Island Of Mallorca Research Articles

An overview of Upper Pleistocene coastal deposits on Mallorca island

This review paper delves into the geological history of Mallorca, focusing on the Middle to Late Pleistocene period and its impact on the landscape and climate of the island. The Quaternary, particularly, the Last Interglacial, represents a relatively short timeframe on the global chronological scale, yet it is notable for its climatic instability and complex alternation of glacial and interglacial phases, leading to fluctuations in sea levels. During the last interglacial, millennial-scale fluctuations, known as Dansgaard–Oeschger and Heinrich events, occurred. Aeolianites are thought to have formed during periods of sparse vegetation cover and abundant sediment availability from the sea bed or platform (Heinrich events), while colluvial deposits and paleosols are believed to represent periods of reduced sediment supply and enhanced pedogenesis (Dansgaard–Oeschger events). These different deposits reflect climatic shifts and sea-level changes, offering insights into the environmental history of the island. Fossil evidence, including Strombus bubonius (currently known as Thetystrombus lauts) or “Senegalese hosts,” reveals past warm climatic fluctuations, particularly during the Last Interglacial. Myotragus balearicus exemplifies evolutionary adaptation and isolation on the island, offering a unique perspective on its paleontological legacy. The integration of stratigraphic characteristics and literature research on Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating techniques provides a comprehensive temporal framework, spanning from Marine Isotope Stage 6 (MIS 6) to Marine Isotope Stage 2 (MIS 2), enabling the precise dating of geological events and a stratigraphic correlation.

European Xylella fastidiosa Strains Can Cause Symptoms in Blueberry.

Strains of the bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa subspecies multiplex (Xfm) and pauca (Xfp) isolated from symptomatic almond and olive plants in Spain and Italy were used in this study. Because of the risk of host jump and considering the importance of southern highbush blueberry production in Spain, we tested a small set of these strains for their potential to infect and cause disease symptoms in blueberries under greenhouse experiments. Xfm IVIA5901 (isolated from almonds in Alicante, Spain) caused symptoms similar to those caused by Xfm AlmaEm3 (isolated from blueberries in Georgia, U.S.A., and used as a reference strain capable of inducing severe symptoms in blueberry). Nevertheless, bacterial populations of Xfm IVIA5901 in planta were significantly lower than those of Xfm AlmaEm3. Xfm ESVL (isolated from almonds, Alicante, Spain) and Xfp XYL1961/18 (isolated from olives, Ibiza Island, Spain) caused limited symptoms, while Xfm XYL466/19 (isolated from wild olives, Mallorca Island, Spain) and Xfm XF3348 (isolated from almonds, Mallorca Island, Spain) and Xfp De Donno (isolated from olives, Puglia, Italy, and representative of the devastating olive quick decline syndrome) did not cause symptoms nor colonize blueberries. This study suggests that certain strains already found in Europe could infect blueberry if conditions conducive for a host jump in this region are met, such as proximity of blueberries to other infected hosts and presence of insect vectors that feed on these crops. Surveys on the presence of X. fastidiosa in blueberries in Spain and other European countries are needed to anticipate possible issues.

The Interconnection between Climate Cycles and Geohazards in Urban Areas of the Tourist Island of Mallorca, Spain

The island of Mallorca has experienced major interventions and transformations of the territory, with unprecedented urban development related to growing tourism activity. In this paper, we present a spatio-temporal analysis—by using spectral analysis techniques—of climate cycles on the island of Mallorca (Spain) and their correlation with the occurrences of landslides and flash floods. Both geohazards are closely related to wet periods, which are controlled by different, well-known natural cycles: ENSO, the NAO, sunspot, etc. Geostatistical methods are used to map the distribution of rainfall, as well as a spatial representation of the spectral confidence of the different natural cycles, to define the hazardous areas on the island. The cycles with the greatest influence on rainfall in Mallorca are El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) (5.6 y and 3.5 y), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) (7.5 y), and Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO). Recorded events of both rockfalls and flash floods exhibit a strong correlation with the climate indices of QBO, ENSO, the NAO, and sunspot activity. This correlation is particularly pronounced with QBO, as this cycle has a higher frequency than the others, and QBO is observed as part of the other cycles in the form of increases and decreases during periods of higher ENSO, NAO, and sunspot values. However, the impact of flash floods is also significant in the southeast part of the island, despite its lower levels of rainfall. The most dangerous episodes are related to ENSO (6.4 y) and the NAO. The validation of the methodology employed is strengthened by incorporating information from the flash flood data, as it offers comprehensive coverage of the entire island, compared to the landslide database, which is confined to the Serra de Tramuntana region. The study reveals that the city of Palma and the municipality of Calvià, as well as the central and eastern urban areas of the island, are the most vulnerable regions to intense rainfall and its consequences.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases from Mallorca Island, Spain.

