West Mediterranean Area Research Articles

Late Medieval Administration and Bookkeeping in The Crown of Aragon: Torralba’s Company

The attempt to rebuild the socioeconomic reality of the fifteenth-century Crown of Aragon has brought us to all the companies once founded and managed by Joan de Torralba. Linking two main commercial cities of that time — Zaragoza and Barcelona with the forefront financial centres of those days - Italian cities, in particular, Venice, Pisa-Florence, and Genoa — set the company in a unique position. This paper studies two primary components of our business: corporate and financial management. This analysis intends to demonstrate the complexity of management in late medieval companies of the Crown of Aragon, alongside knowledge diffusion and the extent and significance of weaving networks. We have in mind to present how the administration was developing, giving the local colour and regional details, making much of the proper management and contacts through the Mediterranean, employing management and historical analysis. The results reveal that the companies in the Crown of Aragon benefited from their management approach. The position of merchant elites, with the example observed by Joan de Torralba as the executive, was prominent. Hence, the weight of the last centuries of the Middle Ages, considering the West Mediterranean area, was essential in the transition to build a modern-like economic space.

<i>Ranunculus dahlgreniae</i> (section <i>Batrachium</i>, Ranunculaceae), a new species from Crete, Greece, with remarks on taxonomy and phylogenetic relations within the section

A new species, <i>Ranunculus dahlgreniae</i>, is described from a seasonal lake at Omalos Plateau, Lefka Ori Mountains, western Crete, Greece. The heterophyllous species resembles <i>R. saniculifolius</i>, <i>R. peltatus</i>, and the Mediterranean forms of <i>R. baudotii</i>. It differs from the aforementioned species by a combination of characters not found in any of them, i.e., 5–6 mm long petals, up to 2.2 mm long, glabrous achenes with a partly persistent style, a densely pubescent, in fruit slightly elongating receptacle, and intermediate leaves with rigid filiform apical segments, being divided into two or three cuneate, shortly petiolate leaflets. A key to all similar East Mediterranean taxa is presented. DNA analyses based on the sequencing of nuclear, ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), and two chloroplast noncoding regions (<i>rpl</i>32-<i>trn</i>L and <i>psb</i>E-<i>pet</i>L), complemented by the analysis of genome-wide polymorphism using double digest RAD Sequencing (ddRADseq) supported that <i>Ranunculus dahlgreniae</i> is a distinct lineage, clearly separated from <i>R. peltatus</i>, <i>R. baudotii</i>, and <i>R. saniculifolius</i>. The phylogeny based on ddRADseq resembles the topologies obtained from chloroplast and nrITS data but with increasing resolution and support of fine-scale relationships. Extensive sampling, including taxa from temperate Europe and the West Mediterranean area, as well as the application of reduced-representation sequencing, allowed to better understand the pattern of diversity in the section <i>Batrachium</i>.

The natural history of alpha angle in the last seventeen centuries

Hip osteoarthritis is one of the most important and debilitating diseases affecting thousands of people all over the world. On the other hand, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is one of the known important causes of hip osteoarthritis. Cam deformity frequently presents in FAI showing an increased alpha angle. Increased alpha angle has been observed among young patients involved in demanding physical activities such as in sports (40-60%), whereas among the non-athletic population, increased alpha angle was observed in 15-20%. Although femoroacetabular pathology has been described over the recent years, it is not possible to determine when the angle increase actually begins prior to diagnosis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the femoral alpha angle in different human femurs in different civilization eras in West Mediterranean area. Available ancient femurs were selected from the Collection Center belonging to the archeological archives (ancient necropolis) from the fourth, fourteenth and eighteenth centuries. A comparison of the alpha angle was made of the measurements from the different groups accompanied by a sample of present-day femurs from the radiology database of CT scans. Data from 243 femoral bones were collected, 50 of which from the fourth century, 26 from the fourteenth century, 68 from the eighteenth century, and 99 femurs from the 20/twenty-first century. Alpha angles in all historical samples showed pathological values (> 55º) up to a maximum of 11.5% of the cases. Meanwhile, the actual series showed pathological alpha angle in 60.1% of the cases with statistical significant differences. The studied femurs of the western Mediterranean region from the fourth, fourteenth and eighteenth centuries showed pathological alpha angles in a smaller proportion than the actual sample. Level III, retrospective studies.

