Southern Corsica Research Articles

Sedimentology and structure of the Paleogene Nummulitic series of Corsica: Reconstruction of the southern termination of the western Alpine foreland basin

AbstractNummulitic Limestones deposits are preserved along the tectonic contact between the Variscan basement and Alpine units of Corsica. These marine carbonates, dated from the Late Palaeocene to the Middle Eocene, were deposited within a foreland flexural basin that is considered to be the southern continuation of the Alpine foreland basin of southeast (SE) France. However, in contrast with the Nummulitic Limestones of SE France, those of Corsica are far less documented. This field‐based study constrains the sedimentology, stratigraphy and structure of the Nummulitic Limestones of Corsica in three localities (Balagne, Corte and Sari‐Solenzara) to identify factors that controlled foreland basin development and to clarify its significance within the early alpine orogen. The microfacies, microfaunal assemblages and siliciclastic fractions are characterised throughout the succession at each locality. The results indicate the existence of an important Variscan basement relief to the west of the basin (West Corsican Massif) that supplied early alluvial fans found at the base of the foreland succession in the northernmost Balagne area. Continuous high clastic input strongly reduced the development and diversity of the overlying Nummulitic Limestones facies and fauna. Further south, limestones in the Corte and Sari‐Solenzara areas are thicker and contain richer fauna. Three depositional models corresponding to the carbonate ramp system are proposed for the Nummulitic Limestones and used to construct paleogeographic maps illustrating the transgressive evolution of the Corsican foreland basin from the Early to the Late Eocene. Based on our results and available regional tectonic data and LT thermochronological data, we propose that the Nummulitic marine transgression took place within a continuous foreland basin encompassing southern Corsica and SE France during the early development of the western alpine arc.

Centranthus pontecorvi (Valerianaceae) a new species from Sardinia

The species of Centranthus (Valerianaceae) belonging to C. sect. Nervosae are investigated. They are currently represented by C. trinervis from southern Corsica and C. amazonum from central-eastern Sardinia. In addition, a new isolated population has been discovered in southwestern Sardinia, which is morphologically and ecologically very differentiated from the other two known species. This population can be treated as new species, named C. pontecorvi, growing on screes constituted by Cambrian metacarbonates, localized in the Sulcitano-Iglesiente biogeographic sector. For each species, a detailed description and a new illustration based on living and herbarium materials are provided. Information on typification, synonymy, phenology, ecology, distribution, conservation status, and a list of examined herbarium specimens is also given. Furthermore, an updated identification key utilising the diagnostic traits of these three species has been elaborated.

Geology of the Zicavo Metamorphic Complex, southern Corsica (France)

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigated the Zicavo Metamorphic Complex (southern Corsica), which is part of the innermost Axial Zone of the Corsica-Sardinia Variscan belt. To better evaluate its geological and structural outline, a 1:5000 geological map, coupled with new structural/microstructural and petrographic data, is presented. The complex is formed by three tectonic units, from bottom to top: (i) an Orthogneiss Unit, (ii) a Leptyno-Amphibolite Unit, and (iii) a Micaschist Unit. They are separated by ductile shear zones with a top-to-the-SE sense of shear. They underwent a polyphase deformation and polymetamorphic history, with a shortening stage in the amphibolite facies, responsible for the main structures and shearing, followed by an exhumation phase.

Incorporation of neighborhood information improves performance of SDB models

Mapping of water depth in nearshore waters is important for safe navigation and other human uses of coastal areas. Optical satellite imagery offers a cost-efficient source of data for this purpose. Several methods have been developed for satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB), but the details of their implementation, as well as their relative performance and its dependence on the data and environmental context, is unclear. We compared five SDB models, calibrated and tested against airborne lidar data from southern Corsica. We used a blocked strategy to split data into calibration, validation, and test data, because randomly splitting the data resulted in spatial autocorrelation between these data sets and underestimation of model prediction errors. In general, the non-parametric random forest and neural network models outperformed the parametric multi-band and band-ratio models. The convolutional neural network (CNN) model performed the best, especially in relatively deep (10–20 m) areas, and it could be near-optimally tuned with only ∼1000 data points. However, developing this CNN model was an iterative trial-and-error process that took several months. Using the random forest model, we demonstrated that using information from more than two bands in the visible and near-infrared spectrum contributed to improving model performance, as did incorporation of information from the local neighborhood. We suggest that the use of more than two bands, and the inclusion of spatial contextual information in addition to the values of the individual pixel, should become standard practice in SDB.

