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ABSTRACT The Fire Weather Index (FWI) is a widely used metric to estimate the wildfire risk based on climatological variables. As anthropogenic climate change is expected to increase wildfire risk by affecting the climate of the Mediterranean Iberian Peninsula, we assess the expected increase in wildfire risk during the past decades. For this purpose, we employ a dataset containing daily FWI values in a 0.25° × 0.25° grid for each day of a 52‐year period, between 1971 and 2022, and perform a trend analysis at a statistically significant level. We evaluate the relation between FWI and spatial (altitude, latitude, and distance to the sea) variables to look for significant correlations. An analysis is performed at the geographic level by focusing on changes in concrete, relatively homogenous zones (subregions) to broadly study spatial patterns of change. The most relevant results are (1) the FWI shows an increasing trend across the study area (0.01 confidence level); (2) the FWI is determined by temperature variations on a multiyear scale, but annually by more volatile precipitation patterns; (3) the FWI does not uniformly behave across either space or time, and is subject to different variations in different zones; (4) summer and winter are the seasons with the most significant increase, and autumn is the only not significant season; (5) very high or extreme risks are increasingly prevalent across the territory, increasing wildfire risk and (6) the FWI more rapidly rises in areas further north, at a longer distance to the sea and at higher altitudes, with the Iberian System being the most affected region. The increase in wildfire risk requires putting in place more preventive measures. Our study results coincide with climatological trend studies on the region and bridge a knowledge gap as regards the historical climatology of the FWI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of different growing conditions on the amount of leaf pigments (chlorophylls, carotenoids), bioactive metabolites, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, lawsone and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of Lawsonia inermis L. (henna) plants. Young henna plants were cultivated for two months in a growth chamber (GC) and in open-air conditions during summer under the Mediterranean climate (OF), and leaves were analysed to evaluate their adaptive responses. The different growth conditions modified the carbon allocation priorities, increasing antioxidant metabolites (e.g. phenolic and flavonoid compounds) while decreasing lawsone in GC conditions. Quali-quantitative changes were observed for VOCs. This study revealed that GC conditions permit an alternative use of Lawsonia cultivation, because of the increase in the endogenous content of bioactive secondary metabolites with many potential biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber‐reinforced composites are widely used in civil engineering, aerospace, automotive, and medical sectors. However, these composites undergo aging due to factors such as temperature, humidity, load, and so on, during their usage. As a result, their performance deteriorates, and predicting their durability under real service conditions is a significant challenge. In order to better understand the durability of fiber‐reinforced composites, this article summarizes their microscopic aging mechanism under natural aging conditions and analyzes the changing rules of tensile, bending, and shear properties of composites under seven typical climate types, including tropical desert climate, temperate continental climate, temperate oceanic climate, Mediterranean climate, seasonal climate, tropical rainforest climate, and seawater immersion. This article reviews various durability prediction models, such as the Arrhenius model, prediction models based on residual modulus of elasticity and residual strength, and median strength regression analysis. To enhance the accuracy of aging life prediction during the natural aging process of composites, it is important to consider the influence of loads under real service conditions, incorporate different climatic types, utilize comprehensive mechanical property indices, establish an equivalent conversion relationship between natural aging and accelerated aging, and create a database with unified test standards. Highlights: The aging mechanisms of FRP after exposure in natural aging environments are discussed.The tensile, bending, and shear properties of FRP after exposure under seven climate types are discussed.The predictive models are proposed for the FRP used in natural aging.The future research needs are proposed for the FRP used in natural aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this study, the daily maximum and minimum temperatures measured over the period 1961–2020 by 18 stations located near the Mediterranean coast are analysed to evaluate temperature trends and to compute 10 climate indices, selected among those proposed by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices to monitor the occurrence of climate extremes of temperature. The trend analysis is performed using the Seasonal‐Kendall test. The results show statistically significant positive trends in both above‐mentioned variables throughout the Mediterranean, although the rate of warming is more marked in the minimum than in the maximum temperature and is more evident in the western portion of the Mediterranean Basin from 1990 onward. The climate extremes indices are evaluated assuming two different base periods (1961–1990 and 1991–2020). The shift forward of the base period involves a general rise in the percentile‐based thresholds used for identifying temperature extremes, as a natural consequence of the current atmospheric warming, resulting in fewer warm events and more cold events since the 1990s using a warmer/later base period. The application of the Seasonal‐Kendall test to the occurrence of extreme warm and cold events reveals that the western portion of the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea are the subregions most influenced by the base period update. This study demonstrates that the selection of the base period for the identification of extreme temperature events significantly impacts the results, and that the choice of a recent base period partially masks the ongoing atmospheric warming. The results suggest that the base period 1961–1990 might be more appropriate for climatological studies, as it provides a solid and stable baseline, and that attention must be paid when scientific results are shared with stakeholders, so as not to alter the communication of warnings and specific risks for the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise Methods Results Conclusions Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae) is a large genus of shrubs that dominate California chaparral and are resilient to fires. Persistence is ensured by resprouting and/or seedling recruitment from dormant seed banks. Some species do both and others, the obligate seeders, are entirely dependent on seedling recruitment. The distribution of these two modes within the genus is poorly documented.We used all available publications that document species responses to fire and filled most gaps in the literature based on extensive field studies of more than 60 recent wildfires in California.The genus is divided into two subgenera, Ceanothus and Cerastes. Ceanothus is widely considered to comprise mostly resprouting species and Cerastes to consist of only obligate seeders. The subgenus Ceanothus includes resprouting species throughout their range from the eastern United States and Midwest to western United States. Within the California Floristic Province (CFP), a few species are unique in producing massive lignotubers that develop from repeated fires; however, within the CFP, the majority of species in this subgenus do not resprout and are obligate seeders. Two have disjunct subspecies that are facultative seeders or obligate seeders.Previously, speciation in this genus was contended to have occurred in the late Miocene within the CFP. The syndrome of obligate seeding is most strongly represented in this region, and we hypothesize that evolution of this syndrome was a response to increased predictability of fire driven by the Mediterranean climate and the long interval between fires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Global or regional impacts of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) have predominantly been investigated through the Niño3.4 index, representing the sea surface temperature (SST) variations in the central Tropical Pacific. In this study, we comparatively evaluated the usefulness of Niño1+2, a relatively less utilised index that represents SST variability in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. In our analyses, we focused on ENSO impacts on Euro‐Mediterranean (EM) climate variability during boreal winter, using data from the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis. The correlation analysis involving Niño1+2 depicts more distinct temperature and precipitation patterns over the EM region. Amongst the SST‐based Niño indices, it has the highest correlation with the East Atlantic index (0.47, statistically significant at > 99% confidence level), a prominent regional teleconnection associated primarily with the strength of the East Atlantic ridge, which produces dipole‐type climate patterns between East Atlantic/Western Europe and Central/Eastern Mediterranean. Moreover, its lagged correlations with the following spring (0.39), summer (0.31), and autumn (0.36) are all statistically significant at ≥ 99% confidence levels. The composite analysis shows that different Niño regions have distinct effects on atmospheric circulation and climate in the EM region. The Niño1+2 index is particularly helpful in identifying the years when warm SST anomalies of El Niño extend to the Eastern Equatorial Pacific, which results in a reversal of temperatures across the EM region. Thus, this study suggests that Niño1+2 is a useful index for studying climate variability and predictability in the EM region, especially when used in conjunction with other Niño indices, as it captures some ENSO features that they may not encompass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal timing of life history transitions is often critical to fitness, and many organisms rely upon environmental cues to match life cycle events with favorable conditions. In plants, the timing of seed germination is mediated by seasonal cues such as rainfall and temperature. Variation in cue responses among species can reflect evolutionary processes and adaptation to local climate and can affect vulnerability to changing conditions. Indeed, climate change is altering the timing of precipitation, and germination responses to such change can have consequences for individual fitness, population dynamics, and species distributions. Here, we assessed responses to the seasonal timing of germination‐triggering rains for eleven species spanning the Streptanthus/Caulanthus clade (Brassicaceae). To do so, we experimentally manipulated the onset date of rainfall events, measured effects on germination fraction, and evaluated whether responses were constrained by evolutionary