Σχέδιο επιχειρησιακής ετοιμότητας σε επίπεδο αθλητικών εγκαταστάσεων και κατασκηνώσεων για την αντιμετώπιση φυσικών καταστροφών. η περίπτωση των αθλητικών εγκαταστάσεων του ΕΚΠΑ

Οι καταστροφές (φυσικές και ανθρωπογενείς ) και οι τρόποι με τους οποίους επιτυγχάνεται η πρόληψη και η αντιμετώπισή τους, αποτελούν διαχρονικά κύριο τομέα ενασχόλησης και επένδυσης από τους αρμόδιους φορείς. Στην Ελλάδα υπάρχει μια συσσωρευμένη εμπειρία στην αντιμετώπιση των καταστροφών καθώς λόγω της γεωγραφικής της θέσης και του κλίματος πλήττεται διαχρονικά από σεισμούς και πυρκαγιές. Αυτή η εμπειρία αντικατοπτρίζεται σε ένα συνεχώς εμπλουτιζόμενο νομοθετικό πλαίσιο, σε μία συνεχώς εμπλουτιζόμενη τεχνογνωσία και στο κατάλληλο εκπαιδευμένο προσωπικό. Έτσι κάποια καταστροφικά γεγονότα (π.χ. σεισμοί) που στο παρελθόν επέφεραν μεγάλες οικονομικές απώλειες και κυρίως μεγάλες απώλειες σε ανθρώπινες ζωές, σήμερα τα καταστροφικά τους αποτελέσματα έχουν μετριαστεί εμφανώς. Παρόλα αυτά σε εθνικό και παγκόσμιο επίπεδο η εμφάνιση ενός καταστροφικού γεγονότος συνοδεύεται από κάποιες απώλειες εξαιτίας κάποιας απρόβλεπτης παραμέτρου η οποία πολλές φορές συνδέεται με την ανθρώπινη αμέλεια ή/και αδιαφορία. Βασικός παράγοντας για την αποφυγή ζημιών και ανθρώπινων απωλειών εξαιτίας ενός καταστροφικού γεγονότος, είναι η συνεχής αναζήτηση και μελέτη για την εξεύρεση των σημείων τρωτότητας σε ένα περιβάλλον και κυρίως η λήψη μέτρων για την εξάλειψη των δυνητικών κινδύνων που προέρχονται από αυτά. Σε κάθε περίπτωση ο εντοπισμός των δυνητικών κινδύνων εξαιτίας της εμφάνισης ενός καταστροφικού γεγονότος και η λήψη των απαραίτητων μέτρων για την αντιμετώπιση τους έχει να κάνει με την χωρική κλίμακα προσέγγισης. Άλλα μέτρα πρόληψης πρέπει να εκπονηθούν στην περίπτωση μιας πόλης, άλλα στην περίπτωση μιας συνοικίας ή ενός κτιριακού συγκροτήματος και άλλα στην περίπτωση μίας κατοικίας. Μία ιδιαίτερη περίπτωση πρόληψης σε περίπτωση κινδύνου αποτελούν οι χώροι εκπαίδευσης. Οι παραπάνω χώροι έχουν τύχει της προσοχής σε εθνικό και παγκόσμιο επίπεδο, με αποτέλεσμα να υπάρχει επαρκής γνώση και πληροφορίας για τον εντοπισμό των τρωτών σημείων σε περίπτωση καταστροφικού συμβάντος. v Ειδικότερα οι αθλητικοί χώροι μία ιδιαίτερη περίπτωση χώρων εκπαίδευσης αποτελούν οι αθλητικοί χώροι είτε σαν υποσύνολο μιας μεγαλύτερης εκπαιδευτικής δομής είτε σαν ανεξάρτητες μονάδες αποτελούν μία ξεχωριστή μελέτη περίπτωσης καθώς όταν εκπονούνται σχέδια διαχείρισης κινδύνου οι αθλητικοί χώροι εντάσσονται στα γενικότερα σχέδια των εκπαιδευτικών δομών. Οι αθλητικοί χώροι όμως παρουσιάζουν κάποιες ιδιαιτερότητες που πρέπει να λαμβάνονται υπόψη κατά την εκπόνηση των σχεδίων διαχείρισης. Μια ιδιαιτερότητα είναι η ετερογένεια που έχουν όσο αφορά τη χρήση τους, ενώ μια άλλη ιδιαίτερη ιδιαιτερότητα είναι το ανθρώπινο δυναμικό που τις χρησιμοποιεί. Η αυξημένη διάρκεια και ένταση της σωματικής κούρασης, καθώς και η αυξημένη διάρκεια και ένταση της διανοητικής εγρήγορσης οδηγούν σε μείωση των επιπέδων προσοχής και αυτοσυγκέντρωσης και έτσι ότι ο αθλούμενος που θα βρεθεί μπροστά σε ένα ξαφνικό καταστροφικό γεγονός θα έχει μειωμένη προσοχή και αυτοσυγκέντρωση και η αντίδρασή του μπορεί να μην είναι η ενδεδειγμένη. Σκοπός αυτής της εργασίας είναι η αξιολόγηση της επιχειρησιακής ετοιμότητας αθλητικών εγκαταστάσεων σε περίπτωση φυσικών καταστροφών εστιάζοντας στο χώρο του ΕΚΠΑ. Η έρευνα επικεντρώθηκε στο Γυμναστήριο κολυμβητήριο του προσωπικού στην Φ.Ε.Π.