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Your BioArea is looking good!

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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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I have gained a lot of experience by going through the 3 themes of the ‘BIODIVERSITY and CLIMATE CHANGE’ module!  It was a great course for me as I learned rich information about my country that I didn’t know before. I also got some extra information about biodiversity and the ecosystem from my co-learners in different areas. I found Malamatenia’s and Mayanja Moses BioArea really exciting. In my opinion, Licnia Gouyeia’s BioArea is fully worked, although I would like to see more pictures and colours. I would like to mention that Dimitra’s Christidi Bioarea maybe need a little more effort. Finally, Gianni’s Anousis BioArea looks very organized.

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The Mediterranean Sea region, especially the southern and eastern rim, has been identified as one of the main climate change hot spots (i.e. one of the areas most sensitive to climate change) in the world due to water scarcity, concentration of economic activities in coastal areas and reliance on climate-sensitive agriculture. However, the region itself emits low levels of greenhouse gases compared to other areas in the world.

Climate change is expected to have a heavy impact on Cyprus in the coming years with droughts and intense weather patterns taking their toll on not just quality of life but also agriculture. “The reduction of rainfall, extreme weather phenomena, the extension of the hot season” will affect the island. “The threats to rural ecosystems are already visible while soil fertility and water resources are under the greatest pressure,” she said, adding that measures should be taken to improve the environmental performance of production systems over time. “By mid-century, it is expected that vast areas in southern Europe and Cyprus will no longer be suitable for wine production,

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

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

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Finally, the most recent study on Invasive Alien plants was carried out by Hadjikyriakou and Hadjisterkotis (2002). Acording to the study, Georgiades (1994) recorded 152 adventive species for Cyprus, out of which the following 16 species were regarded as spreading to natural habitats: Vinca major L., Cistus ladanifer L., Tagetes minuta L., Tanacetum balsamita L., Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.Bip., Corylus maxima Mill., Iris albicans Lange, Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.Wendl., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Epilobium angustifolium L., Oxalis pes-caprae L., Eschscholzia californica Cham., Papaver somniferum L., Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq., Antirrhinum majus L., Vitis vinifera L. Hadjikyriakou and Hadjisterkotis re-examined the spreading status of these species and they found that Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.Wendl. is the most serious invasive species in Cyprus, threatening many natural habitats, invading forests, maquis, garigue, phrygana, marshy areas and agricultural land, becoming a serious weed. Robinia pseudoacacia L. similarly to Acacia saligna, but to a lesser extend is spreading in forests, maquis, garigue and phrygana vegetation.

Apart from the above species, it was observed for the first time that the following adventive species are spreading in natural habitats, namely: Celtis australis L., Cercis siliquastrum L., Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb, Ailantus altissimma (Mill.) Swingle and Casuarina cunninghamiana Miq. The spreading status of Ailanthus altissima threatens natural habitats invading forests and maquis. Furthermore, Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl subsp. angustifolia, Pyrus malus L. and Prunus persica (L.) Batasch are new additions to the adventive flora of Cyprus, recorded for the first time. These three species are also spreading in natural habitats. The problems posing to the environment and to biodiversity are also discussed in the study.

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In 1994 wild boars were illegally released in Lemesos (Limassol) Forest and in 1996 in the Troodos National Forest Park. Soon the population increased and dispersed throughout the park. To control the wild boar, hunting was permitted and the game wardens were instructed to eliminate the free- ranging animals. In January 2005 there were no wild boars seen in Troodos, Pafos and Limassol forests.

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To save the grass snake from extinction the government invited Dr. Birgit Blosat, an expert from Germany to study the situation, and start a captive breeding program, as well as to make recommendations for the conservation and protection of the Cypriot grass snake. The result was a management plan which is implemented by the Departements of Finheries and Marine Research in Cooperation with the Environment Service (Actions A1.3.1)

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Grass snakes feed mainly on frogs and some dams before the introduction of fish provided excellent breeding habitat for frogs. The large population of frogs in combination with the appropriate habitat for this aquatic snake provided plentiful food for the snakes and assisted in the recovery of the species, particularly in one dam on Troodos mountains.

In 1995 in the dam there were only Mirror Carp (Cyprinus carpio), mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) and Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus myskiss) introduced for fishing. By that time it was estimated that there were 200 Snakes. In the year 2000 large mouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and cray fish (Procambarus clarkii) were introduced and later Roach (Rutilus rutilus).

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The introduction of alien fish and its impact on the endemic grass snake Natrix natrix cypriaca.

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The introduction of alien fish and its impact on the endemic grass snake Natrix natrix cypriaca.

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On the island of Cyprus there are only two natural lakes, the Akrotiri Salt Lake and the Larnaca Salt Lake, which usually in the summer are completely dry. The oldest dam on the island which was constructed about 106 years ago is Kouklia dam.

The construction of the dams provided new habitat for overwintering, or migrating waterfowl, and a number of species use them for breeding. The new dams boosted the population of the local amphibian populations, and consequently in one particular case the large availability of frogs (Rana levantina) helped to increase the threatened with extinction endemic grass snake Natrix natrix cypriaca.

