Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Viviana F. Bondaruk, Gaston R. Onatibia, Roberto J. Fernandez, Walter Aguero, Lisandro Blanco, Martin Bruschetti, Alicia Kropfl, Alejandro Loydi, Jesus Pascual, Pablo Peri, Guadalupe Peter, R. Emiliano Quiroga, Laura Yahdjian
Summary: Droughts are projected to increase in magnitude, frequency and duration in the near future. This study found that arid and semi-arid rangelands are more severely impacted by drought in terms of forage provision compared to mesic rangelands. The negative impact on forage productivity in these rangelands is mainly driven by the reduction in productivity of key plant species.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hongwei Zeng, Bingfang Wu, Miao Zhang, Ning Zhang, Abdelrazek Elnashar, Liang Zhu, Weiwei Zhu, Fangming Wu, Nana Yan, Wenjun Liu
Summary: The Mediterranean region has seen an expansion of its dryland ecosystem in recent decades, with projections for further growth due to warming trends and intensified human activities. This has resulted in negative impacts on productivity, biodiversity, and stability of the ecosystem. Future studies are needed to understand the process and mechanism of dryland dynamics and model future trajectories of changes.
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Sourav Mukherjee, Ashok Kumar Mishra
Summary: This study calculated the characteristics of flash droughts (FDs) using root-zone soil-moisture data from 1980 to 2018 and developed a novel multivariate FD indicator for mapping global FD hotspot regions. The potential influence of climate characteristics and land-climate feedbacks on the evolution of the indicator was investigated. The results show that precipitation is the primary driver of FD evolution, while the impact of temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and land-climate interaction varies by climate divisions.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Davide Faranda, Salvatore Pascale, Burak Bulut
Summary: A prolonged drought in 2022 in Western Europe and the Mediterranean region had significant socio-ecological impacts. The role of anthropogenic climate change in exacerbating the drought was examined by comparing atmospheric circulation analogs from different time periods. The results showed that ACC contributed to the drought through a persistent anticyclonic anomaly and increased temperatures.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Carvalho, S. C. Pereira, R. Silva, A. Rocha
Summary: The study reveals that future climate scenarios indicate a significant decrease in precipitation and increase in potential evapotranspiration in the Mediterranean region, leading to increased aridity. These changes, combined with intensive farming and tourism, may result in overexploitation of natural resources, water scarcity, and desertification in the region.
Article
Agronomy
Wentao Luo, Xiaoan Zuo, Robert J. Griffin-Nolan, Chong Xu, Jordi Sardans, Qiang Yu, Zhengwen Wang, Xingguo Han, Josep Penuelas
Summary: This study investigated the effects of chronic and intense drought on carbon-nutrient dynamics of grassland vegetation and soil, and found that drought largely decreased carbon and nutrient pools, with different responses depending on the type of drought. The sensitivity of biogeochemical responses to drought treatments decreased with increased aridity in dry areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jacob Scheff, Sloan Coats, Marysa M. Lague
Summary: This research shows that by removing previously known factors, the simulated responses of Earth System Models can become more consistent with commonly-used simple theories such as P/E0 and PDSI, resolving discrepancies among existing studies. The most important factors influencing the global response in ESM simulations are the concentration of precipitation over time and the impact of increasing carbon dioxide on plant physiology.
Article
Water Resources
Mohammad Jafarpour, Arash Adib, Morteza Lotfirad, Ozgur Kisi
Summary: In recent years, greenhouse gas emissions have led to extensive climate changes and increased occurrence of extreme events, such as droughts. This study examines precipitation and temperature variations and past/future drought characteristics in Iran using data from synoptic stations and general circulation models. Results show that precipitation will generally decrease in future periods across Iran while temperature will decrease in southern/southeastern regions and increase in northwestern/northern areas. Drought severity, peaks, and duration will be highest in semi-arid and arid regions, with the longest drought duration projected in the southeast and west of Iran. Overall, future droughts are expected to be more severe, longer, and have higher variability compared to the baseline period.
