France, Europe, The United States

Fascination and rejection have always characterized Franco-American relations, like an old couple who are not able to forgive: for France, the battle of Yorktown where Lafayette and Rochambeau contributed to the independence of the former British colonies; for the United States, American participation, twice, in the liberation of France. Neither one willing to credit its salvation to the other. A tumultuous relationship very much resembling the rocky history of the Statue of Liberty ( Liberty Enlightening the World ), offered by a still fragile Republic to a distant sister, who only begrudgingly offered it a pedestal. For centuries French literature has been rich in lessons on this subject: from Tocqueville\u27s wonderment and the anti-Americanism of Baudelaire, Loti, Renan, Maurras, and many others, to Victor Hugo\u27s prediction of indestructible ties between a United States of Europe and the United States of America. In fact, these troubled relations also resemble those between the United States and Europe. America, Europe\u27s child, has always sought to emancipate itself, while Europe, it seems, does not want to admit that the child that it carried to maturity might be more successful than it and might seek to tell it how to behave. This sentiment is evident in both European and American literature, particularly in the works of James Fennimore Cooper and Mark Twain, which unceasingly highlight the disparities between the Old World and the New. Have these divergences, which after all are quite natural given the inevitable conflicts of interest between Europe and the United States-and between France and the United States-reached a breaking point since the American invasion of Iraq? Ever since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and even more since September 11th, is not America seeking to start the world anew (to borrow words from Thomas Paine) in its own image? Are we witnessing a continental drift, accompanied by a lasting antagonism between the United States and France? In this three-way relationship-France/European Union/United States-where France is seeking international stature, the European Union a European identity, and the United States a world mission-French policy goals are marked by their continuity (as is also true for the United States). If the world has changed, France\u27s two priorities since the commencement of the European project remain unchanged. What Europe for France? France continues to want to make Europe into a European Europe, not an Atlanticist Europe, but a Europe that is emancipated from the United States. Europe for what? France wants to make Europe a Europe a la francaise, a French style Europe, which would be an enlarged extension of France, increasing its influence on the international stage and providing a counterweight to the United States, today\u27s hyper power

The first record of the invasive Chinese pond mussel Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in the African continent

The Chinese pond mussel Sinanodonta woodiana s.l., is a successful global invader. We report its first finding in Morocco, which represents the first record of the species in the African continent. Measures are needed to increase monitoring and management of its invasion process

Primera cita en África del caracol del cieno de Nueva Zelanda Potamopyrgus antipodarum (J.E. Gray, 1843) (Tateidae, Mollusca)

Listed recently in the top “hundred worst” alien species and the third “worst alien” mollusc in Europe, the New Zealand mudsnail has become cosmopolitan. We report its first finding in the African continent, in Morocco. Established populations of Potamopyrgus antipodarum were found in the Low Moulouya wetland, a Ramsar and Biological and Ecological Interest Site (SIBE), occupying natural and anthropogenic habitats (spring, river and artificial canal). The invasion process seems to be in its early stages, calling for drastic measures to control its invasion progress.Incluido recientemente entre las “cien peores” especies invasoras y siendo el tercero de los “peores moluscos invasores” en Europa, el caracol del cieno de Nueva Zelanda ha llegado a ser cosmopolita. Se comunica el primer hallazgo en el continente africano, en Marruecos. Se encontraron poblaciones establecidas de Potamopyrgus antipodarum en el humedal Low Moulouya, un Sitio Ramsar y un Sitio de Interés Biológico y Ecológico (SIBE), donde ocupa hábitats naturales y antropogénicos (manantial, río y canal artificial). El proceso de invasión parece estar en sus primeras etapas, lo que exige medidas drásticas para poder controlar su progreso

Tinodes atlasensis Ibrahimi, Mabrouki & Taybi, sp. nov. (Trichoptera: Psychomyiidae), a new species from Atlas Mountains, Morocco

The caddisfly fauna of North Africa and Morocco is still poorly known, with only a few historical and recent investigations, carried out sporadically. In this paper we describe a new species, Tinodes atlasensis Ibrahimi, Mabrouki & Taybi, sp. nov. from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The new species is closest to Tinodes baenai Gonzales & Otero, 1984, known from the Iberian Peninsula and mainly differs by the shape of segment IX, coxopodites, harpago and the process of basal plate. Tinodes atlasensis Ibrahimi, Mabrouki & Taybi, sp. nov. is the seventh known species of the genus Tinodes Curtis, 1834 from Morocco. Future caddisfly investigations in this North African country will most certainly increase the number of the known species and reveal other new ones

New data and records of the genus Theodoxus in Morocco (Gastropoda: Neritidae)