Ixodid ticks are obligate blood-feeding arthropods and important vectors of pathogens. In Mallorca, almost no data on the tick fauna are available. Herein, we investigated ticks and tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from dogs, a cat and humans in Mallorca as result of a citizen science project. A total of 91 ticks were received from German tourists and residents in Mallorca. Ticks were collected from March to October 2023 from dogs, cat and humans, morphologically and genetically identified and tested for pathogens by PCRs. Six tick species could be identified: Ixodes ricinus (n = 2), Ixodes ventalloi (n = 1), Hyalomma lusitanicum (n = 7), Hyalomma marginatum (n = 1), Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (n = 71) and Rhipicephalus pusillus (n = 9). Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. adults were collected from dogs and four females from a cat and the 16S rDNA sequences identified it as Rh. sanguineus s.s. Hyalomma lusitanicum was collected from 1 human, 1 dog and 5 specimens were collected from the ground in the community of Santanyi, together with one H. marginatum male. This is the first report of Hyalomma marginatum in Mallorca. Both I. ricinus were collected from humans and I. ventalloi female was collected from a dog. All ticks tested negative for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Coxiella spp., Francisella spp., and piroplasms. In 32/71 (45%) specimens of Rh. sanguineus s.s., Rickettsia spp. could be detected and in 18/32 (56.2%) sequenced tick DNAs R. massiliae was identified. Ixodes ventalloi female and both I. ricinus tested positive in the screening PCR, but the sequencing for the identification of the Rickettsia sp. failed.

Population genetics and phylogeographic history of the insular lizard Podarcis lilfordi (Gunther, 1874) from the Balearic Islands based on genome-wide polymorphic data.

Islands provide a great system to explore the processes that maintain genetic diversity and promote local adaptation. We explored the genomic diversity of the Balearic lizard Podarcis lilfordi, an endemic species characterized by numerous small insular populations with large phenotypic diversity. Using the newly available genome for this species, we characterized more than 300,000 SNPs, merging genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) data with previously published restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-Seq) data, providing a dataset of 16 island populations (191 individuals) across the range of species distribution (Menorca, Mallorca, and Cabrera). Results indicate that each islet hosts a well-differentiated population (F ST = 0.247 ± 0.09), with no recent immigration/translocation events. Contrary to expectations, most populations harbor a considerable genetic diversity (mean nucleotide diversity, P i = 0.144 ± 0.021), characterized by overall low inbreeding values (F IS < 0.1). While the genetic diversity significantly decreased with decreasing islet surface, maintenance of substantial genetic diversity even in tiny islets suggests variable selection or other mechanisms that buffer genetic drift. Maximum-likelihood tree based on concatenated SNP data confirmed the existence of the two major independent lineages of Menorca and Mallorca/Cabrera. Multiple lines of evidence, including admixture and root testing, robustly placed the origin of the species in the Mallorca Island, rather than in Menorca. Outlier analysis mainly retrieved a strong signature of genome differentiation between the two major archipelagos, especially in the sexual chromosome Z. A set of proteins were target of multiple outliers and primarily associated with binding and catalytic activity, providing interesting candidates for future selection studies. This study provides the framework to explore crucial aspects of the genetic basis of phenotypic divergence and insular adaptation.

