Mediterranean Island Of Cyprus Research Articles

Endemics and their common congener plant species on an East Mediterranean island: a comparative functional trait approach

Understanding evolution and ecology of endemic plants is of great importance for conservation of those rare and endangered species. Pairwise comparisons of plant functional traits could be an adequate method to get insights in evolutionary and ecological processes. We examined whether morphological traits representing competitive ability and habitat specificity differ between endemics and common plants. Therefore, we performed pairwise comparison analyses of 9 plant functional traits in 36 congeneric pairs of endemics and their common congeners on the East Mediterranean island of Cyprus, i.e., the first such study conducted on a Mediterranean island. We found that endemic species prefer higher elevations and more extreme habitats. Endemics were smaller and they had smaller flowers than their common congeners. Common species had higher chromosome numbers than endemic ones. Endemic and common species showed no significant differences in canopy height, inflorescence height, leaf length and width, and flowering period. Our study showed that the situation on a large oceanic island does not differ from results in mainland research areas.

Challenges for funerary taphonomy viewed through prehistoric Cyprus

Older archaeological excavations present challenges for exploring current research questions relating to funerary taphonomy, while ongoing excavations offer opportunities for maximizing relevant data through adjustments in the recording and recovery of human remains. This paper explores these issues through specific case studies from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, drawing wider inferences relevant to the region and beyond. The archaeological record of prehistoric Cyprus (from the earliest evidence of human occupation to the Late Bronze Age) includes a rich array of mortuary contexts exemplifying the infinite variations in human treatment of their dead. These include burial contexts containing single inhumations within settlements or cemeteries; burial contexts containing multiple primary inhumations; burial contexts containing both primary and secondary depositions of human remains; burial contexts containing only secondary arrangements of human remains or evidence for complex processing scenarios; human remains in settlement contexts (pits, middens, general settlement deposits); and remains within other anthropogenic features (such as wells). While soil chemistry, diagenesis and looting (both ancient and more recent) complicate the application of some methods with relevance to funerary taphonomy in Cyprus, opportunities for using archaeothanatology, the study of articulation and context, as well as element representation curves and bone representation indices exist. This paper explores the potential of these methods through the presentation of specific case studies of successive investigations spanning several decades at Cypriot prehistoric sites and complexes, including Neolithic Khirokitia, the Chalcolithic Souskiou complex, and the Bronze Age chamber tomb complexes at Psematismenos-Trelloukkas. In doing so, this paper not only draws attention to the wealth of data to be gleaned from specific groups of prehistoric Cypriot burials where detailed recording has been conducted (or the loss of data where such recording methods have not been in place), but also, in a wider perspective, offers suggestions for re-assessing archive records and examining their potential and limitations in relation to questions formulated in current research. As the challenges due to the nature and quality of recording and recovery of archaeological human remains are not unique to Cyprus, but rather, are also found in the surrounding regions of the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as further afield, the paper goes further by suggesting ways to maximize data for funerary taphonomy within ongoing and future excavations.

Modelling monthly soil losses and sediment yields in Cyprus

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to map soil erosion on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The G2 model, an empirical model for month-time step erosion assessments, was used. Soil losses in Cyprus were mapped at a 100 m cell size, while sediment yields at a sub-basin scale of 0.62 km2 mean size. The results indicated a mean annual erosion rate of 11.75 t ha−1 y−1, with October and November being the most erosive months. The 34% of the island's surface was found to exceed non-sustainable erosion rates (>10 t ha−1 y−1), with sclerophyllous vegetation, coniferous forests, and non-irrigated arable land being the most extensive non-sustainable erosive land covers. The mean sediment delivery ratio (SDR) was found to be 0.26, while the mean annual specific sediment yield (SSY) value for Cyprus was found to be 3.32 t ha−1 y−1. The annual sediment yield of the entire island was found to be 2.746 Mt y−1. This study was the first to provide complete and detailed erosion figures for Cyprus at a country scale. The geodatabase and all information records of the study are available at the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) of the Joint Research Centre (JRC).