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Possible invasions of alien species in your BioArea during the last decade. Consult also the list of 100 World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species.

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Possible invasions of alien species in your BioArea during the last decade. Consult also the list of 100 World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species.

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Birdwatching is one of the fastest growing hobbies in Europe and America, and Cyprus is particularly suitable for this activity. Migration periods (spring and autumn) are periods when many tourists do not visit our island, but they could be encouraged to come with organized packages. Bird watching, along with other forms of ecotourism, can be used to attract nature-environment tourism in general. Clearly, to attract bird-watching tourists, the illegal trapping of migratory birds must be stopped, because you cannot attract bird lovers on one hand and, on the other hand, slaughter the birds they have come to see.

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It is one of the most important problems we face as a state, which dramatically contributes to the loss of biodiversity. Trapping of migratory birds on our island is mainly done with mist nets and lime sticks, methods that are non-selective; this means that both common and very rare species of birds can be trapped, indiscriminately.

Today, this activity has grown into an uncontrolled tax-free business with a profit of millions of euros. According to BirdLife Cyprus, more than 2.5 million birds are trapped each year by the illegal use of nets and lime sticks.Cyprus is within one of the most important migratory bird corridors between Europe, Asia and Africa. This natural wealth could be harnessed to attract bird watching tourism.

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Two of the three Mediterranean Sea turtles, Caretta caretta and the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) nest in Cyprus. Both species are endangered and Cyprus is one of the most important nesting areas in the Mediterranean. In the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, the Green Turtle mainly nests on the beaches of Lara and Toxeftra in Akamas. Caretta caretta also nests in Lara and Toxetra, but especially in the Natura 2000 area of “Polis-Gialia” in the bay of Chrysochou.  Due to the exceptional importance of our island as a nesting place of sea turtles, our Foundation is particularly sensitive to the issues of protection and rational management of the beaches where they nest, and of their marine feeding sites.

Actions are oriented so that any human activities that could possibly affect their reproduction and living spaces are appropriately assessed; they should be licensed only when certain that there will be no chance of damage to the species concerned. At the same time, pressure is given to the Government to establish a mechanism of continuous surveillance and timely response in the event of illegal activities which could harm the turtles.

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Species of your BioArea that appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

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Species of your BioArea that appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

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There are 3 IUCN Members in Cyprus: the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of Cyprus, Terra Cypria – the Cyprus Conservation Foundation, and the Federation of Environmental Organisations of Cyprus.

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At low altitudes (less than 100 meters a.s.l.) Mus cypriacus seems absent from areas with strong anthropogenic pressure such as the overexploited agricultural fields of the Mesaoria (central plain of the island), human dwellings and farms, orchards (orange groves) where the house mouse is almost exclusively dominant

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The World Strategy for Plant Conservation which was adopted by the Convention on the Biological Diversity includes, inter alia, the objectives below:

• Conservation of 60% of the threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, at preference in the country of origin.

• Conservation of 70% of the genetic diversity of cultivated species and other important plant species from socioeconomic point of view.

A number of research activities are carried out in the Agricultural Research Institute aiming to ex situ plant conservation mainly through the conservation of seeds. The project for the collection, conservation and utilization of genetic diversity of local plant genetic resources was initiated on 1979. This project led to the foundation of the National Genebank of Cyprus in 1985, which is known with the code name CYPARI, co-financed by the Cyprus Government and the IBPGR (Della 1999). The collected germplasm is kept in heat-sealable foil pouches and is conserved under 0- 4 oC for medium term conservation. The conservation and use of old varieties of several species is encouraged by the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment. Additionally, some of the collections conserved in the Cyprus National Genebank belong to native plant species which nowadays are very rare, facing the threat of extinction.

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Wildlife overexploitation in your BioArea for the food industry, pet market, traditional medicine or the fashion industry.

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Wildlife overexploitation in your BioArea for the food industry, pet market, traditional medicine or the fashion industry.

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The witless use and overexploitation of natural resources, tourist development, fires, the destruction from the illegal Turkish invasion and occupation, as well as the rapid builtup development threatens the rich Cypriot flora. Consequently, a considerable number of Cypriot plant species are characterized as endangered with extinction or vulnerable and are included in the Red book of Cyprus flora.

In this tragic situation, at which many uses and activities threaten the plant biodiversity in several regions of our planet, ex situ conservation (conservation out of countryside, in laboratories or other places), as it is recognized by the Convention on the Conservation of Biodiversity, has to play an important and reinforcing role for plant conservation.

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Transport infrastructure is one of the major causes for habitat fragmentation and has been recognized as one of the most significant factors contributing to the decline of biodiversity in Europe. With rise of spatial demands for transportation infrastructure and the predicted continued growth in traffic flows, fragmentation is unavoidable, resulting in habitat loss and/or deterioration of valuable habitat, due to the destruction of prime habitats, and hence the adverse effect of many wildlife species. Significant pressure caused on biodiversity is the construction of dams and the prevention of water flow downstream. Riparian areas have been destroyed due to the water loss and the same time sediment never reaches the coastal area, with consequence of habitat loss. Cyprus by implementing the Water Framework Directive has to manage to downstream water in order to restore protected areas and riparian habitats.

