Western Iberia Research Articles

Assessment of the external contribution to Olea pollen levels in southeastern Spain

The province of Alicante (southeastern Spain) has a low density of olive trees; however, a substantial increase in the number of patients with allergic sensitization to Olea has been observed in recent years. The present work seeks to identify and quantify the transport of Olea pollen from other source regions, defining a new parameter called External Pollen Index (EPI). The second objective of the study was to determine Olea pollen exposure levels in Alicante city using a new method based on statistical percentiles and linear regression analysis. For these purposes, a study of daily and 2-hour average concentrations of Olea pollen combined with cluster analysis of 2-hour back-trajectories was carried out during the pollination period of 2010–2015.The annual levels of olive pollen recorded in Alicante showed a significant contribution from the Western Iberian Peninsula. Thus, the EPI is defined as the sum of the contributions of pollen transported by air masses from southwestern and northwestern Spain. The good linear correlation beetween the EPI and the APIn (R2 = 0.818; p-value 0.013) suggests that the total contribution of pollen from western regions may be a good predictor of the annual concentration of Olea pollen registered in Alicante. It has been estimated that, in the absence of external contributions, the Olea pollen concentration at the study area would be around 1300 pollen grains⋅m−3. Olea pollen exposure levels determined in Alicante were: Low (<20 pollen grains⋅m−3), Moderate (20–50 pollen grains⋅m−3), High (51–100 pollen grains⋅m−3) and Very High (>100 pollen grains⋅m−3). High and very high exposure levels were associated with northwestern and southwestern contributions, respectively. Future research should consider external contributions (EPI) in prediction models in order to get a better estimation of pollen levels and, consequently, improve the information provided to the allergic population.

Thermal evolution of onshore West Iberia: A better understanding of the ages of breakup and rift-to-drift in the Iberia-Newfoundland Rift

The age of breakup which formed the Central-North Atlantic has been debated for many decades and is still subject to debate: from ca. 150 Ma to 110 Ma. To address this issue, we have carried out a thermochronological study of the eastern margin of the rifted Iberia-Newfoundland sector. New apatite fission-track (AFT) data acquired on samples from the footwall (Variscan basement) and one sample (Triassic of the Lusitanian Basin) from the hanging wall of the principal normal fault bounding the basin. Thermal history of western Iberia can be then reconstructed since ca. 250 Ma. Fission-track ages of Variscan granitoids (whose crystallization age is >275 Ma) range between 191 ± 8 Ma and 75 ± 5 Ma, indicating that significant thermal events affected the study area during that period. Thermal inversion supports two main cooling events that we attribute to a major uplift and denudation of the Variscan basement, consistent with widespread basement-derived siliciclastic rocks of similar ages: Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous (ca. 150–145 Ma) and late Early Cretaceous (ca. 110 Ma). From the sedimentary record in the Lusitanian Basin and the new AFT data, we deduce that: (1) temperatures >70–110 °C affected west Iberia between ca. 190 and 150 Ma, which can be explained partly by a subsiding basement in both foot and hanging walls; (2) the main cooling event at ca. 150–145 Ma is interpreted as major rift flank uplift; (3) the ca. 110 Ma cooling event may be linked to the final evolution of the margin and onset of oceanic spreading. We infer that the AFT main cooling event at ca. 150–145 Ma reflects the break of the elastic core of the lithosphere (whole lithosphere failure = breakup) with significant rift shoulder uplift (end of Rift 1), which was followed by hyper-extension and mantle exhumation (Rift 2) and finally, by oceanic spreading (rift-to-drift) at ca. 110 Ma (onset of Rift 3).

A speleothem record from Portugal reveals phases of increased winter precipitation in western Iberia during the Holocene

The European climate during the Holocene period is characterised by frequent changes of temperature and precipitation. The North Atlantic plays a major role as a driver for European climate and is a dominant precipitation source, particularly for the western European and north African realm. Atmospheric pressure gradients over the Atlantic (North Atlantic Oscillation, NAO), Atlantic circulation patterns (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, AMO) or positioning of the Atlantic jet stream have been suggested to be responsible for precipitation patterns across western Europe. However, proxy data provide an inconsistent picture on how precipitation responds to changes in the Atlantic realm such as changes of Atlantic temperature (IRD), atmospheric pressure (NAO), water circulation (AMO) or the jet stream. Here we present a record of speleothem-based winter precipitation amount from Portugal. The record covers most of the Holocene and demonstrates that wetter conditions were synchronous in western and southern Iberia during early and mid Holocene. The record also shows a correlation between increased winter precipitation amount in western Iberia and Atlantic cooling, evidenced by Bond events, between 10 and 4 ka.

