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Entered into force in 2011, the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in the Mediterranean is a major innovation in that it is the first supra-State legal instrument aimed at coastal zone management. However, the nature and magnitude of change it is actually generating, or is likely to generate, in domestic coastal zones management systems, are highly uncertain. Investigating such prospects for change in contrasted contexts around the Mediterranean, and therefore providing a critical view of the Protocol as a game-changer, is the aim of this article. Results call for vigilance: the risk is real that the Protocol will not change much and that it will become a paper-protocol only. Ratifying it is – relatively – easy. Avoiding “ratifications of convenience” is more demanding. For various reasons the Protocol is likely to have mostly limited impacts on domestic coastal law development. It probably has more potential in terms of influencing changes in governance processes and increasing the social demand for ICZM. But this potential may only be translated into facts under stringent conditions on political will and good faith from Parties to adopt an ambitious understanding of the Protocol, and on appropriation by civil societies around the Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine context of the Lago Mare deposit near Malaga has received agreement as well as its ascription to the third Lago Mare event of Clauzon et al. (2005). This deposit is not a “transitional unit towards normal marine conditions” but followed the marine reflooding of the Mediterranean Basin, allowing the connection with the Dacic Basin (Eastern Paratethys). We show that this Lago Mare event did not result from a climatic change leading to a dilution episode but from a high sea-level connection. Different interpretations on the respective effects of tectonics and eustatism on the sedimentary archives linked to the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) are once more debated. They depend on (1) the duration assigned to the MSC and its subdivisions, (2) the amplitude of the successive sea level variations, and at last (3) the dimensional (local or regional) view of the MSC. Such discrepancies concern subsidiary matters which cannot mask first order facts and progresses in their knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent so called Mediterranean refugee crisis has ignited concerns about the magnitude of the flows of asylum seekers to Europe. This paper examines the determinants of the destination choice of first time non-EU asylum applicants to the EU, between 2008–2020. It investigates the role played by policies related to employment rights, processing of asylum applications, attractiveness of the welfare system, economic factors and networks on the destination of asylum seekers within the EU. We find that the strongest pull factor for asylum seekers to a destination is social networks both in terms of previous asylum applicants as well as stock of previous migrants. Our findings also suggest that employment bans are not a strong deterrence for asylum seekers given their modest association to asylum flows. • This paper examines the pull factors for asylum seekers to EU destination countries. • We focus on non-EU first time asylum applicants between 2008-2020. • The results suggest that social networks are the strongest pull factor. • Policies in destinations are modestly associated to asylum flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The main aim of this work is to progress in the study of desertification processes in Mediterranean regions in the framework of DESERTNET project by means of the execution of pilot studies and development of evaluation models. This paper shows the results of an investigation on the degradation processes of soils carried out in the Murcia Region (SE, Spain). Specifically, salinization problems in Murcia Region were evaluated by means of two chemical degradation indicators, salinization state and salinization rate. We define chemical degradation indicator as the representative value of an observed chemical phenomenon in soil which produce its degradation. Chemical degradation indicators were calculated in order to simplify the interpretation of all the complex processes involved in environmental monitoring. The results obtained showed that in some areas an increase in salinization processes is taking place. On the other hand, there are only a few points with high a risk of salinization, obtaining similar results in the two periods of time studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract The present paper reviews a number of geophysical and geological datasets acquired in recent and less recent times on the modern Messina Strait, aiming at reconstructing the sedimentary dynamics of this complex system. In a second paper, the results achieved with the present study are used as proxy for interpreting the analogue lower Pleistocene succession cropping out along the margins of the modern strait. The tide-dominated Messina Strait separates the Italian peninsula and Sicily in the central Mediterranean Sea. This 3-km-wide marine passageway is governed by bi-directional tidal currents flowing along the strait axis, because of semi-diurnal tidal phase opposition, so that high tide in the Ionian Sea corresponds with low tide in the Tyrrhenian Sea and vice versa. Tidal currents cyclically accelerate passing through the strait central restriction and decelerate towards the strait exits, following reverse directions during each tidal phase. This hydrodynamics generates specific by-pass areas, sediment routes and accumulation patterns in the modern strait, based upon the varying bed-shear stress exerted onto the strait bottom by the converging/diverging M2 tidal waves. Recent multibeam-based investigations on the modern Messina Strait bottom reveal subaqueous morpho-bathymetric features, which allow a number of areas with specific morphologic characters and sedimentary processes to be identified: (i) the 'strait-centre zone' is the narrowest and shallowest by-pass sector, where the tidal currents reach their maximum strength eroding and scouring the substrate. (ii) Towards NE and S, two larger 'dune-bedded zones' occur. Here, clastic sediments transported as bed load and in suspension are accumulated and continuously reworked forming characteristic bedform fields, whose features reflect complex current patterns due to a strong tidal asymmetry. (iii) The 'strait-end zones' represent distal depositional areas, where decelerating currents rework fine-grained smaller moribund dunes. (iv) The 'strait-margin zones' are diffusely characterised by mass-wasting processes along the steepest sublittoral sectors, where sediment instability are caused by earthquakes or sea storms. Fan-deltas prograde from the gentler-sloping coastal segments, represent the main sediment entry points with episodic, high-magnitude discharge and are influenced by the tidal circulation only along their delta-front parts. However, a dogmatic zone partition, based on a 'mutually-evasive' mechanism of sediment distribution and consequent decrease in the transport capacity towards the strait ends is not everywhere applicable to the Messina Strait sedimentary dynamics. The examination of measured tidal ellipses reveals that although flood and ebb tidal currents are approximately equal in speed, they are collinear only across the narrowest zone, being separated as the strait enlarges. This flow separation has possibly generated two main populations of flood and ebb bedforms, which migrate at high angle and with reverse direction in the two dune-bedded zones of the strait. Moreover, because of a strong water-mass stratification due to a marked difference in salinity, the denser flood constituent dominates over the lighter ebb current. As a consequence, the largest dunes observed in both the strait opposite depositional areas have northward-oriented lee faces, whereas superimposed smaller dunes have southward-oriented fronts, reflecting flood and ebb tidal constituents, respectively. Erosional features in the central sill, uncharacteristic bedforms having orientations not explained by modern currents and coarser grains in some places implying thresholds of motion larger than the modern currents all suggest that different, most likely, larger currents, probably occurred at some point in the past. It is suggested here that these features reflect an early stage of strait connection, during the initial sea-level rise after the Last Glacial Maximum. The data reviewed in the present work summarise the complex sedimentary dynamics of the modern Messina Strait and allow a comparative analysis of the ancient strait exposed along the modern margins, also suggesting insights for other examples of tidal straits developed under similar oceanographic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liminal space between the land and the sea has become a space which facilitates society's understanding regarding the notion of the commons. By commons in this case we refer to the cultural and natural resources which are held or produced in common and are accessible to all members of a society. They have no official legal status particularly in the Western societies as physical space is defined as either public or private property. The commons are enclosed during times of crisis, and transformed into private property. The first wave of enclosures intensified in England around the 17th century and in the rest of Western Europe around the 19th century – a process which social historians and commons theorists attribute to the changes in the relations between society, land and property. In this paper the proposition that the seashore is analogous to the common lands of the past is put forward, and current attempts for privatization and commercial exploitation of the seashore can be understood as a modern wave of enclosure. By referring to theories and existing literature linked with the commons, enclosures and Lefebvre's understanding of space, this paper explores the links and the analogies between the first wave of enclosures (common lands) and the more recent second wave focusing on the seashore in three Mediterranean countries, namely Lebanon, Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. With regards to the second enclosure in particular, attention is given to the policy tools which are being put forward so that the seashore's enhanced economic potential can be fully exploited. The first enclosures in the studied countries created a large pool of small land-owners and thus a specific conception of land and private property as an important feature of land. Nevertheless, there is still societal opposition to the enclosure of the seashore, something which can be linked to society's experiences and the conception of the seashore as a commons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses two recurring land use issues that are conventionally accepted when analyzing most of the