APPLIED WATER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ori Segev, Carly Golodets, Zalmen Henkin, Haim Gorelik, Guy Dovrat
Summary: This study examines the contribution of large annual spiny plants to rangeland vegetation cover and productivity. It analyzes the effects of livestock management and climate on two dominant annual thistle species. The results show that high stocking density has a positive effect on one thistle species, while the other species has higher biomass under moderate stocking density. Distance from feeding site and climatic parameters such as relative humidity and temperature also influence the cover and biomass of the thistles.
Article
Agronomy
Celile Aylin Oluk, Engin Gonen, Yesim Bozkurt colak
Summary: This research evaluated the nutritional value of amaranth irrigated with surface drip (SD) and subsurface drip (SSD) systems under Mediterranean climatic conditions in 2019 and 2020. The study found that the highest protein content was obtained from rainfed (RF) treatment, while the lowest protein content was obtained with full irrigation (FI) in SD strategies. Irrigation treatments also affected the levels of oil, ash, Fe, Zn, and proline in the amaranth plants. Drip system and treatment had an impact on the levels of oleic acid and the oleic to linoleic acid (O/L) ratio in the plants.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexis Berg, Kaighin A. McColl
Summary: Model projections using an atmospheric aridity proxy show future expansion of drylands under climate change, but an alternative index based on ecohydrological variables suggests no global expansion. The aridity index overestimates changes compared to the ecohydrological index, indicating differing sensitivities to hydroclimate change and opposite responses to increasing atmospheric CO2. Despite greater uncertainties, climate model ecohydrological projections do not support global drylands expansion under greenhouse warming as previously claimed based on atmospheric aridity.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jean-Philippe Mevy, Charlotte Biryol, Marine Boiteau-Barral, Franco Miglietta
Summary: Remote sensing techniques have been widely used to monitor plants' responses to climate change, especially in the Mediterranean region. This study used field spectrometry to investigate the effects of climate aridification on a Mediterranean shrubland. The results showed that multispecific plant communities were more resistant to climate aridification, and certain vegetation indices could characterize plant-plant coexistence. Moreover, water and pigment content indices were also effective in discriminating plant associations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Raul Garcia-Valdes, Jordi Vayreda, Javier Retana, Jordi Martinez-Vilalta
Summary: A study in Catalonia's temperate forests over 25 years found that while there was a small increase in the proportion of drought-tolerant tree species, the average drought tolerance was negatively correlated with forest productivity, whereas drought tolerance richness was positively correlated with it. This suggests a negative impact of climate change on forest productivity mediated by shifts in functional composition, but an increased drought tolerance richness may enhance forests' resilience to drought.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Lorenzo Villani, Giulio Castelli, Luigi Piemontese, Daniele Penna, Elena Bresci
Summary: Climate change will increase the frequency and severity of drought events in Mediterranean watersheds, calling for urgent action and a shift in drought response strategies. However, the current methodology for drought risk assessment is still debated and hindered by diverse socioecological contexts, spatiotemporal scales, and data availability.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Pedro M. M. Soares, Daniela C. A. Lima
Summary: Climate change poses a major threat to Mediterranean countries, leading to reduced precipitation, increased temperature, and more frequent extreme events, resulting in water scarcity and various impacts. Portugal, like other Mediterranean countries, already experiences more frequent droughts and soil moisture deficits. Future projections using a multi-model ensemble show a clear reduction in soil moisture throughout the year, due to decreased precipitation and increased evapotranspiration. The study also reveals an increase in soil moisture deficits, especially in the mid-to-end of the century, and a decrease in surface humidity.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Thanos Ioannou, Katerina Bazigou, Afroditi Katsigianni, Michalis Fotiadis, Christina Chroni, Thrassyvoulos Manios, Ioannis Daliakopoulos, Christos Tsompanidis, Eleni Michalodimitraki, Katia Lasaridi
Summary: The A2UFood project aims to design and implement a comprehensive scheme for managing food loss and waste, with a focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling. The project includes a key component, the 'A2Food training kit', which provides theoretical background and participatory activities. The activities are based on education for sustainable development and sustainable development goals. The project has trained 270 trainers and successfully held workshops for 600 students across Greece. The training kit has a lasting impact and can be used as a tool for future training.
