Ismini's BioWorld GR by

Search online for biotic and abiotic characteristics of your BioArea. Does your BioArea belong to a biodiversity hotspot area? Does it contain endemic species? Can you find evidence of damaging human activities? Are there areas currently under protection from human presence and/or activities? Does it contain volcanoes or mountains? If so, look for approx. age and formation processes.

ismhnh_biology — 2019-01-16 19:28:21 UTC

ismhnh_biology — 2019-01-16 19:33:55 UTC

The Mediterranean Basin (MB) is home to a tremendous diversity of habitats and species. IUCN has designated the region as a biodiversity hotspot, because of its rich biodiversity and its threatened status. The MB has high levels of plant diversity and endemism but relatively poor representation of mammals and birds compared to other similar biodiversity hotspots. The mammal and bird faunas are largely derived from extra-Mediterranean biogeographical zones, with Eurasian and African elements dominating the mammal fauna, whereas Eurasian and semi-arid southern elements dominate the avifauna. The reptile and amphibian faunas comprise mainly of Mediterranean species and have higher levels of endemism. There are now roughly 400 million people living in the Mediterranean Basin and their environmental impact on ecosystems and biodiversity species is very important. Water shortages and desertification are serious problems in most Mediterranean countries. Also, rapid population growth and the spread of mechanized agriculture have driven the replacement of biodiversity-friendly means of cultivation with more intensive land management systems. Many existing and proposed protected areas suffer from pollution and water shortages. The establishment of biosphere reserves, which allow for the sustainable use of land and resources, has proved successful in some areas where state authorities recognize their value. In the last decades, Mediterranean countries have recognized the imperative need for biodiversity preservation and ecosystems balance, in order to avoid the severe consequences of biodiversity loss. This is clearly reflected in the fact that most countries within the Mediterranean region are contracting parties to major international/regional conventions, agreements and legislative frameworks that deal with or are closely related to biodiversity issues.

ismhnh_biology — 2019-01-16 19:43:17 UTC

Greece’s main environmental problems are industrial smog and automobile exhaust fumes in Athens; over half of all industry is located in the greater Athens area. Marine and freshwater pollution are a significant problem due to industrial pollutants and agricultural run-off such as fertilizers, pesticides and sewage. Overfishing and deforestation are other issues threatening Greece’s environment.

ismhnh_biology — 2019-01-16 19:45:39 UTC

Protected areas are the jewels of Greek nature and are provided for in Greek, European and international legislation. They create a safety net for our country’s biodiversity and are, perhaps, its last refuge.

Santorini, Greece. The eruption of Santorini in Greece in 1,650 B.C. was one of the largest (VEI=6) in the last 10,000 years.

ismhnh_biology — 2019-01-16 19:48:17 UTC

predation relationship

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-09 17:47:57 UTC

Wolf predating deer in mount Parnitha

parasitism 1

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-09 17:49:52 UTC

ticks on mammals

Athene noctua & Tyto alba sharing food niche

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-09 17:56:37 UTC

In the area investigated there was a high food niche-overlap level calculated (91 %) between the two synanthropic owl species. One way to coexist is the following: The diet of Athene noctua in the region during winter period was about two times more various than this one of Tyto alba

Ecological niche for 3 animals

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-09 18:48:35 UTC

Risso's dolphin had the shallowest and the more spatially restricted principal habitat, mainly located on the upper part of the continental slope (640 m mean depth). With a wider principal habitat, at 1750 m depth in average, the sperm whale used a deeper part of the slope as well as the closest offshore waters. Finally, the pilot whale has the most oceanic habitat (2500 m mean depth) mainly located in the central Ligurian Sea and Provencal basin.

