Maria Elena Rizou BioArea (GR) by Maria Elena Rizou https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597 Welcome to Ioannina, in Epirus region en-us 2019-02-10 22:43:11 UTC 2026-02-19 22:10:11 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Clouds.png Ecology & Geography rizoumariaelena https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329672370 Epirus is a predominantly rugged and mountainous region. It is largely made up of the Pindus mountains, a series of parallel limestone ridges that are a continuation of the Dinaric Alps. The Pindus mountains form the spine of mainland Greece and separate Epirus from Macedonia and Thessaly to the east. The ridges of the Pindus are parallel to the sea and generally so steep that the valleys between them are mostly suitable for pasture rather than large-scale agriculture. Altitude increases as one moves east, away from the coast, reaching a maximum of 2,637 m at Mount Smolikas, the highest point in Epirus. Other important ranges include Tymfi (2,496 m at Mount Gamila), Lygkos(2,249 m), to the west and east of Smolikas respectively, Gramos (2,523 m) in the northeast, Tzoumerka (2,356 m) in the southeast, Tomaros (1,976 m) in the southwest, Mitsikeli near Ioannina (1,810 m), Mourgana (1,806 m) and Nemercke/Aeoropos(2,485 m) on the border between Greece and Albania, and the Ceraunian Mountains(2,000 m) near Himara in Albania. Most of Epirus lies on the windward side of the Pindus, and the prevailing winds from the Ionian Sea make the region the rainiest in mainland Greece.

Significant lowlands are to be found only near the coast, in the southwest near Arta and Preveza, in the Acheron plain between Paramythia and Fanari, between Igoumenitsa and Sagiada, and also near Saranda. The Zagori area is a scenic upland plateau surrounded by mountain on all sides.


The main river flowing through Epirus is the Vjose (Aoös in Greek), which flows in a northwesterly direction from the Pindus mountains in Greece to its mouth north of the Bay of Vlore in Albania. Other important rivers include the Acheron river, famous for its religious significance in ancient Greece and site of the Necromanteion, the Arachthos river, crossed by the historic Bridge of Arta, the Louros, the Thyamis or Kalamas, and the Voidomatis, a tributary of the Vjosë flowing through the Vikos Gorge. The Vikos Gorge, one of the deepest in the world, forms the centerpiece of the Vikos-Aoos National Park, known for its scenic beauty. The only significant lake in Epirus is Lake Pamvotis, on whose shores lies the city of Ioannina, the region's largest and traditionally most important city.



]]> 2019-02-10 22:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329672370 Step 1 rizoumariaelena https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329675003 The wolves were brought in because the increased elk population was overgrazing the deciduous, woody species such as aspen and cottonwood]]> 2019-02-10 23:15:54 UTC https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329675003 rizoumariaelena https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329680502 Acording to the greek comitee of WWF about 369,450 Km2 have been converted to arable land from 1987 to 2007.

Αgricultural land that changed in the period 1987-2007
During the 20-year period 1987-2007, 316000 acres of agricultural land turned into low-vegetation, forests and shrub lands. it appears that these coverings have succeeded crops that have been gradually abandoned as a result of broader socio-economic trends (concentration in urban centers) and as a producer of the agricultural subsidy policy that operated at the expense of marginal land.

Land converted into agricultural land in the period 1987-2007
Areas of different types of cover converted into agricultural land are located on an extension of agricultural land of the order of 685000 acres. The changes are distributed throughout the whole of Epirus basically however they are concentrated on coastal and urban areas in areas that belong to nothing nothing. This is because the low altitude (1-800 meters) and easy access puts the appropriate bases for further expansion of activities in these area

Forests that have changed in the period 1987-2007
Τhe relative areas of forests turned into other forms of land cover amount to nearly 350,000 acres. Μost of the changed forests turned into shrubs, farmland and low-vegetation areas. Ιnadequate forest management coupled with intense human activities justify to a large extent this change.


