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This paper presents a finite‐differences 3D numerical model that simulates the gravity and thermal structure of the Corsica‐Sardinia Block (CSB), an apparently stable lithospheric domain characterized by cryptic tectonic activity. In the experiments, we change the density and heat production rate of the model crust within a range of geologically realistic values to fit the measured Bouguer gravity anomaly and surface heat flow pattern. The discrepancy between the observed geophysical structure and the outcomes of numerical modelling are discussed in relation to the composition of the CSB crust and finally recast in the geodynamic framework of the western Mediterranean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work we carry out a study of all the Late Bronze Age swords recorded in the Balearic Islands. They represent a set of local practices and traditions alongside foreign ideas and archetypes. To carry out the study, we employ a strategy that joins technological and archaeometric analyses with approaches that consider isotopes and typologies. Of note among the data considered is the importance of metal coming from deposits in Linares, followed by Menorca and Mallorca, and finally, more marginally, Sardinia. A technological analysis of the manufacturing processes provides evidence, in a local context, of the use of the lost-wax casting technique, compound objects, and ternary bronzes, all technologies foreign to the Balearic Islands. Finally, we reflect on the local practices in which these objects were embroiled. All of this allows us to provide an in-depth examination of the interaction networks as well as the changes that took place in local metallurgical practices as the result of the circulation of ideas and knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coralligenous, a typical Mediterranean mesophotic habitat, is a highly diverse assemblage, severely threatened by several stressors, including fishing litter. To characterise the coralligenous of the upper mesophotic of the Portofino Promontory (Ligurian Sea, Italy), video transects at 35 and 50 m depth were performed at four sites. Benthic assemblages and lost fishing gears were recorded, and the two depths compared. A higher coverage of taxa with complex 3D structures was found at 50 m, mainly due to the gorgonian Paramuricea clavata. However, the overall low density of this species (0.4–6.6 colonies/m2), together with the impact caused by 120 fishing lines found along the transects, highlights the need for tailored conservation measures. With climate change moving further down the water column and fishing impacts being a major cause of degradation, the design of marine protected areas needs to be extended to include mesophotic depths, contributing to the 30 × 30 targets agreed upon at the COP15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the high diversity of elasmobranch fishes in the Balearic Islands, knowledge of their biology and population dynamics is still scarce. A recent mark-and-recapture experiment off the Balearic Islands tagged 3738 individuals of 23 shark and batoid species during MEDITS and CANAL bottom trawl scientific surveys from June 2021 to August 2023. Retrieval was reported for the sharks Scyliorhinus canicula and Mustelus mustelus, revealing relatively small home ranges for these species (0.2–38.5 km and 7.8–15.3 km for S. canicula and M. mustelus, respectively). Recapture efficiency was higher from scientific surveys than from commercial catches, highlighting potential challenges in collaboration with fishermen and recapture reports. Density estimates obtained from the MEDITS bottom trawl survey suggest a much larger population for S. canicula than estimates from the mark–recapture data, indicating MEDITS density estimates for this species may be overestimated due to its scavenger behavior perhaps favoring individuals searching for discards aggregated in the fishing grounds. This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring, collaborative efforts, and improved reporting mechanisms to enhance our understanding of elasmobranch populations and provide support for sustainable management of these vulnerable marine species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) on the Core GPM satellite provides spaceborne three-dimensional observations of precipitation fields and surface rainfall rate with quasi-global coverage. The present study evaluates the behavior of liquid precipitation intensity, radar reflectivity factor (ZKu and ZKa) and drop size distribution (DSD) parameters (weighted mean diameter Dm and intercept parameter Nw) of the GPM DPR-derived products, version 07, from 2014 to 2023. Observations from seven Parsivel disdrometers located in different topographic zones in the Western Mediterranean are taken as ground references. Four matching techniques between satellite estimates and ground level observations were tested, and the best results were found for the so-called optimal comparison approach. Overall, GPM DPR products captured the variability of the observed DSD well at different rainfall intensities. However, overestimation of the mean Dm and underestimation of the mean Nw were observed, being much more sensitive to errors in drop diameters larger than 1.5 mm. Moreover, the lowest errors were found for radar reflectivity factor and Dm, and the highest for Nw and rainfall rate. In addition, the GPM DPR convective and stratiform classification was tested, and a substantial overestimation of stratiform cases compared to disdrometer observations were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linum suffruticosum s.l. is a taxonomic complex widespread in the Western Mediterranean basin. The complex is characterized by a high phenotypic and cytogenetic diversity, and by a unique three-dimensional heterostyly system that makes it an obligate outcrosser. We studied the patterns of genetic diversity and structure of populations throughout the entire distribution of L. suffruticosum s.l. with microsatellite markers. We analysed their relationships with various biological and ecological variables, including the morph ratio and sex organ reciprocity of populations measured with a novel multi-dimensional method. Populations consistently showed an approximate 1:1 morph ratio with high sex organ reciprocity and high genetic diversity. We found high genetic differentiation of populations, showing a pattern of isolation by distance. The Rif mountains in NW Africa were the most important genetic barrier. The taxonomic treatment within the group was not related to the genetic differentiation of populations, but to their environmental differentiation. Genetic diversity was unrelated to latitude, elevation, population size, niche suitability or breeding system. However, there was a clear influence of ploidy level on the genetic diversity of populations, and a seeming centre–periphery pattern in its distribution. Our results suggest that polyploidization events, high outcrossing rates, isolation by distance and important geographical barriers to gene flow have played major roles in the microevolutionary history of this species complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Osmangazi Journal of Medicine / Osmangazi Tip Dergisi is the property of Eskisehir Osmangazi University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Corsica and Sardinia are amongst the largest islands of the Western Mediterranean. Their complex geological history included belonging to the European–Iberian continental margin (close to current-day Catalonia and Provence) and varying degrees of isolation for the last 30 million years, leading to peculiar, highly endemic faunas and floras. This is especially true for their earthworm faunas, which include endemic species of several Lumbricoidea genera and the endemic family (or subfamily) Diporodrilidae. Only three species have been described for the morphologically unique Diporodrilus, but there exists evidence for wide morphological variability within them and the existence of several species-level genetic lineages within Corsica. This work aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships between the genetic lineages