Latest news with #UniversityOfHaifa
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
New research reveals how Byzantine farmers adapted to droughts in the Negev's wine industry
'Our findings show how difficult it was to maintain agriculture in the desert and how vulnerable the system was during periods of prolonged drought," the researchers concluded. Even in the Byzantine period, wineries contributed to the local economy in the Negev, according to recently published research. Wine, a profitable and sought-after crop through millennia, was a thriving industry in the arid desert, but was still vulnerable, largely dependent on the amount of rainfall that would come to the region through the years. These findings, initially published in the academic journal PLOS ONE, were based on research conducted at the University of Haifa and uncovered via an innovative computational model. This model allowed researchers to reconstruct the production processes, the conditions that led to the industry's flourishing, and its subsequent collapse. 'Our research shows that ancient societies knew how to adapt to extreme climates and how dependent they were on natural resources and the ability to exploit them fully. This is an important insight for the current era of climate change as well,' said Prof. Guy Bar-Oz from the University of Haifa, one of the study's authors. The new research from the University of Haifa, conducted in collaboration with Prof. Gil Gambash, research student Barak Garty from the School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures, and Prof. Sharona T. Levy from the Department of Learning and Instruction in the Faculty of Education, sought to unravel the secret of the resilience and durability of local agriculture in the Negev. Their goal was to understand how residents managed to maintain a commercial wine production system in the heart of the desert. Wine was one of the most profitable and sought-after crops in the Mediterranean Basin throughout history, reaching its peak in the arid Negev region during the Byzantine period (fourth to seventh centuries CE). Negev farmers explored advanced dryland agricultural methods Previous studies had indicated that Negev farmers employed advanced dryland agriculture methods, including building terraces, drainage channels, stone dams, and storage pits to collect rainwater and irrigate their vineyards and fields. However, a quantitative model to examine the extent to which these methods boosted yields or how vineyard production fared during drought and extreme climate changes had been lacking until now. The researchers developed a unique computer model by combining archaeological, environmental, and climatic data from the Byzantine Negev. This model incorporates details on terrain, soil types, terrace systems, and rainwater collection, alongside comprehensive information on precipitation amounts and evaporation rates. Through simulation, the team was able to estimate the water flow to vineyards, the grape yield farmers achieved, and their strategies for coping with prolonged droughts. 'The model allows us to simulate different scenarios and examine what happens to the agricultural system when the climate changes or when precipitation decreases dramatically. We created a tool that gave us a near real-time glimpse into how the desert inhabitants planned their agriculture and responded to extreme situations,' the researchers explained. The study's findings demonstrate that rainwater harvesting and terrace systems enabled Byzantine farmers to produce substantial quantities of wine, even with less than 100 mm of rain per year. The research also highlighted how strategically planning vineyards in wadis significantly increased the chances of success for desert agriculture, which remained highly dependent on rainfall. According to the model, a two-year drought resulted in nearly a one-third decrease in wine production compared to normal years, while a prolonged drought of five years led to a reduction of over 60 percent. The study further revealed that the recovery period for the agricultural system after extended dry spells could take more than six years. 'Our findings show how difficult it was to maintain agriculture in the desert and how vulnerable the system was during periods of prolonged drought. This is an important lesson for our time, highlighting the limitations of agriculture in arid regions and encouraging us to plan systems that will better cope with climate change,' the researchers concluded. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Sea turtles reveal alarming rise of drug-resistant bacteria in Mediterranean
Sea turtles are considered crucial bioindicators of marine environmental health due to their extensive lifespans, long-distance migrations, and frequent presence in sensitive coastal zones. A groundbreaking study by University of Haifa scientists, in collaboration with national partners, has uncovered alarming rates of multidrug-resistant bacteria in sea turtles off Israel's coast, raising serious concerns about the widespread impact of human pollution on ocean health and potential risks to public health. The research, published in the journal Total Environment Microbiology, reveals that three out of every four bacterial strains isolated from sea turtles undergoing rehabilitation in Israel are resistant to multiple types of antibiotics. This exceptionally high rate of antibiotic resistance was found in loggerhead and green sea turtles at the Michmoret Rescue Center. "Sea turtles serve as a natural warning sign for the condition of our marine environment—when they show such high levels of resistance, it's a clear indication that the marine system in our area is absorbing pollution originating from human activity,' stated Dr. Danny Morick, a marine veterinarian and researcher at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station of the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences at University of Haifa and one of the study's authors. Sea turtles are considered crucial bioindicators of marine environmental health due to their extensive lifespans, long-distance migrations, and frequent presence in sensitive coastal zones heavily impacted by human activity. They are known to carry various pollutants, including waste, heavy metals, and bacteria, providing vital information on environmental changes and the effects of human-generated pollution. This study, a first of its kind, was conducted by master's student Vanessa Bachmann, Dr. Morick, Dr. Dalit Meron, Prof. Dan Tchernov (head of the Charney School of Marine Sciences), Dr. Yaniv Levy (director of the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center), and Drs. Shlomo Blum and Marcelo Fleker from the Bacteriology Laboratory at the Kimron Veterinary Institute in Beit Dagan. Samples were collected between 2019 and 2021 from the respiratory tract, skin, and digestive systems of 23 injured turtles. Many of these turtles had sustained injuries from fishing hooks, nets, marine debris, or winter storms. From these samples, researchers isolated 93 distinct bacterial strains, identifying their species and resistance characteristics through bacterial cultures, genetic sequencing (16S rRNA), and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The alarming discovery was that three out of every four bacteria isolated exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). Many of these bacteria belonged to genera such as Vibrio, Shewanella, and Psychrobacter, some of which are known to cause disease in marine animals and possess the potential for transmission to humans. Antibiotic sensitivity tests further revealed widespread resistance to commonly used human antibiotics: approximately 95% of the bacteria were resistant to cefazolin, about 50% to ampicillin, and roughly 45% to amoxicillin-clavulanate. 'These findings highlight how pollution from land sources can reach the sea, create resistant bacteria, and ultimately pose a risk that circles back to us,' explained Dr. Levy. He added that "sea turtles provide a kind of window into what is happening beneath the surface of the marine environment, revealing processes that are otherwise very difficult to monitor. This is why it's so important to continue observing the marine ecosystem and work to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance before it ends up on our plates.' The researchers assert that these findings reinforce the value of sea turtles as effective bioindicators for monitoring the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in marine ecosystems, complementing ongoing global environmental monitoring efforts for other pollutants. In their conclusion, the scientists emphasized the critical need for an integrated "One Health" approach: 'We need to develop systematic monitoring programs that collect reliable long-term data and examine the links between animal health, environmental conditions, and human health'. They believe that "understanding resistance patterns can help us develop strategies to reduce pollution caused by human activity and contribute to preserving the balance of the marine ecosystem for future generations.'