HTLP metamorphism and fluid‐fluxed melting during multistage anatexis of continental crust (N Sardinia, Italy)

AbstractThe Variscan high‐grade metamorphic basement of northern Sardinia and southern Corsica record lower Carboniferous anatexis related to post‐collisional decompression of the orogen. Migmatites exposed in the Punta Bianca locality (Italy) consist of quartz + biotite + plagioclase + K‐feldspar orthogneisses, garnet and cordierite‐bearing diatexite and metatexites, derived from metasediments. Field evidence, petrographic observations, ELA‐ICP‐MS zircon and monazite dating and pseudosection modelling suggest that anatexis was apparently episodic involving two main stages of partial melting. Using pseudosection modelling, we infer that the first stage of partial melting is in the upper amphibolite facies (~0.45 GPa at ~740°C). Cordierite overgrowths replacing sillimanite, combined with the composition of plagioclase and K‐feldspar, suggest decompression followed cooling below the solidus at low pressures of ~0.3 GPa. The age of the first anatectic event is not precisely constrained because of extensive resetting of the isotopic systems during the second melting stage, yet few zircons preserve a lower Carboniferous age which is consistent with the regional dataset. This lower Carboniferous migmatitic fabric is offset by a network of pseudotachylyte‐bearing faults suggestive of cooling to greenschist facies conditions. Garnet/cordierite‐bearing diatexites incorporate fragments of pseudotachylite‐bearing orthogneiss and metatexites. Pseudosection modelling indicates nearly isobaric re‐heating up to ~750°C, followed by further cooling below the solidus. The inferred P–T path is consistent with decompression and cooling of the Variscan crust through post‐collisional extension and collapse of the thickened orogenic crust, followed by nearly isobaric re‐heating at low pressures (~0.3 GPa) yielding to a second melting stage under LP‐HT conditions. U/Th‐Pb monazite ages for diatexite migmatites indicate an upper bound of 310–316 Ma for the second melting stage, suggesting that the second melting stage is coincident with the regional phase of crustal shearing. The cause of the high geothermal gradient required for re‐heating during the second melting stage is unknown but likely requires some heat source that was probably related to dissipation of mechanical work within crustal‐scale shear zones. According to this interpretation, some upper Carboniferous peraluminous granite precursors of the Corsica–Sardinia Batholith could be the outcome rather than the cause of the late‐Variscan high‐T metamorphism.

The Negative Bidirectional Interaction Between Climate Change and the Prevalence and Care of Liver Disease: A Joint BSG, BASL, EASL, and AASLD Commentary

The Negative Bidirectional Interaction Between Climate Change and the Prevalence and Care of Liver Disease: A Joint BSG, BASL, EASL, and AASLD Commentary

The Paragan 1 shipwreck, Corsica: a 17th–18th century coaster

The wreck is located in the Bay of Paragan near Bonifacio, southern Corsica and was discovered in 2015. It has been dated by Ligurian faïence to the end of the 17th-beginning of the 18th century. Since 2016, the wreck has been the object of an underwater excavation within the framework of the MoMArch international training school (A*Midex, Aix-Marseille University, CCJ, DRASSM). The wreck displays several “architectural fingerprints” that are characteristic of the practices of Mediterranean frame-first construction and which have been attested archaeologically since the Middle Ages. One objective of the excavation is to provide answers relating to the architectural principles and building processes of the ship. Another objective is to restore the shape of the hull and rigging with the aim of identifying the architectural type of the Paragan 1 ship in the technical context of coasters of the western Mediterranean basin.