Exhumation history of the Variscan orogen in western Iberia as inferred from new K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar data on granites from Portugal

Exhumation of the roots of collapsing orogens is a key process in the evolution of mountain belts, which is critical for the understanding of orogenic cycles. From new structural analyses, K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar on muscovite, biotite and K-feldspar, and available U-Pb ages, we constrain the cooling and exhumation history of granitic batholiths from the main structural zones of the Variscan orogen in Iberia. We show that: (1) the oldest Ar dated granites (ca. 335 Ma on biotite) record exhumation of gneisses crystallized much earlier (up to ca. 530‐510 Ma U-Pb age); (2) granitoids crystallized at ca. 330 Ma record mostly ductile stretching (L-tectonites striking around N-S), consistent with N-S extension (Variscan intra-orogenic collapse); (3) most granites crystallized between ca. 320 and 305 Ma record ductile stretching consistent with deformation along NW-SE to ENE-WSW shear zones during the late-Variscan compression (C3); (4) granites crystallized after 305 Ma record mostly isotropic strain (no visible ductile foliation or lineation), consistent with their emplacement during/after the final collapse of the Variscan orogeny (E2); (5) comparison between Ar ages on micas and zircon U-Pb ages shows two contrasting situations: (i) similar ages, reflecting crystallization and fast cooling, which can be explained by relatively shallow intrusion and/or fast tectonic uplift; (ii) significant difference between U-Pb and Ar ages, supporting crystallization of deeper seated intrusions and their subsequent uplift for several Ma to tens of Ma; (6) thermochronological modelling on K-feldspar supports significant tectonic exhumation in the core of the chain between ca. 315 and 285 Ma, followed by late-stage passive denudation; 7) Late Carboniferous to early Permian tectonic exhumation was accompanied by significant formation of ore-deposits. Tin deposits occur in pegmatites and/or quartz veins associated with muscovite-rich syn-C3 granites and those of tungsten in quartz veins, breccia pipes and skarns associated with the E2 biotite-rich granites.

Deep divergence between island populations in lichenized fungi

Macaronesia is characterized by a high degree of endemism and represents a noteworthy system to study the evolutionary history of populations and species. Here, we compare the population-genetic structure in three lichen-forming fungi, the widespread Lobaria pulmonaria and two Macaronesian endemics, L. immixta and L. macaronesica, based on microsatellites. We utilize population genetic approaches to explore population subdivision and evolutionary history of these taxa on the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, and the western Iberian Peninsula. A common feature in all species was the deep divergence between populations on the Azores, a pattern expected by the large geographic distance among islands. For both endemic species, there was a major split between archipelagos. In contrast, in the widespread L. pulmonaria, divergent individuals were distributed across multiple archipelagos, suggesting a complex evolutionary history involving repeated migration between islands and mainland.

Mapping and Interpreting the Uppermost Mantle Reflectivity Beneath Central and South‐West Iberia

AbstractAt least two sub‐Moho reflectors have been identified in different seismic refraction and wide‐angle reflection experiments conducted in western Iberia since the early 1990s. The wavelet kinematics and characteristics of the shallowest event are probably produced by an increase in P‐wave velocity that forward modeling places at ∼70–75 km depth beneath the Ossa‐Morena Zone (OMZ) shallowing up to 50–60 km beneath the Central Iberian Zone (CIZ). Synthetic modeling suggests that the coda and amplitude of this arrival may correspond to a ∼10‐km‐thick heterogeneous layer. We used a two‐dimensional second‐order finite‐difference acoustic full wavefield modeling scheme with an input model which includes a layer of randomly distributed bodies thinner than one‐fourth of the wavelength of the source waves and ΔVp = ±0.1 km/s at the considered depth range. The resulting synthetic data reproduce well the observed amplitudes and codas because of the constructive interferences caused by this heterogeneous zone. The origin of this layer also discussed here in detail, is very likely related to the phase transition from spinel to garnet lherzolite, the so‐called Hales discontinuity. A second reflection also observed in some of the experiments suggests the presence of a velocity inversion at greater depths. Forward modeling places this discontinuity at around 90 km depth beneath the OMZ, deepening to 105–110 km depth beneath the southeast CIZ and shallowing up to 80 km depth in the northeast CIZ. The observed characteristics of this event are consistent with those of the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary.

