Island Of Lanzarote Research Articles

Notas sobre algunas plantas ruderal-arvenses de Lanzarote (islas Canarias)

In this paper we comment 11 angiosperm taxa collected in Lanzarote Island. Two of them, Centaurea bimorpha and Diplotaxis tenuifolia, are recorded for the first time for the Canaries. Ammi majus, Centaurea diluta, Euphorbia cyatophora, Lathyrus cicera, and Tanacetum parthenium are new records for Lanzarote, while Amaranthus retroflexus, Anisantha rubens subsp. rubens, Polygonum aviculare and Vicia hirsuta are revived for the checklist of the vascular flora of the Island.

“Lanzarote é minha jangada de pedra”: José Saramago e a escrita memorialística do exílio

O presente artigo propõe uma leitura dos primeiros Cadernos de Lanza­rote, escritos pelo português José Saramago e publicados entre os anos de 1993 e 1997, ensaiando rascunhar uma possível relação entre o papel de intelectual exercido pelo escritor e a composição de uma literatura auto­biográfica que se constitui por meio de um diferenciado aprendizado da memória, a partir de seu exílio na ilha espanhola. Os escritos de Edward Said nortearão as discussões sobre o exílio propostas neste trabalho, assim como as obras de Philippe Lejeune se apresentam no diálogo sobre auto­biografia e memória.

“Saborea (Tasting) Lanzarote”: Building the Foundation of a New Food and Wine Event Through Collaborative Efforts

Apart from sun, beaches, warm weather, and volcanic landscapes, Lanzarote Island is home to very traditional foods, as well as wine growing and production methods dating centuries. Recently, collaborative efforts between different local stakeholders, including the local wine sector, hospitality businesses, and government agencies have sought to position and integrate the wines with the island's traditional food products and cuisine. In referring to and extending collaboration theory, this study examines the experiences of a recently established wine and food event, “Saborea Lanzarote” (Tasting Lanzarote) from the perspective of different actors and participating businesses. Interviews with 17 different stakeholders, including winery managers and restaurateurs, were conducted to identify potential benefits, challenges, and future opportunities related to the event. The findings strongly suggest the importance of creating synergies among local businesses, suppliers, and other entities. Further, several elements of collaboration theory, such as domain orientation, action or decision, and autonomy, are identified. The implications of the apparent sense of collaboration for the local wine, food, and tourism sectors are discussed and future research avenues are suggested.

Impacts of fishing and environmental factors driving changes on littoral fish assemblages in a subtropical oceanic island

The structure of demersal fish assemblages of commercial interest was studied at 51 sites on La Palma Island (Canary Islands, northeastern Atlantic). On this island, demersal fish populations are limited and independent from other islands. As deep water separates the islands and the shallow sublittoral platforms are not continuous, adult inter-island migrations are not possible except between the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Otherwise, each island functions as a closed system, and the status of an island fish assemblage depends on local environmental conditions and activities performed in situ by the islanders. These circumstances provide a unique opportunity to test the intrainsular variability of fish assemblages. With this background, environmental parameters, fishing pressure and distance to the MPA were considered to identify the main factors explaining the spatial variation of fish assemblages off La Palma Island. Twenty-six fish species were recorded, but 60% of the total fish biomass was represented by only five species (Sparisoma cretense, Pomadasys incisus, Canthidermis sufflamen, Diplodus cervinus cervinus and Bodianus scrofa). However, the structure of assemblages was heterogeneous in response to different variables and showed substantial spatial variation. The assemblages were strongly modified by the presence of upright seaweed cover, fishing activities, and certain environmental variables. Differences were more pronounced in species that occupied the higher trophic levels. The most disturbed assemblages were those located in areas with lower upright seaweed cover and with higher fishing pressure, whereas the best-preserved assemblages corresponded to sites with controlled fishing activities, located within the MPA.

Psilotum nudum (L.) P. Beauv. new species to the Canary Islands (Pteridophyta: Psilotaceae)

Psilotum nudum, Psilotaceae, Whisk Fern or Skeleton Fork Fern is reported for the first time in the Canary Island growing epiphyte and on garden soils of Tenerife and Lanzarote Islands.

