Background: Colon- and rectalcancer is the third most common cancer form worldwide. Previous research shows that unhealthy eating habits has a connection as a causal factor for cancer and that it's possible to prevent a third of all cancer cases with a changed diet. Medeiterranian diet consist of a high intake of seafood and is believed to be a healthpromoting diet. It is also a lower prevalence of cancer among the mediterranian coast. A WHO-report shows that about 1,5 - 2 % of all cancer cases have a connection to environmental pollution and nowadays most waters contains environmental pollution. Aim: The aim of this study was to update the state of knowledge between the mediteranian diet, it's frequency of seafood intake and colon- and rectal cancer in adults.  Method: A literature review was used to answer the aim. The article search was made in PubMed where 12 articles were chosen and passed the quality review. Results: There was an ambiguously connection between mediterranean diet and the incidence of colon- and rectalcancer as research did not agree on whether there was a connection or not and the amount of studies used was limited. Some studies believe that there’s a significant connection while others believe that there isn’t any connection. The study partly confirms the connection between the intake of seafood and the prevalence of colon- and rectalcancer where they who ate according to the WHO-recommendations possibly had a smaller risk of developing colon- and rectalcancer compared to those who ate either more or less seafood than recommended.  Conclusion: More research is needed in the field to ensure possible connection. / Bakgrund: Tjock- och ändtarmscancer är den tredje vanligaste cancerformen världen över. Tidigare forskning visar att ohälsosamma matvanor har en koppling som orsak till cancer och att det genom att förbättra kostvanorna är det möjligt att förebygga en tredjedel av alla cancerfall. Medelhavskost med sitt höga intag av fisk- och skaldjur anses vara en hälsofrämjande kost och kring medelhavskusten är det en minskad förekomst av dödsfall orsakade av cancersjukdom. En rapport av WHO visar att ca 1,5–2 % av alla cancerfall har kopplingar till kemiska föroreningar och de flesta vatten innehåller numera kemiska föroreningar.  Syfte: Syftet med studien var att uppdatera kunskapsläget för samband mellan medelhavskost, dess intag av fisk- och skaldjur och tjock-och ändtarmscancer hos vuxna över 18 år. Metod: En litteraturstudie användes för att besvara syftet. Artikelsökningen skedde i PubMed där 12 artiklar valdes ut och klarade kvalitetsgranskningen.  Resultat: Ett tvetydigt samband fanns mellan medelhavskost och förekomsten av tjock- och ändtarmscancer då forskningen inte var överens om huruvida det finns ett samband eller inte samt att det var en begränsad andel studier. Vissa studier menar att det finns ett signifikant samband medan andra menar att det inte finns något samband.   Studien stärker till viss del sambandet mellan fisk- och skaldjurintag och förekomst av tjock- och ändtarmscancer där de som åt fisk enligt WHO´s nuvarande rekommendationer möjligen hade en minskad risk för tjock- och ändtarmscancer jämfört med de som åt antingen mer eller mindre. Slutsats: Mer forskning behövs inom området för att säkerställa eventuella samband.

Earth-boring dung beetles of the genus Lethrus Scopoli, 1777 belong to the family Geotrupidae, classified into three subfamilies (Geotrupinae, Lethrinae a Taurocerastinae). The description of about 120 species, divided into nine subgenera, is based on morphology and geographic distribution. Shape of mandibles, ventral mandible processes, pronotum and structure of external male genitalia are used as diagnostic morphological characters for taxa. The richest species diversity is known from Central Asia. The distribution area reaches, in the east, up to Mongolia and China, and in the west, up to Southeast Europe. All species are robust, relatively large flightless beetles with low dispersial ability. They feed on parts of fresh plants instead of feces like other dung beetles. Master thesis is focused on the species distributed in the Eastern Mediterranean and Central Europe. This area is inhabited only by nominotypical subgenus Lethrus. The main goal of thesis is to clear up phylogenetic relationships between species of subgenus and speciation events using molecular genetic methods. We have examined 91 samples of the genus Lethrus using two mitochondrial genes - cytochrome b (382 bp, 80 sequences), cytochrome oxidase I (815 bp, 87 sequences) and nuclear gene 28S rDNA (D2-D5) (1100 bp, 11 sequences)....