Mordaith in Mallorca: Playing with Toy Tourism

This paper is an exploration of play in tourism. It is situated in an approach to play and toys informed by phenomenological perspectives and theoretical insights drawn from existential anthropology. It argues that tourism and play are intimately linked and outlines the ways in which connections between the two have been made. This paper focuses on a particular practice of play in travel—one that involves the use of a toy. Using the notion of ‘toy tourism’, I examine the ways in which touristic practices associated with play are brought into being in the moment of doing. The research is located in the resorts of Palmanova and Magaluf on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. I conducted the research using a doll from the Barbie Fashionista range, who I named Mordaith. I outline how and why Mordaith became my travel companion and the experience and events associated with my time with her in the resorts. This paper recounts the story of what happened when I brought about the play of toy tourism in Mallorca. It is an experimental approach that unfolds in the writing as much as in the gathering of information during fieldwork. I argue that what play is, and what a toy is, are neither fixed nor graspable objectivities. Rather, both toy and play, and, thus, toy tourism, emerge in my embodied imaginative understanding of what touristic and toy tourism practices are, as well as the actual embodied and emotional movements of employing a toy in practice.

Metagenomics of two aquifers with thermal anomalies in Mallorca Island, and proposal of new uncultivated taxa named following the rules of SeqCode

Groundwater offers an intriguing blend of distinctive physical and chemical conditions, constituting a challenge for microbial life. In Mallorca, the largest island of Balearic archipelago, harbours a variety of thermal anomalies (i.e., geothermal manifestation where surface aquifers exhibiting temperatures exceeding the regional average). The metagenomes of two aquifers in the centre and southern of the island showed Pseudomonadota to be the most represented phylum when using extracted 16S rRNA gene sequences. However, the microbial structures within and between aquifers were remarkably diverse but similar in their metabolic profiles as revealed by the metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) pointing to a prevalence of aerobic chemolithoautotrophic and heterotrophic metabolisms, especially in the Llucmajor aquifer. Also, some evidences of anaerobic lifestyles were detected, which would indicate that these environments either could suffer episodes of oxygen depletion or the anaerobes had been transported from deeper waters. We believe that the local environmental factors (temperature, external inputs or chemistry) seem to be more relevant than the connection and, eventually, transport of microbial cells within the aquifer in determining the highly divergent structures. Notably, most of the reconstructed genomes belonged to undescribed bacterial lineages and from them two high-quality MAGs could be classified as novel taxa named following the rules of the Code for Nomenclature of Prokaryotes Described from Sequence Data (SeqCode). Accordingly, we propose the new species and genus Costitxia debesea gen. nov., sp. nov., affiliated with the novel family Costitxiaceae fam. nov., order Costitxiales ord. nov. and class Costitxiia class. nov.; and the new new species and genus Lloretia debesea gen. nov. sp. nov. affiliated with the novel family Lloretiaceae fam. nov.

Multianalytical approach to the exceptional Late Roman shipwreck of Ses Fontanelles (Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain)

The paper presents the results of an interim analytical approach to the Late Roman shipwreck of Ses Fontanelles recently found in the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). The excellent state of preservation of the hull and the cargo, including amphorae with painted inscriptions (tituli picti), and its location in shallow waters offshore of one of the main touristic beaches of the island makes this a unique finding in the Mediterranean. A first season of excavations and study of the cargo triggered an analytical approach to solve some of the problems pose by archaeological research, mainly related to the possible origin of the vessel. The analytical strategy combines petrographic analysis for the study of the provenance of the amphorae, archaeozoology and residue analysis to identify their content, and analysis of the wood and plant remains to understand the use of vegetal resources in shipbuilding and in the stow of the cargo. The results of the combination of the petrographic analysis, the study of the ichthyofauna and the organic residue analysis suggest that the boat probably departed from the area of Cartagena in the southeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, carrying a cargo of fish sauce (liquaminis flos), oil, and wine (probably also some olives preserved in grape derivatives), transported in three main types of amphorae. The analysis of the wood shows, as known in Roman shipbuilding, a clear selection of forest resources. The shipbuilders used pine for longitudinal parts of the hull, while for the small pieces related to the assemblage system (pegged, mortise and tenons) and subjected to a great stress they selected harder woods mainly Cupressaceae, Olea europaea, and Laurus nobilis. In addition, the study reveals that mainly branches of Vitis vinifera, but also other herbaceous plants were used as dunnage protecting the cargo during the journey. The results help to shed some light into different aspects of this unique vessel sunk in Mallorcan waters and contributes to show the benefit of applying archaeological sciences in maritime archaeology.

