First record of mixed-species heron colony: cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) breeding at Famagusta Freshwater Lake in Cyprus

This study constitutes the first record of a mixed-species heron colony and of a breeding population of Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) in Cyprus. The colony, located at Famagusta Freshwater Lake, was surveyed from March to June 2007. The survey were terminated after 25 June when it was not possible to boat to the colony due to decreasing water levels. The total number of active nests, i.e. containing eggs and/or hatchlings, was 135 for Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis); 38 for Squacco Heron and 4 for Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). Cattle Egrets started nest building and egg laying at the beginning of March and hatching started by the end of March. Egg-laying and hatching continued throughout June, possibly due to second broods. Mean clutch size was 3.5±0.8 eggs (range 1-5; n=135). Mean hatching success was 2.9±1 hatched egg per nest (range = 1-5; n=54) and mean breeding success was 2.8±1 chick per nest (range = 0-5; n=36) for chicks surviving up to 15 days after hatching. Squacco Herons started nest building and egg laying by the end of May and hatching started by mid June. Egg-laying and hatching continued throughout June and probably in July and August. As surveys were terminated in June, it was not possible to collect sufficient data on the breeding chronology of this species. Mean clutch size was 3.1 ± 0.8 egg (range 2-4; n=38), which was lower than European estimates. A multitude of activities at and around Famagusta Freshwater Lake pose potential threats to the conservation of the colony resulting in an urgent need for management of the wetland

FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN

Mesaoria plain is mainly used for agricultural purposes and contains 50 % of the barley fields in Northern Cyprus. The construction of a highway from Nicosia to Famagusta that passes through the plain has resulted in an increasing number of vehicles from 1997 to 2006, the majority of which run on leaded gasoline. Barley is cultivated on a large scale along the Nicosia-Famagusta highway, and was tested as a possible biomonitor for heavy metals. During the vegetative period, samples of barley plants and soil were collected at 4 distances (0, 50, 100 and 500 m) from the highway, at 4 sites, from January to April 2006. The highest concentrations of Pb++ (2.82 mu g g(-1)), Cd++ (1.52 mu g g(-1)), Cr++ (2.86 mu g g(-1)), Zn++ (51.8 mu g g(-1)) and Cu++ (19.8 mu g g(-1)) were recorded in soil collected beneath the highway, and the lowest in samples collected at 500 m from the highway, for Pb++ (0.54 mu g g(-1)) in the above-ground parts of barley, Cr++ (0.85 mu g g(-1)) in soil, and Zn++ (7.2 mu g g(-1)) in barley plant roots. A positive relationship was found between soil and plant heavy metal concentrations. According to the EU Directive 86/278/EEC on the protection of the environment and, in particular, of the soil, concentrations of Pb++ and Zn++ are below the threshold, Cd++ are between the limits and Cr++ are above threshold

PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphology of 10 endemic taxa Pimpinella cypria, Ferulago cypria, Limonium albidum subsp. cyprium, Onosma caespitosum, Origanum syriacum var. bevanii, Salvia veneris, Sideritis cypria, Phlomis cypria var. cypria, Scutellaria sibthorpii and Teucrium cyprium subsp. kyreniae distributed in Northern Cyprus. These belong to the families Apiaceae, Plumbaginaceae, Boraginaceae, and Lamiaceae. All these species are distributed only on the Beshparmak mountains in the northern part of Cyprus and arc under a threat of extinction due to severe habitat degradation arising from human activities, forests fires and stone queries. The micrographs of the seeds were taken by means of trinocular stereo dissection microscope, and detailed morphological features recorded from the fresh and dried samples collected during 2001-2004. An attempt has been made for transplantation of these species to some protected sites

Oxidative damage and antioxidants induced by heavy metal stress in two cultivars of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) plants

The present study evaluated the physiological and biochemical changes in two mustard cultivars (Brassica juncea L.), Varuna and local Rohoni, under individual and combined effects of Cd and Pb stress. Cd and Pb affected most of the considered parameters, e.g. reduction in shoot and root length, dry weight of shoot and root which ultimately leads to decreased biomass content. Cd and Pb stress induced oxidative stress leading to increase in peroxidation of membrane lipids and electrolyte leakage. The interaction of Cd+Pb was found to be more harmful for the plant growth. Under high Cd+Pb (300 mg/kg soil each) levels, a decrease in catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), accompanied with increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2), was observed detoxifying the negative effects of active oxygen species (AOS). The proline content was also increased in both the cultivars but the increase was more in Varuna than Rohini. At lower concentrations of Cd and Pb, protein content increased but decreased at higher levels. Maximum decrease in chlorophyll content was observed in Rohini as compared to Varuna cultivar. © by PSP