Aquaculture facilities involve mooring a large amount of artificial structures in offshore areas, which are colonised by a wide group of marine organisms, forming characteristic fouling communities. Many studies have focused on determining what sessile organisms are able to settle on nets, ropes and buoys, owing to the specific problems they cause and their economic cost to the aquaculture industry. Although sessile fouling communities are well-studied from the point of view of controlling this community on aquaculture facilities, little is known about the epifaunal mobile species inhabiting these artificial structures. This thesis addresses the study of crustacean amphipods, which have been scarcely studied regarding their species composition and relation to the habitats created by the sessile species and despite being detected in high abundances. After the general introduction, which sets the study framework, Chapter 1 is a preliminary study on the composition of fouling assemblages on aquaculture facilities in the Mediterranean Sea, comparing them with others such as those in harbours or offshore structures. Therein, it is shown that fouling communities are made up of mainly bivalves, algae, hydroids and bryozoans and amphipods usually represent more than 80 % of motile fauna associated with these organisms. Moreover, amphipod assemblages are characterised by seven frequent and dominant species: Elasmopus rapax, Jassa marmorata, Jassa slatteryi, Ericthonius punctatus, Stenothoe tergestina, Caprella equilibra and Caprella dilatata. A quantitative study of amphipod densities is carried out in Chapter 2, where mean amphipod densities observed in fish farm fouling amounted to 176,000 ind.m-2 and reached maxima up to 1,000,000 ind.m-2. There, the role of the macro- and microhabitat in supporting such amphipod communities is explored. The effect of the modification of marine currents on pelagic communities due to the introduction of coastal infrastructures is analysed in Chapter 3. Therein, it was detected a retention effect on planktonic amphipods near such facilities, noticeable in the increased abundance of hyperiids and migrating amphipods from different benthic and floating habitats. The influence of fouling amphipods on other habitats is analysed in Chapters 4 and 5, it is shown that fish-farm fouling acts as a source population of amphipods dispersing towards both defaunated sediments in soft-bottoms and surrounding floating habitats. Finally, in the last chapter, based on the possibility of using wild fauna already growing in fish farms, the applicability of amphipods as an accessory culture is tested in an offshore integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system with finfish as main fed species. Throughout this thesis it has been shown that fish-farming activities affect the amphipod assemblage in several ways such as the establishment of high population densities or the intimate connectivity between different subpopulations. As a result, a new potential commercial application arises from the possibility of using them as biofilters of aquaculture wastes, within an off-coast integrated multitrophic aquaculture system, promoting a more sustainable development of aquaculture in the marine environment. / Las estructuras artificiales que conforman las instalaciones de acuicultura en mar abierto suelen ser colonizadas por multitud de organismos marinos, que forman comunidades de fouling características en estas estructuras. Muchos estudios se han centrado en la descripción de los organismos sésiles que se desarrollan sobre cabos, redes y boyas de las instalaciones de acuicultura, debido a los problemas que generan para el cultivo y los costes adicionales que significan para la industria derivados de su necesaria eliminación. Sin embargo, aunque las comunidades de fouling sésiles han sido bien estudiadas desde el punto de vista de su control en las instalaciones de acuicultura, poco se sabe sobre la epifauna que habita estas estructuras artificiales. Esta tesis se centra en el estudio de los crustáceos anfípodos, los cuales aún no han sido estudiados en cuanto a la composición de especies y a su relación con los hábitats creados por los organismos sésiles, a pesar de haber sido detectados en grandes abundancias en las instalaciones de acuicultura. Después de una introducción general, que establece el marco de estudio, el capítulo uno es un estudio preliminar sobre las comunidades de fouling de las instalaciones de acuicultura en el Mediterráneo, comparándolas con las desarrolladas en otras estructuras artificiales como puertos o plataformas petrolíferas. En este capítulo, se demuestra que las comunidades de fouling están compuestas principalmente por bivalvos, algas, hidrozoos y briozoos y que más de un 80% de la fauna asociada a estos organismos son anfípodos. Además el poblamiento se caracteriza por la presencia de siete especies de anfípodos que son frecuentes y abundantes: Elasmopus rapax, Jassa marmorata, Jassa slatteryi, Ericthonius punctatus, Stenothoe tergestina, Caprella equilibra y Caprella dilatata. Un estudio cuantitativo de las densidades de estos anfípodos se lleva a cabo en el capítulo 2, donde se encuentra que la densidad media es de 176.000 ind.m-2, con máximos de más de 1.000.000 ind.m-2. Allí se explora también el papel de los macro y microhábitats en mantener dichas poblaciones