Agroforestry as a sustainable land use option to reduce wildfires risk in European Mediterranean areas

Wildfires have always been an integral part of the ecology of many terrestrial ecosystems, but their frequency is increasing in many parts of the world. Wildfires were once a natural phenomenon, but after humans learned to control fire, it has been used as a management tool to increase soil fertility, to regenerate natural vegetation for grazing and to control competing vegetation. However, currently uncontrolled wildfires threaten not only natural vegetation, landscape biodiversity, communities and economies, but they also release large amounts of carbon dioxide, thus contributing to global temperature increase. Higher temperatures and drier summers have increased the risk of wildfires in biodiversity rich areas of European Mediterranean countries and have resulted in human casualties. The aim of this article is to investigate whether agroforestry, the practice of integrating woody vegetation and agricultural crops and/or livestock, could be a management tool to reduce wildfires in European Mediterranean countries. Fire events from 2008 to 2017 and data of land cover and land use were spatially correlated. Results indicated that agroforestry areas had fewer wildfire incidents than forests, shrublands or grasslands, providing evidence of the potential of agroforestry to reduce fire risk and protect ecosystems

Phytosociological research of the mediterranean ecosystems with Erica manipuliflora Salisb. in prefecture of Chalkidiki

Erica manipuliflora Salisb. is a shrub species, which participates in shrub communities in many areas of Greece. It grows in areas with Mediterranean climate, characterized by a severe dry and warm season. Requirements of the species are few and it as a result it can be established in environments of extreme conditions. Although the species is well developed and occupies large areas of Chalkidiki there is not much information available (only except from work focusing on the study of other species e.g. Pinus halepensis) with regard to its plant communities and ecology.The areas of Chalkidiki Prefecture with the participation of Erica manipuliflora, which participates either as a dominant or as a co-dominant species, were studied phytosociologically, by the method of Braun-Blanquet (1951, 1964) for the purpose of defining them and describing their phytosociological units. A sum of 250 phytosociological plots was made [170 of the present study and 80 from Damianidis (2011), for the same area]. Numerical analysis took place (numerical classification and classification methods) and phytosociological units of different hierarchical classification were distinguished. During the processing of the phytosociological table, five groups of plant species were distinguished, in which they were differentiated floristically and ecologically, in the Mediterranean types of ecosystems of the research area. After the final processing and the syntaxonomy, the resulting phytosociological units are two classes, three orders, two alliances, two associations, three communities, two sub associations, twelve variants and four facies. From the above units, Erica manipuliflora-Pinus halepensis community, is given for the first time with the present research. The syntaxonomy of vegetation units is given below: CLASS: Cisto-Lavanduletea stoechadis Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1940. ORDER: Lavandulo stoechadis-Hypericetalia olympici Mucina in Mucina et al. 2016. ALLIANCE: Hyperico olympici-Cistion cretici (Oberd. 1954) R. Jahn et Bergmeier in Mucina et al. 2009. ASSOCIATION: Ericetum verticillatae (=manipuliflorae) Oberd. 1954. CLASS: Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. ex A. Bolòs et O. de Bolòs in A. Bolòs y Vayreda 1950. ORDER: Pinetalia halepensis Biondi, Blasi, Galdenzi, Pesaresi et Vagge in Biondi et al. 2014. COMMUNITY: Erica manipuliflora-Pinus halepensis. ORDER: Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni Rivas-Mart. 1975. ALLIANCE: Ceratonio-Pistacion lentisci Zohary et Orshan 1959. ASSOCIATION: Oleo-lentiscetum aegaeicum Krause, Ludwig & Siedel 1963. Variance: Typicum Variance: Degraded. SUBASSOCIATION: Οleο-lentiscetum, quercetοsum cocciferae Barbero et Quézel 1976. Variance: Typicum. Variance: with Cistus monspeliensis. Face: with Calicotome villosa. SUBASSOCIATION: Oleο-lentiscetum, pinetosum halepensis Barbero & Quézel 1976. Variance: Typicum. Variance: with Erica arborea. COMMUNITY: Arbutus unedo-Erica arborea κοινότητα. Variance: with Dorycnium graecum-Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. chamaedrys. Variance: with Scleranthus perennis subsp. dichotomus-Micropyrum tenellum. COMMUNITY: Quercus coccifera-Phillyrea latifolia κοινότητα. Variance: with Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. deltoides. Face: TypicumFace: Quercus pubescens. Face: Linum elegansVariance: with Pinus nigra subsp. nigra. Variance: Typicum. Variance: with Cistus monspeliensisIn addition to phytosociological research, for the ecological interpretation of phytosociological units, soil analysis was conducted through 46 plots. The soil samples collected from the soil plots were subjected to laboratory analysis, on both the forest floor and the soil. In addition to the results of soil and phytosociological research, the climate data of the research area, as well as the physiographical data of the phytosociological plots were used to enhance the ecological interpretation.