Determination of sorbent point zero charge: usefulness in sorption studies

Potentiometric mass titration (PMT) technique has been adapted to determine the pH _pzc of four vegetable wastes: grape stalks, cork, yohimbe bark and olive stones wastes used for Cu(II) removal. The pH at the point zero charge (pH _pzc), determined by PMT, are compared with that obtained by two classical techniques: mass titration (MT) and immersion technique (IT). PMT has been found to be an easy and appropriate technique to determine pH _pzc of the studied materials. From the results, the knowledge of sorbents pH _pzc provides information about the possible attraction and repulsion between sorbent and sorbate but in any case enables to ensure that electrostatic force is one of the mechanisms that takes place in metal sorption.     

Characterization of fulvic acids during olive mill waste composting (Elemental,Thermal and fluorescence analyses)

Elemental analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were applied to the study of fulvic acids isolated from different stages during olive mill waste composting. The fulvic extracted acids are characterized by a high nitrogen content and O/C ratio values that may result from the high degree of humification and the synthesis of more condensed humic complexes. This was confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy in the synchronous-scan mode by the decrease of shoulder intensities at intermediate wavelengths indicating the increase of polycondensation and conjugation of unsaturated structures and the greater uniformity of fluorophores. Fluorescence spectra in the emission, excitation and synchronous modes became simpler with compost maturation. This was confirmed by DSC results which proved the high degree of polycondensation of aromatic nuclei of fulvic acid molecules during olive mill waste composting.     

Characterization of fulvic acids during olive mill waste composting (Elemental, Thermal and fluorescence analyses)

Elemental analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were applied to the study of fulvic acids isolated from different stages during olive mill waste composting. The fulvic extracted acids are characterized by a high nitrogen content and O/C ratio values that may result from the high degree of humification and the synthesis of more condensed humic complexes. This was confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy in the synchronous-scan mode by the decrease of shoulder intensities at intermediate wavelengths indicating the increase of polycondensation and conjugation of unsaturated structures and the greater uniformity of fluorophores. Fluorescence spectra in the emission, excitation and synchronous modes became simpler with compost maturation. This was confirmed by DSC results which proved the high degree of polycondensation of aromatic nuclei of fulvic acid molecules during olive mill waste composting.     

Life on glass houses: sponge stalk communities in the deep sea

Photographs of the deep-sea floor often show organisms attached to biogenic structures that protrude from the soft bottom. In particular, the stalks of glass sponges (hexactinellids) provide hard substrata and act as habitat islands for deep-sea fauna. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the abundance of glass sponge “stalks” at an abyssal station in the NE Pacific, to identify the fauna associated with stalks, and to compare the distribution patterns of epifaunal taxa both horizontally and vertically. Densities of stalks and large epifauna were estimated from analysis of ∼9 km of photographic transects taken in 1994–1995 at station M (34°45′N; 123°00′W; 4,100 m depth) off California, USA. At least 87% of the stalks were the spicule columns of live or dead hexactinellids in the genus Hyalonema (Gray, 1832). Stalks appeared to be distributed randomly across the sea floor (density: 0.13 stalks m⁻²). A colonial zoanthid, Epizoanthus stellaris (Hertwig, 1888), inhabited 20% of the stalks and was the most commonly observed epifaunal organism, followed by other suspension feeders that generally were situated at the top of the structures. Thirty-five stalk communities were collected in tube cores in 1994–1995 using the submersible “Alvin”. A total of 139 taxa was associated with these hard-substratum habitats (another five species were observed only in photographs). Although taxon richness was high, the species diversity of these communities was relatively low due to the dominance in percentage abundance of a foraminiferan, Cibicides lobatulus (Walker and Jakob, 1798), and a serpulid polychaete, Bathyvermilia sp. (Zibrowius, 1973). The relationship between number of taxa and surface area of the stalks yielded a slope (z-value) typical of islands with a low rate of immigration. Three-dimensional complexity created by branching epifauna on the stalks provided more surface area and a variety of cryptic microhabitats. Vertical zonation on the stalks appeared to be controlled by biological interactions among species, with solitary fauna and certain functional groups of colonial organisms restricted by sheet-like colonial organisms that appeared to be dominant space competitors. Received: 13 April 2000 / Accepted: 9 November 2000     