Mediterranean mass coastal tourism destinations: the limited role of planning and the supposedly standardized nature of the resulting landscape. Based on a specific case study in the Catalan coastline, this paper presents analytical metrics and empirical data showing that, despite the controversial nature of the resulting urbanization and contrary to this common understanding, urban planning tools have been relevant in the shaping of the landscape of coastal settlements dominated by tourism and second homes. More precisely, the paper analyzes how, on the Catalan coast, partial planning tools have been able to create since the 1960s specific urban pieces with temporary residence uses that, beyond their actual limitations, shaped differentiated landscape structures with a particular landscape identity. To reach this conclusion, we have applied a set of spatial metrics at different scales to the analysis of the urban partial plans approved in the destination. Results allow the identification of the basic urban landscape patterns of the area, facilitate the understanding of the role of regulatory planning tools, and highlight the role of its evolution during the last 50 years in the process of the destination urban landscape shaping and transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the European Commission's flagship initiative for the protection of the European Seas, and the first holistic approach to ensuring that European Seas reach and are maintained at what is called a ‘Good Environmental Status’ by the year 2020. Regional cooperation, especially between neighbouring countries, and involvement of all interested parties, are horizontal principles of the MSFD, and particularly apply to the definition of programmes of measures, the principal instrument through which each Member State will implement its marine strategy. This paper presents the results from a dedicated, participatory, structured decision-making process that was implemented within the framework of the ActionMed project, which aimed to bring experts and policy/decision-makers from Mediterranean neighbouring countries together, to discuss and agree upon common measures for implementation in their sub-regions. It shows that a participatory approach, supported by customised, case specific intelligent tools, that follows expertly facilitated, structured workshops can be a successful way to enhance sub-regional collaboration. The paper also presents the top ranking measures, selected by experts and decision-makers for common implementation in two Mediterranean sub-regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources in Mediterranean regions are under increasing pressure due to climate change, economic development, and population growth. Many Mediterranean rivers have their headwaters in mountainous regions where hydrological processes are driven by snowpack dynamics and the specific variability of the Mediterranean climate. A good knowledge of the snow processes in the Mediterranean mountains is therefore a key element of water management strategies in such regions. The objective of this paper is to review the literature on snow hydrology in Mediterranean mountains to identify the existing knowledge, key research questions, and promising technologies. We collected 620 peer-reviewed papers, published between 1913 and 2016, that deal with the Mediterranean-like mountain regions in the western United States, the central Chilean Andes, and the Mediterranean basin. A large amount of studies in the western United States form a strong scientific basis for other Mediterranean mountain regions. We found that: (1) the persistence of snow cover is highly variable in space and time but mainly controlled by elevation and precipitation; (2) the snowmelt is driven by radiative fluxes, but the contribution of heat fluxes is stronger at the end of the snow season and during heat waves and rain-on-snow events; (3) the snow densification rates are higher in these regions when compared to other climate regions; and (4) the snow sublimation is an important component of snow ablation, especially in high-elevation regions. Among the pressing issues is the lack of continuous ground observation in high-elevation regions. However, a few years of snow depth (HS) and snow water equivalent (SWE) data can provide realistic information on snowpack variability. A better spatial characterization of snow cover can be achieved by combining ground observations with remotely sensed snow data. SWE reconstruction using satellite snow cover area and a melt model provides reasonable information that is suitable for hydrological applications. Further advances in our understanding of the snow processes in Mediterranean snow-dominated basins will be achieved by finer and more accurate representation of the climate forcing. While the theory on the snowpack energy and mass balance is now well established, the connections between the snow cover and the water resources involve complex interactions with the sub-surface processes, which demand future investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining ecosystem continuity has become a central element in spatial planning policies. Several authors acknowledge the environmental, also known as landscape, fragmentation due to human action as one of the main causes which have negative effects on biodiversity. The phenomenon consists of the transformation of larger patches of habitat in smaller ones, or fragments, which tend to be more isolated than in the original condition. It is extremely evident in urban areas, including settlements and various transport and mobility infrastructures, whose main ecological effects include loss of habitat, increased mortality of plants, and isolation of animal and vegetal species. In this paper, we assess landscape fragmentation dynamics of six landscape units belonging to two European regions, i.e. Sardinia in Italy (from 2003 to 2008), and Andalusia in Spain (from 2005 to 2009). We developed on three indices: the Infrastructural Fragmentation Index (IFI), the Urban Fragmentation Index (UFI), and the Connectivity Index (CI). We found that coastal areas generally suffer from an higher pressure due to the demand of longer or faster transport infrastructures and new settlements and less fragmented areas tend to show the most relevant dynamics in a sort of convergent pattern. Even though landscape fragmentation and connectivity are intuitively complementary phenomena, in this paper we did not found any statistical evidence of this associative property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an operational chain for high-resolution leaf area index (LAI) retrieval from multiresolution satellite data specifically developed for Mediterranean rice areas. The proposed methodology is based on the inversion of the PROSAIL radiative transfer model through the state-of-the-art nonlinear Gaussian process regression (GPR) method. Landsat and SPOT5 data were used for multitemporal LAI retrievals at high-resolution. LAI estimates were validated using time series of in situ LAI measurements collected during the rice season in Spain and Italy. Ground LAI data were collected with smartphones using PocketLAI, a specific phone application for LAI estimation. Temporal evolution of the LAI estimates using Landsat and SPOT5 data followed consistently the temporal evolution of the in situ LAI measurements acquired on several Mediterranean rice varieties. The estimates had a root-mean-square-error (RMSE) of 0.39 and 0.51 m 2 /m 2 in Spain and 0.38 and 0.47 m 2 /m 2 in Italy for Landsat and SPOT5 respectively, with a strong correlation (R 2 > 0.92) for both cases. Spatial-temporal assessment of the estimated LAI from Landsat and SPOT5 data confirmed the robustness and consistency of the retrieval chain. This paper demonstrates the importance of an adequate characterization of the underlying rice background in order to address changes in background condition related to water management. Results highlight the potential of the proposed chain for deriving multitemporal near real-time decametric LAI maps fundamental for operational rice crop monitoring, and demonstrate the readiness of the proposed method for the processing of data such as the recently launched Sentinel-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent and ongoing technological developments make the application of unmanned aerial platforms increasingly accessible for archaeological research and heritage management. While the effectiveness of drones for documentation purposes of standing monuments and excavations has been amply demonstrated in recent years, there are also promising developments in their application for landscape archaeological projects. In this paper, the potential use of drones for the detection of subsurface archaeological remains in mountainous, Mediterranean landscapes is explored by presenting a case study in Molise, South Italy. In this rugged, Apennine area, traditional aerial archaeology approaches have in the past failed to yield good results as regards the detection and documentation of subsurface structures through crop marks. Recent experiments with low altitude, both vertical and oblique aerial photography using small, consumer friendly UAV's drones have, however, produced important and clearly readable information about the existence and extent of subsurface features in a series of sites in the Tappino Valley in Molise. This paper presents the first results of a case study of a complex rural site of the Classical-Roman period. Consequently, the paper discusses the potential value and feasibility of UAV's for archaeological research and cultural heritage management. In particular, the potential of the integration of UAV imagery in existing standard landscape archaeological research methods, such as field survey and geophysical prospection, is discussed. It is concluded that the targeted use of small remote controlled aerial platforms can significantly add to existing practices of both site-recognition and heritage management in the heavily threatened Mediterranean landscapes, and that it can be feasibly and efficiently integrated within standard methodologies applied in field survey projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal areas of developed countries have been altered by human activities, especially since the mid-20th century. This has notably affected the flow of ecosystem services that these environments provide. In this context, this paper’s research has focused on the historical evolution of socio-ecological dynamics and ecosystem services in a Mediterranean coastal landscape, characterized by the intense development of recent decades and the high biodiversity value. