Biodiversity

New records of introduced species in the Mediterranean (February 2025)

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This Collective Article compiles information on nineteen (19) species recorded in seven (7) Mediterranean countries (Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Syria, and Türkiye) and across four major sub-basins (Adriatic, Western, Central, and Eastern Mediterranean). The documented taxa represent eight (8) phyla: Annelida (four species), Arthropoda (three), Bryozoa (one), Chordata (two), Cnidaria (two), Mollusca (five), Chlorophyta…

On the influence of plant morphology in the extensive green roof cover: A case study in Mediterranean area

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The success of green roofs in Mediterranean areas requires the selection of fast development plant species, able to grow in a shallow soilless substrate also under dry climatic conditions. In this context, the exploitation of native species from marginal sites characterized by limited availability of nutrients and water could be a strategy to select plants….

Large-scale loss of Mediterranean coastal marshes under rising sea levels by 2100

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Mediterranean coastal wetlands account for important biodiversity and ecosystem services. But climate-change induced sea-level rise poses a critical risk to their survival. Here, we assess these risks for Mediterranean coastal marshes, one key type of Mediterranean coastal wetlands, and identify main drivers for future coastal marsh change for the Mediterranean and comparable coastlines. We apply…

Potential risk of macro-plastic on the megafauna of two semi-enclosed European seas

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Plastic pollution, particularly macro-plastic, poses significant threats to marine ecosystems worldwide, with adverse effects on marine megafauna such as mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles. This study examines the areas of higher risk of megafauna encountering floating macro-plastics in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, semi-enclosed basins with high anthropogenic pressures and plastic densities. Using Lagrangean and…

“Internet of nature” helps researchers explore the web of life

“Internet of nature” helps researchers explore the web of life

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A novel paper led by Dr Ulrich Brose of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena is widening understanding of how species interact within ecosystems via the so-called “Internet of Nature.” Published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, the paper reveals that species not only exchange matter and energy…

Colourful city birds

Colourful city birds

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Bird species that do well in urban areas are more colourful and less brown Urbanization has a huge impact on the ecosystem and poses enormous challenges to animals and plants. The ongoing, worldwide increase in urbanization is considered one of the main causes of the steady decline in biodiversity. Urban ecology is the field of…

International Effort to Understand Declining Insect Biodiversity in the Tropics

International Effort to Understand Declining Insect Biodiversity in the Tropics

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A team of ecologists from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) are leading an international initiative to investigate the decline of insect populations in the world’s tropical forests. Insects, the most abundant and diverse group of animals on Earth, are experiencing alarming declines, prompting this research effort. The team’s work has earned them an invitation…

Small-scale land use effects on plant communities in Mediterranean urban ecosystems

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The spatial configuration of urban landscapes, characterized by complex mosaics of fragmented patches subjected to different land uses, shapes biodiversity and, therefore, affects ecosystem stability and functioning. The present study focuses on evaluating the small scale variations of vegetation structural and functional biodiversity in Mediterranean urban ecosystems, in relation to land use and fragmentation. For…

Climate Change and Avian Diversity in the Mediterranean: Ecological Niche Modeling and Demographic Shifts

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The Mediterranean Basin is a critical biodiversity hotspot hosting numerous bird species that are likely to be sensitive to climatic changes. This study integrates ecological niche modeling and Bayesian skyline plot analyses to assess the historical, current, and future geographic distributions, and population dynamics of 45 endemic bird species in the region. Using occurrence data…

Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Invasive Potential of Ornamental Plants in the Mediterranean Area: Implications for Sustainable Landscaping

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Several ornamental species have demonstrated adaptive features that could increase their resilience to the current climate emergency but could also be linked to invasiveness in non-native environments. The present review examines the responses of ornamental plants’ grown in the Mediterranean region to relevant abiotic stress conditions such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metal toxicity,…