de anfípodos. El efecto de la modificación de corrientes sobre las comunidades plantónicas debida a la instalación de las piscifactorías se analiza en el capítulo 3. En él, se detectó una retención de los anfípodos planctónicos cerca de las instalaciones, evidenciada por el incremento en las abundancias de hipéridos y de anfípodos migradores desde diferentes hábitats bentónicos flotantes. La influencia de las grandes densidades de anfípodos del fouling sobre otros hábitats se estudia en los capítulos 4 y 5, donde se observó que el fouling actúa como fuente de anfípodos migradores, exportando individuos que colonizan tanto sedimentos defaunados en el fondo marino como otros hábitats flotantes cercanos. Finalmente, en el último capítulo se analiza la posibilidad de aprovechar la producción natural y la conectividad observadas a través del cultivo de anfípodos como parte de un sistema de acuicultura multitrófica integrada (AMTI) en mar abierto con peces como especie principal. A lo largo de esta tesis, se demuestra que la acuicultura influencia las poblaciones de anfípodos marinos, tanto en el establecimiento de grandes densidades de población como en la conectividad entre las diferentes subpoblaciones. Como resultado, surge una nueva aplicación comercial de la posibilidad de usar los anfípodos del fouling como biofiltros, reciclando los residuos de la acuicultura dentro de un sistema de acuicultura multitrófica, garantizando así un desarrollo más sostenible de la acuicultura en el medio marino.

This thesis investigates how migration is framed in the public discourse of the European Union (EU) and in how far the discourse corresponds with the EU’s actions in the Mediterranean. A content analysis and critical discourse analysis of speeches and policy documents produced by the EU, identify that the discourse on migration is heavily focused on externalization and depoliticization. Migration is presented as a state of exception which allows for extraordinary measures. Biopolitics and Thanatopolitics are used as theoretical frameworks to argue that irregular migrants are places in a zone of indistinction and thus become bare life. While the EU emphasizes high human rights standards in its discourse, it fails to live up to these standards as illustrated by the EU’s alleged involvement in human rights violations in the Mediterranean.

Biodiversity is declining faster than at any other time in the Earth's history, driven mostly by land use change and degradation. Overberg Renosterveld, some of the most species diverse mediterranean type shrublands, are no exception with about 95% of their original extent lost to agriculture. Historically, large herds of indigenous grazing mammals roamed these landscapes. Today the Overberg's agricultural lands are fragmented by land cover change and divided by fences. In the contemporary landscape animals, largely domestic livestock, and plant resources are closely coupled, and overgrazing of remaining renosterveld fragments a significant threat, with potential to cause irreversible damage. The Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) (Act 43 of 1983) states that farmers must not exceed the grazing capacity of the veld unless it is protected against deterioration and destruction, and that any land that is degraded or denuded must be effectively restored or reclaimed. Despite this legislation, there is little empirical research on the impacts of livestock grazing on renosterveld, as well as on restoration of overgrazed areas. It was the aim of this thesis to contribute to this gap in understanding. The thesis assessed the role of grazing by different livestock types, namely cattle and sheep, on biodiversity, the soil seed bank, and the restoration potential of renosterveld vegetation from resting the veld. The effect of livestock grazing by sheep and cattle on plant species richness and diversity and growth form diversity was assessed using Modified Whittaker plots and presented in Chapter 3. It was hypothesised that livestock grazing by cattle would have less effect on species richness and diversity and growth form diversity than sheep grazing and that both cattle and sheep grazing would lead to a reduction in species richness and diversity in comparison to renosterveld sites with a treatment of no grazing. Thirty sites where either no grazing has taken place or that have been grazed by cattle or sheep were selected with sites being evenly distributed between Eastern, Central and Western Rûens Shale Renosterveld. At each of the thirty sites, vegetation data were collected from a series of nested subplots of ten 1 m2 , two 10 m2 and one 100 m2 subplots nested within a 1 000 m2 plot. One soil sample was also collected from each 1 000 m2 plot to a depth of 10 cm for nutrient analysis. Findings revealed that sites grazed by sheep had significantly lower plant species richness (median richness = 29 species, mean Shannon-Weiner = 3.39) and diversity when compared to sites with a treatment of no grazing (median richness = 49 species, mean Shannon Weiner = 3.83). Sites with a treatment of no grazing had significantly higher richness of geophyte species (mean = 14.7) than sites grazed by cattle (mean = 7.0) and sheep (mean = 7.1) during the study. The results obtained were in line with the hypothesis that livestock grazing by sheep resulted in a reduction in species richness and