relationships across the phylogeny. We then explored the possible consequences of these responses to contemporary shifts in precipitation timing. Germination fractions decreased with later onset of rains and cooler temperatures for all but three Caulanthus species. Species' germination responses to the timing of rainfall and seasonal temperatures were phylogenetically constrained, with Caulanthus species appearing less responsive. Further, four species are likely already experiencing significant decreases in germination fractions with observed climate change, which has shifted the timing of rainfall towards the cooler, winter months in California. Overall, our findings emphasize the sensitivity of germination to seasonal conditions, underscore the importance of interacting environmental cues, and highlight vulnerability to shifting precipitation patterns with climate change, particularly in more northern, mesic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We examined wood anatomy of almost all species of shrubby Lobostemon endemic to the Greater Cape Floristic Region, and of two out of three species of herbaceous Echiostachys (Boraginaceae). All these species experience Mediterranean-type climate. • We compared wood anatomy of Lobostemon and Echiostachys to woody Echium from the islands of Macaronesia – this makes one of the first comparisons of wood anatomy in parallel cases of evolution of secondary woodiness in climatically similar, but geographically distant regions. • We show that wood anatomy is similar in herbaceous and woody species, irrespective of their origin, and that there is a common tendency to keep wood ground tissue cells alive, i.e., that fibres and fibre-tracheids retain protoplast for longer. • We also point out wood anatomical traits that may be related to open, semi-arid habitats typical for this clade of Boraginaceae. Lobostemon (Boraginaceae) comprises 28 shrubby species closely related to the herbaceous genus Echiostachys. Both are native to the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Together, they form a sister clade to Echium , which is herbaceous except for 23 species that evolved into shrubs and rosette trees on the islands of Macaronesia. Lobostemon and woody Echium make a rare case of parallel evolution of woody habits from herbaceous ancestors (secondary woodiness) in climatically similar but geographically very distant areas. We examined the wood anatomy of 27 Lobostemon species and two of the three species of Echiostachys and compared it with the literature data on woody and herbaceous Echium. Despite differing growth habits, all species share similar wood anatomical traits that may reflect their preference for open, semi-arid habitats. Most conspicuously, there is a common tendency to retain ground tissue cells alive for prolonged periods. In woody species, this results in living fibres and fibre-tracheids. In herbs, it may lead to the total parenchymatization of wood that is devoid of dead cells, except for vessel elements. In Lobostemon, fibre-tracheids with conspicuous pits co-occur with grouped vessels. This may be related to the prolonged retention of protoplasts in ground tissue cells, which hinders water conductance, forcing the development of grouped vessels that can provide a bypass for water in case of embolism. We speculate that in Lobostemon , later-produced wood may contain dead fibre-tracheids and we expect to see less grouped vessels in such case. This potential ontogenetic shift in drought-coping mechanisms requires confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is causing stream flow regimes to change in many regions globally, including southwestern Australia (SWA) where many perennial streams have switched to intermittent flow regimes. In drier landscapes, ecological refuges and evolutionary refugia will become critical for conserving freshwater biodiversity. This study aimed to determine the contribution of dry season refuges to species persistence and community recovery in a forested headwater catchment where perennial streams have been exposed to severe permanent drying, causing them to become intermittent. That is, in streams where formerly no drought refuges were present.Macroinvertebrate assemblages were sampled in dry season refuges within recently intermittent streams. Refuges included small spring‐fed pools, perched pools and subterranean refuges associated with granite inselbergs. Dry streambeds were searched for organisms aestivating in situ, and sediments were collected from each intermittent stream for rehydration.Mantel tests were used to compare the contribution of refuges to species assemblages in the early wet season when intermittent streams had begun to flow. Analysis of similarities was used to compare patterns between dry and wet season assemblages of intermittent streams and the single remaining perennial stream in the catchment, to infer the contribution of the perennial stream to community recovery in intermittent streams.Refuge types had very different assemblages: spring‐fed refuges supported several locally endemic species, but perched pools were dominated by opportunistic colonists. Several taxa were found aestivating in dry sediments, primarily adult Coleoptera and larval Chironomidae. Inselberg springs supported small populations of endemic Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera and provided subterranean refuge for an endemic amphipod. However, dry season refuges did not significantly contribute to community recovery. Rather, assemblages in early winter flows were similar to those inhabiting the perennial stream, showing that recolonisation from perennial streams is likely the primary process of community recovery in these recently intermittent streams.Newly formed dry season refuges supported some locally endemic species, but also colonising species that were formerly absent (or rare) when all streams were perennial. However, continued loss of perennial streams in SWA will result in landscape‐wide reductions in diversity (as colonisation sources are lost), because there are no known evolutionary refugia in this landscape for relictual species to retreat into. Granite inselbergs may become evolutionary refugia for a few species, as perennial streams are lost.Refuges will likely play a pivotal role in persistence of species able to use them; however, the existence of refuges is also under threat from prolonged climatic drying, including refuges newly formed by stream dry. Thus, identification and protection of future evolutionary refugia is a matter of urgency in regions facing drier climates, as it is ultimately evolutionary refugia that will become critical reservoirs of freshwater biodiversity as perennial streams and refuges are lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporary ponds are small‐sized limnic systems that dry periodically. The length of the wet phase defines the hydroregime and determines community assembly in temporary ponds. Zooplankton species have adapted to desiccation by adopting some dormant strategies, such as the formation of resting stages. Hatching from resting stages is a source of recolonization after drought events and the composition of hatching taxa is also influenced by hydroregime. We compared metacommunity structure and composition of the dormant sub‐community (resting stages); the pioneer active sub‐community (fauna present immediately after inundation of ponds); and the cumulative active sub‐community (fauna present at the initial, middle and final phases of hydroperiod) in a set of temporary ponds with semipermanent and seasonal hydroregimes in two areas with mediterranean climate: central Chile and eastern Spain. We aimed to determine the influence of hydroregime and identify whether metacommunity patterns are consistent between regions sharing a mediterranean climate.We selected five semipermanent and five seasonal ponds in each region to sample sediments and active zooplankton sub‐communities. By combining hatching experiments from the sediments with direct counts of active zooplankton from the field samples, we gathered data on both dormant and active sub‐communities to build unweighted bipartite networks of species occurrences in each pond. The obtained networks were analysed to determine seasonal trends in structural features of the metacommunities (diversity, nestedness and modularity) and their relation to hydroregime (semipermanent and seasonal) and geographical location (Chile and Spain).We observed consistent differences in community structure when comparing sub‐communities at different successional stages (dormant, pioneer active and cumulative active) and with different hydroregimes (semipermanent vs. seasonal). Both α‐ and γ‐diversity showed a consistent trend, being highest in cumulative active sub‐communities and lowest in dormant ones, and were consistently higher in seasonal ponds, regardless of the region. In addition, β‐diversity was higher in the pioneer active sub‐community in both regions, with no significant differences between hydroregimes. The species composition of cumulative active sub‐communities were less heterogeneous than that of the pioneer and dormant ones. No consistent patterns were found in modularity and nestedness values across sub‐communities and hydroregimes.In agreement with our hypotheses, we observed a gradual accumulation of taxa as well as community homogenization over time in both regions. Contrary to our expectations, hydroregime did not affect these patterns and, surprisingly, shorter hydroperiods exhibited higher regional diversity. Our results suggest that hydroregime as a single variable does not have a strong explanatory power for metacommunity assembly of temporary ponds. Therefore, a more comprehensive theory is needed to anticipate the effects of the upcoming hydroperiod shortening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological assemblages in streams are influenced by hydrological dynamics, particularly in non‐perennial systems. Although there has been increasing attention on how drying impacts stream organisms, few studies have investigated how specific characteristics of drying and subsequent wetting transitions influence biotic responses via resistance and resilience traits.Here, we characterized how hydrologic metrics, including those quantifying drying and wetting transitions as well as dry and wet phases, alter diversity and composition of three aquatic assemblages in non‐perennial streams in southern California: benthic macroinvertebrates, soft‐bodied algae and diatoms.We found that flow duration prior to sampling was correlated with variation in macroinvertebrate and soft‐bodied algal assemblage composition. The composition and richness of diatom assemblages, however, were predominantly influenced by the drying start date prior to sampling. Contrary to other studies, the duration of the dry phase prior to sampling did not influence the composition or richness of any assemblage. Although our study was conducted within a region in which each assemblage experienced comparable environmental conditions, we found no single hydrologic metric that influenced all assemblages in the same way.The hot‐summer Mediterranean climate of southern California likely acts as a strong environmental filter, with taxa in this region relying on resistance and resilience adaptations