought stress indicators in wild olive trees. The results indicated the olive trees more susceptible to salinity stress had lower Na+ and Cl- concentrations in their leaves and took longer to stabilize salt ion levels. Decreased K+ content in roots across all treatments indicated a general stress response. The uptake of Ca2+ appears to be the most energy-efficient response of olive trees to short-term salinity and drought. In contrast to proline and malondialdehyde, trends in superoxide dismutase activity suggest that it is a reliable indicator of salinity and drought stress. Regarding olive adaptability to salinity stress, promising results obtained with two wild olive genotypes merit their further physiological study.

Contribution of the postharvest period to soil N2O emissions from arable Mediterranean crops

Soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions are a relevant contributor to the global warming potential of Mediterranean agro-ecosystems and therefore should be accurately quantified. Here, we investigated the quantitative relevance of considering postharvest N2O measurements when calculating annual soil N2O emissions from herbaceous crops (excluding rice). Data from 25 studies conducted in Mediterranean climates were compiled from a variety of crops and cropping systems, soil types, tillage practices, and nitrogen (N) fertilizer management practices. The differences between cumulative N2O emissions in the cropping period (preharvest emissions) and in the postharvest period were evaluated through a meta-analysis, as were the maximum N2O peaks in both periods and the resultant N2O emission factors (EFs). The relative contribution of the postharvest period to total cumulative N2O emissions was a mean 26%, but showed high variability. The average N2O EFs in the field experiments included in this study were 0.21% and 0.27% when not considering and when considering the postharvest period, respectively. The relative and absolute contribution of postharvest emissions was significantly greater for winter cereals than for either horticultural crops or maize. The maximum preharvest fluxes were higher than the maximum postharvest fluxes in 72% of the observations, but notable postharvest N2O peaks after soil rewetting were obtained in some studies. On average, postharvest emissions in nonfertilized plots were similar to those in fertilized winter crops. Other factors such as N source (greater relevance for organic fertilizers, particularly in summer crops), N rate, tillage intensity and soil texture significantly affected the amount of postharvest emissions. Taking measurements during the postharvest period in Mediterranean cropping systems are encouraged in studies that include winter crops, use of organic fertilizers or have unbalanced N rates. Our results may contribute to improving N2O measurement protocols and to re-evaluating N2O EFs in Mediterranean and semiarid areas.

Spotlight on Secondary Metabolites Produced by an Early-Flowering Apulian Artichoke Ecotype Sanitized from Virus Infection by Meristem-Tip-Culture and Thermotherapy.

Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. scolymus) is an important crop of the Mediterranean basin characterized by many properties, like hepatoprotective, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and beneficial to human health. The high bioactive compounds (BACs) content, as polyphenols, has attracted the research interest in artichoke extracts. We analysed the changes in polyphenol transcriptome profile between sanitized (S) virus-free and non-sanitized (NS) artichoke plants, focusing on genes involved in phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway and flavonoid biosynthesis. A total of 2458 upregulated and 2154 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were functionally characterized. Among them, 31 and 35 KEGG orthology entries characterized by upregulated and downregulated DEGs, respectively, were involved in the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites. A downregulation of PAL, C4H, 4CL, HST/HQT, C3'H, CCoAMT, CCR1, and F5H, was observed in S artichoke compared to NS one, whereas the CSE, CHS, and CHI genes were upregulated in S samples. Transcriptome results were compared to the polyphenols accumulation in S and NS artichoke leaves. A higher content of total polyphenols was observed in older leaves of NS samples, compared to extracts obtained from young leaves or from S plants, and this result was associated with the presence of viral infections in NS plants. In all the conditions tested, the most represented compound was chlorogenic acid, followed by luteolin-7-O-glucoside. The different composition of each extract was evaluated by a polyphenol dose-response treatment on the rodent hepatoma FaO cell line to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A significant reduction in ROS content ranging between -40% and -48% was observed when 10-20 mg/L of polyphenols from NS or S plants were used, characterized by a specific profile of compounds. To reduce MetOH residues in polyphenol extracts, a supercritical fluid CO2 extraction was evaluated to propose a sustainable green extraction.