Using SAR imagery to survey internal solitary wave interactions: A case study off the Western Iberian shelf

Physical oceanography is increasingly relying on satellite remote sensing to survey the perpetually undersampled ocean, whereas the latest Synthetic Aperture Radars (SARs) are moving forward to provide a more continuous monitoring of the ocean. In this study we use a collection of SAR images to document the two-dimensional horizontal structure of Internal Solitary Waves (ISWs) propagating between two large submarine canyons off the Western Iberian Peninsula (between May and October 2018), which are observed to intersect approximately along the mid-shelf and originate a naturally-occurring interaction hotspot between different ISW packets. ISW interactions are well documented in theory and in laboratorial and numerical studies, but their observations in the real ocean are limited to airborne observations over the Strait of Georgia. The frequent SAR imagery of interacting ISWs in this region provides additional case studies to the literature, and we investigate if an energy proxy taken from their sea surface signatures can be used as an indicator for high-energy interaction events (e.g. when comparing with a non-interacting background). In particular, a quasi-synergetic event captured both in SAR and in a moored thermistor chain reveals that the often used weakly nonlinear theory for small-amplitude waves may underestimate the amplitudes measured in the waves’ interacting sections. ISWs provide the largest vertical displacements and velocities in the ocean. Understating how their vertical structure changes during wave-wave interactions may have important implications in the broader spectrum of ocean sciences, and SARs are shown in this study to be a first-approach tool to survey this frequent phenomenon in coastal regions.

A revised, Last Interglacial chronology for the Middle Palaeolithic sequence of Gruta da Oliveira (Almonda karst system, Torres Novas, Portugal)

Based on previous radiocarbon and U-series (Diffusion/Adsorption) dating of bone samples, the Middle Palaeolithic has been thought to persist at Gruta da Oliveira until ∼37 thousand years (ka) ago. New U-series ages for stratigraphically constraining speleothems, coupled with new luminescence ages for sediment infill, show that the site’s ∼6 m-thick archaeological stratigraphy dates entirely within a <30 ka interval spanning substages 5a-5b of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. Significant technological change is observed across the sequence, akin to that seen in the Upper Palaeolithic over similar timescales. Flake-cleavers and bifaces, normatively definitional of the Vasconian facies, are restricted to a short interval correlated with Greenland Stadial (GS) 22, 85.1–87.6 ka ago. In cave and rock-shelter sites of southern and western Iberia, intact archaeological deposits securely dated to the ∼37–42 ka interval remain elusive. Geological dynamics (e.g., erosion, sedimentation hiatuses, palimpsest formation) and human adaptive responses to climate-driven environmental change (e.g., abandonment of now forest-covered low- and mid-altitude karst areas, concentration of settlement in alluvial plains and coastal settings) are possible explanations for this pattern.

Framing agricultural intensification in western Iberia during the Late Neolithic: A new insight through the faunal record from Los Barruecos site