Modelling the combined effects of land use and climatic changes: Coupling bioclimatic modelling with Markov-chain Cellular Automata in a case study in Cyprus

Environmental change in terms of land use and climatic changes is posing a serious threat to species distributions and extinctions. Thus in order to predict and mitigate against the effects of environmental change both drivers should be accounted for. Two endemic plant species in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Crocus cyprius and Ophrys kotschyi, were used as a case study. We have coupled climate change scenarios, and land use change models with species distribution models. Future land use scenarios were modelled by initially calculating the rate of current land use changes between two time snapshots (2000 and 2006) on the island, and based on these transition probabilities Markov-chain Cellular Automata were used to generate future land use changes for 2050. Climate change scenarios A1B, A2, B1 and B2A were derived from the IPCC reports. Species' climatic preferences were derived from their current distributions using classification trees while habitat preferences were derived from the Red Data Book of the Flora of Cyprus. A bioclimatic model for Crocus cyprius was built using mean temperature of wettest quarter, max temperature of warmest month and precipitation seasonality, while for Ophrys kotschyi the bioclimatic model was built using precipitation of wettest month, mean temperature of warmest quarter, isothermality, precipitation of coldest quarter, and annual precipitation. Sequentially, simulation scenarios were performed regarding future species distributions by accounting climate alone and both climate and land use changes. The distribution of the two species resulting from the bioclimatic models was then filtered by future land use changes, providing the species' projected potential distribution. The species' projected potential distribution varies depending on the type and scenario used, but many of both species' current sites/locations are projected to be outside their future potential distribution. Our results demonstrate the importance of including both land use and climatic changes in predictive species modelling.

The effect of climate change on electricity needs – A case study from Mediterranean Europe

This paper assesses additional electricity requirements and the associated costs in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus by the mid-21st century because of projected anthropogenic climate change, following an interdisciplinary approach that combines climate science with economics. An econometric model of electricity demand is used, in conjunction with climate projections from a state-of-the-art Global Circulation Model with a regional focus on the Eastern Mediterranean. Annual electricity demand is projected to rise by about 6% compared to a ‘no climate change’ case. Although these additional power requirements are not very remarkable on an annual basis, total costs up to 2050, which may exceed 730 million Euros at today's prices, imply that the country may need to forgo one or two years of economic growth in order to cope with extra electricity needs due to climate change. This outlook indicates that a reasonable future energy path in regions with Mediterranean climate would involve substantial deployment of solar-powered electricity generation, which can meet peak load requirements while reducing the country's energy dependence. Moreover, this forecast highlights the need for adaptation to climate change through investments in the improvement of the energy performance of the building stock.

Nocturnal mountain winds in Cyprus - an observational study

This study examines the nocturnal wind systems of radiation nights on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus using the network of weather stations in and around the Troodos Mountains, which rise to more than 1900 m. These observations are supplemented by a series from the southern slopes of the mountains. Results indicate the typical development, depth and effects of these winds along the south coast of the island. The generation of these winds, their character and the forecasting challenges they present are also discussed, with an emphasis on the southward flow observed at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Akrotiri. The offshore winds are a combination of katabatic drainage, largely formed within incised valleys, with a land breeze. They bring cool dry air to the coast. The drainage winds commence above ∼1200 m and deepen to a depth of ∼75 m in the Kouris valley, becoming shallower as they move away from the valley mouth. The valley winds ‘fan out’ as they approach sea level to reach 20 km or more from the coast.

Does the river blenny Salaria fluviatilis (Asso, 1801) (Actinopterygii: Perciformes) still survive on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus?

The river blenny (Salaria fluviatilis) is rarely mentioned in the natural history literature of Cyprus. This has led to doubts about its existence there. Mistakes with mismatched fish collections have occurred in the past, so it is worth asking whether the recorded specimens are actually from Cyprus and whether the species survives there today. Archived correspondence from the original specimen collector confirms that the record of S. fluviatilis on Cyprus is genuine, yet our extensive surveys there during the last 4 years have failed to locate the fish. A review of the species’ Mediterranean island distribution shows that it exists on 10 islands that are either close to the mainland or are relatively very large in areal extent. Although the mystery of S. fluviatilis survival on Cyprus lingers, efforts must be made to survey all potential habitats and consider planning a re-introduction project if the population is confirmed as extinct.

Rethinking the Economic Contribution of Tourism

The article introduces an integrated market-segmentation and tourism yield estimation framework for inbound tourism. Conventional approaches to yield estimation based on country of origin segmentation and total expenditure comparisons do not provide sufficient detail, especially for mature destinations dominated by large single-country source markets. By employing different segmentation approaches along with Tourism Satellite Accounts and various yield estimates, this article estimates direct economic contribution for subsegments of the UK market on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Overall expenditure across segments varies greatly, as do the spending ratios in different categories. In the case of Cyprus, the most potential for improving economic contribution currently lies in increasing spending on “food and beverages” and “culture and recreation.” Mass tourism therefore appears to offer the best return per monetary unit spent. Conducting similar studies in other destinations could identify priority spending sectors and enable different segments to be targeted appropriately.