Las canciones sefardíes y el ciclo de la vida. (Repertorio judea-español de Oriente y Occidente)

En el rico repertorio musical, cantado en Judeo-español y preservado en la tradición oral de los judíos sefardíes, numerosas canciones están relacionadas con las ceremonias que acompañan a los ritos de tránsito que marcan el ciclo de la vida humana: nacimiento, matrimonio y muerte. El presente artículo estudia y compara varios ejemplos, seleccionados de este repertorio funcional de los judíos sefardíes del Oriente y el Occidente del Mediterráneo, recogido en encuestas en Israel, de inmigrantes de ambas zonas . Se incluyen transcripciones y análisis de música y texto de los ejemplos, y se senala la funcionalidad de estas canciones en las comunidades sefardíes.

Notes on the generic position of Brassica deserti (Brassicaceae)

Molecular tools provide new insights into phylogenetic relationships of plant species, and by relating phylogenetic groups to their geographical distribution, we can cast light upon the evolution history of plant clades. In the current study, we evaluated the phylogenetic position of the Sinai endemic Brassica deserti (Brassicaceae), later renamed as Erucastrum deserti, based on morphological data and 5.8S rDNA and ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) regions. Our results indicate that B. deserti belongs to an East-Mediterranean – Saharo Arabian clade and was not assigned to the core Brassica and Erucastrum clades, respectively, which evolved in the West Mediterranean area. We tentatively conclude that Brassica deserti evolved independently of core Brassica and Erucastrum.

Evaluation of the morphological variability in Iberian Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl accessions

Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl grows in the West-Mediterranean area in a wide range of altitudes and environmental conditions, showing great ecological plasticity. As a result, high morphological variability has been described constituting a very polymorphic taxon. Despite its cultivation potential for essential oil production, the lack of standardized and well-characterized plant material has hindered its agronomical production. In our study, 12 wild populations previously selected by their essential oil yield and general appearance have been propagated and cultivated during three years (2013–2015) in two different experimental fields. 13 morphological traits regarding leaves, inflorescences, bracts and flowers were yearly measured in the same individual specimens. The cultivated material has shown phenotypic stability in the two different environments and during the three years of testing. However, intra-population and, above all, inter-population variability have been detected. The studied populations were clustered in four groups by mean of multivariate statistical analysis. Clusters were distinguished by leaf size, inflorescence shape, number of flowers in the second verticillaster from the top and bracts dehiscence or not, and presented a consistent geographical distribution since geographically-closer populations were grouped into the same cluster. Population P5 (Guixers) stood out by its remarkable leaf size under cultivation conditions (6.8–9.7 cm length, 2.1–3.0 cm width), much higher than that previously reported for S. lavandulifolia in literature. It is considered as the most suitable population among the studied to provide specimens to be used as base material for breeding and selection programmes.

The significance of Longobucco Unit (Calabria-Peloritani Arc) in the evolution of the Ionian and Alpine Oceans

