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Great work, your BioArea is looking excellent! Congratulations!

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Great work, your BioArea is looking excellent! Congratulations!

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Molnár Ágnes

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Comparison my BioArea with the BioAreas of other learners.

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Comparison my BioArea with the BioAreas of other learners.

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Now that i completed my BioArea, i found it an excellent experience. Especially by reading some BioAreas of my co learners i learnt so many things for the BioAreas presented. I compared my BioArea with others, some of them were very impressive and fascinating as they were answering to most of the questions, while others information were inadequate. In both cases though each one of us, spent some of ours precious time for such a great experience, so we all deserve congratulations !!!

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Plants for Medicine
Hundreds of plants used to make medicines are facing extinction, botanists warn.
Forestry officials on the Greek island of Crete have slapped a five-year ban on the collection of a variety of wild herbs snipped to near-extinction. The forestry department of Hania, one of the island's main towns, placed restrictions on picking sage, marjoram, oregano and sideritis, better known as Cretan mountain tea, in protected areas.

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2013-07-overpicking-threatens-greek-herbs.html#jCp

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FISH EXPLOITATION
According to a recent research from the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR), fish population in the Mediterranean Sea is showing a continuing and alarming decrease in the last 20 years.
Overfishing, a common problem in many countries, is the main reason for the scarcity of fish.
Secondly, environmental damage, like the now outlawed fishing with dynamite, has also had a detrimental effect.

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The main threats  in Crete are the destruction of coastal habitats by the development of tourism, the degradation of mountain landscape and the loss of biodiversity due to intense agriculture, abandonment of traditional farming practices and the human-related mortality of certain species.

Between 1990 and 2000 the north eastern and central regions of the country showed a notably high trend of loss of pastures to agricultural land, compared to the average of the EU territory. Similarly three regions showed high trends in loss of land from agricultural to artificial surfaces (see maps below). About 40,000 ha of agricultural land were converted to urban areas during the same period.

Fragmentation: Until 2000, the average non fragmented parcel size in Greece was
between 200 - 250 km2, one of the highest in the European Union18
.A sporadic pattern of urban sprawl, near existing cities but also in rural areas following the
expansion of roads and highways has been observed in Greece between 1990- 2000

Degradation: It is estimated that approximately 30% of the soil in the sensitive climate zones of Greece has been subjected to various stages of desertification, a percentage that is presenting a rising tendency20 .

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THEME 3. Possible signs of climate change in my Bio Area

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THEME 3. Possible signs of climate change in my Bio Area

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Drought,  Flood and Rainfall.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017EGUGA..1917384T

Greece’s extensive coastline makes it extremely vulnerable to the rising sea levels predicted by climate change scientists, while the amount of rainfall in the country could be up to 9 pct less.
With sea levels predicted to rise between 0.2 and 2.0 metres, many areas on Greece’s coast will be directly affected, while temperatures will increase by 3-4.5 degrees centigrade, rainfall will be 5-9 pct less and the intensity of both sun and winds will be stronger.
Many of these predictions are already in action to Crete Bioarea.

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THEME 3. Possible Invasions of Alien Species

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THEME 3. Possible Invasions of Alien Species

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The most abundant and invasive alien species in Crete are Oxalis pescaprae, Ailanthus altissima, Robinia pseudoacacia, Carpobrotus edulis, Nicotiana glauca and Ricinus communis.

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THEME 3. Possible Invasions of Alien Species

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THEME 3. Possible Invasions of Alien Species

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The Lessepsian migrant Lagocephalus sceleratus, is a highly toxic fish, which has been recently introduced in the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal, (firstly recorded in 2003). The species has been rapidly expanded and nowadays has been found up to the Tunisian coast. In the Greek seas, it was firstly recorded in 2005 and very rapidly established populations, especially in the S. Aegean Sea.

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THEME 3. Possible Invasions Alien Species 

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THEME 3. Possible Invasions Alien Species 

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The Cretan branch of  the Greek Center for Marine Research (ΕΛΚΕΘΕ)  announced the appearance in the sea region of Agios Panteleimonas in Lassithi, of an invasive species of poisonous fish known as lionfish capable of causing extinctions of native plants and animals and altering habitats.

