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Marine space is three dimensional, the turnover of life forms is rapid, defining a fourth dimension: time. The definition of ecologically significant spatial units calls for the spatio-temporal framing of significant ecological connections in terms of extra-specific (biogeochemical cycles), intra-specific (life cycles), and inter-specific (food webs) fluxes. The oceanic volume can be split in sub-systems that can be further divided into smaller sub-units where ecosystem processes are highly integrated. The volumes where oceanographic and ecological processes take place are splittable into hot spots of ecosystem functioning, e.g., upwelling currents triggering plankton blooms, whose products are then distributed by horizontal currents, so defining Cells of Ecosystem Functioning (CEFs), whose identification requires the collaboration of physical and chemical oceanography, biogeochemistry, marine geology, plankton, nekton and benthos ecology and biology, food web dynamics, marine biogeography. CEFs are fuzzy objects that reflect the instability of marine systems.

Terraced landscapes were for centuries forms of sustainable and multifunctional land management, results of a long and intimate relationship between peoples and their environment. They demonstrated a rich cultural diversity and agrobiodiversity through sustainable land-use systems. These productive cultural landscapes in many cases were expressions of a pre-industrial circular model of rural development, where no resource was wasted. However, not all terraced landscapes have to be considered sustainable in themselves: in recent times, the terraces have undergone changes that have threatened their sustainability with abandonment and degradation as well as exclusively productive exploitation. This paper explores whether and how terraced landscape can recover an active role in modern society, analyzing emerging terraces recovery practices from the perspective of the circular economy. Innovative circular and productive uses of abandoned terraced landscapes aim at reducing the waste of natural and cultural resources, enlarging the lifetime (use value) of landscapes and preserving cultural and natural values for present and future generations. Results show that new functional uses of terraced landscapes are able to enhance in different ways their role as “middle landscapes” or places of mediation among economic, ecologic, ethical and aesthetic needs through circular adaptive reuse practices, becoming key drivers of new “circular” economies and a new pact between rural and urban regions.

Pour mieux comprendre l'application mondiale des modèles de prédiction de l'érosion des sols, nous avons examiné de manière approfondie la littérature de recherche pertinente évaluée par des pairs sur la modélisation de l'érosion des sols publiée entre 1994 et 2017. Nous avons cherché à identifier (i) les processus et les modèles les plus fréquemment abordés dans la littérature, (ii) les régions dans lesquelles les modèles sont principalement appliqués, (iii) les régions qui restent non traitées et pourquoi, et (iv) la fréquence des études menées pour valider/évaluer les résultats des modèles par rapport aux données mesurées. Pour mener à bien cette tâche, nous avons combiné les connaissances collectives de 67 scientifiques spécialistes de l'érosion des sols de 25 pays. La base de données résultante, intitulée « Global Applications of Soil Erosion Modelling Tracker (GASEMT) », comprend 3030 enregistrements de modélisation individuels provenant de 126 pays, englobant tous les continents (à l'exception de l'Antarctique). Sur les 8471 articles identifiés comme potentiellement pertinents, nous avons examiné 1697 articles appropriés et systématiquement évalué et transféré 42 attributs pertinents dans la base de données. Cette base de données GASEMT fournit des informations complètes sur l'état de l'art des modèles d'érosion des sols et des applications de modèles dans le monde entier. Cette base de données vise à soutenir la prochaine évaluation mondiale de l'érosion des sols par les Nations Unies basée sur les pays, en plus d'aider à éclairer les priorités de recherche sur l'érosion des sols en construisant une base pour de futures analyses ciblées et approfondies. GASEMT est une base de données open-source à la disposition de l'ensemble de la communauté des utilisateurs pour développer la recherche, corriger les erreurs et faire des extensions futures. Para comprender mejor la aplicación global de los modelos de predicción de la erosión del suelo, revisamos exhaustivamente la literatura de investigación relevante revisada por pares sobre modelos de erosión del suelo publicada entre 1994 y 2017. Nuestro objetivo fue identificar (i) los procesos y modelos abordados con mayor frecuencia en la literatura, (ii) las regiones dentro de las cuales se aplican principalmente los modelos, (iii) las regiones que permanecen sin abordar y por qué, y (iv) con qué frecuencia se realizan estudios para validar/evaluar los resultados del modelo en relación con los datos medidos. Para realizar esta tarea, combinamos el conocimiento colectivo de 67 científicos de erosión de suelos de 25 países. La base de datos resultante, denominada 'Global Applications of Soil Erosion Modelling Tracker (GASEMT)', incluye 3030 registros de modelado individuales de 126 países, que abarcan todos los continentes (excepto la Antártida). De los 8471 artículos identificados como potencialmente relevantes, revisamos 1697 artículos apropiados y evaluamos y transferimos sistemáticamente 42 atributos relevantes a la base de datos. Esta base de datos GASEMT proporciona información integral sobre el estado del arte de los modelos de erosión del suelo y las aplicaciones de modelos en todo el mundo. Esta base de datos tiene la intención de apoyar la próxima evaluación mundial de la erosión del suelo de las Naciones Unidas basada en los países, además de ayudar a informar las prioridades de investigación de la erosión del suelo mediante la creación de una base para futuros análisis específicos y en profundidad. GASEMT es una base de datos de código abierto disponible para toda la comunidad de usuarios para desarrollar investigaciones, rectificar errores y realizar futuras expansiones. To gain a better understanding of the global application of soil erosion prediction models, we comprehensively reviewed relevant peer-reviewed research literature on soil-erosion modelling published between 1994 and 2017. We aimed to identify (i) the processes and models most frequently addressed in the literature, (ii) the regions within which models are primarily applied, (iii) the regions which remain unaddressed and why, and (iv) how frequently studies are conducted to validate/evaluate model outcomes relative to measured data. To perform this task, we combined the collective knowledge of 67 soil-erosion scientists from 25 countries. The resulting database, named 'Global Applications of Soil Erosion Modelling Tracker (GASEMT)', includes 3030 individual modelling records from 126 countries, encompassing all continents (except Antarctica). Out of the 8471 articles identified as potentially relevant, we reviewed 1697 appropriate articles and systematically evaluated and transferred 42 relevant attributes into the database. This GASEMT database provides comprehensive insights into the state-of-the-art of soil- erosion models and model applications worldwide. This database intends to support the upcoming country-based United Nations global soil-erosion assessment in addition to helping to inform soil erosion research priorities by building a foundation for future targeted, in-depth analyses. GASEMT is an open-source database available to the entire user-community to develop research, rectify errors, and make future expansions. للحصول على فهم أفضل للتطبيق العالمي لنماذج التنبؤ بتآكل التربة، قمنا بمراجعة شاملة للأدبيات البحثية ذات الصلة التي استعرضها الأقران حول نمذجة تآكل التربة المنشورة بين عامي 1994 و 2017. كنا نهدف إلى تحديد (1) العمليات والنماذج التي يتم تناولها بشكل متكرر في الأدبيات، (2) المناطق التي يتم فيها تطبيق النماذج في المقام الأول، (3) المناطق التي لا تزال دون معالجة ولماذا، و (4) عدد المرات التي يتم فيها إجراء دراسات للتحقق من صحة/تقييم نتائج النموذج بالنسبة للبيانات المقاسة. لأداء هذه المهمة، جمعنا المعرفة الجماعية لـ 67 عالمًا في مجال تآكل التربة من 25 دولة. تتضمن قاعدة البيانات الناتجة، المسماة "التطبيقات العالمية لتتبع نمذجة تآكل التربة (GASEMT )"، 3030 سجل نمذجة فردي من 126 دولة، تشمل جميع القارات (باستثناء القارة القطبية الجنوبية). من بين 8471 مقالة تم تحديدها على أنها ذات صلة محتملة، قمنا بمراجعة 1697 مقالة مناسبة وقمنا بتقييم ونقل 42 سمة ذات صلة بشكل منهجي إلى قاعدة البيانات. توفر قاعدة بيانات GASEMT هذه رؤى شاملة حول أحدث نماذج تآكل التربة وتطبيقات النماذج في جميع أنحاء العالم. تهدف قاعدة البيانات هذه إلى دعم التقييم العالمي المقبل لتآكل التربة الذي تجريه الأمم المتحدة على المستوى القطري بالإضافة إلى المساعدة في توجيه أولويات أبحاث تآكل التربة من خلال بناء أساس للتحليلات المتعمقة المستهدفة في المستقبل. GASEMT هي قاعدة بيانات مفتوحة المصدر متاحة لمجتمع المستخدمين بأكمله لتطوير البحث وتصحيح الأخطاء وإجراء التوسعات المستقبلية.