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered and analyzed through different methods (document and spatial analysis, statistical treatment). Results show the long history of many ecosystem services (increase/decrease in food provisioning, stabilization/decline of regulating services and no use/intense use of cultural services) and their decline in recent decades due to industrial and residential development (which expanded from 1.7 to 47.5%). To overcome this situation, this paper discusses the current state of ecosystem services and conservation tasks carried out and how the results of the research can be included in the different elements of the governance of shoreline areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology transfer, scientific research and education could have a key role in Mediterranean regions, in order to reduce the environmental impact of the building sector. Recently, the Department of Engineering of University of Sannio has developed a laboratory suitable for performing researches on the dynamic interactions between building envelope components, indoor environment and mechanical systems for a typical climate of south of Italy. The work described within this paper is a part of this large-scale project. Its goals are: (a) to design, test and validate a poly-equipped test room, (b) to perform transient tests to determine performances of common and innovative building components and alternative HVAC systems. More in detail, this paper focuses on the first goal, with the aim to generalize the design approach, requirements and capabilities of calibrated outdoor test facilities, specifically thought for Mediterranean climate. The facility has undergone a substantial amount of characterization tests, aimed at determining its response under yearly operations. The primary conclusions are that the new test facility is usable for a wide range of environmental and indoor conditions, it is functional and has been validated through characterization and preliminary investigations of the behavior of the thermal envelope. Moreover, some experimental results are here analyzed, by evidencing the potentialities of vacuum insulation panels for improving the performances of the thermal envelope, for what concerns both winter and summer seasons. Then, some numerical analyses have been carried out. A 3D CFD model has been calibrated for studying the real distribution of temperatures and water vapor partial pressures within VIP panels. Furthermore, a dynamic energy model of the test cell has been developed by means of Energy Plus, with the aim to use its capability to compare potential configurations that would be installed in future researches, or to evaluate energy, environmental and economic issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address multifunctional land-use management, and as a response to societal expectations with regard to agriculture and well-being in rural spaces, one of the aspects in need of particular attention in the current research is the spatial expression of the landscape attractiveness. Current knowledge about the attributes of landscape that are most highly appreciated, and the ways that individual differences may influence landscape preferences, is still incomplete, particularly for complex agricultural landscapes in the Mediterranean. The aim of this paper is to provide an assessment, including quantitative and qualitative approaches, of user-based landscape preferences in the Mediterranean region of Alentejo, Southern Portugal. To allow for the spatial expression of these preferences and the evaluation of the impact of changes to land-use, specific land cover classes have been used as the basis for our survey. The results are aimed at adding to the body of research literature on the diversity of the landscape attributes that are valued by different user groups and at contributing to informed decision-making processes when resolving land-use issues in the region being studied. To attain this objective, a photo-questionnaire was conducted to identify preferred land cover classes and the land cover qualities that landscape users appreciate most. The study shows that the way that landscape is used is a significant factor influencing the preferences, following a clear functional demand pattern. Not only are there differences between land managers as producers and others as consumers, but the appreciated land cover qualities and land cover preferences also differ from one consumer group to another. Knowledge regarding the preferences of specific groups can inform landscape management at different levels of governance in such a way that multi-functionality may be more successfully attained. Moreover, certain particularities with regard to the preferred landscapes in the region being studied are discussed in comparison with the results of earlier studies from other regions. In this regard, this paper puts great weight on the importance of territorial contextualization in regard to making general assessments concerning landscape preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Mixtures of wild food plants, part of the Mediterranean diet, have potential benefits for their content in bioactive compounds, minerals and fibers. In Italy, wild plants are still consumed in various ways, for their taste, effects on health and nutritional value. In this paper, we provide a list of wild plants used in vegetable mixtures, indicating their phytochemical and nutritional profile, highlighting those not yet studied. Aim of the study We provide a first complete review of traditional uses of wild food plants used as vegetables and their preparations (e.g., salads, soups, rustic pies). We also highlight their phytochemical constituents. Materials and methods We carried out an extensive literature review of ethnobotanical publications from 1894 to date for finding plants used in traditional vegetable mixtures. We also performed an online search for scientific papers providing the phytochemical profile of plants that were cited at least twice in recipes found in the literature. Results We list a total of 276 wild taxa used in traditional vegetable mixtures, belonging to 40 families. Among these, the most represented are Asteraceae (88), Brassicaceae (33), Apiaceae (21), Amaranthaceae (12). Many plants are cited in many recipes across several Italian regions. Among the most cited plant we note: Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth , Sanguisorba minor Scop. , Taraxacum campylodes G. E. Haglund, Urtica dioica L. Tuscany is the region with the highest number of food recipes that incorporate wild plants used as vegetables. We also list the phytochemical constituents and some pharmacological activities of the plants cited at least twice. Finally, we discuss topics such as the taste of plants used in the recipes. Conclusions Nineteen edible wild plants, such as Asparagus albus L. , Campanula trachelium L., Hypochaeris laevigata (L.) Benth. & Hook f. , Phyteuma spicatum L. , Scolymus grandiflorus Desf., are not yet studied as regards their phytochemical and nutritional profile. Some plants should be avoided due to the presence of toxic compounds such as Adenostyles alliariae (Gouan) A. Kern or Ranunculus repens L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil water erosion on cultivated lands represents a severe threat to soil resources in the world, and especially in Mediterranean areas, due to their topographic, edaphic and climatic conditions. Among the cultivated lands, vineyards deserve a particular attention because, aside representing one of the most important crops in terms of income and employment, they also have proven to be the form of agricultural use that causes one of the highest soil losses. Although the topic of soil water erosion on vineyards has been studied, it still raises uncertainties, due to the high variability of procedures for data acquisition, which consists into different scales of analysis and measurement methods. There is still a great gap in knowledge about the effect of triggering factors on soil water erosion and, so far, an effort to quantify this effect on the Mediterranean viticulture has not been made yet. Therefore, this paper review aims to (i) develop a documented database on splash, sheet and rill erosion rates in Mediterranean vineyards, (ii) identify and, if possible, quantify the effect of triggering factors such as topography, soil properties, rainfall characteristics and soil conservation techniques on soil water erosion, and (iii) provide suggestions for a more sustainable viticulture. Although the large variability of data, some general trends between erosion rates and triggering factors could be found, as long as data were categorized according to the same measurement method. However, no general rule upon which to consider one triggering factor always predominant over the others came out. This paper review supports the importance of monitoring soil water erosion by field measurements to better understand the relationship between the factors. However, protocols should be established for standardizing the procedure of collecting data and reporting results to enable data comparison among different study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the effects of economic crises on tourism destinations from a city and regional point of view. The objective is to determine which kind of Spanish “Sun and Beach” tourism destinations, residential or hotel, has better weathered the most recent economic crisis in Spain, linked to the Global Financial Crisis of 2007/8. For this purpose, the authors have analysed the increases in the unemployment rates of a pool of 138 tourist destinations located on the Spanish Mediterranean coastline. The main finding of the paper is that during the crisis, residential destinations experienced a greater destruction of employment than hotel destinations. This result is consistent with previous literature that indicates a better economic performance of the hotel tourism development model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ostreopsis cf. ovata is a benthic marine dinoflagellate, which blooms in summer along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, including many Italian regions since early 1990s. In tropical areas O. cf. ovata produces mainly palytoxins whereas in the Mediterranean basin it produces ovatoxins, and only trace amounts of a putative palytoxin. The toxicological profile of ovatoxins is still unknown. This paper describes the update of the Italian guidelines for the management of O. cf. ovata blooms related to bathing and recreational activities. The rationale for the guidelines starts from the current scientific knowledge on chemical, toxicological, and epidemiological aspects and on its diffusion, which are briefly summarized in the first part of the paper. On this basis a risk-based approach is developed, with the purpose to protect people from oral, dermal and inhalation exposure (the ones that so far caused major health problems), taking into account also the weather and sea conditions, which are crucial for the onset of blooms. Accordingly, the guidelines provide information on what indicators are needed to set up environmental monitoring activities and actions to take during diverse phases. They also outline a multi-step health surveillance system, and a system of communication to the public. Finally the still