Late Neolithic archaeological records are scarce in the Tagus basin, especially in the inland Iberian Peninsula. Whilst several contexts have been documented at the mouth of the river, fewer sites dated in the 4th millennium cal BC are known in the interior, with the exception of a few megalithic contexts. For the Middle Tagus, Los Barruecos (Malpartida de Cáceres, Spain) presents a Neolithic sequence spanning the Early to Late Neolithic. Besides pottery and lithic industry, faunal remains were also recovered. The Los Barruecos Late Neolithic fauna assemblage has been analysed and a new absolute date obtained, thus framing the results chronologically. A predominance of swine, probably mainly wild boar as opposed to pig, followed by caprines and cattle, was identified. The assemblage is clearly of an anthropic nature with a secondary access by a large canid. Palynological data for the site indicates the existence of agropastoral practices further strengthening a picture of cattle and caprine herding. Complementary hunting of wild boar, red deer and occasionally leporids points to a mixed economic pattern with similarities further west in the Portuguese regions of Estremadura and Alentejo. The difference between the Western Iberia Late Neolithic faunal assemblages and the preceding Middle Neolithic, when hunting was comparatively more important, further supports the notion of agricultural intensification that is seen from the Late Neolithic onwards, also inland in the Tagus Basin.

The redundancy effect under morphogenetic and environmental fluctuations. The case of the Dianthus pungens group

This study describes the morpho-environmental fluctuations, and the haplotypic variability of a taxonomic group, in order to understand the phenotypic capacity to respond to environmental variations. The Dianthus pungens group was selected as the taxonomic cluster for the purpose of this study. One species and five subspecies occur along the western Mediterranean basin, between SE France and NW Morocco. One clustering of morphological (223 locations) and environmental (350 locations) combinations was correlated with the haplotypic results obtained from 28 locations and 89 individuals. Morpho-environmental fluctuations were described, as well a highly redundant morphological response in the studied area. Similar results were observed for haplotypic combinations. Redundancy effect is described as a consequence of its recent origin and the intense glacial and interglacial changes across the Plio-Pleistocene period. The observed environmental variability was not significantly correlated with morphogenetic divergences. Based on the observed patterns of morpho-environmental variations no specific or subspecific combinations are recommended. However, D. hispanicus (eastern Iberian Peninsula) showed possible morpho-environmental divergences with D. brachyanthus-D. gredensis-D. langeanus (mountain systems of the western and central Iberian Peninsula, Pyrenees, and Sierra Nevada -SE Spain-).

Stranding patterns and feeding ecology of striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, in Western Iberia (1981–2014)

The striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, is one of the most abundant cetacean species off the Western Iberian coast, however, studies on the species regarding biology, ecology, threats or conservation efforts are lacking. This study investigates stranding patterns (years 1981–2014) and diet (2002–2014) of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) off the Portuguese mainland coast. Stranded animals were sampled along the whole coast (n = 252). Most stranded striped dolphins were recorded in the first half of the year and strandings increased over time. Analysis of stomach contents (n = 36) showed that striped dolphins in the area are mostly piscivorous (80% by number and weight of the diet), taking pelagic, meso-pelagic and demersal species. In terms of reconstructed biomass prey, sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) were the most important. Prey items revealed that both sexes forage at a range of depths (pelagic and demersal systems) in both neritic and oceanic habitats, although females feed more often in coastal waters. Moreover, diet results also indicate that striped dolphins may co-occur with other neritic cetacean species, such as the common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, thus sharing some preferred prey species. The study revealed that striped dolphins on the Iberian coast interact with coastal fisheries sharing the same target species. Management measures for fisheries will need to be consistent with an ecosystem-based approach.

