Research profile
I am a field biologist, with expertise in the taxonomy and ecology of a wide range of animal groups, (grasshoppers, butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals). I build up primary biodiversity databases, with a special focus on Mediterranean mountainous ecosystems.
International collaboration, independence, ecological breadth, and a consistent focus on providing solutions to major conservation problems are the four points that depict my research profile.
The last research projects I have initiated concerned the sustainable spatial planning of wind farms without undermining biodiversity goals, the delineation of roadless areas as pristine landscapes of high ecological and aesthetic value that should be preserved as such, and several projects on the conservation of endemic and threatened grasshopper species. I have also recently initiated “apollo” the first voluntary citizen-science scheme for monitoring greek butterflies.
Social profile
It is my belief that biodiversity conservation and ecological justice are the greatest challenges of our century. Science can provide real answers to our biodiversity crisis-era; we do not have the luxury to do science without implementation and vice versa.
For this reason, I am active as a conservation biologist, attempting to apply scientific findings in practice and to bridge the gap between local and international policymaking. I am a member of several international and national scientific societies and NGOs, having also chaired the Education Committee of the SCB-Europe and having organized the first international summer school on conservation biology for five years.
I am together with Haritakis and we have a lovely daughter, Myrto. If I was not to be a scientist, I would be a musician or a book writer of novels and fairy tales…. Who knows, maybe these dreams will come true one day…
Research interests
Biodiversity conservation: Indicators, reserve design techniques, biodiversity patterns and mapping, biodiversity under climate change, the impact of human-originated pressures on biodiversity.
Community ecology: Diversity patterns, ecological structure, habitat suitability, and conservation management of terrestrial animal communities: grasshoppers, butterflies, herpetofauna, birds, and mammals.
Conservation biology: Endangered species conservation, protected areas management, windfarm spatial planning, roadless areas and wilderness preservation.
Environmental policy: Science-policy interface, implementation of Natura 2000 network, wilderness integration to legislation,, sustainable game management
Milestones & Education
Research projects
2023
2023: DEMO- Distribution patterns and ecology of three endemic and endangered Orthoptera species of Greek mountains
Goal: DEMO aims at building the ecological knowledge base needed for assessing the conservation status of three steno-endemic and globally threatened high-altitude Orthoptera species of Greece of the genus Parnassiana: P. parnassica (CR), P. tymphrestos (EN) and P. coracis (VU). The project covers their global distribution area and attempts to solve the taxonomic problem of P. coracis vs P. tymphrestos in genetic terms, map the global distribution of the species, investigate the species' habitat requirements, assess the species population status, assess pressures and threats for the species and create the knowledge base for the conservation management of the species. Period: 2023-2024. Funding: NECCA-National Environmental and Climate Change Agency. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator
2023: PhD excellence grant-A. Stefanidis
PhD title: Ecology and conservation of mountainous Orthoptera communities, with emphasis on endemic and threatened species (Greece). Period: 2023-2026. PhD excellence grant by HFRI-Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation. BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator & PhD supervisor.
2023: PhD excellence grant-K.Papakostas
PhD title: Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) ecology and conservation in Greece. Period: 2023-2026. PhD excellence grant by HFRI-Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation. BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator & PhD supervisor.
2023: MEIOSIS- Monitoring and assessing the conservation status of the species Chorthippus lacustrisis. Post-doc excellence grant to K. Zografou
Goal: Predict the ecological traits that make butterflies adaptable to climate change. More info in the project website here. Period: 2023-2025. Post-doc excellence grant to Dr.Dina Zografou as the Principal Investigator by HFRI-Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation. BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator
2023
2023: LAC2-Monitoring and assessing the conservation status of the species Chorthippus lacustris
Goal: Study of the ecological requirements of the Epirus dancing grasshopper (critically endangered and endemic species) and proposal of management measures to restore its populations and improve its conservation status in Epirus area (GR2120001,GR2120002, GR2120003, GR2120006,). LAC2 project complements LAC project, covering the global distribution area of the species. Period: 2023. Funding: NECCA-National Environmental and Climate Change Agency. BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator
2021: NATLAND- Undisturbed natural areas of Greece (SEBI 13).
Goal: Mapping the roadless areas of Greece (over 1 sqkm) and providing to the Greek government and society an open spatial database of the roadless areas of Greece, including whole islands, as a tool to delineate and protect wilderness areas of high naturalness, ecological and aesthetic value. The project concludes to suggestions on integrating its outputs in the national and international environmental policies towards minimizing fragmentation and land use change, in the frame of the new biodiversity strategy in the EU. Period: 2021-2022. Funding: Green Fund of Greece. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. More info here
2021: OITI- Investigating the endemic and threatened entomofauna in Oiti and Tymphristos.
Goal: Study of the distribution and ecological requirements of fourteen important grasshoppers in the mountains of Oiti and Tymphristos and suggestion of conservation measures for two species that are both endemic and endangered (EN) - Parnassiana tymphrestos and Oropodisma tymphrestosi. Period: 2021-2022. Funding: Management Agency of Oiti National Park. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. [Photo O. tymphrestosi mating]
2021:ALEXANOR- Improving the conservation status of the species Papilio alexanor in Parnassos.
Goal: Study of the distribution and ecological requirements of the butterfly of Community interest Papilio alexanor in two Natura 2000 sites (Parnassos and Giona mountains) and suggest conservation measures to improve its population status and conservation degree. Period: 2021-2022. Funding: Management Agency of Parnassos National Park. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator.
2021: PARNO-Improving the knowledge of Parnassos’ endemic and threatened entomofauna.
Goal: Study of the distribution and ecological requirements of eleven important grasshopper species in Parnassos National Park and proposal of conservation measures for four endemic and endangered species: Parnassiana parnassica (CR), Oropodisma parnassica (EN), Stenobothrus graecus (EN), Glyphanus obtusus (EN). Period: 2021-2022. Funding: Management Agency of Parnassos National Park. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. [Photo Glyphanus obtusus]
2021: LAC-Conservation management of the endemic species Chorthippus lacustris
Goal: Study of the ecological requirements of the Epirus dancing grasshopper (critically endangered and endemic species) and action plan to restore its populations and improve its conservation status in the basin of Pamvotis Lake. Conservation actions will be implemented and their efficiency will be assessed through monitoring in collaboration with the Management Agency of Pamvotis Lake staff. Period: 2021-2023. Funding: Management Agency of Pamvotis Lake. BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. [Photo male Epirus dancing grasshopper]
2021
2021: PINS-Monitoring and improving the knowledge of the endemic and threatened entomofauna in the area of the Management Agency of Lake Pamvotis
Goal: Study of the distribution and ecological requirements of important insect species in Mitsikeli and Nemertsika mountains and the broader area (Ioannina, Pogoni). It targets the butterfly Ephydrias aurinia, the endemic cave-cricket of Perama cave Dolichopoda graeca, the species of Community interest Paracaloptenus caloptenoides and the endemic and endangered species Pryonotropis willemsorum. The study concludes to a spatial database and data on the species ecological requirements with concrete conservation measure suggestions where applicable. Period: 2021-2023. Funding: Management Agency of Pamvotis Lake. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. [Photo Dolichopoda graeca].
2020
2020: WIND: Windfarms and Sustainable Development Goals: optimal approach for fragmentation and land use change
Goal: The convergence of climate and biodiversity policies, in the field of wind farm development. The project WIND produced a sustainable scenario of sitting windfarms, which minimizes the cost for biodiversity and natural landscapes, while succeeding to overcome the national climate goals of energy production from windfarms by 2030 and beyond. Period: 2020-2021. Funding: National Center for the Environment and Sustainable Development. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. More info here
2019
BUTALL- Butterflies of Greece: Linking science with society
Goal: Connect science with society, with a focus on butterflies, for the mutual benefit of the citizens themselves, science and the Greek State. The projects sets up the first methodological guideline and provides the means to set up the first national citizen science scheme for recording and monitoring butterflies in Greece.
Period: 2019-2020. Funding: National Center for the Environment and Sustainable Development. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. More info here
ROADLESS- Roadless areas and sustainable development in Greece
Goal: Contribution to tackling the problem of fragmentation of the landscape and natural ecosystems from new road networks. The project mapped the roadless areas of 50 sqkm in Greece, and produced papers, policy briefs, video, and an online spatial database of roadless areas. It suggested a European legislation on conserving the last roadless areas as wilderness areas where new roads and artificial land expansion should be banned. The social impact of the project was large, and the Prime Minister announced in COP26 (November 2021) the intention of the government to conserve the last large wilderness roadless areas in Greece under the name “untrodden mountains”. ROADLESS project continued through NATLAND project.
Period: 2019-2020. Funding: Green Fund of Greece. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. More info here
AOOS - Contribution to biodiversity knowledge of Aoos catchment
Goal: To provide a georeferenced database of species distribution in the basin of Aoos river, one of the last unfragmented free-flowing rivers in Europe, with special focus on the part of the area that is under no protection status. The project assessed different microhabitats of Aoos’ catchment in terms of their ecological value for the target species, as well as potential pressures and threats. Targeted species included large mammals, the otter and the dragonflies. The project suggested establishing a cross-border national park of Aoos between Greece and Albania.
Period: 2019. Funding: Pindos Perivallontiki (NGO) (Funds from Euronatur). Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. View the report here
2018
COEXIST-Conflict of livestock-wolf in selected regions of Greece
Goal: Contribute to wolf-human conflict mitigation in Tzoumerka National Park. The project assesses and describes traditional free-ranging livestock raisers’ profile, records wolf depredation levels on cattle, sheep and goat herds as the main baseline metric of wolf-human conflicts in Tzoumerka NP, identifies and evaluates the principal damage prevention methods adopted by local livestock farmers, assesses levels of livestock guarding dog mortality due to the illegal use of poisoned baits as a major conservation problem and evaluates satisfaction levels of livestock farmers regarding the national compensation system.
Period: 2018. Funding: WWF-Hellas. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. More info here
2017
SOER-Environmental Status Report - Nature / Biodiversity 2018
Goal: Assess the environmental progress of Greece in terms of indicators (SEBI) in the field of nature conservation. The project output was the national environmental report of the country, assessing the progress of Greece to achieve its biodiversity goals, using the system of the Streamlining Biodiversity Indicators of the European Environmental Agency.
Period: 2017. Funding: National Center of Environment and Sustainable Development. Institute: BCL - University of Ioannina. Role: Coordinator. View the report here
Publications
Publications include (a) international peer reviewed papers, (b) book chapters, (c) papers in conference proceedings, (d) published datasets, (e) selected reports. Links for accessing pdfs are provided
*: corresponding author.
Paper without Impact Factor.
Biological group
Grasshoppers
Butterflies
Dragonflies
Small birds
Amphibians & reptiles
Raptors
Other birds
Ungulates
Large carnivores
Vegetation
Multi-taxa
Topic
Roads
Windfarms
Social science
PhD thesis
The current research is conducted in the framework of conservation biology, taking as a case study the reserve of Dadia, in NE Greece. Biological diversity is represented by six biological groups: vegetation, orchids, Orthoptera, aquatic and terrestrial herpetofauna, and small terrestrial birds. The diversity and the ecological structure of the group communities are assessed and analyzed for 36 sites, which represent different habitat types in the Dadia reserve. Five conservation scenarios are constructed to design optimal reserve networks for the conservation of biodiversity. They support the scoring versus approach, the principle of complementarity, of biological representativeness, of environmental representativeness, and finally the random design of reserve systems. Their efficiency is tested and their utility is discussed. The degree of coincidence of hotspots and of the optimal network for different groups is measured, as well as the surrogate value of each studied group as a shortcut for the conservation of the other groups and of overall biodiversity. Finally, we discuss practical conservation issues for the reserve of Dadia.
Papers
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Petridou, M., Kati, V. 2025. Are Wolves the Real Problem? Challenges Faced by Livestock Farmers Living Alongside Wolves in Northwestern Greece. Sustainability (Switzerland) 17 (3):1083.
Abstract: Mitigating human–wolf conflict is crucial, yet conventional approaches often overlook the broader socioeconomic challenges faced by farming communities. Wolves frequently become scapegoats for deeper rooted issues such as economic disadvantages, policy deficiencies, and rural depopulation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 118 livestock farmers to examine (a) farmer profiles and wolf-related interactions, (b) professional challenges and proposed solutions, (c) reasons for perceiving wolves as a major problem, and (d) the impact of wolf presence on job dissatisfaction. Farmers reported
low specialized education and job satisfaction, particularly regarding income. Many struggled to afford or find shepherds, especially sheep/goat farmers. Guardian dog poisoning incidents and dissatisfaction with the damage compensation system were prevalent. Key challenges included economic marginalization, wolf presence, climatic factors, inadequate grazing policies, infrastructure deficits, distrust in policy, rural depopulation, and a lack of services. Farmers who perceived wolves as a major problem implemented weaker preventive measures and moved herds seasonally over longer distances. Job dissatisfaction was linked to wolf presence, livestock type, and economic marginalization. Our findings emphasize that while wolves impact farmers, economic and policy-related factors play a greater role. Educational initiatives, supportive policies, effective depredation mitigation, and fair compensation systems are essential for sustainable livestock farming and coexistence with wolves. By tackling socioeconomic challenges, enhancing policies, and supporting farmers to adapt to evolving circumstances, the livestock farming sector can thrive while minimizing conflicts associated with wolves.
Stefanidis, A., Kougioumoutzis, K., Zografou, K., Fotiadis, G., Willemse, L., Tzortzakaki, O., & Kati, V. (2025). Distribution Patterns and Habitat Preferences of Five Globally Threatened and Endemic Montane Orthoptera (Parnassiana and Oropodisma). Ecologies, 6(1), 5.
Greece is a European hotspot for Orthoptera (378 species), yet it has been scarcely explored. We investigated the distribution and habitat preferences of the species of two endemic Orthoptera genera, Parnassiana and Oropodisma, in the montane ecosystems of central Greece. We conducted field surveys from 2021 to 2024 in 174 sites across seven mountains. The species of both genera preferred habitats above 1500 m, with species-specific preferences for microhabitat parameters: Parnassiana species favored moderate slopes with dense shrub cover, while Oropodisma species favored substrates with intermediate stone cover and relatively high vegetation cover. Species distribution models estimated the area of suitable habitat for Parnassiana to be at 5 km2 and Oropodisma at 3.28 km2. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and potential evapotranspiration were the key environmental drivers of the habitat suitability for both genera. Generalized regression models showed that altitude positively influenced Parnassiana population density, peaking at 2200 m, whereas rock and soil cover negatively impacted Oropodisma population densities. The results emphasize the critical role of montane habitats in sustaining these species and provide essential data for future research and conservation strategies.
Papakostas, K., Papaioannou, H., Apollonio, M., Kati, V. 2025. Seasonal distribution pattern and habitat selection of the Balkan chamois on Olympus mountain: Summer heat, hikers, roads. Journal for Nature Conservation 83:126773
The Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) has a bad conservation status in Greece, and a national action plan will be implemented by the Ministry of Environment. We explored the seasonal distribution pattern and ecological preferences of the species on Mt. Olympus by collecting 1,182 observations of chamois occurrences across four seasonal surveys (2022–2023), and we estimated its population size (2022). The annual range of the species reached 103 km2 (Kernel Density Estimator). We recorded the smallest seasonal range during autumn (rutting season), then in summer, and the largest in winter. The species followed the Mediterranean seasonal range use pattern, implying that summer is the stress period due to drought. The population size was c. 430 individuals, showing an increasing trend, but the fecundity rate was low in 2022. The Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) showed that chamois preferred areas near hiking trails throughout the year, likely being habituated with visitors, while avoiding motorized roads, as adopted behaviors of poaching risk minimization. It also favored rocky areas and proximity to escape terrains during spring and winter. This work provides new methodological insights for habitat mapping and escape terrain definition (slope steepness and extent) and supports the suggested measures of the national action plan for implementing a roadless and road control policy, securing water availability in arid mountains, implementing a management plan for tourists, abating poaching and enlarging the hunting banning zone.