of Diporodrilus from Corsica and Sardinia (based on the sequences of 5 mito-nuclear markers), to perform an integrative systematics revision combining species delimitation techniques and morphological data, and to obtain a time-calibrated phylogeny of Diporodrilus and other Corso-Sardinian Lumbricoidea. Within 15 populations of the morphospecies Diporodrilus omodeoi and Diporodrilus pilosus across Corsica and Sardinia, 10 species-level genetic lineages were detected. Phylogenetic independence, high genetic divergence and morphological differences provided the support for the description of five new pseudocryptic species: Diporodrilus rotundus sp. nov., Di. jorgei sp. nov., Di. minor sp. nov., Di. meridionalis sp. nov. and Di. telti sp. nov. Time-calibrated phylogenetic inference estimated the age for genus Diporodrilus at 65.9 Mya; even if other Corso-Sardinian genera were significantly younger, all of them presented deep divergences predating the break-off of the microplate from the continent. The almost threefold increase in the known diversity of Diporodrilus stresses the need for comprehensive earthworm diversity inventories in both Sardinia and Corsica, and for studies on their ecological role and conservation status. The close correspondence between some geological and cladogenetic events suggest that the distribution of Corso-Sardinian earthworms could be used to inform standing geological controversies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we address the biography of a set of copper nails recovered in 1998 from a Late Iron Age structure located at the archaeological site of Puig de Sa Morisca (Mallorca, Spain). The archaeometric and typological analyses conducted on these nails allowed us to relate them to nautical technology, as well as to approach the origin of the raw materials and the production processes involved in their manufacture. The biographical information obtained from these studies has been crucial to address the extensive mobility of these copper nails through the Western Mediterranean during the Iron Age, as well as to approach their fluid nature and association with different communities of practice, assemblages and appropriation phenomena.

Porifera are essential components of marine ecosystems, providing valuable ecological functions. Traditional approaches to estimating sponge growth and biomass are destructive and often not suitable for certain morphologies. The implementation of new innovative techniques and nondestructive methodologies have allowed for a more sustainable approach. In this study, a population of Sarcotragus foetidus Schmidt, 1982 (Demospongiae, Dictyoceratida, Irciinidae), thriving inside the Portofino Marine Protected Area, was monitored using Structure from Motion photogrammetry over a period of 6 years, from September 2017 to October 2023. Of the 20 initial individuals, only 12 were still in place during the last monitoring, indicating 40% mortality. Through photogrammetry, the overall volume change and biomass production were estimated to be 9.24 ± 5.47% year−1 and 29.52 ± 27.93 g DW year−1, respectively, indicating a general decreasing trend between 2021 and 2023. Signs of necrosis were observed in some individuals, potentially related to the high temperature occurring during summer 2022 and 2023. Considering the current climate crisis, long-term monitoring efforts must be made to better understand the dynamics of this species, and photogrammetry has the potential to be a versatile monitoring tool that will contribute to the standardization of methodologies for sponge growth studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractDuring the Middle and Late Bronze Age, communities across the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) established a high degree of connectivity both between islands as well as between the islands and the mainland. Evidence of this phenomenon can be traced not only through the existence of foreign materials, but also through shared practices, habitus, and objects across the islands. To better understand the maritime mobility practices that underpinned this connectivity, we used GIS analyses to investigate the role of a group of sites located along the islands’ coastlines to examine whether they could be related to coastal navigation dynamics. By focusing on the visibility and prominence of these sites during navigation, we sought to understand if their locations were conducive to be used as landmarks that aided coastal navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medium and high grade kyanite-bearing graphitic metapelites of the basement of the Torrox Unit (Upper Alpujarride, Western Mediterranean) show kyanite-andalusite-kyanite replacements and coexisting garnet types with complex compositional zoning and growth-dissolution stages. This allows inferring two clockwise P-T paths associated with contrasted orogenic cycles of latest Carboniferous – earliest Permian and Eocene(?)-Miocene age, respectively. Dated (306 ± 77 Ma) prograde medium grade garnet cores with relatively low to moderate Ca content indicates pre-Alpine barrovian metamorphism in the kyanite stability field (ca. 600°C, 0.7–0.8 GPa). This implies a prograde pressurization of the sequence followed by decompression, as inferred from andalusite replacements after kyanite. Deeper in the sequence, anatectic granitic orthogneisses contain high-grade graphitic kyanite-bearing metapelitic restitic enclaves. Dating of rutile (with inclusions of kyanite) and monazite (shielded in biotite) from the pelitic enclaves provided pre-Alpine ages (ca. 300 Ma) rejuvenated due to Alpine overprint. Such pressurization event is not consistent with a late Variscan stage, commonly identified with a tectonic scenario characterized by orogenic collapse and decompression at ca. 300 Ma. Instead, we propose a post-Variscan collision event related to the closure of the western Paleotethys. On the other hand, Ca-rich cores of garnet porphyroblasts in the medium-grade metapelites formed at 1.1–1.2 GPa, 500°C, implying a metamorphic gradient of ca. 11.5°C/km related to Eocene (?) subduction. Kyanite+phengite replacements after andalusite are related to this stage. Late Mg-rich Ca-poorer overgrowths in garnet porphyroblasts document increasing temperature during the first stage of decompression (down to 0.9 GPa at ca. 650°C) with increasing thermal gradient up to ca. 20°C/km. These two complete metamorphic cycles of pressurization and heating followed by decompression allow reconciling previous contradictory conclusions about the paragenetic and thermal gradient development during the Paleotethyan and Alpine cycles in different units of the Betic-Rif belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Complutum is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Documenta Praehistorica is the property of Documenta Praehistorica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) on the Core GPM satellite provides spaceborne three-dimensional observations of precipitation fields and surface rainfall rate with quasi-global coverage. The present study evaluates the behavior of liquid precipitation intensity, radar reflectivity factor (ZKu and ZKa) and drop size distribution (DSD) parameters (weighted mean diameter Dm and intercept parameter Nw) of the GPM DPR-derived products, version 07, from 2014 to 2023. Observations from seven Parsivel disdrometers located in different topographic zones in the Western Mediterranean are taken as ground references. Four matching techniques between satellite estimates and ground level observations were tested, and the best results were found for the so-called optimal comparison approach. Overall, GPM DPR products captured the variability of the observed DSD well at different rainfall intensities. However, overestimation of the mean Dm and underestimation of the mean Nw were observed, being much more sensitive to errors in drop diameters larger than 1.5 mm. Moreover, the lowest errors were found for radar reflectivity factor and Dm, and the highest for Nw and rainfall rate. In addition, the GPM DPR convective and stratiform classification was tested, and a substantial overestimation of stratiform cases compared to disdrometer observations were found.