Surveillance and screening of Stomoxyinae flies from Mallorca Island (Spain) reveal the absence of selected pathogens but confirm the presence of the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis

Adult brachycera biting flies can significantly impact livestock through both direct effects (reduction of food intake, disturbance, painful bites, and blood loss) and indirect effects (pathogen transmission), leading to substantial economic losses and production damage. This study aimed to assess the presence of blood-sucking flies in six mixed-animal farm environments on the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) by employing multiple trapping methods. Additionally, distribution maps of brachycera biting fly species recorded in Spain were created, based on data extracted thorough review of scientific literature and citizen digital databases. Investigation of several pathogens, including equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), Anaplasmataceae bacteria, and piroplasm protozoa, was carried out using different PCR targets (18S rRNA, 16S rRNA, groESL, and tat genes). Citizen science databases and literature review corroborated the consistent distribution trend for two Stomoxyinae species, underscoring the importance of citizen collaboration as a complement to traditional entomological surveillance. Our study confirmed the presence of two biting Stomoxyinae species: the prevalent stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans across all sampled farms, and the horn fly Haematobia irritans, which turned out to be less abundant. DNA barcoding techniques validated the identification of the two species. Neither EIAV nor bacterial/protozoan pathogens were detected using the selected PCR targets in either fly species. However, Wolbachia pipientis (clustered in the supergroup A together with the only sequence of W. pipientis from the USA) was identified through PCR targeting 16S rRNA, groESL and wsp genes in all pools of H. irritans (n = 13) collected from two of the examined farms. This study represents the first attempt to investigate pathogens in Stomoxyinae biting flies in Spain. The discovery of the endosymbiotic Wolbachia organism in H. irritans represents the first record in Spain and the second from Europe. This finding holds significant implications for future research on the applications of this bacterium in biocontrol programs.

Mallorca at the Crossroads of Powers in the Ninth Century

ABSTRACT The history of Mallorca during the early Middle Ages remains a subject of intense debate to this day. The literary and archaeological information that has been preserved from the transition from the ancient to the medieval world is still quite limited. During the ninth century, several civilisations and peoples came into contact with the island of Mallorca and other islands in the archipelago. The arrival of Byzantines, Muslims,

Tourism commodification and privatization of nature: private protected areas in the Serra de Tramuntana (Mallorca)

The creation of private protected areas (PPA) is commonly considered an instrument of neoliberal conservation, characterized by private management and commodification of nature for (eco)tourism and other market-based instruments (MBIs). PPAs are accused of reproducing social inequalities when entailing enclosure, exclusivity, land grabbing or dispossession. Yet PPAs exist in many different forms that enact these various processes in different ways. Our research explores this variegation in PPAs by offering a more nuanced understanding of the often complex and contradictory interconnections between processes of commodification and privatization different PPAs enact, as well as how PPAs are often operationalized differently in global south and north contexts. To develop this analysis, we draw on the conceptual framework of commodification proposed by Castree (2003) to investigate a number of PPAs located in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range on the island of Mallorca in Spain. Our results show that commodification and privatization combine in different ways and to different degrees in the various PPAs in this area. Overall, we conclude, privatization appears more pervasive than commodification in this global north context, as compared to research concerning PPAs in the global south suggesting the presence of far more commodification in such lower-income contexts.

Effects of global and climate change on the freshwater-seawater interface movement in a Mediterranean karst aquifer of Mallorca Island