Stefanidis, A., Kougioumoutzis, K., Zografou, K., Fotiadis, G., Tzortzakaki, O., Willemse, L., Kati, V. 2024. Mitigating the extinction risk of globally threatened and endemic mountainous Orthoptera species: Parnassiana parnassica and Oropodisma parnassica. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 1–15.
1. Orthoptera species are vulnerable to extinction on a global scale. Greece hosts 35% (380 species) of the European Orthoptera fauna with a high degree of endemic (37%) and threatened species (37%).
2. We sampled 46 plots (100 m2) to investigate the distribution and ecological requirement of two Greek mountain endemic and red-listed species: Parnassiana parnassica (Ramme, 1926; Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Critically Endangered [CR]) and Oropodisma parnassica (Scudder, 1897; Orthoptera: Caelifera; Endangered [EN]). Species had a restricted geographical range, with two isolated populations confined to high altitudes (1527–2320 m) of Mts. Parnassos and Elikonas.
3. Species distribution models showed that slope affected their suitable habitat, together with the topographic position index and the annual temperature range (P. parnassica), and the amount of green vegetation and evapotranspiration (O. parnassica).
4. Connectivity analysis showed that P. parnassica-suitable habitat consisted of few larger and well-connected patches (26 patches: effective mesh size of 1.57 km2) and that O. parnassica-suitable habitat consisted of more but smaller and less connected patches (56 patches: effective mesh size of 0.3 km2).
5. Generalised linear models showed that the population density of P. parnassica was negatively influenced by the height of herbaceous vegetation and that of O. parnassica was positively influenced by altitude.
6. The species face three main imminent threats: land take, wildfires and global warming, whereas livestock grazing seems to have a positive impact and skiing a neutral impact on their populations.
7. We assessed both species as EN after International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and a suite of conservation measures are suggested for their status improvement.
Sidiropoulos, L., Whitfield, D.P., Poirazidis, K., Navarrete, E., Vasilakis, D.P., Bounas, A., Kret, E., Kati, V. 2024. Dispersal Ecology of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in Northern Greece: Onset, Ranging, Temporary and Territorial Settlement. Diversity, 16, 580.
Natal dispersal is a crucial period for raptors with serious implications for individuals’ survival and population demography. In this study we analyzed data from 18 GPS-tracked golden eagles in order to describe their dispersal ecology in northern Greece, where the species feeds mostly on tortoises. Young eagles in our population dispersed at 176 days post fledging, spent their first year of independence relatively close (40–60 kms) to their natal ranges and exhibited a variable temporary settlement behavior. Overall dispersal range sizes did not differ seasonally, but temporary settlement area range sizes were significantly larger in winter. Three eagles survived to territorial settlement and occupied ranges 20–60 kms from their natal areas. The application and refinement of the Scottish GET dispersal ranging model suggested that eagles used areas that had higher topographical relief and lower canopy cover during their natal dispersal. Habitat heterogeneity seems to also be influential during temporary settlement. Our study is the first to provide both such insights for golden eagles in southern eastern Europe and a method for delineating temporary settlement areas for the species. Our findings can be explained in terms of food and habitat availability. We highlight the importance of conserving heterogeneous open areas of complex topography and applying proactive management measures within temporary settlement areas for our population’s conservation.
Tzirkalli, E., Zografou, K., Willemse, L., Vogiatzakis, I.N., Kati, V., 2024. Conservation Prioritization of Orthoptera Assemblages on a Mediterranean Island. Diversity, 16 (6), 347.
In response to the ongoing global extinction, conservationists must prioritize future conservation investments to ensure that such measures are biologically effective and economically viable. To propose an effective conservation plan for Orthoptera assemblages on Cyprus Island, we introduce the Standardized Conservation Index (StCI), a biodiversity index accounting for the conservation value (ci), presence, dispersal ability, endemism and conservation status of a species. We evaluated the effect of eleven environmental variables on StCI, ci, species richness and the Shannon–Wiener diversity index, using linear and generalized linear models. Species and environmental data were collected in 60 localities that were placed along four elevational zones and included seven habitat types. Our results revealed the importance of rural mosaics and forests for the conservation of Orthoptera. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index failed to show the importance of high-altitude forests. The Orthoptera species diversity was favored by flower heads and the soil humidity, while rock cover and high shrubs had a positive and negative effect, respectively, on the StCI and ci values. Our results underline the value of StCI in complementing traditional diversity indices, as a scale-independent index that can be used for different taxa to prioritize sites of conservation concern.
Grubert,E., Benites Lazaro,L.L., Popp, A., Merfort, L., Luo, T., Kati, V., Meshram, P., Dorn, F.M., Hernández, D. (2024) Making low-carbon energy sustainable, One Earth, 7(2):163-166-
Low-carbon energy capacity continues to grow, facilitating the much-needed transition away from fossil fuels. However, broader sustainability issues remain. This Voices asks: what barriers continue to obstruct a truly sustainable energy transition?
Hua, F. et al. 2024. Ecological filtering shapes the impacts of agricultural deforestation on biodiversity. Nature Ecology & Evolution (8):251-266
The biodiversity impacts of agricultural deforestation vary widely across regions. Previous efforts to explain this variation have focused exclusively on the landscape features and management regimes of agricultural systems, neglecting the potentially critical role of ecological filtering in shaping deforestation tolerance of extant species assemblages at large geographical scales via selection for functional traits. Here we provide a large-scale test of this role using a global database of species abundance ratios between matched agricultural and native forest sites that comprises 71 avian assemblages reported in 44 primary studies, and a companion database of 10 functional traits for all 2,647 species involved. Using meta-analytic, phylogenetic and multivariate methods, we show that beyond agricultural features, filtering by the extent of natural environmental variability and the severity of historical anthropogenic deforestation shapes the varying deforestation impacts across species assemblages. For assemblages under greater environmental variability—proxied by drier and more seasonal climates under a greater disturbance regime—and longer deforestation histories, filtering has attenuated the negative impacts of current deforestation by selecting for functional traits linked to stronger deforestation tolerance. Our study provides a previously largely missing piece of knowledge in understanding and managing the biodiversity consequences of deforestation by agricultural deforestation.
Stefanidis, A.; Zografou, K.;Tzortzakaki, O.; Kati, V. OrthopteraCommunity Dynamics andConservation in a Natura 2000 Site(Greece): The Role of Beta Diversity.Diversity2024,16, 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16010011
Greece is a European hotspot for Orthoptera (378 species), yet it has been scarcely explored.We investigated the diversity patterns of Orthoptera and the ecological mechanisms shaping them by sampling 15 sites (30 plots of 1ha) across five habitats in Mount Mitsikeli, a Natura 2000 site.The mountain is deemed rich (0.4 species/km2), hosting 34 species, including a species of European interest (Paracaloptenus caloptenoides). The grassy openings in the beech–fir forest and rural mosaics were found to be important habitats for Orthoptera, while the mountain grasslands were poorer but hosted a greater abundance of grasshoppers. The three main environmental factors shaping diversity patterns (with an explained variance of 51.34%) were grass height, the cover of woody vegetation and the cover of bare ground. Beta diversity was high (with a Bray–Curtis of index 0.45among habitats). Species turnover prevailed among all sites and within agricultural land, beech–fir forest and Mediterranean scrub, while nested patterns prevailed within mountain grasslands and mixed thermophilous forest. Conservation actions should target sites in ecosystems driven by species turnover, but primarily the most species-rich sites are driven by nestedness. Such actions should include the implementation of biodiversity-inclusive grazing schemes to hamper forest encroachment and the restoration of mountain grassland quality from cattle overgrazing.
Toli, E.-A., Zacharopoulou, P., Bounas, A., Kati, V., Sotiropoulos, K. 2023. Conservation genetics of the steno-endemic Chorthippus lacustris (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Journal of Insect Conservation.
Invertebrate populations are amongst the most widespread species, inhabiting a variety of habitats, however there is limited conservation effort due to the scarce knowledge on their population genetics. Here, we assess levels of genetic diversity and population structure of the Epirus dancing grasshopper (Chorthippus lacustris), a steno-endemic species, located in Northwest Greece, exhibiting a fragmented distribution. By utilizing two mitochondrial genes and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), we detected moderate to high levels of genetic diversity of the focal populations. Haplotype network analysis revealed the existence of private haplotypes with low genetic differentiation suggesting a sudden expansion of the species in the study area with subsequent isolations on suitable habitats. Despite the low genetic differentiation between the studied populations, our data further suggest a subtle subdivision of the populations and the existence of three genetic clusters. Implications for insect conservation: Our study is the first to provide insights into the population genetics of the steno-endemic grasshopper C. lacustris, highlighting the importance of preserving focal populations. The species inhabits areas subject to high changes in land use and fragmentation. We argue that the preservation and management of suitable habitats is essential for the viability of the grasshopper populations.
Petridou, M., Benson, J.F., Gimenez, O., Iliopoulos, Y., Kati, V. 2023. Do husbandry practices reduce depredation of free-ranging livestock? A case study with wolves in Greece. Biological Conservation 283, 110097
Livestock depredation is the primary driver of wolf-human conflict worldwide, threatening wolf conservation and impacting human livelihoods. Most countries implement relevant compensation programs, which are however rarely accompanied by proactive husbandry practices vetted with scientific research. We investigated the influence of husbandry practices on wolf depredation losses for 70 sheep/goat and 68 cattle herds with quantitative modeling of data from semi-structured interviews of livestock farmers along a livestock damage gradient in NW Greece. Sheep/goat herds were better protected than cattle herds in seven preventive measures and annual losses of sheep/goat livestock units were three times lower than losses of cattle livestock units in our study area. Furthermore, according to national compensation data from Greece, costs paid for cattle have doubled in recent years, whereas they have been cut in half for sheep/goats. Our modeling identified three core preventive measures that significantly reduced wolf depredation risk for both herd types, namely increased shepherd surveillance, systematic night confinement, and an adequate number of livestock guardian dogs (optimal ratio was 3 Greek guardian dogs per 100 sheep/goats and 7 guardian dogs per 100 cattle). Keeping young livestock in enclosures and not abandoning livestock carcasses in pastures were additional effective preventive measures for cattle herds. Our study provides evidence to inform the subsidizing policy put forth in the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union. It can also serve to inform or revise wildlife-livestock conflict mitigation policy in countries challenged with the competing goals of conserving large carnivores while maintaining traditional grazing regimes. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
Kati, V., Petridou, M., Tzortzakaki, O., Papantoniou, E., Galani, A., Psaralexi, M., Gotsis, D., Papaioannou, H., Kassara, C. 2023. How much wilderness is left? A roadless approach under the Global and the European Biodiversity Strategy focusing on Greece. Biological Conservation 281, 110015.
Preserving ecosystems of high ecological integrity is a crucial target in Biodiversity Strategies, also serving the 10 % target of strict land protection in the European Union (EU). We recommend roadless mapping to delineate wilderness and monitor progress against loss in natural areas. We mapped Greece’s roadless land and assessed its ecological attributes. It accounted for 6.1 % of Greece and comprised 451 roadless sites of size over 1 km2: 389 roadless areas and 62 fully roadless islands. Roadless sites occurred in mountains and islands, were undeveloped (no artificial land), undisturbed (no major pressures, [removed]99 % of natural and seminatural vegetation cover, 68 % of their extent in the Natura 2000 network). They also lay in a wilderness continuum of low landscape fragmentation index. Most roadless sites (302) were larger than 10 km2. Larger roadless areas occurred more in higher mountains and steeper terrains, had a lower Human Influence Index and a better Natura 2000 coverage. Roadless sites demonstrated a buffering capacity against naturalness loss and fires (2.5 times lower percentage of burnt land than the national average) but were vulnerable to Renewable Energy Sources deployment, particularly wind farms (33 % of roadless areas might be affected). In support of a roadless policy we suggest using roadless sites to delimit the strictly protected zones in the EU (and Greece), to map primary-old-growth forests, and pinpoint new candidate protected areas. We strongly recommend revisiting the REPowerEU plan to define roadless sites as non-go-to areas for relevant infrastructure deployments. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd.
Toli, E.-A., Zacharopoulou, P., Bounas, A., Kati, V., Sotiropoulos, K. 2023. Conservation genetics of the steno-endemic Chorthippus lacustris (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Journal of Insect Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-023-00507-6
Invertebrate populations are amongst the most widespread species, inhabiting a variety of habitats, however there is limited conservation effort due to the scarce knowledge on their population genetics. Here, we assess levels of genetic diversity and population structure of the Epirus dancing grasshopper (Chorthippus lacustris), a steno-endemic species, located in Northwest Greece, exhibiting a fragmented distribution. By utilizing two mitochondrial genes and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), we detected moderate to high levels of genetic diversity of the focal populations. Haplotype network analysis revealed the existence of private haplotypes with low genetic differentiation suggesting a sudden expansion of the species in the study area with subsequent isolations on suitable habitats. Despite the low genetic differentiation between the studied populations, our data further suggest a subtle subdivision of the populations and the existence of three genetic clusters. Implications for insect conservation: Our study is the first to provide insights into the population genetics of the steno-endemic grasshopper C. lacustris, highlighting the importance of preserving focal populations. The species inhabits areas subject to high changes in land use and fragmentation. We argue that the preservation and management of suitable habitats is essential for the viability of the grasshopper populations.
Grigoropoulou, A. et al., 2023. The global EPTO database: Worldwide occurrences of aquatic insects. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 32: 642–655
Motivation: Aquatic insects comprise 64% of freshwater animal diversity and are widely used as bioindicators to assess water quality impairment and freshwater ecosystem health, as well as to test ecological hypotheses. Despite their importance, a comprehensive, global database of aquatic insect occurrences for mapping freshwater biodiversity in macroecological studies and applied freshwater research is missing. We aim to fill this gap and present the Global EPTO Database, which includes worldwide geo-referenced aquatic insect occurrence records for four major taxa groups: Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Odonata (EPTO). Main type of variables contained: A total of 8,368,467 occurrence records globally, of which 8,319,689 (99%) are publicly available. The records are attributed to the corresponding drainage basin and sub-catchment based on the Hydrography90m dataset and are accompanied by the elevation value, the freshwater ecoregion and the protection status of their location. Spatial location and grain: The database covers the global extent, with 86% of the observation records having coordinates with at least four decimal digits (11.1 m precision at the equator) in the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) coordinate reference system. Time period and grain: Sampling years span from 1951 to 2021. Ninety-nine percent of the records have information on the year of the observation, 95% on the year and month, while 94% have a complete date. In the case of seven sub-datasets, exact dates can be retrieved upon communication with the data contributors. Major taxa and level of measurement: Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Odonata, standardized at the genus taxonomic level. We provide species names for 7,727,980 (93%) records without further taxonomic verification. Software format: The entire tab-separated value (.csv) database can be downloaded and visualized at https://glowabio.org/project/epto_database/. Fifty individual datasets are also available at https://fred.igb-berlin.de, while six datasets have restricted access. For the latter, we share metadata and the contact details of the authors.
Petridou, M., Benson, J.F., Gimenez, O., Kati, V. 2023. Spatiotemporal Patterns of Wolves, and Sympatric Predators and Prey Relative to Human Disturbance in Northwestern Greece. Diversity 15.