The search for a continuous continental record of interglacial periods in semi-arid regions is problematic due to the absence of stable and continuous sedimentary systems over time in this type of climate. In this work, a relatively stable basin is described and analyzed during the last interglacial period in a semi-arid region of the western Mediterranean. For this purpose, a geomorphological, stratigraphic and sedimentological study has been carried out, with dating through 230Th. A semi-endorheic Pleistocene section has been identified, with two units that correspond to a fluvial-lacustrine system (unit P1) and an alluvial system (unit P2). Unit P1 has been dated to the MIS 5e interglacial episode. A framework for future studies is described, in which the Aljezares Pleistocene basin can be considered as a possible source of paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic information in semi-arid regions from the last interglacial period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penaeid shrimp Penaeus aztecus Ives, 1891 has been collected off the Catalan coast for the first time. This represents the first report of the species for the Iberian Peninsula waters. Its morphological description, as well as the DNA sequenced fragment, agree with the descriptions assigned to Penaeus aztecus. This constitutes the first record of the species in the Spanish Mediterranean coast and the confirmation the species westward expansion along the Mediterranean Sea probably been drifted from the later invasion in the Gulf of Lions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS), leading to multi-faceted ecological, economic and health impacts worldwide. The Iberian Peninsula comprises an exceptionally biodiverse Mediterranean region with a high number of threatened and endemic aquatic species, most of them strongly impacted by biological invasions. Following a structured approach that combines a systematic review of available information and expert opinion, we provide a comprehensive and updated multi-taxa inventory of aquatic NIS (fungi, macroalgae, vascular plants, invertebrates and vertebrates) in Iberian inland waters. Moreover, we assess overall patterns in the establishment status, introduction pathways, native range and temporal introduction trends of listed NIS. In addition, we discuss the legal coverage provided by both national (Spanish and Portuguese) and European NIS regulations. We inventoried 326 aquatic NIS in Iberian inland waters, including 215 established, 96 with uncertain establishment status and 15 cryptogenic taxa. Invertebrates (54.6%) and vertebrates (24.5%) were the groups with the highest number of NIS, with Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Chordata being the most represented phyla. Recorded NIS originated from diverse geographic regions, with North and South America being the most frequent. Vertebrates and vascular plants were mostly introduced through intentional pathways (i.e. release and escape), whereas invertebrates and macroalgae arrived mostly through unintentional ways (i.e. contaminant or stowaway). Most of the recorded NIS were introduced in Iberian inland waters over the second half of the 20th century, with a high number of NIS introductions being reported in the 2000s. While only 8% of the recorded NIS appear in the European Union list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern, around 25% are listed in the Spanish and Portuguese NIS regulations. This study provides the most updated checklist of Iberian aquatic NIS, meeting the requirements set by the EU regulation and providing a baseline for the evaluation of its application. We point out the need for coordinated transnational strategies to properly tackle aquatic invasions across borders of the EU members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cistus pouzolzii is a species distributed in the western Mediterranean. Its populations are located in France and North Africa, being absent in the Iberian Peninsula.. It was described by Delile, but its taxonomic and nomenclatural status has been discussed by several authors, mainly based on its particular combination of morphological characters. We have recently found several populations of a Cistus species whose morphological characters match those of C. pouzolzii. To confirm the taxonomic identity of these populations, a comparative study was performed using herbarium specimens of C. pouzolzii from France and North Africa. In addition, two chloroplast regions were sequenced to study the phylogenetic relationships between the newly discovered Iberian populations and the rest of the species of the genus Cistus, including the sequences belonging to C. pouzolzii from France and Morocco previously used. Both analyses (morphological and phylogenetic studies) confirmed that the specimens sampled in the Iberian populations were C. pouzolzii. Furthermore, both the nomenclature of this species and its conservation status are briefly discussed.

Temporal and geographical changes in the infections of intestinal helminths of striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba were investigated in waters off the Spanish Mediterranean coast based on a sample of 233 dolphins stranded during 1982-2016. The influence of host-related factors (length and sex) and seasonality was also examined. Four helminth species had a prevalence > 5%, including adults of three cestodes, i.e, Trigonocotyle globicephalae (prevalence: 5.2%), Tetrabothrius forsteri (94.4%) and Strobilocephalus triangularis (18%); and juveniles of an acanthocephalan of the genus Bolbosoma (15.9%), identified as B. capitatum using molecular techniques. One immature specimen of Diphyllobothrium sp. (Cestoda) was also found in a single dolphin, and two juveniles of Bolbosoma balaenae in two dolphins. Trigonocotyle globicephalae seems to have low specificity for striped dolphins and was only found sporadically. Tetrabothrius forsteri and S. triangularis experienced a slight vs. a strong decrease, followed by a recovery, in infection levels throughout the study period, which are compatible with a reduction in the striped dolphin population caused by the Dolphin Morbillivirus outbreak in 1990. Infections of B. capitatum, a parasite typical from pilot whales, suddenly increased in 1990, then vanished. This rapid increase and following decrease are puzzling and can hardly be explained by a single factor. Infections of any helminth species were apparently uncorrelated to geographic origin, dolphin sex or season, but parasite load decreased with dolphin length in the case of T. forsteri and S. triangularis. To our knowledge, this study represents the first investigation of multi-decadal changes in cetacean parasites.

