Southern Balkans Research Articles

Divergent selection and genetic structure of Sideritis scardica populations from southern Balkan Peninsula as revealed by AFLP fingerprinting

Sideritis scardica Giseb. is a subalpine/alpine plant species endemic to the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. In this study, we combined Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and environmental data to examine the adaptive genetic variations in S. scardica natural populations sampled in contrasting environments. A total of 226 AFLP loci were genotyped in 166 individuals from nine populations. The results demonstrated low gene diversity, ranging from 0.095 to 0.133 and significant genetic differentiation ranging from 0.115 to 0.408. Seven genetic clusters were revealed by Bayesian clustering methods as well as by Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components and each population formed its respective cluster. The exception were populations P02 Mt. Shara and P07 Mt. Vermio, that were admixed between two clusters. Both landscape genetic methods Mcheza and BayeScan identified a total of seven (3.10%) markers exhibiting higher levels of genetic differentiation among populations. The spatial analysis method Samβada detected 50 individual markers (22.12%) associated with bioclimatic variables, among them seven were identified by both Mcheza and BayeScan as being under directional selection. Four bioclimatic variables associated with five out of seven outliers were related to precipitation, suggesting that this variable is the key factor affecting the adaptive variation of S. scardica.

The botanical legacy of Mihael Dimonie (1870–1935), an almost forgotten plant collector in the southern Balkan Peninsula before the First World War

An up-to-date biography of Mihael Dimonie (1870–1935), an important Aromanian plant collector in the southern Balkan Peninsula, is presented. So far, he has been better known to linguists than to botanists on account of the Codex Dimonie and his contributions to Aromanian cultural heritage. His private herbarium collections were destroyed in two separate fires in 1917 and 1944, and only the numerous vouchers belonging to the Plantae Macedonicae series that had been commercially distributed remain. These specimens are available in several European and American herbaria and are a lasting testament to Dimonie's extensive collecting activities in what are today Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and North Macedonia. His collecting localities in the southern Balkans are indicated in a map. Seven names based on material collected by Dimonie and one based on material collected by Ignaz Dorfler are lectotypified and nomenclatural notes for six other taxa are presented. A preliminary list of taxa described (or partly described) from Dimonie's material includes at least 29 names.

Both vicariance and dispersal have shaped the genetic structure of Eastern Mediterranean Euphorbia myrsinites (Euphorbiaceae)

The Eastern Mediterranean is considered both a reservoir for plant evolution and a cradle for lineage diversification, but most plant groups from this area remain unstudied. To explore phylogeographic patterns within Eastern Mediterranean Euphorbia myrsinites, covering the area from the Apennines to Central Anatolia, we sequenced nuclear ribosomal ITS and the plastid trnT–trnF region and generated amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprints, along with relative genome size (RGS) data. Our data reveal a complex evolutionary history of E. myrsinites since its origin at the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary, resulting in a genetic structure that was shaped by fundamentally different processes acting at different time levels. Despite their weak glaciation in the Pleistocene, the high mountain ranges of the western and southern Balkan Peninsula triggered the initial divergence within this species due to vicariance in the Adriatic-Ionian and the Aegean-Pontic Pleistocene refugia. Subsequent range expansions led to the intriguing situation that both clusters nowadays occur in close spatial proximity. In addition, stronger genetic differentiation in the Aegean-Pontic area probably reflects less severe impacts of glaciations and higher environmental stability throughout the Pleistocene in this area, as compared to the Amphi-Adriatic region. The colonization of the Apennine Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula took place later in the species’ evolutionary history, probably over land bridges connecting both peninsulas in the Pleistocene. On the western Balkan Peninsula the main phylogeographic split is situated along the Neretva river valley. To the north of this valley we detected no population structure whereas strong genetic differentiation in the southerly adjacent areas confirms the “refugia-within-refugia” hypothesis.

The larvae of Limnephilus minos Malicky 1970 and Mesophylax impunctatus aduncus (Navás 1923) (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae), including a discriminatory matrix for the Greek limnephilid larvae with multifilament gills.