Forests turned into low and shrub vegetation in the period 1987-2007
Forest areas converted into low and shrub vegetation areas account for 234,000 acres. This conversion is directly related to incidents of forest fires that do not show any signs of recovery. Loss of forest land is often also due to a combination of the effects of fires and grazing, a major cause of degradation of forests in low-vegetation areas.

Area of low and shrub vegetation turned into forests the period 1987-2007
This change is about 150,000 acres. the concentration of change in areas bordering on Albania, such as the Mastochoria and the Zagorohoria of the prefecture of Ioannina, is of particular interest. These remote areas have historically been a major disaster, resulting in the desertification of the area and the emigration of the inhabitants of the major urban centers. Devastation and the complete lack of human activity favored the natural evolution of low vegetation in basic units as today's party responding by shaping the contemporary image of the area.

]]> 2019-02-10 23:52:26 UTC https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329680502 Flora rizoumariaelena https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329797130 The flora of Epirus is haracterized by their natural formations meadows and conifers, deciduous, broad-leaved, and wetland trees. Pine, oak, beech, chestnut and oak forests are abundan riparian forests of plane trees and willows. Conformation of conifers is presented with the pine, the black fir and the fir
spruce and hybrid spruce. In our county you will also find them flowers lotus corniculatus, viola, crocus veluchensis,  actulorisa saccifera, primula veris. ]]> 2019-02-11 11:05:38 UTC https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329797130 Fauna rizoumariaelena https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329798631 The wildlife of the prefecture of Ioannina is unique in Greece. Bears, wolves, foxes, deer, deer and other animals live in forests of Epirus. Predatory birds (falcons, eagles, gulls, storks, storks) and other birds abound throughout surrounding area. In the sweet waters of the rivers and the lake Ioannina live a lot of trout, eels, marines, cows.]]> 2019-02-11 11:11:32 UTC https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329798631 Endemic species rizoumariaelena https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329802112 In the National Park of Tzoumerka, Achillea absinthoides, which is an endemic species of N. Pindos, and the Hieracium trikalense that is endemic to B. and N. Pindos are grown. Other examples of impressive or rare plants are Fritillaria thessala, Allium parnassicum, Galium degenii, Orchis pallens, Himantoglossum caprinum, and Rosa montana.]]> 2019-02-11 11:24:40 UTC https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329802112 Protected areas & human activities rizoumariaelena https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329808396 Establishing the institution of protected areas has as their primary purpose the sustainable management of these areas. On this basis, human activity is not excluded but is encouraged, provided that the activities to be carried out do not have negative effects on the environment. Protected area is designated according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a land or marine area devoted to the protection and conservation of biodiversity and natural and related cultural resources, which is managed by legal means or other effective ways.

These areas are:
1.Oreokastro - Delvinaki Lake - Meropi Forest and Gormou Valley
2.Zaloggo Mountains
3.Zirou Lake
4.Coastal Marine Zone from Parga to Agios Thomas
5.Tsamanta Mountains
6.Kalodiki-Kalamas-Acherontas
7.Pamvotida Lake
8.Lake Limnopoula Paramythia
9.Amvrakikos Bay]]> 2019-02-11 11:46:32 UTC https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329808396 Step 3 rizoumariaelena https://padlet.com/rizoumariaelena/e8tww14xo597/wish/329819364 Predator-prey
1.Ursus arctos & Oncorhynchus mykiss
Predator: Ursus arctos
Prey: Oncorhynchus mykiss
In the rivers of Epirus you can find the Oncorhynchus mykiss which is one of the main diet sources of Ursus arctos (brown bear), known for its fishing abilities.

2.Canis lupus & Sus scrofa
Predator: Canis lupus (carnivorous)
Prey: Sus scrofa
In the region of Epirus the population of Sus scrofa have been increased. This species is a part of Canis lupus diet.



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