Southwestern France Research Articles

First detection of Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) in southwestern France

We report the first detection of Trissolcus japonicus in southwestern France. A total of almost 3000 sentinel and 700 field-laid egg masses of Halyomorpha halys were exposed or collected in the administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in 2022 and 2023. A total of 12 and 44 specimens of T. japonicus emerged from one and two egg masses in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Morphologic analysis confirmed the identification of this egg parasitoid, while molecular analysis of COI matched the haplotype of the French population to the population of T. japonicus released in Italy. Trissolcus japonicus may have arrived in Nouvelle-Aquitaine from introduction pathways similary to T. mitsukurii, detected in 2020, although these pathways cannot be clearly defined. The co-occurrence of these two major parasitoids of BMSB should now be surveyed as possible competition can arise. In the frame of the biological control program currently running in France against BMSB, the use of one or two parasitoid species is also considered.

The Pyrenean Platform for Observation of the Atmosphere: site, long-term dataset, and science

Abstract. The Pyrenean Platform for Observation of the Atmosphere (P2OA) is a coupled plain–mountain instrumented platform in southwestern France. It is composed of two physical sites: the “Pic du Midi” mountaintop observatory (2877 m a.s.l.) and the “Centre de Recherches Atmosphériques” (600 m a.s.l). Both sites are complementarily instrumented for the monitoring of climate-relevant variables and the study of meteorological processes in a mountainous region. The scientific topics covered by P2OA include surface–atmosphere interactions in heterogeneous landscapes and complex terrain, the physics and chemistry of atmospheric trace species at a large scale, the influence of local- and regional-scale emissions and transport on the atmospheric composition, and transient luminous events above thunderstorms. With a large number of instruments and a high hosting capacity, P2OA contributes to atmospheric sciences through (i) building long-term series of atmospheric observations, (ii) hosting experimental field campaigns and instrumental tests, and (iii) educational training in atmospheric observation techniques. In this context, P2OA is part of the French component of the Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS-Fr) and also contributes to the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) research infrastructure and to several European or international networks. Here, we present the complete instrumentation of P2OA and the associated datasets, give a meteorological characterization of the platform, and illustrate the potential of P2OA and its dataset with past or ongoing studies and projects.

AF4-UHPLC: Two-dimensional separation of macromolecules in four white wines from South-Western France

Proteins in wines contribute to “protein haze,” which, while not affecting health or taste, can detract from the visual appeal of wines to consumers. To mitigate this issue, winemakers commonly use fining agents such as bentonite, despite the high costs involved. To overcome these challenges, numerous studies employ various analytical methods to better understand the behaviour of proteins. A novel technique which separates compounds by size, Asymmetrical Flow-Field Flow Fractionation (AF4), allows for studying proteins without denaturing them. Given that most proteins share similar sizes, identification remains challenging. The aim of this work was initially to develop a new system enabling simultaneous analysis of the macromolecular profile of wines (proteins, mannoproteins) using AF4 and real-time protein nature analysis (hydrophobicity properties) using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC). By injecting two standards of different sizes and chemical nature, thaumatin protein and mannoproteins, the system was validated. The subsequent application of this system to Southwestern wines revealed distinct profiles across monovarietal white wines from four grape varieties. While the Colombard (COL) and Gros manseng (GM) varieties showed similar protein compositions with varying concentrations, the Len de l'el (LL) variety had only two types of protein and no protein was detected in the Mauzac (MZ) variety. Despite these variations, all varieties contained mannoproteins. This system shows promise for studying wine protein composition and could potentially find applications in other matrices.

Pesticide contamination patterns in Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) chicks.

Biomonitoring of persistent pesticides in birds of prey has been carried out for decades, but few studies have investigated their relevance for the monitoring of non-persistent pesticides. Herein, we determined the contamination patterns of multiple pesticides in Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) chicks in an intensive farming area of southwestern France. Blood samples from 55 chicks belonging to 22 nests in 2021 were assessed for 104 compounds (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, safeners and synergists). All chicks had at least one herbicide in their blood, and half had at least two compounds. The 28 compounds detected comprised 10 herbicides, 12 fungicides, 5 insecticides and 1 synergist. Mixtures in blood were predominantly composed of herbicides, and six chicks presented a mixture of the three pesticide classes. The most prevalent compounds were sulcotrione (96% of chicks), tebutam (44%) and chloridazon (31%), of which the latter two had been banned in France for 19 and 3years, respectively, at the time of sampling. Most compounds are considered non-acutely toxic, but sulcotrione is potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic, raising questions about the effects on the health of nestlings. Biomonitoring of multiple pesticides through Montagu's harrier chicks in agroecosystems is clearly relevant because it reflects the general pattern of agricultural pesticide use in the study area. It also raises questions about exposure pathways in chicks, and further investigations are needed to disentangle the roles of dietary routes and maternal transfer for the established pesticide contamination patterns.