Limnephilus minos Malicky 1970 is a micro-endemic caddisfly restricted to the Greek island of Crete. Mesophylax impunctatus aduncus (Navás 1923) is known from Turkey and the southern Balkan peninsula; Greek records range from islands close to the mainland and Skiros to the northern mainland, and Attica. This paper describes the previously unknown larvae of both taxa. Information on the morphology of the 5th larval instar of each taxon is given, and the most important diagnostic characters are illustrated. A discriminatory matrix for the Greek limnephilid larvae with multifilament gills is also provided. In the context of existing identification keys, the larva of L. minos belongs to the group of Limnephilini larvae where face setae are lacking on the mid- and/or hind femora; the species keys together with L. auricula Curtis 1834 and can be separated from the latter species by setae present between the primary setae on the distal section of mid- and hind trochanters. In contrast, face setae are present on the mid- and/or hind femora in M. impunctatus aduncus. Its larva can be easily identified by the fact that 3 or more ventral-edge setae are present on the midfemur, by setae present on both sides of the anal slit, and by its grazer-type mandible lacking terminal teeth.

Cryptic diversity in Telestes pleurobipunctatus (Actinopterygii; Leuciscidae) as a consequence of historical biogeography in the Ionian Freshwater Ecoregion (Greece, Albania)

It was reported that the complex geological history of the southern Balkans caused diversification of terrestrial species. On the other hand, knowledge of the evolutionary history of freshwater biota is scarce. In order to contribute to an understanding of the historical biogeography of the region’s freshwaters, as well as to describe intraspecific diversity and structure of a species distributed in the Ionian Ecoregion, we have analysed the population genetic structure and evolutionary history of Telestes pleurobipunctatus. Analyses were based on the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome b from samples covering the whole distribution range of this species. A high level of intraspecific structuring was revealed inside T. pleurobipunctatus. Its evolutionary history corroborates the complexity of historical geologic events in the area. Telestes pleurobipunctatus comprises two main clades (northern and southern), which have been separated from each other for about seven million years and that are further divided. The Louros and Arachthos Rivers were denoted as ancestral geographic ranges of the northern clade. The distribution range of the ancestor of the southern clade seems to comprise rivers flowing into the Patraikos Gulf. Structures within the two main clades, as well as timing of diversification events are different, implying separate evolutionary courses.

Genetic and morphological data reveal new insights into the taxonomy ofCampanula versicolors.l. (Campanulaceae)

Campanula versicoloris a constituent of theCampanula pyramidaliscomplex, distributed in the central and southern Balkan Peninsula with a small disjunct range in SE Italy. The taxonomy of the broadly definedC. versicolorwas controversial in the past due to high morphological variability of the populations across the range. We used microsatellite DNA data along with morphometric analyses on an extensive population sampling covering the entire range to reconstruct the relationships among populations of the intricateC. versicolors.l. Based on the results three distinct entities can be distinguished, circumscribed here on the subspecies level, with newly established combinations:C. versicolorsubsp.versicolor,C. versicolorsubsp.korabensisandC. versicolorsubsp.tenorei. We propose a new taxonomic treatment ofC. versicolors.l. with description, distribution and habitat data for each of the subspecies and a key for their identification.

Phylogeny of the genus Pelasgus and genetic diversity of selected species.