Karst aquifers are globally prized freshwater sources, posing a significant preservation challenge. These aquifers typically exhibit dual or even triple porosities, encompassing matrix, fractures-fissures and conduits, rendering them highly responsive to variations in chemical characteristics and hydraulic head. In coastal regions, these aquifers often possess extensive subsurface conduit networks intricately linked to the rock matrix, facilitating groundwater discharge into the sea. Therefore, they display acute sensitivity to seawater intrusion, swiftly reacting to changes in precipitation and pumping regimes. This makes them exceptionally vulnerable to short-term meteorological fluctuations and long-term climate change. Their high heterogeneity leads to uneven penetration of the freshwater-seawater interface, causing rapid seawater intrusion inland over significant distances. The Mediterranean region, characterized by water deficit and water stress, faces strong impacts from climate change, featuring a warming atmospheric trend exceeding the global average, along with diminished rainfall exacerbating water scarcity. Increasing water demands for agriculture, urban development, and the growing tourism industry, because of global change, are worsening water stress. Our primary research objectives were analyzing the environmental consequences of global and climate change on seawater intrusion in Mediterranean coastal karst aquifers, with a focus on the role of the double-flow model, thus contributing to the understanding of the processes involved. To achieve this, we selected a study region on Mallorca Island in the western Mediterranean, where a karst aquifer system discharges into the sea. We employed various study methods, notably hydrochemical techniques and multi-isotopic analysis, encompassing the examination of 2H and 18O isotopes in water, 87Sr/86Sr ratio, Sr and B concentrations, and δ11B in water. A key finding is the rebound effect, wherein aquifers recontaminate due to solute molecular back-diffusion following cessation of extractions and the retreat of marine intrusion, providing insight into the impact of climate and global change on Mediterranean karst aquifers.

First detection of a potentially invasive species using a multi-threat early detection trap network

In this study we implemented an early detection and rapid response trapping network in the entry and distribution areas of plant material for 20 species on the island of Mallorca (the Balearic Islands, Westernmost Mediterranean Archipelago). Through this system we have detected the European hornet Vespa crabro, an exotic species, which despite not being included among the 20 target species. The European hornet is naturally present in Eurasia and absent in the Balearic and Canary Islands (Spain). It was detected in a port in the north of the island and based on the precautionary principle, the biosecurity administration in the control of species decided to classify it as potential invasive species and proceeded to search for the nest.

Constraining the end of the Last Interglacial (MIS 5e) relative sea-level highstand in central Mediterranean: New data from Grotta delle Capre, central Italy

The current rapid change of the Earth's climate has resulted in an increasing interest for the past warm periods as potential long-term scenarios of the effects of the present global warming. The last such a period occurred 129–116 ka, known as the Last Interglacial (LIG), when the continental ice volume was significantly smaller than present, leading to a global sea-level (GSL) higher than present one. Detailed morpho-stratigraphic data, supported by a robust U/Th chronology, from Grotta delle Capre, central Italy, provided new chronological insights on the relative sea-level (RSL) dynamic during the LIG in the Mediterranean region. Our results indicate that, on Tyrrhenian Sea coasts of the central Italy, after having stationed at ∼9 m a.s.l., the LIG RSL fell at an elevation <3 m a.s.l. as early as before 123 ka, and then no longer rose above this elevation either during the later stages of the LIG or afterwards. The results match previous studies based on U/Th dating of terrestrial limiting points from Grotta Infreschi, ∼200 km SE from Grotta delle Capre along the same Tyrrhenian Sea coasts, and are in agreement with the Red Sea RLS and GSL records and the probabilistic LIG sea level assessments based on globally distributed records. On the other hand, our reconstruction is not supported by implications of U/Th dating of corals and phreatic overgrowth on speleothems from the Balearic Island of Mallorca. Such an inconsistency in the overall knowledge around the LIG RSL reconstruction results in a high uncertainty in modelling the ice and sea-level dynamic during this warm period, which needs to be reduced through more and more high-resolution, stratigraphic and chronological investigations of the morphological and sedimentary sea-level records.