<i>Vicia vulcanorum</i> (Fabaceae) a new species from the island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands)

Vicia vulcanorum J. Gil & M. L. Gil (Fabaceae), a new species of subg. Cracca (Dumort.) Peterm., sect. Cracca Dumort. is described and illustrated from the island of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, north-west of Africa. It is related to and compared with Vicia cirrhosa C. Sm. ex Webb & Berthel. and Vicia filicaulis Webb & Berthel., two endemic species from the western and central group of the Canary Islands, and Vicia ferreirensis Goyder, an endemic species from Porto Santo Island, Madeira Archipelago.

The odd couple: contrasting phylogeographic patterns in two sympatric sibling species of woodlouse-hunter spiders in the Canary Islands

Comparative phylogeography seeks for commonalities in the spatial demographic history of sympatric organisms to characterize the mechanisms that shaped such patterns. The unveiling of incongruent phylogeographic patterns in co-occurring species, on the other hand, may hint to overlooked differences in their life histories or microhabitat preferences. The woodlouse-hunter spiders of the genus Dysdera have undergone a major diversification on the Canary Islands. The species pair Dysdera alegranzaensis and Dysdera nesiotes are endemic to the island of Lanzarote and nearby islets, where they co-occur at most of their known localities. The two species stand in sharp contrast to other sympatric endemic Dysdera in showing no evidence of somatic (non-genitalic) differentiation. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of mitochondrial cox1 sequences from an exhaustive sample of D. alegranzaensis and D. nesiotes specimens, and additional mitochondrial (16S, L1, nad1) and nuclear genes (28S, H3) were analysed to reveal their phylogeographic patterns and clarify their phylogenetic relationships. Relaxed molecular clock models using five calibration points were further used to estimate divergence times between species and populations. Striking differences in phylogeography and population structure between the two species were observed. Dysdera nesiotes displayed a metapopulation-like structure, while D. alegranzaensis was characterized by a weaker geographical structure but greater genetic divergences among its main haplotype lineages, suggesting more complex population dynamics. Our study confirms that co-distributed sibling species may exhibit contrasting phylogeographic patterns in the absence of somatic differentiation. Further ecological studies, however, will be necessary to clarify whether the contrasting phylogeographies may hint at an overlooked niche partitioning between the two species. In addition, further comparisons with available phylogeographic data of other eastern Canarian Dysdera endemics confirm the key role of lava flows in structuring local populations in oceanic islands and identify localities that acted as refugia during volcanic eruptions.

How do different dispersal modes shape the species–area relationship? Evidence for between‐group coherence in the Macaronesian flora

AbstractAimWe explore the island species–area relationships (ISARs) of several plant groups differing in dispersal ability. We examine whether: (i) the ISAR slope is higher for less dispersive groups (diminishing from not‐wind‐dispersed seed plants to wind‐dispersed seed plants, pteridophytes and bryophytes); and (ii) the regional richness is higher than that predicted by the ISAR of its constituent islands for groups with lower dispersal ability. Additionally, we relate both patterns to the compositional dissimilarity (beta diversity) between islands.LocationThe Macaronesian archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands.MethodsISARs were estimated using the conventional power model. Differences in slopes among taxa were analysed through ANCOVA tests. We assessed the deviation of the total richness of the Macaronesian flora from that predicted by the ISAR and calculated several measures of beta diversity (turnover, nestedness‐resultant dissimilarity and nestedness). Analyses were repeated after excluding the two Canarian islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, which have unique climatic and geological conditions in the region.ResultsAll ISAR models were significant except for pteridophytes (for which it was significant when excluding Lanzarote and Fuerteventura). ISAR slopes did not differ among taxa. Regional richness followed ISAR predictions for bryophytes and pteridophytes when Lanzarote and Fuerteventura were excluded, while the total number of Macaronesian seed plants (particularly not‐wind‐dispersed species) always fell above the ISAR. Turnover was higher in seed plants than in bryophytes and pteridophytes, and the opposite occurred with nestedness.Main conclusionsDifferences in dispersal ability influence the compositional dissimilarity between these islands, but not the rate of species increase with area. This may be because ISAR slopes are mostly determined by within‐island processes of species accumulation, while differences in dispersal generate different between‐island patterns. The lack of relationship between the ISAR slope and species replacement or nestedness prevents its use as a proxy for beta diversity.