Applying Spectroscopies, Imaging Analyses, and Other Non-Destructive Techniques to Olives and Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A Systematic Review of Current Knowledge and Future Applications

Given its huge economic, nutritional, and social value, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is an essential food. This flagship product of the countries bordering the Mediterranean basin is one of the most frauded products worldwide. Although traditional chemical analyses have demonstrated to be reliable tools for olive drupes and EVOO quality assessment, they present several drawbacks; the urgent need for fast and non-destructive techniques thus motivated this review. Given the lack of comprehensive reviews in the literature, our first aim was to summarize the current knowledge regarding applying spectroscopies, imaging analyses, and other non-destructive techniques to olives and EVOO. The second aim was to highlight the most innovative and futuristic applications and outline the future research prospects within this strategic production chain. With respect to olive drupes, the most interesting results were obtained using RGB imaging and NIR spectroscopy, particularly using portable NIR devices and specific digital cameras for in-field or in-mill monitoring. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that RGB imaging and NIR spectroscopy need to be integrated with flesh hardness measurements, given the higher reliability of this parameter compared to olive skin color. Finally, with respect to EVOO, although several useful applications of visible imagining, UV–Visible, NIR, and Mid-Infrared spectroscopies have been found, the online monitoring of EVOO quality using NIR spectroscopy strikes us as being the most interesting technique for improving the EVOO production chain in the near future.

Correction to: Impacts of climate change on spatial drought distribution in the Mediterranean Basin (Turkey): different climate models and downscaling methods

Correction to: Impacts of climate change on spatial drought distribution in the Mediterranean Basin (Turkey): different climate models and downscaling methods

Evaluation of the effect of agroclimatic variables on the probability and timing of olive fruit fly attack.

Agroclimatic variables may affect insect and plant phenology, with unpredictable effects on pest populations and crop losses. Bactrocera oleae Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a specific pest of Olea europaea plants that can cause annual economic losses of more than one billion US dollars in the Mediterranean region. In this study, we aimed at understanding the effect of olive tree phenology and other agroclimatic variables on B. oleae infestation dynamics in the Umbria region (Central Italy). Analyses were carried out on B. oleae infestation data collected in 79 olive groves during a 7-year period (from 2015 to 2021). In July-August, B. oleae infestation (1% attack) was negatively affected by altitude and spring mean daily temperatures and positively by higher winter mean daily temperatures and olive tree cumulative degree days. In September-October, infestation was negatively affected by a positive soil water balance and high spring temperatures. High altitude and cumulative plant degree days were related to delayed attacks. In contrast, high winter and spring temperatures accelerated them. Our results could be helpful for the development of predictive models and for increasing the reliability of decision support systems currently used in olive orchards.

Evaluation of the blended public health empowerment program-basic field epidemiology in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The COVID-19 pandemic encouraged the shift toward technology-based learning globally, impacting education systems profoundly. In response to this emerging need, the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) adapted its Public Health Empowerment Program-Basic Field Epidemiology (PHEP-BFE) to a Blended Learning Model. This study evaluates the Blended PHEP-BFE program in Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon, focusing on participant reactions and learning outcomes. A descriptive evaluation was conducted, aligned with the first two levels of Kirkpatrick's model. Online questionnaires were administered to participants and facilitators through EMPHNET's Learning Management System (LMS). Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed to assess program effectiveness, satisfaction, and challenges. A total of 138 PHEP-BFE participants (119 (86.2%) males and 19 (13.8%) females) from Iraq (n = 61), Egypt (n = 66), and Lebanon (n = 11) responded to the questionnaire. The majority of the participants (96.4%) reported that they were satisfied with PHEP-BFE. Notably, 77.5% of participants rated the blended learning program as very good or excellent, 18.1% rated it good, and 3.6% found it average, with a minimal 0.7% expressing dissatisfaction. The majority of participants agreed that the blended PHEP-BFE enhanced their capacity to conduct, review and monitor surveillance data (95.7%), perform descriptive data analysis (94.2%), effectively communicate information with agency staff and the local community (95.7%), write summaries of surveillance findings or outbreak investigations (95.7%), use MS Excel to enter, analyze, and display public health surveillance data (91.3%), prepare and administer an oral presentation for fieldwork (94.9%), and increase their knowledge of fundamental field epidemiology (94.9%). The participants responded positively to the program's content, training duration, learning platform, facilitators and mentors, and fieldwork. The study showcases the success of the blended PHEP-BFE in diverse contexts, emphasizing positive participant reactions and improved competencies. The evaluation underscores the program's success in advancing public health training in the EMR. Blended learning models prove promising for future FETP initiatives, contributing valuable insights to public health workforce development. Positive outcomes and identified challenges, provide a roadmap for continuous improvement.