Plastitar records in marine coastal environments worldwide from 1973 to 2023

Plastics embedded in tar residues encrusting rocky coastlines were discovered on the Canary Islands (NE Atlantic Ocean) and termed “plastitar” in 2022. As plastic and tar pollution is widespread in marine pelagic and benthic habitats, it was predicted that this novel plastic form could occur on other coasts as well. To test this prediction, we reviewed the literature on plastic embedded in tar and examined rocky coastlines in our regions for plastitar. We found eight studies which reported plastic embedded in tar under several descriptions and terms (including “tar-bonded beach-conglomerate tarcrete”, “plasto-tar crust”, “plasto-tarball” and “plastitar”) in India (Arabian Sea), Bermuda (Saragossa Sea), the Bahamas (NW Atlantic Ocean), the United Arabic Emirates (Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman), Malta (central Mediterranean Sea), Croatia (Adriatic Sea), Italy (Adriatic and Ligurian Sea), Cabrera island, Menorca island and Sardinia island (western Mediterranean Sea) and Indonesia (Java Sea) from 1973 to 2023. We also detected plastitar during our field surveys in Japan (Sea of Japan) and Mallorca island (western Mediterranean Sea) in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), we verified the contained plastics as polyethylene (PE). Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PY-GC/MS) indicated that the tar residues derived from crude oil. Furthermore, plotting all these plastitar records in a global map revealed that almost all plastitar findings were made along the major oil transportation routes across the northern hemisphere suggesting that plastitar resulted from tanker-released crude oils. Overall, our study shows, for the first time, that plastitar has been a widespread and long overlooked plastic form in coastal systems worldwide.

Monitoring and Mapping Urban Sprawl Over Heritage Hotspots Using Copernicus Land Monitoring Services: The case of periurban large-scale, wind-powered water extraction mills in Palma (Mallorca)

Among the varied group of human constructions of heritage interest are the old wind-powered water extraction mills that sometimes form large-scale sets in rural areas with high wind potential. On the Mediterranean island of Mallorca (Spain), up to 2,400 windmills dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries have been counted. The areas in which they are located are considered heritage ‘hotspots’, i.e., areas prone to specific problems, such as the progressive abandonment of ethnological heritage resulting from urban sprawl over areas with an agricultural orientation. This article aims to monitor urban sprawl in the municipality of Palma, to quantify and map its impact on a set of windmills located mainly in the plain of Sant Jordi, to the east of the city. The study has been carried out using methodologies and analysis techniques from the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service’s Urban Atlas and Imperviousness Density products. The study shows that areas with agricultural land uses have been progressively transformed into urbanised ones. This transformation has impacted, above all, windmills located in peri-urban areas adjacent to the city. The analysis aims to show the analytical possibilities of Copernicus services and products, and their applicability in the planning and management of peri-urban agro-industrial heritage.

Pollen analysis reveals the effects of uncovered interactions, pollen-carrying structures, and pollinator sex on the structure of wild bee-plant networks.

Pollination networks are increasingly used to model the complexity of interactions between pollinators and flowering plants in communities. Different methods exist to sample these interactions, with direct observations of plant-pollinator contacts in the field being by far the most common. Although the identification of pollen carried by pollinators allows uncovering interactions and increasing sample sizes, the methods used to build pollen-transport networks are variable and their effect on network structure remains unclear. To understand how interaction sampling influences the structure of networks, we analyzed the pollen found on wild bees from eight communities across Mallorca Island and investigated the differences in pollen loads between bee body parts (scopa vs. body) and sexes. We then assessed how these differences, as well as the uncovered interactions not detected in the field, influenced the structure of wild bee-plant networks. We identified a higher quantity and diversity of pollen in the scopa than in the rest of the female body, but these differences did not lead to differences in structure between plant-pollination (excluding scopa pollen) and bee-feeding interaction (including scopa pollen) networks. However, networks built with pollen data were richer in plant species and interactions and showed lower modularity and specialization (H2'), and higher nestedness than visitation networks based on field observations. Female interactions with plants were stronger compared to those of males, although not richer. Accordingly, females were more generalist (low d') and tended to be more central in interaction networks, indicating their more key role structuring pollination networks in comparison to males. Our study highlights the importance of palynological data to increase the resolution of networks, as well as to understand important ecological questions such as the differences between plant-pollination and bee-feeding interaction networks, and the role of sexes in pollination.

Energy transition awareness: Can it guide local transition planning on islands?