The imprint of desalinated seawater on recycled wastewater: Consequences for irrigation in Lanzarote Island, Spain

Seawater desalination and recycling of urban wastewater originating from desalinated seawater are the only sources of irrigation water on the extremely arid (∼150mmyear−1) Spanish island of Lanzarote. Irrigation with these two types of water has been introduced over the past few decades in traditional rainfed agriculture systems as a means to increase crop production. The present study was carried out to evaluate the long term impact (5–30 years) of irrigation with desalinated seawater (DSW) and recycled wastewater originating from desalinated water (RWW) on the island's soils used for farming. The effects of irrigation were studied by evaluating the chemical characteristics of the topsoil of DSW-irrigated plots, RWW-irrigated plots and adjacent rainfed plots used as controls. The data indicate that irrigation with DSW and RWW has increased soil salinity by a factor of 1.9 and 3.4, respectively, and boron concentrations by a factor of 1.8 and 1.9, respectively, in relation to the control soils. Irrigation with RWW has also led to a rise in sodicity, where SAR values increased by a factor of 1.6 with respect to the control soils. Apart from these effects DSW irrigation was not found to cause further adverse effects in regards to soil fertility. The long-term sustainability of these farming systems requires substantial improvements in DSW quality, which in turn will improve the quality of the RWW.

Soil gas geochemistry in relation to eruptive fissures on Timanfaya volcano, Lanzarote Island (Canary Islands, Spain)

We report herein the first results of an extensive soil gas survey performed on Timanfaya volcano on May 2011. Soil gas composition at Timanfaya volcano indicates a main atmospheric source, slightly enriched in CO2 and He. Soil CO2 concentration showed a very slight deep contribution of the Timanfaya volcanic system, with no clear relation to the main eruptive fissures of the studied area. The existence of soil helium enrichments in Timanfaya indicates a shallow degassing of crustal helium and other possible deeper sources probably form cooling magma bodies at depth. The main soil helium enrichments were observed in good agreement with the main eruptive fissures of the 1730–36 eruption, with the highest values located at those areas with a higher density of recent eruptive centers, indicating an important structural control for the leakage of helium at Timanfaya volcano. Atmospheric air slightly polluted by deep-seated helium emissions, CO2 degassed from a cooling magma body, and biogenic CO2, might be the most plausible explanation for the existence of soil gas. Helium is a deep-seated gas, exhibiting important emission rates along the main eruptive fissure of the 1730–36 eruption of Timanfaya volcano.

Xenopsyllaspp. (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in murid rodents from the Canary Islands: An update

The geographical and host distributions of Xenopsylla fleas parasitizing murid rodents on the Canary Islands have been reported. Three Xenopsylla species, X. cheopis, X. brasiliensis and X. guancha, have been detected on two rodents species, Mus musculus and Rattus rattus. X. guancha has been the most prevalent species detected, specifically on M. musculus, the most abundant rodent, but it has been detected only on three eastern islands, where the species is endemic. X. cheopis has been shown to be the most widely distributed species throughout the archipelago and the species most frequently found on R. rattus. X. brasiliensis has been shown to be the least prevalent Xenopsylla species, with the lowest geographical distribution on the Canary Islands and focused only on R. rattus. The detection of both X. cheopis and X. brasiliensis on the island of Lanzarote, and of X. guancha on the island of Fuerteventura and the islet of La Graciosa represents the first report of these species on those particular Canary Islands.