An overview of economic and medicinal importance of carob plants (Ceratonia siliqua L.) in the Mediterranean basin

Ceratonia siliqua L., commonly known as carob, is a leguminous evergreen shrub or tree belonging to the family Fabaceae. This plant is native to the East Mediterranean area, flourishing on the arid and unproductive lands of the Mediterranean basin. The tree has great potential both economically and ecologically

Boron and plants

Boron is found naturally in the earth's crust in the oxidized form as borax and colemanite, particularly in the oceans, sedimentary rocks, coal, shale, and some soils. It is never found in the elemental form in nature possessing a complex chemistry similar to that of silicon, with properties switching between metals and non-metals. Boron has become an important and strategic element in terms of developing technologies. It is released into the environment mainly through the weathering of rocks, volatilization from oceans, geothermal steam, burning of agricultural refuse and fuel wood, power generators (coal/oil combustion), glass industry, household use of boron-containing products (including soaps and detergents), borax mining and processing, leaching from treated wood and paper, chemical plants, and sewage/sludge disposal, but a major proportion originates from the weathering of rocks. Boron is regarded as an essential element for human beings, animals and plants. Boron occurs in soils at concentrations ranging from 10 to 300 mg kg-1 depending on the type of soil, amount of organic matter, and amount of rainfall. The treatments lead to significant increases in the productivity of some plants but in certain cases a decrease is seen as the boron level increases with the boron content of irrigation water, in particular on the soils with a heavy texture, high CaCO3 and clay content. Lack of boron in plants results in necrosis but excess amounts are said to produce poisonous effects. Turkey produces more than 60% of the world's borax, with important boron reserves located in Susurluk, Bigadic and Sindirgi regions of Balikesir, Kestelek-Bursa, Emet-Kutahya, the largest reserves occur in Kirka-Eskisehir. Therefore, there is a naturally occurring high level of boron in the ground waters in some of these areas due to the excess amounts of boron given out to the environment during washing and purification processes which result in the pollution of cultivated areas. An attempt will be made here to present an overview of the plant diversity on the boron contaminated soils in Turkey, effects of different concentrations of boron on the germination ability of some plants and possible candidates for phytomining of the soils showing boron toxicity symptoms. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

Analysis of airborne pollen fall in Nicosia (Cyprus)

Airborne pollen distribution in the city of Nicosia (Cyprus) was measured volumetrically during two consecutive years 2007-2008 on weekly basis using Lanzoni trap (Lanzoni VPPS 2000). A total of 7,880 pollen grains/m3 belonging to 44 taxa, in 2007 were 3,593 pollen grains/m3 and in 2008 it was 4,287 pollen grains/m3, were determined. Out of these, 25 belonged to the arboreal and 19 to the non-arboreal taxa. At the end of 2 years, total pollen counts were 78.76% arboreal, 19.32% non-arboreal, and 1.92% unidentified taxa. The number of pollen in the arboreal plants followed the trend as Pinaceae (29.96%), Cupressaceae/Taxaceae (18.33%), Olea europaea L. (6.92%), and Quercus spp. (4.92%), and for non-arboreal representatives, these were Poaceae (8.46%), Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae (2.61%), Plantago spp. (1.69%), and Parietaria spp. (1.51%). The distribution of pollen in the atmosphere of Nicosia followed the trend as March, April, May, and June. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Forest diversity, climate change and forest fires in the Mediterranean region of Turkey

PubMed ID: 20648808This paper reviews the forest resources in Turkey in the light of published literature and summarises extensive fieldwork undertaken in the Mediterranean phytogeograhical region of Turkey. The issues of landscape change and the associated drivers are addressed and the threats to the forest diversity are considered. It notes the impacts of climate change and forest fires and attemepts have been made to put forth future options for sustainable forest development. © Triveni Enterprises