In this paper, we present new data on the distribution of Theodoxus spp. in Morocco, providing new records of three known species, in addition to a record of an unknown species resembling the extinct T. valentinus (Graells, 1846) recorded only from Spain, where it is endemic to the Valencia region. Identification key and photos of the species are also presented

Two new species of Mercuria Boeters, 1971 from Morocco (Gastropoda, Hydrobiidae)

Although Mercuria genus has received considerable attention in Morocco in terms of species discoveries, new species continue to be found in the country. The aim of this paper is to describe two new species of Mercuria found recently in northeastern Morocco

Oligo-Miocene thinning of the Beni Bousera peridotites and their Variscan crustal host rocks, Internal Rif, Morocco†

International audienceDeciphering Variscan versus Alpine history in the internal Rif system is a key to constraining the tectonic evolution of the Alboran domain and hence the geodynamics of the western Mediterranean system during the Cenozoic. This study focuses on the evolution of the metamorphic envelope of the Beni Bousera massif and its relation to the underlying peridotites. Combining structural geology, metamorphic petrology, and LA-ICP-MS U-Th-Pb dating of monazite, this study contributes to the understanding of the tectonic history of the western internal Rif. The regional foliation (S2) is characterized by LP/HT mineral assemblages and obliterates a former foliation (S1) developed along a barrovian (MP/MT) metamorphic gradient. The dating of some metamorphic monazite grains from a micaschist and a migmatitic gneiss demonstrates that the crustal envelope of the peridotite recorded two distinct tectonometamorphic episodes. Data from monazite inclusions in S1 garnet suggest that the first event, D1, is older than 250-170 Ma and likely related to the Variscan collision, in agreement with the barrovian type of the metamorphic gradient. The second event, D2, is Alpine in age (at circa 21 Ma) and corresponds to a strong lithosphere thinning allowing subsequent subcontinental mantle exhumation. Such a tectonic context provides an explanation for the LP/HT metamorphic gradient that is recorded in the regional foliation of the western Betic-Rif system. This extension is probably related to a subduction slab roll-back in the western end of the Mediterranean realm during the Oligo-Miocene times. No evidences for a Tertiary HP/LT metamorphism have been identified in the studied are

Primera cita del caracol exótico Helisoma duryi (Wetherby, 1879), (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) en Marruecos

El molusco exótico Helisoma duryi es un popular caracol ornamental de agua dulce que se utiliza para controlar las microalgas en los acuarios. Ahora se presenta como una especie introducida en hábitats acuáticos de Europa, África y América del Sur. Presentamos el primer hallazgo de una población aclimatada de H. duryi en Marruecos y el norte de África. A pesar de ubicarse en una única localidad de las más de 100 muestreadas por nosotros, las investigaciones en curso podrían revelar pronto más citas de la especie en el país y el resto del continente. Se deben establecer políticas y procedimientos estrictos de aplicación de la ley en el comercio de especies acuáticas como medida preventiva para preservar la biodiversidad nativa

A conceptual model for understanding the zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission risk in the Moroccan pre-Saharan area

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The AuthorsLeishmanioses are of public health concern in Morocco, mainly the Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) endemic in the Moroccan pre-Saharian area. Transmission of this disease depends on eco-epidemiological and socio-economic conditions. Therefore, a multivariable approach is required to delineate the risk and intensity of transmission. This will help outline main disease risk factors and understand interactions between all underlying factors acting on disease transmission at a local and regional scale. In this context, we propose a new conceptual model, the Biophysical-Drivers-Response-Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (BDRZCL), adapted to the Pre-Saharian area. The proposed model highlights how the physical and human drivers affect the environment and human health. The incidence of ZCL is linked to human activity and biophysical changes or by their interactions. The human response added to risk drivers are the main components that influence the biophysical part. This model improves our understanding of the cause-effect interactions and helps decision-makers and stakeholders react appropriately.publishersversionpublishe

The first record of the North American freshwater limpet Ferrissia californica (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in Morocco

Invasive species are a major threat to global biodiversity. One of the most effective invaders among freshwater snails is the North American ancyline gastropod Ferrissia californica (= fragilis). A new population of this species has been found in Lake Zerrouka (Northern Morocco), a Protected Area, which is also a site of ecological and biological interest (known as SIBE). Thus, this record expands the known distribution range of this invasive species in the Mediterranean area. Despite the fact it is located in only one out of more than 150 localities sampled by us, ongoing investigations could soon reveal more finds of the species in Morocco. Lake Zerrouka is known for recently described endemic snail species, i.e. Ifrania zerroukansis and Gyraulus marocana. Therefore, the monitoring of the presence and expansion of F. californica within invaded areas, as well as studies improving the knowledge on its biology and ecology is an urgent need