Suchergebnisse

It is a known fact that 50 to 80% of biodiversity is found in the marine environment. Thus safeguarding marine ecosystems is of critical importance for the sustainable development of present and future generations. The conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ is becoming increasingly enticing internationally, as more scientific information is discovered on the productivity of such biodiversity and as we are realising that such biodiversity is also highly susceptible to increasing anthropogenic threats particularly in seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold-water coral reefs. ; peer-reviewed

Scientific evidence demonstrates that the effects of climate change upon the oceans will lead to biological, chemical and physical changes with dire environmental and geopolitical repercussions. The impacts of climate change upon the oceans, namely their warming, sea level rise, ocean acidification and resultant marine biodiversity loss have been consistently highlighted in various scientific reports. Experts, scholars and academic networks from various disciplines have raised awareness on the multifaceted and complex relationship between oceans, marine living resources and climate change. In political fora, climate change is often referred to as a threat multiplier. Earth scientists describe how the climate and oceans relationship accentuates the complexities of the natural world providing a classic example of how planetary boundaries, such as global warming, ocean acidification and marine biodiversity loss, interact to exacerbate the negative impacts caused by human behaviour. Outcomes from conferences and even applicable treaties acknowledge that a cross sectoral and an integrated, ecosystem approach is key to achieve sound governance of these natural resources. ; peer-reviewed

Due to their small size and cryptic habits, alien mealybugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) can easily enter countries around the Mediterranean basin through trade in live planting material and fresh produce. The recent increase in mealybug introductions probably reflects ever-faster transport in globalised trade, the free movement of goods within the European Union and the weakness of plant quarantine screening by national plant protection organisations. Purchases over the Internet, shipments of plants by post and exchanges of material by plant hobbyists escape control by quarantine services and contribute substantially to mealybug introductions on plants like bamboos and succulents. ; peer-reviewed

Vendicari Nature Reserve is a protected area established by the Government of the Sicilian Region in 1984, named 'Riserva Naturale Orientata Oasi Faunistica di Vendicari' and is included among the wetlands of the Ramsar Convention. Since 1984, systematic monitoring for traces and depositions of Caretta caretta along the reserve's coast and management of some thermal parameters in sandy substrate were conducted by volunteers of the Ente Fauna Siciliana association. ; peer-reviewed

The Mediterranean Basin with its mountainous shores, high biodiversity and spectacular scenery is located at the intersection of Africa and Eurasia. Through the 8000 years of human development in this area, there have been tremendous changes in its history and biogeography. Approximately 300 million people live here today. Although the evergreen maquis, vineyards, olive plantations and natural woodlands cover the lands all over the basin, it is facing severe destruction of habitats due to def

This review provides an overview of the Mediterranean diversity and conservation status of cetaceans, and the value associated with their conservation and non-consumptive use. Mediterranean Sea is one of the world's diversity hotspots. Its biodiversity is increasingly under threat in the whole region and key species as cetaceans challenge for conservation. All the identified threats are interlinked and cumulatively contribute to the habitat degradation of the entire area as well as reduced health status of the cetaceans that live there. Whales and dolphins, defined as charismatic megafauna, flag species, apex predators and bio indicators of the marine environment health are demanding social substantial changes. Needs are for spatial prioritization within a comprehensive framework for regional conservation planning, the acquisition of additional information identifying critical habitats in data-poor areas and for data deficient species, and addressing the challenges of establishing transboundary governance and collaboration in socially, culturally and politically complex conditions. This paper examines research gaps, questions and issues (population abundance estimates, as well as the biological, ecological, physiological characteristics) surrounding cetacean species in the context of biodiversity conservation and highlights the need of targeted conservation management actions to reduce sources of disturb of key threatening processes in the Mediterranean Sea. The 'precautionary principle' must be adopted at all levels in attempts to mitigate impacts and thus provides scope for the translation of the principle into operational measures. As natural entities, cetaceans have their objective intrinsic value, not humanly conferred.