Importance of spatio-temporal data for predicting the effects of climate change on marine turtle sex ratios

Species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) are likely to be impacted by climate change. There is a paucity of data on the contemporary sex ratios of offspring produced by regional marine turtle populations. The lack of such information inhibits the ability of researchers to accurately predict how future meteorological and climate-driven changes may affect turtle populations. Moreover, these data are integral for the development of regional and global recovery plans for declining turtle populations. We estimate offspring sex ratios for the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta at a range of beaches on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus over a 10 yr period (1997 to 2006; 40 beaches, 628 clutches, 29402 hatchlings). Based on hatchling sex determination, we found the pivotal incubation temperature (the temperature at which a 50:50 sex ratio occurs) to be 28.9°C, and the pivotal incubation duration to be 56.3 d. From the incuba- tion durations of over 628 in situ clutches laid on different beaches, we estimate that 89% of the offspring produced from these clutches were female. There was, however, both inter-annual (74 to 95% female) and inter-beach (58�98% female) variability in mean offspring sex ratios. These findings highlight the need for wide-scale, long-term monitoring of primary sex ratios in order to accurately predict the likely impacts of climate change. Despite spatial and temporal variation in offspring sex ratios produced, male hatchlings are certainly in the minority in Cyprus. It is there- fore highly likely that beaches producing males will become increasingly critical habitats for successful clutch incubation in the face of predicted rising temperatures.

Modern vegetation, pollen and climate relationships on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus

This research investigates patterns of plant species distributions, modern pollen deposition, and climate on the island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, and explores the potential for using these modern pollen–vegetation–climate relationships for paleoenvironmental interpretation. Vegetation and pollen data were collected at 56 locations along elevational gradients from the southern coast across the Troodos Mountains, to the Kyrenia Range, and to the northern coast of Cyprus. Elevation, mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature were interpolated for each sample locale. Discriminant analysis, cluster analysis, non-metric multi-dimensional scaling and indices of plant-pollen fidelity and dispersibility are used to characterize the vegetation and pollen of Cyprus.The main vegetation types in Cyprus — oak forests, pine forests, orchards, and coastal scrub and salt lake vegetation can be distinguished in modern pollen samples; samples from disturbed garigue vegetation could not be separated from surrounding vegetation types. Pollen taxa demonstrate clear relationships with climatic variables. Pinus, Cyperaceae, Cistus, Quercus and Prunus are found associated with greater amounts of precipitation and higher elevations. Higher temperatures are linked particularly to Cupressaceae, Olea, Cerealia-type, Liguliflorae, and Chenopodiaceae pollen. The majority of the pollen taxa show moderate to moderately high fidelity, signifying the close link between the vegetation of Cyprus and its pollen. Many pollen taxa also reflect high dispersibility, which in some cases demonstrates over representation in the pollen rain. The relationships between the main modern pollen taxa of Cyprus and broad climatic variables can provide the basis for interpreting paleoenvironmental records.

Breeding habitat preference and foraging of the Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca and niche partitioning in comparison with migrant Oenanthe species on Cyprus

Niche partitioning has been examined in breeding bird communities and in winter quarters, but has received less attention when comparing a resident breeder and migrants during spring. Here, such an assemblage of species of the same genus (Oenanthe) and guild were analysed on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Northern Wheatear O. oenanthe and Eastern Black-Eared Wheatear O. hispanica melanoleuca were migrants, while Cyprus Wheatear O. cypriaca was resident. Migrant wheatears were more common in open habitats without trees, with a lower proportion of vegetation in the 10 cm layer, less tree and bush cover, a higher proportion of herbaceous layer, and a higher amount of bare areas. By using a discriminant function, we found that O. oenanthe was least tolerant towards a high proportion of bush/tree cover, and O. cypriaca was most tolerant, with O. h. melanoleuca in between. Also, O. oenanthe tolerated the least proportion of vegetation in the lowest layer, and O. h. melanoleuca the highest. O. oenanthe hunted more often by hop-and-peck and O. cypriaca more often used sallying and perch-and-pounce. O. oenanthe was the most ground-dwelling species with low perch heights and highest number of hops per minute and hops per movement, while O. cypriaca was the most arboreal species with the highest perches. Mean foraging rate did not differ between the species. A principal component analysis followed by a discriminant function showed that O. cypriaca has a high amount of aerial sallying and perch-pounce hunting behaviour with fewer hops, while O. oenanthe represents the contrary with hop-and-peck movements on the ground and with fewer flights. The data further indicate a clearer separation between O. oenanthe and O. cypriaca while O. h. melanoleuca lies in between utilising both foraging modes.