In the geological literature the Longobucco Unit, as well as the whole Calabria-Peloritani Arc (CPA), was interpreted in opposite ways: 1) as part of the African-Adria Plate (thus belonging to Austroalpine Units) previously involved in the eo-Alpine deformation with an european vergence and then thrust southeastwards on the Apennine chain; 2) as parts of the European continental margin involved only in the Apenninic orogeny; 3) as part of a microplate between two branches of the Alpine ocean (Pennidic O. and Ligurian O). In this paper we contribute to the solution of this controversial problem with basin analysis on the Longobucco Mesozoic cover, taking into account the paleogeographic evolution of the West Mediterranean area during the Mesozoic.1) At first, the sedimentary successions of the Longobucco Unit (Early Jurassic-Miocene) are re-examined. The peculiar occurrence of conglomerates with pebbles of Variscan basement from the Early Jurassic, the existence of carbonate ramps attached to an exposed continental area in the Hettangian-Sinemurian and the huge amount of silici-clastic grains in the entire Mesozoic succession witness for the deposition on a continental margin exposed to either erosion and synsedimentary tectonics.2) The coeval successions of the Apennines (Adria Plate), southern Sicily (African Plate) and eastern Sardinia (European Plate) are compared to understand which exposed areas had to be the source for the terrigenous sediments. Our conclusion supports the hypothesis (already formulated by various authors) that from the oceanic opening of the Alpine Ocean (Middle Jurassic) the Longobucco Unit and the whole CPA were part of the European Plate.3) The comparison between the nappes stack of CPA and that well known in the Western Alps confirms the idea that the CPA cannot be considered as Austroalpine Unit. In fact, despite the same occurrence of granulitic facies, the differences are remarkable: different dip of subduction plane, different vergence, different age of HP/LT metamorphism, different age of exhumation and even different Mesozoic cover. Therefore CPA has to be considered as part of the European Plate.4) The original position of CPA is very important to define the relationship between the Ionian and the Alpine Oceans in the western Mediterranean area. Here, the oceanic spreading of Ionian basin occurred in the Ladinian and, from the Late Eocene, this ocean was subducted northwards below the European and Adria Plates.Oceanic spreading of the Alpine trough began in the Middle Jurassic and, from the Late Cretaceous, this ocean was subducted south and eastwards below the Adria Plate. The European origin of the CPA indicates a possible existence of direct communication between those two oceans. In our interpretation this connection was related to a sinistral trasform fault that crossed the western part of the modern Mediterranean area from the Late Triassic.5) The presumed existence of a Jurassic microcontinent (AlKaPeCa) is critically discussed and it appears inconsistent with stratigraphic data. In conclusion, CPA (and the whole AlKaPeCa) cannot be considered as Austroalpine Units or a microcontinent, but as a marginal part the European plate involved in the north-dipping subduction of the Ionian Ocean. This subduction produced a southvergent stacking of the various Calabrian units and began around 43 Ma below the CPA, long before the involvement of the Corsica continental margin in the east-dipping subduction of the Alpine Ocean (34 Ma).

Neither variation loss, nor change in selfing rate is associated with the worldwide invasion of Physa acuta from its native North America

Whether bioinvasions are associated with a loss of genetic diversity and a change in mating system is instrumental for understanding the evolutionary fate of invasive species. Little loss is expected under strong propagule pressure which might be a general situation in widespread, efficient invader. In hermaphroditic species, we have few examples of a transition between outcrossing and selfing as a consequence of invasion, though this is classically predicted (as a corollary to Baker’s law). We estimated microsatellite variation in 44 populations of the widespread freshwater snail Physa acuta sampled at worldwide scale (including several populations from its native North America). Neither loss of variation (or bottleneck), nor increase in selfing rate was detected in invaded areas. Moreover there was no isolation by distance at large geographic scale, and limited geographic coherence in genetic patterns was detected using STRUCTURE software—the West Mediterranean area being an exception. Such patterns might be explained by (1) multiple introductions in the invaded areas, presumably fostered by aquarium trade, followed by regional spread in some cases—in which case mating partners might be numerous enough to prevent transition towards higher selfing rates, and (2) invasions from the whole native area. This suggests that P. acuta is an exceptionally efficient invader (which is not true of related species), but the reasons of its success remain elusive.

Region Specific Challenges of a CO2 Pipeline Infrastructure in the West Mediterranean Area Model Results Versus Stakeholder Views

This paper presents results of potential CCS infrastructures in the West Mediterranean region including trajectories for CO2 pipelines. The preliminary results are generated with a combination of geographical (GIS) and partial equilibrium optimization modelling (MARKAL/TIMES-COMET). Furthermore, as a result of active stakeholder involvement in the research project, the CCS infrastructures were critically reviewed and obtained insights were used to improve the models and their input parameters. Stakeholders’ feedback regarding difficulty in crossing hard rock terrains and the reasonability of trying to replicate the existing natural gas network, had a large impact on the resulting CCS infrastructure.