International audience ; To stabilize the application of some names in the genus Isoetes in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, we studied herbarium specimens and imaged spores with scanning electron microscopy, with special reference to those taxa in the I. lon‐gissima and I. histrix groups that were described from France, Algeria and Turkey, and are in need of a taxonomic revision. The following names are lectotypified: I. adspersa, I. boryana, I. delalandei, and I. viollaei. Holotypes of I. perralderiana and I. olympica were ascertained. We conclude that I. boryana (listed in the "Bern Convention" and in the European Union "Habitats" Directive) justifies consideration at species rank, but I. adspersa should be synonymized with I. longissima. Isoetes tenuissima and I. perralderiana are proposed as distinct species pending further studies. In the I. histrix group, we tentatively accept I. delalandei as a species, presenting some observations on "I. histrix f. subinermis" nom. nud. The latter might also represent a distinct species.

International audience ; To stabilize the application of some names in the genus Isoetes in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, we studied herbarium specimens and imaged spores with scanning electron microscopy, with special reference to those taxa in the I. lon‐gissima and I. histrix groups that were described from France, Algeria and Turkey, and are in need of a taxonomic revision. The following names are lectotypified: I. adspersa, I. boryana, I. delalandei, and I. viollaei. Holotypes of I. perralderiana and I. olympica were ascertained. We conclude that I. boryana (listed in the "Bern Convention" and in the European Union "Habitats" Directive) justifies consideration at species rank, but I. adspersa should be synonymized with I. longissima. Isoetes tenuissima and I. perralderiana are proposed as distinct species pending further studies. In the I. histrix group, we tentatively accept I. delalandei as a species, presenting some observations on "I. histrix f. subinermis" nom. nud. The latter might also represent a distinct species.

International audience ; To stabilize the application of some names in the genus Isoetes in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, we studied herbarium specimens and imaged spores with scanning electron microscopy, with special reference to those taxa in the I. lon‐gissima and I. histrix groups that were described from France, Algeria and Turkey, and are in need of a taxonomic revision. The following names are lectotypified: I. adspersa, I. boryana, I. delalandei, and I. viollaei. Holotypes of I. perralderiana and I. olympica were ascertained. We conclude that I. boryana (listed in the "Bern Convention" and in the European Union "Habitats" Directive) justifies consideration at species rank, but I. adspersa should be synonymized with I. longissima. Isoetes tenuissima and I. perralderiana are proposed as distinct species pending further studies. In the I. histrix group, we tentatively accept I. delalandei as a species, presenting some observations on "I. histrix f. subinermis" nom. nud. The latter might also represent a distinct species.

International audience ; To stabilize the application of some names in the genus Isoetes in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, we studied herbarium specimens and imaged spores with scanning electron microscopy, with special reference to those taxa in the I. lon‐gissima and I. histrix groups that were described from France, Algeria and Turkey, and are in need of a taxonomic revision. The following names are lectotypified: I. adspersa, I. boryana, I. delalandei, and I. viollaei. Holotypes of I. perralderiana and I. olympica were ascertained. We conclude that I. boryana (listed in the "Bern Convention" and in the European Union "Habitats" Directive) justifies consideration at species rank, but I. adspersa should be synonymized with I. longissima. Isoetes tenuissima and I. perralderiana are proposed as distinct species pending further studies. In the I. histrix group, we tentatively accept I. delalandei as a species, presenting some observations on "I. histrix f. subinermis" nom. nud. The latter might also represent a distinct species.

International audience ; To stabilize the application of some names in the genus Isoetes in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, we studied herbarium specimens and imaged spores with scanning electron microscopy, with special reference to those taxa in the I. lon‐gissima and I. histrix groups that were described from France, Algeria and Turkey, and are in need of a taxonomic revision. The following names are lectotypified: I. adspersa, I. boryana, I. delalandei, and I. viollaei. Holotypes of I. perralderiana and I. olympica were ascertained. We conclude that I. boryana (listed in the "Bern Convention" and in the European Union "Habitats" Directive) justifies consideration at species rank, but I. adspersa should be synonymized with I. longissima. Isoetes tenuissima and I. perralderiana are proposed as distinct species pending further studies. In the I. histrix group, we tentatively accept I. delalandei as a species, presenting some observations on "I. histrix f. subinermis" nom. nud. The latter might also represent a distinct species.