In an era of increasing human pressure on nature, understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of wildlife relative to human disturbance can inform conservation efforts, especially for large carnivores. We examined the temporal activity and spatial patterns of wolves and eight sympatric mammals at 71 camera trap stations in Greece. Grey wolves temporally overlapped the most with wild boars (Δ = 0.84) and medium-sized mammals (Δ > 0.75), moderately with brown bears (Δ = 0.70), and least with roe deer (Δ = 0.46). All wild mammals were mainly nocturnal and exhibited low temporal overlap with human disturbance (humans, vehicles, livestock, and dogs; Δ = 0.18–0.36), apart from roe deer, which were more diurnal (Δ = 0.80). Six out of nine species increased their nocturnality at sites of high human disturbance, particularly roe deer and wolves. The detection of wolves was negatively associated with paved roads, the detection of roe deer was negatively associated with human disturbance, and the detection of wild boars was negatively associated with dogs. The detection of bears, boars, and foxes increased closer to settlements. Our study has applied implications for wolf conservation and human–wildlife coexistence.
Kati, V., Selva, N., Sjögren-Gulve, P., 2022. Greek roadless policy: A model for Europe. Science 375 984.
On 18 January 2022, the Greek government banned road construction in six Natura 2000 roadless mountainous areas, triggering a broader national roadless policy. Road sprawl is a key catalyst of land use change, which is the greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide (2). For years, scientists have called for halting infrastructure expansion, including roads, to protect biodiversity with little success. Greece’s policy should serve as a model for the EU
Lemonnier-Darcemont, Μ., Zechner, L., Kati, V., Filis, N., Darcemont, C. 2022. Occurrence and threats of Prionotropis willemsorum (Massa & Ünal, 2015) in Greece. Articulata 37: 1-12
A first report on the occurrence of Prionotropis willemsorum, an orthopteran Pam-phagidae endemic to Greece is drawn up. The threats that particularly impact thehabitats where this species lives are also assessed. They are mainly linked to al-terations in grazing practices, whether it is the abandonment or the change fromherds of sheep and goats to cattle grazing. New localities were also discoveredduring our spring 2021 and 2022 surveys.
Sidiropoulos, L., Whitfield, D.P., Astaras, C., Vasilakis, D., Alivizatos, H., Kati, V*., 2022. Pronounced Seasonal Diet Diversity Expansion of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in Northern Greece during the Non-Breeding Season: The Role of Tortoises. Diversity 14. 10.3390/d14020135
Golden Eagles are resident in Greece and known to feed mainly on tortoises when breed-ing. However, information on alternative prey is scarce, especially during the tortoise brumation, that roughly coincides with the eagles’ non-breeding season. We analyzed 827 prey items collected from 12 territories over five territory years and 84 records of eagles hunting or feeding behavior. Tortoises dominated the breeding season diet (71% of prey categories on average) and over half of all hunting/feeding observations. While no spatial structure was evident, habitat variables such as forest canopy cover were important associates in golden eagle diet seasonally. A significant seasonal pattern emerged in diet diversity, using a subset of six territories with at least 10 samples per season. Eagles shifted from a narrow, reptile-based breeding season diet dominated by tortoises to a broader non-breeding season diet, that included more carrion, mammals and birds. Breeding season specialization on ectothermic prey is a trait usually associated with migratory raptors in the Western Palearctic. The observed dietary diversity expansion accompanied by residency in the absence of ectothermic prey, highlights the adaptability of the golden eagle, a generalist predator. Tortoise populations in Greece are of conservation concern and land use changes as well as climate change, such as development and land abandonment may increase the prevalence of catastrophic megafires, exacerbating the threats to the golden eagle’s main prey when breeding. We discuss this and other diet related conservation implications for the species in northern Greece.
Benedetti, Y., Kapsalis, E., Morelli, F., Kati, V.* 2021. Sacred oak woods increase bird diversity and specialization: Links with the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Journal of Environmental Management, 294, 112982
Sacred groves in Greece are usually forest remnants with large trees around chapels, protected through centuries by Orthodox religion. We examined the comparative ecological value of 20 oak-dominated sacred groves vs managed oakwoods, in terms of their habitat characteristics and avian communities (passerines and woodpeckers). Sacred groves have maintained a more pronounced old-growth character than managed oakwoods in terms of average Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and tree height. Besides holding significantly greater bird species richness and abundance, they supported greater functional richness, phylogenetic diversity, and phylogenetic bird species variability. Bird communities in sacred groves were more heterogeneous and showed greater avian specialization levels than in managed woods. Generalized Linear Models showed that the main factor positively affecting all aspects of bird diversity was DBH, while the abundance of dead trees increased bird abundance. Our results underline the importance of maintaining large-sized trees in forest management practices to support bird diversity and decrease biotic homogenization. Since the new European Biodiversity Strategy explicitly requires all remaining European primary and old-growth forests to be strictly protected by 2030, we argue that sacred groves, despite their small size, meet the criteria to be considered in the strict protection and restoration targets of the strategy, as primary old growth woods of high biodiversity value.
Kati, V*., Kassara, Ch., Vrontisi, Z., Moustakas, A. 2021. The biodiversity-wind energy-land use nexus in a global biodiversity hotspot. Science οf the Total Environment, 768, 144471.
Wind energy is the leading renewable technology towards achieving climate goals, yet biodiversity trade-offs via land take are emerging. Thus, we are facing the paradox of impacting on biodiversity to combat climate change. We suggest a novel method of spatial planning that enhances windfarm sustainability: investments are prioritized in the most fragmented zones that lie outside the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. We showcase it in Greece, a biodiversity hotspot with a strong climate policy and land conflict between conservation and wind energy schemes. The analysis indicates that the suggested investment zone supports wind harnessing 1.5 times higher than the 2030 national goal, having only marginally lower (4%) wind speed. It performs well for the conservation of the annexed habitats and species of the two Nature Directives and it greatly overlaps with the Important Bird Areas (93%) and the roadless areas (80%) of Greece. It also greatly overlaps (82%–91%) with the exclusion zones suggested according to three sensitivity maps for bird conservation. Since land use change triggers biodiversity decline, we underline the necessity of such approaches for meeting both climate and biodiversity goals and call for a greater environmental policy convergence towards biodiversity conservation and no net land take.
Zografou, K., Grill, A., Wilson, R.J., Halley, J.M., Adamidis, G.C., Kati, V. 2020. Butterfly phenology in Mediterranean mountains using space‐for‐time substitution. Ecology and Evolution, 10: 928– 939.
Inferring species’ responses to climate change in the absence of long-term time series data is a challenge, but can be achieved by substituting space for time. For example, thermal elevational gradients represent suitable proxies to study phenological responses to warming. We used butterfly data from two Mediterranean mountain areas to test whether mean dates of appearance of communities and individual species show a delay with increasing altitude, and an accompanying shortening in the duration of flight periods. We found a 14-day delay in the mean date of appearance per kilometer increase in altitude for butterfly communities overall, and an average 23-day shift for 26 selected species, alongside average summer temperature lapse rates of 3°C per km. At higher elevations, there was a shortening of the flight period for the community of 3 days/km, with an 8.8-day average decline per km for individual species. Rates of phenological delay differed significantly between the two mountain ranges, although this did not seem to result from the respective temperature lapse rates. These results suggest that climate warming could lead to advanced and lengthened flight periods for Mediterranean mountain butterfly communities. However, although multivoltine species showed the expected response of delayed and shortened flight periods at higher elevations, univoltine species showed more pronounced delays in terms of species appearance. Hence, while projections of overall community responses to climate change may benefit from space-for-time substitutions, understanding species-specific responses to local features of habitat and climate may be needed to accurately predict the effects of climate change on phenology.
Kati, V., Kassara, Ch., Vassilakis, D., Papaioannou, H. 2020. Balkan Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) Avoids Roads, Settlements, and Hunting Grounds: An Ecological Overview from Timfi Mountain, Greece. Diversity, 12 (4), pp 124.
Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) is a protected species with an Inadequate-Bad (U2) conservation status in Greece. Our study explores its seasonal range use pattern, demography and habitat selection in a site of the Natura 2000 network, Timfi Mountain. To this aim, we examined 1168 observations obtained from six seasonal surveys (2002: four seasons, 2014 and 2017: autumn) and performed an ecological-niche factor analysis (ENFA), using 16 environmental and human-disturbance variables. The species had an annual range of 6491 ha (25% of the study area), followed the typical range-use pattern, and presented the minimum core area during the rutting season (autumn). Timfi Mt hosted 469 individuals in 2017 (the largest population in Greece), increasing by 3.55 times since 2002. The species selected higher altitudes during summer and autumn, pinewoods over broad-leaved woods as winter grounds, and it avoided south-facing slopes. Our results supported the anthropogenic risk avoidance hypothesis; the species always selected remote areas away from roads, human settlements, and hunting grounds. In Greece, 40% of its distribution area falls within hunting ban areas (16.5% of the country). A national conservation policy is needed towards maintaining and increasing roadless areas and hunting-ban areas within Balkan chamois range nationwide.
Tzirkalli, E., Kadis, C., Halley, J.M., Vogiatzakis, I., Wilson, R.J., Zografou, K., Antoniou, A., Tsintides, T., Makris, C., Kati, V*., 2019. Conservation ecology of butterflies on Cyprus in the context of Natura 2000. Biodiversity and Conservation. 28(7), 1759-1782.
In this study we investigate the environmental factors influencing butterfly communities and evaluate the Natura 2000 network’s effectiveness in representing butterfly species richness and abundance, taking as a case study the island of Cyprus. We sampled butterflies and 11 environmental factors in 60 randomly selected sites across four 500-m elevation zones, representing seven habitat types. Rural mosaics and riverine vegetation were the habitats with the highest diversity of butterflies. Within habitats, the number of flower heads was the most important factor favouring butterfly species richness and abundance and endemic butterfly richness, while soil humidity had a positive effect on species richness and abundance. Although the Natura 2000 network succeeds in including the majority of butterfly species and all Cyprian endemics, the transects sampled within the network did not support more butterfly species than those outside it, and were significantly poorer in terms of butterfly abundance and endemic butterfly species richness and abundance. We found a similar pattern for the Habitats Directive priority habitats, which held poorer overall and endemic butterfly communities than the other habitats. The effectiveness of existing protected area networks may need to be reassessed in regions such as the South East Mediterranean, to ensure that regionally important components of biological diversity are adequately protected. To this aim, our results suggest that new European and national policies as well as further inclusion of rural mosaics and riverine habitats in protected area networks are needed for effective butterfly conservation in Cyprus.
Maes, D., et al. 2019. Integrating national checklists and Red Lists for prioritising European butterfly conservation actions. Journal of Insect Conservation 22 (2):301-330,
Red Lists are very valuable tools in nature conservation at global, continental and (sub-) national scales. In an attempt to prioritise conservation actions for European butterflies, we compiled a database with species lists and Red Lists of all European countries, including the Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands). In total, we compiled national species lists for 42 countries and national Red Lists for 34 of these. The most species-rich countries in Europe are Italy, Russia and France with more than 250 species each. Endemic species are mainly found on the Macaronesian archipelagos and on the Mediterranean islands. By attributing numerical values proportionate to the threat statuses in the different national Red List categories, we calculated a mean Red List value for every country (cRLV) and a weighted Red List value for every species (wsRLV) using the square root of the country’s area as a weighting factor. Countries with the highest cRLV were industrialised (NW) European countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Denmark, whereas large Mediterranean countries such as Spain and Italy had the lowest cRLV. Species for which a Red List assessment was available in at least two European countries and with a relatively high wsRLV (≥ 50) are Colias myrmidone, Pseudochazara orestes, Tomares nogelii, Colias chrysotheme and Coenonympha oedippus. We compared these wsRLVs with the species statuses on the European Red List to identify possible mismatches. We discuss how this complementary method can help to prioritise butterfly conservation on the continental and/or the (sub-)national scale.
Tzortzakaki, O., Kati, V., Panitsa, M., Tzanatos, E., Giokas, S. 2019. Butterfly diversity along the urbanization gradient in a densely-built Mediterranean city: Land cover is more decisive than resources in structuring communities. Landscape and Urban Planning 183: 79-87.
Urbanization induces rapid landscape and habitat modifications leading to alterations in species distribution patterns and biodiversity loss. As pollinating insects such as butterflies are particularly susceptible to urbanization, it is important to pinpoint the factors that could enhance their diversity in the urban areas in order to design adequate management and conservation actions. Our study aims to investigate the influence of land cover and local habitat characteristics on the butterfly diversity patterns and community structure in a densely built city in the eastern Mediterranean region. We carried out butterfly surveys (line transects) in 45 randomly selected sites, distributed along an urbanization gradient. In each site, we assessed the surrounding landscape by measuring the land cover in a 200-m buffer zone, and the local habitat by estimating the available plant resources along each transect. Overall, 1805 individuals belonging to 41 butterfly species were recorded. Land cover was found to have the strongest influence on butterfly species richness, abundance and community structure. Although plant resources were sufficiently available within the whole study area, the butterfly community was significantly poorer in the more urbanized areas, indicating the potential role of habitat fragmentation and patch isolation. In contrast, butterfly diversity was significantly higher in the peri-urban area, underlying its conservation value for butterflies in the urban landscape. We attribute these findings to the degradation of the more urbanized areas due to long-term inadequate planning and the disorganized expansion of the city.
Tzortzakaki, O., Papadatou, E., Kati, V., and Giokas, S. 2019. Winners and losers in an urban bat community: a case study from southeastern Europe. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 30(2), pp.0.
Increasing urbanisation is reported to have significant effects on bat communities, due to habitat modifications, light and noise pollution and reduced prey availability. Recent studies have indicated that species show varying responses to urbanisation, with a few able to exploit man-made structures and adjust to the new environmental conditions. This study aimed to identify how landscape composition influences bat diversity and community structure along the urbanisation gradient in a coastal Mediterranean city (Patras, Greece) and whether particular species benefit from the novel conditions. We conducted acoustic surveys along 45 transects during the post-breeding season for two years. The effect of land cover, the number of streetlamps (a proxy of artificial illumination), the presence of water bodies and weather conditions on bat activity, and community structure were investigated using Generalized Linear Mixed Models, and multivariate statistics respectively. Eight bat species and five species groups were identified. Bat communities were affected by urbanisation in general and diversity was low in the entire study area. The community was dominated by the synurbic species Pipistrellus kuhlii, which comprised more than 70% of the total bat activity recorded. A positive relationship between built-up areas and bat activity was found, probably because P. kuhlii usually forages around streetlamps in urban areas. In contrast, vegetation cover did not affect bat activity, even in the less urbanised areas. The remainder of the bat species were not frequently recorded and were mostly detected close to water bodies, highlighting their value for foraging bats and the need for their conservation.
Petridou, M, Youlatos, D., Lazarou, Y., Selinides, K., Pylidis, Ch., Giannakopoulos, A., Kati, V. Iliopoulos, Y. 2019. Wolf diet and livestock selection in central Greece. Mammalia
Understanding the feeding habits of wolves is essential for designing and implementing fundamental management processes across the range of the species. This is even more important within human-dominated areas, such as southern Europe, and more especially Greece. In this context, we analyzed 123 scat samples, collected between 2010 and 2012, from a mixed agricultural, forested and human-dominated area, centered on the municipality of Domokos in central continental Greece. We used standard laboratory procedures for scat analysis and calculated percentages of frequency of occurrence (FO%), average volume (AV%) and biomass index (BM%) to assess diet composition, and estimated prey selectivity. Domestic prey composed the bulk of wolf diet (FO%=73.5, AV%=84.8, BM%=97.2), wild ungulates were almost absent (FO%=0.5, AV%=0.8, BM%=1.2), whereas grass consumption was high in our area (FO%=19.5, AV%=11.0). The high dependence on livestock corroborates previous studies from Greece and other countries in southern Europe. Goat (FO%=46.0, AV%=61.2, BM%=64.9) was the main prey and was strongly selected, with sheep (FO%=11.5, AV%=9.0, BM%=11.2), pig carrion and cattle ranking behind (FO%=11.5, AV%=10.1, BM%=8.7 and FO%=4.5, AV%=4.5, BM%=12.4, respectively). No differences across seasons were detected, except from pig carrion, which increased during winter. The preference for goats is probably associated with its grazing behavior. High livestock consumption generally results in increased human-wolf conflict. Thus, substantial improvement of husbandry practices and restoration of wild ungulate populations are recommended to facilitate wolf-human coexistence in Greece.
