University of the Aegean

About: University of the Aegean is a education organization based out in Mytilene, Greece. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 2818 authors who have published 8100 publications receiving 179275 citations. The organization is also known as: UAEG.

Breaking Functional Connectivity into Components: A Novel Approach Using an Individual-Based Model, and First Outcomes

Abstract: Landscape connectivity is a key factor determining the viability of populations in fragmented landscapes. Predicting ‘functional connectivity’, namely whether a patch or a landscape functions as connected from the perspective of a focal species, poses various challenges. First, empirical data on the movement behaviour of species is often scarce. Second, animal-landscape interactions are bound to yield complex patterns. Lastly, functional connectivity involves various components that are rarely assessed separately. We introduce the spatially explicit, individual-based model FunCon as means to distinguish between components of functional connectivity and to assess how each of them affects the sensitivity of species and communities to landscape structures. We then present the results of exploratory simulations over six landscapes of different fragmentation levels and across a range of hypothetical bird species that differ in their response to habitat edges. i) Our results demonstrate that estimations of functional connectivity depend not only on the response of species to edges (avoidance versus penetration into the matrix), the movement mode investigated (home range movements versus dispersal), and the way in which the matrix is being crossed (random walk versus gap crossing), but also on the choice of connectivity measure (in this case, the model output examined). ii) We further show a strong effect of the mortality scenario applied, indicating that movement decisions that do not fully match the mortality risks are likely to reduce connectivity and enhance sensitivity to fragmentation. iii) Despite these complexities, some consistent patterns emerged. For instance, the ranking order of landscapes in terms of functional connectivity was mostly consistent across the entire range of hypothetical species, indicating that simple landscape indices can potentially serve as valuable surrogates for functional connectivity. Yet such simplifications must be carefully evaluated in terms of the components of functional connectivity they actually predict.

The HCONE approach to ontology merging

Abstract: Existing efforts on ontology mapping, alignment and merging vary from methodological and theoretical frameworks, to methods and tools that support the semi-automatic coordination of ontologies. However, only latest research efforts ”touch” on the mapping/merging of ontologies using the whole breadth of available knowledge. This paper aims to thoroughly describe the HCONE approach on ontology merging. The approach described is based on (a) capturing the intended informal interpretations of concepts by mapping them to WordNet senses using lexical semantic indexing, and (b) exploiting the formal semantics of concepts’ definitions by means of description logics’ reasoning services.

DETERMINATION OF PAHs IN MARINE SEDIMENTS: ANALYTICAL METHODS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Abstract: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the major categories of pollutants entering the marine environment and finally accumulating in the sediments. Their occurrence raises major concerns for human health, especially during coastal activities (bathing waters, aquaculture, etc), having combined adverse effects still largely unknown when they are present as mixtures. Moreover, during their remobilization (e.g. dredging activities), their bioavailability can increase resulting in a risk for marine environment. Several of them are known to be potential human carcinogens including benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[ghi]perylene. Therefore they have been included in the priority list of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC and also sixteen of them have been regulated by the US EPA as priority pollutants, and their distributions in the environment and potential human health risks have become the focus of much attention. The determination of PAHs in environmental matrices has been subject of great scientific attention during the latest years, as the accuracy and sensitivity of analytical methods need to be improved in order to be able to detect the compounds of interest in a complex matrix such as sediments. Therefore, significant research is being devoted to the optimization of analytical methodologies. A great number of studies have been performed on PAHs analysis in marine sediments. Various analytical procedures based on gas chromatographic analyses are reviewed and comparatively discussed in this paper.

New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (July 2016)

Abstract: This contribution forms part of a series of collective articles published regularly in Mediterranean Marine Science that report on new biodiversity records from the Mediterranean basin. The current article presents 51 geographically distinct records for 21 taxa belonging to 6 Phyla, extending from the western Mediterranean to the Levantine. The new records, per country, are as follows: Spain: the cryptogenic calcareous sponge Paraleucilla magna is reported from a new location in the Alicante region. Algeria: the rare Atlanto-Mediterranean bivalve Cardium indicum is reported from Annaba. Tunisia: new distribution records for the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois miles from Zembra Island and Cape Bon. Italy: the ark clam Anadara transversa is reported from mussel cultures in the Gulf of Naples, while the amphipod Caprella scaura and the isopods Paracerceis sculpta and Paranthura japonica are reported as associated to the –also allochthonous–bryozoan Amathia verticillata in the Adriatic Sea; in the latter region, the cosmopolitan Atlantic tripletail Lobotes surinamensis is also reported, a rare finding for the Mediterranean. Slovenia: a new record of the non-indigenous nudibranch Polycera hedgpethi in the Adriatic. Greece: several new reports of the introduced scleractinian Oculina patagonica, the fangtooth moray Enchelycore anatina , the blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (all Atlantic), and the lionfish Pterois miles (Indo-Pacific) suggest their ongoing establishment in the Aegean Sea; the deepest bathymetric record of the invasive alga Caulerpa cylindracea in the Mediterranean Sea is also registered in the Kyklades, at depths exceeding 70 m. Turkey: new distribution records for two non indigenous crustaceans, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Atlantic origin) and the moon crab Matuta victor (Indo-Pacific origin) from the Bay of Izmir and Antalya, respectively; in the latter region, the Red Sea goatfish Parupeneus forsskali , is also reported. Lebanon: an array of records of 5 alien and one native Mediterranean species is reported by citizen-scientists; the Pacific jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata and the Indo-Pacific teleosteans Tylerius spinosissimus , Ostracion cubicus , and Lutjanus argentimaculatus are reported from the Lebanese coast, the latter notably being the second record for the species in the Mediterranean Sea since 1977; the native sand snake-eel Ophisurus serpens , rare in the eastern Mediterranean, is reported for the first time from Lebanon, this being its easternmost distribution range; finally, a substantial number of sightings of the lionfish Pterois miles further confirm the current establishment of this lessepsian species in the Levantine.