Η Erica manipuliflora Salisb. (σουσούρα) αποτελεί κυρίαρχο είδος θαμνωδών εκτάσεων σε πολλές περιοχές της Ελλάδας. Αναπτύσσεται σε περιοχές με μεσογειακό κλίμα, οι οποίες χαρακτηρίζονται από την έντονη παρουσία ξηρής και θερμής περιόδου. Η Erica manipuliflora είναι ελάχιστα απαιτητικό είδος και μπορεί να εγκατασταθεί σε περιβάλλοντα με ακραίες συνθήκες. Η Χαλκιδική αποτελεί μία περιοχή που το συγκεκριμένο είδος βρίσκει καλή ανάπτυξη και παρόλο που καταλαμβάνει μεγάλες εκτάσεις δεν υπάρχουν πολλές πληροφορίες διαθέσιμες (μόνο αποσπασματικά από εργασίες που επικεντρώνονται στη μελέτη άλλων ειδών π.χ. Pinus halepensis) για τις φυτοκοινωνίες και τη συνοικολογία. Οι εκτάσεις του Νομού Χαλκιδικής με τη συμμετοχή του είδους Erica manipuliflora, το οποίο συμμετέχει σε αυτές είτε ως κυρίαρχο, είτε ως συγκυρίαρχο, μελετήθηκαν φυτοκοινωνιολογικά με τη μέθοδο του Braun-Blanquet (1951, 1964) με σκοπό τον καθορισμό και την περιγραφή των μονάδων βλάστησής τους. Συνολικά διενεργήθηκαν 250 φυτοληψίες [170 της παρούσας έρευνας και 80 προερχόμενες από το Δαμιανίδη (2011), για την ίδια περιοχή]. Έπειτα από αριθμητική επεξεργασία (μέθοδοι αριθμητικής ταξινόμησης και κατάταξης), διακρίθηκαν φυτοκοινωνικές μονάδες, διάφορης ιεραρχικής διαβάθμισης. Κατά την επεξεργασία του φυτοπίνακα διακρίθηκαν 5 ομάδες φυτοληψιών, οι οποίες διαφοροποιούνταν χλωριδικά και οικολογικά. Μετά την τελική επεξεργασία και συνταξινόμηση, οι φυτοκοινωνικές μονάδες που προέκυψαν, είναι δύο κλάσεις, τρεις τάξεις, δύο συνενώσεις, δύο ενώσεις, τρεις κοινότητες, δύο υποενώσεις, δώδεκα παραλλαγές και τέσσερις όψεις. Από τις παραπάνω μονάδες, η Erica manipuliflora-Pinus halepensis κοινότητα δίνεται για πρώτη φορά, με την παρούσα έρευνα. Η συνταξινόμηση των μονάδων βλάστησης δίνεται παρακάτω: ΚΛΑΣΗ: Cisto-Lavanduletea stoechadis Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1940. TAΞΗ: Lavandulo stoechadis-Hypericetalia olympici Mucina in Mucina et al. 2016. ΣΥΝΕΝΩΣΗ: Hyperico olympici-Cistion cretici (Oberd. 1954) R. Jahn et Bergmeier in Mucina et al. 2009. ΕΝΩΣΗ: Ericetum verticillatae (=manipuliflorae) Oberd. 1954. ΚΛΑΣΗ: Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. ex A. Bolòs et O. de Bolòs in A. Bolòs y Vayreda 1950. ΤΑΞΗ: Pinetalia halepensis Biondi, Blasi, Galdenzi, Pesaresi et Vagge in Biondi et al. 2014. ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑ: Erica manipuliflora-Pinus halepensis. TAΞΗ: Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni Rivas-Mart. 1975. ΣΥΝΕΝΩΣΗ: Ceratonio-Pistacion lentisci Zohary et Orshan 1959. ΕΝΩΣΗ: Oleo-lentiscetum aegaeicum Krause, Ludwig & Siedel 1963. Παραλλαγή: τυπική Παραλλαγή: υποβαθμισμένη. ΥΠΟΕΝΩΣΗ: Οleο-lentiscetum, quercetοsum cocciferae Barbero et Quézel 1976. Παραλλαγή: τυπική. Παραλλαγή: με Cistus monspeliensisΌψη: με Calicotome villosa. ΥΠΟΕΝΩΣΗ: Oleο-lentiscetum, pinetosum halepensis Barbero & Quézel 1976. Παραλλαγή: τυπική. Παραλλαγή: με Erica arborea. ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑ: Arbutus unedo-Erica arborea κοινότητα. Παραλλαγή: με Dorycnium graecum-Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. chamaedrys. Παραλλαγή: με Scleranthus perennis subsp. dichotomus-Micropyrum tenellum. ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑ: Quercus coccifera-Phillyrea latifolia κοινότητα. Παραλλαγή: με Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. deltoides. Όψη: τυπική Όψη: με Quercus pubescens. Όψη: με Linum elegans. Παραλλαγή: με Pinus nigra subsp. nigra. Παραλλαγή: τυπική. Παραλλαγή: με Cistus monspeliensis. Πέρα από τη φυτοκοινωνιολογική έρευνα, για την οικολογική ερμηνεία των φυτοκοινωνικών μονάδων, διεξήχθη εδαφολογική έρευνα μέσω 46 εδαφοτομών. Στα εδαφολογικά δείγματα που συλλέχθηκαν από τις εδαφοτομές πραγματοποιήθηκαν εργαστηριακές αναλύσεις τόσο στο δασικό τάπητα, όσο και στο έδαφος. Για την ενίσχυση της οικολογικής ερμηνείας, εκτός των αποτελεσμάτων της εδαφολογικής και της φυτοκοινωνιολογικής έρευνας, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν και τα δεδομένα του κλίματος της περιοχής έρευνας, καθώς και τα φυσιογραφικά στοιχείων των φυτοληψιών