PRISM3D: a 3-D reference seismic model for Iberia and adjacent areas

SUMMARY We present PRISM3D, a 3-D reference seismic model of P- and S-wave velocities for Iberia and adjacent areas. PRISM3D results from the combination of the most up-to-date earth models available for the region. It extends horizontally from 15°W to 5°E in longitude, 34°N to 46°N in latitude and vertically from 3.5 km above to 200 km below sea level, and is modelled on a regular grid with 10 and 0.5 km of grid node spacing in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. It was designed using models inferred from local and teleseismic body-wave tomography, earthquake and ambient noise surface wave tomography, receiver function analysis and active source experiments. It includes two interfaces, namely the topography/bathymetry and the Mohorovičić (Moho) discontinuity. The Moho was modelled from previously published receiver function analysis and deep seismic sounding results. To that end we used a probabilistic surface reconstruction algorithm that allowed to extract the mean of the Moho depth surface along with its associated standard deviation, which provides a depth uncertainty estimate. The Moho depth model is in good agreement with previously published models, although it presents slightly sharper gardients in orogenic areas such as the Pyrenees or the Betic-Rif system. Crustal and mantle P- and S-wave wave speed grids were built separately on each side of the Moho depth surface by weighted average of existing models, thus allowing to realistically render the speed gradients across that interface. The associated weighted standard deviation was also calculated, which provides an uncertainty estimation on the average wave speed values at any point of the grid. At shallow depths (&amp;lt;10 km), low P and S wave speeds and high VP/VS are observed in offshore basins, while the Iberian Massif, which covers a large part of western Iberia, appears characterized by a rather flat Moho, higher than average VP and VS and low VP/VS. Conversely, the Betic-Rif system seems to be associated with low VP and VS, combined with high VP/VS in comparison to the rest of the study area. The most prominent feature of the mantle is the well known high wave speed anomaly related to the Alboran slab imaged in various mantle tomography studies. The consistency of PRISM3D with previous work is verified by comparing it with two recent studies, with which it shows a good general agreement.The impact of the new 3-D model is illustrated through a simple synthetic experiment, which shows that the lateral variations of the wave speed can produce traveltime differences ranging from –1.5 and 1.5 s for P waves and from –2.5 and 2.5 s for S waves at local to regional distances. Such values are far larger than phase picking uncertainties and would likely affect earthquake hypocentral parameter estimations. The new 3-D model thus provides a basis for regional studies including earthquake source studies, Earth structure investigations and geodynamic modelling of Iberia and its surroundings.

New Leptolophus (Palaeotheriidae) species from the Iberian Peninsula and early evidence of hypsodonty in an Eocene perissodactyl

ABSTRACT The middle and late Eocene perissodactyl fossil record of western Iberia is characterized by an endemic fauna, which is clearly different from those of northeastern Iberia and other areas of the European archipelago. In this work, we describe three endemic equoid taxa belonging to the family Palaeotheriidae. Two come from the late Eocene site of Zambrana (Miranda-Treviño Basin, Araba/Álava, Spain) and correspond to new species: Leptolophus cuestai, sp. nov., and Leptolophus franzeni, sp. nov. Leptolophus cuestai, sp. nov. is the largest species of Leptolophus and exhibits thick coronal cementum and a very high hypsodonty index, unusual for an Eocene equoid. Leptolophus franzeni, sp. nov. is described from a cranium which includes the canines, which are otherwise unknown in Leptolophus. The third taxon, from the late middle Eocene site of Mazaterón (Almazán Basin, Soria, Spain), described provisionally as Leptolophus sp., could be another new Iberian species. The Iberian taxa are characterized by having: more hypsodont, lophodont and heterodont dentition than the Central European Leptolophus taxa (L. stehlini, L. nouleti and L. magnus); thicker styles and stylar ribs in the upper jugal teeth; and thicker coronal cementum. The precocious development of coronal cementum and the high hypsodonty index could be related to different foraging conditions (tougher vegetation, more open or drier habitats with a higher consumption of grit in the diet) inhabited by the Iberian Leptolophus species with respect to their Central European contemporaries. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:03F87D46-2320-41D2-AE08-333866F005AD

A new minute eulimid (Caenogastropoda Eulimidae) from the western Iberian Peninsula

A new minute eulimid (Caenogastropoda Eulimidae) from the western Iberian Peninsula

A new minute eulimid (Caenogastropoda Eulimidae) from the western Iberian Peninsula

A new minute eulimid (Caenogastropoda Eulimidae) from the western Iberian Peninsula

Bat conservation and ecotourism: the case of two abandoned tunnels in Salamanca, Western Iberia