An Enhanced Forecasting Method of Daily Solar Irradiance in Southwestern France: A Hybrid Nonlinear Autoregressive with Exogenous Inputs with Long Short-Term Memory Approach

The increasing global reliance on renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy, underscores the critical importance of accurate solar irradiance forecasting. As solar capacity continues to grow, precise predictions of solar irradiance become essential for optimizing the performance and reliability of photovoltaic (PV) systems. This study introduces a novel hybrid forecasting model that integrates Nonlinear Autoregressive with Exogenous Inputs (NARX) with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. The purpose is to enhance the precision of predicting daily solar irradiance in fluctuating meteorological scenarios, particularly in southwestern France. The hybrid model employs the NARX model’s capacity to handle complex non-linear relationships and the LSTM’s aptitude to manage long-term dependencies in time-series data. The performance metrics of the hybrid NARX-LSTM model were thoroughly assessed, revealing a mean absolute error (MAE) of 9.58 W/m2, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 16.30 W/m2, and a Coefficient of Determination (R2) of 0.997. Consequently, the proposed hybrid model outperforms the benchmark model in all metrics, showing a significant improvement in prediction accuracy and better alignment with the observed data. These results highlight the model’s effectiveness in enhancing forecasting accuracy under unpredictable conditions, improving solar energy integration into power systems, and ensuring more reliable energy predictions.

Climate Movements virtual exchange as an internationalisation at home initiative in France

Virtual exchange has widened internationalisation to more inclusive internationalisation at home initiatives. This study is set in a higher education context where 122 students from a public university in southwestern France took part in Sharing Perspectives Foundation’s flagship Climate Movements virtual exchange. In this context, L1 French learners of English, who majored in the hard sciences, interacted on a weekly basis with other students worldwide on the sensitive topic of climate change, marking the critical turn of virtual exchange projects (Helm, 2016; O’Dowd, 2016, 2018; Zečević & Milekić, 2022). The data (questionnaire responses, reflective journal entries and interview transcripts) were collected into textual corpora and read for repeated emergent themes through conventional content analysis (Hsieh & Shannon, 2005). The perceptions of the participants strongly suggest that Climate Movements virtual exchange is pivotal to internationalisation at home initiatives carried out in English as a second language.

Multi-actor approach to manage the water-energy-food nexus at territory scale

This study presents an innovative water-energy-food nexus (WEFN) generic multi-actor multi-level framework that simulates dynamic nexus systems and generates optimal resource management schemes and land-use allocation scenarios. The framework combines operational integrated multi-agent based simulations, dynamic agro-hydrological and renewable energy generation units (solar and wind) models and multi-criteria decision-making methods. It has been applied to a case study area of 800 km2 located downstream the Aveyron watershed, in Southwestern France. Local and regional strategic multi-criteria decision-making settings are compared. Under the local decision-making setting land-use allocation decisions are taken at agricultural parcel level whereas under the regional decision-making settings a single land allocation decision is taken for the whole territory. Possible land allocations are either crop rotations allocations, renewable energy generation units allocations or a mix of both. The framework is useful to generate scenarios of spatial allocations of renewable energy production units in an agricultural watershed facing water scarcity.

Differences between subjective and disability health expectancies across ages in older adults

Health expectancies (HEs) have become a key indicator for monitoring healthy aging. So far, they have mainly been calculated based on functional rather than subjective health measures. Yet, by integrating several dimensions (medical, social, and cultural), subjective health is also an important measure of an older person’s health status. In this study, we first estimated HEs using self-rated health (SRH), by age and sex. Second, we compared these results to those obtained when using a disability measure. We used pooled data from three prospective population-based cohorts including adults aged 65 years and over, living in Southwestern France (N = 4468). SRH was assessed using a single question and disability was measured using the Lawton scale. Healthy/Unhealthy Life Expectancies (HLE/UHLE) and Disability/Disability-Free Life Expectancies (DLE/DFLE) were estimated using the Interpolated Markov Chain program (IMaCh), separately in men and women. Women lived longer than men, with similar HLE but longer UHLE at all ages. The proportion of HLE in total LE decreased with age for both sexes and for women, it became smaller than the proportion of UHLE from age 73 onward. In both sexes, while the DLE was shorter than the UHLE in the youngest, a reversal was observed with advancing age. This change occurred earlier in women. Our study supports that SRH and disability showed different aging patterns, with sex and age differences. From a public health perspective, SRH and disability indicators appeared not interchangeable as they uncovered complementary but different information on the needs of aging people.