Event Abstract Back to Event Phylogeny of the genus Pelasgus and genetic diversity of selected species. Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ1*, Radek ŠANDA2, Stamatis ZOGARIS3 and Jasna VUKIĆ1 1 Department of Ecology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Czechia 2 National Museum (Czechia), Czechia 3 Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Greece Pelasgus (Kottelat & Freyhof, 2007) is an endemic genus of ancient origin from the southern Balkans, formed by seven recognized species. Their exact distribution, relationship among populations and genetic diversity are understudied. In this work, the phylogeny of the whole genus and the genetic diversity of selected species were analyzed based on one mitochondrial and three nuclear markers. The genetic analyses conclusively support the existence of seven lineages corresponding to seven species. Genetic variability throughout the distribution range was studied for most widespread species. Pelasgus thesproticus occurs from Acheron basin in the northern Ionian slope to the Vjosa basin in the southernmost Adriatic slope, including the lower Kalamas. Populations in Kalamas and Acheron river basins display private haplotypes, and the population from Kerkyra Island appears to be well differentiated from the rest of the populations. Pelasgus marathonicus occurs in the Aegean Sea slope, east of the Pindos mountain range, from rivers in the vicinity of Athens up to rivers flowing into the Pagasetikos Gulf (near Volos) and the Thessalian Pinios (the later may represent a recent anthropogenic translocation). Even though P. marathonicus shows a remarkably high genetic diversity, with most haplotypes being private for each river system, there is no clear geographical pattern. Pelasgus stymphalicus inhabits most of the Peloponnesus (both Ionian and a few Aegean slope rivers) as well as the mainland region of Aetolia-Acarnania in the Ionian slope. Within P. stymphalicus there are two slightly different groups of cytochrome b haplotypes that correspond to two geographically separated areas: southern and eastern Peloponnesus vs. northwestern Peloponnesus and the mainland. In the lower Alfios river basin in the Peloponnesus haplotypes of both groups are present. A species with unclear taxonomic status, provisionally named Pelasgus cf. epiroticus, is present in the rivers flowing into the Amvrakikos Gulf (Louros and Arachthos), in the uppermost Kalamas River drainage, including Zaravina Lake. Unexpectedly, this lineage was also discovered in two isolated endorheic basins on the north-eastern Peloponnesus: Kandila springs and Stymphalia Lake. This lineage has two distinct mitochondrial haplogroups, one corresponding to the mainland and the other to the Peloponnesus and Zaravina Lake populations. As the Peloponnesus basins are originally inhabited by P. stymphalicus and Pelasgus laconicus, the presence of P. cf. epiroticus on Peloponnesus most probably represents a human-induced introduction. Keywords: Pelasgus, phylogeny, multilocus approach, genetic diversity, Haplotype network Conference: XVI European Congress of Ichthyology, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2 Sep - 6 Sep, 2019. Presentation Type: Oral Topic: TAXONOMY, PHYLOGENY AND ZOOGEOGRAPHY Citation: VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ N, ŠANDA R, ZOGARIS S and VUKIĆ J (2019). Phylogeny of the genus Pelasgus and genetic diversity of selected species.. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XVI European Congress of Ichthyology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2019.07.00111 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 22 May 2019; Published Online: 14 Aug 2019. * Correspondence: Mx. Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ, Department of Ecology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Prague, 12844, Czechia, nuria.vinuela.rdgz@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ Radek ŠANDA Stamatis ZOGARIS Jasna VUKIĆ Google Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ Radek ŠANDA Stamatis ZOGARIS Jasna VUKIĆ Google Scholar Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ Radek ŠANDA Stamatis ZOGARIS Jasna VUKIĆ PubMed Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ Radek ŠANDA Stamatis ZOGARIS Jasna VUKIĆ Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

NGS corroborates cryptic diversity within the Epiros riffle dace (Telestes pleurobipunctatus)