Large anticyclonic eddies can detach from the Algerian Current, forming open-sea Algerian Eddies. These mesoscale structures have been intensively studied by means of sea surface temperature and altimetry data, and using numerical models. However, few studies describe an in situ sampling of their whole vertical structure. Furthermore, the area extending from Cape La Nao (western edge of the Balearic Channels) to the Almería-Orán Front has received very little attention, and it could be considered that there is a gap in our present oceanographic knowledge of this part of the western Mediterranean. An Algerian Eddy lasting for several months was detected in December 2021 to the south of Cape Palos. In order to analyse this eddy, an opportunity sampling was designed taking advantage of the periodic monitoring campaign RADMED 0222. This sampling revealed that the eddy had a baroclinic character, affecting the whole water column. These results suggest that this eddy was generated at the Algerian Current, finally affecting an area close to the eastern Spanish coast. The presence of these structures in this region of the western Mediterranean could alter the southward progression of the Northern Current and even the presence and structure of the Almería-Orán Front.

The present taxonomic status of Schenkia elegans, endemism recently described in the Iberian Peninsula, and its relationship with the sympatric and the nearest morphological species Schenkia spicata and Exaculum pusillum is revaluated. Different kinds of evidence based on plant morphology, ploidy estimation by flow cytometry, karyotype characterisation, and phylogenetic data have been analysed. Two maternally inherited plastid DNA regions (trnL intron and trnL-F spacer) and biparentally inherited nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence region (nrDNA ITS) have been used. Comparative multivariate analyses show an intermediate morphology of the S. elegans plants between the other two species studied. Flow cytometry and karyotype analyses in S. elegans point to an allopolyploid origin, with the latter constituted by a mixture of those of the diploids S. spicata and E. pusillum. Phylogenetic analyses based on plastid and nuclear DNA regions cluster S. elegans in two different clades, those of S. spicata and E. pusillum, suggesting a possible hybrid origin of S. elegans between both species, acting as maternal or paternal progenitors. In consequence, taking in consideration the taxonomic relationships among genera (Exaculum, Schenkia and the closely related genus Zeltnera found in America), a monotypic genus Valdesiana gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate the allopolyploid species, combined as V. elegans, for which immediate conservation measures must be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO, Spanish Institute of Oceanography) has maintained different monitoring programs in the Spanish Mediterranean waters (Western Mediterranean) since 1992. All these monitoring programs were unified in 2007 under the current program RADMED (series temporales de datos oceanográficos en el Mediterráneo), which is devoted to the in situ multidisciplinary sampling of the water column of coastal and open-sea waters by means of periodic oceanographic campaigns. These campaigns, together with a network of tide-gauges, are part of the IEO Observing system (IEOOS). In some cases, the temperature and salinity time series collected in the frame of these monitoring programs are now more than 30 years long, whereas sea level time series date to the beginning of the 1940s. This information has been complemented with international databases and has been analyzed in numerous works by the Grupo mediterráneo de Cambio Climático (GCC; Mediterranean Climate Change Group) for more than 20 years. These works have been devoted to the detection and quantification of the changes that climate change is producing on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the Spanish Mediterranean waters. In this work, we review the results obtained by the GCC since 2005 in relation to the changes in the physical properties of the sea: water column temperature, salinity, and density, heat content, mixed layer depth, and sea level. Time series and results are updated from the last works, and the reliability of the existing time series for the detection of climatologies and long-term trends are analyzed. Furthermore, the different sources of uncertainty in the estimation of linear trends are considered in the present work. Besides this review and update of the results obtained from the data collected in the frame of the IEOOS, we conduct a review of the existing monitoring capabilities from other institutions in the Spanish Mediterranean waters and a review of results dealing with climate change in the Spanish Mediterranean obtained by such institutions. In particular, we include a review of the results obtained by SOCIB (Servicio de Observación y Predicción Costero de las Islas Baleares; Balearic Islands costal observing and forecasting system) in relation to the study of marine heat waves and the warming of the sea surface, and the results corresponding to the intense warming of the Catalan continental shelf at L'Estartit oceanographic station. All these results evidence that the surface Spanish Mediterranean waters are warming up at a rate higher than that affecting the global ocean (>2 °C/100 years). This warming and a salinity increase are also observed along the whole water column. Marine heat waves are increasing their intensity, frequency, and duration since 1982, and coastal sea level is increasing at a rate of 2.5 mm/yr. The salinity increase seems to have compensated for the warming, at least at surface and intermediate waters where no significant trends have been detected for the density. This could also be the reason for the lack of significant trends in the evolution of the mixed layer depth. All these results highlight the importance of monitoring the water column and the necessity of maintaining in situ sampling programs, which are essential for the study of changes that are occurring throughout the Spanish Mediterranean waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses and underlines the importance of investigations on post-medieval shipwrecks, particularly for wrecks where archival documentation is also available, in relation to gaining a better knowledge of tin-glazed tableware produced in Montelupo (Florence, Tuscany). The case of the Mortella II wrecks is interesting in this sense and also shows how an exact dating of the wreck can allow for a revision of the chronologies of the ceramic classes found on board. In the case of the majolica of Montelupo, the revision of the dating of these ceramics with great diffusion (Europe, Americas, Africa) has major repercussions on international archaeological research. This paper presents a preliminary study of the Montelupo tin-glazed tableware found in the 2021 excavation researches conducted on the Mortella II wreck. The interest in the pottery recovered is high, for several reasons: (A) The dating of the wreck to 1527, clarified thanks to the discovery of a written document related to the sinking of the two Genoese “twin” ships off Saint-Florent (Haute-Corse), which are conventionally defined as Mortella II and III. (B) The almost exclusive presence of Montelupo majolica, a ceramic class among the most important between the 16th and 17th centuries, with a very wide dispersal throughout in the Mediterranean and Europe, as well as internationally. (C) The variety of decorations of the majolica of Montelupo documented thus far in the wreck (at least nine) makes this first sample a reference site for the study of this ceramic class in the first quarter of the 16th century, especially for the precise date of closure for the context (1527).