Abating whey organic load through ethanol and lactic acid production by kefir

Abstract

The extent to which selected ethanol and lactic acid production bioprocesses contribute to whey waste abatement was examined. Alcoholic fermentation of whey was carried out by kefir cells immobilized on grape stalks, delignified cellulosic materials, or brewer's spent grains. Lactic acid fermentation was also performed by free kefir cells with or without addition of brewer's spent grains as promoting material. Since whey fermentation rate is affected by the lactose uptake rate, ¹⁴C-labeled lactose was used to study the fermentation ability of kefir. The highest reductions in biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand of whey, about 68% and 52%, respectively, were achieved by lactic acid fermentation in 6 h at 37 °C and pH 5.5, in the presence of 120 g brewer's spent grains. Additionally, at the same conditions, the highest ¹⁴C-labeled lactose uptake rate by kefir and consequently the highest alcoholic fermentation rate were also recorded. However, greater reductions in biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand of whey are required prior to final disposal.     

Spatial variation of growth and gonadal developments of Maurolicus muelleri in the Norwegian Sea and in a Norwegian fjord

The epibenthic megafauna of the high-Arctic Northeast Greenland shelf was investigated by means of seafloor photography and Agassiz trawl catches. At 54 stations in water depths between 40 and 770 m, sequences of color slides, each depicting about 1 m² of the seafloor, were obtained along photographic transects of about 100 to 600 m length. The photographs were quantitatively analyzed for abundance of epibenthic organisms identified by comparison with specimens collected from trawl catches. Megabenthic biomass was estimated by multiplying density values with averge body mass figures. For five dominant brittle star species, the population oxygen uptake and, thus, organic carbon mineralization potential were approximated by applying individual respiration rates of average-sized specimens to density figures. Multivariate analyses of the megabenthic species distribution revealed a distinct depth zonation. Shallow shelf banks (<150 m), characterized by coarse sediments, many stones and boulders as well as negative bottom water temperatures, housed a rich epifauna (30 to 340 ind m^–2, 1.8 to 10.5 g AFDW m^–2), strongly dominated (80 to 98% by numbers) by the brittle stars Ophiocten sericeum and Ophiura robusta. The oxygen uptake by brittle stars ranged from 0.4 to 95 mol O₂ m^–2 h^–1 (i.e., assuming a respiratory quotient of 0.8, an organic carbon mineralization of 0.1 to 21.9 mg C m^–2 d^–1). At the bank flanks sloping to the shelf troughs (100 to 580 m), finer sediments prevailed, stones were rare, and bottom water temperatures were positive due to the inflow of Atlantic water. Compared to bank sites, total epibenthic abundances as well as carbon mineralization by brittle stars were roughly ten times and total biomass about four times smaller. In deep shelf depressions as well as at the continental slope (200 to 770 m), stones were completely lacking, and sediments very fine. Epibenthic standing stock and carbon mineralization were one to two orders of magnitude lower than on the banks. The estimation of brittle star oxygen uptake indicates that a considerable portion of the organic carbon produced in the polynya and partitioned to the benthos may be remineralized by epibenthic bank assemblages.     

利用‘树皮''进行大气污染历史监测的新采样方法

1　IntroductionBesidestheusualsamplingmethods,theconcentrationsofpollutantsintreebarkandtreebarkpockethavebeenproposedforevaluatingthedegreeofairpollutionofpresentandinthepast[1— 4 ].Inthisstudytheconcentrationsofleadandcadmiumintheoutertreebarksofredbud…     

Monoterpene chemodiversity of ponderosa pine in relation to herbivory and bark beetle colonization