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The main threat to biodiversity, especially along the coastal areas, is the tourism development (housing apartments and leisure activities). As development continues, demand for limited resources, raw materials, and municipal services also increases. Many coastal habitats, such as dune systems and coastal marshes, have been destructed or destroyed with consequence of species loss. The coastal ecosystem is very fragile and organisms are in direct danger due to infrastructure and development. Recreation also caused a threat to numerous species and habitats. Conflicting and competitive demands for coastal space have also become one of the country´s primary environmental problems.

Many problems are a direct reflection of pressure on scarce land resources in the areas adjoining the coast. Massive construction of hotels and tourist accommodation has transformed some of the largely pristine coastal areas into tourist development zones.

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Habitat loss and fragmentation are of the primary threats to biological diversity threatening the stability and persistence of wild populations, thus increasing the probability of extinction. Effects of habitat loss and is taking place in a certain extent and cause destruction of both biotopes and species. Habitat fragmentation can be described as the splitting of natural habitats and ecosystems into smaller, more isolated patches. The process of fragmentation is connected to many different factors, of which the direct loss and isolation of natural habitat are the most important. Transportation, agriculture and urbanisation are three main causes of fragmentation.

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Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.Wendl. is the most serious invasive species in Cyprus, threatening many natural habitats, invading forests, maquis, garigue, phrygana, marshy areas and agricultural land, becoming a serious weed. Robinia pseudoacacia L. similarly to Acacia saligna, but to a lesser extend is spreading in forests, maquis, garigue and phrygana vegetation. Acacia saligna was threatening the habitat of the salt lake of Larnaca, and it became necessary to remove a number of such plants from the area.

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European Red List of Reptiles. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. Cuttelod, A., Sheddon, M and E. Neubert. 2011.

European Red List of Non-marine Molluscs. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. Freyhof, J. and Brooks, E. 2011. European Red List of Freshwater Fishes.

2010. European Red List of Butterflies. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.

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Bilz, M., Kell, S. P., Maxted, N. and Lansdown,

R.V. 2011. European Red List of Vascular Plants.

Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. Cox, N.A. and Temple, H.J. 2009.

Temple, H.J. and Terry, A. 2009. The status and distribution of European mammals. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.

Temple, H.J. and Cox, N.A. 2009. European Red List of Amphibians. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.

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Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. Kalkman, V.J., Boudot, J-P., Bernard, R., Conze, K-J., De Knijf, G., Dyatlova, E., Ferreira, S., Jović, M., Ott, J., Riservato, E. and Sahlén, G. 2010.

European Red List of Dragonflies. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. Nieto, A and Alexander, K.N.A. 2009 European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles.

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. van Swaay, C., Cuttelod, A., Collins, S., Maes, D., López Munguira, M., Šašić, M., Settele, J.,Verovnik, R., Verstrael, T., Warren, M., Wiemers, M. and Wynhoff, I.

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At European level, priority crop wild relatives, aquatic plants and all species included in the annexes of the Habitats Directive, have been assessed. A total of 256 species are found in Cyprus, which represent 14% of the total of species assessed in Europe. 11% of the 256 vascular plant species assessed in Cyprus are considered threatened at the European level. For terrestrial plants, intensified livestock farming, especially intensive grazing activities have the worst impacts. For aquatic species, direct habitat loss caused by draining for development, agriculture and pasture is the main threat.

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Reptile species in Cyprus represent 15% of all the reptiles in Europe. Ten percent* of the reptile species that occur in Cyprus are considered threatened at the European level. Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation especially due to agricultural intensification and urbanization are the main threats to this group at the European level. Logging and wood harvesting also pose serious threats. It is also interesting to note that 24% of the reptile species in Cyprus may be threatened by human persecution and control, especially snakes and vipers.

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Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation as a result of agricultural expansion and intensification are the most significant threat at the European level to species that occur in Cyprus. For freshwater species, major threats include the over-extraction of water, which in many cases is further exacerbated by pollution and the introduction of alien species. Other major threats come from urbanization and tourism.

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When Cypriots consider biodiversity conservation and research they should have in mind the unique characteristics of their island, and the need to study and protect not only the habitats and the species which are designated by the European directives, but also the unique Cypriot species, subspecies, varieties, cultivars, and habitats.

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Average annual temperature of sea is 21–22 °C (70–72 °F), from 17 °C (63 °F) in February to 27–28 °C (81–82 °F) in August (depending on the location). In total 7 months – from May to November – the average sea temperature exceeds 20 °C (68 °F).

Sunshine hours on the coast are around 3,200 per year, from an average of 5–6 hours of sunshine per day in December to an average of 12–13 hours in July.This is about double that of cities in the northern half of Europe; for comparison, London receives about 1,540 per year.In December, London receives about 50 hours of sunshine while coastal locations in Cyprus about 180 hours (almost as much as in May in London).

