Christina's BioArea GR by Christina Vlachou https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk en-us 2019-01-14 11:04:34 UTC 2023-06-25 15:30:45 UTC hello@padlet.com Attica bioc11 https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/320271639 Attica is a peninsula projecting into the Aegean sea. Historically it is linked with the city of Athens, therefore human activity has an ecological effect in the region for thousands of years.
There are four mountains surrounding Athens: 
  • Hymettus
  • Parnitha 
  • Penteli
  • Aigaleo
 The eastern part of Geraneia mount is also in Attica.
The largest water reservoir is an artificial lake created in 1920 called lake of Marathon.
The longest river in Attica is Kifisos.
The climate is Mediterranean, which means that there is a  distinct, long, dry period in the summer and a short, wet period in the winter. 
]]> 2019-01-14 13:37:44 UTC https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/320271639 Hymettus bioc11 https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/320286687 This mountain is about 16 km in length and can be divided in two parts, the northern and the southern. It is easy to distinct the two parts because the southern one is dry.
Hymettus is "injured" severely by human activity but still holds its place among the other important biotopes in Attica.
There are 650 species and subspecies of Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta of which 54 are endemic of Greece, while 59 are protected by the greek law or listed as endangered.
It is important to note the diversity of orchids. There are more than 40 species of orchids. One of the largest, in density, populations in Europe. There are two endemic species: Crocus and Centaurea.

You can also find : 
  1. Pinus brutia
  2. Pinus halepensis
  3. Pinus pinea
  4. Cypressus sempervirens var.horizontalis
  5. Cypressus sempervirens var. pyramidalis
  6.  Cypressus arizonica var. glabra
  7. Cercis siliquastrum
  8. Quercus pubescens
  9. Quercus ilex 
  10. Ceratonia siliqua

People have planted the following species: 
  • Quercus aegilops
  •  Ailanthus altissima,
  • Acacia cyanophylla
  • Eucalyptus globulus
  • Parcinsonia sp.
  • Schinus molle
  • Pyrus amygdaliformis
  • Platanus orientalis

In wide spaces and the regions which have been burned we can find:
  • Sarcopoterium spinosum
  • Phlomis fruticosa
  • Thymbra capitata
  • Cistus salvifolius
  • Cistus incanus
  • Euphorbia acanthothamnos
  • Genista acanthoclada
  • Fumana thymifolia
  • Hypericum empetrifolium
  • Inula viscosa
  • Satureja thymbra
  • Helichrysum sp.
  • Tragopogon sp.
  •  Thapsia garganica
  • Verbascum undulatum
  • Anthyllis hermaniae
  • Globularia alypum
  • Thymelaea tartonraira
  • Balotta acetabulosa

The fauna in Hymettus is quite diverse too. There are many species of bats, all protected. There are also foxes, hedgehogs, ferrets, snares, 112 different species of birds and many species of herpetofauna( all protected).


]]> 2019-01-14 14:04:21 UTC https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/320286687 Parnitha bioc11 https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/320321084 Mount Parnitha is a densely forested mountain. Much of the mountain is designated a national park, and is a protected habitat for wildfowl.  Forests of Aleppo Pine cover all slopes beneath 1,000 m altitude, and are often threatened by forest fires, such as happened in 2005 and 2007. Above 1,000 m it is covered principally in Greek Fir, grasses and shrubbery, and beneath 300 m mainly farmlands and suburban housing to the east. About 1,000 species of plants can be found on the mountain, including crocus and tulips, and the mountain also provides a native habitat to its red deer (Cervus elaphus), which were known in ancient times. After the traumatic fire in 2007, they are even scarcer. 
Parnitha suffered extensive damage from a wildfire on Thursday, 28 June 2007 continuing for several days and burning approximately 56 km² of land; one of the worst recorded wildfires in the prefecture after that of Penteli. The magnitude of the devastation was unforeseen. 
Scientists estimate that the area's recovery time may be as long as a century. They predict the effect of the loss will only begin to be felt in the coming years; the air may become a little stale and the already known problems of air pollution and smog in Athens may reappear and intensify. Temperatures could also rise and flooding may become a problem for several years. 

]]> 2019-01-14 14:59:23 UTC https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/320321084 Natura 2000: Sites - Habitats bioc11 https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/320334177 Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive. The network includes both terrestrial and marine sites (Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)).
There are 12 Natura habitats in Marathon, Attica and one in mountain Parnitha.
https://www.npschiniasmarathon.gr/index.php/en
http://www.parnitha.net/default.asp]]> 2019-01-14 15:20:54 UTC https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/320334177 Urban Biodiversity bioc11 https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/320741848 The urban environment has been classified as an anthropogenic biome, which is characterized by the predominance of certain species and climate trends such as urban heat island across many urban areas.Examples of species characteristic of many urban environments include: cats, dogs, mosquitoes, rats, flies, and pigeons which are all generalists. Many of these are dependent on human activity and have adapted accordingly to the niche created by urban centers.
Research thus far indicates that, on a small scale, urbanization often increases the biodiversity of non-native species while reducing that of native species. This normally results in an overall reduction in species richness and increase in total biomass and species abundance. Urbanization also reduces diversity on a large scale.
Urban stream syndrome is a consistently observed trait of urbanization characterized by high nutrient and contaminant concentration, altered stream morphology, increased dominance of dominant species, and decreased biodiversity. The two primary causes of urban stream syndrome are storm water runoff and wastewater treatment plant effluent.

https://biodiversity.europa.eu/topics/ecosystems-and-habitats/urban
]]> 2019-01-15 13:43:09 UTC https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/320741848 #1 Predator-prey relation bioc11 https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/329846094 Coccinellidae - Ladybugs

Coccinellidae is a widespread family of small beetles ranging in size from 0.8 to 18 mm.   The majority of coccinellid species are generally considered useful insects, because many species prey on herbivorous homopterans such as aphids or scale insects, which are agricultural pests. 

]]> 2019-02-11 13:46:39 UTC https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/329846094 #2 Predator-prey relation bioc11 https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/329849484 Hawks
Hawks are a group of medium-sized diurnal birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Hawks are widely distributed and vary greatly in size. 
Starting in the hawk's early life, it is fed by its parents until it leaves the nest. The young hawk, while still in its fledgling phase, will leave its nest as early as six weeks old. Once the bird is older it begins to hunt. The hawk kills its prey with its claws as opposed to other predator birds, such as the falcon. The falcon uses its claws to catch the prey but kills the small animal with its mouth instead of its claws. The hawk's preferred time for hunting is usually just before nightfall when daylight lessens. Although the hawk is known for being a violent predator, some are gentle and quiet. When it flies, the hawk flaps its wings rapidly, and then uses that momentum to glide smoothly and gracefully through the air.
A hawk's diet is predictable and includes a variety of smaller animals. Some of these small animals include snakes, lizards, fish, mice, rabbits, squirrels, birds, and any other type of small game that is found on the ground. More specifically, a red-shouldered hawk likes to eat smaller birds like doves and bugs like grasshoppers and crickets.]]> 2019-02-11 13:53:21 UTC https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/329849484 bioc11 https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/329853873 2019-02-11 14:01:32 UTC https://padlet.com/bioc11/oieukd0esfmk/wish/329853873