Effects of Saharan Dust Advection on Atmospheric Aerosol Properties in the West-Mediterranean Area

Eight measurement campaigns for the characterization of atmospheric aerosol properties were conducted from 2001 until 2008 at five sites located in the Western Mediterranean basin. Radiometric measurements were used to obtain Aerosol Optical Depth, &#xc5;ngstr&#xf6;m parameters, and aerosol size distributions, allowing differentiation of background conditions from anthropogenic, marine, or Saharan dust aerosol advection. The analysis was focused on the study of optical and physical properties variation of atmospheric aerosols under Saharan outbreaks. Dust-affected data were analysed all together, independently from the measurements site, thus allowing the highlighting of similarities and differences among them. The scatter-plot &#xc5;ngstr&#xf6;m exponent versus AOD at 780&#x2009;nm shows a correlation among all dust data, while an overlapping region with no-dust data reveals the simultaneous presence of mineral, anthropogenic, and marine particles. Daily averaged volume size distributions can be unimodal or bimodal functions and one three-modal distribution, with a coarse mode generally prevailing. Finally, considering the ratio of small/large particles <svg style="vertical-align:-3.2316pt;width:29.762501px;" id="M1" height="14.7125" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 29.762501 14.7125" width="29.762501" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <g transform="matrix(1.25,0,0,-1.25,0,14.7125)"> <g transform="translate(72,-60.23)"> <text transform="matrix(1,0,0,-1,-71.95,63.5)"> <tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="0" y="0">𝑛</tspan> </text> <text transform="matrix(1,0,0,-1,-65.74,60.37)"> <tspan style="font-size: 8.75px; " x="0" y="0">𝑠</tspan> </text> <text transform="matrix(1,0,0,-1,-61.39,63.5)"> <tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="0" y="0">/</tspan> <tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="3.4758339" y="0">𝑛</tspan> </text> <text transform="matrix(1,0,0,-1,-51.7,60.37)"> <tspan style="font-size: 8.75px; " x="0" y="0">𝑙</tspan> </text> </g> </g> </svg> and plotting the corresponding histogram for all dust data, a sharp frequency distribution is obtained with 89&#x25; of data in the range 5&#x2013;65, while 89&#x25; of no-dust data extend from 5 to 135, in spite of different sources, pathways, and arrival sites.

Integrated infrastructure for CO2 transport and storage in the west Mediterranean

COMET–Integrated infrastructure for CO2 transport and storage in the west Mediterranean–is a join research Project co-financed by the European Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), which started on January 2010. Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) is a CO2 abatement option that can contribute substantially to the ambitious targets needed for climate stabilization. The significant role foreseen for CCS is based on several conditions, like the availability of a CO2 transport infrastructure or construction of such an infrastructure within the near future. The need to have a suitable transport infrastructure, its implications over time and its related costs have only more recently attracting the attention and getting priority in the R&D agenda of the European Countries. This is partly because research on CO2 transport and storage needs to be realized at the local-regional level, unlike the technological research on CO2 capture which is not country dependent. In this context, COMET focuses on assessing CO2 transport and storage in a geographical area that until now has received little attention: The West Mediterranean area, specifically, the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco.