International audience ; To stabilize the application of some names in the genus Isoetes in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, we studied herbarium specimens and imaged spores with scanning electron microscopy, with special reference to those taxa in the I. lon‐gissima and I. histrix groups that were described from France, Algeria and Turkey, and are in need of a taxonomic revision. The following names are lectotypified: I. adspersa, I. boryana, I. delalandei, and I. viollaei. Holotypes of I. perralderiana and I. olympica were ascertained. We conclude that I. boryana (listed in the "Bern Convention" and in the European Union "Habitats" Directive) justifies consideration at species rank, but I. adspersa should be synonymized with I. longissima. Isoetes tenuissima and I. perralderiana are proposed as distinct species pending further studies. In the I. histrix group, we tentatively accept I. delalandei as a species, presenting some observations on "I. histrix f. subinermis" nom. nud. The latter might also represent a distinct species.

Intro -- MEDITERRANEAN ECOSYSTEMS DYNAMICS, MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION -- MEDITERRANEAN ECOSYSTEMS DYNAMICS, MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- CONSERVATION OF THE EUROPEAN WILDCAT (FELIS SILVESTRIS) IN MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENTS: A REASSESSMENT OF CURRENT THREATS -- ABSTRACT -- INTRODUCTION -- 2. WILDCAT BIOLOGY -- 2.1. General Issues -- 2.2. Distribution and Importance of Mediterranean Populations -- 3. CONSERVATION CONCERNS -- 3.1. Habitat Alteration and Destruction -- 3.2. Introgression of Domestic Cat Alleles -- 3.3. Man-Induced Mortality -- 3.3.1. Predator Control and Illegal Hunting -- 3.3.2. Poisoning -- 3.3.2.1. Accidental or Secondary Poisoning -- 3.3.3. Road and Railway Kills -- 3.4. Diseases -- 3.5. Competition with Other Species -- 3.6. Climate Change -- 4. REASSESING THREATS AND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES -- CONCLUSION -- REFERENCES -- THE AERIAL ARTHROPOD COMMUNITY AS A DESCRIPTOR OF FARMING MANAGEMENT IN ARABLE SYSTEMS: FROM A TAXONOMICAL TO A FUNCTIONAL APPROACH -- ABSTRACT -- INTRODUCTION -- MATERIAL AND METHODS -- Study Area -- Experimental Design -- Sampling -- Data Analysis -- RESULTS -- Taxonomical Approach -- Functional Approach -- DISCUSSION -- Taxonomical Approach -- Functional Approach -- CONCLUSION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- REFERENCES -- COMPARING SEVERAL MATHEMATICAL METHODS TO PREDICT POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION OF MEDITERRANEAN FOREST TYPES USING CORINE LAND COVER DATA AND SOIL RELATED VARIABLES -- ABSTRACT -- 1. INTRODUCTION -- 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS -- 2.1. Pilot Area -- 2.2. Vegetation Data -- 2.3. Input Variables -- 2.4. Data pre-Processing -- 2.5. Classification Methods -- 2.5.1.. Multiple Logistic Regression -- 2.5.2. Decision Trees -- 2.5.3. Artificial Neural Network -- 2.6. Comparison of Results: Confusion Matrix -- 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION -- 3.1. Parameter Selection.

Through centuries, the intertwined relation between farmers and nature shaped a rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage, reflected as a wide range of agricultural landscapes, where low-intensity farming practices are known to support high levels of biodiversity and the wide provision of ecosystem services. The concept of High Nature Value farmlands (HNVf) was devised in the 90's as a tool to characterize and direct financial support to such agricultural landscapes. The nature value of HNVf stems from a high proportion of natural/semi-natural vegetation e.g. pastures and meadows, the presence of small-scale elements in the agricultural landscapes, (e.g. field margins, hedgerows), or the occurrence of agriculture-dependent species with conservation interest (e.g. farmland birds). HNVf are multifunctional landscapes, therefore contributing for the delivery of ecosystem services, namely provisioning (e.g. high-quality food, fibre and maintenance of genetic resources), cultural (e.g. recreation and agro- and ecotourism, maintenance of cultural heritage) and regulating services (e.g. climate regulation, pollination), sustained by key ecological supporting functions (e.g. primary production, nutrient cycling, soil formation). Bridging agro-biodiversity conservation with rural development policies, the HNV farmland concept goes beyond the classical approaches to conservation, acknowledging the importance of considering the social-ecological systems underlying HNV farming systems for as critical to protection of the rural environment by enhancing resilience and providing essential ecosystem services. Recent estimates report that over 30% of EU farmlands are High Nature Value farmlands. Moreover, it is also estimated that ca. 50% off all species and 63 out of 231 habitat types of European conservation interest rely on the persistence of specific agricultural practices, namely those associated with HNV farming systems. However, social-ecological changes such as e.g. climate and land-use change (agricultural intensification or abandonment), rural-urban migration, market pressures and public policies, are currently threatening HNV farmlands, putting the persistence of the biodiversity supported by such farmlands at risk. This presentation will focus on the importance of High Nature Value farmlands for the conservation of biodiversity and the wide provision of ecosystem services in Mediterranean regions. Specifically, opportunities and challenges related to the future persistence of the social-ecological systems underlying HNVf will be discussed and illustrated, in the context of the conservation of biodiversity and the maintenance of ecosystem services delivered by such farmlands in the Mediterranean regions. This research is being developed within the FARSYD project – 'FARming SYstems as tool to support policies for effective conservation and management of high nature value farmlanDs' (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016664- PTDC/AAG-EC/5007/2014). ; peerReviewed