to survive and recolonize non‐perennial streams following wetting. The different responses of algal and diatom assemblages to hydrologic metrics suggest greater resilience to drying and wetting events, particularly for primary producers.As drying and wetting patterns continue to change, understanding biodiversity responses to hydrologic metrics could inform management actions that enhance the ecological resilience of communities in non‐perennial streams. In particular, the creation and enhancement of flow regimes in which natural timing and duration of dry and wet phases sustain refuges that support community persistence in a changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the upcoming decades, precipitation and temperature patterns are expected to shift in the Mediterranean basin due to global warming, potentially having an influence on the environment and the economy in the area. Using monthly precipitation and temperature data from 15 global climate models (GCMs) developed as part of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), the Mediterranean Climate Envelop (MCE), as defined by Daget's (1977) criteria, is projected under two climate change scenarios: SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, and for two future periods: 2050s and 2070s. According to the findings, the MCE is expected to expand by 3.51 and 4.93% in the 2050s under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively, in comparison to the current state. This expansion is expected to reach 5.28 and 9.87% for SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, respectively, in 2070s. For both situations and durations, MCE contraction would be minor, however, at less than 1%. More than 99% of the present MCE would stay stable proportionately. The northern Mediterranean region is mostly concerned by the MCE's expansion. The SSP2-4.5 scenario predicts that by the 2070s, expansion zones will occupy 674,183 km2, with 64% of the area located in Southern Europe and 36% in Western Asia. In SSP5-8.5 scenario, this area is expected to be significantly larger, estimated to be approximately 1,256,881 km2; 67% in Southern Europe and 33% in Western Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centaurea melitensis L., known commonly as Malta thistle, is an aggressive and invasive weed species native to the Mediterranean region. This species now occupies a diverse range of ecosystems and climate types across the globe, including the semi‐arid zone of New South Wales, Australia. This semi‐arid climate differs dramatically from its native Mediterranean climate, therefore, we aimed to identify if local adaptations in the seed ecology for C. melitensis have developed. Seeds were collected from mature C. melitensis at Nanya Station, located within the Scotia region of NSW, and then transported to Federation University Australia, Mt. Helen, Victoria. Under laboratory conditions, mature seeds were tested for their germination responses to temperature (17/7, 25/15, 30/20, 35/25°C), photoperiod (12 h light and 12 h dark [L/D], 24 h dark [D]), salinity (0, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mM), osmotic potential (0, −0.1, −0.2, −0.4, −0.6, and −0.8 MPa), and pH (5, 6, 6.2, 7, 8, 9, and 10). The seeds achieved 100% germination in the 17/7°C treatment, with light not being a limiting factor. The seeds exposed to the 25/15°C (D) and 30/20°C (D) treatments also maintained high germination percentage, whilst germination was significantly reduced in the 35/25°C (D) treatment. The L/D photoperiod maintained a 77.5% germination rate at 35/25°C. Whilst increased salinity reduced seed germination from 97.5% in the control to 6% at 250 mM, this species nevertheless demonstrated resistance to osmotic stress with 23% germination observed at 0.8 MPa. Germination exceeded 90% at all of the soil pH treatments, although mean germination time was significantly reduced when seeds were treated with a solution of pH 10. Our results demonstrate that the C. melitensis seeds collected in Australia's semi‐arid zone demonstrated high germination plasticity and are capable of competitive germination in warmer and drier conditions compared to its native Mediterranean climate. Therefore, management efforts that prioritise restricting the spread of C. melitensis seeds into new environments, for example through practising correct sanitation protocols, coupled with the early detection and control of emerging populations will be critical for C. melitensis management in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has prompted renewed interest in indoor air quality (IAQ). Poor ventilation habits, energy obsolescence, and the lack of cooling equipment in schools, combined with increasing temperatures due to climate change, are leading to situations of thermal stress in classrooms. Changes in school operation, following the COVID pandemic, have made it necessary to establish an accurate understanding of the current situation. This research work presents an assessment of winter and summer IAQ and thermal comfort (TC) for a sample of 7 archetypal secondary schools in 5 Mediterranean climate variants in southern Spain in a postpandemic situation. IAQ was assessed through CO2, PM2.5, PM10, and CH2O, while static and adaptive models were used in the case of TC. Surveys were also used to assess both of these. The main novelty is the use of IAPI (indoor air pollution index) and IDI (indoor dissatisfaction index) objective global dimensionless indices to optimize the joint assessment of both variables. Poor objective IAQ results, especially for CO2 and PM2.5, were obtained for both seasons and all climate variants. Global IAPI is between 6.2 and 8.1, with an index of 10 considered unacceptable, while time percentages exceeding established limits are more variable in winter, ranging from 7% to 31.9%, than in summer, ranging from 14.3% to 20.9%. TC objective results varied, and the summer percentage of hours outside the comfort bands reached 40%–47% due to excess heat in the hottest regions. This discomfort was reported by 58.3% of users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granulated micro-fine limes have recently been introduced as liming materials which are purportedly more effective than conventional agricultural limes in terms of rapidly correcting subsoil acidity in no-tillage systems. Hydrated limes are known to react more quickly in soils than calcitic limes, yet their soil permeability has not been evaluated under Mediterranean climate growing conditions. Therefore, the aim of this controlled study was to compare soil permeation and pH neutralization of different liming materials (hydrated lime, calcitic agricultural lime, micro-fine lime and molasses-granulated micro-fine lime) in two contrasting (sand and sandy loam) acid (pHKCl < 4.1) topsoils under simulated Mediterranean climate conditions. Limes were surface applied to 40 cm soil columns and then rainfall (350 mm) was simulated. Subsequently, soil chemical properties (pH, exchangeable cations, available P) were measured in 5 cm increments. Application of all liming materials increased soil pH 1–2 pH units above target pHKCl of 5.5 in the top 5 cm of both soils. Only hydrated lime was able to increase soil pHKCl (5.7–6.8) below 5 cm up to a depth of 15 cm on the sand soil. Hydrated lime, however, resulted in substantial over-liming (pHKCl 7.3–8.7) of the top 5 cm of soil compared to the other materials. Granulated micro-fine lime reacted more slowly than the agricultural limes and is therefore not a suitable quick-fix for subsoil acidity in rain-fed no-till systems under Mediterranean climate rainfall conditions. Whereas hydrated lime showed potential in ameliorating subsoil acidity in the sand soil within one season of rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Location Methods Results Main Conclusions We assessed the juvenile climatic niche breadth of a relict mountain species by comparing field observations and transplant experiments within and beyond the elevational limits of its distribution range.Lebanon – Near East – Mediterranean region.We studied the survival and growth of the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) to determine the lower and upper elevational range limits of its juvenile stage through an experimental setup with and without water supplementation and with potentially competing species as a control. The experiment included eight common gardens at elevations ranging from 110 to 2330 m, within and far beyond the warm and cold limits of Cedar distribution observed under natural conditions.We observed unexpectedly high survival and growth rates of Cedar at elevations well below the range of its natural distribution in Lebanon. Below the observed warm limit, water stress at very low elevations and competition at low and medium elevations limited juvenile survival. In contrast, cold temperature and water stress limited survival at elevations slightly above the observed upper natural limit. The experimental setup demonstrated that the elevation range suitable for Cedar growth and survival was twice as wide as the range within which Cedar is observed under natural conditions.High survival rates experimentally observed beyond the warm limit of the natural distribution range of the Cedar of Lebanon raise hope for its resilience to ongoing climate warming. If this pattern were frequent among montane species, it would challenge predictions of massive extinction with climate change and pave the way for promoting adaptive actions such as competition management to improve their survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of vertical greenery systems (VGSs) applied to several typical wall configurations on indoor thermal conditions in a building module situated in the Mediterranean climate of Catania, Italy. By means of dynamic simulations in TRNSYS vers.18, the research compares the thermal behavior of walls made of either hollow clay blocks (Poroton) or lava stone blocks against a lightweight wall setup already in place at the University of Catania. The primary focus is on evaluating the VGSs' capability of reducing peak inner surface temperatures and moderating heat flux fluctuations entering the building. The findings indicate that adding an outer vertical greenery layer to heavyweight walls can decrease the peak inner surface temperature by up to 1.0 °C compared to the same bare wall. However, the greenery's positive impact is less pronounced than in the case of the lightweight wall. This research underscores the potential of green facades in enhancing the indoor thermal environment in buildings in regions with climates like the Mediterranean one, providing valuable insights for sustainable building design and urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive traits influence plant auto‐successional dynamics in post‐fire regeneration. Obligate seeding species rely on their seedbank and on the climatic conditions following the fire to ensure a successful recovery, defining the window of opportunity for seedling emergence. In the Mediterranean basin, emergence opportunities generally begin with autumnal rains. However, climate change‐induced increases in temperature and drought could jeopardise the regeneration capacity of seeding species by causing temporal shifts in emergence opportunities or by modifying