Unravelling the Nexus of Beach Litter and Plant Species and Communities Along the Mediterranean Coasts: A Critical Literature Review.

Beach litter, an anthropogenic and hazardous component, can interact with psammophilous plant species and communities. These are particularly prominent in the Mediterranean Basin, renowned for its highly specialized and unique flora but recognized as one of the areas that is globally most severely affected by marine litter. To provide a comprehensive picture and outline possible future directions, data on beach litter in the Mediterranean coastal ecosystems were collected through a bibliographic research.

Tourist Trampling on a Peripheral Plant Population Restricted to an Urban Natural Area in the Capo Sant'Elia Promontory (Sardinia, W-Mediterranean Basin).

Urban natural areas provide important ecological services such as biodiversity conservation, as well as opportunities for people to connect with nature and preserve cultural heritage. However, the increasing demand for access to natural areas and the expansion of human recreational activities, such as hiking and biking, pose threats to these ecosystems, especially for animal and plant species, finally resulting in biodiversity loss. This study explores the intricate link between human trampling, plant density, and the morphological and reproductive characteristics of L.

Difference between invasive alien and native vegetation in trapping beach litter: A focus on a typical sandy beach of W-Mediterranean Basin.

Beach litter is one of the most pervasive pollution issues in coastal environments worldwide. In this study, we aim to assess the amount and distribution of beach litter on Porto Paglia beach, its entrapment across psammophilous habitats, and whether the invasive Carpobrotus acinaciformis (L.) L.

Chronic treatment with hormonal contraceptives alters hippocampal BDNF and histone H3 post-translational modifications but not learning and memory in female rats.

Hormonal contraceptives prevent ovulation with subsequent reduction in endogenous levels of estradiol, progesterone and its neuroactive metabolite allopregnanolone. These neurosteroids modulate several brain functions, including neuronal plasticity, cognition and memory. We hypothesized that hormonal contraceptives might affect synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, as a consequence of suppressed endogenous hormones levels.

Impact of Horse Grazing on Floristic Diversity in Mediterranean Small Standing-Water Ecosystems (SWEs).

(SWEs), despite their pivotal ecological role due to their participation in hydrogeological processes and their richness in biodiversity, seem to be often overlooked by the scientific community. In this study, the vascular plant diversity in some representative SWEs, that host a peculiar assemblage of plant and animal species, was investigated in relation to the disturbance effects of a wild horse population. A total of 50 plots, equally distributed in small and large SWEs, were surveyed and a level of disturbance was attributed to each plot.