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Cyprus has a subtropical climate – Mediterranean and semi-arid type (in the north-eastern part of the island) – Köppen climate classifications Csa and BSh, with very mild winters (on the coast) and warm to hot summers. Snow is possible only in the Troodos Mountains in the central part of island. Rain occurs mainly in winter, with summer being generally dry
Cyprus has one of the warmest climates in the Mediterranean part of the European Union. The average annual temperature on the coast is around 24 °C (75 °F) during the day and 14 °C (57 °F) at night. Generally, summers last about eight months, beginning in April with average temperatures of 21–23 °C (70–73 °F) during the day and 11–13 °C (52–55 °F) at night, and ending in November with average temperatures of 22–23 °C (72–73 °F) during the day and 12–14 °C (54–57 °F) at night, although in the remaining four months temperatures sometimes exceed 20 °C (68 °F).
Among all cities in the Mediterranean part of the European Union, Limassol has one of the warmest winters, in the period January – February average temperature is 17–18 °C (63–64 °F) during the day and 7–8 °C (45–46 °F) at night, in other coastal locations in Cyprus is generally 16–17 °C (61–63 °F) during the day and 6–8 °C (43–46 °F) at night. During March, Limassol has average temperatures of 19–20 °C (66–68 °F) during the day and 9–11 °C (48–52 °F) at night, in other coastal locations in Cyprus is generally 17–19 °C (63–66 °F) during the day and 8–10 °C (46–50 °F) at night.

The middle of summer is hot – in July and August on the coast the average temperature is usually around 33 °C (91 °F) during the day and around 22 °C (72 °F) at night (inland, in the highlands average temperature exceeds 35 °C (95 °F)) while in the June and September on the coast the average temperature is usually around 30 °C (86 °F) during the day and around 20 °C (68 °F) at night in Limassol, while is usually around 28 °C (82 °F) during the day and around 18 °C (64 °F) at night in Paphos. Large fluctuations in temperature are rare. Inland temperatures are more extreme, with colder winters and hotter summers compared with the coast of the island

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●      Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation or habitat degradation in your BioArea.  Potential consequences to the local plant and animal populations.

●      Wildlife overexploitation in your BioArea for the food industry, pet market, traditional medicine or the fashion industry.

●      Species of your BioArea that appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

●      Possible invasions of alien species in your BioArea during the last decade. Consult also the list of 100 World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species.

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

Illustrate your findings by adding interviews with relevant actors, photos, maps, case studies, opinions, google earth photos, myths or anything you think that could improve your BioArea.

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Explain the existence or absence of patterns of biodiversity in your BioArea. If you did spot such patterns, look for abiotic and biotic factors that control them.

I didn't spot patterns of biodiversity in my BioArea. Climate is changing and climate-related changes have already been observed globally as well as in the eastern Mediterranean region. Projections about climate change are surrounded with a level of uncertainty regarding the pace and the magnitude of these changes. The uncertainty involves both the type and degree of the associated impacts of climate change. To this uncertainty, one has to add eventual chain effects as well as the potential occurrence of new unforeseen effects due to accelerated glaciers retreat and large-scale disturbances in oceans, atmospheric circulation and pressure patterns.

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Species can also partition resources by foraging on different items and combining isotopic data with traditional foraging and morphological data has enhanced our ability to understand sometimes subtle species differences in food resources. Stable isotope and stomach content analyses showed that two species of cod, Gadus morhua and G. ogac, feed on different prey items but at the same trophic levels. Stable isotope and stomach content analyses also showed that tropical, freshwater fishes track changes in food abundance across season, and morphological analyses further demonstrated that they prefer food items that they can ingest most efficiently

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Griffin, J. N. et al. Predator diversity and ecosystem functioning: density modifies the effect of resource partitioning. Ecology 89, 298–305 (2008)

Kahmen A. et al. Niche complementarity for nitrogen use — An explanation for the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relationship in grasslands? Ecology 87, 1244–1255. (2006)

Pyke, G. H. Local geographic distributions of bumblebees near Crested Butte, Colorado: competition and community structure. Ecology 63, 555–573 (1982).

Schoener, T.W. Resource partitioning in ecological communities. Science 185, 27–39 1974.

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Chesson, P. Mechanisms of maintenance of species diversity. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 31, 343–366 (2000).

Finke, D. L. & Snyder, W. E. Niche partitioning increases resource exploitation by diverse communities. Science 321: 1488–1490 (2008).

Grant, P. R. Ecology and Evolution of Darwin's Finches. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1986.

Grant, P. R. & Grant, B. Evolution of character displacement in Darwin's finches. Science 313, 224–226 (2006).

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https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/kirtlands-warbler

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Kirtlands_Warbler/id

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Kirtlands_Warbler/overview

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https://www.natgeokids.com/nz/discover/animals/insects/dung-beetle-facts/

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They live on all continents except Antarctica. Dung is plentiful throughout the world, and over time, the dung beetle has learned to exploit it as a resource, and create its own niche. Dung beetles are known for the way in which they roll dung into a ball before transporting it. These balls area buried in an underground burrow to either be stored as food or used as brooding balls. The female lays eggs in the brooding ball and the larvae hatch inside. When they reach adult size, the beetles dig out of the ball and work their way to the soil surface. The actions of dung beetles serve several important functions in their habitat. Digging burrows and tunnels turns over and aerates the soil. The buried dung releases nutrients into the soil that benefits other organisms. In addition, the beetle’s use of dung leaves less available for flies to breed on, thus controlling some of the fly population.