wildfire seasonality. This study aimed to explore the impact of experimentally induced climate change on regeneration dynamics of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), a serotinous Mediterranean obligate seeder. In March 2021, we set up an 18‐month climate change simulation experiment with 15 open‐top chambers (OTC), each paired with a control subplot (CON) on top of Aleppo pines that were naturally regenerating after a stand‐replacing wildfire in SW Catalonia (June 2019). We tagged 178 young Aleppo pine recruits in OTC and CON subplots (98 and 81 respectively), classified according to their initial size, to periodically measure height growth and survival throughout the experiment duration. Furthermore, Aleppo pine seeds were seasonally sown (7900 total seeds) in 10 subplot pairs between May 2021 and April 2022, to monthly monitor temporal patterns of seedling emergence and survival. We found that OTCs reduced overall emergence rates and caused the loss of the autumnal window of opportunity for the emergence of Aleppo pine seedlings. Furthermore, seedlings which emerged within OTCs faced higher mortality rates in all seasons, with only 1% of seedlings surviving compared with 21.1% of seedlings in control plots. The OTC‐induced conditions were also detrimental to the survival of recruited seedlings, especially those with a smaller initial size, although no significant effects of temperature increase were found on growth. Synthesis. Climate change is likely to interfere with the post‐fire regeneration dynamics of obligate seeders by shortening the temporal window of opportunities for emergence and by enhancing the bottleneck effects throughout the recruitment process in the early phases of pine demographic recovery. Altogether, it could threaten post‐fire regeneration by increasing the hazard of a demographic collapse of Aleppo pine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The olive tree is well adapted to the Mediterranean climate, but how orchards based on intensive practices will respond to increasing drought is unknown. This study aimed to determine if the application of a commercial biostimulant improves olive tolerance to drought. Potted plants (cultivars Arbequina and Galega) were pre-treated with an extract of Ascophyllum nodosum (four applications, 200 mL of 0.50 g/L extract per plant), and were then well irrigated (100% field capacity) or exposed to water deficit (50% field capacity) for 69 days. Plant height, photosynthesis, water status, pigments, lipophilic compounds, and the expression of stress protective genes (OeDHN1—protective proteins' dehydrin; OePIP1.1—aquaporin; and OeHSP18.3—heat shock proteins) were analyzed. Water deficit negatively affected olive physiology, but the biostimulant mitigated these damages through the modulation of molecular and physiological processes according to the cultivar and irrigation. A. nodosum benefits were more expressive under water deficit, particularly in Galega, promoting height (increase of 15%) and photosynthesis (increase of 34%), modulating the stomatal aperture through the regulation of OePIP1.1 expression, and keeping OeDHN1 and OeHSP18.3 upregulated to strengthen stress protection. In both cultivars, biostimulant promoted carbohydrate accumulation and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE). Under good irrigation, biostimulant increased energy availability and iWUE in Galega. These data highlight the potential of this biostimulant to improve olive performance, providing higher tolerance to overcome climate change scenarios. The use of this biostimulant can improve the establishment of younger olive trees in the field, strengthen the plant's capacity to withstand field stresses, and lead to higher growth and crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive construction systems have always characterized traditional architecture and are currently the most prevalent, straightforward, and cost-effective in many Mediterranean countries. However, in recent years, the construction industry has gradually shifted towards using lightweight, dry construction techniques. This study aims to assess the effects on energy consumption, comfort levels, and environmental sustainability resulting from the adoption of five high-performance construction systems in a multi-family residential building: (i) reinforced concrete structure with low-transmittance thermal block infill; (ii) reinforced concrete structure with light-clay bricks and outer thermal insulation; (iii) steel frame; (iv) cross-laminated timber (CLT); (v) timber-steel hybrid structure. To achieve this goal, a multidisciplinary approach was employed, including the analysis of thermal parameters, the evaluation of indoor comfort through the adaptive model and Fanger's PMV, and the quantification of environmental and economic impacts through life cycle assessment and life cycle cost applied in a long-term analysis (ranging from 30 to 100 years). The results highlight that heavyweight construction systems are the most effective in terms of comfort, cost, and long-term environmental impact (100 years), while lightweight construction systems generally have higher construction costs, provide lower short-term environmental impacts (30 years), and offer intermediate comfort depending on the thermal mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts a comparative analysis of four hydrological models – Génie Rural à 4 paramètres Journalier (GR4J), Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning – light (HBV-light), Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), and Water and Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) – to evaluate their effectiveness in simulating surface water responses in humid Mediterranean climates. The Longaví basin, located in the Maule River basin of central Chile, was selected for its characteristic climate. The models used lumped and semi-distributed approaches to simulate the basin’s hydrological cycle. The study area was divided into three zones, considering climate, soil properties, and altitude. Results showed that GR4J, HEC-HMS, and WEAP performed well during the winter months (June to October), while HBV-light was more effective in summer (November to May). WEAP, with its extensive parameterization, effectively captured streamflow variability during the rainy season. The differential split-sample test indicated that GR4J and WEAP offered the best fit for analysing climatic variability. These models are highly recommended for climate change impact studies, given their strong performance in capturing seasonal hydrological responses across similar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depletion of conventional fossil fuel supplies and the growing global population necessitate a significant reduction in energy use and harmful emissions. High sun radiation in the Mediterranean region increases summer overheating, and results in increasing energy expenditures and building emissions. But, this also presents an opportunity for solar energy systems, as building designers see photovoltaic integrated shading devices (PVSD) as an innovative and environmentally friendly solution for multi-story cities with limited rooftop space. Integrating a photovoltaic (PV) system into a building's exterior is a challenging process that, if not done correctly, might lead to the PV system failing. Consequently, it's crucial to assess alternative design options' energy performance from the initial planning stages. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine and evaluate the potential effects of different PVSDs on the energy efficiency of apartment complexes in the Mediterranean area. In order to accomplish the study's goal, computer simulations were conducted to evaluate and compare the energy consumption of various configurations of PVSDs. Additionally, a comprehensive energy index was established by considering several energy factors, including the energy demand of the building and the energy generation of the photovoltaic system. Based on the results obtained, it has been determined that the PVSD system is capable of satisfying a range of 25.1% to 35.6% of the electricity demands of the apartment complex. This study makes a significant contribution to the field of sustainable innovation, highlighting its potential to address the urgent need for emission reduction and energy conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean climates, characterised by hot and dry summers, have predictable fire regimes, and many species with physical seed dormancy (PY) thrive after wildfires. While it is well known that PY is released after heat shock in these species, intraspecific variation in seed response to heat is less understood. This research explores, for the first time, the variability in the traits of Cistus ladanifer seeds from the same central Spain population over eight years. It examines seed germination and viability under different heat shocks and the relationships among seed traits and climatic variables. While the response to heat shock remained constant over the years studied, achieving the highest germination percentages after heat shock at 100 °C, seed germination varied between years, and environmental conditions affected seed traits. Seed moisture content was negatively correlated with the maximum summer temperatures, and seed viability was positively related to annual precipitation. Germination at 100 °C was lower in warmer years as more seeds did not break their PY. In conclusion, despite the fact that PY appears to be genetically determined, it also depends on the environmental conditions experienced by the mother plant. This interannual phenotypic variability may help Cistus ladanifer to cope with the increasingly unpredictable conditions imposed by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat landraces are locally adapted populations that are suitable for low-input agronomic management and constraining pedo-climatic conditions. The productivity of landraces under high-input and optimal conditions is usually lower than modern wheat varieties. The present study compared the response of Sicilian wheat landraces and modern varieties to organic management, including organic fertilization, and conventional management, including mineral fertilization and chemical weed control, under rainfed condition and supplementary irrigation in a field trial conducted on a xerofluvent soil in a semiarid Mediterranean climate. Modern varieties were on average more productive than landraces, although certain landraces achieved comparable yields, in particular under organic management. The increase in grain yield under conventional management in comparison with the organic management was higher for modern varieties than landraces. The loss of productivity in rainfed conditions was lower for landraces compared to modern varieties. The grain quality traits were similar between landraces and modern varieties and in both cases the conventional management led to an improvement of the traits. These findings highlight the resilience and adaptability of traditional wheat landraces to low-input agricultural systems and offer valuable insights into improving the sustainability and productivity of wheat production in Mediterranean environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Seed germination