Event Abstract Back to Event NGS corroborates cryptic diversity within the Epiros riffle dace (Telestes pleurobipunctatus) Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ1*, Radek ŠANDA2, Lubomír PIÁLEK3, Stamatis Zogaris4 and Jasna VUKIĆ1 1 Department of Ecology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Czechia 2 National Museum (Czechia), Czechia 3 Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Czechia 4 Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Greece The geological history of the Southern Balkans is genuinely complex and it has deeply influenced aquatic species evolution. The Ionian inland waters host the largest proportion of the Greek endemic ichthyofauna. Recent works have shown that the diversity of freshwater fishes of this region has been underestimated. The Eastern Adriatic coast is considered as a “hot spot” for genus Telestes, with small regions displaying exceptionally high diversity. In contrast, in the Ionian basin, a single species of Telestes is currently recognized. The Epiros riffle dace (Telestes pleurobipunctatus, Leuciscidae, Cypriniformes) is an Ionian endemic distributed from southern Albania (Butrint lagoon catchment) to Western Peloponnese (Alfios River basin). Previous study revealed the existence of five different lineages within T. pleurobipunctatus by the use of the mitochondrial marker cytochrome b. The occurrence of two different lineages within Louros river basin (south of Epiros region, flowing into Amvrakikos Bay) has also been reported. The aim of this study is to conduct a comprehensive study of T. pleurobipunctatus complex with special emphasis on the Louros River populations. We combined traditional sequencing of cytochrome b with the NGS method of ddRAD (double digest restriction-site associated DNA) sequencing. A dataset of 99 individuals from 11 river basins were analyzed with ddRAD-seq covering the known distribution range of the species. Additionally, over 150 individuals were analyzed by classical sequencing, 91 of them corresponding to populations within Louros catchment. Genome wide data have confirmed the existence of the previously revealed five well-supported lineages: Alfios lineage occurring in the Peloponnese, Evinos-Kotichy-Pinios lineage occurring in the north-west of the Peloponnese Peninsula and south of the mainland, and Acheloos lineage, Arachthos lineage and Northwestern lineage (Acheron-Kalamas-Kerkyra-Butrint) occurring in the northwest of the Ionian basin. Occurrence of two lineages was also confirmed in the Louros river basin. In the upper part of Louros River, the Acheron-Kalamas-Kerkyra-Butrint lineage is found, while in the lower course Arachthos lineage is present. This result can be explained as a case of a secondary contact of unknown origin. In conclusion, our results confirm that the taxonomic revision of this species complex is urgently needed. Our results should be taken into account for the conservation management of T. pleurobipunctatus species complex. Keywords: ddRAD sequencing, Telestes pleurobipunctatus, Cryptic diversity, phylogeny, Phylogeography Conference: XVI European Congress of Ichthyology, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2 Sep - 6 Sep, 2019. Presentation Type: Oral Topic: EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS OF FISHES Citation: VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ N, ŠANDA R, PIÁLEK L, Zogaris S and VUKIĆ J (2019). NGS corroborates cryptic diversity within the Epiros riffle dace (Telestes pleurobipunctatus). Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XVI European Congress of Ichthyology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2019.07.00038 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 20 Jul 2019; Published Online: 14 Aug 2019. * Correspondence: Mx. Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ, Department of Ecology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Prague, 12844, Czechia, nuria.vinuela.rdgz@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ Radek ŠANDA Lubomír PIÁLEK Stamatis Zogaris Jasna VUKIĆ Google Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ Radek ŠANDA Lubomír PIÁLEK Stamatis Zogaris Jasna VUKIĆ Google Scholar Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ Radek ŠANDA Lubomír PIÁLEK Stamatis Zogaris Jasna VUKIĆ PubMed Nuria VIÑUELA RODRÍGUEZ Radek ŠANDA Lubomír PIÁLEK Stamatis Zogaris Jasna VUKIĆ Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Migration in the Southern Balkans. From Ottoman Territory to Globalized Nation States

Migration in the Southern Balkans. From Ottoman Territory to Globalized Nation States

Objective Definition of Climatologically Homogeneous Areas in the Southern Balkans Based on the ERA5 Data Set

An objective definition of climatologically homogeneous areas in the southern Balkans is attempted with the use of daily 0.25° × 0.25° ERA5 meteorological data of air temperature, dew point, zonal and meridional wind components, Convective Available Potential Energy, Convective Inhibition, and total cloud cover. The classification of the various grid points into climatologically homogeneous areas is carried out by applying Principal Component Analysis and K-means Cluster Analysis on the mean spatial anomaly patterns of the above parameters for the 10-year period of 2008 to 2017. According to the results, 12 climatologically homogenous areas are found. From these areas, eight are mainly over the sea and four are mainly over the land. The mean intra-annual variations of the spatial anomalies of the above parameters reveal the main climatic characteristics of these areas for the above period. These characteristics refer, for example, to how much warmer or cloudy the climate of a specific area is in a specific season relatively to the rest of the geographical domain. The continentality, the latitude, the altitude, the orientation, and the seasonal variability of the thermal and dynamic factors affecting the Mediterranean region are responsible for the climate characteristics of the 12 areas and the differences among them.