Optimizing multiple non-invasive techniques (PXRF, pMS, IA) to characterize coarse-grained igneous rocks used as building stones

We present a workflow to conduct a full characterization of medium to coarse-grained igneous rocks, using portable, non-invasive, and reproducible approaches. This includes: (i) Image Analysis (IA) to quantify mineral phase proportions, grain size distribution using the Weka trainable machine learning algorithm. (ii) Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (PXRF, Bruker Tracer IV) to quantify the whole-rock's chemical composition. For this purpose, a specific calibration method dedicated to igneous rocks using the open-source CloudCal app was developed. It was then validated for several key elements (Si, Al, K, Ti, Ca, Fe, Mn, Sr, Ga, Ba, Rb, Zn, Nb, Zr, and Y) by analyzing certified standard reference igneous rocks. (iii) Portable Magnetic Susceptibilimeter (pMS, Bartington MS2K system) to constrain the mineralogical contribution of the samples. The operational conditions for these three methods were tested and optimized by analyzing five unprepared surfaces of igneous rocks ranging from a coarse-grained alkaline granite to a fine-grained porphyric diorite and hence, covering variable grain sizes, mineralogical contents, and whole-rock geochemical compositions. For pMS and PXRF tools, one hundred analyses were conducted as a 10 cm × 10 cm square grid on each sample. Bootstrap analysis was implemented to establish the best grid size sampling to reach an optimized reproducibility of the whole-rock signature. For PXRF analysis, averaged compositions were compared to PXRF analysis on press-pellets and laboratory WD-XRF analysis on fused disk and solution ICP-OES (for major) and solution-ICPMS (for trace element concentrations). Ultimately, this workflow was applied in the field on granitoids from three Roman quarrying sites in the Lavezzi archipelago (southern Corsica) and tested against the Bonifacio granitic War Memorial, for which its provenance is established. Our results confirm this information and open the door to geoarchaeological provenance studies with a high spatial resolution.

Description d’une nouvelle espèce de Nomada Scopoli, 1770, de France (Corse) (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Description of a new species of Nomada Scopoli, 1770, from France (Corsica) (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Nomada legoffi n. sp., a new species of bee of the genus Nomada Scopoli, 1770 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) from southern Corsica is described and illustrated. It is morphologically close to Nomada argentata Herrich-Schäffer, 1839. Observations on its probable host Andrena pellucens Pérez, 1895, are reported.

Deciphering the dynamics of a heterogeneous sea cliff using ambient vibrations: case study of the Sutta-Rocca overhang (southern Corsica, France)

SUMMARYWe report here an interesting case study of dynamic characterization of a limestone sea cliff area, named the Sutta-Rocca overhang, located near the medieval town of Bonifacio (southern Corsica, France). The site belongs to an UNESCO protected area with an important number of visitors per year. Therefore, it is of particular interest to evaluate the potential rockfall hazard along the cliff. With the objective of evaluating the feasibility of an operational technique to monitor the cliff using ambient vibrations, two seismic stations were installed during six months (from 2016 November to 2017 April) in order to identify and monitor the resonant frequencies of the a priori unstable rock mass. Several techniques of classical seismic monitoring are tested on the site: single-station spectral analysis for identification of frequency peaks related to the unstable mass, relative spectral amplifications between stations and the operational modal analysis of the cliff. In particular, data analysis from a temporary campaign of two days of continuous recordings by a linear array of seismometers perpendicular to the sea cliff highlights the main characteristics of the ground motion: the overall motion of the promontory mainly in the north–south direction (perpendicular to the coast) and bending vertical and parallel to the cliff (east–west direction) at higher frequencies. The strong vertical and east–west seismic amplifications are also confirmed by the analysis of five local seismic events recorded at both semi-permanent stations. Even if ambient vibrations and seismic data analysis allows to decipher the dynamics of the Sutta-Rocca overhang, we conclude that classical seismic monitoring of just one single frequency peak with a limited number of sensors is not recommended for this particular site.

Description of a new Eucoryphus species from the island of Corsica, France (Diptera: Dolichopodidae, Hydrophorinae).

Eucoryphus Mik is a Palaearctic genus of Dolichopodidae, previously with two described species confined to the montane and alpine zones of the European Alps. This paper describes a third species, Eucoryphus piscariviverus sp. nov., discovered in the mountains of southern Corsica. The systematic position of the genus Eucoryphus and the ecology of its species are discussed in detail and a key to males of the three species is provided.