Abstract Background Sea-lavenders (Limonium Mill., Plumbaginaceae) are a cosmopolitan group of diploid and polyploid plants often adapted to extreme saline environments, with a mostly Tethyan distribution, occurring in the Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Euro-Siberian and in the New World. The halophylic Limonium vulgare polyploid complex in particular, presents a large distribution throughout extreme salt-marsh habitats and shows little morphological but high taximetric variation, frequently blurring species delimitation. In this work we pursue three main goals: assert whether SNP data from polyploid individuals has the resolution to distinguish the seven sampled species, to better understand how genetically structured Limonium vulgare is, and attempt to identify specific molecular mechanisms for the differentiation between L. maritimum and L. vulgare. For this purpose, 95 individuals were genotyped using Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS), which were assembled as two independent datasets using ipyrad. All analyses performed downstream of assembly were fully automated. Phylogenetic inference, PCA, and admixture plots were used to infer answers to the study’s main goals. Results Close to 10,000 SNPs were obtained for each dataset. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that polyploid data can be used to infer species relationships. Population structure analyses suggest a genetically structured L. vulgare. A set of 34 SNPs were found to be fully segregated between L. vulgare and L. maritimum, two of which are potentially linked to proteins that might be involved in the speciation process. Conclusion Despite polyploid data analyses shortcomings, GBS generated SNPs have the resolution to discern all seven included species. Limonium vulgare revealed pronounced genetic structure along a geographical north-south cline. L. maritimum always appears as a distinct genetic entity. Segregated SNPs between L. vulgare and L. maritimum indicate salinity response and morphological trait control genes as potentially interesting to follow up for studying these species’ divergence process.

Porifera are considered key components of benthic communities, being typical inhabitants of both shallow and deep waters, from the mesolittoral to the bathyal zone. Although sponges are one of the most common organisms in Western Mediterranean ecosystems, in many areas the knowledge on this taxon is still very limited. In the current study, we aim to analyse and compare the sponge communities characterising the hard bottoms of two islands, Montecristo and Giglio, belonging to the Tuscan Archipelago National Park (TANP, Italy), in relation to a bathymetric gradient. A total of 340 samples were collected, 13 orders and 48 species (46 Demospongiae and 2 Calcarea) identified, with Chondrosia reniformis representing the most recorded species, being found at all sites at almost all depths. Depth was the only significant factor in the observed pattern, while the sponge community is shared between the two Islands. In addition, our data were analysed together with data available in the literature on sponges of the Tuscan Archipelago, to assess the sampling effort. Among all the Islands of the Archipelago, Giglio and Montecristo showed the higher mean species diversity. Nonetheless, the sampling effort resulted not sufficient for each Island and future studies targeting Porifera are needed. Our work is the first summarising the sponge diversity of the entire Tuscan Archipelago, and one of the few focussing entirely on the sponge fauna. These results provide new important information on the area of the TANP, aimed to become a future Marine Protected Area, adding new records, and highlighting the high diversity of a poorly known area.

The aim of this research is to investigate the efficiency of combustion structures, the fuels used, the structure maintenance and the range of related domestic activities. An experimental programme was carried out in which replicas of archaeological Iron Age combustion structures were put to work. Based on the available archaeobotanical records, various fuel types (wood, grasses, palm leaves and animal dung) were used. Variables such as increased heating and times were measured in order to determine whether variations occurred depending on the fuels used, the type of structure, the location, or the weather conditions. The possibility of their use for cooking was also tested. A combination of methodologies was applied for integrated analyses: anthracology, phytoliths, calcitic microfossils, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, micromorphology and chemical analysis of hearth surfaces. Observations and data recorded during the experimental tasks, together with the results of the interdisciplinary analyses, contribute to a better understanding of the Iron Age archaeological combustion structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cetaceans' stranding data are a valuable information source about population indicators, biological analyses and causes of death. This study aimed to determine the species present on the north-western coast of Morocco, their spatio-temporal distribution and the potential causes of mortality of these stranded species. Ten cetacean species occurred on Morocco's north-western coast in the period from 2016 to 2021, from Jebha to Larache. These were bottlenose dolphin, short-beaked common dolphin, striped dolphin, common minke whale, Risso's dolphin, long-finned pilot whale, pygmy sperm whale, Cuvier's beaked whales, killer whale and harbour porpoise. The most frequently stranded species were bottlenose dolphins (n = 30), striped dolphins (n = 61) and short-beaked common dolphins (n = 43). Additionally, these species were present in the study area throughout the year. There were no significant seasonal or monthly differences in the stranding events. In this study, 54.5% of all stranding cases showed interactions mainly with fisheries. Injuries and mutilations observed in the stranded cetaceans resulted from human interactions, thus increasing their probability of stranding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cenozoic extension in the Western Mediterranean has been related to the dynamics of back‐arc domains. Although, in most of its orogenic belts extension propagated into the fore‐arc nappe domains. Here we revisit the structure, metamorphism and radiometric ages of the Tunisian Tell, where HP/LT rocks (350°C at 0.8 GPa), were exhumed by the sequential activity of extensional detachments after heating and decompression (410°C–440°C at 0.6–0.3 GPa) in a plate convergent setting. Normal faults thinning the Tunisian Tell detached at two different crustal levels. The shallower one cuts down into the Atlas Mesozoic sequence, involving Tellian Triassic evaporites in the hanging‐wall forming halokinetic structures in the Mejerda basin late Miocene. The deeper‐detachment bounds metamorphic domes formed by marbles and metapsammites from the Atlas domain. Illite crystallinity on Triassic rocks shows epizonal to anchizonal values, at deep and intermediate structural depths of the Tell‐Atlas nappe belt, respectively. New U‐Pb 49.78 ± 1.28 Ma rutile