Anastasios Legakis

Conservation status of freshwater mussels in Europe: state of the art and future challenges.

Freshwater mussels of the Order Unionida provide important ecosystem functions and services, yet many of their populations are in decline. We comprehensively review the status of the 16 currently recognized species in Europe, collating for the first time their life‐history traits, distribution, conservation status, habitat preferences, and main threats in order to suggest future management actions. In northern, central, and eastern Europe, a relatively homogeneous species composition is found in most basins. In southern Europe, despite the lower species richness, spatially restricted species make these basins a high conservation priority. Information on freshwater mussels in Europe is unevenly distributed with considerable differences in data quality and quantity among countries and species. To make conservation more effective in the future, we suggest greater international cooperation using standardized protocols and methods to monitor and manage European freshwater mussel diversity. Such an approach will not only help conserve this vulnerable group but also, through the protection of these important organisms, will offer wider benefits to freshwater ecosystems.

Hotspots of endemic terrestrial invertebrates in southern Greece

In the present paper we identify biodiversity hotspots of endemic terrestrial invertebrates in southern Greece, using four different criteria and five taxonomic groups. The hotspots identification procedure was facilitated by the use of the MapInfoPro G.I.S. software. We mapped the known distribution of 424 endemic species on a digital map of southern Greece in 548 10 × 10 km2 grids. The total number of registrations (records per grid) is 3826 in 465 grids. Registrations are unevenly distributed in the five sub-regions of the study area, a fact that results from both the unequal collecting effort applied in each sub-region and their different levels of endemism. We first identified the hotspots for each individual taxonomic group, and then for the total species pool. Finally, we analyzed the species saturation pattern in order to find the minimum number of grids needed for the inclusion of 85% of the total number of species. The most important hotspots are mostly at the higher mountains of the study area, especially on Taygetos and Idi Mts. We also give a brief evaluation of the performance of the four criteria used in the case of endemic species analyses.

Conservation management for Orthoptera in the Dadia reserve, Greece

The diversity patterns, the ecological structure and the typical species of the orthopteran assemblage in the Dadia reserve are investigated. The reserve was designed to protect the black vulture (Aegypius monachus) and other raptors. A total of 39 orthopteran species were found, including Paranocarodes chopardi, a pamphagid species with very restricted distribution. All species can be represented in a network of six complementary habitats, including open oak woodlands, agricultural fields separated with hedges, humid grasslands, as well as serpentine grasslands. The buffer zone of the reserve is far more important for Orthoptera conservation than the core areas, which host most of the black vulture nests. Management focusing on raptors is in general compatible with conservation of Orthoptera. We suggest the maintenance of forest openings in the buffer zone, the maintenance of forest heterogeneity, the enhancement of periodical livestock grazing, and the use of nine indicator species and Paranocarodes chopardi in the reserve monitoring program

Estimating dung decay rates of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in different habitat types of a Mediterranean ecosystem: an information theory approach

For elusive species living in concealing habitats (e.g. deer in a forest habitat), indirect methods such as faecal pellet counts are considered more practical means of estimating population density and abundance. Accurate estimation of deer density using the faecal standing crop (FSC) method necessitates the reliable estimation of the mean time to decay of pellet groups present during the survey. Mean time to decay is generally habitat specific, and separate estimations should be made for each habitat type in the study area. In a confined mountainous area of Greece, the habitat-specific mean time to decay of roe deer pellet groups was estimated by locating and marking fresh pellet groups on several dates in the lead up to an FSC survey and returning to the marked signs at the time of the survey to record whether or not each pellet group had survived. Several logistic models were fitted to the data, and estimations were based on a multi-model inference (MMI) approach according to information theory. The highest mean time to decay was estimated in coniferous forests, while mid-ranged values were found in maquis shrubs, and the lowest mean time to decay was observed in open areas. MMI by model averaging, based on Akaike weights, is recommended for making robust parameter estimations and for dealing with uncertainty in model selection.

Community structure and species richness in the Mediterranean-type soil fauna

Recent results on community structure and species richness of the soil fauna of Mediterranean-type ecosystems are reviewed. Faunal composition, relative abundance of animal groups and trophic levels, spatial and temporal variation of the community structure together with species diversity are summarized. The effects of fire, grazing, agriculture and of other human activities on community structure are described. It is concluded that the soil fauna system of the Mediterranean-type ecosystems has a significant spatial, temporal and ecological complexity that can be better understood only by detailed species-level, longterm, seasonal and multi-sample studies.

