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Recent investigations of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea carried out during the GECO cruise with RV Urania provided a substantial number of new cold-water coral (CWC) records, including branching and solitary scleractinian species. These new sites are located along steep escarpments and on topographic highs along the margins of Crete, Karpathos, and Rhodes. The majority of the corals represent fossil occurrences, predominantly Late Pleistocene assemblages. Our research documents that the Eastern Mediterranean Basin has been colonized by CWC at favorable times during the Last Glacial, in particular during the Younger Dryas. Schizocyathus fissilis is reported for the first time for the Mediterranean, while the finding of Ceratotrochus magnaghii represents the first record for the Eastern Mediterranean. Various coral facies occur on the southerly island slopes of Crete, Karpathos, and Rhodes, including hardgrounds and loose skeletal sediments. Hardgrounds occur on steep topographies between ca. 500 and 1,700 m, and can conveniently be subdivided as (1) Neopycnodonte- Desmophyllum framestone, (2) Desmophyllum- Caryophyllia framestone, (3) Madrepora- Lophelia rudstone, (4) Pelagic mudstone and wackestone, and (5) Siliciclastic-carbonate conglomerate and breccia. Unconsolidated skeletal sediments containing corals mainly occur on gentler topographic situations between ca. 140 and 600 m and can be subdivided as: (A) Lophelia- Madrepora rubble, (B) Dendrophyllia rubble, (C) Stenocyathus rubble, (D) Caryophyllia calveri rubble, and (E) fine-grained sediment with octocoral axes. Many of these facies types are also present in the western part of the Mediterranean and have fossil representatives from the Pleistocene to the Recent. Radiocarbon dating (AMS-C) reveals Younger Dryas ages between 12.4 and 12.0 ka cal BP for Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata. Desmophyllum dianthus occurs during the Last Glacial Maximum (21.8 ka cal BP) and the Younger Dryas (11.7 ka cal BP), as well as during the Late Holocene and subrecent times (4.4-0.6 ka cal BP). Caryophyllia sarsiae occurs during the Late Glacial (15.5 ka cal BP), while Caryophyllia calveri occurs during the Early Preboreal (10.8 ka cal BP). The ages for the framework-constructing corals L. pertusa and M. oculata are coherent with their temporal predominance during the Younger Dryas in other parts of the Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrasses are flowering plants, adapted to marine environments, that are highly diverse in the Mediterranean Sea and provide a variety of ecosystem services. It is commonly recognized that light availability sets the lower limit of seagrass bathymetric distribution, while the upper limit depends on the level of bottom disturbance by currents and waves. In this work, detailed distribution of seagrass, obtained through geoacoustic habitat mapping and optical ground truthing, is correlated to wave energy and light on the seafloor of the Marine Protected Area of Laganas Bay, Zakynthos Island, Greece, where the seagrasses Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa form extensive meadows. Mean wave energy on the seafloor was estimated through wave propagation modeling, while the photosynthetically active radiation through open-access satellite-derived light parameters, reduced to the seafloor using the detailed acquired bathymetry. A significant correlation of seagrass distribution with wave energy and light was made clear, allowing for performing fine-scale predictive seagrass mapping using a random forest classifier. The predicted distributions exhibited >80% overall accuracy for P. oceanica and >90% for C. nodosa, indicating that fine-scale seagrass predictive mapping in the Mediterranean can be performed robustly through bottom wave energy and light, especially when detailed bathymetric data exist to allow for accurate estimations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although more than 600 marine caves have been recorded so far along the Greek coasts of the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean), only a few have been systematically studied for their biodiversity. In this study, the benthic communities of six marine caves within a Protected Area of South-Eastern Aegean were studied for the first time, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The association of different geomorphological and topographical factors of the caves with the benthic community structure was investigated. A total of 120 photographic quadrats covering the entrance and semi-dark cave zones were analysed, with regard to coverage and taxon abundance, while motile taxa were qualitatively recorded by visual census. The ecological quality status of the caves was also assessed under an ecosystem-based approach. In total, 81 sessile and 45 motile taxa were recorded, including 12 protected and 10 non-indigenous species. Multivariate community analysis demonstrated that the geomorphological and topographical variables of the caves are significantly associated with the observed biotic patterns. The ecological quality of the caves was assessed as poor or moderate according to the CavEBQI index, highlighting the necessity for systematic monitoring. This study paves the way for similar studies in marine cave habitats aiming at the development of management and conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed the patterns