OMERTÀ AS A WORLDVIEW PHENOMENON OF THE ITALIAN MAFIA

The article is devoted to the philosophical inquiry of mafia worldview system the base of which is omertà – the code of honor of the Italian mafia which is based on the code of silence deeply rooted in southern Italy and Corsica, the refusal to cooperate with the authorities and non-interference in other people’s legal affairs. The methodological mistakes connected with trying to analyze mafia worldview in comparison with the scale of values of democratic society have been shown. It has been stressed that omertà is not only a system of keeping silence but also a system of specific ways of communication inside of the mafia community. The forms of manipulation of the consciousness of the personality have been revealed depending on the characteristics of political regimes (democratic, authoritarian, totalitarian forms of the social mechanism of manipulation of the personality consciousness). It has been concluded that mafia as worldview system and type of social organization is an alternative form of social integration. It has deep historical and cultural roots which are connected with absence of stable national state governance in the South of Italy during ages; with deep distrust of the official state; with irrational desire to reproduce the “real power” in another form based on the family values and kinship. Key words: Worldview, Personality, Community, State, Values.

Potential of an EnKF Storm-Scale Data Assimilation System Over Sparse Observation Regions with Complex Orography

High-impact weather events over sparse data regions with complex orography, such as the Mediterranean region, remain a challenge for numerical weather prediction. This study evaluates, for the first time, the ability of a multiscale ensemble-based data assimilation system to reproduce a heavy precipitation episode that occurred during the first Special Observation Period (SOP1) of the Hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment (HyMeX). During the Intense Observation Period (IOP13) from 14 to 15 October 2012, convective maritime activity associated with an advancing cold front affected coastal areas of southern France, Corsica and Italy. With the main objective of improving forecasts of this weather event, a data assimilation (DA) system using the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) algorithm is implemented. The potential impact of assimilating conventional in-situ observations (METAR, aircrafts, buoys and rawinsondes) and single-Doppler reflectivity data to improve numerical representation of growing convective maritime structures that will evolve towards coastal populated areas is evaluated. Results indicate that information provided by both observation sources contribute to initiation and subsequent evolution of convective structures not captured by the conventional runs. Notably, data assimilation experiments produce the best quantitative verification scores for the short range (6–8 h) forecasts of accumulated precipitation. Beyond 6–8 h, data assimilation experiments and those without data assimilation are indistinguishable. Sensitivity experiments, evaluating the impact of increasing the length of the radar data assimilation period, reveal the importance of assimilating high-frequency reflectivity data during a mid-term period (6 h approx.) to better depict deep convective structures initiated over the sea that evolve towards populated coastal areas.

A persistent risk of urogenital schistosomiasis transmission linked to the Cavu River in Southern Corsica since 2013

Introduction Urogenital schistosomiasis, a tropical snail-borne disease, re-emerged in Europe in 2013, with 106 cases linked to exposure to the Cavu River in Southern Corsica. The implicated parasite strain was a hybrid of a human-bovine Schistosoma parasite (S. haematobium–S. bovis) of Senegalese origin. The parasite's introduction to the river was presumed to have occurred via an infected individual. Subsequent to this outbreak, we developed a human and snail surveillance system to detect and control schistosomal transmission. Environmental research and phylogenetic analysis were performed to understand the continuing transmission of schistosomiasis in the river. Methods Autochthonous urogenital schistosomiasis became a notifiable disease in France from 2016. A case was defined as a person with serological or parasitological evidence of schistosomiasis, with no history of travel outside of Corsica in a known endemic area. Patient specimens were genotyped, and compared with the 2013 outbreak strain. Seasonal molecular surveillance of snails in the Cavu River was established for rapid detection of schistosomes. Bulinus truncatus snails, intermediates host of S. haematobium, are collected weekly from the Cavu River when conditions are optimal for schistosomal transmission (June–September). Seroprevalence studies in livestock in Southern Corsica and in wild rodents captured along the Cavu River, were conducted. Results Following the 2013 outbreak, seven new cases were identified: one in 2015, four in 2016 and two in 2017. Three cases reported exposure to the Cavu River in summer 2015, two cases in both summer 2015 and 2016 and two other cases in 2016 and 2017. For the last cases, the period between the 2017 exposure and the diagnosis of the symptomatic case is of four weeks whereas the average time for onset of symptoms after exposure is of 30 weeks. Therefore, this suggests that the infection occurred in 2016. Although no specimen was isolated from patients exposed only in 2015, specimens from a patient exposed in 2015/2016 and from another patient exposed in 2016/2017 were closely related to the 2013 strain. With between 1965 and 5364 snails analyzed each year, the surveillance did not detect any Schistosoma-infested snails in the river from 2015 to 2017. Twenty-one rodents were captured for testing along the river and 3,479 cows and goats in Southern Corsica. All seroprevalence tests were negative. Discussion/Conclusion Corsica possesses all the necessary conditions for permanent transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis. Further research on the survival of infested snails over the winter period, and on the presence of a rodent reservoir in the river area are fundamental to evaluate the risk of ongoing transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis in the Cavu River. The persistence of a human reservoir in vicinity of the Cavu River would increase this risk. Therefore, tourists and locals exposed to the river must be advised of the risk of recreational water use in the Cavu. Public health authorities must reinforce physicians’ awareness of screening recommendations, to promptly detect and treat new cases and to prevent further transmission in Corsica. The maintenance of schistosomes in Corsica serves as a warning to other regions in Europe with environmental conditions favorable to urogenital schistosomiasis transmission.