A Video Surveillance System for Monitoring the Endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus)

The components and specifications of a surveillance system developed in a pilot study to monitor Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) are presented. The system consisted of two B/W CCD cameras, infrared illuminators, a CCTV video web server, and photovoltaic solar panels, and it was operated under harsh outdoor conditions for three and a half months. It enabled the recording of rarely observed aspects of the Mediterranean monk seals’ social and reproductive behaviour, as well as provided a method to document demographic parameters of the local seal population. Advantages of the system include its non-invasive nature and its autonomous operation, while the primary disadvantage is the high initial cost, which should decrease as technology continues to improve. This system could prove to be a valuable tool in the conservation of critically endangered seal species such as the Mediterranean monk seal.

Fine scale spatial genetic structure of two syntopic newts across a network of ponds: implications for conservation

In this study we used genetic approaches to assess the influence of landscape features on the dispersal patterns and genetic structure of two newt species (Triturus macedonicus and Lissotriton vulgaris) living syntopically in a network of ponds. Multilocus genotypes were used to detect and measure genetic variation patterns, population genetic structure and levels of gene flow. We interpret results on the basis of the different dispersal properties of the two species and explored the influence of certain landscape features, such as road and channel networks, on population connectivity. We found marked differences in the spatial genetic patterns of the respective species, which can be explained by their different dispersal properties. The road network seems to act as a barrier to dispersal in the overland dispersing L. vulgaris, while the channel network maintains connectivity in the aquatic dispersing T. macedonicus. The simultaneous and comparative consideration of species in a given area offers a much better understanding of the processes that govern population dynamics and persistence, providing valuable knowledge useful in conservation and management design.

Estimation of roe deerCapreolus capreolus and mouflonOvis aries densities, abundance and habitat use in a mountainous Mediterranean area

The abundance, density, and habitat use of roe deerCapreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) and mouflonOvis aries Linnaeus, 1758 were studied in a confined Mediterranean area in Greece with a dung survey based on the faecal accumulation rate (FAR) technique. Estimated density was modelled with generalized additive models using altitude, habitat type, and slope as potential covariates. Model selection among the set of candidate models was conducted based on their generalized cross-validation score. Roe deer had an estimated mean density of 13.9 ind./km2 and the best model included slope and habitat type as covariates. The mean density of mouflon in the study area was 22.1 ind./km2 and the best model used altitude and habitat type as covariates. For both species, the highest densities were encountered in abandoned cultivations and glades, followed by conifer forests, while the lowest densities were observed in maquis. However, use of open habitats by mouflon was much greater than it was for roe deer. The strong preference of mouflon (a grazer species) for open habitats that were abundant with grasses probably reflected food availability and contrasted with the more diverse habitat use by roe deer (a selective browser).

DIET OF A LACERTID LIZARD (PODARCIS MILENSIS) IN AN INSULAR DUNE ECOSYSTEM

This study reports on the seasonal, sex, and age differences in the diet composition of a population of the lacertid lizard Podarcis milensis inhabiting an arid sand dune on Milos Island (Aegean Archipelago, Greece). Stomach contents of 191 animals were analyzed and compared with prey availability data. The most important prey types were Hemiptera, Coleoptera (other than Tenebrionidae), spiders, and ants. Other prey items included plant material and insect larvae, both constantly consumed throughout the year. Differences in the taxonomic composition of the diet were found between males and females and between juveniles and all other classes. The greatest similarity of diet composition between the sexes and ages examined was during summer. The foraging patterns observed are discussed within the context of the specific study system: an insular, low productivity, sand dune ecosystem.

New polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Greek smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris graecus, and their utility in the nominotypical subspecies

Eight polymorphic microsatellites were isolated from the Greek smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris graecus) using a microsatellite enrichment protocol and selective hybridization with a biotinylated (AC)11 probe. The loci showed different variation patterns in a single breeding population (32 individuals) with mean number of alleles at 5.0 and mean observed heterozygosity at 0.520. The amplification success also in the nominotypical subspecies favours the use of these microsatellite loci in population genetic analyses as well as in the study of contact zones between smooth newt subspecies.