Muggia, L., Kati, V., Rohrer, A., Halley, J., Mayrhofer, H. 2018. Species diversity of lichens in the sacred groves of Epirus (Greece). – Herzogia 31: 231–244.
The sacred groves in the mountains of Epirus in NW Greece have been established during the Ottoman period and consist of locally adapted systems set apart from the surrounding intensively managed, anthropogenic landscape. We inventoried eight sacred groves and compared them with nearby control (managed) forests. In total, 166 taxa of lichens and five of lichenicolous fungi were recorded. The most common lichen species were Anaptychia ciliaris, Phlyctis argena and Lecidella elaeochroma. Seven species are new for Greece: Calicium quercinum, Chaenotheca ferruginea, Chaenotheca trichialis, Chaenothecopsis nana, Leptogium hibernicum, Parvoplaca nigroblastidiata and Rinodina orculata. The sacred groves appeared not very different from the control forests; more pronounced differences were observed between deciduous oak evergreen oak and pine forests. Localities characterized by deciduous oak forest hosted the highest number of taxa belonging to the order Peltigerales, the most frequent were: Nephroma laevigatum, Collema subflaccidum, Leptogium lichenoides and Lobaria pulmonaria, but also rare species such as Polychidium muscicola, Koerberia biformis and Degelia atlantica were recorded.
Avtzis, D.N., et al. 2018. Quantifying the conservation value of Sacred Natural Sites. Biological Conservation 222: 95-103.
Many have asserted that Sacred Natural Sites (SNS) play an important role in nature protection but few have assessed their conservation effectiveness for different taxa. We studied sacred groves in Epirus, NW Greece, where a large number of such SNS have been identified. Based on historical, ethnographic and ecological criteria, we selected eight of these groves and matching control sites and in them we studied fungi, lichens, herbaceous plants, woody plants, nematodes, insects, bats and passerine birds. Our results reveal that the contribution of SNS to species conservation is nuanced by taxon, vegetation type and management history. We found that the sacred groves have a small conservation advantage over the corresponding control sites. More specifically, there are more distinct sets of organisms amongst sacred groves than amongst control sites, and overall biodiversity, diversity per taxonomic group, and numbers of species from the European SCI list (Species of Community Interest) are all marginally higher in them. Conservationists regard the often small size of SNS as a factor limiting their conservation value. The sizes of SNS around the globe vary greatly, from a few square meters to millions of hectares. Given that those surveyed by us (ranging from 5 to 116 ha) are at the lower end of this spectrum, the small conservation advantage that we testified becomes important. Our results provide clear evidence that even small-size SNS have considerable conservation relevance; they would contribute most to species conservation if incorporated in networks.
Zakkak, S., Radovic, A., Panitsa, M., Vassilev, K., Shuka, L., Kuttner, M., Schindler, S., Kati, V*. 2018. Vegetation patterns along agricultural land abandonment in the Balkans. Journal of Vegetation Science 29: 877-886.
Question: What are the woody vegetation encroachment patterns after agricultural land abandonment? Focusing on two parameters, woody plant species richness and vertical vegetation heterogeneity (number of different vegetation strata and their relative cover) we investigated: (a) the effect of forest encroachment following land abandonment; (b) the comparative importance of forest encroachment vis-a-vis topographic and climatic parameters, and finally; (c) the ecological importance of eight land-cover types encountered in abandoned agricultural landscapes. Location: The Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece). Methods: We set up a standard methodology for 1 × 1 km site selection (70 sites) and data collection within 497 plots, along a well-defined forest encroachment gradient that reflects land abandonment in terms of woody vegetation cover. Results: The pattern that emerged was neither clear nor common for the Balkan region, regarding the effect of forest encroachment on the woody plant species richness in young forests, formed from 20 to 50 years after land abandonment. However, at national level, species diversity was significantly affected by elevation (Bulgaria and Croatia) and temperature (Croatia), with lower and cooler areas being richer. Elevation was of great importance in determining vertical vegetation heterogeneity. Woodlots, broad-leaved forests, hedges and shrublands held the highest woody species richness in comparison to the more open land-cover types, and vertical vegetation heterogeneity was higher in open forests and woodlots. Conclusions: We expect the expansion of broad-leaved forests following land abandonment to enhance woody species richness. However, other land-cover types that were found to be important for woody plants should be maintained. As woody plants play a key role in supporting overall biodiversity, by providing suitable habitat for many species, we consider the preservation of a mosaic of patches of different land-cover types essential for the conservation of both plant and animal species diversity. Young forests should be preserved at intermediate stages of succession, through intermediate disturbance activities, including medium intensity grazing and the enhancement of wild ungulates.
Lemonnier-Darcemont, M., Kati, V., Willemse, L., Darcemont, C. 2018. Effects of changing grazing systems on the threatened genus Peripodisma (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae) in the Mediterranean mountains of the southern Balkans. Journal of Mediterranean Ecology 16: 67-79.
This study examined the effects of pastoralism, including cattle grazing, on populations of three species of locally endemic and rare Peripodisma grasshoppers in calcareous grassland mountain habitats of northwestern Greece and southern Albania. The three Peripodisma species are on the IUCN Red List as near threatened, endangered, and critically endangered species, and cattle grazing had been identified as a key threat to the species. The study sites represented 70% of the known locations of Peripodisma genus. The region was historically grazed by local breeds of nomadic sheep and goats, but grazing practices had recently shifted to cattle grazing from non-local cattle breeds. We found a clear relationship between local abundance of Peripodisma and overall richness of Orthoptera communities. Orthoptera richness decreased at sites with medium to high impacts of livestock grazing. Cattle grazing had significant adverse effects on overall Orthoptera species richness and on Peripodisma abundance. Further studies are urgently needed to gather more data and information to guide grazing management and conservation planning that will provide a more balanced coexistence between livestock and Orthoptera, especially for the rare Peripodisma species that are in dire need of conservation management.
Tzortzakaki, O., Kati, V., Kassara, C., Tietze, D.T., Giokas, S. 2017. Seasonal patterns of urban bird diversity in a Mediterranean coastal city: the positive role of open green spaces. Urban Ecosystems. 21(1): 27-39.
Urbanization causes rapid changes in the landscape and land use, exerting a significant pressure on bird communities. The effect of urbanization on bird diversity has been widely investigated in many cities worldwide; however, our knowledge on urban bird communities from the eastern Mediterranean region is very scarce. In this context, we aimed to investigate the effect of the different land-cover types on bird species richness and abundance in a densely built coastal Mediterranean city (Patras, Greece) during the breeding and wintering seasons. We sampled the bird community in 90 randomly selected sites along an urbanization gradient. Open green spaces proved to be the most significant factor favouring bird diversity in both seasons. In winter, woody vegetation and impervious surfaces had a positive effect on species richness as well. The local bird community consisted of a large number of species associated with open and semi-open unmanaged green areas, 12 of which are Species of European Conservation Concern (SPECs) showing a declining trend in Europe. On the other hand, in winter the number of forest-dwellers increased significantly. Species richness was significantly higher in winter indicating that the urban environment provides important wintering grounds. Thus, management actions in cities with similar characteristics in the Mediterranean region should focus on the maintenance of open green spaces and woody vegetation patches to enhance bird diversity.
Zografou, K., Wilson, R.K., Halley, J.M., Tsirkalli, E., Kati V. 2017. How are arthopod communities structured and why are they so diverse? Answers from Mediterranean mountains using hierarchical additive partitioning. Biodiversity and Conservation 26(6): 1333-1351.
Mountains are complex ecosystems supporting a great variety of taxa. Here, we explored the diversity patterns of arthropods in two mountains, pinpointing the spatial scale that accounts most for overall diversity variation, using an additive partitioning framework. Butterflies and Orthoptera were sampled in Rodopi (2012) and Grammos (2013) mountains. Diversity was partitioned into five hierarchical levels (mountain, elevational zone, habitat, transect and plot). We compared the estimated diversity values for each level to the respective permuted values expected by chance, for all species, as well as for species identified as “rare” or “common”. At broader spatial levels, the variation in total diversity was attributed to the beta diversity component: mountains accounted for 20.94 and 26.25% of butterfly and Orthoptera diversity, and elevational zones accounted for 28.94 and 35.87% respectively. At finer spatial scales, beta diversity was higher than expected by chance in terms of the Shannon index. The type of habitat was found to play a significant role only for rare orthopterans. Finally, common species were recognized for shaping overall species diversity. We highlight the importance of the spatial levels of elevation zone and then mountain position in conservation planning, due to the greater beta diversity recorded at this scale as compared to habitat or more finite scales. Monitoring programs might need to adapt different strategies with respect to the focal organisms, and consider patterns of common rather than rare species that found to drive the patterns of the entire community.
Zografou, K., Adamidis, G., Komnenov, M., Kati, V., Sotirakopoulos, P., Pitta, E., Chatzaki, M. 2017. Diversity of spiders and orthopterans responds to intra-seasonal and spatial environmental changes. Journal of Insect Conservation 21(3): 531-543.
Our understanding of arthropod responses to environmental pressures is limited, especially for the poorly studied Mediterranean region. In the light of likely further environmental change and the need for protocols for rapid biodiversity assessment, we measured how the abundance and species richness of two taxa, ground spiders and Orthoptera, belonging to different functional groups, fluctuates intra- seasonally (early-mid-late summer) and across habitat types (grasslands, maquis, forests). We also tested their surrogate value. Spiders were found to have higher species richness and abundance almost throughout the investigation. Orthoptera had lower species richness and abundance in forests compared to grasslands and maquis, while no significant difference between habitats was revealed for spiders. Early-summer was the richest period for spiders while mid-summer was the richest for Orthoptera. Canopy cover was found to significantly influence community composition of both groups, while herb height and cover of stones was a determinant factor for Orthoptera only. There was a significant congruence between the two groups and Orthoptera provided the best complementary network. Our results show that diversity patterns of both spiders and Orthoptera are sensitive to environmental changes even over short time-scales (e.g. within the summer period) and space (e.g. across different habitat types), suggesting that small inexpensive experimental designs may still reveal community dynamics. For conservation purposes, we advise a focus on variables regulating habitat heterogeneity and microhabitat characteristics. We provide a list of the most influential species and propose the most effective network for obtaining information on the local fauna.
Hudson, L.N. et al. 2017. The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project. Ecology and Evolution 7: 145-188.
The PREDICTS project—Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)—has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.
Slancarova, J., Bartonova, A.,Zapletal, M., Kotilinek, M., Fric, Z., Micevski, N., Kati, V. Beshkov, S., Konvicka, M. 2016. Life History Traits Reflect Changes in Mediterranean Butterfly Communities due to Forest Encroachment. PLoS ONE 11(3): e0152026.
The biodiversity of the Southern Balkans, part of the Mediterranean global biodiversity hot-spot, is threatened by land use intensification and abandonment, the latter causing forest encroachment of formerly open habitats. We investigated the impact of forest encroachment on butterfly species richness, community species composition and the representation of life history traits by repeated seasonal visits of 150 one-hectare sites in five separate regions in three countries—Greece, Bulgaria, and the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM—the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)— 10 replicates for each habitat type of grasslands, open formations and scrub forest within each region. Grasslands and open formations sites hosted in average more species and more red-listed species than scrub forest, while no pattern was found for numbers of Mediterranean species. As shown by ordination analyses, each of the three habitat types hosted distinct butterfly communities, with Mediterranean species inclining either towards grasslands or open formations. Analysing the representation of life history traits revealed that successional development from grasslands and open formations towards scrub forest shifts the community composition towards species overwintering in earlier stages, having fewer generations per year, and inhabiting large European or Eurosiberian (e.g. northern) ranges; it decreases the representation of Mediterranean endemics. The loss of grasslands and semi-open formations due to forest encroachment thus threatens exactly the species that should be the focus of conservation attention in the Mediterranean region, and innovative conservation actions to prevent ongoing forest encroachment are badly needed.
Zografou, K., Adamidis, G.K., Grill, A., Kati, V., Wilson, R.J., Halley, J.M. 2015. Who flies first? Habitat-specific phenological shifts of butterflies and orthopterans in the light of climate change: a methodological case study from south-east Mediterranean. Ecological Entomology 40: 562-574.
1.Insects undergo phenological change at different rates, showing no consistent trend between habitats, time periods, species or groups. Understanding how and why this variability occurs is crucial. 2. Phenological patterns of butterflies and O rthoptera were analysed using a novel approach of s tandardised major axis (SMA ) analysis. It was investigated whether: (i) phenology (the mean date and duration of flight) of butterflies and O rthoptera changed from one survey (1998 and 1999 respectively) to another (2011), (ii) the rate at which phenology changed differed between taxa and (iii) phenological change was significantly different across habitat types (agriculture fields, grasslands, and forests). Using the 2011 dataset, we investigated relationships between habitat‐specific variables and species phenology. 3. For both groups, late‐emerging species had an advanced onset on the second survey while the duration showed no consistent trend for butterflies and did not change for O rthoptera. Although the rate at which phenology changed was consistent between the two groups, at the habitat level, a longer duration of flight period emerged for butterflies in agriculture fields while O rthoptera showed no differentiation in flight duration between habitats. We found an earlier emergence of butterflies in grasslands compared to forests, attributed to habitat‐specific temperature, whereas spatial variation in humidity had a significantly lower effect on butterflies’ phenology in grasslands compared to forests. A gradual delay of butterfly appearances as the canopy cover increased was also found. 4. The utility of SMA analysis was demonstrated in phenological studies and evidence was detected that both habitat type and habitat‐specific variables refine species’ phenological responses.
Zakkak, S., Halley, J.M., Akriotis, T., Kati, V. 2015. Lizards along an agricultural land abandonment gradient in Pindos Mountains, Greece. Amphibia-Reptilia 36: 253-264.
Agricultural land abandonment is recognized as one of the main environmental drivers in Southern Europe, affecting ecological communities. Lizards, as ectothermic species with low dispersal capacity, are particularly prone to the threats associated with land use changes. We investigated the effect of land abandonment on lizards in a remote mountainous area in Greece, using line transect sampling, in 20 randomly selected sites [1 km × 1 km], along a four grade abandonment gradient in terms of forest encroachment. We recorded four species: Algyroides nigropunctatus, Lacerta viridis/trilineata, Podarcis tauricus and Podarcis muralis, the latter being the most abundant. Our results did not provide evidence for a significant effect of forest encroachment or grazing on lizard diversity, given the dominance of P. muralis, the availability of all microhabitat types along the gradient and the low grazing intensity in the study area. Environmental parameters at the macrohabitat scale did not prove determinant for habitat variance, but microhabitat analysis showed a clear preference of P. muralis to bare ground. Despite the non-significant effects of land abandonment on lizard diversity, the dominance of P. muralis tends to indicate a lizard community shift towards species inhabiting forested habitats. The preservation of open microhabitats, such as bare land, is considered of great importance for promoting high levels of lizard diversity, as their loss would affect even species currently widespread in forested ecosystems. Low intensity grazing, as well as the enhancement of wild ungulate populations in abandoned areas, can contribute to halting forest encroachment and maintaining the required habitat heterogeneity.
Radović, A., Perĉec Tadić, M., Denac, D., Kati, V., Jelaska, S., Kotrošan, D. 2015. Modelling the spatial distribution of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) breeding populations in the Southeast Europe. 2015. Bird Study 62 (1):106-114.