ages from Tellian metabasites, together with existing phlogopite 23–17 Ma K‐Ar ages in Atlas marbles from the footwall of the deepest detachment, indicate a polymetamorphic evolution. The Tell rocks underthrusted the Kabylian flysch in the early Eocene. Further, early Miocene shortening thrusted the metabasites over lower‐grade sediments, producing HP/LT metamorphism and ductile stretching at the base of the Atlas belt. The exhumation of midcrustal roots of Western Mediterranean nappe belts after tectonic shortening is a common feature related to tearing at the edges of the subduction systems and inboard delamination of their subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Plain Language Summary: Mountain belts are formed by shortened sedimentary rocks. The Tell cordillera in Northern Tunisia is interpreted as a classic mountain belt developed through protracted shortening from the late Cretaceous until Present, formed by folded and overthrusted rocks, and intruded by salt bodies. However, we show here that conversely, some of the supposed salt bodies are formed by metamorphic rocks that were originally buried at depths of approximately 26 km. Moreover, the remaining salt structures in the Tunisian Tell formed in relation to the late‐stage thinning and collapse of the mountain belt, as they intrude through extensional faults into late Miocene sediments. We characterize the temperature and pressure conditions reached by the metamorphic rocks and obtain a 49 Ma age of an early metamorphic event by radiometric dating of rutile. Metamorphic rocks where also exhumed in other Western Mediterranean mountain belts like the Betics, Rif, Algerian Tell after the main shortening stage. We relate this process to delamination, a deep mantle tectonic mechanism, which strips the nappe belt crustal domain from its underlying mantle root. Key Points: The Tunisian Tell hosts High‐Pressure Low‐Temperature (HP/LT) domes underlying late Miocene extensional detachments, driven by slab delaminationMetamorphic and rutile U‐Pb data shows that rocks in Northern Tunisia reached HP/LT conditions in the early Eocene and early MioceneHalokinetic structures in Northern Tunisia are rooted in the Mejerda detachment and related to late Miocene extension [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an attempt to estimate the long-term changes in Relative Sea Level (RSL), in addition to the different factors contributing to such trends on a local and regional scale, using a statistical linear model. The time series analysis corresponded to 17 tide-gauges, grouped in three different areas: the northern and western Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, and the southern and eastern coasts of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. The analysis was performed for two periods: 1948–2019, using tide-gauge data; and 1993–2019, using both tide-gauge and altimetry data for comparison. The trends for the period 1948–2019 ranged between 1.09 ± 0.14 (Canary Islands) and 2.05 ± 0.21 mm/yr for the northern and western Atlantic Iberian Peninsula. Altimetry data during the period 1993–2019 yielded quite homogeneous results for all the locations and regions, ranging between 2.7 ± 0.4 and 3.0 ± 0.3 mm/yr. In contrast, the results obtained from tide-gauge data for this recent period showed a large dispersion, very likely due to local effects, or perhaps even to levelling or instrumental errors. Nevertheless, when the results were averaged for each area, the observed trends were comparable to the altimetry results, with values of 2.3 ± 0.8, 2.7 ± 0.5, and 2.8 ± 0.8 mm/yr for the three regions of study. A stepwise forward linear regression was used to relate the observed RSL variability to the atmospheric forcing and the thermosteric and halosteric components of the sea level. Surprisingly, the thermosteric and halosteric contributions were not significantly correlated to the observed RSL in many cases; consequently, the steric, the total addition of mass, the mass of salt, and the freshwater contributions to the observed sea level trends could not be reliably estimated. This result seems to have been the consequence of the scarcity of temperature and salinity data; this hypothesis was confirmed, with the exception of the tide-gauge data for L'Estartit. This location is close to a well sampled region. In this case, the atmospheric variables and the thermosteric and halosteric terms accounted for 80% of the observed RSL variance, and the contributions of these terms could be estimated. The freshwater contribution for this location was between 1.3 and 1.4 mm/yr, consistent with recent estimations of the contributions of glaciers and Greenland and Antarctica Ice Sheets. These results highlight the importance of monitoring programs and routine sampling for the determination of the different factors contributing to the sea level variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fangtooth moray, Enchelycore anatina (Lowe, 1838), native to the tropical Atlantic Ocean, has a rapid expansion in the eastern and central sectors of the Mediterranean in the last thirty years. This species is now beginning to colonize along the Italian coasts of the Adriatic Sea and the western Mediterranean. In summer of 2021 and 2022, 12 specimens of fangtooth moray were recorded in Puglia (Adriatic Sea), Sardinia and Sicily. As hypothesized in previous studies, it seems probable that the successful expansion of this species is due both to the long pelagic period of its larval stage and to the increase in the temperature of the Mediterranean waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unanimously acknowledged that the Corsica‐Sardinia microplate rotated counterclockwise (CCW) by 40–50° between 21 and 15 Ma, synchronous with Liguro‐Provençal Basin oceanic spreading. Conversely, 60–120° CCW rotations with respect to Europe from Sardinia (Permian dykes, volcanics and sediments, Mesozoic carbonates, and lower Eocene limestones) have been interpreted to be related to (a) late Permian intra‐Pangea shear events, (b) Aptian Iberia rotation, and (c) Eocene Valais Ocean closure. We report paleomagnetic data from 31 red‐bed sites from the mid‐late Eocene (45–32 Ma) Cixerri Fm. exposed in SW Sardinia. Characteristic paleomagnetic directions from 25 dual polarity sites (240 samples) define an 86 ± 7° CCW rotation. We suggest that a S Sardinia block located NE of Balearic Islands rotated 30° CCW during the 30–21 Ma Liguro‐Provençal rifting, and was decoupled from N Sardinia along the left‐lateral Nuoro fault. After 21 Ma, Corsica‐Sardinia underwent a drift‐related 60° CCW rotation as a whole. A re‐analysis of available paleomagnetic results shows that Permian data from N Sardinia‐Corsica align with European directions considering a 60° CCW rotation, whereas Permian and mid Jurassic data from S Sardinia match European directions only after considering a ∼35° CCW Iberia rotation besides the 90° post‐Eocene event. We suggest that S Sardinia was part of Iberia, and rotated CCW during both Aptian Iberia drift and Oligo‐Miocene Liguro‐Provençal opening. Our data, along with recent paleomagnetic results from Calabria, suggest that S Sardinia, Balearic Islands, Calabria, Peloritan, Kabylies, and