diversity and vegetation cover in Overberg Renosterveld in comparison to sites where no grazing has taken place. Sites with a treatment of no grazing showed higher species richness and vegetation cover of non-succulent shrubs, annual forbs and perennial forbs than sites grazed by sheep. It was concluded that livestock grazing of Overberg Renosterveld by sheep needs to be done with care. This can be done by adopting a passive adaptive management approach. Here one set of management protocols can be developed and implemented and through science-based monitoring to inform management, these can be adapted as needed based on the key findings. Chapter 4 investigated ecosystem resilience and the restoration potential of Overberg Renosterveld through an exploration of its soil seed bank as a source for potential recovery. A glasshouse germination experiment investigated the effect of livestock grazing by cattle and by sheep in comparison with a grazing treatment of no grazing on the soil seed bank in Overberg Renosterveld, as well as the similarity between the standing vegetation and the soil seed bank. It was hypothesised that cattle and sheep grazing would reduce species richness, species diversity and growth form diversity in the soil seed bank in comparison with sites with a treatment of no grazing. Soil samples were collected from 30 sites that were also used in Chapter 3. The soil was then spread on top of a 6 cm layer of compost in seed trays, and smoke treated to enhance germination. Seedlings were assigned to growth form categories including forbs, geophytes, annuals, graminoids, succulent shrubs and nonsucculent shrubs and then identified to family, genus or species level. The results of the soil seed bank study were correlated with the vegetation results from Chapter 3 to examine the relationship between the standing vegetation and the soil seed bank. A total of 48% of taxa in the standing vegetation had seed present in the germinable seed bank. However, there were no differences in species richness, species diversity or number of individuals between grazing treatments. The results indicated that livestock grazing has a far less significant impact on the composition, species diversity and growth form diversity of the soil seed bank in Overberg Renosterveld than hypothesised. Instead, the results showed that there was a well-developed seed bank comprising mainly indigenous species with a variety of different growth forms including palatable grasses and shrubs. This indicates that Overberg Renosterveld vegetation has high restoration potential. Chapter 5 showed results on the effects of livestock grazing by cattle and sheep over time on plant species richness, diversity and growth form diversity in comparison with sites protected from grazing. Following collection of a baseline dataset, four years of follow up data were collected. A total of 22 fenced plots across Western, Central and Eastern Rûens Shale Renosterveld had a baseline dataset collected prior to being monitored on an annual basis over four years in grazed/ungrazed paired plots. Results on vegetation recovery from the fenced exclosures showed a significant increase in plant cover over time at sites that were not grazed. Mean species richness increased from 20.6 species to 25.4 species at sites with no grazing. Mean vegetation cover increased from 71% at T0 (the baseline time step) to 120% at T4 (the final time step) at the end of the study. Sites grazed by sheep had a decrease in vegetation cover over time each year from T0 to T4 from 75% to 50%. Results from a linear mixed model revealed that species richness between grazing treatments was significantly different at all time steps in the study. However, the significant differences were primarily due to comparisons between grazed sites and sites with a treatment of no grazing. Therefore, livestock grazing by sheep has a significant effect on renosterveld vegetation over time. Findings from this component of the study indicates that Overberg Renosterveld degraded by continuous heavy grazing has significant passive restoration potential by fencing renosterveld patches to facilitate more effective grazing management. Most of the renosterveld of the Overberg has been lost through habitat transformation for agriculture, and the future of that which remains is uncertain. This thesis affirms concerns around the impact of livestock grazing and shows the importance of improved ecological understanding around grazing management. Grazing by sheep was shown to cause greater impacts on renosterveld than other domestic livestock studied and is therefore a threat to renosterveld. These findings warrant closer attention to management practices around sheep grazing. However, the state of renosterveld soil seed banks offer considerable hope. Findings revealed a diverse indigenous seed bank, showing that renosterveld degraded by overgrazing has high restoration potential. Furthermore, fencing renosterveld to exclude livestock improves species richness and diversity over time. These findings highlight the need for caution when grazing renosterveld. However, where the damage has been done, the potential for recovery is high. Harnessing the soil seed bank in combination with excluding livestock grazing by fencing are effective tools in this critically endangered vegetation for achieving restoration and conservation goals.