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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Pelophylax cretensis

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/58581/11788512

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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Podarcis cretensis

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/157252/5060934

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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Mediterranean Hawthorn

Crataegus azarolus

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/33987/68135981

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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Cretan Long-legged Bush-cricket

Acrometopa cretensis

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/64337698/70572638

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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Cretan Bright Bush-cricket

Poecilimon cretensis

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/17181947/70580066

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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ΤΗΕΜΕ 3. Species of my Bio Area that appears in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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Cretan Spectre

Boyeria cretensis

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/60307/12341708

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THEME2. Organisms that share the same food and the way they manage it.

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THEME2. Organisms that share the same food and the way they manage it.

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In the Galapagos Islands, finches with small beaks are more able to consume small seeds, and finches with large beaks are more able to consume large seeds. If a species' density declines, then the food it most depends on will become more abundant (since there are so few individuals to consume it). As a result, the remaining individuals will experience less competition for food.

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THEME2. Ecological Niche of Emperor Penguins.

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THEME2. Ecological Niche of Emperor Penguins.

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Emperor penguins have bodies adapted to hunting in water at very low temperatures (where they live most of the time). They feed mainly on fish, crustaceans and squid, so are predators. At the same time they are prey to larger animals, such as killer whales. These characteristics, combined with many others, define the emperor penguin’s ecological niche.

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THEME 2. Ecological Niche of SPITTING FISH. 

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THEME 2. Ecological Niche of SPITTING FISH. 

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Spitting fish (Archer Fish) spit out water to hit insects flying above the water's surface.

The Archer fish is using the ecological niche of the " air above water " and has adapted to this niche by being able to spit water at flying insects.The reason ecological niches exist is because it reduces competition. If lots of fish are already hunting in the water, the Archer Fish will have to fight them all to get food. However, because no fish is using the air above the water to hunt for flying insects, the Archer Fish adapted to use this niche and reduce competition.

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THEME 2. Second Parasitic organisms. Tick and Dogs.

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THEME 2. Second Parasitic organisms. Tick and Dogs.

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Ticks are more than just creepy; they can spread a number of different diseases that affect both pets and people. And each year, thousands of dogs become infected with serious diseases transmitted by a number of different ticks. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, anaplasmosis, tularemia, and babesia. Generally known as vector-borne disease, the risks they pose to your dog can be minimized with preventive measures (topical medications, tick collars, etc.) and annual checkups include vector-borne disease screening. This is especially important, as symptoms of vector-borne disease are often vague and difficult to recognize.

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THEME 2. First Parasitic Organims. Hymenoptera- Olive Tree

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THEME 2. First Parasitic Organims. Hymenoptera- Olive Tree

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Olive trees growing has been traditionally localised in the Mediterranean Basin for thousands of years, where almost 97.9% of the cultivated areas are located (Rallo et al. 2018). The list of potentially harmful organisms includes more than 255 species and the losses due to insect pests alone are estimated to be approximately 15% of production (Haniotakis 2003). Among them, the most common species are the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi, 1790) (Diptera: Tephritidae), the olive moth, Prays oleae (Bernard, 1788) (Lepidoptera: Praydidae), and the Mediterranean black scale, Saissetia oleae (Olivier, 1791) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) (Haniotakis 2003)

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THEME 2. Second Example of animals with a Predation- Prey Relation : Owl - Mouse

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THEME 2. Second Example of animals with a Predation- Prey Relation : Owl - Mouse

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Owls have great ears that can trace small vibrations from movement on the ground from small animals. Some owls have special feathers on their wings that allow them to fly without making a sound. Owls live in many habitats such as coniferous forest, mountains, deserts, and plains. the snowy owl lives in the tundra.They will wait for prey to appear, and swoop down with open wings, and their talons stretched forward. So a mouse is a perfect prey for this very impressing predator. Even though mice have their own self defence techniques most of the times Owls are the winners of this battles.