Multiple recharge processes to heterogeneous Mediterranean coastal aquifers and implications on recharge rates evolution in time

Climate change is nowadays widely considered to have major effects on groundwater resources. Climatic projections suggest a global increase in evaporation and higher frequency of strong rainfall events especially in Mediterranean context. Since evaporation is synonym of low recharge conditions whereas strong rainfall events are more favourable to recharge in heterogeneous subsurface contexts, a lack of knowledge remains then on the real ongoing and future drinking groundwater supply availability at aquifers scale. Due to low recharge potential and high inter-annual climate variability, this issue is strategic for the Mediterranean hydrosystems. This is especially the case for coastal aquifers because they are exposed to seawater intrusion, sea-level rise and overpumping risks. In this context, recharge processes and rates were investigated in a Mediterranean coastal aquifer with subsurface heterogeneity located in Southern Corsica (France). Aquifer recharge rates from combining ten physical and chemical methods were computed. In addition, hydrochemical and isotopic investigations were carried out through a monthly two years monitoring combining major ions and stable isotopes of water in rain, runoff and groundwater. Diffuse, focused, lateral mountain system and irrigation recharge processes were identified and characterized. A predominant focused recharge conditioned by subsurface heterogeneity is evidenced in agreement with variable but highly favourable recharge rates. The fast water transfer from the surface to the aquifer implied by this recharge process suggests less evaporation, which means higher groundwater renewal and availability in such Mediterranean coastal aquifers.

Persistence of schistosomal transmission linked to the Cavu river in southern Corsica since 2013.

Seven cases of urogenital schistosomiasis occurred in Corsica in 2015 and 2016. The episodes were related to exposure to the same river and involved the same parasite strain as an outbreak with 106 cases in summer 2013. The connection calls for further investigations on the presence of an animal reservoir and the survival of infested snails during winter. However, recontamination of the river from previously infected bathers remains the most likely hypothesis.

Redescription ofGeogarypus minor, type species of the genusGeogarypus, and description of a new species from Italy (Pseudoscorpiones: Geogarypidae)

The type species of the pseudoscorpion genus Geogarypus Chamberlin, 1930, Geogarypus minor (L. Koch, 1873), is redescribed from the newly designated female lectotype and numerous specimens from southern France, Corsica and Italy. Geogarypus nigrimanus (Simon, 1879) is newly designated as a junior subjective synonym of G. minor, and a new species, G. italicus sp. nov. (type locality Bergeggi, Western Liguria, Italy), is described from specimens from mainland Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. A key to the Mediterraneo-Macaronesian species of the genus is proposed.

Large outbreak of urogenital schistosomiasis acquired in Southern Corsica, France: monitoring early signs of endemicization?