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References

Akeret, B. 2013. Energiewende im Terarrium. Ideen und Vorschläge, wie man Stromverbrauch und Energiekosten bei der Haltung von Terrarientieren senken kann. Reptilia (Münster) 18 (99): 18-31 - get paper here

Al-Quran, S. 2009. The Herpetofauna of the Southern Jordan. American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 6 (4): 385-391 [this journal has a dubious record, see http://goo.gl/81SBPv]

Al-Sadoon, Mohammed K., Bilal Ahmad Paray, Hamad S. Al-Otaibi 2016. Survey of the reptilian fauna of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. V. The lizard fauna of Turaif region Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2016.04.005 - get paper here

Al-Shammari, Ahmed M. 2012. Additional Records of Lizards in Ha'il Province, Saudi Arabia. Russ. J. Herpetol. 19 (4): 287-291 - get paper here

Alshammari, Ahmed M. and Adel A. Ibrahim 2015. Lizards and Snakes in the Historical Faid Protected Area (Faid Hema), Ha'il Region, Saudi Arabia. Herp. Cons. Biol. 10 (3) - get paper here

ALSHAMMARI, AHMED M. AND ADEL A. IBRAHIM 2015. LIZARDS AND SNAKES IN THE HISTORICAL FAID PROTECTED AREA (FAID HEMA), HA'IL REGION, SAUDI ARABIA Herp. Cons. Biol. 10 (3):1021-1029 - get paper here

Amer, Sayed A. M. and Yoshinori Kumazawa 2008. Timing of a mtDNA gene rearrangement and intercontinental dispersal of varanid lizards. Genes Genet. Syst. 83: 275-280

Anderson, Steven C 1999. The lizards of Iran. Contributions to Herpetology Volume 15, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Saint Louis, Missouri: i-vii, 1-442 [review in Copeia 2000 (4): 1144] - get paper here

Anderson,S.C. 1963. Amphibians and Reptiles from Iran. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. Ser. 4, 31(16): 417-498 - get paper here

Baig, KJ, Masroor, R., and Arshad, M. 2008. Biodiversity and ecology of the herpetofauna of Cholistan Desert, Pakistan. Russ. J. Herpetol. 15 (3): 193-205 - get paper here

Bar, Aviad and Guy Haimovitch 2012. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Israel. Pazbar LTD, 246 pp. - get paper here

Bauer A.M. and Russell A.P 2017. Carl Bernhard Brühl and the Herpetological Contributions of his Zootomie aller Thierklassen Bibliotheca Herpetologica 13 (1-2): 4-34

Bauer, Aaron M.; Jonathan C. DeBoer , Dylan J. Taylor 2017. Atlas of the Reptiles of Libya. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 64 (8): 155-318 - get paper here

Bayless, Mark K. 2002. Monitor lizards: a pan-African check-list of their zoogeography (Sauria: Varanidae: Polydaedalus). Journal of Biogeography 29: 1643-1701

Boettger, O. 1885. Liste der von Hrn. Dr. med. W. Kobelt in Algerien und Tunisien gesammelten Kriechtiere. In W. Kobelt (editor), Reiseerinnerungen aus Algerien und Tunis. Berichte der Senckenbergischen Naturforschungs Gesellschaft 1885: 452-475 - get paper here

Bonetti, Mathilde 2002. 100 Sauri. Mondadori (Milano), 192 pp.

Bons, J. 1959. Les lacertiliens du sud-ouest Marocain; systematique, repartition geographique, ethologie, ecologie. Instit. Sci. Cherifien, Rabat, Trav. (Ser. Zool.) no. 18 130 pp.

Boulenger, G.A. 1885. Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Vol. 2, Second edition. London, xiii+497 pp. - get paper here

Boulenger, G.A. 1887. A list of the reptiles and batrachians obtained near Muscat, Arabia, and presented to the British Museum by Surgeon-Major A.S.G. Jayakar. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5) 20: 407-408 - get paper here

Boulenger, George A. 1890. The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor & Francis, London, xviii, 541 pp. - get paper here

Boulenger, George A. 1891. Catalogue of the reptiles and batrachians of Barbary (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), based chiefly upon the notes and collections made in 1880-1884 by M. Fernand Lataste. Tr. Zool. Soc. 13: 93-164

Brown, J.N.B. 1985. Two Lizards of the UAE. Bulletin of the Emirates Natural History Group 26: http://www.enhg.org/bulletin/b26/26_15.htm - get paper here

Brühl, C.B. 1874. Zootomie aller Thierklassen für Lernende, nach Autopsien, skizzirt. Bd. 1-4. Alfred Hölder, Wien: Bd. 1, 86 pp.; Bd. 2, 90 pp.; Bd. 3, 114 pp.; Bd. 4, 152 pp. (published in parts from 1874 to 1888, see Bauer & Russell 2017 for details) - get paper here

Brygoo, E. R. 1987. Les types de Varanides (Reptiles, Sauriens) du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle. Catalogue critique. Bulletin du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, 4e ser., 9, sect. A (Zool., BioI. & Ecol. anim.), (2), supplement, 21-38.