Decametric-scale buffering of climate extremes in forest understory within a riparian microrefugia: the key role of microtopography.

Riparian corridors often act as low-land climate refugia for temperate tree species in their southern distribution range. A plausible mechanism is the buffering of regional climate extremes by local physiographic and biotic factors. We tested this idea using a 3-year-long microclimate dataset collected along the Ciron river, a refugia for European beech (Fagus sylvatica) in southwestern France. Across the whole network, canopy gap fraction was the main predictor for spatial microclimatic variations, together with two other landscape features (elevation above the river and woodland fraction within a 300m radius). However, within the riparian forest only (canopy gap fraction < 25%, distance to the river < 150m), variations of up to -4°C and + 15% in summertime daily maximum air temperature and minimum relative humidity, respectively, were still found from the plateau to the cooler, moister river banks, only ~ 5-10m below. Elevation above the river was then identified as the main predictor, and explained the marked variations from the plateau to the banks much better than canopy gap fraction. The microclimate measured near the river is as cool but moister than the macroclimate encountered at 700-1000m asl further east in F. sylvatica's main distribution range. Indeed, at all locations, we found that air relative humidity was higher than expected from a temperature-only effect, suggesting that extra moisture is brought by the river. Our results explain well why beech trees in this climate refugium are restricted to the river gorges where microtopographic variations are the strongest and canopy gaps are rare.

The role of ponds in pesticide dissipation at the catchment scale: The case of the Save agricultural catchment (Southwestern France)

Pesticides are a major source of pollution for ecosystems. In agricultural catchments, ponds serve as buffer areas for pesticide transfers and biogeochemical hotspots for pesticide dissipation. Some studies have highlighted the specific impact of ponds on the dynamics of pesticides, but knowledge of their cumulative effect at the watershed scale is scarce. Hence, using a modelling approach, we assessed the cumulative role of ponds in pesticide transfer in an agricultural basin (Southwest of France, 1110 km2). The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to model the Save basin, including 197 ponds selected with a Multi-Criteria Decision Aiding Model based on their pesticide interception capacities. The daily discharge, the suspended sediment loads and two herbicide loads (i.e. S-metolachlor and aclonifen) in dissolved and particulate phases were accurately simulated from January 2002 to July 2014 at a daily time step. The presence of ponds resulted in a yearly mean reduction at the watershed outlet of respectively 61 % and 42 % of aclonifen and S-metolachlor fluxes compared to the simulations in the absence of ponds. Sediment-related processes were the most efficient for pesticide dissipation, leading to a mean dissipation efficiency by ponds of 51.0 % for aclonifen and 34.4 % for S-metolachlor. This study provides a first quantification of the cumulative role of ponds in pesticide transfer at the catchment scale in an intensive agricultural catchment.

Late Pleistocene prey mobility in southwestern France and its implications for reconstructing Neandertal ranging behaviors

As hunter-gatherers, Neandertal mobility and corresponding adaptations were influenced by the mobility of their prey; thus, it is critical to track how the movement patterns of each species varied over time at specific sites. Here, prey paleomobility is reconstructed by measuring radiogenic strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) in herbivore teeth recovered from two archaeological sites (Pech de l’Azé IV and Roc de Marsal) in the Dordogne Valley (Aquitaine Basin) of southwestern France that span marine isotope stages (MIS) 5-3. These ratios are compared to a published isoscape as well as new environmental samples (soil, Helix shells, rodent teeth, water, and wine). Our results show that reindeer (Rangifer) likely moved within the sedimentary basins of France and did not venture into mountainous regions. Instead, reindeer, bison (Bison) and other prey species were available year-round in the Aquitaine and Paris basins. Red deer (Cervus) and horse (Equus) may have ventured into the mountains. These results suggest that Neandertals could find year-round faunal resources in these basins, at least during MIS 4 and 3.