Alboran were fragments of "Greater Iberia," joined to Iberia before 30 Ma Liguro‐Provençal rifting. Key Points: Mid‐late Eocene Cixerri Fm (SW Sardinia) rotated ∼90° counterclockwise (CCW); Permian data from S Sardinia and N Sardinia‐Corsica rotated CCW by 120 and 60°S Sardinia rotated 35 and 90° during Iberia rotation and Liguro‐Provençal rift; N Sardinia‐Corsica rotated 60° during Liguro‐Provençal driftIberia, S Sardinia, Balearic Islands, Calabria, Peloritan, Kabylies and Alboran formed Greater Iberia before 30 Ma [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transmission of West Nile Virus (WNV) to new locations is mostly facilitated by migratory birds. Türkiye's domestic ducks, geese, and chickens have already tested positive for WNV by serology. This study was conducted to identify the seroprevalence of WNV in wild bird species because wild birds in the Western Mediterranean Region are found along migration routes from Africa to Europe, they are home to a wide variety of bird species due to the abundance of lakes and wetlands, the mild Mediterranean climate, and some areas that are suitable habitat for mosquitoes due to their low altitude. Serum samples were taken from 141 wild birds in Isparta (66), Burdur (42), and Antalya (33) for this study on birds in the wild. During serological studies, there was no evidence of WNV-specific antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research of carbon cycling in inland waters lacks a sound knowledge of carbon outgassing from small streams. As a consequence, these compartments of the terrestrial water cycle might still be seriously underrepresented in estimates of global carbon transfer budgets from land surfaces. This study investigated carbon sources and sinks of a mountain river in a silicate catchment. For this purpose, the high‐relief Gravona river, in the western part of the island of Corsica (France) in the Western Mediterranean, was investigated for field parameters, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and its stable carbon isotopes (δ13CDIC). The source region was characterized by low DIC contents and high δ13CDIC values that decreased further downstream due to increasing soil respiration. Associated increasing DIC concentrations and elevated seasonality in the lower river section also indicated more respiration and subsequent DIC‐input by weathering. The aqueous partial pressure (pCO2(aq)) was lowest at the source of the Gravona river and samples from the cold season even showed undersaturation that led to uptake of atmospheric CO2. Further downstream, the seasonality of pCO2(aq) increased and was particularly pronounced near the river mouth where CO2 degassing took place. Average DIC flux along the river was 0.129 Gg C year−1 and was almost equal to CO2 degassing from the river surface with 0.128 Gg C year−1. Our study showed that on an annual basis the river is an overall weak to medium source of CO2 to the atmosphere even though headwater parts of the river seasonally act as CO2 sinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porifera are essential components of marine ecosystems, providing valuable ecological functions. Traditional approaches to estimating sponge growth and biomass are destructive and often not suitable for certain morphologies. The implementation of new innovative techniques and nondestructive methodologies have allowed for a more sustainable approach. In this study, a population of Sarcotragus foetidus Schmidt, 1982 (Demospongiae, Dictyoceratida, Irciinidae), thriving inside the Portofino Marine Protected Area, was monitored using Structure from Motion photogrammetry over a period of 6 years, from September 2017 to October 2023. Of the 20 initial individuals, only 12 were still in place during the last monitoring, indicating 40% mortality. Through photogrammetry, the overall volume change and biomass production were estimated to be 9.24 ± 5.47% year−1 and 29.52 ± 27.93 g DW year−1, respectively, indicating a general decreasing trend between 2021 and 2023. Signs of necrosis were observed in some individuals, potentially related to the high temperature occurring during summer 2022 and 2023. Considering the current climate crisis, long-term monitoring efforts must be made to better understand the dynamics of this species, and photogrammetry has the potential to be a versatile monitoring tool that will contribute to the standardization of methodologies for sponge growth studies.

The Messinian Salt Giant in the Provençal Basin represents a good example to study salt tectonics: salt deposition occurred throughout the basin well after basin opening, with a tectonic context stable since ∼16 Ma, in a closed system. Also, the youth of salt tectonics has led to less mature structures and an evolutionary history that is easier to decipher than in older salt-bearing margins. We conducted an analysis of the chronology of salt deformation, from its deposition to the present-day, thanks to the basin-wide correlation of the Late Miocene and Pliocene-Pleistocene stratigraphic markers. The large seismic dataset provided detailed analysis of the causes and timing of salt deformation at a regional level. The salt tectonics started relatively early, during the Messinian Upper Unit (UU) deposition (phase 1) in the deepest part of the basin. From the Pliocene to the present-day, salt movement is divided into two more main phases (phases 2 and 3), the first of small intensity, occurred during the Pliocene and the second, more intense, during the Pleistocene. The geometric relationship between salt tectonics and crustal nature domains has revealed, regardless of the timing deformation phases, a more rapid and intense salt deformation above the proto-oceanic crust domain than in the continental or transitional crust domain. This observation, remaining unexplained, emphasizes the role of the influence of crustal nature, associated thermal regime and fluid circulation system on salt tectonics.

Although cast bronze vessels of the 6th–8th centuries are not recorded in particularly large numbers, their production and distribution provide a representative sample of the general economic trends and of the evolution of trade networks in the post-Roman Mediterranean. The geographical dissemination of these objects shows that at the turn of the 6th century, the northern Adriatic region became the main gateway of ‘eastern-style’ vessels into Central Europe and the Western Mediterranean. The region was thus replacing the Rome area as the main Western hub for redistributing this type of object. From the northern Adriatic area, several types of vessels were distributed both over land along the Po and Rhine valleys and through maritime routes connecting the Adriatic with Carthage and the Spanish Levant. The intrinsic features and the depositional contexts of the post-Roman cast bronze vessels suggest that they were manufactured according to different quality standards, which targeted different social milieus. Furthermore, mapping the distribution of the different quality standards reveals that each of them might have been distributed by different networks of merchants and unveils the impact of transportation costs on the final price of these products.