involves risk; post‐germination conditions might not allow survival and reproduction. Variable, stressful environments favor seeds with germination that avoids risk (e.g., germination in conditions predicting success), spreads risk (e.g., dormancy), or escapes risk (e.g., rapid germination). Germination studies often investigate trait correlations with climate features linked to variation in post‐germination reproductive success. Rarely are long‐term records of population reproductive success available. Methods: Supported by demographic and climate monitoring, we analyzed germination in the California winter‐annual Clarkia xantiana subsp. xantiana. Sowing seeds of 10 populations across controlled levels of water potential and temperature, we estimated temperature‐specific base water potential for 20% germination, germination time weighted by water potential above base (hydrotime), and a dormancy index (frequency of viable, ungerminated seeds). Mixed‐effects models analyzed responses to (1) temperature, (2) discrete variation in reproductive success (presence or absence of years with zero seed production by a population), and (3) climate covariates, mean winter precipitation and coefficient of variation (CV) of spring precipitation. For six populations, records enabled analysis with a continuous metric of variable reproduction, the CV of per‐capita reproductive success. Results: Populations with more variable reproductive success had higher base water potential and dormancy. Higher base water potential and faster germination occurred at warmer experimental temperatures and in seeds of populations with wetter winters. Conclusions: Geographic variation in seed germination in this species suggests local adaptation to demographic risk and rainfall. High base water potential and dormancy may concentrate germination in years likely to allow reproduction, while spreading risk among years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its impact on our ecosystem (i.e. vegetation, soil, water, etc.), global change has become more significant over time. Therefore, several biophysical indices (e.g. NDVI, NDWI, NDBI, etc.) have been developed to quantify, assess, and monitor the ecosystem reaction to these changes. Numerous and various satellite imagery can be integrated into multiple analysis approaches to carry out this assessment. One of the efficient methods in this field is Time Series Analysis (TSA), which allows the decomposition of data into three components (i.e. seasonality, irregularity, and trend). In this paper, we considered 100 biophysical indices, which we classified into six categories (i.e. vegetation, water, soil, burn, building, and others). These indices were computed using images of different satellite sensors ranging from coarse to high resolution [i.e. AVHRR, MODIS, Landsat-8, Sentinel-2, etc.] considering two study cases. The first case involved monitoring the Mediterranean basin from 2010 to 2014. The second focused on four specific climate zones -most dominant within the Mediterranean basin- (i.e. San Severo, Tangier, Tobruk, and Murcia), which were conducted from 2015 to 2022. High-performance computing of biophysical indices in both study cases resulted in more than 30,000 images used in generating a significant number of time series. To examine these results and quantify the relationship between satellites across different parameters, two analysis methods (i.e. trend analysis and correlation analysis) were employed. Trend analysis results showed that in the first case, 87% of indices trends are harmonized between AVHRR and SPOT-VGT. Moreover, in the second case, the percentages of biophysical indices that showed harmonized trends among all satellites are 55% for San Severo and Tobruk, 49% for Tangier, and 34% for Murcia. Finally, this study shows that satellite-derived biophysical indices and their trends may be significantly impacted by spatial scale, climate, satellite resolution, time series length, and outliers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Community has prioritized reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency in the building sector, along with ensuring increasingly high standards of thermal comfort, as key goals over recent decades. Given the impact of climate change, the rising frequency of extreme weather events, and the rapid shifts in peak demand during both winter and summer, buildings must efficiently respond to sudden and extreme temperature fluctuations while maintaining optimal indoor comfort. Phase-change materials (PCMs), which can adapt their thermophysical properties in response to external conditions, may offer a solution for enhancing building resilience to climate change. This paper evaluates the benefits of integrating various PCMs with plasterboard in the energy retrofit of a multi-family complex in a Mediterranean climate. The study examines the application of a PCM with a melting temperature of 25 °C at three different thicknesses (74.2 mm, 37.1 mm, and 20.8 mm) to external walls, ceilings, and both walls and ceilings simultaneously. Among the various applications, using the PCM on walls alone maximized heating savings as thickness increased (26.6%), while ceiling application maximized cooling energy savings (17.5%). Combined solutions offered the most balanced seasonal benefits, leading to the greatest overall energy reductions (24.1%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean areas are projected to face increased water scarcity due to global changes. Because a relatively large fraction of the precipitation in Mediterranean areas originates locally, changes at the land surface may further dampen local precipitation. Here, we study the contribution of evaporation to local precipitation for the first time on a scale of approximately 50 km using local evaporation recycling (ELMR) and local precipitation recycling (PLMR), and make a comparison among five Mediterranean climate regions: South West Australia, South West US, central Chile, the Mediterranean Basin, and the Cape region of South Africa. Specifically, this study aims to understand the effects of ecohydrological (dependent on vegetation or the hydrological cycle) and non‐ecohydrological variables on ELMR and PLMR. We find that (a) on average, ecohydrological variables correlate more frequently and more strongly to ELMR and PLMR than non‐ecohydrological variables; (b) ELMR is large over wet areas and PLMR is large over dry areas; and (c) there are differences in underlying factors of ELMR and PLMR among the regions due to differences in wetness, topography, and land cover. The results suggest that in Mediterranean regions, changes in vegetation cover or the hydrological cycle may strengthen the local water cycle through enhancing ELMR. Finally, ELMR and PLMR help to identify where in Mediterranean regions we might enhance the local water cycle through land cover changes. Plain Language Summary: In Mediterranean regions, an increase in evaporation may enhance rainfall locally, contributing to freshwater availability if the evaporation loss is compensated for by the additional rainfall. In this article we study this using two metrics that can provide insight into local rainfall. First, we analyze what fraction of evaporated water rains out within 50 km from where it is evaporated, which is called local evaporation recycling. Second, we analyze the fraction of rainfall that evaporated from within 50 km of where it rains out, which is local precipitation recycling. Although local evaporation and precipitation recycling are generally low, but can peak up to 10%, we find that variables related to vegetation and the hydrological cycle contribute to them. This suggests that specific changes in these variables might strengthen local recycling. Key Points: Local evaporation and precipitation recycling, and their underlying variables, vary among five Mediterranean regions globallyLocal evaporation and precipitation recycling correlate more with ecohydrological variables than with non‐ecohydrological variablesLocal evaporation and precipitation recycling can possibly be used to find areas where land cover changes could enhance the local water cycle [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of the thermal energy performance of earth-based buildings with respect to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of Morocco is scarce, even if the country is historically known for its earthen dwellings. According to this need, this work aims to understand and evaluate the indoor thermal comfort and energy performances of passive building in two different locations. We have used EnergyPlus modeling tool and in addition, the monitored ten-day indoor temperatures in two different thermal zones in the test prototype to justify the empirical validation of Building Energy Model. The findings demonstrate, the use of compressed earth blocks coupled with passive design strategies provides better comfort and great sustainability. Thus, the summer discomfort hours are reduced about 12% for both cities compared to conventional building. However, the combination of semi-arid climate-responsive passive design has allowed to reach a thermal energy intensity reduction difference from 20 to 65 kWh.m-2.y-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleogene age deposits east of the Fifteenmile River, northwest of Dawson City, Yukon, Canada preserve a diverse high‐latitude fossil flora. Here, we provide new data on the age of the fossil site based on laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) U‐Pb dating of tephra zircons, paleobotanical paleoclimate reconstructions, and growing season length estimates based on photoperiod. These new data indicate an age of the Fifteenmile River fossil locality as late middle Eocene and likely within the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum episode. The paleoflora‐based paleoclimate reconstruction indicates the region was relatively wet and warm with non‐freezing winters, but also experienced seasonal dryness, with an approximate 7 months long growing season as suggested by photoperiod. We interpret this paleoclimate as summer dry and winter wet—a climate analogous to modern day warm Mediterranean climates in the Köppen‐Geiger climate classification system. These findings provide a new perspective on the past climate and environment of high‐latitude ecosystems during warm greenhouse intervals and contribute to our understanding of the Earth's climate history and its potential future changes. Key Points: New U‐Pb data show the Fifteenmile River fossil flora age is late middle Eocene, potentially within the Middle Eocene Climatic OptimumWest central Yukon had a warm Mediterranean climate, with wet, mild winters and a distinct summer‐dry season during the late middle EoceneGrowing season length at high latitudes during greenhouse intervals would be determined by photoperiod, not temperature [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Drought is one of the major limitation on food production worldwide (Hu et al., 2020), which is a growing problem caused by an increasing world population. In wheat cultivation in the Mediterranean climate, mainly the stages of flowering and grain filling are exposed with drought stress. Drought stress reduces the yield of wheat in all growth stages, but its negative