Phylogenetic relationships of Western Mediterranean subterranean Trechini groundbeetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Faille, A., Casale, A. &amp; Ribera, I. (2010). Phylogenetic relationships of Western Mediterranean subterranean Trechini groundbeetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 282–295.Carabid beetles of tribe Trechini (Coleoptera) are one of the main groups of insects that colonized the subterranean environment. Many species of this group have developed similar morphological modifications related to the subterranean life, resulting in a characteristic Aphaenops‐like phenotype that obscures their phylogenetic relationships (depigmented, blind, elongated body and appendages, narrow head and pronotum). We present here the result of a molecular study using a combination of nuclear (small ribosomal unit, large ribosomal unit) and mitochondrial (cox1, cyb, rrnL, trnL, nad1) genes to investigate the phylogenetic placement of the highly modified subterranean genera of the tribe Trechini from the west Mediterranean area (France, Spain, Morocco and Sardinia). Our results confirm the multiple independent origin of troglomorphism among these genera, and reveal a pattern largely determined by geographical proximity. We discuss the validity of some groups proposed on the base of morphological features, and provide estimates of divergence between subterranean genera and other groups of Trechini, including epigean species of the same area. We compare the estimated age for the origin of the main groups resulting from two different calibrations, using one the standard mitochondrial mutation rate (2.3% divergence per Myr) and the other the separation between Sardinia and mainland 33 Ma. Under the first scenario, the main groups of genera would have a late Miocene origin, with a subsequent colonization of north Africa at the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary. The assumption that the main groups originated through vicariance due to the separation of the Sardinian plate in the Oligocene results in a Messinian origin of the north African subterranean taxa, and a global mitochondrial rate reduced to 1% divergence per Myr.

Influenza A virus subtypes in wild birds in North-Eastern Spain (Catalonia)

Since the spread of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in 2005, many surveillance programmes have been initiated in poultry and wild birds worldwide. This study describes for the first time the detection of different subtypes of avian influenza viruses (AIV) in wild birds in the West Mediterranean area (Catalonia, North-Eastern Spain). During a 3-year period (from mid-2006 to mid-2009), 1374 birds from 16 different families were examined, and a total of 62 AIV were detected by means of a real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay. AIV were more frequently detected in Anatidae, Phoenicopteridae, Rallidae and Laridae families. Of the 62 positive samples, 28 AIV could be isolated in embryonated eggs. All isolates were subtyped by haemagglutinin and neuraminidase inhibition techniques and 10 different haemagglutinins (HA) and 7 neuraminidases (NA) were found in 13 different subtype combinations. The most common combinations were H4N6 (22.2%) and H1N1 (18.5%). The HA and NA gene sequences of different AIV subtypes were compared and aligned with those available AIV strains from genome databases. Our studies on AIV phylogenetic analysis revealed that all AIV genes sequenced from wild birds in North-Eastern Spain clustered within Eurasian avian clades, including the sequences of H8, N4 and N5 genes analyzed for the first time in Europe. The results contribute to the understanding of AIV in the Mediterranean area and in Europe.

Die Schattenlibelle auf Kreta (Boyeria cretensis spec. nov.) und die Monophylie der „Gattung”︁ Boyeria McLachlan, 1896. (Odonata Anisoptera, Aeshnidae)

Phenetic analysis and biostatistic comparision of Boyeria irene specimens (adults and exuviae) from the westmediterranean area of distribution with material coming from Crete led to the conclusion that the Brook Darner on the eastmediterranean island represents a distinct biological species (Boyeria cretensis spec. nov.). A phylogenetic interpretation of the differences between the two species (apomorphic tendencies in the character states of B. irene) falsifies the apparent concept, that the Crete populations of Boyeria might have been founded by migrants from the westmediterranean territories. The six extant species of Boyeria (three pairs of sister species) constitute a monophyletic taxon. Its relations to other groups of aeshnids are still unknown.

FORM, FUNCTION AND TECHNOLOGY IN POTTERY PRODUCTION FROM LATE ANTIQUITY TO THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

This article discusses the development of ceramic technology from the 4th to the 8th c. A.D., in both the East and West Mediterranean areas. It outlines the competence of Late Roman ceramics, dominated by African producers, with some evidence of innovation in decoration in the West. Change occurs from the 5th c. onwards, in different regions at different times, connected to the dislocation of markets and the end of large scale production. Large areas of the North return to the local production of hand-made pottery, whilst in the Mediterranean wheel-thrown pottery also becomes cruder. Continuity is greatest in the Levantine regions under Islam, though not in Africa. However, innovations are still known, including clibani and the use of glazes.