Capsule. Spatial environmental modelling well predicted nesting distribution of the White stork in Southeast Europe and can be used in conservation planning with respect to climate change. Aims. To create spatial models for predicting White Stork presence and densities in the Southeast Europe to identify areas of suitable habitat for White Storks. Methods. We quantified the habitat used by nesting White storks in Southeast Europe. Using spatial modelling, we defined a set of free and available online environmental variables that predict the breeding localities of the species. We employed pseudo-absences and the kriging of the residuals in order to create predictive models of nest presence and density. Results. The presence–absence model was found to be precise in predicting the presence of nests. Both density and presence of breeding pairs were best explained negatively by elevation, slope, minimum temperature during May, and distance to the nearest human settlement and positively by topographic wetness index, total area of human settlement and spring precipitation. Conclusion. Our robust and easily repeatable models offer a conservation tool to reveal suitable but unoccupied localities for breeding White Storks pairs which may inform our understanding of how climate change might affect the species’ distribution in the future. For example, protecting White Storks on the Dalmatian coast may become even more significant in the future, because the Dalmatian coast is predicted as the only suitable breeding area in Croatia later this century.
Schindler, S., von Wehrden, H., Poirazidis, K., Hochachka, W.M., Wrbka, T., Kati, V. 2015. Performance of methods to select landscape metrics for modelling species richness. Ecological Modelling 295: 107-112.
Landscape metrics are commonly used indicators of ecological pattern and processes in ecological modelling. Numerous landscape metrics are available, making the selection of appropriate metrics a common challenge in model development. In this paper, we tested the performance of methods for preselecting sets of three landscape metrics for use in modelling species richness of six groups of organisms (woody plants, orchids, orthopterans, amphibians, reptiles, and small terrestrial birds) and overall species richness in a Mediterranean forest landscape. The tested methods included expert knowledge, decision tree analysis, principal component analysis, and principal component regression. They were compared with random choice and optimal sets, which were evaluated by testing all possible combinations of metrics. All pre-selection methods performed significantly worse than the optimal sets. The statistical approaches performed slightly better than random choice that in turn performed slightly better than sets derived by expert knowledge. We concluded that the process of selecting the most appropriate landscape metrics for modelling biodiversity is not trivial and that shortcuts to systematic evaluation of metrics should not be expected to identify appropriate indicators.
*Kati, V., Hovardas, T., Dieterich, M., Ibisch, P.L., Mihok, B., Selva, N. 2015. The Challenge of Implementing the European Network of Protected Areas Natura 2000. Conservation Biology 29 (1):260-270.
Established under the European Union (EU) Birds and Habitats Directives, Natura 2000 is one of the largest international networks of protected areas. With the spatial designation of sites by the EU member states almost finalized, the biggest challenge still lying ahead is the appropriate management of the sites. To evaluate the cross‐scale functioning of Natura 2000 implementation, we analyzed 242 questionnaires completed by conservation scientists involved in the implementation of Natura 2000 in 24 EU member states. Respondents identified 7 key drivers of the quality of Natura 2000 implementation. Ordered in decreasing evaluation score, these drivers included: network design, use of external resources, legal frame, scientific input, procedural frame, social input, and national or local policy. Overall, conservation scientists were moderately satisfied with the implementation of Natura 2000. Tree modeling revealed that poor application of results of environmental impact assessments (EIA) was considered a major constraint. The main strengths of the network included the substantial increase of scientific knowledge of the sites, the contribution of nongovernmental organizations, the adequate network design in terms of area and representativeness, and the adequacy of the EU legal frame. The main weaknesses of Natura 2000 were the lack of political will from local and national governments toward effective implementation; the negative attitude of local stakeholders; the lack of background knowledge of local stakeholders, which prevented well‐informed policy decisions; and the understaffing of Natura 2000 management authorities. Top suggestions to improve Natura 2000 implementation were increase public awareness, provide environmental education to local communities, involve high‐quality conservation experts, strengthen quality control of EIA studies, and establish a specific Natura 2000 fund.
Papaioannou, Η., Sgardelis, S., Chondropoulos, B., Vassilakis, D., Kati, V., Dimopoulos, P. 2015. Demographic characteristics, seasonal range and habitat topography of Balkan chamois population in its southernmost limit of its distribution (Giona mountain, Greece). Journal of Natural History 49 (5-8):327-345.
The annual range of Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) in Giona mountain was found to be 5502 ha, with a low population density (2 individuals/100 ha). Seasonal range patterns varied significantly, with a minimum extent in summer and a maximum in winter (30% and 79% of the annual range, respectively). Summer stress and the rutting period might be associated with the observed aggregated distributions during the summer and autumn (core areas of 28% and 22% of seasonal ranges, respectively, defined after the Fixed Kernel Density Estimator). Chamois were found to use significantly lower altitude habitats in winter (1212 m) than in summer (2223 m), and significantly steeper slopes in winter (35°); aspect was not found to have a significant effect on habitat use. Population structure consisted of kids (21%), yearlings (8%), females (35%) and males (36%). Conservation management for the species should consider poaching, livestock competition and global warming.
Dyulgerova, S., Gramatikov, M., Pedashenko, M., Vassilev, K., Kati, V., Nikolov, S.C. 2015. Farmland birds and agricultural land abandonment: Evidences from Bulgaria. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 67 (2): 223-234.
Farmland birds are reported to decrease strongly in numbers throughout Europe over the last 30 years. Agricultural land abandonment is considered amongst the main drivers for the negative population trends. This process has been studied widely in Western Europe but the evidence for Central and Eastern Europe is limited. We examined the differences in the bird community structure among several secondary succession stages after land abandonment (since the 1940s) in central Bulgaria. Our results demonstrated that avian species richness and diversity decreased with the secondary succession, while no significant difference in the overall bird abundance was observed. The shifts in bird community pattern were mainly related to grassland specialists, which decreased in species richness, diversity and abundance along the succession gradient. Birds of European Conservation Concern were also negatively affected by the woody vegetation overgrowth. We think that in order to stop and reverse the loss of farmland bird diversity in the low-productive mountainous regions of Bulgaria, the rural sustainable development should be reinforced by implementation of agri-environmental and other policy measures that encourage effectively small-scale extensive farming. © 2015, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Hudson, L. N., T. et al. 2014. The PREDICTS database: a global database of how local terrestrial biodiversity responds to human impacts. Ecology and Evolution 4(24): 4701-4735.
Biodiversity continues to decline in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, exploitation, pollution and introduction of alien species. Existing global databases of species’ threat status or population time series are dominated by charismatic species. The collation of datasets with broad taxonomic and biogeographic extents, and that support computation of a range of biodiversity indicators, is necessary to enable better understanding of historical declines and to project – and avert – future declines. We describe and assess a new database of more than 1.6 million samples from 78 countries representing over 28,000 species, collated from existing spatial comparisons of local‐scale biodiversity exposed to different intensities and types of anthropogenic pressures, from terrestrial sites around the world. The database contains measurements taken in 208 (of 814) ecoregions, 13 (of 14) biomes, 25 (of 35) biodiversity hotspots and 16 (of 17) megadiverse countries. The database contains more than 1% of the total number of all species described, and more than 1% of the described species within many taxonomic groups – including flowering plants, gymnosperms, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, beetles, lepidopterans and hymenopterans. The dataset, which is still being added to, is therefore already considerably larger and more representative than those used by previous quantitative models of biodiversity trends and responses. The database is being assembled as part of the PREDICTS project (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems – www.predicts.org.uk). We make site‐level summary data available alongside this article. The full database will be publicly available in 2015.
Zografou, K., Kati, V., Grill, A., Wilson, R.J., Tzirkalli, E., Pamperis, N.L., Halley, J.M. 2014. Signals of climate change in butterfly communities in a Mediterranean protected area. PlosOne. 9 (1), e87245.
The European protected-area network will cease to be efficient for biodiversity conservation, particularly in the Mediterranean region, if species are driven out of protected areas by climate warming. Yet, no empirical evidence of how climate change influences ecological communities in Mediterranean nature reserves really exists. Here, we examine long-term (1998–2011/2012) and short-term (2011–2012) changes in the butterfly fauna of Dadia National Park (Greece) by revisiting 21 and 18 transects in 2011 and 2012 respectively, that were initially surveyed in 1998. We evaluate the temperature trend for the study area for a 22-year-period (1990–2012) in which all three butterfly surveys are included. We also assess changes in community composition and species richness in butterfly communities using information on (a) species’ elevational distributions in Greece and (b) Community Temperature Index (calculated from the average temperature of species’ geographical ranges in Europe, weighted by species’ abundance per transect and year). Despite the protected status of Dadia NP and the subsequent stability of land use regimes, we found a marked change in butterfly community composition over a 13 year period, concomitant with an increase of annual average temperature of 0.95°C. Our analysis gave no evidence of significant year-to-year (2011–2012) variability in butterfly community composition, suggesting that the community composition change we recorded is likely the consequence of long-term environmental change, such as climate warming. We observe an increased abundance of low-elevation species whereas species mainly occurring at higher elevations in the region declined. The Community Temperature Index was found to increase in all habitats except agricultural areas. If equivalent changes occur in other protected areas and taxonomic groups across Mediterranean Europe, new conservation options and approaches for increasing species’ resilience may have to be devised.
Zakkak, S., Kakalis, E., Radovic, A., Halley, J.M., Kati, V. 2014. The impact of forest encroachment after agricultural land abandonment on passerine bird communities: The case of Greece. Journal for Nature Conservation 22 (2): 157-165.
Agricultural land abandonment is one of the main drivers of land use change, leading to various responses of farmland ecological communities. In an effort to better understand the effect of agricultural land abandonment on passerine bird communities, we sampled 20 randomly selected sites [1 km × 1 km] in remote Greek mountains, reflecting an abandonment gradient, in terms of forest encroachment. We sampled 169 plots using the point count method of fixed distance (47 passerine species), and we investigated bird diversity and community structure turnover along the gradient. We found that grazing intensity has a beneficial effect hampering forest encroachment that follows progressively land abandonment. Habitat composition changes gradually with forests developing at the expense of open meadows and heterogeneous grasslands. Forest encroachment has a significant negative effect on bird diversity and species richness, affecting in particular typical farmland and Mediterranean shrubland species. Birds form five distinct ecological clusters after land abandonment: species mostly found in pinewoods and cavity-dwelling species; species that prefer open forests forest edges or ecotones; species that prefer shrubland or open habitats with scattered woody vegetation; Mediterranean farmland birds that prefer semi-open habitats with hedges and/or woodlots; and, generalist forest-dwelling or shrubland species. We extracted a set of 22 species to represent the above ecological communities, as a new monitoring tool for agricultural land use change and conservation. We suggest that the maintenance of rural mosaics should be included in the priorities of agricultural policy for farmland bird diversity conservation.
Miculic, K. Radovic, A., Kati, V., Jelaska, S., Tepic, N. 2014. Effects of land abandonment on bird communities of smallholder farming landscapes in post-war Croatia: implications for conservation policies. Community Ecology 15(2): 169-179.
Land abandonment is a widespread phenomenon in agricultural systems, especially in former communist countries of Eastern and South-eastern Europe. Moreover, Croatia was affected by acts of war which enhanced the depopulation of marginal areas impelling further land abandonment. Agricultural landscapes in Croatia are highly parcelled with various proportions of forest habitats due to traditional smallholder farming systems. Secondary successions as a consequence of land abandonment affect farmland birds that are among the most endangered bird species in Europe. We examined bird communities along a habitat gradient in heterogeneous agricultural landscapes. We used the share of woody vegetation cover as a proxy measure for land abandonment that we classified in four classes. Our results showed no significant Shannon Wiener Index differences of bird communities along the land abandonment gradient. However, there were differences in abundances when we examined bird guilds such as farmland, forest and “other” birds separately. However, the conservation value of each of the four land abandonment classes did not show significant differences. We extracted single bird species such as the Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) and European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) as potential indicator species for the four examined land abandonment levels. With these four species we successfully modelled the distribution of the recorded bird assemblages at the plot level along the four vegetation succession stages. We emphasized the need to develop new and integrative land use management concepts for areas affected by land abandonment in order to formulate sound conservation policy.
Zakkak, S., Chatzaki, M., Karamalis, N., Kati, V. 2014. Spiders in the context of agricultural land abandonment in Greek Mountains: species responses, community structure and the need to preserve traditional agricultural landscapes. Journal of Insect Conservation 18 (4): 599-611.
Agricultural land abandonment is a major conservation issue when it comes to remote Mediterranean mountainous ecosystems. Although its impact on taxa such as birds or butterflies is well known, knowledge remains poor for less studied invertebrate taxa such as spiders. We sampled ground spiders (Gnaphosidae, Liocranidae, Miturgidae and Corrinidae) in 20 randomly selected sites (1 km × 1 km; 15 pitfall traps) that well depicted a land abandonment gradient, in terms of four forest encroachment classes. Our results showed a negative effect of land abandonment on ground spider species richness and diversity (Simpson index), pinpointing that forested habitats with more than 75 % woody vegetation cover are relatively poor. We also provide evidence for the beneficial role of low intensity grazing (0.4–4 livestock units/km2) for ground spider abundance. Community analysis revealed four distinct clusters of co-occurring species, while Generalized Linear Models at cluster and species level showed the definitive role of forest encroachment, and secondarily of other environmental factors such as humidity, elevation and longitude, in regulating species distribution patterns. Conservation measures for ground spider diversity maintenance should focus on promoting traditional agricultural practices, including small-scale cultivation and mild livestock grazing in order to preserve open and semi-open rural mosaics.
Willemse, L., Kati, V, Odé, B. 2014. Epirus Grasshopper: a Prima Ballerina Courtship! In: Hegan, A (ed), No More Endlings: saving species one story at a time, Motivational Press, Melbourne, 246-253.
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Schindler, S., von Wehrden, H., Poirazidis ,K., Wrbka, Th., Kati, V. 2013. Multiscale performance of landscape metrics as indicators of species richness of plants, insects and vertebrates. Ecological Indicators 31: 41– 48.
Landscape metrics are widely used to investigate the spatial structure of landscapes. Numerous metrics are currently available, yet only little empirical research has comparatively examined their indicator value for species richness for several taxa at several scales. Taking a Mediterranean forest landscape – Dadia National Park (Greece) – as a case study area, we explored the performance of 52 landscape level landscape metrics as indicators of species richness for six taxa (woody plants, orchids, orthopterans, amphibians, reptiles, and small terrestrial birds) and for overall species richness. We computed the landscape metrics for circular areas of five different extents around each of 30 sampling plots. We applied linear mixed models to evaluate significant relations between metrics and species richness and to assess the effects of the extent of the considered landscape on the performance of the metrics. Our results showed that landscape metrics were good indicators for overall species richness, woody plants, orthopterans and reptiles. Metrics quantifying patch shape, proximity, texture and landscape diversity resulted often in well-fitted models, while those describing patch area, similarity and edge contrast rarely contributed to significant models. Spatial scale affected the performance of the metrics, since woody plants, orthopterans and small terrestrial birds were usually better predicted at smaller extents of surrounding landscape, and reptiles frequently at larger ones. The revealed pattern of relations and performances will be useful to understand landscape structure as a driver and indicator of biodiversity, and to improve forest and landscape management decisions in Mediterranean and other forest mosaics.
*Kati, V., Zografou, K., Tzirkalli, E., Chitos, Th., Willemse, L. 2012. Butterfly and grasshopper diversity patterns in humid Mediterranean grasslands: the roles of disturbance and environmental factors. Journal of Insect Conservation 16 (2): 807-818.