effect on grain yield is very severe in the stages of flowering and grain filling. Terminal drought and moisture stress are the main factors of wheat yield reduction under rainfed condition compared to irrigation conditions in Iran. Therefore, one solution to increase the yield is the breeding under drought stress conditions. Due to the low heritability of yield and the complex mechanisms of drought tolerance, little progress has been made in wheat grain yield under drought conditions. Therefore, the grain yield of wheat should be improved indirectly through improving the traits that greatly affect grain yield. Therefore, it seems necessary to identify the quantity and quality of relationships between different traits and grain yield under rainfed conditions. The use of multivariate statistical methods such as path analysis and canonical correlation analysis can help to identify important and effective traits in determining seed yield. This research was carried out with the aim of finding effective agronomical traits on yield and investigating the relationship between these traits and physiological traits under rainfed conditions. Materials and methods: In order to determine the effective trait on wheat grain yield under rainfed conditions and investigate the relationship between agronomic and physiological traits, an experiment was conducted with 21 lines along with Baran, Hashtroud and Sardari cultivars as control in the form of a randomized complete blocks design in four replications during two years at Khodabande Rainfed Research Station. Plant height (PLH), Day to Heading (DHE), Day to physiological maturity (DMA) at the same time as peduncle yellowing, 1000 grain weight and yield after physiological maturity were measured. To determine the variability between the studied genotypes, descriptive parameters and compound variance analysis were performed based on the expected of mean square, the effects of year and replication was randomly considered and the effect of genotype as a fixed effect using SAS (9.4) software. Simple correlation analysis, path analysis and canonical correlation analysis were used to determine the relationship between traits and to determine effective traits. Results and discussion: ANOVA showed significant difference between genotypes in terms of all studied traits. Simple correlation analysis showed 19 significant correlation and other correlation were not significant. There is a positive and significant correlation between grain yield and Photosynthesis rate, height and 1000-grain weight, but the relationship between day to heading and grain yield was negative and significant. Path analysis revealed that day-to-heading and day-to-maturity traits with -1.05 and 0.84 had the most direct and negative direct effects on grain yield, respectively. Canonical correlation analysis also showed a significant canonical correlation (r = 0.74) between the set of physiological traits and agronomic traits. According to the results of this study, it was found that agronomic traits of day to heading, day to maturity and height are effective in determining grain yield under dryland conditions. Conclusion: The investigation of the relationship between traits also showed that selection for physiological traits such as transpiration rate and lower stomatal conductance led to selection of genotypes with high height, low day to heading and shorter growth period and finally higher yield under rainfed conditions.Therefore, genotypes with shorter growth periods that can escape terminal-season stresses and lose less water by closing stomata are suitable for high yields under rainfed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate evaluation of grapevine water use is essential for optimizing water management and maximizing grapevine yield and berry quality in Mediterranean climates. Understanding the water and heat flux dynamics in a vineyard during grapevine berry maturation is of utmost importance. This study focuses on evaluating sensible and latent energy fluxes at the canopy, the soil beneath the canopy, and the interrow areas. The primary objective is to develop a model framework for accurately estimating these energy fluxes, contributing to a better understanding of their behavior during berry ripening. The model's accuracy was assessed by comparing the estimated fluxes with those measured by an eddy-covariance system installed at a reference height of three meters in the experimental vineyard. This validation step was essential to confirm the model's ability to capture the intricate energy flux dynamics of the vineyard, especially during grape maturation. The results revealed a high level of agreement between the observed and estimated fluxes, confirming the model's reliability. This comprehensive evaluation of energy fluxes provides valuable insights for optimizing irrigation strategies. By doing so, this study contributes to improving grape quality, ensuring sustainable water resource use, and ultimately enhancing vineyard productivity in arid and water-scarce regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Asinara donkeys are unique worldwide for expressing a particular form of albinism spread to all individuals of the breed. This peculiar condition of oculo-cutaneous albinism of type 1 (OCA1) is a rare condition from a recessive autosomic mutation, fixed through generations, thanks to the isolation of donkeys on Asinara Island (from which the breed name originates) favoring inbreeding. Asinara island is a small island of Sardinia, one of the biggest islands in the Mediterranean sea. Asinara donkeys have shown good adaptation to the Mediterranean climate through various metabolic strategies, one of which relies on endogenous retinol mobilization during the positive photoperiod for protective effect and adequate circulating vitamin E. Indeed, their exposure to sun radiation and high temperature on one hand, and the lack of melanin in the coat, skin, iris and mucocutaneous junctions on the other, require them to overcome such an extended lack of photoprotective pigment (melanin) in alternative ways to prevent UV radiation damage. In this investigation, our interest was oriented toward screening the complete blood cell count to understand whether metabolic adaptation to the environment involved blood cell lines. Such an idea comes from the fact that in humans, a particular condition of albinism is reported to share the same gene with other mutations involving hemoglobin synthesis. In our case, significant differences were observed in relation to red blood cells (RBCs), in terms of their average volume (MCV), width distribution (RDW-CV), and width deviation (RDW-SD), in comparison to pigmented (gray) Sardo donkeys. The complete blood cell count (CBC) was screened in a group of 15 donkeys, of which 8 were of Asinara breed (oculocutaneous albinism type 1, OCA1) and 7 of Sardo breed (gray coat). All donkeys were kept under same management and dietary conditions and underwent periodic health monitoring in the month of June 2024, at the peak of the positive photoperiod, at Mediterranean latitudes. One aliquot of whole blood, drawn from each individual into K2-EDTA containing tubes, was analyzed for the complete blood cell count through an automatic analyzer, within two hours of sampling. Data were analyzed and compared by one-way ANOVA, where the breed was an independent variable. All animals appeared clinically healthy, though mild eosinophilia was observed in Sardo donkeys. The red blood cell line showed peculiar traits for Asinara donkeys, which displayed significantly higher circulating red blood cell numbers than gray coat Sardo donkeys (RBC, 5.19 vs. 3.80 1012/mL ± 0.98 pooled-St. Dev, respectively; p = 0.017). RBCs also exhibited a smaller diameter and higher degree of anisocytosis in Asinara donkeys, along with lower hematocrit value, albeit within physiological ranges. Taken all together, such hematological profile depicts a peculiar trait of the red blood cell line in albino donkeys during the positive photoperiod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal systems face adoption challenges due to their high initial investment cost. Accurate cost analyses and a more precise understanding of updated prices could assist geothermal industry projects in obtaining investment financing and better money management with the right equipment. As the cost of geothermal installations can vary widely depending on case and location, it seems essential to clarify the factors and parameters that determine the cost of the system. These include the type of loop system, the ground conditions, the type of heat pump, the system size, and the geographical location. The scope of this study is to compare the operation of various types of ground heat exchangers (GHEs) present in a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) system installed in the coastal area of the Mediterranean climate zone of Cyprus. The highlight of this work is that it presents real installation cost data as well as recorded total energy contributed by the GHEs to the GSHP system of a HP cooling and heating capacities of 101 kW and 117 kW, respectively. The input contribution from the GHEs to the HP is 85,650 kWh (308,340 MJ) in summer and 25,880 kWh (93,168 MJ) in winter. It is shown that, among the three groups of GHEs investigated, the open-well GHE complex has the lowest cost per kWh ratio (0.32 EUR/kWh), followed by the vertical GHE complex (1.05 EUR/kWh), and lastly by the helical coil GHE (2.77 EUR/kWh). This clearly suggests that when underground water is available, the open-well GHE is much more favorable than other GHE types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil water balance (SWB) in woody crops is sometimes difficult to estimate with one-dimensional models because these crops do not completely cover the soil and usually have a deep root system, particularly when cropped under rainfed conditions in a Mediterranean climate. In this study, the actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act) is estimated with the soil water balance model SIMDualKc which uses the dual-Kc approach (relating the fraction of soil cover with the crop coefficients) to improve the estimation of the water requirements of a rainfed vineyard, using data from a deep soil profile. The actual basal crop coefficient (Kcb act) obtained using the SIMDualKc model was compared with the Kcb act estimated using the A&P approach, which is a simplified approach based on measurements of the fraction of ground cover and crop height. Spectral vegetation indices (VIs) derived from Landsat-5 satellite data were used to determine the fraction of ground cover (fc VI) and thus the density coefficient (Kd). The SIMDualKc model was calibrated using available soil water (ASW) measurements down to a depth of 1.85 m, which significantly improved the conditions for using an SWB estimation model. The test of the model was performed using a different ASW dataset. A good agreement between simulated and field-measured ASW was observed for both data sets along the crop season, with RMSE < 12.0 mm and NRMSE < 13%. The calibrated Kcb values were 0.15, 0.60, and 0.52 for the initial, mid-season, and end season, respectively. The ratio between ETc act and crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was quite low between veraison