BUCKLITSCH, YANNICK; WOLFGANG BÖHME, ANDRÉ KOCH 2016. Scale Morphology and Micro-Structure of Monitor Lizards (Squamata: Varanidae: Varanus spp.) and their Allies: Implications for Systematics, Ecology, and Conservation. Zootaxa 4153 (1): 001-192

Carlleyle, A.C.L. 1869. Descriptions of two new species, belonging to the genera Varanus, and Feranioides respectively, from near Agra. J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 38: 192-200 - get paper here

Carranza S, Xipell M, Tarroso P, Gardner A, Arnold EN, Robinson MD, et al. 2018. Diversity, distribution and conservation of the terrestrial reptiles of Oman (Sauropsida, Squamata). PLoS One 13 (2): e0190389 - get paper here

Cogălniceanu, Dan; Aurora Castilla, Aitor Valdeon, Alberto Gosa, Noora Al Jaidah, Ali Alkuwary, Essam Saifelnasr, Paloma Mas, Renee Richer, Ahmad Amer Al Hemaidi 2014. A preliminary report on the distribution of lizards in Qatar. ZooKeys 373 (2014): 67-91<br />doi: 10.3897/zookeys.373.5994 - get paper here

Damadi, Ehsan; Rasoul Karamiani; Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani; Ali Gholamifard 2017. A checklist of lizards from southeastern part of the Sistan and Baluchestan Province in southeastern Iran. Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics, DOI: 10.22067/ijab.v13i1.50398 - get paper here

Daudin, F. M. 1803. Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière des Reptiles, Vol. 8. F. Dufart, Paris

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Disi, A.M.; Modry, D.; Necas, P. & Rifai, L. 2001. Amphibians and reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, 408 pp.

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Dujsebayeva T.N., Dujsebayev G. Zh. 1993. Captive maintenance of desert monitor, Varanus griseus Daudin, 1803. Abstr Sec. World Meet. Herp., Adelaide: 78

Dujsebayeva, T. N. (ed.) 2010. Short review of last changes in the checklist of amphibians and reptiles of Kazakhstan. [in Russian]. In: Dujsebayeva, T. N. (ed.) Herpetological Researches in Kazakhstan and adjacent countries, p. 37-52

Duméril, A.M. C. and G. Bibron. 1836. Erpetologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complete des Reptiles. Vol. 3. Libr. Encyclopédique Roret, Paris, 528 pp. - get paper here

Earley, Ryan L.; Omar Attum, Perri Eason 2002. Varanid combat: perspectives from game theory. Amphibia-Reptilia 23 (4): 469-485 - get paper here

Eichwald, E. 1831. Zoologia specialis, quam expositis animalibus tum vivis, tum fossilibus potissimuni rossiae in universum, et poloniae in specie, in usum lectionum publicarum in Universitate Caesarea Vilnensi. Zawadski, Vilnae. - get paper here

Escoriza, Daniel; Joan Ferrer, Fèlix Amat & Aïda Tarragó 2011. Nova cita i aspectes ecològics del varà del desert Varanus griseus (Sauria:Varanidae) al Sahara Occidental - "New record and ecological aspects of the desert monitor Varanus griseus (Sauria: Varanidae) in Western Sahara". Bull. Soc. Catalana d'Herp. 19 - get paper here

Fathnia, B.; N. Rastegar Pouyani; M. Sampour; A.M. Bahrami; G. Jaafari 2009. The lizard fauna of Ilam province, Southwestern Iran. Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics 5 (2) - get paper here

FRÝDLOVÁ, PETRA and DANIEL FRYNTA 2010. A test of Rensch's rule in varanid lizards. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 100: 293-306 - get paper here

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Ibrahim, A. 2002. Activity area, movement patterns, and habitat use of the desert monitor, Varanus griseus, in the Zaranik Protected Area, North Sinai, Egypt. African Journal of Herpetology 51 (1): 35-45 - get paper here

Ibrahim, Adel A. 2013. The Herpetology of the Suez Canal Zone, Egypt. Vertebrate Zoology 63 (1): 87-110 - get paper here

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MOHAMMED, Rihab Ghaleb; Nasrullah RASTEGAR-POUYANI, Rasoul KARAMIANI and Fadhil Abbas RHADI 2015. THE LIZARD FAUNA OF AL-NAJAF PROVINCE, SOUTHERN IRAQ Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Science Science Journal (CSJ) 36 (3): 21-30 - get paper here

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References Akeret, B. 2013. Energiewende im Terarrium. Ideen und Vorschläge, wie man Stromverbrauch und Energiekosten bei der Haltung von Terrarientieren senken kann. Reptilia (Münster) 18 (99): 18-31 - get paper here Al-Quran, S. 2009. The Herpetofauna of the Southern Jordan. American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ.

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Two organisms that share the same food (niche partitioning) and the way that they manage it

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Two organisms that share the same food (niche partitioning) and the way that they manage it

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Several anole lizards in the Caribbean islands share common food needs—mainly insects. They avoid competition by occupying different physical locations. For example, some live on the leaf litter floor while others live on branches. Species who live in different areas compete less for food and other resources, which minimizes competition between species. However, species who live in similar areas compete strongly

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Based on the simplified trophic pyramid found in slide 6 of the resource topic 2.1 'Relationship of organisms in ecosystems', make an analogous one with plants and animals from your own BioArea.