Temporal Variation in and Influence of Environmental Variables on a Lepidopteran Community in a Mediterranean Mid-Mountain Area

The temporal variation in a community of nocturnal and diurnal Lepidoptera was studied in a Mediterranean mid-mountain area of the SW Iberian Peninsula between 2017 and 2019. Monthly samplings that allowed for the identification of 3528 specimens, belonging to 373 species from 40 different families, also provided data on the temporal and seasonal variation in richness and the abundance (dominated by Geometridae and Noctuidae), diet type (mainly oligophagous), voltinism (mostly univoltine) and biogeography of the community, primarily Mediterranean in scope. Richness, abundance and diversity were also found to be highly positively correlated with temperature and solar radiation, and less negatively correlated with precipitation and humidity. Canonical correspondence analyses (CCAs) also indicate that temperature and radiation are the climatic variables with the greatest influence on species occurrence over the different months of the year. The CCAs gave a cumulative variance value of 84.79% when using the monthly mean values of temperature, solar radiation and minimum relative humidity, and 86.4% if only monovoltine species were considered. Guidelines to maintain diversity in the environment of the study area are provided. It is possible that the area may function as a refuge area for Lepidoptera in the face of climate change and deforestation that are occurring in the geographical environment.

Assessing the role of habitat, climate, and anthropization gradients on terrestrial mammal diversity in the western Mediterranean basin.

Mammal species globally exhibit distribution patterns conditioned by environmental conditions and human impact. The Mediterranean basin provides an ideal system to study these effects due to its diverse climate, and habitat conditions. In this work, we aim to assess the impact of landscape heterogeneity and anthropization degree on terrestrial mammal diversity in this region. Accordingly, we deployed over 300 camera traps across 28 sites for 3 months. Detected mammal species (weighing more than 1kg) were classified as domestic carnivores, domestic ungulates, wild carnivores, wild ungulates, lagomorphs, and large rodents. Alpha and beta diversity were calculated for each group and all wild mammals. Simple linear regressions and multimodal analysis were conducted between mammal diversities and climate, environmental conditions, landscape heterogeneity, and anthropization degree variables. Redundancy analyses were performed to identify variables and species determining the mammalian community composition. Indexes measuring landscape heterogeneity, anthropization degree, and its 30-year change did not correlate with mammal diversity. However, the difference in elevation within sites and domestic carnivore abundance showed a significant positive correlation with some of the diversity indexes. Nonetheless, rainfall and mean elevation factors generally showed the highest correlation with mammal diversity. Instead, a few influential species, including generalists and open-habitat specialists, highlighted the importance of conserving open areas, as well as the importance of the Pyrenees region as a key habitat for certain species. Therefore, climatic variables emerged as the key determinants of mammal diversity, highlighting climate change as a potential threat to mammal diversity in this area.

Post-Fire Vegetation (Non-)Recovery across the Edges of a Wildfire: An Unexplored Theme

Wildfires have a significant influence on ecosystems globally, shaping vegetation, biodiversity, landscapes, soil properties, and other ecosystem processes. Despite extensive research on different aspects of wildfires, the edges of burned areas remain understudied, even though they involve complex dynamics. In this study, we analyzed the post-fire vegetation recovery across the edges of a large wildfire in a Mediterranean area. The investigations were focused on patches of woodlands that, in a previous study, showed a normalized burn ratio (NBR) decline one year after the fire. Field vegetation surveys were carried out in areas characterized by different NBR recovery rates and in areas outside the burned area as controls. Five hypotheses were tested, identifying delayed tree mortality as a key factor linked to NBR decline, particularly in low-severity fire zones in proximity to the fire edges. Delayed mortality, observed predominantly near the edges, may also affect unburned or less severely burned patches within the main fire perimeter, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring. As these areas play a crucial role in the post-fire succession and vegetation dynamics, understanding the second-order effects of a fire is imperative for effective ecosystem management. This study underscores the importance of the long-term assessment of fire impacts, emphasizing the necessity of field surveys alongside remote sensing. Continued observation is essential to elucidate the enduring impacts of wildfires and to facilitate informed restoration strategies.

Copying-lineages of portolan chart metrics and implications of their pre-medieval origin

ABSTRACT Seven portolan charts and atlases (including the anonymous Rex Tholomeus chart) made between 1311 and 1538 were cartometrically analysed. The findings indicate that their geometry was not improved chronologically and that the accuracy of Pietro Vesconte's charts (1311–13) was never surpassed. Portolan charts and atlases appear to be mosaics composed of subsections, each with variable metrics and accuracy levels that are, on average, twice as great in comparison to their Mediterranean and Black Sea areas (as a whole), and it is highly unlikely that they are genuine late medieval products, which is also supported by historical evidence. Their anticlockwise tilts fit well with the tilt of the Gibraltar-Antioch line on modern maps that closely approximate Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II projections centred near Gibraltar and with their meridian tilts for areas around Genoa. If late medieval Italian cartographers had acquired a collection of maps or charts from before the Middle Ages, it is theoretically feasible that they could have achieved the typical geometry of portolan charts by graphically combining their manuscript copies of large-scale regional maps in Mercator or Mercator-like projection, using a small-scale map in conic or pseudoconic projection (on which the convergence of meridians is displayed) as a template.