Article
Agronomy
Christina Emmanouela Moschou, Dimitrios M. Papadimitriou, Fenia Galliou, Nikolaos Markakis, Nikolaos Papastefanakis, Georgios Daskalakis, Michael Sabathianakis, Eugenia Stathopoulou, Chryssa Bouki, Ioannis N. Daliakopoulos, Thrassyvoulos Manios
Summary: This study investigates the feasibility of using compost from locally sourced grocery waste as a replacement for conventional organic growing media. The results show that the compost-based substrates lead to improved physiology and yield characteristics of hydroponic lettuce, providing a sustainable alternative for soilless cultivation.
Article
Soil Science
Claudia Moens, Stefaan Dondeyne, Ioanna Panagea, Erik Smolders
Summary: This study investigates the vertical mobilization and immobilization of iron (Fe) colloids in soil and their potential role as carriers for nutrients and contaminants. The results show that the concentration, size, and composition of Fe colloids in the pore water vary with depth, and are strongly influenced by gradients in soil chemical characteristics and the presence of organic matter. Organic matter plays a key role in the transport of Fe colloids in acid sandy soil.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manolis G. Grillakis, Evangelos G. Kapetanakis, Eleni Goumenaki
Summary: This study developed a statistical model based on winter chill accumulation and heat accumulation to assess the changes in flowering occurrence for olive trees in Crete, Greece. The model predicted that both chill accumulation and flowering would be affected by climate change, resulting in earlier flowering.
Article
Environmental Studies
Irene Christoforidi, Dimitrios Kollaros, Thrassyvoulos Manios, Ioannis N. N. Daliakopoulos
Summary: This article presents the results of a long-term experiment on native Mediterranean plants, assessing their resistance to drought and salinity. It identifies 52 plants with favorable traits and highlights their potential uses in medicine, nutrition, industry, and cosmetology. The study emphasizes the importance of formally documenting the characteristics of these plants and integrating them into planting-decision support systems to promote sustainable land and water management.
Correction
Plant Sciences
Mara Baudena, Victor M. M. Santana, M. Jaime Baeza, Susana Bautista, Maarten B. B. Eppinga, Lia Hemerik, Angeles Garcia Mayor, Francisco Rodriguez, Alejandro Valdecantos, V. Ramon Vallejo, Ana Vasques, Max Rietkerk
Article
Ecology
Toyo Vignal, Mara Baudena, Angeles Garcia Mayor, Jonathan A. Sherratt
Summary: Half of the world's livestock live in (semi-)arid regions, where overgrazing can lead to land degradation and subsequent socio-economic crises. The resilience of dry rangelands is affected by variations in stocking strategies, with increasing stocking density decreasing resilience and a maximal sustainable livestock density existing. Higher adaptivity of the destocking rate to available forage makes the system more resilient, offering a theoretical suggestion for suitable dry rangeland management strategies.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Radek Tichavsky, Andrea Fabianova, Aristeidis Koutroulis, Vilem Spalovsky, Ondrej Vala
Summary: This paper reports on the long-term debris-flow activity in the Tsivlos landslide area in Greece, finding that debris-flow activity has been most frequent since 2014, with a link to increased extreme precipitation events. Analysis of aerial images confirmed the shift of active channels and debris-flow fans, mainly due to the occurrence of collapsed slopes. The study suggests the need for continuous monitoring and field research to prevent future debris flow hazards.
Article
Energy & Fuels
N. Papastefanakis, I. N. Daliakopoulos, A. E. Maragkaki, C. Tsompanidis, N. Zotos, D. F. Lekkase, T. Manios, M. S. Fountoulakis
Summary: The effect of solar-dried food waste and a mixture of food waste with olive mill wastewater on the anaerobic digestion of liquid pig manure and cow manure was examined for the first time. The addition of solar dried feedstocks increased the biogas production by 1.7 times. The estimated biodegradability of the mixtures was over 50%, while the volatile solids removal was 23% for maximum biogas production.