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Based on the simplified trophic pyramid found in slide 6 of the resource topic 2.1 'Relationship of organisms in ecosystems', make an analogous one with plants and animals from your own BioArea.

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Ecological niche of two characteristic animals

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Ecological niche of two characteristic animals

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Kirtland’s Warbler
The niche of Kirtland’s warbler is the jack pine forest, and the forest must have very specific conditions. Jack pine forests with areas of over 80 acres are ideal for this species. Specifically, these forests must have dense clumps of trees with small areas of grass, ferns and small shrubs in between. Kirtland’s warbler nests on the ground beneath the branches when the tree is about 5 feet tall, or around 5-8 years old. When the tree reaches about 16-20 feet tall, the lower branches start to die, and the bird will no longer nest beneath the tree branches.

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It is a dioecious evergreen shrub, which has long stems and small linear – lanceolate leaves. It flowers in spring and its male and female flowers appear in different plants. It grows in scrublands and rocky places. It is a semiparasite, which is, a parasitic plant that contains some chlorophyll and therefore is capable of photosynthesising.

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It is a small carnivorous animal that is distributed over a wide altitudinal range. The more northern and higher altitude populations become completely white in the winter. The Stoat was hunted for its exceptional quality of fur. It is a skillful predator that can catch prey larger than its own body size.
The stoat is an opportunistic predator, which moves rapidly and checks every available burrow or crevice for food. Because of their larger size, male stoats are less successful than females in pursuing rodents far into tunnels. Stoats regularly climb trees to gain access to birds' nests, and are common raiders of nest boxes, particularly those of large species. The stoat reputedly mesmerises prey such as rabbits by a "dance" (sometimes called the weasel war dance), though this behaviour could be linked to Skrjabingylus infections. The stoat seeks to immobilize large prey such as rabbits with a bite to the spine at the back of the neck. The stoat may surplus kill when the opportunity arises, though excess prey is usually cached and eaten later to avoid obesity, as overweight stoats tend to be at a disadvantage when pursuing prey into their burrows. Small prey typically die instantly from a bite to the back of the neck, while larger prey, such as rabbits, typically die of shock, as the stoat's canine teeth are too short to reach the spinal column or major arteries

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Two examples of animals with a predator-prey relation.

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Two examples of animals with a predator-prey relation.

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Desert Monitor, Varanus griseus

The largest lizard in the Mediterranean region and a very successful predator, hunting small mammals, lizards, snakes and insects. Because of its hunting ability, local people call it “the desert wolf”. Varanus griseus monitor lizards normally display a variety of body coloration from light brown and yellow to grey. They average about one meter in length, but can reach total body lengths of almost two meters. Like most members of the genus Varanus, V. griseus is a carnivore. The preferred prey of the species is mice, eggs, or fish, but it will also prey on smaller mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, insects, or other invertebrates, if the opportunity presents itself.

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Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill the host) and parasitoidism (which always does, eventually). It is distinct from scavenging on dead prey, though many predators also scavenge; it overlaps with herbivory, as a seed predator is both a predator and a herbivore.

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Τhe nearest Museum of Natural History is the Natural History Museum of Crete. It has been functioning and operates under the framework of the University of Crete since 1980.

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●      two examples of animals with a predator-prey relation

●      two parasitic organisms

●      the ecological niche of two characteristic animals

●      two organisms that share the same food (niche partitioning) and the way that they manage it;

●      based on the simplified trophic pyramid found in slide 6 of the resource topic 2.1 'Relationship of organisms in ecosystems', make an analogous one with plants and animals from your own BioArea.

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In my opinion, the wolves were brought in because they were the most exciting creatures for the visitors of the Park to see.

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Theme 2 : STEP 1. ACTIVATE YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE - assess the problem

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Theme 2 : STEP 1. ACTIVATE YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE - assess the problem

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When Yellowstone National Park was created in 1872 in the USA (Arkansas), Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) populations were already in decline in the area. The creation of the National Park did not provide protection for wolves or other predators, and government predator control programs in the first decades of the 1900s essentially assisted in the elimination of the Grey Wolf from the Park. The last wolves were killed in 1926. After that time, sporadic reports of wolves still occurred, but scientists confirmed that sustainable wolf populations had been extirpated and were absent from that area during the mid-1900s.

Starting in the 1940s, park managers, biologists, conservationists and environmentalists began what would ultimately turn into a campaign to reintroduce the Grey Wolf into the Yellowstone National Park. When the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was passed, the road to legal reintroduction was clear. In 1995, Grey Wolves were first reintroduced in the area. The history of wolves in Yellowstone National Park chronicles the extirpation, absence and reintroduction of Grey Wolves, and how the reintroduction was not without controversy or surprises for scientists, governments and park managers.