Succession rates and patterns twelve years after land use abandonment in the estuary of the River Aliakmon, N. Greece

Vegetation succession is a key element for research studying biodiversity losses, effects of climatic change on ecosystems, invasive species and restoration of ecosystems in which human activities have shifted their natural or semi-natural vegetation. Surrogate variables like Pignatti\u27s bioindicator values or dissimilarity indices can provide further insights regarding succession trajectories aggregating the combined effects of changes in the cover/abundance of taxa. The land-use abandonment in an area in the estuary of the River Aliakmon, N. Greece, provides an opportunity to study medium-term rates and patterns during the first twelve years of vegetation succession. Cluster and time-series analyses of turnover rates, Sørensen\u27s dissimilarity index and Pignatti\u27s bioindicator values revealed clear differences in succession patterns and rates among permanent plots. Succession rates and patterns in the study area were found to be dominated by two ecological factors. On the one hand, availability of fresh water, assumed by the proximity to the river, allows the fast growing Populus alba to develop a forest canopy that radically alters the shading environment which, in its turn, controls succession trajectories. Increased soil salinity on the other hand, allows salt-tolerant taxa to be quickly established, and defines the species inventory on these sites as early as the first years of succession

Vegetation Fuel Mapping at Regional Scale Using Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and DEM Derivatives—The Case of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece

The sustainability of Mediterranean ecosystems, even if previously shaped by fire, is threatened by the diverse changes observed in the wildfire regime, in addition to the threat to human security and infrastructure losses. During the two previous years, destructive, extreme wildfire events have taken place in southern Europe, raising once again the demand for effective fire management based on updated and reliable information. Fuel-type mapping is a critical input needed for fire behavior modeling and fire management. This work aims to employ and evaluate multi-source earth observation data for accurate fuel type mapping in a regional context in north-eastern Greece. Three random forest classification models were developed based on Sentinel-2 spectral indices, topographic variables, and Sentinel-1 backscattering information. The explicit contribution of each dataset for fuel type mapping was explored using variable importance measures. The synergistic use of passive and active Sentinel data, along with topographic variables, slightly increased the fuel type classification accuracy (OA = 92.76%) compared to the Sentinel-2 spectral (OA = 81.39%) and spectral-topographic (OA = 91.92%) models. The proposed data fusion approach is, therefore, an alternative that should be considered for fuel type classification in a regional context, especially over diverse and heterogeneous landscapes

Spatio-temporal benthic biodiversity patterns and pollution pressure in three Mediterranean touristic ports