Underground roosts play a key role in the conservation of cave-dwelling bats. In regions where natural roosts are scarce, human-made artificial roosts can host important populations of these species. The roosts studied in the present work are two railway tunnels abandoned in 1984 that have become one of the biggest cavedwelling bats roosts in the region. Several thousands of roosting bats were reported during summer in the 1990s, and more recently, in the mid-2010s, large groups of hibernating bats and maternity colonies were found in them (Lizana-Ciudad 2015, Hernández-Tabernero et al. 2016). Now, as a measure for local economic development, a hiking route following the railroad has been habilitated and it could threaten bat colonies if many visitors enter into the tunnels. In this work, we present the data of monthly monitoring carried out during 2018 and we propose conservation measures that would allow the coexistence of the touristic hiking route and the remarkable colonies of cave-dwelling bats that the tunnels host. This monitoring shows that the occupation of the roosts is very dynamic, with different species occupying each of them in different seasons. Overall, the longest tunnel is mainly a winter hibernaculum, while the shorter one is used as a breeding roost which hosts large colonies of bats. The most abundant species in the studied roosts were Miniopterus schreibersii, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Myotis myotis, and Myotis blythii. These roosts seem to be part of a large transnational network of underground roosts that are well known on the Portuguese side with very limited knowledge on the Spanish side. We hope by implementing simple measures, these roosts can be preserved whilst still maintaining the hiking route for visitor enjoyment and promoting the economic development of the area.

The Multiple Origins of Roe Deer Populations in Western Iberia and Their Relevance for Conservation.

Simple SummaryThe Iberian Peninsula is considered a reservoir of genetic diversity and the source for the recolonization of continental Europe by several mammal species, after the last glaciation period. Here, we intended to characterize the genetic patterns and origins of one of those species, the roe deer, through the analysis of different genetic markers, as there is a major knowledge gap about the species’ populations at the western edge of roe deer distribution in the Iberian Peninsula. We found that western Iberia is a diversity hotspot for roe deer, with shared gene pools with other European and Iberian regions, but also with unique genetic elements, particularly the case of the relict population of Peneda Gerês National Park. Due to the distinct genetic diversity that was observed in western Iberian populations, we highlight the importance of these populations as sources of resilience against global changes. Our results provide useful information for the management and conservation of this species in the Iberian Peninsula. We advise transboundary management between Portugal and Spain as a rule, as well as careful evaluation of reintroduction actions, that should take in account the genetic data, in order to maintain the genetic heritage of roe deer in Europe.The roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is native and widespread in Europe and its phylogeography has been clarified in the last decades. Southern peninsulas are considered as reservoirs of genetic diversity and the source for the recolonization of Europe after the last glacial maximum. Even though roe deer populations have been genetically characterized, there is a major knowledge gap about the populations at the western edge of its distribution. To fill this caveat, and based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data, we aim to: (i) characterize the genetic diversity and structure of roe deer in western Iberia; (ii) clarify the origins and phylogeographical affinities of these populations, namely the relict population from Peneda Gerês National Park (PNPG, Portugal) and the likely allochthonous populations from central and south (CS) Portugal; (iii) discuss the implications of our findings for the management and conservation of the roe deer. Three major genetic clusters were inferred based on nuclear genotypes and were structured in a similar way as the three major mtDNA clades present in Iberia. Patterns inferred with nuclear markers confirmed PNPG as a relict population. Roe deer from CS Portugal share haplotypes with Central Europe rather than with other western Iberian populations, confirming its mainly allochthonous origin. Our results highlight western Iberia as a diversity hotspot for roe deer. We highlight the role of intraspecific genetic diversity as a source of resilience against ongoing global changes; the need for transboundary management and the importance of genetic data to inform management and conservation. When considered, repopulation or translocation measures should follow the IUCN Law of Reintroductions and meticulously conducted in order to preserve the genetic heritage of the species.

Integrating In Situ and Ocean Color Data to Evaluate Ecological Quality under the Water Framework Directive

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims at evaluating the ecological status of European coastal water bodies (CWBs). This is a rather complex task and first requires the use of long-term databases to assess the effect of anthropogenic pressure on biological communities. An in situ dataset was assembled using concomitant biological, i.e., chlorophyll a (Chl a) and environmental data, covering the years from 1995 to 2014, to enable a comprehensive assessment of eutrophication in the Western Iberia Coast (WIC). Given the temporal gaps in the dataset, especially in terms of Chl a, satellite observations were used to complement it. Positive relationships between Chl a 90th percentile and nitrogen concentrations were obtained. The Land-Uses Simplified Index (LUSI), as a pressure indicator, showed no relationship with Chl a, except in Galicia, but it highlighted a higher continental pressure in the Portuguese CWBs in comparison with Galician waters. In general terms, the trophic index (TRIX) showed that none of the CWBs were in degraded conditions. Nevertheless, the relatively high TRIX and LUSI values obtained for the water body in front of Tagus estuary suggest that this area should be subject to continued monitoring. Results highlighted the usefulness of satellite data in water quality assessments and set the background levels for the implementation of operational monitoring based on satellite Chl a. In the future, low uncertainty and harmonized satellite products across countries should be provided. Moreover, the assessment of satellite-based eutrophication indicators should also include metrics on phytoplankton phenology and community structure.

