Environmental Geochemistry

Mediterranean Temporary Ponds (MTPs) constitute priority habitat under the European Union Habitats' Directive. They are inhabited by rare species and subjected to unstable environmental conditions. Lakes and ponds act as early indicators of climate change, to which high altitude ecosystems are especially vulnerable. This study presents a full dataset of the geo-environmental parameters of such habitats (MTPs) along with their current ecological status for the first time. Furthermore, this paper aims to address the lack of basic geo-environmental background on the network of MTPs of Mt. Oiti concerning their geological, geomorphological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics along with the pressures received from various activities. The study area is located in a mountainous Natura 2000 site of Central Greece, which hosts four MTPs. Fieldwork and sampling of water and bottom sediments were carried out during dry and wet periods between 2012 and 2014. Electrical Resistivity Tomography measurements identified synforms shaped under the ponds that topography does not always adopt them, mostly due to erosion procedures. The most significant feature, distinguishing those pond waters from any other province water bodies is the extremely low content of all studied ions (including NO 2 − , NO and Zr). MTPs water bodies are of bicarbonate dominant type, and a fresh meteoric water origin is suggested. The main pressures identified were grazing and trampling by vehicles. MTPs of Mt. Oiti were classified according to their ecological status form excellent to medium. Our results can contribute to a better understanding of the mountainous temporary ponds development in the Mediterranean environment.


Supplementary Materials
The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/8/1627/s1, Table S1: Quality control of soil analysis, Table S2: Quality control of water analysis, Table S3: Correlation coefficient matrix for soil data. Soil data per factor include data from all four MTPs at Mt. Oiti (i.e., Livadies, Louka, Greveno and Alikaina), Table S4: Wetland water normalization values used in the manuscript (data from Shvartsev, [45]).

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest poznanie cech litologicznych i geochemicznych osadów postglacjalnych występujących w dnie misy Zalewu Szczecińskiego, a także utworów akumulowanych współcześnie w tym akwenie. Uzyskane informacje stanowią podstawę dla rekonstrukcji środowisk sedymentacyjnych i warunków akumulacji osadów panujących na obszarze dzisiejszego Zalewu Szczecińskiego
od schyłku ostatniego zlodowacenia do czasów współczesnych.

"The mega-site of Valencina is currently a major focus of interest for the study of Copper Age Iberia. Remarkable megalithic monuments such as La Pastora, Montelirio or Structure 10.042-10.049 at PP4-Montelirio are found alongside hundreds of other features, including pits and large-sized ditches, some of which have yielded evidence of exotic material craftsmanship without parallels in Iberian Late Prehistory which also suggests long-distance contacts. Part of the flourishing experienced by Valencina in the 3rd millennium BC can be explained by its specific geographic location at the mouth of the Guadalquivir river, facing a marine gulf surrounded by lands of high agricultural potential. Other reasons, however, must have accounted for Valencina's growth as a mega-site, including particularly demographic and economic ones. In order to better understand the demographic and subsistence patterns of the communities that lived and/or frequented Valencina, we analysed 29 human and 7 faunal samples for δ 18 O and δ 13 C isotope analyses. The sampling strategy followed is based on a combination of bone and dental tissues. In addition an intra-tooth study was also carried out to observe intra-individual seasonal changes. Overall, this evidence contributes to the study of diet and mobility patterns, which can in turn provide insights of the demography and economy of the communities that used this mega-site. "