and maturity (mid-season), corresponding to 36%, indicating that the rainfall was not sufficient to satisfy the vineyard's water requirements. VIs used to compute fc VI were unable to fully track the plants' conditions during water stress. However, ingestion of data from remote sensing (RS) showed promising results that could be used to support decision making in irrigation scheduling. Further studies on the use of the A&P approach using RS data are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims. The Mediterranean climate has been traditionally favorable for winemaking and irrigation practice has been historically avoided and even forbidden, but current productive scenarios are suffering radical changes because of global warming. Therefore, seeking sustainable approaches to improve water availability is key to obtaining high‐quality wines and maintain its style, without affecting yields. Methods and Results. Here, we aim to evaluate the effect of irrigation in Merlot vineyards, on grapes production and quality, and also on wine acceptability. Field‐grown grapevines from cv. "Merlot" were subjected to two different water supplies in the field: (i) nonirrigated plants and (ii) irrigated plants with 50% of crop evapotranspiration, from veraison to commercial harvest. We assessed water stress markers such as leaf relative water content, leaf hydration, and the maximum efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry, as well as grape and wine quality parameters, wine acceptability, and preference with a panel composed of 100 participants. Furthermore, we performed a systematic review study for comparison, including 9 published reports on Merlot grapevines subjected to different water regimes, oriented to improve irrigation decisions, yield, and/or quality. Results showed that half water supply on grapevines not only induced an increase in the volume and weight of grapes, but the resulting wines had a lower total acidity and showed more desirable chromatic properties, increasing colour intensity and hue, and decreasing brightness. Sensory analysis revealed that 63% of the untrained panel preferred wines from the irrigation treatment. Integrating previously reported data, it is observed that water scarcity is favorable for quality only when compared with fully irrigated vineyards. Conclusions. It is concluded that a half irrigation can be enough to improve grape quality under Mediterranean conditions, without affecting yield components and enhancing sensory characteristics that can improve wine acceptance by consumers. Water management approaches to sustainably provide this extra amount of water to irrigate field‐grown grapevines under the current context of climate change are discussed. Significance of the Study. The present study's findings provide valuable information regarding water management in Mediterranean vineyards and its effects on the suitability of these areas to maintain high‐quality wine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Post‐fire vegetation recovery is often determined by the similarity of post‐burn with unburned sites because of a lack of in situ information on pre‐fire communities. The inclusion of pre‐fire data can help account for pre‐existing differences and explore recovery also in terms of return to pre‐fire conditions. We used long‐term monitoring data in coastal sage scrub and grasslands to: (a) examine vegetation cover recovery of different functional groups; and (b) determine whether vegetation composition in burned areas has recovered in 4 years after fire with burned to unburned and pre‐ to post‐fire comparisons. Location: Orange County, California, USA. Methods: We analyzed long‐term vegetation monitoring (2007–2021) data from 39 grassland and 58 coastal sage scrub transects in southern California, including observations before and after the 2017 Canyon 2 fire. Linear mixed‐effect models were used to determine whether forb, grass, and shrub covers differed between burned and unburned sites while considering the effects of year and repeated monitoring. We used canonical analysis of principal coordinates to analyze vegetation composition based on burn status and time of sampling. Results: Whereas vegetation cover in grassland recovered quickly, native vegetation cover in burned coastal sage scrub remained lowered 4 years after fire, though forb and non‐native grass cover were higher in some post‐fire years. Community composition in burned coastal sage scrub was still in recovery 4 years after fire when compared with unburned or pre‐fire composition. Although burned and unburned grassland differed after fire in dominant grass species, inclusion of pre‐fire data showed that this was a pre‐existing difference. Conclusions: Coastal sage scrub had not recovered pre‐fire vegetation cover and composition by 4 years after fire, whereas grassland cover rebounded quickly, albeit with shifts in composition over time; patterns that were detected only by having pre‐ and post‐fire data from long‐term monitoring efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Change over recent decades in the world's five Mediterranean Climate Regions (MCRs) of quantities of relevance to water resources, ecosystems and fire are examined for all seasons and placed in the context of changes in large‐scale circulation. Near‐term future projections are also presented. It is concluded that, based upon agreement between observational data sets and modelling frameworks, there is strong evidence of radiatively‐driven drying of the Chilean MCR in all seasons and southwest Australia in winter. Observed drying trends in California in fall, southwest southern Africa in fall, the Pacific Northwest in summer and the Mediterranean in summer agree with radiatively‐forced models but are not reproduced in a model that also includes historical sea surface temperature (SST) forcing, raising doubt about the human‐origin of these trends. Observed drying in the Mediterranean in winter is stronger than can be accounted for by radiative forcing alone and is also outside the range of the SST‐forced ensemble. It is shown that near surface vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is increasing almost everywhere but that, surprisingly, this is contributed to in the Southern Hemisphere subtropics to mid‐latitudes by a decline in low‐level specific humidity. The Southern Hemisphere drying, in terms of precipitation and specific humidity, is related to a poleward shift and strengthening of the westerlies with eddy‐driven subsidence on the equatorward side. Model projections indicate continued drying of Southern Hemisphere MCRs in winter and spring, despite ozone recovery and year‐round drying in the Mediterranean. Projections for the North American MCR are uncertain, with a large contribution from internal variability, with the exception of drying in the Pacific Northwest in summer. Overall the results indicate continued aridification of MCRs other than in North America with important implications for water resources, agriculture and ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change affects the comfort level of tourists visiting coastal areas. Researching these impacts is important for a more comprehensive understanding of climate change and for developing effective adaptation solutions. Considering this fact, the study derived the Holiday Climate Index (HCI: Coast, HCI: Urban, and HCI: Combined) in the Mediterranean coastal provinces of Türkiye from 1976 to 2020. Utilizing the derived indices, the effects of climate-related holiday comfort on the number of tourist arrivals as well as on overnight stays between 1976 and 2020 were examined by panel data analysis. The study examined how comfort patterns could change during the period 2026–2050 under the pessimistic RCP8.5 scenario. It was detected that the comfort level significantly and positively affects the number of arrivals and overnight stays of tourists. Besides, comfort levels were found to deteriorate in the period 2026–2050 compared to the reference period, 1976–2020. As the comfort conditions get worse, the number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays is expected to decline in the future. It is envisaged that the results of the study can be useful for tourists, tourism professionals, operators, other stakeholders, and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to quantify concentrations of ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), estimate emissions, and analyze the factors influencing them during warm periods in an open dairy barn equipped with two cooling systems in a Mediterranean climate zone. Gas distribution within the barn was observed to vary both vertically and horizontally, with the highest gas concentrations observed in the central area of the barn. NH3, CH4 and CO2 ranged in 1.7--7.4, 7--18, 560--724 μg·g-1, respectively. Natural ventilation through openings and the operation of cooling systems induced changes in indoor microclimate conditions, influencing cow behavior and, consequently, gas production. Gas concentrations were the highest at air velocities below 0.5 m·s-1humidity index (THI) was > 72 and ≤ 78; and CO2 and CH4 concentrations were the highest with THI ≥ 72 and decreased with THI ≤ 72. NH3 concentrations when barn management included three daily milkings were higher than those measured when barn management was based on two daily milkings, and lower for CH4 and CO2. NH3 and CH4 emissions were the highest during barn cleaning, while the lowest NH3 emissions occurred during activity of the cows (i.e., feeding, walking). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a rapidly growing plant with multipurpose uses, and the optimal combination of yield and quality of hemp products (fibers, inflorescences, or seeds) may provide economic opportunities to uncover the full spectrum of its capabilities. The presented experimentation took place over seven years (2017–2023) in Greek climatic conditions for fourteen (14) registered monoecious and dioecious varieties. It can be concluded that the production of biomass, fiber, and seed weight were different not only between varieties but also from year to year. Despite significant variation between harvest years in biomass yield, the extracted fiber was relatively constant. Moreover, not only the dioecious varieties but also the monecious varieties could be effectively grown for biomass production in Greece. Regarding fiber production, monoecious varieties had the highest yields, apart from the dioecious Kompolti variety, which was the most fiber-productive. Under the experimentation conditions, early flowering varieties were most suited for seed production, and the KC Dora variety produced the heavier seeds. Generally, the Futura 75 variety was one of the most productive varieties for biomass and seed weight, while the Bialobrzeskie variety produced the greatest amounts of fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornithopus sativus Brot. (French serradella) is a forage legume that is well adapted to acidic coarse textured soils (sands) which are characterized by poor nutrition and an inability to retain water. During the process of domestication of O. sativus, there was an unintentional loss of seed physical dormancy (PY) thus compromising its self‐regeneration after a cropping interval. Through mass screening