important scientific gaps and research needs are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European policy framework is focused on reducing energy consumption in the building sector. The recast of Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) Directive establishes that minimum energy performance requirements have to be set to achieve cost-optimal levels. A methodology is developed to assess energy and cost effectiveness in new buildings located in the Mediterranean area. Several energy efficiency technical variants are applied to a multi residential reference building selected as a representative model of the national building stock. Primary energy consumption and global costs are evaluated in a number of configurations to derive the cost-optimal solution. The paper shows how economical high efficient buildings can be obtained at a design stage for a warm climate. The selected configuration decreases primary energy consumption by 90% and CO 2 emissions by 88% with respect to the baseline building. Results appear useful for comparison with other climates and building types. The paper also points out that the methodology is suitable to guide and support the choice of cost effective energy efficiency measures in compliance with EU requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the comprehensive approach provided by the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in water management is shown. It includes the LCA of the diverse water supply alternatives within a region but also the LCA of further water uses. The case study is the Segura Basin, a dry area in the southeast of Spain with important water demands. Thus, external alternatives like water transfers and desalination are required to partly balance the reduced natural water availability. The paper firstly shows the environmental impacts of water supply alternatives, depending on its contribution to the water balance in the watershed. Secondly, the LCA of water use in that water stressed area is also analysed, in order to compare both impacts. The target is to analyse if alternatives reduce the global impact of water supply and to compare that damage with that derived from water use. Both LCA approaches are integrated by using the Eco-Indicator 99 method. Results show that seawater desalination has the highest impact, but external solutions as the Tajo-Segura water transfer are also impacting solutions when low water volumes are delivered. The lowest impacts are found for local natural resources. Regarding the freshwater use, highest impacts are due to agriculture, since water consumed exceeded its natural resources. It has been demonstrated that diversification of water supply alternatives considerably increases the environmental impact of the use of water in scarce areas. Consequently, water users and policy makers should be aware of hidden costs to guarantee the water supply in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, after a short summary on the processes and rates of bioerosion that contribute to the deepening of a tidal-notch profile, some Mediterranean case-studies are presented, where a tidal notch is prevented either from forming or from being preserved. Furthermore, as shown also in a complementary paper, the recent global sea-level rise is preventing the development of new tidal notches in the present mid-littoral zone. This very useful sea-level indicator, of past temporary standstills of the relative sea level in carbonate rock areas, is of great value in assisting interpretations of relative sea-level change in locations where it is preserved. The possibilities of absence of formation or of preservation, however, imply that it should be interpreted carefully before reconstructing local relative sea-level histories. In particular, the lack of fossil tidal notches cannot be relied upon to interpret the absence of past periods of relative sea-level stabilization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The increase of peak and energy demand during the cooling season is becoming a crucial issue, as well as the intensification of the urban heat island effect. This trend is observed at several latitudes, including areas where overheating was unknown at building and urban levels. This phenomenon involves different issues: reduction of greenhouse gases, quality and comfort in outdoor and indoor environment, security of energy supply, public health. The building sector is directly involved in this change and adequate solutions can provide great benefit at energy and environmental levels. Roofs in particular are envelope components for which advanced solutions can provide significant energy savings in cooled buildings or improve indoor thermal conditions in not cooled buildings. Cool materials keep the roof cool under the sun by reflecting the incident solar radiation away from the building and radiating the heat away at night. Roofs covered with vegetation take benefits of the additional thermal insulation provided by the soil and of the evapo-transpiration to keep the roof cool under the sun. These two technologies are different in: structural requirements, initial and lifetime maintenance costs, impact on the overall energy performance of buildings. This paper presents a numerical comparative analysis between these solutions, taking into account the several parameters that affect the final energy performances. By means of dynamic simulations, the paper depicts how cool and green roofs can improve the energy performance of residential buildings in different localities at Mediterranean latitudes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Exploring how land use and the management of agro-ecosystems may evolve in the future is important for advancing scientific understanding and for informing policy makers and land managers of ways to respond and adapt sustainably to future change. In this paper, we investigate the future land-use trajectories of a semi-arid Mediterranean agro-ecosystem in south-eastern Spain using two different approaches: Markovian cellular automata and an agent-based approach. Methodologically, the paper offers a systematic method for agent parameterization to facilitate the development of an empirical agent-based scenario analysis. This approach is achieved by integrating information from cadastral and recent land-use maps, agricultural statistics, and sampled survey data. Through this integration, an effective approach is provided for up-scaling an agent typology from the sampled survey to the landscape scale. The output of the up-scaling provides a basis for modeling the aggregate effect of the responses of different types of farmers to environmental and policy changes across the study region. Empirically, the paper highlights the contrasting futures that the studied agro-ecosystem could have depending on the direction and intensity of the changes in environmental and policy conditions. The Markovian-CA land-use projection indicates further decline of rain-fed agriculture and describes the scope of the expansion of irrigated agriculture. The agent-based scenario analysis shows that the future of irrigated agriculture is highly sensitive to the expected future water scarcity. The analysis also reveals that the way that the future environmental and policy changes are conceptualized and presented to farmers and the range of different farmers in the agro-ecosystem determine the extent of the resulting aggregate effects of individual farmer reactions to future changes at the landscape scale. The empirical evidence of this research emphasizes the need for policy makers to consider multiple and interacting factors, including the design of interventions and likely farmer responses, which shape future agricultural land-use trajectories. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper explores the cultural sequence for the period 12,500–9000 BP in the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. According to the traditional division by Fortea, this period starts with the end of the Upper Magdalenian, followed by two facies: the Microlaminar Epipalaeolithic and the Geometric Epipalaeolithic (Filador type), (related to Sauveterrian facies). The data collected in recent years suggest a change or amendment to this previous proposal, which now would be divided into four phases: Final Upper Magdalenian, Early Epimagdalenian, Recent Epimagdalenian and Microlaminar Sauveterroid. This paper discusses each of these periods examining the evolution of the stone tools and concluding that in the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula the Magdalenian tradition continues with little changes until the advent of the Mesolithic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Energy efficient management of urban environment is undoubtedly a challenging task. Although the topography of cities and their urban built environment are considered as the main layers for environmental analysis, further geographical data has to be taken into account as well. In particular, economic and social data should also be considered on spatial level, as they highly affect the need for energy conservation measures. Furthermore, land and building uses, urban mobility and transactions are also crucial factors that influence energy use and management. Within this framework, this paper examines the establishment of a methodology approach in order to estimate energy conservation and solar systems potential in urban environments, based on the implementation of geoinformatics decision-making tools into a fine-scale analysis over an extended geographical area. All above multi-criteria variables can be efficiently analyzed by applying Geographical Information System (GIS) tools, which are particularly applied for the establishment of the proposed methodology. The scope of the paper is to deliver an integrated assessment tool, in order to aid researches as well as public bodies for the implementation of energy policies concerning the urban built environment. A case study of the urban area of Thessaloniki in Northern Greece is presented focusing on the evaluation of current energy performance and possible retrofit measures for the existing urban building stock, especially for typical residential multi-family (MF) buildings. Conclusively, the general outcome obtained by current research, indicate that denser urban areas perform limited potential both for retrofitting interventions on buildings'' envelope and solar systems applications, apart from the quality and the age of building constructions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper investigates the bond behaviour of carbon and glass fibre reinforced polymers (FRPs) glued on various kinds of masonry supports. It presents the results of a wide experimental campaign carried out at the Laboratory of Structures of the University of Salerno (Italy). Four different types of masonry were considered. Clay-bricks as well as some natural masonry elements (i.e., tuff or limestone, that are rather common for existing buildings in the Mediterranean Area) were employed as