The present paper studies butterfly, grasshopper and vascular plant communities in ten seasonally flooded grasslands with different anthropogenic disturbance regimes (NW Greece). Disturbance intensity was assessed on the basis of disturbance frequency and type (grazing, mowing, trampling, constructions). The distribution patterns of butterflies are regulated by humidity and elevation (Redundancy Analysis). Elevation, flower-heads abundance, low disturbance intensity and plant species richness predict grasshopper species richness well, while the latter together with humidity predict plant species richness (Generalized Linear Models). Chorthippus lacustris, a critically endangered endemic grasshopper species, is positively associated with humid microhabitats with high flower-heads abundance. An indicator value procedure reveals four butterfly species as being typical species for habitats with a pronounced character of hedgerows and tree lines. Conservation management of grassland butterflies should focus on the maintenance of the humid character of the humid grasslands as well as on the maintenance of hedgerows and tree lines. The reduction of human-induced disturbance towards occasional grazing and mowing seems to benefit both butterfly and grasshopper communities. Finally, we suggest the use of grasshoppers as surrogates for vascular plants and vice versa, given their congruent species richness patterns.
Schindler, S., Curado, N., Nikolov, S., Kreft, E., Carcamo B., Catsadorakis G., Poirazidis, K, Kati V. 2011. From research to implementation: nature conservation in the Eastern Rhodopes mountains, European Green Belt (Greece and Bulgaria). Journal for Nature Conservation 19:193-201.
Nature conservation should ideally build on the scientific recommendations that are concluded from applied conservation research, as well as on monitoring schemes that evaluate the effectiveness of recommendations. We considered as a case study a system of six protected areas located in the Eastern Rhodopes mountains in the southern part of the European Green Belt (EGB). To investigate nature conservation effectiveness, we reviewed 196 articles from scientific journals and books, eight doctoral and master theses, and 39 scientific reports regarding the Greek (one protected area, 428 km2) and the Bulgarian (five protected areas, 904 km2) part of the study area. We extracted 743 conservation recommendations, and through questionnaires completed by 10 local experts, we found that 74% of the recommendations were familiar for the experts. In the Greek (GR) and the Bulgarian part (BG) only 52% and 16%, respectively, of the recommendations were implemented, and only 15% (GR) and 3.1% (BG) were implemented and evaluated regarding their effectiveness. According to the experts, the main reasons for non-implementation and non-evaluation were absence or incompetence of the responsible authorities. Some recommendations obtained a remarkable low rate of implementation, such as those regarding agriculture and livestock rearing practices (GR: 29%, BG: 16%) or mammal conservation (GR: 0%, BG: 16%). Some other recommendations obtained rather high rates at least for Greece, such as tourism and environmental education (GR: 57%, BG: 42%) and bird conservation (GR: 57%, BG: 11%). We found that researchers and conservation managers at both sides of the Greek-Bulgarian border face similar implementation problems, related often to the lack of political will for nature conservation and establishment of competent authorities. The role of the EGB is crucial in enhancing the established cross-border collaborations between stakeholders involved in nature conservation.
*Kati, V. Poirazidis, K., Dufrêne, M., Halley, J.M., Korakis, G., Schindler, S. Dimopoulos P. 2010. Towards the use of ecological heterogeneity to design reserve networks: a case study from Dadia National Park, Greece. Biodiversity & Conservation 19 (6): 1585-1597.
In this paper, we present a novel approach for using ecological heterogeneity in reserve design. We measured five ecological heterogeneity indices (EHI) and we used a database of six biological groups (woody plants, orchids, orthopterans, aquatic and terrestrial herpetofauna and passerine birds) across 30 sites in a Mediterranean reserve (Greece). We found that all the five EHI were significantly related to the overall species richness and to the species richness of woody plants and birds. Two indices, measuring vertical vegetation complexity (1/D) and horizontal heterogeneity of landcover types (SIDI) in terms of Simpson’s index, predicted well overall species richness and had significantly higher values inside the complementary reserve networks designed after five of the six biological groups. We compared five methods of forming reserve networks. The method of ecological heterogeneity (selecting those sites with the greatest 1/D and then SIDI) was less efficient (non-significantly) than the species-based methods (scoring and complementary networks) but significantly more efficient than the random method (randomly selected network). We also found that the method of complementary ecological heterogeneity (selecting those sites where each EHI had its maximum value) was not that efficient, as it did not differ significantly from the random method. These results underline the potential of the ecological heterogeneity method as an alternative tool in reserve design.
Michaelides, G., *Kati, V. 2009. Diversity patterns and conservation management of the lizard community in a Mediterranean reserve, Cyprus. Journal of Biological Research 12: 211-220.
The current study explores the diversity patterns of the lizard species assembly found on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus with the broader aim of providing guidelines for the conservation management of these types of Mediterranean species communities. We sampled lizards in eight quadrats of 10 ha each, located in the Xeros Potamos protected area (SW Cyprus), and recorded 16 environmental parameters for each quadrat. We identified eight lizard species, five of which are protected under European legislation (Ablepharus budaki, Chalcides ocellatus, Laudakia stel- lio, Mediodactylus kotschyi, Ophisops elegans), and one that is listed as endangered (Acanthoda- ctylus schreiberi) based on IUCN assessments. The microhabitats used by the resident lizard com- munity in the study area were defined best by substrate, bush cover, humidity, altitude and incli- nation (RDA). Traditionally cultivated land with hedges harbored the highest lizard diversity. The typical habitat for the endangered species A. schreiberi consisted of humid sandy river banks with bush cover, a habitat currently threatened by the Xeros Potamos River channelization. Im- mediate action should involve the establishment of a control mechanism for the protection of the sandy riverbeds from illegal deposit of construction debris, the removal of embankments, and the sustainable use of water so as to maintain the natural flow regimes of the river.
Pullin, A.S., Báldi, A., Can, O.E., Dieterich, M., Kati, V., Livoreil, B., Lövei, G., Nevin, O., Selva, N., Sousa-Pinto, I. 2009. Conservation Focus on Europe: Major conservation policy issues that need to be informed by conservation science. Conservation Biology 23 (4): 818-824.
Europe is one of the world’s most densely populated continents and has a long history of human‐dominated land‐ and seascapes. Europe is also at the forefront of developing and implementing multinational conservation efforts. In this contribution, we describe some top policy issues in Europe that need to be informed by high‐quality conservation science. These include evaluation of the effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network of protected sites, implications of rapid economic and subsequent land‐use change in Central and Eastern Europe, conservation of marine biodiversity and sustainability of fisheries, the effect of climate change on movement of species in highly fragmented landscapes, and attempts to assess the economic value of ecosystem services and biodiversity. Broad policy issues such as those identified are not easily amenable to scientific experiment. A key challenge at the science–policy interface is to identify the research questions underlying these problem areas so that conservation science can provide evidence to underpin future policy development.
*Kati, V., Dimopoulos, P., Papaioannou, H., Poirazidis, K. 2009. Ecological management of a Mediterranean mountainous reserve (Pindos National Park, Greece) using the bird community as an indicator. Journal for Nature Conservation 17 (1): 47-59.
We used the community of passerines and woodpeckers as a target group for the conservation management of Pindos National Park (NW Greece). We conducted bird point counts twice during springtime in 72 plots that represented the main vegetation types (16 sites). We recorded 56 species (14 of conservation concern-SPEC). The montane grasslands were the most important habitats in terms of species of conservation concern, whereas the agricultural mosaics were the most species-rich habitats. The mixed pine-beech woods were significantly richer than the pinewoods, whereas pinewoods and broad-leaved woods did not differ significantly between them. The bird diversity was significantly correlated with the number of tree layers, the vertical structural complexity and the maximum height of trees. The presence of grassland, forest and agricultural habitat type, as well as the altitude and the vegetation structural complexity were the main environmental parameters determining species composition (Canonical Correspondence Analysis). We identified a set of 17 typical species (IndVal analysis) to be used in the monitoring scheme of the Park, which were characteristic of the main bird habitat types distinguished by Ward’s hierarchical clustering. Conservation measures should involve maintenance of the traditional agricultural practices, montane grasslands, old growth woods, as well as the vertical vegetation complexity and high trees in forest stands.
Zografou, K., Sfenthourakis, S., Pullin, A., *Kati, V. 2009. On the surrogate value of red-listed butterflies for butterflies and grasshoppers: a case study in Grammos site of Natura 2000, Greece. Journal of Insect Conservation 13: 505-514.
We tested the surrogate value of butterflies, red-listed butterflies and grasshoppers for each other in terms of diversity patterns congruence and complementarity at a site in the NATURA 2000 network. Grammos Mountain is proposed as a new Prime Butterfly Area for Greece: it supports a total of 56 grasshopper species and 112 butterfly species, 24 of which are of European conservation concern (SPEC) and two of Prime Butterflies Area Project. We found a strong congruence in the species richness patterns of SPEC butterflies, butterflies and grasshoppers, because three common ecological factors influenced them: number of flower heads, altitude, and cover of low trees or bushes (Redundancy Analysis, CANOCO). Each complementarity network maintained quite well the species richness of the other two target groups (<18% average species loss). SPEC butterflies were the best surrogate group overall and therefore we propose that they should be monitored on a permanent basis.
Poirazidis, K., Goutner, V., Tsachalidis, E., Kati, V. 2007. Comparison of nestsite selection patterns of different sympatric raptor species as a tool for their conservation. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 30 (2):131-145.
In this study the nest-site selection patterns of four tree-nesting sympatric raptor species in Dadia National Park (Greece) were compared in order to provide a sound conservation tool for their long-term management in the area. The species studied were the Black vulture (Aegypius monachus), the Lesser-spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), the Booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) and the Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). Twenty-six variables illustrating the landscape context and vegetation structure of nesting sites were analysed. Multivariate-ANOVA and Discriminant Function Analysis were used to test for significant differentiations in nest-site characteristics among the species. The species studied were initially differentiated by geomorphology and distance to foraging areas. Once these were determined their nesting areas were established according to forest structure. Our results indicate that forest management should integrate the preservation of mature forest stands with sparse canopy and forest heterogeneity in order to conserve suitable nesting habitats for the raptors. Specific conservation measures such as restriction of road construction should be implemented in order to protect the active nests and provisions should be made for adequate nesting sites for the Black vulture, which is sensitive to human disturbance.
*Kati, V., Foufopoulos, J., Ioannidis, Y., Papaioannou, H., Poirazidis, K., Lebrun, Ph. 2007. Diversity, ecological structure and conservation of herpetofauna in a Mediterranean area (Dadia National Park, Greece). Amphibia-Reptilia 28: 517-529.
The current study attempts to explore the diversity patterns and the ecological structure of herpetofauna in order to provide a guideline for its conservation management, taking as case study the Dadia national park, in Greece. We surveyed 36 sites by conducting time constraint visits and random transects to sample semi-aquatic (amphibians and freshwater terrapins) and terrestrial (lizards and terrestrial tortoises) herpetofauna respectively. We recorded 20 herpetofauna taxa, including five protected species. The park authorities should maintain brooks as a high priority habitat for semi-aquatic herpetofauna, periodically flooded land and lowland streams as important habitats, and to a lesser degree anthropogenic wet habitats. Semi-aquatic species have narrow habitat requirements related to substrate type and humidity. Terrestrial herpetofauna species are influenced by the degree of shade and the type of substrate; they favour a diversity of semi-open habitats (open oakwoods, heaths), located in the buffer zone rather than in the core of the park that contains densely forested habitats. Management focusing on raptors, the initial conservation priority of the national park, is compatible with the conservation of the terrestrial herpetofauna, as the proposed maintenance of an open forest structure is beneficial for terrestrial herpetofauna as well. Our research indicates that future management programs will have to address the needs of herpetofauna species independently and that they should also be integrated in the monitoring programme of the park, with emphasis on the conservation status and trend of the five protected species.
Sjögren-Gulve, P., Långström, E., Báldi, A., Ibisch, P., Kati, V., Livoreil, B., Selva, N. 2007. Conservation biology and the 300th anniversary of the birth of Carl Linnaeus. Conservation Biology 21 (4): 905-906.
This article was published as a Letter to the Editor. On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the death of C. Linnaeus, we present a brief overview of his contribution to science. We also try to connect the work and form of this great systematic with today and the modern science of conservation biology
Papaioannou, H., *Kati, V. 2007. Current status of the Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) in Greece: implications for conservation. Belgian Journal of Zoology 137 (1): 33-39.
In this study, we carried out direct and indirect surveys in 30 Greek areas to clarify the current status of the Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica). It is an important flagship species for conservation in Greece, protected by both National and European legislation. New chamois populations are recorded for the first time in 3 areas, direct sightings of chamois are found in 11 areas, and presence is reported by locals in a further 4 areas. The overall potential distribution area of the species is 1.663km2. The chamois is considered extinct in 6 areas and its presence is doubtful in the remaining 6 areas. Chamois have a frag-mented dispersal pattern in Greece and three blocks of populations are distinguished : Pindus, Sterea Ellada and Rhodopi popula-tions. Population sizes do not usually exceed 30 individuals in each area, and the maximum population size recorded is 120-130 individuals (Mt. Timfi). Our preliminary estimate of the total Greek population size is between 477 and 750, which is slightly higher than previous estimates. Although most sites are within established reserves, protected by the Natura 2000 network, there is an urgent need for further conservation measures. Poaching is considered to be the major threat to this species, therefore effective protection is urgently needed, through the enhancement of guarding system against poaching, the control of roads usage within its core range, and the creation of protected natural corridors between chamois populations.
*Kati, V., Sekercioglu, C.H. 2006. Diversity, ecological structure, and conservation of the landbird community of Dadia reserve, Greece. Diversity and Distributions 12: 620-629.
Birds are integral to many environmental monitoring schemes. However, there has been little research on the ecological basis of utilizing bird species as indicators of their respective communities and habitats. We used point counts to survey 72 landbird species, 16 of conservation concern, in the Dadia Nature Reserve, Greece, in order to understand the ecology of bird diversity patterns, analyse community composition, identify species characteristic of major vegetation types, and improve long‐term management and monitoring protocols. We sampled 36 sites representing 21 vegetation types. Highly heterogeneous sites were the most species rich and rural mosaics (small fields and pastures of low intensity land use, separated by thick hedgerows and tree lines) were twice as rich as intensified crop monocultures. Using multivariate analysis, we found that vegetation cover and height affected the composition of the avifauna. Twenty‐one predefined vegetation categories clustered into eight distinct bird habitat types: field crops, rural mosaics, mosaic sites, poplar trees, broadleaved woods, pinewoods, shrubs, and heaths. Ten bird species were highly characteristic of the main bird habitat types in the study area. Our results emphasize the importance of conserving rural mosaics, hedgerows, and openings within forests for landbird conservation in the Mediterranean countryside. We also provide evidence in support of maintaining horizontal heterogeneity at a local scale. Finally, we suggest that monitoring populations of certain indicator bird species can be a cost‐effective and efficient way to monitor the state and habitat quality of the entire landbird community, thereby integrating the knowledge of community structure into conservation decision‐making.
*Kati, V., Mani, P., von Helversen, O., Willemse, F., Elsner, N., Dimopoulos, P. 2006. Human land use threatens endemic wetland species: the case study of Chorthippus lacustris (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Epirus, Greece. Journal of Insect Conservation 10: 65-74
Chorthippus lacustris is an endemic grasshopper (Orthoptera) species in Epirus, Greece. Its population status, habitat characteristics, and relation to historical and current human land use are investigated. The species has a restricted and fragmented distribution pattern. Five locations, four within Pamvotida Lake basin and one in Lake Paramythia, cover a total of 0.12 km2. It is strongly dependent on wet grasslands, flooded on a seasonal basis. The greatest population density is recorded in the site with the greatest diversity of dominant plant species. Ch. lacustris is estimated to have lost 85–99% of its habitat during the last 50 years due to wetland drainage. The main threat to the species survival is further habitat loss by urbanisation around Pamvotida Lake and by land conversion to agriculture in Paramythia Lake, even though both sites belong to the Natura 2000 network. The species status is Critically Endangered and it should be listed in Annex II of the Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC) as a priority species for conservation. Restoring wet grasslands, protecting them from further urbanisation and drainage, and monitoring species population are the main measures proposed for its conservation.