A review of the ecology and status of the Kerry Lily Simethis mattiazzii (S. planifolia) Asphodelaceae in Ireland

The distribution, habitat and genetic diversity of Irish populations of the Kerry Lily (Simethis mattiazzii) are described. All sites known in 2009, centred around Kenmare Bay in SW Ireland, were sampled. The species occurs in a relatively uniform plant community, classified as 4030 Dry Heath within a low-lying coastal heath complex. A preliminary genetic investigation involving analysis of 21 chloroplast and nuclear gene regions revealed no genetic diversity in the samples examined, suggesting that the species in Ireland comprises a number of meta-populations, within one large, single population confined to the Derrynane area on the Iveragh peninsula in South-west Kerry (v.c.H1) and one on the north of the Beara peninsula, across Kenmare Bay from Derrynane, in West Cork (v.c.H3). A sixth site, at Cahergarriff on the south of the Beara Peninsula has since been discovered. Of the 5,750 flowering plants recorded in 2009, the biggest meta-population, which also had the highest plant density, numbered 2,364, on Abbey Island, near Derrynane. Results from two brief surveys in 2020 indicate that the populations have reduced in extent and size since 2009. The genetic results so far suggest that the species is genetically depauperate in Ireland, such that the Irish populations may in fact be only represented by a single, or narrow, founder genotype and may be the result of a one-off introduction. The potential mode of arrival of the species to Ireland is discussed in relation to trade with continental Europe, where its distribution is greatest in SW France and western Iberia. A follow-up genetic study is required to confirm these results and explore a putative point of origin for the species in Ireland. Conservation issues are addressed in the light of these observations.

The Iberian-Guanche rock inscriptions at La Palma Is.: all seven Canary Islands (Spain) harbour these scripts

Rock Iberian-Guanche inscriptions have been found in all Canary Islands including La Palma: they consist of incise (with few exceptions) lineal scripts which have been done by using the Iberian semi-syllabary that was used in Iberia and France during the 1st millennium BC until few centuries AD .This confirms First Canarian Inhabitants navigation among Islands. In this paper we analyze three of these rock inscriptions found in westernmost La Palma Island: hypotheses of transcription and translation show that they are short funerary and religious text, like of those found widespread through easternmost Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and also Tenerife Islands. They frequently name “Aka” (dead), “Ama” (mother godness) and “Bake” (peace), and methodology is mostly based in phonology and semantics similarities between Basque language and prehistoric Iberian-Tartessian semi-syllabary transcriptions. These Iberian-Guanche scripts are widespread in La Palma usually together with spiral and circular typical Atlantic motifs which are similar to these of Megalithic British Isles, Brittany (France) and Western Iberia. Sometimes linear incise Iberian-Guanche inscriptions are above the circular ones (more recent) but they are also found underneath (less recent). The idea that this prehistoric Iberian semi-syllabary was originated in Africa and/or Canary Islands is not discarded. It is discussed in the frame of Saharian people migration to Mediterranean, Atlantic (i.e.: Canary Islands) and other areas, when hyperarid climate rapidly established. On the other hand, an Atlantic gene and possibly linguistic and cultural pool is shared among people from British Isles, Brittany (France), Iberia (Spain, Portugal), North Africa and Canary Islands.&#x0D; Keywords: La Palma, Iberian-Guanche, Latin, Inscriptions, Iberian, Celts, Sahara, Africa, Garafia, Santo Domingo, Canary Islands, Lybic British, Brittons, Basque, Irish, Lybic Canarian, Palmeses, Benahoaritas, Awaritas, Tricias, Prehistory, Guache, Tartessian.