of seed, we identified for the first time that heritable sources of PY exist in three populations of O. sativus. This rare genetic material was then incorporated into suitable genetic backgrounds of differing maturity through targeted hybridization. We demonstrated that the heritability of PY was dominant in the population of 97ZAF5sat but inconsistently recessive in the population of cv. Emena. Flowering time was variable in each source population, with a large variation in time to emergence of first flowers (95–175 days). Selection for early flowering maturity was heritable and stable. F6 generations selected for PY in different maturity classes were then evaluated in situ to establish whether PY would allow a proportion of seeds to survive in the soil through consecutive seasons exposed to a Mediterranean climate. The breeding lines FHS3, 7 and 23 remained dormant, thus viable, in the soil for up to 3 years, indicating the likelihood that O. sativus with PY could survive and persist in a ley farming system. The de‐domestication program in O. sativus has resulted in commercially successful cultivars (most recently cv. Fran2o) suited to sustainable dryland agriculture in a Mediterranean climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change presents an urgent global challenge, manifesting in rising temperatures and extreme weather events with severe societal impacts. The Eastern Mediterranean, warming faster than the global average, faces immediate repercussions. Climate literacy emerges as pivotal, empowering individuals to comprehend climate science and act accordingly. This study delves into climate literacy, attitudes, and 'greening' behaviours in the Eastern Mediterranean hotspot of Greece, based on a survey of 1962 citizens. Findings indicate high climate literacy but lower adoption of 'greening' behaviours, especially those involving financial costs. Regression analyses highlight the significant role of climate literacy, concerns about personal impacts, coping appraisal, and trust in institutions in promoting 'greening' behaviours. This study underscores the need for multifaceted strategies emphasising financial motivation, trust-building, and societal norm shifts. Socio-demographic disparities, including gender and occupation, highlight areas for targeted interventions. The emphasis on the mental health impacts of climate-related events underscores the need for comprehensive disaster management that addresses not only physical damage but also psychological and social dimensions. Policy implications are discussed, highlighting the potential of expanded climate literacy to catalyse collective action toward sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of using active restoration in Mediterranean-type climate zones mostly depends on an appropriate matching of plant species and specific management prescriptions upon establishment. In this study, we assessed the early growth and short-term physiological acclimation of seven common species found in the sclerophyllous forests in central Chile to water restriction and shading. We established a nursery experiment that included three treatments (T0: sun-exposed and water-restricted, T1: sun-exposed and fully irrigated, and T2: shaded and fully irrigated) and seven tree species differing in their shade and drought tolerance (Quillaja saponaria Molina, Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz, Peumus boldus Molina, Lithraea caustica (Mol.) Hook. and Arn, Luma apiculata (DC.) Burret, Colliguaja odorifera Molina, and Escallonia pulverulenta (Ruiz and Prav.) Pers). We measured the increment in seedling height and different leaf morpho-physiological traits during two months in the dry season. Based on the measured traits, none of the species took advantage of the higher water availability in T1 relative to T0, but most of the species responded to the shade in T2, regardless of their shade or drought tolerance. Height increments due to shade varied from 0% in P. boldus to 203% in L. apiculata. Overall, all the species responded similarly to the treatments in specific leaf area, chlorophyll content index, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and intrinsic water use efficiency. This suggests that the species exhibited similar acclimation patterns of these parameters to shade and drought, even regarding the variation in midday xylem water potential found in the water-restricted treatment T0 (from −1.5 MPa in P. boldus to −3.1 MPa in E. pulverulenta). In this study, shading had a higher positive effect on the seedling performance of sclerophyllous species than watering, which at operational level highlights the need for investing in tree shelters when using these species in restoration programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem reserve remobilization plays a prominent role in maintaining the stability of wheat grain yield. The present study aimed at comparing the amount of dry matter remobilization by employing both the entire stem and the separately weighted internodes in 18 wheat cultivars. To this end, the cultivars were examined under well-watered and terminal drought stress conditions at a Mediterranean climate during 2007–2009. They were also examined under well-watered condition in a subtropical climate during 2014–2015. Time-dependent changes in the weights of the entire stem as well as those of the internodes (peduncle, penultimate, and the lower internodes) were measured after anthesis. Results showed that the lower internodes remobilized their stored dry matter much earlier than the peduncle and penultimate. Moreover, in the majority of cultivars, the amount of entire stem dry matter remobilization was observed to be lower than that of the cumulative internode remobilization (i.e., sum of the remobilized dry matter from the individual internodes). This indicates that the employment of the entire stem for the calculation of the dry matter remobilization might underestimate this trait. Depending on the cultivars and the environmental conditions, the amount of underestimated remobilization was also found to range from 4 to 202 mg. Therefore, for the more precise measurement of the carbohydrate remobilization in wheat stems, the separate measurement of this trait in each internode is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of sustainable and energy-efficient construction is vital to mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions. The application of the concept of nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) is now a reality for new buildings in the European Union, helping to achieve those goals. However, there is significant complexity in achieving acceptable thermal comfort levels in warmer climates such as the one in Southern Europe. This study carried out a multi-objective optimisation of the nZEB envelope using current construction solutions and nZEB regulations currently in force in different climate zones in this region, aiming to reduce thermal discomfort according to EN 16798-1. The results indicate that passive measures induced by regulatory requirements can significantly reduce discomfort at an affordable cost. However, great caution must be taken in relation to regulatory requirements, mainly for the cooling season, aiming to avoid summer overheating of dwellings and guaranteeing that nZEB's buildings are sustainable and comfortable in the Mediterranean climate regions. In addition, designers should be aware that increasing the insulation layer beyond regulatory requirements does not necessarily imply an increase in passive thermal comfort. Often, this implies, in addition to an increase in construction costs, an increase in discomfort, particularly during the cooling season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses a severe environmental crisis where many European urban centers face increased risks, among others, of flooding and/or water scarcity due to intense rainfall and prolonged droughts. Urgent adaptation measures are required to enhance resilience in urban, peri-urban, and agricultural areas against extreme weather events. This article describes a method for categorizing urban areas based on climate-related risks as a targeting and prioritization system for allocating climate resilience measures in cities. The method allows for calculating a climate vulnerability index value, considering temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, population density, altitude, and urban area. Focused on the Mediterranean region, particularly Sicily, the index application generates quantifiable vulnerability values for urban settlements, enabling comparison and prioritization. The reproducible and scalable method provides a valuable tool for urban analysis beyond the Mediterranean and can facilitate decision-making processes to initiate future studies and projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asynchronous ripening is a significant challenge in winemaking. Green berries reduce alcohol and pH while increasing acidity. Green berries are rich in bitter and astringent compounds, with an unknown impact on wine quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of harvest date and vineyard location on the polyphenolic composition of Plavac Mali wines in Dalmatia, Croatia. Experiments were conducted in two locations, Split and Zadar, producing fifteen wines per location from four harvest dates (H1–H4), including green berry wines from H1. The first harvest date occurred 27 days after véraison (DAV) and the last at 69 DAV, corresponding to overripeness. Green berry wines of H1 had low alcohol content up to 4.4% (v/v) in Split. Epigallocatechin was the main flavonoid in those wines, followed by dimer B1 in Split and catechin in Zadar. Green wines from Split had a higher concentration of phenolic acids, flavan-3-ol monomers and dimers. Wines of H3 had the highest concentration of malvidin-3-O-glucoside. With a later harvest date, a dramatic decrease in catechin and dimers was observed in wines from Split, and a decrease in epicatechin, epigallocatechin and dimer B1 in those from Zadar. The final expression of the physiochemical and polyphenolic composition of Plavac Mali wine is determined by the dynamics of harvest date, location and their interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general increase in temperature, together with sudden episodes of extreme temperatures, are increasingly impacting plant species in the present climate change scenario. Limoniastrum monopetalum is a halophyte from the Mediterranean Basin, exposed to broad daily and seasonal changes in temperature and extreme high temperatures. We studied the photosynthetic responses (chlorophyll fluorescence dynamics and gas exchange) of L. monopetalum leaves exposed to temperatures from -7.5°C to +57.5°C under darkness in controlled laboratory conditions. L. monopetalum presented its optimum temperature for photosynthesis around +30°C. The photosynthetic apparatus of L. monopetalum exhibited permanent damages at > +40.0°C. L. monopetalum tolerated, without permanent damages, temperatures as low as -7.5°C in darkness. L. monopetalum appears as a plant species very well adapted to the seasonality of the Mediterranean climate, which may work as a pre-adaptation to stand more extreme temperatures in the actual context of accelerating climate change.