Summary. Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Laws. (Pinaceae), forests in Arizona have suffered from a nine-year period of drought and bark beetle, Ips lecontei Swaine (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), outbreaks. Abiotic and biotic stress in ponderosa pine results in the induced synthesis of certain monoterpenes that may in turn affect bark beetle behavior and survival. In this study, we investigate whether induced monoterpene production could result in a different monoterpene composition that remains stored in the needles or the trunk resin of the tree. Needle and resin samples in addition to trunk cores were collected from ponderosa pines at three locations in Arizona. Ungulate browsing induced a significant increase in limonene (P=0.010) and in chemodiversity (P=0.009), a measure of the evenness of distribution among the monoterpenes present in needles. We compared the level of ‘stress’ of the trees by measuring the thickness of annual rings in living trees and those that were killed by bark beetles. Where drought occurred, the spacing of annual rings from the last 10 years of trees killed by bark beetles was significantly smaller (P=0.020) compared to living trees. There was no difference in the monoterpene composition between the core sections of closest spacing of annual rings (stressed years) compared to the sections of widest spacing, which indicates that monoterpenes are distributed evenly throughout the extended resin system. In the area where the degree of drought was less overall, none of the individual monoterpenes present in the resin was related to bark beetle killed trees. However, about half the living pines had resin in which one of the major monoterpenes (α-pinene, Δ³-carene, and limonene) was absent, and these trees had a lower monoterpene chemodiversity compared to trees killed by bark beetles. Trees with these three major monoterpenes, corresponding to the average relative proportion in living pines at that location, may sustain higher selection and colonization by bark beetles.     

Potential parasitoid attractants,volatile composition throughout a bark beetle attack

Several hymenopteran parasitoids prey on mature bark beetle larvae (Scolytidae), concealed under the bark of conifers. According to previous results, certain oxygenated monoterpenes are crucial in host location. However, synthetic baits tested in laboratory bioassays are not quite as attractive to the parasitoids as the natural volatile bouquet from conifers containing susceptible bark beetle larvae. The aim of the current study was to identify the "missing components" in previously tested synthetic baits. Volatiles were sampled throughout bark beetle attacks (Ips typographus) on Norway spruce logs (Picea abies), and analyzed (qualitatively and quantitatively) by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, a pilot test was done employing the relatively new technique, fast GC-surface acoustic wave detector (SAW), zNose^TM, described in the methods. Quantitative differences in volatile composition were found between infested and uninfested logs, and between different stages of the bark beetle attack. In addition, the volatile composition of logs with or without mature bark beetle larvae (susceptible to parasitism) was compared, isolating odor differences at this most suitable host stage. In general, the quantity of monoterpenes (the predominant phytochemical volatiles in conifers) was found to decrease with time after initial infestation. In contrast, certain oxygenated monoterpenes and benzenoid compounds increased as susceptible bark beetle larvae developed, which therefore could be candidates for improving parasitoid baits. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on long-term dynamics of the volatile composition of bark beetle infested P. abies. The results should be interpreted in the light of previous electrophysiological and behavioral investigations of larval parasitoids, and present a number of compounds that could improve synthetic parasitoid baits.     

Investigation of naphthalene contamination in olive oil from Greece

Abstract

Incidents of using naphthalene in olive orchards as a repellent of olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) have recently been recorded. Naphthalene, the primary ingredient of mothballs, is described to be diluted in plastic bottles and hanged on the trees releasing its characteristic odor which is supposed to repel olive fly. Since naphthalene has been characterized as possibly carcinogenic to humans and animals, it was considered essential to monitor olive oils regarding their potential contamination with this specific pollutant. To this goal, a simple, sensitive and reliable analytical method for the determination of naphthalene in olive oil has been developed. The method involves extraction with ethyl acetate: acetonitrile (1:1) and determination of naphthalene using gas chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The method was validated in four fortification levels, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1?mg/kg in accordance with the EU requirements. The obtained results were acceptable as far as validation criteria are concerned, given recoveries between 71% and 87% and RSDs between 5% and 24%. The limit of determination for naphthalene was set at 0.005?mg/kg based on the lowest concentration level being validated with acceptable accuracy. The analytical technique was successfully applied to 75 olive oil samples collected from oil mills in Greece and no positive results of naphthalene were detected.     