Korakis, G., Gerasimidis, A., Poirazidis, K., Kati, V. 2006. Floristic records from Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park, NE Greece. Flora Mediterranea 16:11-32.
The Dadia–Lefkimi–Soufli National Park in North-Eastern Greece is a protected area distin-guished as particularly significant not only at the national but also at the European level. The long-term but mild human exploitation coupled with the heterogeneity of the habitats and the maintenance of nature have resulted in the conservation of an important biodiversity of biota, characterized by the existence of unique and rare species of flora and fauna. The present study provides an initial recording of the flora in the area based on fieldwork, and consisting of a total of 351 vascular taxa. Collective data on the chorology, life-form and the habitats of plant taxa are presented.
Grill, A., Knoflach, B., Cleary, D., Kati, V. 2005. Butterfly, spider, and plant communities in different land-use types: Sardinia, Italy. Biodiversity and Conservation 14: 1281-1300.
Butterfly, spider, and plant species richness and diversity were investigated in five different land-use types in Sardinia. In 16 one-hectare plots we measured a set of 15 environmental variables to detect the most important factors determining patterns of variation in species richness, particularly endemicity. The studied land-use types encompassed homogeneous and heterogeneous shrublands, shrublands with tree-overstorey, Quercus forest and agricultural land. A total of 30 butterfly species, among which 10 endemics, and 50 spider (morpho)species, were recorded. Butterfly and spider community composition differed according to land-use type. The main environmental factors determining diversity patterns in butterflies were the presence of flowers and trees. Spiders reacted mainly to habitat heterogeneity and land-use type. Traditional land-use did not have adverse effects on the diversity of butterflies, spiders, or plants. The number of endemic butterfly species per treatment increased with total species richness and altitude. Butterfly and spider richness did not co-vary across the five land-use types. Butterflies were, however, positively associated with plant species richness and elevation, whereas spiders were not. Conclusively, butterflies did not appear to be good indicators for spider diversity and species richness at the studied sites.
*Kati, V., Devillers, P., Dufrêne, M., Legakis, A., Vokou, D., Lebrun, Ph. 2004. Hotspots, complementarity or representativeness? Designing optimal small-scale reserves for biodiversity conservation. Biological Conservation 120 (4): 471-480.
Reserve networks are a major tool of ecological management aiming at biodiversity conservation. Maximizing the number of species conserved with the minimum land sacrifice is a primary requirement in reserve design. In this study, we examine the efficiency of five different scenarios to conserve: (i) the biodiversity of one target group and (ii) the overall biodiversity of an area. The study was conducted in Dadia Reserve, in northern Greece. Six groups of species were selected to represent its biodiversity: woody plants, orchids, Orthoptera, aquatic and terrestrial herpetofauna, and small terrestrial birds. The scenarios examined represent different conservation approaches to select network sites. For each approach, the starting point was one of the above six groups of species, considered as the target group. In scenario A, which reflects the hotspot approach, the sites richest in species are selected. Scenario B selects the sites most complementary in terms of species richness. The next two scenarios use the principle of environmental representativeness, expressed in terms of habitat (scenario C) or vegetation (scenario D). Under scenario E, sites forming the network are selected at random. The rank of scenarios in terms of preserving the species of the target group was always B > A > C > D > E, irrespective of the group considered as target group. Their rank, when preservation of the total biodiversity was the issue, was B, A > C, D > E.
*Kati,V., Dufrêne M., Legakis A., Grill A., Lebrun Ph. 2004. Conservation management for the Orthoptera in the Dadia reserve, Greece. Biological Conservation 115: 33-44.
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.
*Kati, V., Willemse, F. 2001. The grasshoppers and crickets of the Dadia Forest Reserve (Thraki, Greece) with a new record to the Greek fauna: Paranocarodes chopardi Pechev 1965 (Orthoptera, Pamphagidae). Articulata 16: 11-19.
The Dadia Forest Reserve, eastern Greek Thraki, is a dry and rocky area, most of it consisting of forested hills. A check-list of Orthoptera is given. The fauna is relatively poor, but some species are biogeographically important. Most interesting is the occurrence of the pamphagid Paranocarodes chopardi Pechev, 1965. The species is new to the Greek fauna. Its range is quite limited and the official protection status of the Dadia Forest Reserve will certainly help to prevent extinction
*Kati, V., Lebrun, Ph., Devillers, P., Papaioannou, H. 2000. Les orchidées de la réserve de Dadia (Grèce), leurs habitats et leur conservation. Les Naturalistes Belges 81: 269-282.
The region of Dadia, in Thrace, is of exceptional biological conservation interest. Research designed to develop biodiversity assessment methodologies was conducted in parts of it for two years. It focused, in particular, on the link between habitat types and the distribution of species richness for a number of bio-indicator groups, of which orchids was one. The paper summarises orchid observations collected in the course of field work and considers their habitat preferences and their particular conservation requirement
Conference Papers
Schindler, S., Kati, V., von Wehrden, I., Wrbka, T., and Poirazidis, K. 2009. Landscape metrics as biodiversity indicators for plants, insects and vertebrates at multiple scales. In: Breuste, J., Kozov?, M., and Finka, M. (Eds). European Landscapes in Transformation: Challenges for Landscape Ecology and Management. European IALE Conference 2009 12-16 Jul 2009, Salzburg, Austria & Bratislava, Slovakia. pp. 228-231.
Schindler, S., Kati, V., and Poirazidis, K. 2007. Testing the performance of landscape structure variables as predictors of biodiversity: a case study from Dadia NP, Greece. In: Bunce, RGH, Jongman, RHG, Hojas, L, and Weel, S., Eds. 25 Years of Landscape Ecology: Scientific Principles in Practice. Proceedings of the 7th IALE World congress, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 8-12 Jul. IALE Publications series 4. p 337-338.
Kati, V. 2001. Maximizing biodiversity conservation in a forest ecosystem by identifying zones of hotspot overlap. In: Radoglou, K. Proceedings of the International Conference: Forest Research: A Challenge For an Integrated European Approach, Thessaloniki. NAGREF – Forest Research Institute, p 581-585.
Book chapters
2010 - 2020
Brotons, L., Herrando, S., Sirami, C., Kati, V. & Díaz, M. 2017. Mediterranean forest bird communities and the role of landscape heterogeneity in space and time. In: Mikusinski, G., Roberge, J.-M. & Fuller, R.J. (Eds.). Ecology and Conservation of Forest Birds. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK. pp 318-349.
Poirazidis, K., Schindler, S., Kati, V., Martinis, A., Kalivas, D., Kasimiadis, D., Wrbka, T., Papageorgiou, A. 2011. Conservation of biodiversity in managed forests: developing an adaptive decision support system. In: Li, C., Lafortezza, R., Chen, J. (eds), Landscape Ecology in Forest Management and Conservation. Challenges and Solutions for Global Change. Higher Education Press – Springer. pp 381-399.
2000 - 2010
Korakis, G., Gerasimidis, A., Kati, V. 2010. Τhe flora. In: Catsadorakis, G., Källander, H. (Eds.). The Dadia – Lefkimi – Soufli Forest National Park, Greece: Biodiversity, Management and Conservation. WWF Greece, Athens, pp 63-84.
The Dadia–Lefkimi–Soufli Forest National Park is located in Thrace, an area of great phytogeographic interest comprising one of the floristic links between Europe and Anatolia. The floristically particularly interesting mafic and ultramafic rocks that occur sporadically in the area, contribute to the plant diversity of the Park. In this paper we provide a review of the known flora of the Park. Life-forms and chorological relationships of the recorded taxa reveal their Mediterranean affinities. Furthermore, we demonstrate the strong influence of oriental floristic elements, due to the geographical position of the region, and comment on the occurrence of endemic taxa. Plant taxa, significant from a conservation point of view, including Minuartia greuteriana, Onosma kittanae, Salix xanthicola, Eriolobus trilobatus, Cephalanthera epipactoides and Cistus laurifolius, are discussed. Several other taxa, which are rare in Greece or are floristically interesting for other reasons, are reported from the Park. In total, 32 of the Park’s taxa are included in databases because of their special conservation and/or legislative status.
Poirazidis, K., Kati, V., Schindler, S., Triantakonstantis, D., Kalivas, K., Gatzogiannis, S. 2010. Landscape and biodiversity in the Dadia –Lefkimi- Soufli Forest National Park. In: Catsadorakis, G., Källander, H. (Eds.). The Dadia – Lefkimi – Soufli Forest National Park, Greece: Biodiversity, Management and Conservation. WWF Greece, Athens. pp 103-114.
The relationships between heterogeneous landscapes and biodiversity have been well investigated and in many cases hu¬man activities have played a significant role in the creation of landscape patterns. In the Dadia – Lefkimi – Soufli Forest National Park (DNP), anthropogenic and natural disturbances during the last century, such as forest fires, uncontrolled logging and extensive livestock grazing created a mosaic of different land-cover categories. However, nowadays natural succession and forest management have altered the mosaic of habitats towards a more homogeneous forest area. More than 70% of the land is now covered with oak and pine forests in either pure or in mixed stands affecting some fauna species depending on heterogeneity and semi-open habitats negatively. Despite this alteration, habitat diversity is one of the main gradients characterizing the landscape structure in Dadia. Although an optimal level of heterogeneity can hardly be determined as it depends on the taxa under consideration, diversity and spatial configuration of landscapes were found to be important drivers of local biodiversity in DNP and must be considered in the management and conservation of the park.
Kati, V*., Kakalis, L. 2010. The landbird community: composition, abundance and management suggestions In: Catsadorakis, G., Källander, H. (Eds.). The Dadia – Lefkimi – Soufli Forest National Park, Greece: Biodiversity, Management and Conservation. WWF Greece, Athens. pp 169-182
We present an ecological analysis of landbird (Passeriformes, Piciformes, Coraciiformes) distribution in Dadia–Lefkimi– Soufli Forest National Park and suggest measures for their conservation. We conducted two point-count studies, one inside the park (155 points) and the other in an adjoining agricultural zone (75 points) and recorded 120 species of landbirds, including 39 species with an unfavourable conservation status in Europe (SPEC 2 and 3). Vegetation cover and height were the two main environmental gradients affecting bird distribution (Principal Coordinate Analysis). We also identified eight distinct bird habitats (k-means clustering) and found 13 species characterizing them (IndVal procedure). Hence, we proposed a set of selected species to be monitored on a permanent basis (SPEC/typical species). We demonstrated the importance of the buffer zone for landbird conservation rather than the pine-dominated core zone, and more particularly the mosaic sites and forest clearings. Both studies confirmed the unique importance of rural mosaics, thus providing strong arguments against further land re-allotment and agricultural intensification in the broader area around the park.
Grill, A., Kati, V., Karris, G., Argyropoulou, M.D. 2010. Diversity patterns in insect communities of the Dadia–Lefkimi–Soufli Forest National Park: butterflies, grasshoppers, beetles. In: Catsadorakis, G., Källander, H. (Eds.). The Dadia – Lefkimi – Soufli Forest National Park, Greece: Biodiversity, Management and Conservation. WWF Greece, Athens. pp 115-122.
Grill, A., Kati, V., Karris, G., Argyropoulou, M.D. 2010. Diversity patterns in insect communities of the Dadia–Lefkimi–Soufli Forest National Park: butterflies, grasshoppers, beetles. In: Catsadorakis, G., Källander, H. (Eds.). The Dadia – Lefkimi – Soufli Forest National Park, Greece: Biodiversity, Management and Conservation. WWF Greece, Athens. pp 115-122.
Catsadorakis, G., Kati, V., Liarikos, K., Poirazidis, K., Skartsi, Th., Vasilakis, D. and Karavellas, D. 2010. Conservation and management issues for the Dadia Lefkimi Soufli Forest National Park. In: Catsadorakis, G., Källander, H. (Eds.). The Dadia – Lefkimi – Soufli Forest National Park, Thrace, Greece: Biodiversity, Management and Conservation. WWF Greece, Athens. pp 265-280.
The main threats to DNP’s principal assets are habitat and landscape homogenization, large-scale fires, the over-development and unwise location of wind-farms around the park, poisoned baits and the aesthetic degradation of landscapes. Impediments to effective management are not only local, but most stem from problems relating to the general system of protected areas in Greece. They are of ecological, administrative, legislative and institutional nature, but there is also a lack of political will to find solutions for them. The principal management and conservation goals for DNP must be to preserve farmland of high ecological value, to arrest forest expansion and to increase the amount of clearings. Others are to preserve old trees and mature stands to ensure optimal nesting conditions for birds of prey and to ensure vulture food resources long-term. To reach these goals, a plan for sustainable local development needs to be developed and the existing legal framework must be amended to support it. Scientific monitoring results must inform all processes. The participation of local communities and authorities is crucial. Local forestry objectives must be revised to match biodiversity conservation needs and promotion of environment-friendly practices in agriculture must be ensured.
Schindler, S., Poirazidis, K., Papageorgiou, A., Kalivas D.,Von Wehrden, H., Kati, V. 2010. Landscape approaches and GIS for biodiversity management. In: Andĕl, J., Bičik, I., Dostál, P., Lipskŷ, Z, Shahneshin, S.G., Raska, P. (eds), Landscape modelling: geographical space, transformation and future scenarios, Urban and Landscape Perspectives Series, Springer-Verlag. pp171-182.
Remote sensing now routinely provides environmental information ranging from global to local scales, and geographical information systems provide, among other applications, necessary interfaces to store, analyse and visualise spatial data; increased computational capacities triggered even more such applications. In this chapter, we demonstrate how the combination of landscape approaches, remote sensing and GIS aids conservation and management of biodiversity. We therefore summarise six case studies from Dadia National Park (Dadia NP), in northeastern Greece. The studies aimed at (1) modelling of nesting habitat for a flagship species, (2) evaluation of land-use change, (3) detecting statistical dimensions and spatial patterns of landscape structure, (4) testing the performance of landscape metrics as indicators of biodiversity, (5) developing a GIS approach for a systematic raptor monitoring, and (6) developing a decision-support system to optimise conservation of biodiversity in managed forests.
Scientific reports
View reports
Kati, V., Stefanidis, A., Tzortzakaki, O., Fotiadis, G., Willemse, L. 2022. Final Scientific Report: Project OITI-Investigating the endemic and threatened entomofauna in Oiti and Tymfristos. 56 p.
The current technical report presents the results of a research project in two Natura 2000 sites, namely the National Park of Oeta Mountain (GR2440004) and Tymphristos mountain (GR2430001). OITI project concerned the Orthoptera community of the two mountains and specifically their endemic and/or threatened species. It presents the objectives of the study, the methods and protocols used during fieldwork, and the research findings as follows: overview of the threats and pressures recorded in the study area, inventory of the recorded orthoptera fauna in the two protected areas, a thorough ecological overview of target species, presenting their conservation status (distribution, population status, habitat preferences , pressures and threats). The study suggests the inclusion of 11 important orthoptera species in the Standard Data Forms (SDFs) of the Natura 2000 sites, evaluates the ecological importance of the study area in terms of Orthoptera fauna conservation, and provides an evaluation of the pressures/threats that need to be addressed. It concludes to a conservation guideline relevant to (a) providing permissions for projects that cause land use change on target species habitats, such as renewable or tourist infrastructure, (b) livestock grazing management, (c) biomonitoring of target species, (d) Natura 2000 area expansion.
