Evgenia's BioArea GR (CRETE) by https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w Made with a warm hug en-us 2019-01-08 10:57:10 UTC 2024-06-15 11:58:49 UTC hello@padlet.com MOUNT IDA (PSILORITIS) eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/318228668 The mountains of Ida, better known as Psiloritis, are located in the center of Crete and cover a large part of Heraklion and Rethymnon Prefectures.

The local fauna is very rich and Psiloritis is extremely important for the biodiversity of Crete. Psiloritis is home to rare birds of prey, such as bearded vultures, common vultures, golden eagles and red-tailed hawks. Also, the forest of Rouvas shelters one of the rarest mammals in Europe, the “ghost” Cretan Wildcat.

Psiloritis Ψηλορείτης range is part of the European Geopark. Rare endemic species, an unusual ecology and geological formations under intense scrutiny by scientists, biologists, geologists and speleologists contribute to its value and distinction.

Wildflowers of spring are famous in Kríti. There are walking tours arranged every season with knowledgeable botanists. 268 of Greece’s endemic plants can be found in Crete, 196 are native only to Crete. On the mountain are 76 endemic species. Plants of the area include to wonderful aromatic herbs for which the island is famous; including thyme and dictamo.]]> 2019-01-08 11:02:04 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/318228668 MOUNT IDA eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/318299819 2019-01-08 14:15:15 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/318299819 HUMAN ACTIVITIES eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/318304947 There is a high potential of human impact, mainly due to mismanagement of pastures and grazing in mountain areas, growing tourism development in the northern coastal zone (mainly house building), and intensive agriculture in the southern coastal zone (pesticides and land clearance). Concrete production and road construction are devastating large areas of land with significant native habitats. Plant harvesting may be a long-term threat to some endemic plants.]]> 2019-01-08 14:23:14 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/318304947 BIODIVERSITY FEATURES eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/318305849 The plant endemism rate of this ecoregion is about 10% from a total indigenous flora of 1,600 species. Most of the endemic species are ancient relics, which are mainly found on the three main mountain ranges, mainly Lefka Ori. Among the most significant endemic plants to be mentioned are a rare and very endangered small tree, Zelkova abelicea, as well as Cephalanthera cucullata, Centaurea baldaccii, Campanula hierapetrae, Bupleurum kakiskalae, Bellevalia brevipedicellata, Astragalus idaeus, Arumpurpureospathum, Anchusa caespitosa, Origanum dictamnus, Orchis prisca, and Onobrychis sphaciotica.

While faunal diversity for this ecoregion is significant, endemism is low. Two small mammals are endemic to the island, a shrew (Crocidura caneae) and a spiny-mouse (Acomys minous). The rare and endemic wild goat (Capra hircus cretensis) is still present in few places on the island.

These forests are considered to be an important Center of Bird Diversity. The high mountains are one of the last strongholds of the endangered Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), and Bonelli’s eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus). About 83 bird species are recorded for the island. Three amphibians and 12 reptiles are thought to be native to Crete; none are endemic

]]> 2019-01-08 14:24:41 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/318305849 WILD GOAT-KRI KRI eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/318312473 The kri-kri (Capra aegagrus cretica), sometimes called the Cretan goat, Agrimi, or Cretan Ibex, is a feral goat inhabiting the Eastern Mediterranean, previously considered a subspecies of wild goat. The kri-kri is now found only on the island of Crete, Greece ]]> 2019-01-08 14:35:14 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/318312473 GREY WOLVES INTO THE NATIONAL PARK eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/319206039 The wolves were brought in because the increased elk population was overgrazing the deciduous, woody species such as aspen and cottonwood.]]> 2019-01-10 13:19:13 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/319206039 PREDATORS OF LAND SNAILS eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/322779673 Drilus beetle larvae (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are specialized predators of land snails. Here, we describe various aspects of the predator-prey interactions between multiple Drilus species attacking multiple Albinaria (Gastropoda: Clausiliidae) species in Greece. Although Albinaria snails are preyed upon by a wide range of predators, including rodents, molluscivorous snails, and carabid beetles , their chief enemies appear to be larvae of the elaterid beetle genus Drilus . These enter Albinaria snails by boring a hole through the shell wall , killing and eating the snail's soft body, and, after molting or pupating, leaving via a second bore-hole. Often, the entry and exit holes can be distinguished by their shape. In many locations, more than 50% of the empty shells carry such Drilus bore-holes.