Biosorption of copper from aqueous solutions by date stones and palm-trees waste

The removal of toxic metals from wastewaters by biosorption, based on the metal-binding capacities of various biological materials, has received much interest. However, the success of this approach depends on economic feasibility, which can be obtained by optimization of the environmental conditions. This paper evaluates, for the first time, the use of low-cost biosorbent (date stones (DS) and palm-tree waste (PTW)) to eliminate Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. The effect of some parameters on copper biosorption has been studied using date stones and palm-tree waste as solid sorbents. Results show that the highest percentage of copper adsorption was obtained for the smallest size of the sorbent particles. The biosorption process was found to occur rapidly, i.e. the maximum sorption capacity was reached within 20 min. The process involved pseudo-second-order kinetics with an activation energy value within the normal range considered for processes, where a physical interaction between the sorbate and the sorbent solid predominated. The thermodynamic parameters of the copper ions uptake onto the solid sorbents indicated that, the process was endothermic and proceeds spontaneously from the date stones. However, the thermodynamic studies of the adsorption of copper on palm-tree waste indicated that the process was exothermic and proceeds spontaneously.     

Mineralogical,compositional and isotope characterization of human kidney stones (urolithiasis) in a Sri Lankan population

In order to understand the processes of stone formation, compositional, spectroscopic, mineralogical and crystallographic characteristics of human urinary stones collected from patients in Sri Lanka were investigated in detail. The data showed that the majority of urinary calculi were calcium oxalate, either whewellite or weddellite. Other solid phases of stones were composed of struvite, uricite and hydroxylapatite. However, mixed compositions were common except for whewellite stones which occur frequently in pure form. Scanning electron microscope observations and associated energy-dispersive X-ray analyses revealed that whewellite or weddellite was well crystalized compared to other stones types, while phosphate stones were mostly cryptocrystalline. The average δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of stones were − 32.2‰ (− 37.3 to − 17.4‰) and − 24.2‰ (− 26.7‰ to − 8.9‰), respectively. The δ¹³C values were highly depleted compared to North American and European urinary stones. This may be due to food habits of Asians who consume rice as the staple food.

     

不同部位梧桐生物质炭对水溶液中镉吸附的机理

为了探究梧桐不同部位废弃物所制备的生物质炭(皮、枝、叶)对Cd²⁺的吸附效率和稳定修复的机理,以此为园林废弃物炭化利用在重金属污染修复方面的应用提供科学依据.利用实验室模拟法,通过高温煅烧法制备梧桐不同部位生物质炭,采用元素分析仪、比表面积及孔隙分析(BET)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电镜/能谱(SEM/EDS)及衰减全反射红外光谱(ATR-IR)等技术研究不同反应时间、重金属浓度和溶液初始pH条件下生物质炭对Cd²⁺吸附效果的影响,并运用四步萃取法和脱附实验分析生物质炭上Cd²⁺的吸附形态和稳定性.3种生物质炭都在8 h左右达到吸附平衡,最终吸附量依次为树皮炭>枝条炭>叶片炭;溶液初始浓度为0.5—2 g·L^-1时Cd²⁺的吸附量呈增长趋势,在2.5—3g·L^-1时逐渐平缓;生物质炭Cd²⁺吸附量均随着pH的升高而升高,但在pH值为5—8时,吸附的趋势逐渐平稳;树皮炭的酸溶态和非生物利用态的稳定Cd形态要高于枝条炭和叶片炭;比表面积不是影响梧桐生物质炭吸附Cd²⁺的主要影响因素,吸附动力学,ATR,XRD和重金属形态萃取均证实Cd碳酸盐类矿物生成是主导吸附机理;3种生物质炭的脱附量在4 h后逐渐趋于平衡,其中脱附量最大为叶片炭,最小为树皮炭.梧桐不同部位的初始性质对生物质炭吸附Cd²⁺具有明显的影响,其中梧桐皮具备更高的吸附量和重金属稳定形态,并且相比其他种类生物质炭有明显优势.因此,从吸附效果和生产成本的角度,本研究建议以梧桐皮为主,枝条和叶片为辅的生物质炭对重金属Cd进行修复治理.     