Kati V., Petridou M., Theodoropoulos Y., Bukas N. 2019. Contribution to biodiversity knowledge of the Aoos River Basin / Greece. Pindos Perivallontiki, 65pp
The Vjosa/Aoos river still flows freely from the Pindus mountains in Greece, to the river mouth in Albania largely without artificial obstacles. The river stretches for 270km in total and 70km are flowing within the Greek area. Downstream of the Pigai dam in Greece (10km from the springs of Aoos), the river is near natural, representing all types of river ecosystems, including canyon sections, braided parts and meandering stretches. In Greece the protected area, that partly includes river Aoos, belongs to the Northern Pindos National Park. The existing National Park is already protecting 50kms of Aoos’ river stretch, leaving nearly 20km of the river unprotected, towards the GR-AL borders (see Map 1). At the same time one of the major tributaries, Voidomatis (15km long) is included in the existing National Park, leaving 6km of the tributary unprotected, towards the GR-AL borders. Another major tributary, river Sarantaporos (50km long), stretches under no protection zone, from its springs until its confluence with Aoos, right upon the GR-AL borders. Voidomatis and Sarandaporos rivers are the main tributaries of Aoos. Voidomatis meets up with Aoos in the plain of Konitsa, and Sarandaporos joins them right on the Greek-Albanian border. Through this year’s biodiversity research, we aim to increase the biodiversity knowledge for the unprotected area of the Aoos river basin, in order to further support the efforts of the campaign for the expansion of the Aoos’ protected area towards the GR-AL borders, in a way that will include the unprotected stretches of Aoos and its major tributaries (Voidomatis, Sarantaporos). The present study is focusing on insect species related to water (Odonata), as well as on large mammals, either directly related to the riverine ecosystems (otter) or indirectly (carnivores and ungulates). The present biodiversity research sets four distinct objectives: • To provide a georeferenced database of species distribution in the study area, with special focus on the part of the area that is under no protection status. • To assess different microhabitats of Aoos’ catchment in terms of their ecological value for the target species. • To assess potential pressures and threats for the species. • To crystalize research findings into concrete conservation objectives.
Petridou M., Iliopoulos Y., Kati V. 2019. Wolf-livestock conflict in Tzoumerka National Park and comparisons with other protected areas of Greece. University of Ioannina and WWF Greece. Ioannina, Greece, pp. 51.
Livestock depredation is one of the main wolf-human conflict issues both in Europe and worldwide. The aim of the project is to study and evaluate wolf-livestock conflicts in Tzoumerka NP and to compare our findings with other protected areas in Greece. We have in particular set the following six research objectives: 1. To assess and describe traditional free-ranging livestock raisers’ profile in Tzoumerka NP. 2. To record wolf depredation levels on cattle, sheep and goat herds as the main baseline metric of wolf-human conflicts in Tzoumerka NP. 3. To identify and evaluate the principal damage prevention methods adopted by local livestock farmers in Tzoumerka NP. 4. To assess levels of livestock guarding dog mortality due to the illegal use of poisoned baits as a major conservation problem in the area in Tzoumerka NP. 5. To evaluate satisfaction levels of livestock farmers regarding the national compensation system in Tzoumerka NP. 6. To compare the main results stemming from Tzoumerka NP with other similar studies previously completed in other protected areas and draw relevant conclusions. © 2019 University of Ioannina and WWF Greece
Databases
View databases
Kassara C., Petridou M., Tzortzakaki O., Papantoniou E., Galani A., Psaralexi M., Gkotsis D., Papaioannou H., Kati V. 2022. The roadless map of Greece. Mendeley Data, v2.
Περιγραφή: Η βάση δεδομένων παρουσιάζει τις περιοχές χωρίς δρόμους της Ελλάδας (5/2022) σε μορφή kmz (Google Earth). Ως Περιοχή Άνευ Δρόμων ορίζεται κάθε χερσαία τμήμα με μέγεθος μεγαλύτερο από 1 τ.χλμ. που απέχει τουλάχιστον 1 χλμ. από τον πλησιέστερο δρόμο. Ο χάρτης παρουσιάζει τις 389 ΠΑΔ της Ελλάδας (Roadless_Areas_WGS84.kmz) ανάλογα με το μέγεθός τους (1-10 τχλμ, 10-50 τχλμ και πάνω από 50 τχλμ). Ως Αδιατάρακτη Φυσική Περιοχή (ΑΦΠ) ορίζεται κάθε ΠΑΔ με την περιφερειακή της ζώνη ενός χιλιομέτρου. Πρακτικά η ΑΦΠ είναι κάθε χερσαία περιοχή άνω των 2 τ.χλμ. χωρίς δρόμους, είτε αυτή βρίσκεται στην ηπειρωτική, είτε στη νησιωτική χώρα. Κάθε ΑΦΠ περιλαμβάνει μία ΠΑΔ. Ο χάρτης παρουσιάζει τις αντίστοιχες 389 ΑΦΠ της Ελλάδας (Undisturbed_Natural_Areas_WGS84). Νησιωτική Αδιατάρακτη Φυσική Περιοχή ή Νησί Άνευ Δρόμων ορίζεται κάθε νησί που δεν έχει καθόλου δρόμους σε όλη την έκτασή του, ανεξάρτητα από το μέγεθός του. Ο χάρτης παρουσιάζει τα 3518 νησιά χωρίς δρόμους της Ελλάδας (Roadless islands). Σημειώνεται πως ο χάρτης περιλαμβάνει και τις 6 περιοχές που θεσμοθετήθηκαν ως ΠΑΔ. Το αρχείο “File contents” περιέχει επεξηγήσεις των πεδίων που φαίνονται στο χάρτη. Είναι ο πλήρης εθνικός χάρτης των περιοχών χωρίς δρόμους της Ελλάδας και μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί με αξιοπιστία.
Kati, V., Kassara, Ch. 2020. Sustainable spatial planning for windfarms in Greece. Mendeley Data, v1
The database consists of three spatial layers: (a) The investment zone (41.4% of Greek land): it includes the three most fragmented zones (very high, high and medium) according to the Landscape Fragmentation Indicator (2015), of the territory outside the terrestrial part of the Natura 2000. (b) The windfarm-free zone (58.6% of Greek land): it includes the terrestrial part of the Natura 2000 network and the two least fragmented zones (very low and low) outside the network. (c) Windfarm sites (2020): 260 applications of operating windfarms (red polygons) and 1578 applications of windfarms in other permission stages (black polygons).
Kati, V., Willemse, L. 2020. “Database of endemic and/or threatened Orthoptera species in the Natura 2000 sites of Greece.”, Mendeley Data, v1.
Kati V.,Kapsalis, E.2020. Bird communities in the sacred groves of Epirus, Greece. Mendeley Data, v1.
Kati V, Kassara C, Psaralexi M, Tzortzakaki O, Petridou M, Galani A, Hoffmann M. 2020. The roadless map of Greece. Mendeley Data, v1.
The dataset presents the roadless areas (RAs) of Greece (2/2020) in kmz format (Google Earth). RAs are defined as those land patches of a size greater than 1 sq.km that are at least 1 km away from the nearest road. The dataset pinpoints the 1.115 RAs, accounting for 4.99% of the Greek land. The map includes high and medium confidence data. Red polygons indicate the RAs with an area ≥50 sq.km (high confidence data). They cover 0.51% of the Greek land and are located in six remote mountains: Lefka Ori, Timfi, Olympos, Taygetos, Saos, and Smolikas. The present database is the output of ROADLESS project. It is linked to the publication Kati et al (2020: Biol Cons) and it was used by the Greek government to set up the “untrodden mountain” legislation, offering protection to all large roadless areas (apart from Olympos that is protected under a recent Presidential Decree), plus a smaller roadless area (Hatzi mountain). Orange polygons indicated the RAs with an area 1-50 sq.km and are of medium confidence, because their roads are not fully digitized. This version is not used any more. It is replaced with the v2 (2022) where all data are of high confidence.
Popular science
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Willemse, L. & Kati, V. 2020. Greece. In: Kleukers, R. & R. Felix (eds.) 2020. Grasshopper conservation in Europe. EIS Kenniscentrum Insecten & Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden: 35-37.
Willemse, L., Kati, V, Odé, B. 2014. Epirus Grasshopper: a Prima Ballerina Courtship! In: Hegan, A (ed), No More Endlings: saving species one story at a time, Motivational Press, Melbourne, 246-253.
Textbooks
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Kati, V. 2020. Threats and conservation of Greek fauna. In: Pafilis, P. (Ed). The fauna of Greece: Biology and management of wildlife. Broken Hill Publishers Ltd. Nicosia, Cyrpus. Pp 991-1021.
Service ships & distinctions
Editorial boards & reviewer
Editorial board: Diversity (2020-present). Journal for Nature Conservation (2013-2021). Scientific World Journal: Ecology ( 2013-2017) [open access]. International Journal of Biodiversity ( 2012-2018).
Reviewer in scientific Journals [>35]:
Project evaluator:
Societies and committees
International societies and committees
- IPBES: Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Stakeholder. 2020-…
- NEMOR: Network for European Mountain Research. Founding Member/ Steering Committee. 2019-…
- BCE: Butterfly Conservation Europe BCE: Butterfly Conservation Europe. Focal point.2020-…
- Orthopterists’ Society. Member. 2020-…
- SCB-Europe Section.National Focal point. 2004-… [BoD-Board of Directors. Chair of Education Committee. Global Education Committee (2007-2010)]
- SCB-PC: Policy Committee of SCB-Europe. Member. 2004-…
- IUCN-GSG: IUCN-Grasshopper Specialist Group. Member. 2013-…
- Roadless initiative: Member. 2007-…
- DG Environment. Member of the committee «Ad Hoc Expert Working Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change» [2009-2013]
National societies and committees
- HELECOS: Hellenic Ecological Society. 2014-2016. General Secretary. [Member since 2003]
- Hellenic Zoological Society. Member 2003-…
- ELERPE: Hellenic Herpetological Society. Member. 2012-…. [Board Member: 2015-2017].
- CITES committee. Alternate Board Member. 2011–2014.
- Management Body of Pamvotis Lake. 2003-2005. Board Member.
Congresses & summer schools’ organization
- 6 international congresses
- 3 national congresses
- 3 summer schools
- Greek Summer School in Conservation Biology: Biodiversity Theory and Practice. Participant: 2014-2019. (http://gss.bat.uoi.gr).
- Conservation Biology in Europe: building a coherent strategy for the future. 2010–2012. Chair.
- Erasmus Intensive Programme. State Scoraships Foundation (IKY). Chair.
- Greek Summer School (GSS) “Introduction to Conservation Biology”. 2008-2009. Chair. Society for Conservation Biology, University of Ioannina, and Center of Biological & Cultural Diversity.
- Greek Summer School in Conservation Biology: Biodiversity Theory and Practice. Participant: 2014-2019. (http://gss.bat.uoi.gr).
Invited lectures
Hellenic Society of Biological Sciences (congress), University of Vienna, Universität Goettingen, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg,
Invitations as expert
2019. Invited as biodiversity expert from the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy to take part in the Environmental Performance Review – EPR of Greece from OECD. 25-28/6/2019.
2017. Invited as biodiversity expert from DG Environment to the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – 2nd Mediterranean Natura 2000 Seminar. Limassol, Cyprus. 14 to 16/11/2017
2009-2013. Invited as biodiversity expert by the DG Environment, Nature and Biodiversity to take part in the «Ad Hoc Expert Working Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change»
2009. Invited as biodiversity expert by the DG Environment, Nature and Biodiversity, to take part in two symposia in the-2nd European Congress of Conservation Biology, 1-5 Sept, Prague, Czech Republic
Scholarships & Awards
- 2005. Grant from Bodossaki Institute to represent Greece in the congress “DIVERSITAS – Integrating biodiversity science for human well-being”. Oaxaca, Mexico.
- 2003. Award for doctoral thesis quality held by the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Public Works, after evaluation of the National Natura 2000 Committee.
- 2000-2001. Scholarship from Alexandros S. Onassis Institute as Doctoral student.
- 1997-1999. Scholarship from Bodossaki Institute as Doctoral student.
- 1995-1996. Erasmus scholar of State Scolarships Foundation-IKY for one year
- 1992-1995. Grant from State Scolarships Foundation-IKY for the best undergraduate student in Biology Department (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki).
Teaching
Current
- Biodiversity and climate change. BAT Department. Core course. 6 ECTS
- Conservation Biology in practice. BAT Department. Optional course. 4 ECTS
- Field Ecology. BAT Department. Optional course. 5 ECTS
- Interdisciplinary approaches to the present state of the Mediterranean: case studies. MSc course: “Environmental sciences & and education for sustainability” [University of Ioannina]. Optional course. 3 ECTS
Former
International courses
- Biodiversity conservation – environmental management (Institut für Zoologie II, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg: 2002).
- Introduction to Conservation Biology (International summer school GSS: 2008-2009).
- Conservation Biology in Europe: Building a coherent strategy for the future (Erasmus IP: 2010-2012).
- Conservation Biology: Biodiversity Theory and Practice (International summer school GSS: 2014-2015).
Postgraduate courses:
- MSc “Environmental management and protection applications” [University of Patras, 2015-2017]. Courses: Environmental data analysis and simulation processes; Ecosystems, environmental risks management; Fieldwork techniques
- MSc “Sustainable Management of Protected areas” [University of Ioannina, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Patras, 2004-2012]: Sampling design of biotic parameters and statistical analysis; Biodiversity-introduction; Sustainability and Conservation.
Undergraduate courses:
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Wild fauna management
- Protected areas management
- Monitoring of habitats and species
- Plant Ecology
- Environmental Planning and Sustainable Development
- General Biology
PhD student supervision
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- Nasiou K. 2024-…”Impact of climate change and livestock grazing on insect communities and pollination in mountainous grasslands of Greece”. BAT Department. Advisory Committee: Prof T. Tscheulin (University of Aegean), A. Radovič (Ruđer Bošković Institute, Croatia).
- Stefanidis A. 2022-…”Ecology and conservation of mountainous Orthoptera communities, emphasizing endemic and threatened species (Greece).” BAT Department. Advisory Committee: Prof. S. Giokas (University of Patras), Assoc. Prof. G. Fotiadis (Agricultural University of Athens).
- Papakostas K. 2022-…”Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) ecology and conservation in Greece.“BAT Department. Advisory Committee: M. Apollonio (Universita degli studi di Sassari), Dr. C. Astaras (Hellenic Agricultural Organisation DIMITRA-ELGO)
- Sidiropoulos L. 2018-… “Conservation ecology of the golden eagle: the case of Northern Greece.” BAT Department. Advisory Committee: Ass. Prof. Kostas Poirazidis (Ioanian University), Dr. Christos Astaras (Hellenic Agricultural Institute – DIMITRA).
Accomplished
- Petridou M. 2018-2023 “Wolf ecology and predation behavior: a conflict minimization strategy towards sustainable livestock breeding”. BAT Department. Advisory Committee: Dr. Olivier Gimenez (CNRS, France), Ass. Prof. John F. Benson (University of Nebraska Lincoln, USA).
- Tzirkalli E. 2010-2022 (supervisor since 2017): «Biodiversity patterns versus local climate change in Cypurs». BAT Department. Advisory Committee: Prof. J.M. Halley (University of Ioannina), Prof. I. Vogiatzakis (Open University of Cyprus).
- Vasilakis D. 2011-2016. « Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) conservation and management in S.E. Europe: modeling its movement ecology for the sustainable spatial planning of wind farms». Department of Environmental & Natural Resources Management, University of Patras. Advisory Committee: Prof. S. Sgardelis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Ass. Prof. N. Koutsias (University of Patras).
- Zakkak S. 2010-2015. «Impact of agro-pastoral abandonment on landscape structure and biodiversity.» Department of Environmental & Natural Resources Management, University of Patras. Advisory Committee: Ass. Prof. T. Akriotis (University of Aegean), Prof. J. M. Halley (University of Ioannina).
Co-supervisor of PhD theses: 6
Evaluator of PhD theses: 10
Supervisor of MSc theses: 15
Supervisor of diploma theses: 12
See here for recent MSc students supervised