ObjectivesClustered cases of urogenital schistosomiasis were reported in April 2014 among French and German tourists linked to exposure in the Cavu River, Southern Corsica, France, between 2011 and 2013. We set up national surveillance for autochthonous urogenital schistosomiasis to document the largest possible number of cases in order to identify potential sites of transmission and to determine the extent of the outbreak in France and Corsica. MethodsThe early response consisted mostly of prohibiting swimming in the river, performing a nationwide serologic screening of all persons exposed to the river between 2011 and 2013 and treating confirmed cases. Physicians were asked to report all patients with one or more positive antischistosome serologic test. Cases were defined as occurring in a resident of France with serologic evidence of schistosomiasis or schistosome eggs in urine and no history of contact with freshwater in known endemic areas. We documented symptoms as well as place and time of exposure to freshwater for all subjects. To estimate the outbreak size, we modelled the effect of the 2014 nationwide screening on the 2011–2015 time series of serodiagnosed schistosomiasis cases using log-linear autoregression. ResultsIn 2014, a total of 106 autochthonous cases were reported, including 35 symptomatic infections. All patients had swum in the Cavu during summer 2013. Over 30 000 persons were likely screened for autochthonous schistosomiasis. The model-estimated outbreak size was 338 cases, including 36 serodiagnosed in 2015. ConclusionsBesides the 2013 outbreak, there is evidence of small-scale transmission in 2015 in Corsica. Early detection and control of recurrences requires raising community and medical awareness.

Erosion of insect diversity in response to 7000 years of relative sea-level rise on a small Mediterranean island

We have investigated the potential effects of global sea-level rise on Mediterranean coastal wetlands by studying the Coleoptera and pollen fossil remains in a 7000-year sedimentary record, which we obtained from a coastal marshy area on a small Mediterranean island (Cavallo, southern Corsica). Using beetle structural diversity and plant composition as recorded prior to marine and human influences as a ‘past analogue’, we reconstructed the impact of the Holocene relative sea-level rise on the coastal ecosystem. Our results show that beetle species richness and diversity were highest when freshwater was predominant, which was the case until about 6200 years ago. We also found that a major increase in salinity had occurred over the last 5300 years, experiencing a peak rate of increase at about 3700 years ago. These changes are clearly reflected in the fossil records of the following key taxa: halophilous beetles (Ochthebius sp., Pterostichus cursor), halophilous plants (Chenopodiaceae, Tamarix) and non-pollen palynomorphs (microforaminiferal linings). In particular, we note that the majority (60%) of wetland beetle fauna became locally extinct in response to the salinity changes, and these changes were exacerbated by the recent aggravation of human pressures on the island. The major part of this diversity loss occurred 3700 years ago, when the relative Mediterranean sea-level rose above −1.5 ± 0.3 meters. These findings demonstrate the value of fossil beetle assemblage analysis as a diagnostic for the response of coastal wetland biodiversity to past salinity increases, and serve as a means of forecasting the effects of sea-level rise in the future. The conservation of inland freshwater bodies could ultimately prove essential to preserving freshwater insect diversity in threatened coastal environments.

Holocene environmental history of a small Mediterranean island in response to sea-level changes, climate and human impact

The aim of this study is to investigate human-climate-environment interactions in a small Mediterranean island. Comparison between palynological and palaeoentomological data from the Greco pond (Cavallo Island, southern Corsica) reveals that the island was first covered by a more-or-less open Erica arborea pasture-woodland from ca. 7000 to 6100cal.yrB.P. Grazing animals from 7000 to 6200cal.yrB.P., followed by a spreading of Ficus carica (marked by the bark beetle Hypoborus ficus) from ca. 6100 to 5750cal.yrB.P., suggest that human activities could be implicated in the E. arborea forest opening. From ca. 5500cal.yrB.P., a regional expansion of Q. ilex was recorded, but an open landscape with thermophilous and drought-tolerant plants locally took place from ca. 4700cal.yrB.P. onward. Pastoral and agricultural biomarkers (pollen, NPP and insect) together with archaeological evidence indicate that human activities were involved in the installation of a lasting open vegetation. Simultaneously, the effects of the Holocene relative sea-level rise on the coastal wetland are recorded: (1) freshwater conditions prevailed in the Greco pond since 7000cal.yrB.P. at least, (2) the first evidence of salt marsh development dates back to ca. 4500cal.yrB.P., (3) a strong increase of salinity with marine intrusions were recorded at ca. 3700cal.yrB.P. while a decline in aquatic insect diversity occurred and (4) a phase of sand dune formation was recorded from ca. 2000cal.yrB.P. onward. Our results suggest that if large-scale climatic trend such as the Holocene relative sea-level rise could affect coastal ecosystem, effects of human activities could play the leading role in vegetation and terrestrial beetle assemblage changes in a small island context.