Volatiles from the bark of trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx. (Salicaceae) disrupt secondary attraction by the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Summary. Coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analysis of the Porapak Q-captured volatiles from the bark of trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx., revealed four compounds that consistently elicited antennal responses by mountain pine beetles (MPBs), Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins. One of these, 1-hexanol, disrupted the capture of MPBs in multiple-funnel traps baited with the aggregation pheromones trans-verbenol and exo-brevicomin and the host kairomone myrcene, a blend of semiochemicals that mediates the secondary attraction response in which beetles mass attack and kill living pines. The other three EAD-active aspen bark volatiles, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde and nonanal, were inactive alone, but in binary and ternary combinations contributed to a disruptive effect in an additive and redundant manner when all four aspen bark volatiles were tested in all possible binary and ternary blends. The best ternary blend and the quarternary blend achieved ≥ 80% disruption. The quarternary blend enhanced the disruptive effect of the antiaggregation pheromone verbenone in traps, raising the disruptive effect to 98%, and also enhanced the inhibition of attack on attractant-baited lodgepole pines. This is the first demonstration of specific compounds from the bark of angiosperm trees that disrupt the secondary attraction response of sympatric coniferophagous bark beetles. The results support the hypothesis that such bark beetles are adapted to recognize and avoid non-host angiosperm trees by responding to a broad spectrum of volatiles that can act in various blends with equal effect. Received 27 October 1997; accepted 20 February 1998.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Syrian olive oils and their likely daily intakes

The levels of 16 US Environmental Protection Agency polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 EPA PAHs) in Syrian olive oils have been determined. Forty-two samples including commercial extra virgin and virgin olive oils, and virgin olive oils from olive mills were analyzed. Only naphthalene (NAP) was detected in all olive oil samples under investigation. Among the studied 16 EPA PAHs, the highest maximum concentration was also observed for NAP (120 μg kg^?1). Moreover, three samples exceeded the European Union (EU) maximum level of 2 μg kg^?1 for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in oils and fats, and only one sample exceeded the EU maximum level of 10 μg kg^?1 for the sum of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, BaP, and benzo[b]fluoranthene (PAH4). The likely daily intakes of the total sum of 16 EPA PAHs, the sum of eight genotoxic PAHs, the sum of PAH4, the BaP, and the BaP equivalent through consumption of Syrian olive oils were estimated.     

Simulation and analysis of outbreaks of bark beetle infestations and their management at the stand level

Outbreaks of bark beetles in forests can result in substantial economic losses. Understanding the factors that influence the development and spread of bark beetle outbreaks is crucial for forest management and for predicting outbreak risks, especially with the expected global warming. Although much research has been done on the ecology and phenology of bark beetles, the complex interplay between beetles, host trees, beetle antagonists and forest management makes predicting beetle population development especially difficult. Using the recent infestations of the European Spruce Bark Beetle (Ips typographus L. Col. Scol.) in the Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany) as a case study, we developed a spatially explicit agent-based simulation model (SAMBIA) that takes into account individual trees and beetles. This model primarily provides a tool for analysing and understanding the spatial and temporal aspects of bark beetles outbreaks at the stand scale. Furthermore, the model should allow an estimation of the effectiveness of concurrent impacts of both antagonists and management to confine outbreak dynamics in practice. We also used the model to predict outbreak probabilities in various settings. The simulation results indicated a distinct threshold behaviour of the system in response to pressure by antagonists or management of the bark beetle population. Despite the different scenarios considered, we were able to extract from the simulations a simple rule of thumb for the successful control of an outbreak: if roughly 80% of individual beetles are killed by antagonists or foresters, outbreaks will rarely take place. Our model allows the core dynamics of this complex system to be reduced to this inherent common denominator.     

Optimisation of bisphenol A removal from water using chemically modified pine bark and almond shell

The ability of pine bark and almond shells to remove bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solutions was evaluated. Samples of these traditional agro-forestry by-products were milled, sieved into different particle size fractions (0.10–0.15 and 1.5–2.0 mm) and submitted to two different types of treatment. Sorption experiments were conducted in a batch system at room temperature and natural pH. Sorption equilibrium was attained after 48 h for all systems under study. Bisphenol A was adsorbed more effectively on the smaller particles of the sorbents. Pine bark and almond shell pretreated with formaldehyde presented higher sorption efficiency (95%), followed by almond shell (87%) and pine bark (82%) washed with hot water. All the sorption isotherms were found to fit a Freundlich equation, with correlation coefficients (R ²) between 0.823 and 0.989. The sorption coefficient (K _F) ranged from 0.06 to 0.74 (mg^1?1/n ·L ^1/n ·g ^?1). These results indicate that utilisation of both materials as an alternative sorbent for the removal of bisphenol A from contaminated waters is promising because they are available in large amounts and have an acceptable cost–efficiency ratio when compared with traditional adsorbents.     