Simplified trophic pyramid

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-09 19:20:58 UTC

parasitism 2

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-10 18:56:04 UTC

For the first time Ceratothoa parallela (Otto, 1828), a cymothoid isopod, is reported parasitizing cage-cultured gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata, in Greece. The specimens observed are larvae (Pullus secundus). They were found in the branchial and buccal cavity of young gilthead sea bream of 2 g mean body weight, upon introduction in the cages in an intensive cage farm facility. The species was previously known from several species of wild fish, particularly Sparidae (chiefly Boops boops) in the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/dao/v45/n3/p237-239/

The effects of fire and mechanical habitat destruction on survival of the tortoise Testudo hermanni in northern Greece

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-10 19:02:48 UTC

The impact of fire and mechanical habitat destruction on a population of the tortoise Testudo hermanni in northern Greece varied with vegetation type and season. A major fire in summer 1980 caused low (<5%) mortality of sexable tortoises (>10 cm) in coastal heath, highest (about 50%) mortality in grassland, and intermediate levels in dry heath. Mechanical habitat destruction caused about 50% mortality in affected areas. Mortality of juveniles was greater than that of sexable animals. Overall, the 1980 catastrophe was more damaging than previously thought, causing a 64% decrease in the total size of the Alyki main heath population. A localized summer fire in 1986 caused a similar level and pattern of mortality to that of 1980, but a spring fire in 1988 had little effect on the tortoise population. A fire and mechanical habitat destruction in winter 1989/90 caused only a 14% decrease in population size; mortality was again concentrated in grassland areas, but affected juveniles and sexable animals equally. Variation of mortality with season suggests that any burning needed for habitat management at tortoise sites should occur in winter or early spring. Juveniles were undersampled by 3–4 times compared to sexable animals; their number increased greatly by 1990, reaching the same proportion as in the original population. There was, however, no recovery in the number of sexable tortoises in the decade after the 1980 catastrophe.

Wildlife exploitation

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-10 19:12:29 UTC

Endangered animals such as chameleons and other reptiles, but also songbirds (goldfinches, blackcaps and siskins) often fall victims to poachers. The birds are often used for entertainment or even for consumption.

● Threatened Species.

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-10 19:17:58 UTC

Parnassos Greek Bush-cricket

Parnassiana parnassica

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/68450303/70624784

● Threatened Species.

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-10 19:19:43 UTC

Greek Red Damsel
Pyrrhosoma elisabethae
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/60274/12319009

Alien species invasion in Attica, Podarcis siculus

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-10 19:25:31 UTC

As P. siculus settles new populations, there is strong evidence that it competes with native lacertids.
http://fupress.net/index.php/ah/article/viewFile/18075/18596

climate change in GR

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-10 19:29:41 UTC

Deterministic climate model simulations (Christensen et al., 2007; De'que et al., 2007) project warming for the eastern Mediterranean, that is largest in the summer, and decrease in the total precipitation and the number of rainy days. In terms of extremes, an increased number of heatwaves is very likely (Diffenbaugh et al., 2007; Tolika et al., 2009), whereas extreme precipitation does not show any coherent sign among models. Further, interannual temperature variability is likely to increase in summer (Vidale et al., 2007). Although generally climate models have been more successful in simulating temperature extremes than precipitation extremes (eg., Kiktev et al., 2003) due to the better representation of the physical processes involved, it appears that projected extremes are mainly a further amplification of the historical extremes analyzed in this work. Such conditions are associated with increased drought and fire risk in the summer with severe consequences for the economy of the region.

AntonisAnt Comment

antonis_35 — 2019-02-10 19:46:21 UTC

As a Reptilian fan I find the case of P. sicula fascinating as this species seems to be able to expand its range to the whole Mediterranean basin posing a big threat to the local Herpetofauna and it's not yet known how is it able to adapt so well. The case of Faliro is another example of its rapid expansion and thank you for informing me on that.
I like how you've done an extensive research on everything you are presenting, almost all of your data are backed up by published scientific papers. Well done on that!
As a personal whim I'd like to see more data on unique cases of rare or endemic reptile species, as Greece has quite a lot of them. I'm sure though that this was not the primary focus of your work
All in all I think
Your BioArea is looking excellent!

Comparison of Bioareas

ismhnh_biology — 2019-02-10 19:54:18 UTC

Comparing Bioareas I was really enthusiastic about finding out so much information about different places around the world as well as having further insight about my area as well. Other learners have also mentioned the protected natural areas of Greece and even if they posted for different bioareas the threats that each faces are very similar. Also everyone did their best in providing multiple media sources to support their findings. However one difference is that not all of them have completed their Bioarea yet and they do not always cite their findings.

Evaluation

konstantina_len — 2019-02-11 01:15:43 UTC

Your BioArea is looking excellent!