supports for gluing FRP sheets and perform double-shear pull-out tests. A preliminary experimental work was carried out on samples of the above mentioned masonry blocks for quantifying their key mechanical properties. Thus, a wide series of masonry specimens were tested both in compression and bending for evaluating their compressive and tensile strength and determining the key statistical parameters which describe their distribution and scatter. Then, 29 double-shear pull-out tests were carried out for observing the bond behaviour of FRP strips on the various masonry substrates. Moreover, two sets of six coupon tests were performed for evaluating the actual axial stiffness of FRP plates glued on masonry samples. The paper reports the key results of the above mentioned tests with the aim of pointing out the influence of the various relevant parameters of both masonry and composite materials on the resulting bond strength. A significant influence of masonry properties was observed and quantified, whereas no significant effect induced by the two different kinds of composite materials were actually observed. The above mentioned experimental results are employed for assessing the theoretical formula adopted by Italian Guidelines for evaluating ultimate bond strength of composite laminates glued on masonry. Finally, an alternative fully empirical relationship is calibrated on pull-out test results presented in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper explores the implementation and decision-making process in TGV projects and how these have changed, especially since the construction of the Mediterranean TGV-line. While paradoxically, this project was probably the most controversial, it is now seen as a huge success for all the actors involved. What kind of lessons can we learn from this experience? How may we evaluate the impact of this project on TGV-line planning? How can we characterize this implementation and decision-making process with regard to sustainable development challenges? The construction of the Mediterranean TGV-line was an opportunity to introduce a number of innovations - more dialogue in the decision-making process, more focus on environmental concerns, new project management and technological processes – and this is why it now appears as a showcase example of integrated sustainable development. This paper examines the different kinds of innovations developed during the TGV-Med project by using concepts from the sociology of innovation to understand how these solutions emerged in a controversial situation. Then we analyze the lessons that emerged from this decision-making process (both immediately and subsequently) and the way in which procedures evolved: creation of new tools and devices (public consultation, project management, etc.). Finally, we focus on the impact of these developments on TGV project governance. In particular, new methods of implementation and financing involved a reconfiguration of the system of actors. So the aim of this paper is to define the impact of this reconfiguration on negotiations between stakeholders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The need for air-conditioning in the Mediterranean countries is higher and higher due to the effects of global warming. This paper deals with an investigation of a high performance, solar-driven air-conditioning system, the project entitled “Mediterranean AIRCOND”, is funded by the European Community under the „Community Activities in the Field of the specific program for RTD and demonstration on “Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development”. “AIRCOND” aims to study and investigate performances of advanced solar driven air conditioning system; the field system is composed of three sub systems: the heating loop, the ejector cycle and the cold storage-air handling units: The heating loop is composed of a solar array of 60 square meters evacuated tube solar collectors; installed at a tilt angle of 45o and facing to south, a 3000 L tank which is used as hot water storage in order to cover the required energy by the ejector cycle. The cold water produced by the ejector cycle will be then transferred in a 900L cold storage tank filled with 800L micro-encapsulated phase change material (MEPCM) for cold storage. It is designed to meet the dynamic cooling load. The ejector was tested at the School of the Built Environment in the University of Nottingham in UK and then transferred to Tunisia for field evaluation. Many previous theory studies have been fulfilled on this technology but never been performed experimentally at this level. This paper presents the research effort made and the experience gained during the implementation of the whole system: Different operation strategies were followed during more than one year to make the ejector cycle functional. The whole procedure has turned out to be very difficult; it was particularly difficult to obtain a deep vacuum and to ensure a good vacuum quality; this is a necessary working condition for the ejector cycle. Successful ejector tests were obtained during 8min, 15min and 40min, after many investigations; later experiments led to 3hours of continuous working. Results are very promising; the installation is still under tests in order to obtain a whole day permanent working of the ejector cycle and so of all the solar installation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Iberian Peninsula plays a central role in the current debates on the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition and the Neanderthal extinction. This is largely due to the chronological data which some authors have suggested show a clear divide between Northern Iberia, where the Upper Palaeolithic appeared as early as 36.5 ka 14C BP, and Southern Iberia, where the Middle Palaeolithic survived until ca. 32–30 ka 14C BP or later. The best example of this view is the Ebro Frontier hypothesis. However, there are chronological data in both Northern and Southern Iberia that do not fit this pattern, and some of the evidence supporting the Ebro Frontier hypothesis has been questioned in recent years. This paper focuses on the chronology of the final Middle Palaeolithic of Northern Iberia, where several assemblages have been found to post-date the first Upper Palaeolithic in the region, and be of a similar age to the final Neanderthal occupations of the south. In order to improve the chronological framework of the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic boundary in the Northern Iberian Peninsula, a radiocarbon dating program is focused on sites from both the Cantabrian and Mediterranean regions. The first results of this program are presented in this paper. New radiocarbon dates have been measured by two laboratories using a range of pre-treatment methodologies. These do not support a late Middle Palaeolithic in Northern Iberia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the European Mediterranean basin, pasture-based sheep farming systems are mostly located in marginal/High Nature Value areas. These production systems are multifunctional, and their economic, environmental and social roles are equally important and recognised by policy makers and by society. However, the number of animals and holdings is decreasing, and there is great uncertainty regarding the reproducibility of these farming systems, which depends on many internal and external farm factors and their interactions. The aim of this paper was to perform a comprehensive assessment of sustainability in different sheep farming systems in north eastern Spain using the MESMIS framework. We followed a case-study approach to perform an in-depth investigation of 4 sheep meat and dairy farms with different intensities of reproduction management. Critical points of sustainability, including weaknesses and opportunities, were obtained using a participatory process with stakeholders (farmers and technical advisers) that resulted in the selection of 37 sustainability indicators that were classified according to the systemic attributes defined by MESMIS (productivity, stability, self-reliance, adaptability, equity) and according to the classical sustainability pillars (social, economic and environmental). Some underlying patterns could be observed when analysing sustainability pillars, attributes and indicators. A positive relationship between productivity and intensification level in meat farms was observed; however, economic sustainability was determined not only by on-farm but also by off-farm activities. The economic efficiency of farming (without considering subsidies) was mainly explained by the capture of added value in the dairy systems and the combination of high animal productivity as well as high forage and feed self-sufficiency in the meat systems. Social issues were also central to explaining sustainability at the farm level, including the prospects of generational turnover and the manner in which farmers perceive and rate their activity. A clear trade-off between economic and environmental indicators was observed, i.e., the higher the economic sustainability, the lower the environmental sustainability. Each farm scored differently for diverse attributes, pillars and individual indicators. The scores differed according to size, structure, resource availability and managerial skills, which implies that it would be difficult to apply a holistic sustainability analysis to farming systems instead of individual farms. A number of methodological questions arose during the evaluation process relative to the stakeholders perception of these indicators, their relevance and meaning, the reference values for comparison, or their validity to assess sustainability across spatial and temporal scales. These questions are discussed in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract The cultivation of marginal lands for bioenergy production has recently become a topic of research interest for the agronomic and agricultural economy scientific communities. The growing availability of arable land in the Mediterranean regions, as a consequence of the decline of cereal cropping systems and grain legume, provides ample opportunities for performing successful feedstock production on unmanaged areas. This paper seeks to capture and analyze ongoing and emerging questions concerning bioenergy production on marginal lands in the Mediterranean area in a framework of sustainability indicators. A qualitative methodology was adopted to evaluate the effectiveness of eight critical issues that bio-energy developers, scholars and policymakers should consider in terms of agronomic, techno-economic and methodological practices for growing bioenergy feedstock. The issues investigated on selected case studies are: Greenhouse gas emissions; soil quality; land restoration and phytoremediation capacity; water use and efficiency; biodiversity; land use/cover changes; farmers' willingness and acceptance of new agro-system, and profitability of value chain. Starting from an in-depth analysis of the definition of marginal land from the perspective of ecosystem service cascade, we synthesize how these challenges are nowadays addressed and which are the key bottlenecks, trends and potential directions for guiding future research into bioenergy production in the Mediterranean regions. The findings of this study suggest that dedicated energy crops can be grown on marginal lands with substantial positive effects in terms of sustainability aspects, although more efforts should be carried out through agronomic research especially on water use efficiency and biodiversity conservation, as well as by national and EU institutions and policies for promoting economic opportunities and integration with surrounding agro-ecosystems and farmers' involvement. Developing a site-specific landscape design with the use of Life Cycle Assessment and certification schemes with sustainability indicators is of primary importance for the effective bioenergy production on marginal lands. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • Key issues concerning bioenergy production in the Mediterranean area were analyzed. • The concept of marginal land was analyzed. • The use of tailored GBEP sustainability indicators was fostered. • Eight critical issues were reviewed discussing key results and future challenges. • Possible technical and policies improvement solutions are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper deals with the selection of optimal intensity measures (IMs) for displacement-based seismic demand assessment and fragility derivation of case-study mid-rise reinforced concrete (RC) frames. The considered frames represent distinct RC vulnerability classes in the Mediterranean region. Optimal IM selection is performed by means of probabilistic seismic demand models considering multiple IMs and various engineering demand parameters (EDPs). Based on findings from previous and concurrent studies, a small subset of potential IMs is investigated here, including conventional peak IMs and two advanced scalar IMs accounting for spectral shape over a range of periods. Probabilistic seismic demand models are built on data obtained from analysis of the case-study frames subjected to over nine hundred ground motions by employing an innovative capacity spectrum method using inelastic response spectra derived from actual earthquake accelerograms to estimate seismic demand and derive fragility curves. This approach has the advantage of simplicity and rapidity over other methods as nonlinear dynamic analysis. This study concludes that advanced IMs, and particularly the ones accounting for period elongation (due to the nonlinear structural behavior) and structure-specific parameters, can effectively satisfy all the selection criteria, including the hazard computability criterion. Highlights • The selection of optimal ground-shaking intensity measures (IMs) for displacement-based seismic demand of case-study reinforced concrete (RC) frames is investigated. • The study uses 1) a large (>900) dataset of recorded earthquake ground motions; 2) numerical analyses performed through an innovative capacity spectrum method that uses inelastic response spectra derived from actual earthquake accelerograms to estimate seismic demand and derive fragility curves; 3) a systematic statistical analysis of the numerical analysis results. • Findings from this study are in agreement with previous investigations conducted by other researchers on selecting optimal IMs for predicting structural response by using full nonlinear dynamic analysis. • Advanced IMs, and particularly the ones accounting for spectral shape in a range of periods, can effectively satisfy all the selection criteria, including the hazard computability criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Carbonate escarpments are submarine limestone and dolomite cliffs that have been documented in numerous sites around the world. Their geomorphic evolution is poorly understood due to difficulties in assessing escarpment outcrops and the limited resolution achieved by geophysical techniques across their steep topographies. The geomorphic evolution of carbonate escarpments in the Mediterranean Sea has been influenced by the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC). During the MSC (5.97–5.33 Ma), the Mediterranean Sea became a saline basin due to a temporary restriction of the Atlantic-Mediterranean seaway, resulting in the deposition of more than one million cubic kilometres of salt. The extent and relative chronology of the evaporative drawdown phases associated to the MSC remain poorly constrained. In this paper we combine geophysical and sedimentological data from the central Mediterranean Sea to reconstruct the geomorphic evolution of the Malta Escarpment and infer the extent and timing of evaporative drawdown in the eastern Mediterranean Sea during the MSC. We propose that, during a MSC base-level fall, fluvial erosion formed a dense network of canyons across the Malta Escarpment whilst coastal erosion developed extensive palaeoshorelines and shore platforms. The drivers of geomorphic evolution of the Malta Escarpment after the MSC include: (i) canyon erosion by submarine gravity flows, with the most recent activity taking place <2600 cal. years BP; (ii) deposition by bottom currents across the entire depth range of the Malta Escarpment; (iii) tectonic deformation in the southern Malta Escarpment in association with a wrench zone; (iv) widespread, small-scale sedimentary slope failures preconditioned by oversteepening and loss of support due to canyon erosion, and triggered by earthquakes. We carry out an isostatic restoration of the palaeoshorelines and shore platforms on the northern Malta Escarpment to infer an evaporative drawdown of 1800–2000 m in the eastern Mediterranean Sea during the MSC. We interpret the occurrence of pre-evaporite sedimentary lobes in the western Ionian Basin as suggesting that either evaporative drawdown and canyon formation predominantly occurred before salt deposition, or that only the latest salt deposition at the basin margin occurred after the formation of the sedimentary lobes. Highlights • We reconstruct the geomorphic evolution of the Malta Escarpment. • During MSC, subaerial and coastal erosion formed canyons and palaeoshorelines. • Gravity flows, bottom currents and tectonic deformation shaped escarpment after MSC. • We infer a drawdown of 1800–2000 m in the eastern Mediterranean during MSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Two SDHW working strategies are simulated and compared, for low and high flow. • The test curves used for simulations are obtained according to the SST from EN12975. • There are no differences in the test curves obtained for quite different flows. • Economic-energetic comparison for low and high flow SDHW recommends low flow. • EC pumps are not justified when installed in moderates climates like Mediterranean. Abstract The mass flow rate in the collector loop of a solar domestic hot water system (SDHW) affects its thermal performance. The initial investment and the operation cost are also affected by the selection of the primary flow. Common design rules state a standard specific flow rate of 50 l/hm2 for most collector models. However, the emergence of electronically commuted motors recommends reviewing the interest of the low flow alternative (7–14 l/hm2) for solar thermal systems. In this paper, the thermal performance of a typical serpentine collector has been measured for different mass flow rates. The resulting performance curves and associated measurement uncertainty bands show only a moderate improvement in performance as the flow rate increases. Once the collector thermal behaviour has been characterized, the whole system is modelled, and the initial investment and operating cost are calculated for two design options: high flow (80 l/hm2) and low flow (20 l/hm2). As expected, the solar fraction is slightly higher for the high flow system (4.6% higher) and the number of hours of operation is lower for this system (4.4% less hours of operation). Considering the lower investment cost of the low flow system, the best thermal behaviour of the high flow system requires near 18 years to amortize the largest investment. If other considerations like embodied energy are accounted for, the common practice in designing SDHW systems should promote low flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Drought is recognized as a major issue in the EU, particularly in the Mediterranean region, posing risks to the environment as well as to local and regional economies. The EU policy on water management is continuously evolving, particularly in relation to water scarcity and drought. Starting with the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), which sets the general policy framework for water management across the EU, the EC Communication on Water Scarcity and Drought COM(2007) 414 final set the priorities for managing water scarcity and drought risks. Three follow-up reports (COM(2008) 875 final, COM(2010) 228 final and COM(2011) 133) highlighted achievements and yearly progress within the context of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, whereas guidance has further been provided through the issue of Technical Reports (e.g. the EC Water Scarcity Drafting Group Technical Report 2008–023 on Drought Management, Including agricultural, drought indicators and climate change aspects). The 2012 EU Water Review (“Blue Print for Safeguarding European Waters” will assess achievements and identify further requirements towards long-term sustainable water use across the EU. However, a harmonized approach on drought risk management at the EU level is still lacking, whereas drought risk in several countries and regions has not been yet fully integrated in water management and relevant sectoral policies. This paper focuses on a proposed paradigm shift from crisis to risk management, which is currently gaining ground as a means of reducing societal vulnerability to droughts. The paper underlines the importance of engaging into risk assessment and management practices and identifies policy gaps and requirements for further improvement of the drought management policy framework at all levels of governance: at the EU, at the national and at the river basin and regional levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In recent years, fuzzy models have been acknowledged as a suitable approach for species distribution modelling due to their transparency and their ability to incorporate the ecological gradient theory. Specifically, the overlapping class boundaries of a fuzzy model are similar to the transitions between different environmental conditions. However, the need for ecological expert knowledge is an important constraint when applying fuzzy species distribution models. Moreover, the consistency of the ecological preferences of some fish species across different rivers has been widely contested. Recent research has shown that data-driven fuzzy models may solve this ‘knowledge acquisition bottleneck’ and this paper is a further contribution. The aim