X-ray diffraction and SEM study of kidney stones in Israel: quantitative analysis, crystallite size determination, and statistical characterization

Urinary calculi have been recognized as one of the most painful medical disorders. Tenable knowledge of the phase composition of the stones is very important to elucidate an underlying etiology of the stone disease. We report here the results of quantitative X-ray diffraction phase analysis performed on 278 kidney stones from the 275 patients treated at the Department of Urology of Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital (Jerusalem, Israel). Quantification of biominerals in multicomponent samples was performed using the normalized reference intensity ratio method. According to the observed phase compositions, all the tested stones were classified into five chemical groups: oxalates (43.2%), phosphates (7.7%), urates (10.3%), cystines (2.9%), and stones composed of a mixture of different minerals (35.9%). A detailed analysis of each allocated chemical group is presented along with the crystallite size calculations for all the observed crystalline phases. The obtained results have been compared with the published data originated from different geographical regions. Morphology and spatial distribution of the phases identified in the kidney stones were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). This type of detailed study of phase composition and structural characteristics of the kidney stones was performed in Israel for the first time.     

Potential health impacts of heavy-metal exposure at the Tar Creek Superfund site,Ottawa County,Oklahoma

The potential impact of exposure to heavy metals and health problems was evaluated at the Tar Creek Superfund site, Ottawa County, Oklahoma, USA. Observed versus expected mortality was calculated for selected conditions in the County and exposed cities. Excess mortality was found for stroke and heart disease when comparing the exposed County to the state but not when comparing the exposed cities to the nonexposed rest of the County. However, sample sizes in the exposed area were small, population emigration has been ongoing, and geographic coding of mortality data was incomplete. In an exposed community, 62.5% of children under the age of 6 years had blood lead levels exceeding 10 μg/dl. The relationships between heavy-metal exposure and children’s health and chronic disease in adults are suggestive that a more thorough investigation might be warranted. A number of possible environmental and health studies are suggested, including those focusing on possible central nervous system impacts. Unfortunately, the exposed population is dispersing. One lesson learned at this site is that health studies need to be conducted as soon as possible after an environmental problem is identified to both study the impact of the most acute exposures and to maximize study sample size—including those exposed to higher doses—and minimize the loss of individuals to follow-up.     

Reproduction of olive tree habitat suitability for global change impact assessment

The olive tree is so typical of the Mediterranean climate that its presence in a territory qualifies the climate of this as Mediterranean. Many clues indicated that in the past olive cultivation limits moved northward or southward in the Northern Hemisphere according to warmer or cooler climate, respectively. This makes the olive tree cultivation area a possible biological indicator of changes in climate and the identification of the climatological parameters that limit its cultivation plays an important role for climate change impact assessment. In this work, three different approaches were compared, with the aim to compare methodologies suited to predict olive tree distribution over the Mediterranean basin: two classifiers (Random Forest, RF and an Artificial Neural Network, ANN) and a spatial model to infer climatic limiters of plant distribution (CLPD). These methodologies were applied within a framework including a geographical information system (GIS), which spatially defined olive tree cultivated area, and climatological informative layers (average temperature and cumulated rainfall, 50 km × 50 km), which were used as predictor variables. The results indicated that RF achieved on the whole, the lowest classification error (113 misclassified cases on 1906 test cases) followed by ANN (128 cases) and CLPD (153 cases). A validation test, performed over areas out of the Mediterranean basin where olive tree is cultivated (i.e. California and Southern Australia), confirmed the goodness of the RF fitted model in predicting olive tree suitable areas. In general, climatic predictor variables of the coldest and warmest periods of the year were the most significant in determining the limits of suitable olive cultivation area for these methodologies. In particular, temperature of January and July and rainfall of October and July were the climatic predictor variables having highest significance for both RF and ANN. Temperature of January >2 °C, of July >20 °C and cumulated annual rainfall >240 mm were the bounds found in the spatial model. The fitted RF model, coupled with the results of both Regional and General Circulation Model, was finally proposed to assess climate change impact on olive tree cultivated area in the Mediterranean basin.