Evidence for magmatic underplating and partial melt beneath the Canary Islands derived using teleseismic receiver functions

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have focussed on resolving the internal structure of ocean island volcanoes. Traditionally, active source seismic experiments have been used to image the volcano edifice. Here we present results using the analysis of compressional to shear (P to S) converted seismic phases from teleseismic events, recorded by stations involved in an active source experiment “TOM-TEIDEVS” (Ibáñez et al., 2008), on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands. We supplement this data with receiver function (RF) analysis of seismograms from the Canary Islands of Lanzarote and La Palma, applying the extended-time multitaper frequency domain cross-correlation estimation method (Helffrich, 2006). We use the neighbourhood inversion approach of Sambridge (1999a,b) to model the RFs and our results indicate magmatic underplating exists beneath all three islands, ranging from 2 to 8km, but showing no clear correlation with the age of the island. Beneath both La Palma and Tenerife, we find localized low velocity zones (LVZs), which we interpret as due to partial melt, supported by their correlation with the location of historical earthquakes (La Palma) and recent earthquakes (Tenerife). For Lanzarote, we do not sample the most recently volcanically active region and find no evidence for a LVZ. Instead, we find a simple gradational velocity structure, with discontinuities at ∼4, 10 and 18km depth, in line with previous studies.

Analysis of long- and short-term temporal variations of the diffuse CO2 emission from Timanfaya volcano, Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Abstract Reported herein are the results of eight soil CO2 efflux surveys performed from 2006 to 2011 at Timanfaya Volcanic Field (TVF), Lanzarote Island with the aim of evaluating the long- and short-term temporal variations of the diffuse CO2 emission. Soil CO2 efflux values ranged from non-detectable up to 34.2 g m−2 d−1, with the highest values measured in September 2008. Conditional sequential Gaussian simulations (sGs) were applied to construct soil CO2 efflux distribution maps and to estimate the total CO2 output from the studied area at the TVF. Soil CO2 efflux maps showed a high spatial and temporal variability. Total CO2 emission rates ranged between 41 and 518 t d−1, February 2011 (winter) being the season when maximum diffuse CO2 emission rates were observed. To investigate the influence of external variables on the soil CO2 efflux, a geochemical station (LZT01) was installed at TVF to measure continuously the soil CO2 efflux between July 2010 and March 2012 Since external factors such as barometric pressure, rainfall, soil water content, soil and air temperatures, and wind speed influence strongly the observed soil CO2 effluxes, multiple regression analysis was applied to the time series recorded by the automatic geochemical station LZT01 to remove the contribution of these external factors. The influence of meteorological variables on soil CO2 efflux oscillations accounts for 13% of total variance, with barometric pressure, rainfall and/or soil water content having the most influence in the control of the soil CO2 efflux. These observations along with the results from the eight soil gas surveys performed at TVF indicate that the short and long-term trends in the diffuse CO2 degassing are mainly controlled by environmental factors.

Tendencias poblacionales recientes de la avutarda hubara en las Islas Canarias: análisis metodológico y estado de conservación

Recent population trends of the houbara bustard in the Canary Islands. Methods and conservation status Determining conservation status requires rigorous and reliable data about population sizes and trends, especially if they have to be applied to islands where the species have small populations. The Canary bustard houbara (Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae) is catalogued as ‘in danger’ by the Red Book of the Birds of Spain. This work analyzes the value of previously published information on the species using the method of adjacent linear transects separated by 200 m, as a baseline for establishing robust population trends in 30 important areas (ranging from 1.3 to 12.8 km2) for the houbara in the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura (Canary Islands). Censuses were repeated on the same dates (from November to December) and localities as those carried out in 1994, 2004 and 2006. The detection probability of the houbara was estimated by means of distance sampling, being 0.42 up to 250 m from the observer, and 0.82 in the main census belt of 100 m on either side of the line transect. The method of adjacent linear transects —counting the maximum number of hubaras detected— provides accurate figures of population densities (detection of 95.2% of the birds). The previous estimations of houbara densities can therefore be considered highly trustworthy, with a probable average underestimation of only 5 %. Nevertheless, the confidence intervals of density estimations using only one census were very large. Therefore, with only one census per sampling area and year it is not possible to obtain precise estimates of houbara densities with small variation around the average value. This raises concern when trying to obtain solid evidence about the increases–decreases of houbara populations comparing different dates or study areas. The density of the Canary Island hubara bustard decreased significantly from 2004/2006 to 2011 in eight areas of Fuerteventura (Vega Vieja, Los Alares–Pocetas, Matas Blancas, Lorenzo– Diviso, Corralejo, Lajares and Fimapaire) and in two areas of Lanzarote (Argana and La Santa). Conversely, the density of the houbara significantly increased in three areas of Lanzarote (Zonzamas, Guatiza and Llano de las Maretas). As a whole, average population density did not differ significantly between 2004/2006 and 2011 in Fuerteventura (slight decrease of 29% in 2011), but there was a significant increase in Lanzarote (increase of 60% from 2004/2006 to 2011). The change in density from 2004/2006 to 2011 tended to be an increase in areas further from paved roads, and a decrease in locations predominantly covered by loose sandy soils.