Ancient eco-technology of qanats for engineering a sustainable water supply in the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus

The qanat water supply technology, which gravity drains mountain aquifers into valleys, is considered as a culturally appropriate and ecological sustainable design to meet northern Cyprus’ drinking water development needs. This research estimates the boundary and water budget for the proposed qanat recharge area of 370 km2, which is in the upper elevations of the limestone dominated Five Finger Mountain Range. The mountain drainage was analyzed using global elevation data from the Shuttle Ranging Topography Mission (SRTM). Efforts to use Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) annual precipitation for water budget inputs failed due to extreme error when tested against 10–30 years of meteorological station data; TRMM under-estimated depths on the narrow mountain peaks. Gage records, while few in number, were area averaged to set average annual precipitation inputs at 530 mm year−1. Evaporation was estimated using a complementary relationship areal evapotranspiration (CRAE) model, setting average atmospheric outputs at 221 mm year−1. Recharge to the qanat aquifer was set by subtracting evaporation from precipitation, and then allocating 50% of the remaining water to environmental services. At 25% development, the qanat system supplies 14 mm3 year−1 of water, meeting the drinking water deficit of 13 mm3.

Data on nine STR loci used for forensic and paternity testing in the Greek Cypriot population of Cyprus

Allele frequencies for the nine STRs included in the AMPFℓSTR kit were obtained from a sample of 152 unrelated Greek Cypriot from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus

Baseline susceptibility to bacterial insecticides in populations of Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) from California and from the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus.

Bacterial insecticides play an increasingly important role in mosquito control. To establish guidelines for detecting resistance at an early stage, information on natural variation in susceptibility of insect populations to these insecticides is needed. Between 1990 and 1993, the susceptibility of Culex pipiens L. complex to Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis de Barjac and/or Bacillus sphaericus Neide was determined in 31 collections from California. These collections were undertaken before the widespread use of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis and before the registration of B. sphaericus in California. Seven collections from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where no microbial insecticides have been used, also were tested. The 1990-1991 California collections exhibited limited variation in susceptibility to B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. LC50 and LC95 values spanned about a three-fold and four-fold range, respectively. The 1993 Cyprus collections exhibited both higher mean LC values, and greater variability in those values, than the California collections. The LC50s for the Cyprus collections varied over a 10-fold range, whereas the LC50s varied over a 12.5-fold range. Variation in susceptibility to B. sphaericus among the 1991 California collections was about five-fold at the LC50 and LC95. No significant geographic variation in susceptibility to B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis was observed among regions within California. Although variation in susceptibility was limited among California collections, the greater variability observed among the Cyprus collections and between the Cyprus and California collections illustrates the importance of establishing regional baselines to monitor accurately for changes in susceptibility.

North Cyprus: Tourism and the Challenge of Non-recognition

Since 1974, the Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been divided. The southern, Greek sector has benefited from international recognition as the Republic of Cyprus, and is generally much more developed than the unrecognised Turkish sector in the north. A boom in construction and environmental degradation has accompanied the rapid growth of southern Cyprus as a tourist destination. The large numbers of visitors are now viewed less positively than before, and the number of complaints by holidaymakers about noise and other forms of pollution is increasing. In contrast, northern Cyprus has been slow to develop, giving an important opportunity to the Turkish Cypriot community to avoid the pitfalls of the south.The growth of interest in alternative forms of tourism worldwide presents an opportunity for development to take place even where political problems exist, and to be both environmentally sensitive and profitable. This paper explores the possibilities currently available to the Turkish Cypriots, and recommends that resources should be switched from traditional 'sun,sand and sea' tourism towards alternative types. Some of the obstacles towards the implementation of a sustainable tourism strategy are also examined.

Hydrological modelling and a pair basin study of mediterranean catchments

This paper presents a study of five catchments in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. A hydrological model that attempts to incorporate the important distributed and dynamic effects of vegetation and watershed relief is tested. Procedures for applying the model and tests with data from Cyprus are described. A pair basin study is also described, where one catchment was affected by a forest fire, to evaluate the significance of vegetation in controlling the water cycle. It is concluded that there was a relationship between vegetation cover and the hydrological cycle at the catchment scale.