Future climate projections suggest an increase in average temperature as well as a decrease in average winter rainfall across the south-west Australian floristic region (SWAFR). These adverse future climatic conditions will amplify the intensity and frequency of disturbance events such as drought and fire. Mediterranean forests within the SWAFR are prone to drought and fire disturbance and have acquired resilience through the selection of drought and fire tolerable species. However, shifts in the magnitude of these disturbance events could increase the recovery period required for recruitment, causing a shift in forest structure and decreasing the resilience of these ecosystems to future disturbances. In this study, we investigated above-ground biomass (AGB) accumulation of understorey plants at sites within the Northern Jarrah Forest (NJF) that have experienced different degrees of drought and fire intensity. We found that within a disturbance event, sites experiencing either more severe drought and fire intensities on average accumulated substantially more understorey AGB than sites subjected to both low drought and moderate fire intensities. This suggests that understorey species within the SWAFR gain a competitive advantage in high drought and fire severity conditions and are highly tolerant to drought. However, the increase in understorey AGB accumulation also suggests a shift in overall forest structure to more dense, compact, low-ground small stems, which is known to increase fire probability. An increase in fire probability shortens the time period between fire intervals and can detrimentally affect forest recovery, especially in drought conditions. Therefore, these changes may shift ecosystems within the SWAFR to a state of non-equilibrium and reduce resilience to future disturbance events.

The study of prehistoric trade and exchange networks in the Western Mediterranean is directly linked to the identification and location of commodities available to Neolithic communities in that region. One of these commodities is a volcanic glass commonly known as obsidian. This investigation focused on the procurement, processing, and distribution of obsidian from the island of Pantelleria, situated between the southwestern coast of Sicily in the Straits of Sicily and the northeastern coast of Africa near Cape Bon, Tunisia. Previous studies indicate that there are several chemically different source areas on the island. Research involved the identification of primary obsidian deposits and the collection of samples from primary and/or secondary sources. The position of each collection point was recorded using GPS coordinates, photographs, and physical descriptions, including accessibility and geological matrix. Additional information regarding the size, frequency, and grade (i.e. quality for tool production) was also noted. Each geological specimen and artifact was visually examined for color, luster, transparency and internal structure. Geological samples and artifacts were subjected to trace element analysis, and the density weight of each piece was determined. Multivariate analyses of these test results were used to establish the unique chemical signature of each primary source on Pantelleria and to identify the specific flows where obsidian was collected by Neolithic and Bronze Age communities on Pantelleria and Zembra. Artifacts from Late Neolithic and Bronze Age sites on Pantelleria, and from Zembra, a Late Neolithic site located on an island situated off the northeast coast of Tunisia near Cape Bon were also included in this study. The results of this research has proven the importance of using large geological sample populations in determining the unique geochemical signatures of obsidian flows on Italian source islands, and will enable researchers to identify with greater certainty the source of raw material used to create obsidian tools in the Western Mediterranean.

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