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The Troodos range has pine, dwarf oak, cypress, and cedar forest coverings. The southern and western slopes are extensively planted with vineyards. Between autumn and spring the Mesaoria Plain is green and colourful, with an abundance of wildflowers, flowering bushes, and shrubs; there are also patches of woodland in which eucalyptus and various types of acacia, cypress, and lowland pine are found. Orange plantations dot the island’s northwestern end in the area around Morphou.

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The Troodos National Forest Park, an area of 9337 hectares, has the highest biodiversity in Cyprus, with 72 endemic plants.

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The major rivers in Cyprus originate in the Troodos Mountains. The Pedieos, which is the largest, flows eastward toward Famagusta Bay; the Serakhis flows northwestward and the Karyotis northward to Morphou Bay; and the Kouris flows southward to Episkopi Bay. The rivers are fed entirely from the runoff of winter precipitation; in summer they become dry courses. The island’s major soil types consist of imperfect, gravelly lithosols found in the Troodos and Kyrenia mountains and agriculturally productive vertisols located in the Mesaoria Plain and along the southeastern coast. Other, less-productive soils include solonchaks and solonetz soils. These latter are found only in isolated saline pockets throughout the island.

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The Troodos volcanic chain culminates at nearly 6,560 ft. This is an area covered by forest that is sometimes quite thick, hiding dozens of richly decorated chapels and small mountain villages. Enjoyed by the Cypriots in winter thanks to its ski slopes, the Platrès station is charming and offers numerous walks.

The Troodos Mountains cover most of the southern and western portions of the island and account for roughly half its area. The highest point on Cyprus is Mount Olympus at 1,952 m (6,404 ft), located in the centre of the Troodos range.

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Protection and management of the Natura 2000 (marine) sites (Objective A3.1.1-2, A3.6.3). Duration 2004-2008. The main aims of this project are the adoption of management tools and the immediate application of action plans for 5 coastal areas, the formation of guidelines for the elaboration of management plans, and the creation of an electronic data base for management. The coordinator of the program is the Environment Service. The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research is responsible for the coastal / marine areas.

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Establishment of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean, MedMPA. (Objective A3.1.1, A3.6.2) Duration 2001-2004. The purpose was to record the biodiversity in the three marine areas proposed for conservation: Cavo Greco, Moulia and Akamas. The abovementioned program included the socio-economic study of these regions, as well as the elaboration of the preliminary management plans.

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Programmes for under protection from human presence activities in general.

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Programmes for under protection from human presence activities in general.

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C. No evidence o damaging human activities

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C. No evidence o damaging human activities

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The unique Mediterranean island environment and the long isolation period, affected not only the evolution of the wild species, but also the evolution of domestic live stock, as well as the evolution of unique cultivated trees and plants. Man has been farming the land for thousands of years. Human activities have shaped the landscape and created a wide variety of semi-natural habitats that birds, mammals and other wildlife have been adapted to and often prosper in. Many birds and small mammals have become largely dependant on agricultural habitats.  It seems that intensive farming and other human activities also affect the biodiversity among small mammals. Despite the fact that Cyprus is a large oceanic island in the Eastern Mediterranean, isolated from the mainland since five Ma, local fauna has received little attention from the mammalogists

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C. Can you find evidence of damaging human activities? Are there areas currently under protection from human presence and/or activities?

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C. Can you find evidence of damaging human activities? Are there areas currently under protection from human presence and/or activities?

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In addition, several species of birds in Cyprus are using the old nests of the Hooded Crow and the Magpie to nest. These are the Long-ear Owl (Asio otus), the endemic species of Scops Owl and the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). The great spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) is parasitizing the nests of magpies by laying one or more eggs in each nest, and leave them to the care of the nest owner. Therefore, the old nests of some species of the crow family are vital in the survival of several avian species, some of which – such as the Longeared Owl - are rare in Cyprus.

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Cyprus tree creeper, Certhia brachydactyla dorotheae, Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus, Masked shrike Lanius nubicus, Cyprus wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca, Cypriot coal tit Parus ater cypriotes, and the Cyprus warbler Sylvia melanothorax.

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whip snake Coluber cypriensis, the Cypriot grass snake Natrix natrix cypriaca, and the marine turtle Chelonia mydas.

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Egyptian Fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus,

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Fossil remains of elephants and hippopotamuses have been found in the Kyrenia area, and in ancient times there were large numbers of deer and boar. The only large wild animal now surviving is the agrino, a subspecies of wild sheep related to the mouflon of the western Mediterranean; it is under strict protection in a small forested area of the Troodos range. Small game is abundant but keenly hunted. Snakes were widespread in ancient times, giving the island the name Ophiussa, “the Abode of Snakes”; they are now relatively rare. Green and loggerhead turtles, which are protected by law, breed on the beaches along the coast.

Cyprus lies on major migration routes for birds. In spring and autumn millions pass over the island, while many species winter there. Among the numerous resident species are francolin and chukar partridges.

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Department of Meteorology. "The Climate of Cyprus". Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015. Statistical analysis of rainfall in Cyprus reveals a decreasing trend of rainfall amounts in the last 30-years.
Mallinson, William. "Cyprus a Historical Overview (Chipre Una Visión Historica)"  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus website (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 September 2012

"Cyprus Climate Guide". Retrieved 5 June 2009.