Before the neolithization: Causes of mesolithic diversity in the Southern Balkans

The Balkans, particularly southern and central, were sparsely populated in the Mesolithic and the occupation networks in that period were discontinous and highly diversified, contrasting with the density and homogeneity of the Early Neolithic. The aim of this paper is to describe the environmental conditions of the Mesolithic sites in relation to Early Holocene climatic fluctuations and to discuss the causes of specificity and diversity of culture and behaviour at this period. Some general trends are observable in the adaptation to Early Holocene environments (trends in faunal exploitation; for ex. shift from high ranked large game to low ranked small animals) but also particular adaptations to local conditions (technological changes due to difficulties in access to better quality lithic raw materials, adaptations to coastal or to terrestrial resources reflecting the unique features of site use, etc). The diversity of the Mesolithic is also reflected in cultural taxonomy: in some sequences continuity of the Balkan Epigravettian techno-morphological tradition can be seen as opposed, in other sequences, to highly isolated groups with technology and tool morphology adapted to local raw materials and specific activities. The Balkan Mesolithic was not completely cut-off from the Western Mediterranean techno-morphological influences (particularly in Southern Greece) and from the Anatolian lithic traditions (seen only in the Northern Aegean). A more intensive network of marine contacts is confirmed by obsidian circulation in the Aegean Basin.

Byzantinischer Tanz zwischen antiker Rhythmik und neuzeitlichen Volkstänzen

AbstractBy tradition, Byzantine dance is linked with both classical antiquity and today’s folk dances of the southern Balkans. Turkish influence on the latter seems limited primarily to musical instruments and melody but does not appear to include rhythm. In antiquity, and in Byzantine times, the simple rhythmic foot was divided into arsis and thesis, the ‘up’ and ‘down’ of a step, and the ratio of their lengths (in time units) determined the rhythmic genus, 1:1 dactylic, 2:1 iambic, 3:2 paeonic and 4:3 epitrite. This implies measures of 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 units and certain multiples. In addition, there were also composite rhythmic feet which combined simple feet of different genera. In early Byzantium, for example, measures of 11 and probably of 9 units were used. These seem to correspond to the forms 3+3+2+3, 2+3+2+2+2 and 2+2+3+2. This would suggest that the asymmetric rhythms of Greek, Bulgarian and Macedonian folk dances derive from ancient and Byzantine predecessors.

The first record of Anancus (Mammalia, Proboscidea) in the late Miocene of Greece and reappraisal of the primitive anancines from Europe

ABSTRACTIn this article, we present the proboscideans from the late Miocene (Turolian) locality Chomateri, Greece, near the classical locality Pikermi. The material consists of juvenile teeth, whose morphological features, such as the dislocation of the half-loph(id)s and the resultant alternate arrangement of the successive loph(id)s (anancoidy), permit assignment to the tetralophodont gomphothere Anancus. However, the anancoidy is rather weak and the occlusal morphology simple, both regarded as primitive features within anancines. Reexamination of the late Miocene anancines from Europe reveals that they all share primitive molar features (weak anancoidy, simple morphology, thick enamel) with the material from Hohenwarth, Austria, showing further primitive skull features, such as the longer mandibular symphysis compared with other anancines. The proper name to refer to the late Miocene anancines from Europe is Anancus lehmanni (Gaziry, 1997), with type locality Dorn-Dürkheim 1 (Turolian; Germany). The presence of Anancus in Chomateri constitutes the first late Miocene record of the genus in Greece, and the first faunal element that clearly indicates that Chomateri postdates the classical Pikermi. Finally, we discuss the biostratigraphy and the biogeography of the late Miocene anancines of the Old World. Anancus originated possibly at ∼9.0–8.5 Ma in Asia and entered Europe during the second half of the Turolian, at ∼7.2 Ma (Tortonian-Messinian boundary). The arrival of Anancus in Europe coincides with a faunal turnover in both the eastern and western sectors of the European Mediterranean region, and in the southern Balkans in particular, with the decline of the ‘Pikermian’ large-mammal fauna.