Environmental conditions in the Massif Central during the Upper Palaeolithic using stable isotope tracking (13C, 15N) of bone collagen from large herbivores

ABSTRACTThe environmental conditions experienced by hunter‐gatherers during the second part of the Upper Palaeolithic (ca. 28 000–15 000 cal bp) are poorly known in the mid‐elevation volcanic mountains of the Massif Central in southern France. The stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen (13C/12C and 15N/14N expressed as δ13C and δ15N values) in bone collagen of large herbivores can track their diet and habitat, reflecting local abiotic conditions (temperature, aridity, altitude). Due to poor preservation of skeletal organic matter in the region, new radiocarbon dating was conducted on a limited number of quality‐controlled collagen samples, based on a minimum carbon content of 30%. They document three main phases of occupation corresponding to the Final Gravettian, the Badegoulian and the Magdalenian, each of which is represented in different regions of the Allier and Loire valleys. Over time, a decrease in horse δ15N values, the best documented species of large herbivores, is found between the Final Gravettian (ca. 26 700–25 600 cal bp), around the Last Glacial Maximum and the Badegoulian (ca. 21 900–19 200 cal bp), followed by an increase in δ15N and δ13C values during the Magdalenian (ca. 19 100–16 600 cal bp). During the Badegoulian, the δ15N values of the horses were lower than those of their counterparts in southwestern France, testifying to harsh climatic conditions favourable to a tundra‐like landscape, also reflected in the higher horse and reindeer δ13C values in the Allier valley compared to those in southwestern France. The relatively high δ13C and low δ15N values of a Final Gravettian wolf from the Allier valley suggests reindeer as a preferred prey, in line with their high abundance in the archaeological sites. Game access, rather than climatic conditions or lithic resources, seems to have motivated human groups to occupy the Massif Central during the Upper Palaeolithic.

Regional cooperative banks, ecosystems and small and medium-sized enterprise financing: the importance of cognitive, social and geographic proximities

PurposeThis study analyzes the role of regional cooperative banks in identifying and financing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from a proximity perspective. Access to finance is a major challenge for SMEs. Regional cooperative banks can remove this barrier based on cooperative bank's characteristics and geographic proximity to SMEs. Understanding the interplay between these financial actors and firms can contribute to a better support of SMEs development.Design/methodology/approachThe results are based on a case study of eight SMEs located in southwestern France. Interviews were conducted with two regional cooperative funds and eight SMEs. The interview guide included questions related to the company, the projects financed and how financing was accessed.FindingsResults reveal that a combination of three forms of proximity allows regional cooperative banks and SMEs to establish effective financing operations. They show that regional cooperative banks are key players in the existing financing mechanisms for SMEs. Such financing is often used to gain access to larger players at a later stage. The findings suggest the need for public policies that promote the integration of financing actors in regional ecosystems to advance SMEs' development.Originality/valueThis article examines how SMEs access financing, with a focus on regional cooperative banks, which have received little attention in the literature. Moreover, the relationships between these actors are studied through the lens of proximity. Regional cooperative banks are able to finance projects that may have been overlooked by traditional banks due to trust-building local dynamics.

Intra- and interspecies infectious neighbourhoods as determinant parameters for Mycobacterium bovis infection among badgers in southwestern France

The epidemiological system for Mycobacterium bovis in France involves cattle and, in some areas, wildlife species (mainly badgers and wild boar). This multi-host aspect complicates the control and eradication prospects for bovine tuberculosis in endemic areas, despite the surveillance and control measures implemented for decades in this officially tuberculosis-free European country. To improve control measures, and to manage spillback transmission from badgers to cattle, it is necessary to clarify the transmission mechanisms of M. bovis in these epidemiological systems. We modelled a badger population from a southwestern endemic area by a Dirichlet tessellation based on a sett census conducted by local hunters and trappers between 2013 and 2015. We then used a logistic regression model to test the association between the infection status of setts and computed variables depicting three types of transmission (intraspecific, interspecific and landscape-associated). The apparent prevalence of infected setts was of 40.5%. Two variables were significantly associated with the probability for a sett to be infected: the proportion of neighbouring setts that were infected (OR: 3.19 [2.04–5.17]95%) and the presence of nearby pastures belonging to an infected farm (OR: 2.33 [1.13–4.89]95%]. While badger culling measures have been implemented according to the national TB control plan in the study area since 2012 (in the vicinity of infected farms and their pastures), our results clearly highlight the need to reinforce measures aimed at reducing both intraspecific and interspecific infection pressure. For this purpose, the promising prospect of badger vaccination could be considered, along with biosecurity measures.