Radiating on Oceanic Islands: Patterns and Processes of Speciation in the Land Snail Genus Theba (Risso 1826)

Island radiations have played a major role in shaping our current understanding of allopatric, sympatric and parapatric speciation. However, the fact that species divergence correlates with island size emphasizes the importance of geographic isolation (allopatry) in speciation. Based on molecular and morphological data, we investigated the diversification of the land snail genus Theba on the two Canary Islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Due to the geological history of both islands, this study system provides ideal conditions to investigate the interplay of biogeography, dispersal ability and differentiation in generating species diversity. Our analyses demonstrated extensive cryptic diversification of Theba on these islands, probably driven mainly by non-adaptive allopatric differentiation and secondary gene flow. In a few cases, we observed a complete absence of gene flow among sympatrically distributed forms suggesting an advanced stage of speciation. On the Jandía peninsula genome scans suggested genotype-environment associations and potentially adaptive diversification of two closely related Theba species to different ecological environments. We found support for the idea that genetic differentiation was enhanced by divergent selection in different environments. The diversification of Theba on both islands is therefore best explained by a mixture of non-adaptive and adaptive speciation, promoted by ecological and geomorphological factors.

TL and ESR dating of Middle Pleistocene lava flows on Lanzarote island, Canary Islands (Spain)

In the north of the island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain), two palaeosols from different sites were baked by overlying lava flows. Using red thermoluminescence (RTL) dating, late Middle Pleistocene ages were obtained, both varying around 170 ka thus indicating the simultaneity of the volcanic events. Blue thermoluminescence dating using different measuring techniques of the same sample material from one site (the Mála dune) yields somewhat lower ages, varying around 125 ka. However, this result is not in contradiction with the RTL age since anomalous fading was detected, expected to cause a significant underestimation of blue thermoluminescence results. Electron spin resonance dating from land snails overlying the lava flow yielded ages between 204 and 123 ka. Although this dispersion is rather large for material originating from the same stratigraphic horizon, it has to be taken into account that the amount of sample material and thus signal intensity was very low. Furthermore, small measured sample quantities are very vulnerable to dosimetric inhomogenities in the surrounding material, being a further source of uncertainty. Thus, these ESR ages bracketing the RTL age are a further support for a late Middle Pleistocene age of the lava flow.The Middle Pleistocene RTL ages of about 170 ka fill a conspicuous gap in the volcanic chronostratigraphy of Lanzarote, demonstrating that post-erosional volcanism on Lanzarote was obviously more continuous during the Middle and Late Quaternary than known before. Thus, these results demonstrate the potential of RTL and ESR dating to improve the timing of the Quaternary volcanism of the Canary Islands.

Esculturas públicas en el Paseo Marítimo de Arrecife (Lanzarote)

It is difficult to travel to the Canary Island of Lanzarote without finding public sculptures in streets, promenades, or roundabouts. However, the framework of this article is limited to those sculptures that have been displayed along the promenade of the capital of the island: Arrecife. The municipal objective of these projects is to embellish the location by transforming the urban seaside walking path into an open-air museum. These projects have also an educational use that increases the public knowledge, boosting the valorization of the artistic, cultural, and environmental heritage from the citizenship. All this is linked to a fundamental objective: urban regeneration. Following other similar urban projects, the Arrecife sculpture route continues along the pedestrian promenade, the bike path and existing garden areas. By maintaining the César Manrique’s footprint, the aim of these art works is to open a dialogue with their maritime surroundings, as well as combining the signs of the island identity with the plastic forms of the European art.