The consequences of climate change and reduced energy security are becoming increasingly apparent, especially on islands. At the same time, the energy transition is quickly spreading and its value to society becoming clearer. Two main obstacles to this transition, rigid policy and lack of local understanding, are particularly troubling on islands, where national policies often aren't flexible enough to consider local particularities and residents are exposed to different energy realities from those on the mainland. Using exploratory interviews and a survey on four islands, this article considers island residents' awareness of energy transition concepts and presents how it interacts with, and is potentially influenced by, relevant energy policies at the national level. The paper presents the comparative results for the geographically, demographically and climatologically diverse islands of Gotland (Sweden), Lesvos (Greece), La Réunion (France) and Mallorca (Spain) to focus on European island energy transitions. Differences were noted between the islands' residents with regards to awareness of and willingness to use specific energy transition tools or to join activities like energy communities. Additionally, differences were noted between the islands for what was the most important reason to consider when using demand response, though ‘Ease of use’ was important across all. The potential reasons for differences among the islands are discussed and suggestions to increase consumer engagement with energy transition activities on islands are given. Overall, the results show that while awareness of energy concepts isn't greater on these European islands, interest in prospective transition actions was high and provide an opportunity for planners to capitalize on. However, if there are potential policy obstacles, these higher levels of interest cannot ensure higher levels of willingness to engage. Taken together, these two findings indicate the potential for an acceleration of transition activity on these islands, and potentially beyond, should engagement with island residents be increased along with review, and amendment of policies impeding it.

Invasion genetics of the yellow-legged hornet Vespa velutina in the Westernmost Mediterranean archipelago

AbstractThe yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is a social Hymenoptera native from Asia and an invasive species in Europe, where it was first detected in France in 2004. Since then, the species has spread across the continent invading mainland Spain and Mallorca island (Balearic archipelago, Western Mediterranean) in 2010 and 2015, respectively. Yellow-legged hornets cause severe damage to ecosystem by predating over a wide variety of pollinators including honeybees. Such a threat situation requires the development of effective management and prevention plans, which can greatly benefit from knowing both the origin and the genetic structure of the invading populations. Here we conduct a genetic study to shed light on both the origin and the phylogenetic relationships of V. velutina populations from Mallorca and mainland Spain using nuclear (STRs) and mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1) gene markers. Our results show that Mallorca populations originated from invasive European specimens. Moreover, FST values, DAPC and genetic structure analysis suggest two independent incursions in the island with bottleneck and founder effect signatures. Finally, we contribute additional genetic evidence of the polyandrous behavior of this invasive species based on the inference of a mean number of mattings per nest of 3.94 (range 2–6.5). This study supports the human-mediated pathways of this species and highlights the importance of implementing effective biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of invasive alien species in island habitats.

Conservation of temporary streams: The relevance of spatiotemporal variation in beta diversity

Abstract Temporary streams are affected by increasing human alterations, and this situation is expected to worsen under global change. Understanding biodiversity trends and the contribution of sites and species to β‐diversity is of high importance in establishing conservation priorities at a regional scale. This paper focuses on aquatic macroinvertebrate biodiversity in temporary streams on the island of Mallorca, using a space–time framework. Differences in α‐diversity, spatial–temporal fluctuations of β‐diversity, local contribution to β‐diversity (LCBD) and species contribution to β‐diversity (SCBD) were examined. Data analysis shows that only the space–time approach to β‐diversity can capture the full variation of macroinvertebrate composition in temporary streams. This confirmed our hypothesis that β‐diversity patterns are better explained by incorporating the temporal dimension to the space–time approach. Regarding β‐diversity components, species replacement components always dominate over richness difference. These results imply that β‐diversity variability is mainly caused by differences in species composition, while the relative difference in richness among sites has a minor role. Consequently, the optimal conservation strategy requires the protection of several undisturbed sites. Although the LCBD analysis did not detect any keystone sites, it helped to identify those sites that should be prioritized for restoration efforts (sites with high LCBD values and low α‐diversity). We also concluded that SCBD analysis should be interpreted carefully, as rare endemic species had low SCBD values. This study demonstrated the need for incorporating temporal variability in the analysis of biodiversity patterns in highly dynamic ecosystems, such as temporary streams. It also revealed the urgency of preserving a spatial network of temporary streams under non‐impaired conditions that can act as dispersal point sources to other streams for biodiversity conservation. These insights are relevant for Mallorca and other Mediterranean islands, and for the protection of temporary rivers elsewhere.