Ecosystem

The race to discover and protect Earth’s hidden plants

The race to discover and protect Earth’s hidden plants

Botanical discoveries may sound like relics of a bygone era, but researchers are still uncovering dozens of new plant species every year. From the palm in Borneo that flowers underground to the orchid thriving parasitically on other plants in Madagascar, the strangeness of these species illustrate how little we know about Earth’s natural secrets. The study,…

A new hub for illicit ship-to-ship transfers between Lesvos and Chios

Cargo ships, tankers etc are usually loaded at land-based terminals but sometimes it is necessary for various reasons for cargo to be transferred from one ship to another while at sea. Many of these ship-to-ship transfer (STS) operations involve the transfer of liquid fuels. This can be a risky business with a danger of spillage…

Influence of cover crops and tillage on organic carbon loss in Mediterranean olive orchards

Olive (Olea europaea L.) is one of the main crops in the Mediterranean area, with Spain leading its production. The majority of the plantations are on rainfed land, poor soils with steep slopes. Regarding to soil, tillage (T) is the main management system used by farmers. Consequently, erosion and the resulting soil organic carbon (SOC)…

Developing perennial wildflower strips for use in Mediterranean orchard systems

To support sustainable food production and the delivery of ecosystem services through ecological intensification, wildflower strips have become a popular strategy. Despite their success in temperate orchard systems, they remain understudied in Mediterranean ecosystems, which poses a significant barrier to uptake. In order to further promote their adoption, seed mixes must be optimised for commercial…