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the busiest areas worldwide in terms of maritime activity, facing considerable anthropogenic disturbance, such as pollution by hydrocarbons and heavy metals. The present study has evaluated the environmental and benthic biodiversity characteristics of three touristic ports, Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy), Heraklion (Crete, Greece) and El Kantaoui (Tunisia), based on the combined assessment of physical parameters, chemical variables (i.e. nutrients, pigments), sediment pollution and macrobenthic biodiversity. Different port sectors (leisure, fishing, passenger, cargo, shipyard) and different seasons (winter, before touristic period, after touristic period) were compared. Salinity and sediment concentration of copper and antimony were the three environmental parameters most highly correlated with benthic species composition and diversity. Both the environmental variables and the benthic biodiversity patterns were significantly different between the three ports (i.e. different geographical locations). Heraklion port was heavily polluted by AHs in surface and anoxic sediments and had the highest percentage of opportunistic species, while Cagliari had the highest levels of PAHs and UCM and low species richness. El Kantaoui port was less polluted and characterised by a richer biodiversity. The shipyard sector in Heraklion port was significantly different from all other sectors in terms of abiotic and biotic parameters. Physico-chemical and pollution variables recorded during the period after tourism (late summer) were significantly different from the ones recorded in winter. Seasonal differences were not significant between benthic species diversity patterns, but were revealed when the patterns derived from the aggregation of higher taxonomic levels were compared. The present study indicates that a regular-basis monitoring plan including evaluation of environmental health based on benthic biodiversity, can provide a basis for perceiving changes and reveal the degree of anthropogenic disturbance in port environments

Benthic communities in three Mediterranean touristic ports: MAPMED project

Mediterranean ports are sources of significant economic activity and at the same time they act as recipients of considerable anthropogenic disturbance and pollution. Macrobenthic communities are an important component of the port biota and have been used as environmental quality indicators.Macrobenthic assemblages were recorded in three Mediterranean touristic ports under the framework of the ENPI CBC MED project MAPMED. Samples were collected from Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy), Heraklion (Crete, Greece) and El Kantaoui (Tunisia) ports during February, May and September 2012. The sampling stations were selected according to the different sectors within each port (i.e. leisure, fishing, passenger/cargo vessels, shipyard). A total number of 277 taxa belonging to 12 phyla were found, of which the 96 taxa were found in all three ports. El Kantaoui port hosted the highest number of macrobenthic taxa. Mollusca were the most abundant group (34%) in all ports. The highest percentage of opportunistic taxa per station was found before the touristic period in the shipyard of Heraklion port (89.3%)

Prioritizing Plants around the Cross-Border Area of Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia: Integrated Conservation Actions and Sustainable Exploitation Potential

Plants know no political borders and some of them are restricted to small geographical territories of different countries in which they are endemic. In this study, we prioritized plants (PPs) of the cross-border area of Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia that are already threatened or nearly so (PPA), those which occur exclusively on either side of borderline and/or nearby countries (PPB), or those which are uncommon and rare in this region (PPC) with the aim to document in-situ the species-specific risks-threats; offer ex-situ conservation for them as a back-up solution for future re-introductions and sustainable exploitation; and raise public awareness and alertness about the importance of local biodiversity. In the framework of the project Conse-pp, 20 botanical expeditions were performed in 75 selected areas to collect samples and suitable propagation material from 130 PPs (147 accession numbers), also recording all types of threats-identified in-situ for each of them. No ex-situ conservation was detected for 40 PPs worldwide while for another 12 PPs only limited attempts have been made to date. The fully documented PPs are currently maintained under ex- situ conservation and acclimatization in the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia (BBGK). In total, 156 propagation trials (sexual or asexual) have been made for these PPs to develop species-specific propagation protocols. Consequently, the production of new plant stocks raised ex-situ was achieved (n = 3254 individuals; first-time ex-situ conservation for 40 taxa), and this has enabled the establishment of three awareness-raising sites with PPs: (i) 1000 plants of 70 PPs in the newly designed Kardia Botanical Park in Thermi (Greece); (ii) 850 plants of 104 PPs in the phytodiversity awareness spot in BBGK and 130 individual PPs in the Garden of Environmental Awareness; and (iii) 42 plants of 14 PP taxa delivered to the botanic garden of Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. This project outlines the necessity of the development of common plant conservation strategies for threatened plants in cross-border areas of neighboring countries and presents an integrated approach allowing for sustainable development and future in-situ protection measures and actions in the studied cross-border area