Connection between South Mediterranean climate and North African atmospheric circulation during the last 50,000 yr BP North Atlantic cold events

High-resolution clay mineralogical analyses were performed on sediment deposited during the last 50,000yr in the Alboran sea (ODP Site 976). The clay mineral record is compared with pollen assemblages and with annual precipitation (Pann) and mean temperatures of the coldest month (MTCO) reconstructed with the modern analog technique (MAT). Enhanced contribution of palygorskite, a typical wind-blown clay mineral, characterizes the North Atlantic cold climatic events. Coeval development of the semi-arid vegetation (Artemisia rich) associated with a drastic fall of reconstructed precipitations and temperatures, suggest cold and arid continental conditions in the West Mediterranean area during North Atlantic cold events. The clay mineral association, especially the palygorskite content and the illite-to-kaolinite ratio, indicate western Morocco as one of the major source of the clay-size fraction during the North Atlantic cold events. The maximum abundance of Artemisia associated with the presence of Argania pollen both indicate Morocco as the main origin for pollen during these cold periods. The comparison of these pollen and clay mineral-specific features allows us to pinpoint western Morocco as the dominant source of wind-blown particles during North Atlantic cold events. These specific mineralogical composition and palynological assemblages reveal enhanced aridity over North Africa and intensification of winds favouring dust erosion and transport from North Africa toward the Alboran Sea during the North Atlantic cold events. According to atmospheric models, such a meridian transport (1) likely results from the development of strong and stable anticyclonic conditions over the tropical Atlantic and North Africa, similar to today's summer meteorological configuration and (2) implies a northward position of the westerly winds during North Atlantic cold events. Finally the synoptic situation over the West Mediterranean during the North Atlantic cold events is compared with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), suggesting that during the cold Atlantic events, weather regimes over Europe and North Africa may have been systematically shifted towards a positive NAO situation.

Regional and global changes around the Triassic–Jurassic boundary reflected in the late Norian–Hettangian history of the Apennine basins

Palaeogeographic restorations for the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic of the west-Mediterranean area show that significant facies changes occurred in this period. The study of three basinal successions in the Northern, Central and Southern Apennines indicates that changes in ecological conditions occurred at the same time in different palaeogeographic and geodynamic domains. The early Mesozoic evolution of the Apennines is controlled by the opening of two oceans: the Ionian/East-Mediterranean Tethys to the south-east and the Alpine Ocean to the north-west. The Lagonegro basin, in the Southern Apennines, was the northern continental margin of the Ionian Tethys from the Triassic, while the La Spezia basin, in the Northern Apennines, became part of the south-eastern continental margin of the Alpine Ocean in the Middle-Late Jurassic. The third studied basin (Mt. Camicia basin, in the Gran Sasso, Central Apennines) was an intra-platform basin from the early Norian up to the late Hettangian–early Sinemurian. During the Norian–Hettangian period these basins were not directly connected to each other, being separated by wide carbonate platforms, and show different evolutionary trends. Stratigraphic studies in these successions place the Triassic–Jurassic boundary in 6–8 m thick intervals with anoxic facies in the three basins. Relevant facies changes are also recorded in the late Norian: in the Northern Apennines the sedimentation of sulphate evaporites ended, being replaced by the Rhaetavicula contorta facies; whilst in the Southern Apennines (Lagonegro basin) the deposition of radiolarites began. The end of evaporite accumulation can be explained by a climate change from arid to humid conditions, and it is also probably linked to an extensional phase preceding the Jurassic rifting of the Alpine Ocean, and may therefore have a regional significance. Nevertheless, it corresponds to the spread of the R. contorta facies into other parts of southern Europe, from France to Germany and Austria. The beginning of radiolaritic sedimentation in the Lagonegro basin could be related to the rise of atmospheric CO 2 content, linked to volcanic activity in the Ionian ridge. These facies changes reflect changes of environmental conditions, that caused the decline of some fossil associations favoring the development of opportunistic forms, e.g. Triasina hantkeni. The end-Triassic extinction, coupled with an anoxic episode in all the examined basins, immediately preceded a new environmental change, documented by the recovery of the carbonate platforms with oolitic facies and different associations. The evolution of all these basins suggests that geodynamics were probably responsible for regional events and that, at certain moments, development reflected global effects as a response to new connections between formerly different domains. The Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) volcanism, considered as one of the possible causes for the end Triassic mass extinction, would have had even greater importance if coupled with the volcanism linked to the rifting of the Ionian Tethys.