Late Miocene proboscideans from Samos Island (Greece) revisited: new specimens from old collections

In this article, we present new proboscidean remains from the late Miocene (Turolian) of Samos Island (Greece), which are stored in the old Samos collections of Darmstadt, Frankfurt a.M. (Germany), Lausanne (Switzerland), and Vienna (Austria), and originate from the excavations or fossil collections that took place on the island at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century. The specimens belong to juvenile individuals of deinotheres, choerolophodonts and amebelodonts. The deinothere material is attributed to the last European huge-sized deinothere, Deinotherium proavum. The described skull from Samos is currently the most complete specimen of all known Miocene juvenile deinotheres from Eurasia and Africa. The majority of the Samos choerolophodont specimens belong to the advanced morph of Choerolophodon pentelici, whereas one shows more archaic features and belongs to the primitive evolutionary stage of this species. This more primitive morph could originate from the lower fossiliferous horizons of Samos, which are dated to the early Turolian. The third proboscidean is attributed to the tetralophodont shovel-tusker Konobelodon atticus, a rare taxon in the Samos fauna. Together with the previously described zygodont Mammut from Samos, these four proboscideans are typical of the Turolian proboscidean fauna of southeastern Europe. We discuss the biostratigraphy of the Samos proboscideans with the aim of unraveling some aspects of the chronological range of the late Miocene proboscideans, focusing in particular on the Southern Balkans and Turkey.

The Paradise Lost of Milia (Grevena, Greece; Late Pliocene, Early Villafranchian, MN15/MN16a): Faunal Composition and Diversity

(1) Background: Over the last decades, important fossil records of Late Pliocene mammals and reptiles have been unearthed in Milia, Grevena (N Greece). This assemblage shows a remarkable composition and diversity, including the partial skeletons of mastodons that reached record-breaking sizes, abundant rhinos—the first occurrence of this species in Greece—and some new species; (2) Methods: We perform a thorough quantitative analysis of the recovered assemblage, presenting the information of the various collection spots in Milia, and calculate various biodiversity indices for each spot; (3) Results: Our research has revealed the vast majority of expected taxa in the assemblage. We argue that the various sub-localities in Milia could be grouped into a larger, composite assemblage representing a short period. We analyze the diversity changes through the various localities in Milia and highlight potential barriers that could affect the distribution of taxa; (4) Conclusions: We re-affirm the Early Villafranchian affinities of the fauna. In particular, Milia should date at MN16a, with a surprising presence of some more archaic, Ruscinian taxa. The fossils of Milia depict a Late Pliocene paradise in the Southern Balkans; a paradise, unfortunately, lost with the onset of the dramatic climate changes of the Quaternary.

Revision of the central Mediterranean xerothermic cliff vegetation

QUESTIONS: What are the syntaxonomic and synchorological patterns of the xerothermic chasmophytic vegetation in the central part of the Mediterranean Basin? What are the diagnostic species of the high‐rank syntaxa of Asplenietalia glandulosi, Onosmetalia frutescentis and Centaureo dalmaticae‐Campanuletalia pyramidalis? LOCATION: Mediterranean coastal and subcoastal areas of southern France, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and of mainland Greece. METHODS: The data set of 1,261 published releves was analysed using hierarchical clustering (Flexible Beta method), involving a series of data transformations. Indicator species analysis was used to select the best dendrogram solution and identify diagnostic taxa of the main clusters. The dendrogram was interpreted from a syntaxonomic point of view, using nomenclatural type releves as a basis. The NMDS ordination was performed in order to visualize the floristic relationships among associations and high‐rank syntaxa. MRPP was used to test for differences among alliances. RESULTS: The classification revealed four main clusters of releves representing the chasmophytic vegetation of southern France, Sardinia and the northwestern part of Italy (Asplenienalia glandulosi/Asplenietalia glandulosi), the southwestern part of Italy and Malta (Tinguarrenalia siculae/Asplenietalia glandulosi), the Adriatic Basin area (Centaureo dalmaticae‐Campanuletalia pyramidalis) and the southern Balkans (Onosmetalia frutescentis). The NMDS ordination confirmed the overall pattern, while MRPP showed significant differences among the alliances of the above‐mentioned orders and suborders. The lists of diagnostic taxa of the high‐rank syntaxa were revised according to a supra‐national perspective. CONCLUSIONS: The new syntaxonomic scheme provides a comprehensive overview of the chasmophytic vegetation of the central part of the Mediterranean Basin. This scheme mostly matches the recently published EuroVegChecklist, but also exhibits important novelties concerning the syntaxonomic position of some alliances (Dianthion rupicolae, Centaureion pentadactyli, Arenarion bertolonii and Caro‐Aurinion), and the floristic and chorological relationships among high‐rank syntaxa, with new revised sets of diagnostic taxa. This revision might be useful for further small‐scale phytosociological studies.