of genetic variability of eastern Mediterranean populations of the scleractinian coral Cladocora caespitosa, from the Aegean and Levantine seas, using 19 polymorphic microsatellite loci, 11 of which were newly characterized. The observed genetic pattern reflects a scenario of isolation by environment: FST comparisons showed a higher degree of genetic differentiation between the two Cypriot populations that are separated by only 11 km than between these two Levantine populations and the Aegean population in Greece, which are separated by 1300 km. We hypothesize that local-scale oceanographic factors influenced the dispersal of planulae between the geographically close populations, playing a crucial role in the genetic structure of this coastal coral. Yet, despite being characterized as a species with limited dispersal and high self-recruitment, large-scale migration does eventually occur as first-generation migrants were identified between the most distant populations. In line with previous findings of reproductive plasticity in C. caespitosa, we also found localized differences in reproduction mode (sexual vs. asexual) within a geographically limited context. Several individuals were identified as clones, indicating the predominance of asexual reproduction in one of the Cypriot populations. We interpret this predominance either as a direct response to or as an indirect consequence of perturbations suffered by this C. caespitosa population. These perturbations are caused by unfavourable environmental conditions that threatened local survival, in particular water temperature changes and windstorm swells. Asexual reproduction may be a mechanism used by C. caespitosa to counteract mortality events and recolonize devastated areas, and likely accounts for the occasional high levels of clonality and low levels of genetic diversity. Local adaptations such as these should therefore be considered in conservation and management strategies to maintain and preserve the gene pool of this endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borehole Bh-3, located at the eastern part of the Corinth Isthmus (Greece) in a highly active extensional tectonic environment, is studied in detail. The lithology of the 70-m-long borehole is described, and 55 samples extracted from the core are analyzed for their micropaleontological content. Quantitative analysis of foraminiferal fauna assemblages, along with magnetic susceptibility measurements, indicates alternations between different paleoenvironments ranging from upper shoreface and fluvial-terrestrial to lagoon and shallow marine. The borehole site regional paleodepth was estimated, ranging from a few meters to ~40 m on the basis of foraminiferal assemblages within the borehole, and the vertical stacking of the facies was interpreted as transgressive and regressive system tracts. Calcareous nannofossils found within the core, based on the presence of Emiliania huxleyi specimens, correlated with the glacioeustatic sea-level changes, and the uplift rate of the area indicated a post-240-ka age, corresponding to sea-level highstand marine isotope stages 7 to 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asclepius and Hippocrates focused medical practice on the natural approach and treatment of diseases, highlighting the importance of understanding the patient's health, independence of mind, and the need for harmony between the individual, social and natural environment, as reflected in the Hippocratic Oath. The aim of this study was to present the philosophy of care provision in ancient Greece and to highlight the influence of the Hippocratic ideal in modern health care practices. A literature review was carried out using browser methods in international databases. According to the literature, "healthy mind in a healthy body" was the main component of the Hippocratic philosophy. Three main categories were observed in the Hippocratic provision of care: health promotion, interventions on trauma care, and mental care and art therapy interventions. Health promotion included physical activity as an essential part of physical and mental health, and emphasized the importance of nutrition to improve performance in the Olympic Games. Interventions on trauma care included surgical practices developed by Hippocrates, mainly due to the frequent wars in ancient Greece. Mental care and art therapy interventions were in accordance with the first classification of mental disorders, which was proposed by Hippocrates. In this category music and drama were used as management tools in the treatment of illness and in the improvement of human behavior. The role of Asclepieion of Kos was highlighted which clearly indicates a holistic health care model in care provision. Finally, all practices regarded detailed recordings and evaluation of information within the guidelines. The Hippocratic philosophy on health care provision focused on the holistic health care model, applying standards and ethical rules that are still valid today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the history of science in Greece. The Greeks gradually became skeptical of the supernatural influence upon their well-being and became more interested in explaining natural phenomena and understanding human nature, life and disease on grounds of rational thought. The existing knowledge of medicine was taken into consideration by Hippocrates, who ultimately changed the course of medical study by becoming the leader of scientific medicine.