Mineralogy and geochemistry of a marine sequence, Gulf of Salerno, Italy

Within the context of a multidisciplinary study aiming at the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstruction in the last 28,000 yr of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea (west Mediterranean area), geochemical and mineralogical investigations were performed on sea sediments of a 6.17 m long core, collected in the Gulf of Salerno, southern Italy (14°42′24″ E; 40°28′92″ N), at 292 m bsl. The mineralogy of the sedimentary sequence was controlled by climatic changes, fluvial discharge processes and hydrodynamic conditions that occurred in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea during the last glacial–post-glacial transition. Notable was the occurrence of detrital mineral phases (quartz, calcite, dolomite, clay minerals, volcanic glass, pumice, sanidine, clinopyroxene, biotite and leucite,) in response to terrigenous input through intensive periods of precipitation/runoff and Sele river discharge. Changes in the clay mineral assemblage during the Holocene (from 9500 to 6000 yr BP) indicate increasing precipitation in the source area. Pyrite and barite crystallization, related to biogeochemical cycles, were found to affect chemical conditions of the sedimentary environment. Irregular crystals of analcime were produced by alteration of the AD 79 Vesuvius eruption pumice. The distribution of major and trace elements between stratigraphic layers was influenced by mineralogy. Concentrations of redox sensitive elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu) largely depended on organic matter and sulphur, whereas for most of the others a key role was played by clay minerals. Enhanced Ba content was found at the 320 and 160 cm levels. Increased Pb content was observed at the surface. BCR sequential extraction showed that Cu and Pb in the sediments were prevalently associated with oxidizable components, primarily sulphides. Zn, Ni and Mn were strongly bound to residual mineral phases, likely of volcanic origin. Fe was found mainly associated with easily reducible oxide phases, and as pyrite.

Preliminary screening and selection for cold tolerance in annual wild Cicer species

The study was aimed to select cold tolerant accessions of annual wild Cicer species in the highlands in the west Mediterranean area of Turkey. A total of 43 accessions of eight annual wild Cicer species was screened for cold tolerance and compared with the best cold tolerant cultivars, ILC 8262 and FLIP 93-53C. After the sensitive check, ILC 533, was killed, accessions were evaluated using a 1–9 scale. Three accessions of Cicer bijugum, 2 accessions of Cicer reticulatum and 2 accessions of Cicer echinospermum were highly cold tolerant, while 3 accessions of C. bijugum, 9 accessions of C. reticulatum, 2 accessions of C. echinospermum and 1 accession of Cicer pinnatifidum were cold tolerant. All accessions of Cicer judaicum were sensitive to cold. Whereas Cicer chorassanicum and Cicer cuneatum were killed, Cicer yamashitae was recorded as highly sensitive to cold. The cold tolerant accessions of annual wild Cicer species were superior to the best cultivar as far as hardiness is concerned.

Opportunistic changes in the host range of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cr.), an exotic aphid parasitoid expanding in the Iberian Peninsula

Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cr.), an exotic aphid parasitoid, but widespread along the West Mediterranean and Atlantic coastal areas, was regularly found in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula parasitizing several aphid hosts, inland and in the Pyrenees. It was found that the environmentally induced restriction of available host species together with the opportunistic response and host alternation of the parasitoid contributed to the successful and on-going expansion and establishment of L. testaceipes from the coast to the inland montane areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Also, a comparison of the overall host range of L. testaceipes in several areas of the West Mediterranean/Atlantic (southern France, Spain, Portugal) demonstrated a rapid increase in the host range in these areas.