The Spanish bottom trawl fleet operating in the Mediterranean currently uses 40 mm square mesh codends. Its selectivity is still too low to overcome the overall problem of high proportions of immature specimens in the catches. Even for some target species such as the European hake (Merluccius merluccius), there are high proportions of individuals smaller than the minimum conservation reference size (MCRS). The aim of the present work is to assess the selectivity of three different configurations of the traditional net (TRA) used in the bottom trawl hake fishery off the northwest Iberian Peninsula, each including the following modifications: i) an extension piece made of 90° turned diamond mesh (T90), ii) a 52 mm square meshed codend (52S), and iii) both modifications combined (EXP). The experimental fishing survey applied two methodologies: alternate hauls to compare the different net configurations; and the covered codend method to calculate the selectivity parameters of 52 mm square meshed codend for the main commercial species. Catch comparisons showed no discard reduction using the T90 extension piece for any of the species analysed, nor any selectivity improvement. Conversely, the 52 mm square meshed codend showed a clear discard reduction for M. merluccius and a generalized improvement of selectivity for most commercial species. This improvement raised the 50% retention length (L50) for M. merluccius to 22.2 cm, well above its MCRS (20 cm), allowing to escape 90% of the undersized individuals. However, the implementation of the 52 mm square meshed codend would involve important economic losses for main target species, like M. merluccius and Mullus barbatus, representing up to 32 and 28% of the incomes, respectively. Considering all analysed species, economic losses using the 52 mm square meshed codend would represent 27% of the incomes obtained using the current 40 mm square meshed codend in force. Despite it, transition analyses showed that the yield per recruit of the main target species would recover after two years, and even increase up to 30% and 17% for M. merluccius and M. barbatus, respectively, after the fourth year of the implementation of the 52 mm square meshed codend.

Wild adult females of a low trophic omnivore teleost species, the flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus), caught in the western Mediterranean were sampled. The lipid and fatty acid composition of ovaries, liver, muscle, and peritoneal fat were analysed at previtellogenesis, early-vitellogenesis —first observed at mid-summer (early August)—, late-vitellogenesis, and the post-spawning period —from mid-September to mid-October—. During ovarian development, the lipid content of muscle was low and constant (3.85%–4.92%), indicating that the muscle was not used to store lipids for gonadal growth. Although constant, lipid content in the liver was higher (18.46%–22.62%) than in the muscle, and HSI% increased during gonad development, suggesting a dynamism in the mobilization of the hepatic lipids. Total lipids in the gonads significantly increased with maturation (from 4.90% to 34.59%) in parallel with the GSI (from 0.8% to 15.5%) to decrease after spawning. Peritoneal fat was probably transitional fat that could be rapidly metabolized or transferred to other tissues but no specific function could be assigned because its presence in previtellogenic and early-vitellogenic females varied greatly. One of the main sources of lipids accumulated in the ovary was most likely diet. The total percentage of ΣMUFA, mainly 17:1 —previously not identified in high quantities in teleost vitellogenic ovaries and likely of bacterial origin— and 16:1, strongly increased in the ovaries with maturation. The 16:1 might be an important source of lipids for embryo development. High percentages of DHA, EPA, and ARA were found in the ovary during previtellogenesis available to be used during gonadal maturation. Understanding lipid and fatty acid changes in broodstock tissues can increase our knowledge of the nutritional requirements of the fish used in aquaculture breeding programs. • Lipid and fatty acid dynamics in tissues of Mugil cephalus , an omnivorous teleost. • Diet is one of the principal sources of lipids during ovarian growth. • Novel identification of a high content of the 17:1 in teleost vitellogenic ovaries. • Requirements of PUFAs for gonadal growth are such as for piscivorous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This bionomic study of the detritic bottoms dominated by macroalgae from the south of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean) includes a quantitative description of the algal communities found in the area, as well as their bathymetric and geographical distribution. The results presented here are based on data collected in two oceanographic campaigns conducted in July 2012 and September 2014, using a Jennings beam trawl. A hierarchical group average agglomerative clustering, accompanied by the SIMPROF test, allowed the identification of seven different macroalgal communities, of which two are described here for the first time: the Cryptonemia longiarticulata fields and the Maërl beds of indeterminate rhodoliths. Depth and rhodolith abundance were the two main features driving the distribution of these communities. We found that seven species contributed 70% of the similarity between samples (SIMPER test), with the indeterminate species of rhodoliths (23.6%) and the encrusting fleshy red alga, Agissea inamoena (15.6%) being the most important. The methodology used for the sample selection and quantification processes turned out to be very efficient and faster than other methods used for the characterization of macroalgal communities from detritic bottoms, suggesting that this study could serve as a baseline for similar studies and for future management and conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses and underlines the importance of investigations on post-medieval shipwrecks, particularly for wrecks where archival documentation is also available, in relation to gaining a better knowledge of tin-glazed tableware produced in Montelupo (Florence, Tuscany). The case of the Mortella II wrecks is interesting in this sense and also shows how an exact dating of the wreck can allow for a revision of the chronologies of the ceramic classes found on board. In the case of the majolica of Montelupo, the revision of the dating of these ceramics with great diffusion (Europe, Americas, Africa) has major repercussions on international archaeological research. This paper presents a preliminary study of the Montelupo tin-glazed tableware found in the 2021 excavation researches conducted on the Mortella II wreck. The interest in the pottery recovered is high, for several reasons: (A) The dating of the wreck to 1527, clarified thanks to the discovery of a written document related to the sinking of the two Genoese "twin" ships off Saint-Florent (Haute-Corse), which are conventionally defined as Mortella II and III. (B) The almost exclusive presence of Montelupo majolica, a ceramic class among the most important between the 16th and 17th centuries, with a very wide dispersal throughout in the Mediterranean and Europe, as well as internationally. (C) The variety of decorations of the majolica of Montelupo documented thus far in the wreck (at least nine) makes this first sample a reference site for the study of this ceramic class in the first quarter of the 16th century, especially for the precise date of closure for the context (1527). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]