The PanEuropean Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity identifies habitat fragmentation as the main cause of biodiversity loss in Europe. The expansion of urban and agricultural spaces is the factor that has traditionally caused the fragmentation of the natural habitats. But the development of transport networks that is becoming increasingly significant must be added to these previous factors. At present, the compatibility between the construction of new infrastructures and the conservation of biodiversity constitutes a challenge for those involved, since for the period 2000–2010 Spain expects to see the construction of around 6,000km of new transport infrastructures, the majority being motorways and high speed railways, which will add to the 700,000km of existing transportation network. In addition, it should be pointed out that this significant expansion of infrastructure networks will affect a highly sensitive landscape, since Spain constitutes an enclave of interesting biodiversity within the European context, including the representation of various biogeographical regions from Alpine to Mediterranean habitats. The importance of the conservation of the flora and fauna in the country can be measured by looking at data that show there are 1,500 species of endemic flowers, and 41 endemic vertebrates, including some species which are in danger of extinction and highly sensitive to the fragmentation of their habitat such as the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). The mitigation of habitat fragmentation due to roads and railways is mainly developed during the process of environmental impact assessment (EIA), which analyses the effects of each project and designs measures destined to mitigate the environmental effects. In the near future and with a basis in a recently approved European Directive, the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) will also be applied which will evaluate the plans of infrastructures including several projects together as a whole. The application of measures to facilitate wildlife crossings and to reduce mortality caused by traffic collisions has been developed throughout the last decade. The first fauna passages merely consisted of adapted culverts or places that combined the fauna passage with forestry roads or streams. From 1997, specific wildlife passages began to be constructed. However, the measures to mitigate habitat fragmentation are still not widely applied, and it is necessary to increase the awareness of the technicians and decision makers involved and to encourage the dissemination of knowledge about the measures to mitigate the effects of habitat fragmentation. With these aims, in 1998, Spain joined the Action COST 341 Habitat Fragmentation Due to Transportation Infrastructures, and a work program coordinated by the Ministry of Environment was set up. Within the framework of this initiative, intensive work has been carried out and includes: • The production of a database containing information on 250 references of publications and unpublished reports about the subject (included in the IENE database; see www.iene.info). • The production of an inventory which includes data on 140 measures: wildlife crossings and other measures applied to avoid fauna casualties. • A report on the state of the art in the country (currently in press) which compiles data about the extention of the problem, the measures which are applied, and the results of the monitoring programs; see www.mma.es/conserv_nat/acciones/paisaje/paisaje.htm). But one of the most relevant aspects that has been carried out within the framework of the COST Action is the creation of the Working Group (WG): Fragmentation of Habitat Due to Transportation Infrastructures. This brings together technicians who are responsible for the administration of transport and environment in Spain and the 19 Autonomous Communities (regions with autonomous government). The aim of this group is to increase awareness and to exchange knowledge, and there are plans to carry out specific objectives in the future such as the editing of a Technical Normative for the construction of wildlife crossings. This will standardize technical criteria in order to make the fauna passages more effective and make sure that they comply with the function they are designed for. Another future objective is the translation and adaptation of the report COST 341. Wildlife and Traffic. A Handbook on Identifying Conflicts and Designing Solutions. One of the most outstanding achievements of the group is the cooperation between transport and environmental professionals that has encouraged the reconciliation of different stances with the common objective that the planning, construction and maintenance of transport infrastructures increasingly integrates criteria of prevention of those impacts which affect biological diversity.