Regulatory, accompanying, and collective governance? The challenges of re-orientating environmental-economic interdependencies in two French ports

ABSTRACT How small/medium-sized (SM) commercial ports act politically matters for local ecological transformation facing increasing climate and socio-environmental failures and dilemmas. In this spirit, we compared the environmental public action of two SM ports in southwestern France – La Rochelle and Bayonne – facing two sets of dilemmas: (i) how to tackle problems emerging from past choices; (ii) how to resolve issues arising from ‘choosing the future today’. Whereas global scientific assessments highlight regulatory, accompanying and collective approaches as high confidence ones towards ecological transformation, more technologically resourced scenarios (without economic behavioural change governance) are available to SM ports. Furthermore, although political processes of territorialisation, democratisation and ecologisation have reconfigured environmental authority for both public actors and SM ports in France, there is nothing inevitable about how different categories of public (and private) actor may work together. Our results reflect these tensions. Both SM ports have engaged to institutionalise regulatory, accompanying and collective environmental public action, and portray new approaches as indicative of their acknowledged responsibility. Nevertheless, important contradictions muddy the ecologisation trajectories their key actors claim to be taking. Overall, the study highlights that transformed governance alone does not guarantee that actors have fully embarked upon a newly transformative trajectory.

Role of thermodynamic and turbulence processes on the fog life cycle during SOFOG3D experiment

Abstract. In this study, we use a synergy of in situ and remote sensing measurements collected during the SOuthwest FOGs 3D experiment for processes study (SOFOG3D) field campaign in autumn and winter 2019–2020 to analyse the thermodynamic and turbulent processes related to fog formation, evolution, and dissipation across southwestern France. Based on a unique measurement dataset (synergy of cloud radar, microwave radiometer, wind lidar, and weather station data) combined with a fog conceptual model, an analysis of the four deepest fog episodes (two radiation fogs and two advection–radiation fogs) is conducted. The results show that radiation and advection–radiation fogs form under deep and thin temperature inversions, respectively. For both fog categories, the transition period from stable to adiabatic fog and the fog adiabatic phase are driven by vertical mixing associated with an increase in turbulence in the fog layer due to mechanical production (turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) up to 0.4 m2 s−2 and vertical velocity variance (σw2) up to 0.04 m2 s−2) generated by increasing wind and wind shear. Our study reveals that fog liquid water path, fog top height, temperature, radar reflectivity profiles, and fog adiabaticity derived from the conceptual model evolve in a consistent manner to clearly characterise this transition. The dissipation time is observed at night for the advection–radiation fog case studies and after sunrise for the radiation fog case studies. Night-time dissipation is driven by horizontal advection generating mechanical turbulence (TKE at least 0.3 m2 s−2 and σw2 larger than 0.04 m2 s−2). Daytime dissipation is linked to the combination of thermal and mechanical turbulence related to solar heating (near-surface sensible heat flux larger than 10 W m−2) and wind shear, respectively. This study demonstrates the added value of monitoring fog liquid water content and depth (combined with wind, turbulence, and temperature profiles) and diagnostics such as fog liquid water reservoir and adiabaticity to better explain the drivers of the fog life cycle.

Extension of a high temporal resolution sea level time series at Socoa (Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France) back to 1875

Abstract. In this data paper, the sea level time series at Socoa (Saint-Jean-de-Luz, southwestern France) is extended through a data archaeology exercise. We conducted a comprehensive study of national and local archives to catalogue water level records stored in ledgers (handwritten record books) and charts (marigrams from mechanical float gauges), along with other associated documents (metadata). A dedicated effort was undertaken to preserve more than 2000 documents by archiving them in digital formats. Using this large set of rescued documents, the Socoa time series has been extended back to 1875, with more than 58 station-years of additional data. The final time series has hourly sampling, while the raw dataset has a finer sampling frequency of up to 5 min. By analysing precise levelling information, we assessed the continuity of the vertical datum. We also compared the new century-long time series to nearby tide gauge data to ensure its datum consistency. While the overall quality of the time series is generally good, siltation of the stilling well has occasionally affected certain parts of the record. We have successfully identified these impacted periods and flagged the corresponding data as doubtful. This extended high-resolution sea level time series at Socoa, spanning more than 100 years, will be valuable for advancing climate research, particularly when studying the decadal-scale variations in the North Atlantic and investigating the storminess and extreme events along the French Basque coast. The raw digitized water level, the processed dataset, metadata, and the python notebooks used for processing are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7438469 (Khan et al., 2022).

Drivers of the artiodactyl turnover in insular western Europe at the Eocene-Oligocene Transition.

