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Comparison of my BioArea with the BioAreas of other learners

This course was an exceptional experience! I had the opportunity to profoundly understand the biodiversity of my region and those of the areas of other co-learners. Some learners described the biodiversity of their area, while others all their country’s or even of another region famous for its biodiversity. A few learners gave richer information about the topics we were asked to refer to, whilst others were less informative.

I would like you to comment on my posts, If you wish!

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Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation or habitat degradation in my BioArea

The waste of the sewerage system end up to the sea. As a result, locally there is hypertrophism of seaweeds and plankton blooming because of the abundance of nutrients. Besides, the amount of oxygen in the water become low and only a few fishes live there.

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Wildlife overexploitation in my BioArea for traditional medicine or the fashion industry

Sideritis, also known as ironwort, mountain tea and shepherd's tea, is a plant well known for its use as herbal medicine, commonly as an herbal tea. Sideritis is threatened with extinction because of the intense collection for traditional medicine use.

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Species of my BioArea that appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Beech marten (Martes foina) is a threatened species that lives on Andros island and in other regions.

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Possible invasions of alien species in my BioArea

The Lagocephalus celeratuss , known as the silver-cheeked toadfish, is an extremely poisonous marine fish. This species is common in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is a recent Lessepsian migrant into the eastern Mediterranean Sea, which it reached through the Suez Canal, and it is spreading towards the western Mediterranean. It has been caught off the coasts of Greece.

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Possible signs of climate change in my BioArea, such as weather extremes.

The last few years heavy raining occurs more often leading even to flooding.

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My BioArea is Andros island of the Cyclades archipelago of Greece.

All Mediterranean Basin, which includes Andros island, is a biodiversity hotspot.

Andros contains 2 endemic species (Ferulago sartorii, Serapias cycladum) restricted only on this island and many endemic species of Greece.

Evidence of damaging human activities:
- the illegal hunting that leaded to severe reduction of the populations of partridges, martens and other species
- fires in the mountains during summer
- severe grazing of some areas (mainly by cows, sheeps and goats) a few years ago.

There is a protected area on Andros, it includes the Vitali bay and the main bulk of the island (GR4220001), it is part of Community Network of Protected Areas "NATURA 2000" as a Site of Community Importance (SCI). More specifically, that area is located in the northern part of Andros, occupies an area of 72.4 km² and is the most sparsely populated region of the island. Although in general it can be considered as a typical Cycladic ecosystem, it is a region of great aesthetic value and is characterized by a unique mosaic appearance of habitat types due to the high altitude (mountain Petalo, 995 m), the presence of canyons, springs, streams and seasonal swamps.

There are a few mountains on Andros island, the higher of which is the mountain “Petalo”, 995m.

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Theme 2  Exploring biodiversity Step 3 CREATE

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Theme 2  Exploring biodiversity Step 3 CREATE

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Two examples of animals with a predator-prey relation:
- hawk and snake
- fox and hare.

Two parasitic organisms: Trypanosoma and Leishmania in human.

The ecological niche of two characteristic animals:
- the wolf is a top carnivore in the woods
- phytoplankton is the main primary producer in the oceans.

Two organisms that share the same food (niche partitioning) and the way that they manage it:
Two species cann't coexist if they occupy exactly the same niche (competing for identical resources). However, it is feasible the overlap of their niches. For instance, some lizard species appear to coexist because they consume insects of different sizes.

Trophic pyramid with plants and animals of my BioArea:
-Top carnivores: e.g. falcon (Falco peregrinus), Hieraaetus fasciatus, Martes foina

-2 nd level carnivorous consumers: e.g. viper (Vipera ammodytes)
-1 st level carnivorous consumers: e.g. hare (Lepus europaeus), wild rubbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), mouse (Rattus rattus)
-Herbivorous consumers: e.g. turtle (Mauremys caspica)
-Primary producers: wild plants e.g. Dianthus fruticosus, Hypericum delphicum, Paeonia mascula ssp. Hellenica, Campanula sartorii, Ferulago serpentinica, Galanthus ikariae ssp. Snogerupii, Campanula reiseri.