Future climate conditions for the Mediterranean region based on an ensemble of 16 Global Climate Models are expressed and mapped using three approaches, giving special attention to the intermodel uncertainty. (1) The scenarios of mean seasonal temperature and precipitation agree with the projections published previously by other authors. The results show an increase in temperature in all seasons and for all parts of the Mediterranean with good intermodel agreement. Precipitation is projected to decrease in all parts and all seasons (most significantly in summer) except for the northernmost parts in winter. The intermodel agreement for the precipitation changes is lower than for temperature. (2) Changes in drought conditions are represented using the Palmer Drought Severity Index and its intermediate Z-index product. The results indicate a significant decrease in soil moisture in all seasons, with the most significant decrease occurring in summer. The displayed changes exhibit high intermodel agreement. (3) The climate change scenarios are defined in terms of the changes in parameters of the stochastic daily weather generator calibrated with the modeled daily data; the emphasis is put on the parameters, which affect the diurnal and interdiurnal variability in weather series. These scenarios indicate a trend toward more extreme weather in the Mediterranean. Temperature maxima will increase not only because of an overall rise in temperature means, but partly (in some areas) because of increases in temperature variability and daily temperature range. Increased mean daily precipitation sums on wet days occurring in some seasons, and some parts of the Mediterranean may imply higher daily precipitation extremes, and decreased probability of wet day occurrence will imply longer drought spells all across the Mediterranean.

Changing ecosystem conditions and diverse socio-economical events have contributed to an ingrained presence of non-native tree species (NNTs) in the natural and cultural European landscapes. Recent research endeavors have focused on different aspects of NNTs such as legislation, benefits, and risks for forestry, emphasizing that large knowledge gaps remain. As an attempt to fulfill part of these gaps, within the PEN-CAFoRR COST Action (CA19128) network, we established an open-access questionnaire that allows both academic experts and practitioners to provide information regarding NNTs from 20 European countries. Then, we integrated the data originating from the questionnaire, related to the country-based assessment of both peer-reviewed and grey literature, with information from available datasets (EUFORGEN and EU-Forest), which gave the main structure to the study and led to a mixed approach review. Finally, our study provided important insights into the current state of knowledge regarding NNTs. In particular, we highlighted NNTs that have shown to be less commonly addressed in research, raising caution about those characterized by an invasive behavior and used for specific purposes (e.g., wood production, soil recultivation, afforestation, and reforestation). NNTs were especially explored in the context of resilient and adaptive forest management. Moreover, we emphasized the assisted and natural northward migration of NNTs as another underscored pressing issue, which needs to be addressed by joint efforts, especially in the context of the hybridization potential. This study represents an additional effort toward the knowledge enhancement of the NNTs situation in Europe, aiming for a continuously active common source deriving from interprofessional collaboration.