Article
Agronomy
Emmanouil Kontaxakis, Dimitrios Papadimitriou, Ioannis Daliakopoulos, Ioannis Sabathianakis, Andriana Stavropoulou, Thrassyvoulos Manios
Summary: Table grape production in soilless cultivation under controlled environment is a promising solution to address challenges in grapevine cultivation. The study found that perlite substrate performed best in terms of qualitative and quantitative production characteristics, while pumice substrate was unsuitable for soilless vine cultivation. Coir and perlite:coir substrates improved plant nutrition and grape quality but delayed ripening.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicola Crippa, Manolis G. Grillakis, Athanasios Tsilimigkras, Guang Yang, Matteo Giuliani, Aristeidis G. Koutroulis
Summary: The increased seasonal demand for water in the Mediterranean puts pressure on water resources, and climate change exacerbates the problem. Flexible operation of existing reservoirs can mitigate water-related stress, and hydroclimatic forecasts play a crucial role. However, the relationship between forecast skill and value is uncertain. This study develops seasonal forecasts for a specific irrigation dam and evaluates their value in informing reservoir operations.
Article
Environmental Studies
Rudi Hessel, Guido Wyseure, Ioanna S. Panagea, Abdallah Alaoui, Mark S. Reed, Hedwig van Delden, Melanie Muro, Jane Mills, Oene Oenema, Francisco Areal, Erik van den Elsen, Simone Verzandvoort, Falentijn Assinck, Annemie Elsen, Jerzy Lipiec, Aristeidis Koutroulis, Lilian O'Sullivan, Martin A. Bolinder, Luuk Fleskens, Ellen Kandeler, Luca Montanarella, Marius Heinen, Zoltan Toth, Moritz Hallama, Julian Cuevas, Jantiene E. M. Baartman, Ilaria Piccoli, Tommy Dalgaard, Jannes Stolte, Jasmine E. Black, Charlotte-Anne Chivers
Summary: Soils are essential for agriculture and ecosystem services, and their management should focus on improving quality and resilience. The SoilCare project developed the concept of soil-improving cropping systems (SICS) as a holistic approach to promote sustainable and profitable soil management. The adoption of SICS by stakeholders was monitored and evaluated for environmental, sociocultural, and economic effects. The project emphasized the importance of understanding local dynamics in Europe-wide assessments and highlighted the role of economic considerations and social factors such as trust in the uptake of SICS. The results pointed to the need for coherent policies to support a transition to more sustainable agricultural practices.
Article
Environmental Studies
Abdallah Alaoui, Moritz Hallama, Roger Baer, Ioanna Panagea, Felicitas Bachmann, Carola Pekrun, Luuk Fleskens, Ellen Kandeler, Rudi Hessel
Summary: Assessing agricultural sustainability is a challenging task that requires considering multidisciplinary factors and cultural values. This study developed a methodology to assess the sustainability of soil improving cropping systems and tested it in a case study.
Article
Environmental Studies
Abdallah Alaoui, Lucia Barao, Carla S. S. Ferreira, Rudi Hessel
Summary: This study summarizes several frameworks for assessing agricultural sustainability and analyzes their strengths, weaknesses, and applicability. The results show that the SMART framework is the best option for considering the environmental, sociocultural, and economic dimensions of sustainability.
Article
Environmental Studies
Ilaria Piccoli, Till Seehusen, Jenny Bussell, Olga Vizitu, Irina Calciu, Antonio Berti, Gunnar Borjesson, Holger Kirchmann, Thomas Katterer, Felice Sartori, Chris Stoate, Felicity Crotty, Ioanna S. Panagea, Abdallah Alaoui, Martin A. Bolinder
Summary: Soil compaction is a major threat to agriculture in Europe, affecting various ecosystem functions. Short-term case studies conducted in different locations within the SoilCare project showed that soil-improving cropping systems (SICSs) have promising potential in mitigating soil compaction. However, the effects of SICSs on yields were generally small, and there were difficulties in implementing these systems. Further refinement and evaluation of SICSs under different pedoclimatic conditions are needed.
