Coscinodon monchiquensis R.D.Porley,Ochyra & Ignatova (Grimmiaceae), a new species from the Algarve,southern Portugal

Coscinodon monchiquensis is described as a new species from the Serra de Monchique in the western part of the Algarve region in southern Portugal. It differs from the widespread C. cribrosus in having only slightly plicate leaves (in the latter species the leaves are usually strongly plicate to the base), a weakly recurved leaf margin in the proximal ? and very fragile and markedly fenestrate peristome teeth which fall away after dehiscence giving the mature capsules a gymnostomous appearance. In cases where C. cribrosus has only weak plications to mid-leaf, the plane leaf margin at once separates it from C. monchiquensis. The affinities of C. monchiquensis are discussed, and molecular phylogenetic analysis of the nrITS region indicates its sister position to all other congeners. A key to the determination of European members of Coscinodon and similar taxa is given.     

First record of Grammicolepis brachiusculus in Portuguese waters

Morphometric and meristic characteristics of a specimen of Grammicolepis brachiusculus Poey caught off the Algarve coast, southern Portugal, are reported. This is the first record of this benthopelagic species in Portuguese waters (including Madeira and Azores Archipelagos) and its fifth finding in the north-eastern Atlantic.     

Le passage vers l’Atlantique : le processus de néolithisation en Algarve (sud du Portugal)

The late beginning of the research on the neolithisation in the Algarve (southern Portugal) has been providing, as a paradox, excellent conditions for the establishment of interdisciplinary research and the test of working hypotheses. The systematic projects put forward by the University of Algarve permit us today to conclude on a preliminary basis for the formation of a Neolithic enclave at ca. 5500 cal BC, centred in the coastal territories of the region. This enclave is fully Neolithic in economic terms and it is the westernmost extension of the Mediterranean Cardial. However, some specific features of these first Neolithic groups’ artefactual items (such as pottery morphology and style and some technological aspects of chipped stone production) indicate the existence of phenomena of partial reformulation of their material cultures. According to the presently available data, this complex process seems to have occurred in similar traits also in Andalucia and coastal Morocco, that is, at the moment of the passage to the Atlantic. This individualization within the Neolithic of Cardial tradition is the equivalent to the same general cultural phenomena that have been responsible for the formation, for example, of the so-called “Franco-Iberian Cardial” or “Tirrenic Cardial” at the time of settling of the Neolithic groups in these regions.     

A multi-proxy reconstruction and comparison of Holocene palaeoenvironmental changes in the Alvor and Alcantarilha estuaries (southern Portugal)

The present study investigates the history of two estuaries on the Algarve coast, southern Portugal, through a multi-proxy approach that links sedimentology, geochemistry, palynology, microfaunal analyses and radiocarbon dating. These analyses provide an overview of the development of these estuaries over the last ～7500 years. Palynological data reveal climate-driven vegetational shifts over the whole period. Microfauna, which is composed predominantly of foraminifers and ostracods, provides evidence for periods of marine and brackish water conditions, observed in both estuaries. Whereas the sediment record from the Alvor estuary shows a clear, nearly continuous silting-up sequence, the development of the Alcantarilha estuary is characterised by fluvial sedimentation, replaced by a marine environment at about 7300 yr cal BP. Marine transgression is indicated by marine-brackish foraminifera and ostracod assemblages, while upper-marsh pollen decreased and wetland communities increased at the same time. A continuous shallowing of the estuaries followed between ～6700 yr cal BP and ～5700 yr cal BP in Alvor and 4500 yr cal BP in Alcantarilha. This was interrupted by a distinct high-energy event, possibly a storm or tsunami, between 6400 and 5800 yr cal BP in Alvor; the event was not recorded in the Alcantarilha estuary. Afterwards, the silting-up restarted with clear similarities to the pre-event situation and continued until ～3500/2000 yr cal BP. This process was influenced by the build-up of sand barriers in front of the estuaries. This is also documented by a higher percentage of upper-marsh vegetation. The core from Alcantarilha estuary shows another layer of high-energy deposits, with mainly marine foraminifers and ostracods after 4500 yr cal BP. The youngest parts of the two records are characterised by decreasing tidal influence and increasing anthropogenic impact, indicated by increasing values of cultivated plants and other human-induced changes of vegetation cover.     

Spot variation in Maniola jurtina (L.) (Lepidoptera: Satyridae) in southern Portugal and a comparison with the Canary Islands

A sample of 2013 meadow brown butterflies, Maniola jurtina , was obtained in the Algarve, southern Portugal, on behalf of E.B. Ford, the founder of ecological genetics. Variation in the meadow brown occupied Ford's attention for more than 40 years. Ford died in 1988; most of his collection had earlier been destroyed, but the meadow browns remained and became available for analysis. The butterflies were scored for spotting characters on both fore- and hindwings. The population is homogeneous over the entire area of the Algarve and there is no conclusive evidence of a difference between the two years of collection (1986 and 1987). It is probably also homogeneous with southern Iberia in general, an area unique in the western Palaearctic range of the species as it is characterized by a high spot average in males and a low spot average in females. Algarve butterflies differ markedly from those of the Canary Islands, where there is considerable inter-island heterogeneity, supporting the view that the Canary Island populations did not originate from southern Iberia. In the Algarve, many females aestivate and by September there is an essentially all-female population. These are low-spotted and differ significantly from females active in May and June at the start of the annual (one generation) flight season.     

Le paléolithique supérieur au sud du Portugal : le site de Vale Boi

Before the 90s, data on Paleolithic human occupation of southern Portugal was very scarce. During the last decade, the knowledge of the Upper Paleolithic of Algarve increased substantially due to the work of a research team based at the University of Algarve. The present paper is a report on the recent results from Algarve, focusing specially on the site of Vale Boi. It will present the chronology and stratigraphy of different human occupations from the early Upper Paleolithic up to the early Neolithic. It will focus on aspects of zooarchaeology and the exploitation of large and medium mammals as well as on marine fauna. In addition, we will present new data on stone and bone tools. Finally, we will also refer to the social and symbolic aspects present at the site, base on shell and teeth pendants and to an engraved plaquette with animal motifs.     

Distribution of phlebotomine sandflies and the rate of their infection with Leishmania promastigotes in the Algarve, Portugal

Four species of sandflies: Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perniciosus Newstead, Sergentomyia minuta (Rondani), Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti Parrot and Phlebotomus (Larroussius) ariasi Tonnoir, were collected, by aspiration and light traps, from three dog kennels and an area of high prevalence of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis in the Algarve, Portugal. Midgut infections with leishmanial promastigotes were observed only in P. perniciosus with a minimum infection rate of 5%. The engorgement, gravidity, population dynamics and sex ratios of the sandflies, and the temperature, source and altitude of collection sites were examined. Host preferences were noted for P. perniciosus.