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THEME 2. First Example of animals with a Predation - Prey Relation : LADYBUG- APHID. 

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THEME 2. First Example of animals with a Predation - Prey Relation : LADYBUG- APHID. 

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It seems a shame to break the illusion, but ladybugs aren't quite as lady-like as their name might suggest. In fact ladybugs are rather voracious predators that like to spend their time feasting upon hordes of unsuspecting aphids. Ladybugs and their larvae are excellent aphids predators. The commo ladybug will eate some 50 aphids a day. Their larvae will eat their weight in aphids each day. A single ladybug will eat 5000 aphids during its lifetime.

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The wolves were brought in because the increased elk population was overgrazing the deciduous, woody species such as aspen and cottonwood.

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Samaria Gorge is one of the most famous Greek Nationals Park. It concerns the White Mountains (2.453 altitude) including a world biosphere reserve and situated in Western Crete. The area includes extensive cave systems and flat internal upland plains encircled by mountains. The typical landscapes consists of deep gorges, steep and imposing vertical rocks forming narrow openings. It maw proclaimed as National Park by the Greek Goverment in 1962, and a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco in 1981.

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Samaria Gorge

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A must for visitors to Crete is to complete the walk down the gorge from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea, at which point tourists sail to the nearby village of Sougia or Hora Sfakion, where they could spend a night there, or they could catch a coach back to Chania.

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White Mountains are the largest mountains in Crete formed by calcium carbonate rocks like marbles, limestone and dolomite. Most of these rocks were formed hundreds of Million years ago under the sea and from the dissolved calcium carbonate that was eroded on land by rainwater. The geology of the area is very monotonous as rock diversity is very poor. Two main groups of rocks built the White Mountains : Plattenkalk and Trypali. The oldest rocks of the group are at about 300 million years.

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In the core area the law allows only scientific research and environmental education. Forestry activities, grazing hunting and fishing are prohibited. In the peripheral zone there are no restrictions but the Forest Service can take any necessary measures for the realization of the aims of the park

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THEME 1. Evidence of Damaging Human Activities 

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THEME 1. Evidence of Damaging Human Activities 

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The basic threats and pressures characterizing the site can be cummulated :
1. landscape fragmentation
2. soil erosion caused by overgrazing and uncontrolled fires
3. modifications in water and groundwater regime induced by large scale infrastructures
4. poaching and uncontrolled abstraction of endemic species of flora
5. massive tourist flow

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Acomys minous

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Felis Sylvestris Cretensis

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(Capra aegagrus cretica)

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The National Park is characterized by rich biodiversity, a high degree of endenism in fauna and flora, distinctive geiological configurations and specific landscape features. Distinctive species of fauna found in the area are : The Cretan wild goat ( Capra Aegagrus Cretica), the largest mammal of the island, the Cretan Wildcats ( Felis sylvestris cretensis) and the Spiny mouse ( Acomys minous) which is considered to be rare. The rich avifauna of the area includes 69 species, with Gypaetous Barbatus among others. The area houses 172 endemic species and subspecies of flora, which 97 of them are endemic to Crete and 24 are specifically endemic to smaller areas.

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Its unique geographical position is responsible for its being able to boast an icredible variety of flora and fauna, many of which are endemic with Asiatic and African relationships. The area is characterized by the presence of 16 habitats of the European Habitat Directive, 7 of which are of priority. The vascular flora consists of more than 500 species of trees, shrubs and herbs, 77 of which are endemic species, 37 rare and 7 vulnerable. The forrest ecosystems are broadleaved evergreen woodlands, pines, cypress, maples, wetlands, garrique, maquis, phrygana and chasmophytes. The fauna is very rich in species with 16 mammals and 69 birds.

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The climate can be characterized as typical mild Mediterranean with a long dry period, favourably induced by the sea. The xerothermic period starts at the beginning of May and finishes at the end of the September. Most of the rainfall occurs between October and April.

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Samaria Gorge has been awarded with the European Diploma of Protected Areas of the Council of the Europe. It is a hotspot for biodiversity and a place with strong and important anthropogenic environment.