was to analyse the brown trout (Salmo trutta fario L.) habitat preferences based on a data-driven fuzzy modelling technique and to compare the resulting fuzzy models with a commonly applied modelling technique, Random Forests. A heuristic nearest ascent hill-climbing algorithm for fuzzy rule optimisation and Random Forests were applied to analyse the ecological preferences of brown trout in 93 mesohabitats. No significant differences in model performance were observed between the optimal fuzzy model and the Random Forests model and both approaches selected river width, the cover index and flow velocity as the most important variables describing brown trout habitat suitability. Further, the fuzzy model combined ecological relevance with reasonable interpretability, whereas the transparency of the Random Forests model was limited. This paper shows that fuzzy models may be a valid approach for species distribution modelling and that their performance is comparable to that of state-of-the-art modelling techniques like Random Forests. Fuzzy models could therefore be a valuable decision support tool for river managers and enhance communication between stakeholders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Alpujárride Complex has concentrated discussion on the extent and role of orogenic extension in the Betic-Rif Orogen (westernmost Mediterranean). Structural analysis on Permo-Triassic rocks of the Alpujárride Complex is a firm basis to assess extension and to integrate it in the plate tectonic scenario. The main Alpine deformation was dominated by top-to-the-NE shearing, with rare map-scale folds; as a whole, this deformation attests ductile extension during exhumation of previously subducted rocks. Some authors have suggested that the Alpujárride Complex continued evolving extensionally since this early exhumation, but in this paper a stage of regional shortening is documented. Thus, km-scale overturned NW-vergent folds are interpreted as witnessing shortening. Subsequently, post-metamorphic low-angle faults of Burdigalian-Langhian age cut the train of folds in two ways: firstly, top-to-the-N thrusts generated stratigraphic and metamorphic superpositions; then, top-to-the-N low-angle normal faults, kinematically congruent with the thrusts, formed due to accretion at deep levels of the orogenic wedge when the Nevado-Filábride Complex underthrust the Alpujárride Complex. The shortening stage occurred at latest Oligocene early-middle Miocene and can be related to fast convergence rates between Africa and Iberia. Later, a drop in the convergent rates prompted lithospheric rollback and top-to-the-SW crustal extension since Serravallian time, coexisting with moderate orthogonal shortening that gave way to E-W trending upright folds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper presents and assesses the model MedREM, in which annual-based climate and rainstorm data are used to estimate the long-term (R)Universal Soil Loss Equations and its Revisions (USLE) annual rainfall erosivity over a large region. Two known models of rainfall erosivity (named after the first author of the original paper, Torri and Yang) were also assessed and compared with the MedREM. Yang and Torri models are both based on the annual precipitation models. MedREM also takes annual maximum daily precipitation data into account, and incorporates a longitude-dependent coefficient. The test area was a large region centered on the Mediterranean basin, in which 66 weather stations were available – 43 Italian and 23 out-of-Italy sites (12 countries, about 30–50° latitude North, and 10–50° longitude East) – with multi-year data of (R)USLE annual erosivity. The three models were calibrated against (R)USLE rainfall erosivity data from 55 stations and evaluated over a validation dataset from 11 Italian stations. On the validation dataset, the MedREM estimates generally compared well with the (R)USLE data according to Nush–Sutcliffe coefficient (0.87 against 0.76 and 0.73 with Torri and Yang model, respectively). Implications for erosivity modelling were discussed in the context of climatic features concluding that accurate estimations of site-specific annual erosivity for the Mediterranean region require process-based model with spatially-explicit parameterization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Remote sensing data have become more and more popular for geomorphological investigations because their steadily increasing level of detail and accessibility opens up new potentials. In this context, this paper examines the application and quality of digital elevation models (SRTM and ASTER DEMs), high resolution satellite imagery (Quickbird) and GIS techniques for the detection and mapping of karst landforms (mainly enclosed depressions) at different scales in the Ida Mountains of Central Crete. Besides discussing methodological issues and evaluating suitability potentials, we conducted an exemplary case study based on spatial analysis of the regional karst morphology. Different input datasets and processing methods are applied (GIS-based analysis, land cover classification, raster calculations, etc.) in order to carry out an area-wide surveying and mapping of karst depressions. The findings are supported and validated by auxiliary field studies. Due to the level of detail and occasional data errors, an exclusive use of satellite imagery or digital elevation models for automatic karst landform detection performs insufficiently. Our results demonstrate that mapping karst features through remote sensing is significantly dependent on scale of interest, existing environmental conditions and data quality. A semi-automatic data integration approach on the basis of digital datasets generated by combined satellite image processing and DEM analysis yields the best results, especially when indirect karst-indicating variables like iron oxide-rich sediments are included as detection criteria. The multi-component application presented in this paper provides a time-saving and effective tool for meso- to macro-scale object detection and extensive study areas. However, the potential of fully automated karst feature mapping still needs to be explored in future work. Concerning the spatial dimension of karstification in Central Crete, the GIS-based results allow differentiating further geomorphological characteristics, e.g. by indicating a significant altitudinal change of karst forms within the study area. Size and shape of depressions (dolines, uvalas, and poljes) vary considerably due to the geological setting, climatic impacts, neotectonics and elevation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to assess the level of implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) principles in the Mediterranean developing countries at the moment of signing the protocol on ICZM for the Mediterranean, in the framework of the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan of the Barcelona Convention. This assessment is based on the results of two advanced seminars on ICZM promoted by the Azahar programme of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for the Development (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation). The contribution of the participants of the seminar, who are representatives of national agencies related with ICZM in different Mediterranean countries, have been collected through a questionnaire including: (i) a ranking of the main coastal sectors and the main coastal issues of each country; (ii) significant initiatives for the sustainable development of the Mediterranean coastal zones; and (iii) the evaluation of the ICZM progress. The state of the coast, the level of implementation of ICZM and the main problems faced to apply it, have been detected for each country. None of the consulted countries have a full implemented integrated coastal zone management, the major problems being: (i) the lack of financial commitment for the implementation of ICZM; (ii) the lack of an assessment and monitoring system; (iii) the lack of knowledge regarding the coastal system; (iv) the lack of qualified human resources; and (v) the lack of public participation and administrative integration strategies based on information. From these conclusions, some recommendations to improve ICZM are also provided. The work presented in this paper is the starting point to assess the evolution and the reference from which ICZM will be improved through the protocol on ICZM for the Mediterranean. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper investigates the role of human development on the economic development paths of Mediterranean countries. An environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) analysis is employed to explain the relationships between economic growth and industrial pollution in the European, Euro-Asian and African-Mediterranean countries, which have different economic and institutional backgrounds. A modified human development index (MHDI) is applied to measure the effects of human development in different countries. The MHDI includes many related social variables such as health effects, political rights, civil liberties, enrollment rate, and adult literacy rate. Apart from France, all countries follow increasing logarithmic or inverse-logarithmic curves that keep on the industrial pollution path. The outcomes of the research presented in this paper clearly point out the differences between the Northern and Southern Mediterranean countries. Human development should be the first objective of economic development in the Southern countries of the Mediterranean. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper the results of a wide experimental campaign on the structural behaviour of ancient chestnut beams are presented. The beams were taken from the floor slab of an existing building, they being representative of the bearing structures of common historical buildings of many Mediterranean countries. Therefore, they were characterized by natural defects and degradation phenomena, which may have a significant effect on the evaluation of the load bearing capacity of the member. Four beams in actual dimension have been considered, which have been subjected to static bending tests, aimed at the evaluation of stiffness, strength, post-elastic behaviour and collapse mechanism. In the paper, the global influence of relevant defect patterns on the behaviour of these beams has been evaluated by comparing their overall behaviour with the actual material response obtained by compression, bending and shear tests on defect-free small specimens. The obtained results show that the simplified methods commonly used to evaluate the bearing capacity of wooden beams can be safely applied to ancient structural members as well, provided that adequate reduction factors for the shear resistance are considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Concepts of security are no longer limited to the military form, but other potential, economic, ecological, social aspects are becoming included.Emphasis needs to be put on integration of all dimensions of security. Many environmental problems present threats to human health and welfare and hence to the well-being of nations. The environmental issues cannot be ignored in context of any comprehensive security concept, but environmental security should not be treated in isolation.Integration of sustainable development and regional security may address many of the current maritime issues. Such integration may best be handled jointly and at regional levels.With this in mind and the realization that there is now a clear awareness and understanding that issues such as poverty, underdevelopment, population growth, environmental quality and sustainable resource use, are interrelated and interdependent and must be dealt with as such, the paper aims to highlight some aspects of regional security and sustainable development issues with reference to the Mediterranean basin. The aim is to initiate a process to pursue integration of sustainable development and comprehensive regional security with focus on the Mediterranean.The approach is based on the concept of the Common Heritage of Mankind as proposed by Arvid Pardo in 1967. It has 4 dimensions: economic; ethical; environmental; peace and security. In dealing with the proposal of Arvid Pardo the United Nations General Assembly decided to split up the concept: the Conference on the Law of the Sea was to deal with the peaceful uses of oceans and sea-beds; the Conference on Disarmament with the security aspects, then considered as military. UNCED 92 maintained the separation in addressing only environment and development, with management also included. However, peace and security were not included. It is time now to include these elements, and also consider the enforcement issue. The paper aims at illustrating this need through some examples from the Mediterranean basin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we present PILOTE-N, a crop model devoted to the calculation of crop production from the joint water and nitrogen soil status effects. It is the extension of PILOTE, for contexts in which water might not be the sole limiting factor for crop yield, but the same model structure and credo of parsimonious parameterisation have been kept, assuming simplified descriptions of the physical processes at play. One original aspect of PILOTE-N is the calculation of Leaf Area Index (LAI) and cumulative nitrogen plant demand from similar logistic-type functions. LAI is controlled by specific temperature sums, shape parameters and the occurrence of water and nitrogen stresses, while the time average of LAI values over critical phenological periods also affects the predicted harvest index and crop yield. As specific plant parameters are known from PILOTE, calibration was devoted to nitrogen parameters. Which governing the daily-averaged mineralization rate in a first step, then the two shape parameters of the potential nitrogen plant demand (from the dilution curve) in a second step and, at last, which allowing the link between nitrogen uptake and nitrogen of the soil. Model performance was evaluated using multiple initial soil conditions, irrigation and fertilization strategies for corn, durum wheat and sorghum, over a climatic series of 14 years, at the experimental plot of Lavalette (Montpellier, South-East of France), hence in a Mediterranean context characterized by severe, water stresses during summer, typically exceeding nitrogen stresses. Crop yield as well as the dynamics of nitrogen budget were correctly simulated (R 2  > 0.94 for grain yield, total dry matter and nitrogen in plant). The robustness of such a simple and easy-to-calibrate tool is expected to facilitate its use and implementation in other agro-pedoclimatic contexts, to decipher the effect of abiotic stresses and improve irrigation and fertilization scenarios when included in dedicated tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall erosivity is an index that describes the power of rainfall to cause soil erosion and it is used around the world for assessing and predicting soil loss on agricultural lands. Erosivity can be represented in terms of both rainfall momentum and kinetic energy, both calculated per unit time and area. Contrasting results on the representativeness of these two variables are available: some authors stated that momentum and kinetic energy are practically interchangeable in soil loss estimation while other found that kinetic energy is the most suitable expression of rainfall erosivity. The direct and continuous measurements of momentum and kinetic energy by a disdrometer allow also to establish a relationship with rainfall intensity at the study site. At first in this paper a comparison between the momentum-rainfall intensity relationships measured at Palermo and El Teularet by an optical disdrometer is presented. For a fixed rainfall intensity the measurements showed that the rainfall momentum values measured at the two experimental sites are not coincident. However both datasets presented a threshold value of rainfall intensity over which the rainfall momentum assumes a quasi-constant value. Then the reliability of a theoretically deduced relationship, linking momentum, rainfall intensity and median volume diameter, is positively verified using measured raindrop size distributions. An analysis to assess which variable, momentum or kinetic energy per unit area and time, is the best predictor of erosivity in Italy and Spain was also carried out. This investigation highlighted that the rainfall kinetic energy per unit area and time can be substituted by rainfall momentum as index for estimating the rainfall erosivity, and this result does not depend on the site where precipitation occurs. Finally, rainfall intensity measurements and soil loss data collected from the bare plots equipped at Sparacia experimental area were used to verify the reliability of some rainfall erosivity indices and their ability to distinguish the type of involved soil erosion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioerosion and bioprotection (bio-remodeling) is the action exerted by biota colonizing rocky shores. It represents an important component among processes responsible for shaping coastal landforms, and a clear evidence of interaction between the biosphere and the solid earth. Barnacles extensively colonize the midlittoral belt of rocky shores in the Mediterranean Basin. Previous research, mostly based on laboratory evidence, suggests that barnacles are bioprotectors, in that they protect the rock surface from different types of physical and chemical weathering. In this paper, we present the results of a field experiment carried out at different spatial scales at two study areas along the moderately energetic and microtidal coast of NW Italy. Barnacles were removed from the sandstone bedrock in replicated plots (manipulated plots) arranged according to a hierarchical spatial design. After four months rock hardness was tested on each plot with both Schmidt hammer and Equotip Piccolo devices, as well as on a corresponding number of control plots. Data were processed by means of a multifactorial analysis of variance (ANOVA). In control plots, rock hardness tested with Schmidt hammer exceeded that measured in previously manipulated plots. Testing with Equotip yielded the opposite results. This experimental evidence confirmed that barnacles play a bio-protective role in the midlittoral at sub-surficial level, while adding the key aspect that this effect is generalizable to spatial scales ranging from a few centimeters up to tens of kilometers. In addition, our results showed, for the first time, that at surface level they can simultaneously act as bioeroders, likely causing corrosion of the rock surface by fostering dissolution of the sandstone carbonate matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Po Valley is one of the major physiographic units of northern Italy. It can be considered as a key area for the interpretation of long-term historical events and processes because of its location midway between the Mediterranean world and continental Europe. This paper is an updated summary of our knowledge of the Early Neolithic farming communities of the region. In particular it discusses data derived from radiocarbon dated sites. Its aim is to provide the international audience with an updated view of the topic, based on the discussion of a new series of AMS radiocarbon results, to frame the earliest producing communities of the Po Valley into the more general picture of the Neolithization of Italy. To achieve the goal, apart from radiocarbon assays, we have taken into consideration material culture remains, subsistence economy, environmental resources, and data gathered from archaeometric analyses and technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the current state of research on harvesting technologies of the first farming communities of the central and western Mediterranean area between ca . 6000–5900 cal BC and 4800–4700 cal BC. New data obtained from the analysis of almost 40 sites from the Italian Peninsula is compared with data previously collected from the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. Results indicate the existence of at least two different harvesting traditions, one characterized by curved sickles used for harvesting at a low or middle height; the other characterized by reaping knives with parallel hafted blades, probably mainly used for ear harvesting. Processes of innovation and change have been highlighted, suggesting that harvesting techniques changed and evolved through time. Besides, the mechanism and pace of diffusion of curved sickles have been explored, too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the Early Neolithic in Portugal has been receiving increasing attention in the last quarter century, following initial developments in the 1980s that pushed research to new interpretative levels. However, albeit present in some more recent works, reconstructions of social organizational features of these communities have been only marginally attempted. Aiming at providing a first, preliminary view on such issues, it is suggested in this paper that Early Neolithic communities experienced economic (intensive farming exploitation of small plots) and demographic (a sudden population growth followed by decrease and stabilisation) processes as observed elsewhere in Europe. Social inequality is not a permanent trait—likely, these societies went through “ups and downs”, with “ups” occurring after settlement in new areas and “downs” resulting from subsequent fission and dislocation events. Their integration in the broader context of the Neolithic expansion along both rims of the Western Mediterranean is visible not only in shared economic behaviours and options, but also in indirect evidence for maritime transportation of goods. The latter phenomenon also establishes the second half of the 6th millennium BC as the beginning of systematic maritime connections along the Atlantic façade of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]