Los <i>Laparocerus</i> Schoenherr, 1834 de las Canarias orientales, islas Salvajes y Marruecos (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae)

This contribution to the knowledge of the genus Laparocerus Schoenherr, 1834 in Macaronesia concerns species from the Eastern Canaries, Salvage Islands and Morocco. Laparocerus rasus Wollaston, 1864 is redescribed and two new subspecies localised in Fuerteventura are ascribed to it: L. rasus betancor n. spp. and L. rasus jandiensis n. ssp. Several new species are described from that same island: L. maxorata n. sp. , L. colonnellii n. sp. , L. calvus n. sp. , L. xericola n. sp. , L. fraterculus n. sp. , and L. longipennis n. sp. ; from the island of Lanzarote L. curvipes famara n. ssp. , and from the Selvage Islands L. garretai albosquamosus n. spp. The only confirmed species form Morocco, Laparocerus susicus (Escalera, 1914), is redescribed and L. susicus montanus n. spp. , from the interior, and L. susicus inexpectatus nov. nom. , from the coastal region of Tiznit are assigned to it. A retro-colonization from the Canary Islands to the continent is hypothesized for this Moroccan species. Doubtful records and unresolved species are commented on, and keys in Spanish and English for identifying all Laparocerus inhabiting this geographical context are provided.

Soil fertility dynamics in runoff-capture agriculture, Canary Islands, Spain

In the extremely arid (∼150 mm yr −1) eastern Canary Islands of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Graciosa, agriculture has been sustained for decades by a traditional runoff-capture (RC) farming system known as “ gavias”. Although the main goal of these systems is to increase water supply for crops, making unnecessary conventional irrigation, a secondary and equally important factor is that this system allows for sustainable agricultural production without addition of chemical or organic fertilizers. A field study was conducted to assess the impact of long-term agriculture (>50 yr) on soil fertility and to evaluate key factors affecting the nutrient sustainability of RC agricultural production. Soil fertility and nutrient dynamics were studied through chemical characterization of the arable layer (0–25 cm) of RC agricultural plots, adjacent natural soils (control) not affected by runoff and cultivation, and sediments contributed by a series of RC events. Results showed that RC soils have enhanced fertility status, particularly because they are less affected by salinity and sodicity (mean electrical conductivity = 1.8 dS m −1 vs. 51.0 dS m −1 in control soils; mean exchangeable sodium percentage = 11.1% vs. 30.6% in control soils), and have higher water and nutrient holding capacities (mean clay plus silt contents ≈87% vs. 69% in control soils). In general, sediments transported with the runoff and deposited in RC plots (average sediment yield ≈ 46 ton ha −1 yr −1), contain sufficient nutrients to prevent a progressive reduction of essential plant nutrients below natural levels in spite of nutrient uptake and removal by the harvested crop. Average additions of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium with the runoff sediments were 33.6, 35.3 and 48.8 kg ha −1 yr −1, respectively. Results of this study show how a crop production system can be sustained in the long term by natural hydrological and biogeochemical catchment processes. This system maintains a nutrient balance that is not based on energy-intensive inputs of fertilizers, but is integrated in natural nutrient cycling processes, unlike other tropical farming agroecosystems.

Diversity of acetic acid bacteria present in healthy grapes from the Canary Islands

The identification of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) from sound grapes from the Canary Islands is reported in the present study. No direct recovery of bacteria was possible in the most commonly used medium, so microvinifications were performed on grapes from Tenerife, La Palma and Lanzarote islands. Up to 396 AAB were isolated from those microvinifications and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. With this method, Acetobacter pasteurianus, Acetobacter tropicalis, Gluconobacter japonicus and Gluconacetobacter saccharivorans were identified. However, no discrimination between the closely related species Acetobacter malorum and Acetobacter cerevisiae was possible. As previously described, 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region phylogenetic analysis was required to classify isolates as one of those species. These two species were the most frequently occurring, accounting for more than 60% of the isolates. For typing the AAB isolates, both the Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC)-PCR and (GTG)5-PCR techniques gave similar resolution. A total of 60 profiles were identified. Thirteen of these profiles were found in more than one vineyard, and only one profile was found on two different islands (Tenerife and La Palma).