Simultaneously investigating the effects of abiotic and biotic factors on diversity dynamics is essential to understand the evolutionary history of clades. The Grande Coupure corresponds to a major faunal turnover at the Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT) (~34.1 to 33.55 Mya) and is defined in western Europe as an extinction of insular European mammals coupled with the arrival of crown clades from Asia. Here, we focused on the species-rich group of endemic European artiodactyls to determine the drivers of the Grande Coupure during the major environmental disruptions at the EOT. Using Bayesian birth-death models, we analyzed an original high-resolution fossil dataset (90 species, >2,100 occurrences) from southwestern France (Quercy area) and estimated the regional diversification and diversity dynamics of endemic and immigrant artiodactyls. We show that the endemic artiodactyl radiation was mainly related to the Eocene tropical conditions, combined with biotic controls on speciation and clade-related diversity dependence. We further highlight that the major environmental changes at the transition (77% of species became extinct) and the concurrent increase in seasonality in Europe during the Oligocene were likely the main drivers of their decline. Surprisingly, our results do not support the widely-held hypothesis of active competition between endemic and immigrant artiodactyls but rather suggest a passive or opportunistic replacement by immigrants, which is further supported by morphological clustering of specific ecological traits across the Eocene-Oligocene transition. Our analyses provide insights into the evolutionary and ecological processes driving the diversification and decline of mammalian clades during a major biological and climatic crisis.

The Grasshopper Paradigm in damselflies: evidence for phalanx-like postglacial recolonization of Europe from a Balkan refugium in Platycnemis pennipes Pallas (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemidae)

We explore haplotype diversity, phylogeography and phylogenetic relationships of the damselfly Platycnemis pennipes in Europe based on 618 bp DNA from the mitochondrial gene COI. A haplotype network analysis shows that the species is divided into two haplotype groups. One is restricted to the Italian Peninsula, while the other is found from the Black Sea region across eastern and central Europe to Scandinavia, England, and southwestern France. This pattern is recovered in a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis. Genetic distance (K2P) between the two groups is approximately 1.5%, while within-group variation is an order of magnitude lower. An analysis of the molecular variance (AMOVA) shows that variation between the two groups account for more than 96% of the total variation within the dataset, adding to the evidence that they have been isolated for a considerable amount of time. The pattern we find is similar to the so-called Grasshopper Paradigm in European phylogeography, where a species has recolonized Europe after the last glaciation from a glacial refugium in the southeast, while other refugial populations in the Iberian and Italian peninsulas have remained isolated to this day. In P. pennipes there is only an isolated refugial population in Italy as the species does not have current populations in the Iberian Peninsula. By comparing the genetic distance between the two groups to a previously published divergence time analysis of European Odonata we estimate that they have likely been isolated since the onset of the Saale Glaciation ca 400 ky ago.

Exploring the Critical Zone Heterogeneity and the Hydrological Diversity Using an Integrated Ecohydrological Model in Three Contrasted Long‐Term Observatories

AbstractAn integrated ecohydrological modeling approach was deployed in three long‐term critical zone (CZ) observatories of the French CZ network (CZ Observatories—Application and Research) to better understand how the CZ heterogeneity modulates the water cycle within territories. Ecohydrological simulations with the physically based model EcH2O‐iso constrained by a wide range of observations crossing several disciplines (meteorology, hydrology, geomorphology, geophysics, soil sciences, and satellite imagery) are able to capture stream water discharges, evapotranspiration fluxes, and piezometric levels in the Naizin, Auradé, and Strengbach watersheds. In Naizin, an agricultural watershed in northwestern France with a schist bedrock underlying deep weathered materials (5–15 m) along gentle slopes, modeling results reveal a deep aquifer with a large total water storage (1,080–1,150 mm), an important fraction of inactive water storage (94%), and relatively long stream water transit times (0.5–2.5 years). In the Auradé watershed, representative of agricultural landscapes of the southwestern France developed on molasse, a relatively shallow regolith (1–8 m) is observed along hilly slopes. Simulations indicate a shallow aquifer with moderate total water storage (590–630 mm), an important fraction of inactive water storage (91%), and shorter stream water transit times (0.1–1.3 years). In the Strengbach watershed, typical of mid‐mountain forested landscapes developed on granite, CZ evolution implies a shallow regolith (1–5 m) along steep slopes. Modeling results infer a shallow aquifer with the smallest total water storage (475–575 mm), the shortest stream water transit times (0.1–0.7 years), but also the highest fraction of active water storage (18%).