Electric circuit theory applied to alien invasions: a connectivity model predicting the Balkan frog expansion in Northern Italy

Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity and alien herpetofauna already caused conservation problems in Italy and in the world. Pelophylax kurtmuelleri (Gayda, 1940) is a water frog native to Southern Balkans, that was introduced in NW Italy (Liguria) in 1941, from where it has spread to Piedmont, Lombardy and recently to Emilia Romagna. Surprisingly, during its expansion, the Balkan frog seemed not to be able to cross the Po River (with a single exception). So, we investigated the reasons for such directional limitation of range expansion, focusing on the potential role of the Po River. Combining ecological niche and connectivity models, we adopted a two-step process in order to assess: (i) if the habitat suitability differs between the two sides of the Po Plain; (ii) if the Po River could act as a barrier in terms of dispersal. Results showed that the northern side of the plain seems less suitable than the southern one, even if many suitable patches occur along the main left tributaries of the Po River and in the hilly part of the plain. The Po River behaves like a barrier for the Balkan frog, but the only known point on the north bank of the river indicates that it may be able to only slow the dispersal and not to completely stop it. So, the most probable interpretation for the absence of the Balkan frog from the Northern Po Plain, is the combination of habitat suitability and connectivity issues: the former makes less probable that new viable populations can establish in the North, the latter decreases the northwards flux of the frogs. Given these findings, the Balkan frog seems able to spread in the whole Northern Italy and the colonization of the northern Po plain could happen shortly.

The Lower Palaeolithic site of Marathousa 1, Megalopolis, Greece: Overview of the evidence

Marathousa 1 is a Lower Palaeolithic open-air site located in the Megalopolis basin, an area in Southern Greece known for its fossiliferous sediments. Mining activities in the basin uncovered a thick sequence of Middle Pleistocene lacustrine deposits representing the environment of a palaeolake. Marathousa 1 was discovered in 2013 during a targeted palaeoanthropological survey and excavated subsequently by an interdisciplinary team from the Ephoreia of Palaeoanthropology–Speleology of Greece and the University of Tübingen, Germany. This article presents results from the ongoing investigation and reviews the state of knowledge about the site.Systematic excavations during five field seasons have exposed a total of 72 m2 and revealed a partial skeleton of the elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus and remains of other large mammals in spatial and stratigraphic association with a “small tool” lithic assemblage. Faunal and taphonomic studies indicate the presence of cut-marks and percussion damage on elephant and other large mammal bones. The study of site formation processes, together with taphonomic and geostatistic spatial analyses confirm the association of fossil and hominin activity remains and the stratigraphic integrity of the site. Radiometric dating, geological and biostratigraphical evidence suggest that hominin activity at the site occurred between 0.5 and 0.4 Ma.Marathousa 1 is the oldest currently known archaeological site in Greece and the only Lower Palaeolithic butchering site in the Southern Balkans. It is also a key site for documenting high resolution palaeoclimatic, palaeoenvironmental and cultural records of a geographical area that potentially acted as a refugium during the successive waves of hominin colonization of Europe.