]]> 2019-01-21 20:25:14 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/322779673 eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/322779850 2019-01-21 20:26:26 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/322779850 PARASITES eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/322787956 Ticks are small arachnids, typically 3 to 5 mm long, part of the order parasitiformes. Along with mites, they constitute the subclass Acari. Ticks are ectoparasites (external parasites), living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. Ticks had evolved by the Cretaceous period, the most common form of fossilisation being immersed in amber. Ticks are widely distributed around the world, especially in warm, humid climates.
Louse (plural: lice) is the common name for members of the order Phthiraptera, which contains nearly 5,000 species of wingless insect. Lice are obligate parasites, living externally on warm-blooded hosts which include every species of bird and mammal, except for monotremes, pangolins, and bats. Lice are vectors of diseases such as typhus.]]> 2019-01-21 21:17:29 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/322787956 eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/325803831 2019-01-30 12:43:40 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/325803831 CLIMATE CHANGE eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/325808218 Climate change — caused by humanity’s emission of greenhouse gases — has emerged as a global issue of the highest urgency. Desertification has already made its appearance in Crete in the Asterousia Mountains, Lassithi (Ierapetra and Makrygialos) and Gavdos.

50% of land in Crete and 35% of land in Greece is at high risk of desertification, with dire consequences for the country’s environmental, cultural, socio-economic and demographic development.

]]> 2019-01-30 12:58:54 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/325808218 ALIEN SPECIES eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/329654679 This study reports four alien polychaete species new to the marine fauna of Greece. These species are -Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata (family Spionidae),Paraprionospio coora (family Spionidae), Marphysa disjuncta (family Eunicidae), and Chaetozone corona(family Cirratulidae). Another species of Chaetozone, though not an alien one, Chaetozone gibber is reported here from Greek waters. All of them have been currently reported from the coasts of Turkey (Aegean or Levantine Seas). Pseudopolydorapaucibranchiata and Marphysa disjuncta, probably introduced to the region through ballast waters, seem to have been well established in the Mediterranean Sea. Chaetozone corona and Paraprionospio coorawere considered to be cryptogenic. Pseudolydora paucibranchiata was found in great densities in a very disturbed site, confirming the opportunistic character of this species. Chaetozone corona and Chaetozonegibber showed a wider distribution pattern, though their abundance increased in disturbed sites.Marphysa disjuncta was found in disturbed as well as in undisturbed sites along the coasts of Greece.]]> 2019-02-10 20:58:33 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/329654679 WEATHER EXTREMES eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/329656263 A record-breaking dust episode took place in Crete on 22 March 2018. The event was characterized by surface concentrations exceeding 1 mg m−3 for a period of 4–7 h, reaching record values higher than 6 mg m−3 at the background station of Finokalia.]]> 2019-02-10 21:08:21 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/329656263 THREATENED SPECIES eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/329659349 The Greek algyroides (Algyroides moreoticus) is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae.The natural habitats of A. moreoticus are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, and plantations .Listed as Near Threatened because its range is not much greater than 20,000km2, and the extent and quality of its habitat is declining, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable.]]> 2019-02-10 21:28:28 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/329659349 eugenia_orfa https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/329661847 As it seems every Bioarea is unique. There is a wide range of informations for every bioarea. I read a lot of them and by this way I noticed some similarities and some differences. I concluded that the human activities affect to a large extent our bioarea. The results are obvious. Climate change — caused by humanity’s emission of greenhouse gases — has emerged as a global issue of the highest urgency. Moreover the number of the endagered species is highly increased. 
Every Bioarea has its own specific features.That's why I want you to comment about my Bioarea. ]]> 2019-02-10 21:44:45 UTC https://padlet.com/eugenia_orfa/f0xochrb0i1w/wish/329661847