Syntaxonomy and biogeography of dry grasslands on calcareous substrates in the central and southern Balkans

AbstractQuestionsWhich major syntaxa of dry grasslands supported by carbonate bedrock occur in the central and southern Balkans? What is their position along major ecological gradients and in the context of phytogeographic patterns of the region?LocationCentral and southern Balkans, including western Bulgaria, northern Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia (FYROM) and Serbia.MethodsWe compiled a matrix of 660 relevés of dry grasslands over lime‐rich bedrock, previously classified in the Festuco‐Brometea. We applied clustering techniques to classify separately synoptic and relevé data, and applied NMDS with passive projection of indicator values, climatic data and biogeographic geo‐elements onto ordination diagrams to assist interpretation of the syntaxonomic patterns. We constructed elevation distribution profiles for alliances and classes of grasslands of several grassland classes from a broader study area to elucidate the relationship of the elevational sorting of the syntaxa in relation to latitude.ResultsThe analysis revealed six major vegetation types, classified into four orders: (1) Stipo pulcherrimae‐Festucetalia pallentis, incl. (sub)montane rocky steppic grasslands of the Saturejion montanae of central Balkans, and the Koelerio‐Festucion dalmaticae – submontane rocky grasslands of southern Serbia and Kosovo; (2) Astragalo onobrychidis‐Potentilletalia represented by the Saturejo‐Thymion (low‐elevation steppic grasslands of southern Balkans); (3) Festucetalia valesiacae represented by grasslands on deep soil and low elevation of northern Greece, and finally (4) high‐elevation rocky grasslands of southern Balkans, classified as a new alliance – Diantho haematocalycis‐Festucion hirtovaginatae, that might belong to a new, yet undescribed, syntaxonomic order. Ordination suggests that the major differentiation of the high‐rank syntaxa follows north–south geographic and low–high elevation gradients.ConclusionsBecause of the transitional biogeographic position of the studied region, as well as considerable large elevation span across latitudes, the diversity of vegetation types is high. The indication a putative new dry grassland order, the mid‐high altitudes of the southern Balkans points to a need to re‐assess the Balkan vegetation occupying the community niche between the low‐elevation dry grasslands (Festuco‐Brometea) and those typical of high elevations (Elyno‐Seslerietea and Daphno‐Festucetea), seeking parallels to patterns described from the western Alps, Pyrenees, and Apennines. This syntaxonomic unit is poised to expand the concept of the Festuco hystricis‐Ononidetea striatae to the Balkans.

Similarity and provenance of underpainting chalk grounds based on their nannofossil assemblages cluster analysis

Abstract The study concerns first analytical approach aiming to determine similarity and possible source market of chalk used as wooden icon underpainting grounds, on the basis of their quantified nannofossil assemblage compositions. The grounds were sampled, among others, from the oldest icons (14th–16th c.) in the collection of National Museum in Krakow. Forty-seven underpainting ground samples contain the Upper Cretaceous nannofossil taxa (eleven, barren in nannofossil, seem to embody gypsum/anhydrite underpainting layers). Forty-five of them yielded the Upper Campanian—Upper Maastrichtian assemblages and the next two, Turonian—Coniacian. The latter may represent Central Russia trade market source regards also on the manner of icon paintings. Three of forty-five of the Campanian—Maastrichtians samples provided the Tethyan nannofossil assemblages and may derive from the southern Carpathians and/or Balkans. The rest, i.e. forty-two samples provide the Boreal assemblages, dominated by Micula decussata, Arkhangelskiella spp. and Prediscosphaera spp. The analytical part of study involving cluster analysis of the distinguished nannofossil assemblages evidenced separation of the Turonian—Coniacian and Tethyan assemblages from the Boreal ones, in different clusters. Furthermore, this analysis also shows the strong affinities between assemblages of Boreal origin. The next cluster analysis combined the icon chalk ground nannofossil assemblages and those from rock samples outcropped nearby the City of Chelm (Lublin Upland, E Poland). That analysis reveals the close relationship of assemblages coming from the Chelm's samples with those found in the icon chalk grounds containing the Campanian—Maastrichtian nannofossil assemblages of the Boreal origin.