Α και σε εγκαταστάσεις του Τ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α. στη Δάφνη. Σε όλες τις περιπτώσεις έγινε προσπάθεια αντίληψης του κινδύνου μία αντιμετώπιση που βασίζεται στην ατομική προσέγγιση. Στην συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση η προσέγγιση έγινε από την μεριά του ειδικευμένου εκπαιδευτή. Επίσης αναζητήθηκαν τρωτά σημεία τα οποία θα μπορούσαν να αποτελέσουν εστίες κινδύνου σε περίπτωση σεισμού ή πυρκαγιάς. Σε όλες τις περιπτώσεις υπήρχε έλλειψη πληροφορίας για τις δράσεις σε περίπτωση κινδύνου. Δεν υπήρχαν αναρτημένες πινακίδες με σχέδια διαφυγής ούτε αναρτημένες πληροφορίες για τη χρήση των μέσων πρόληψης η διάσωσης. Όσον αφορά στην κατάσταση των εξόδων διαφυγής εντοπίστηκαν μία σειρά από προβλήματα αρχίζοντας από πολύ απλά όπως η σήμανση και καταλήγοντας σε πιο πολύπλοκα όπως εμπόδια στην vi έξοδο ή κλειδωμένες πόρτες. Τα μέσα πυρόσβεσης σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις απουσίαζαν εντελώς ή δεν υπήρχαν. Τα προτεινόμενα μέτρα μπορούν να συνοψιστούν ως εξής: Σε όλους τους χώρους πρέπει να αναρτηθεί σχεδιάγραμμα των οδών διαφυγής Καταγραφή και αποκατάσταση όλων επικίνδυνων σημείων Σε όλες τις εξόδους να τοποθετηθούν μπάρες πανικού, σήμανση και να ελευθερωθούν από υπάρχοντα αντικείμενα που εμποδίζουν την πρόσβαση Εγκατάσταση αυτομάτων συστημάτων πυρανίχνευσης με παροχή σημάτων συναγερμού Σε όλες τι περιπτώσεις πρέπει να τοποθετηθούν μέτρα κατάσβεσης σε όλες τις εγκαταστάσεις Σε κάθε χώρο όπου κρίνεται απαραίτητο πρέπει να δημιουργηθούν ΣΤΑΘΜΟΙ με μια σειρά εργαλείων όπως πέλεκυς, λοστοί,δοχείο με άμμο και φτυάρι Πριν από την χρήση κάθε εκπαιδευτικής εγκατάστασης οι φοιτητές πρέπει να ενημερώνονται για όλα τα μέτρα και τα μέσα που πρέπει να χρησιμοποιηθούν σε περίπτωση κινδύνου Η διοργάνωση ασκήσεων ετοιμότητας για σεισμό ή πυρκαγιά θα βοηθήσει σε περίπτωση κινδύνου Όλες οι παρεμβάσεις που προτείνονται πρέπει να ενταχθούν σε ένα ευρύτερο πλαίσιο που θα περιλαμβάνει όλους τους χώρου τους ΕΚΠΑNatural and anthropogenic disasters and the respective prevention and confrontation ways is a field of paramount importance for engagement and investment by the institutions responsible. In Greece, there is aggregated experience regarding the confrontation of disasters, because, due to the geographical location and climate, the country is damaged occasionally by earthquakes and fire. This experience is reflected upon a continuously enriched legislative framework and expertise, along with the appropriately trained staff. Therefore, consequences of disaster events like the earthquakes have been apparently alleviated compared to the past when they were more destructive in terms of economic resources and human lives. Nevertheless, disaster events are accompanied by significant damages due to unpredicted parameters which is linked to human negligence or inattention. Importantly, prevention of damage and human loss resides in the detailed examination in order to identify vulnerable points at the surroundings and on time measures for the elimination of potential dangers. The strategy depends on the scale of the spatial area under examination and differs from case to case. The cases include metropolitan areas, small towns, building complexes or single buildings and measures must be adjusted according to the respective requirements. A particular case of prevention in disaster events are the educational/ training facilities. The above-mentioned entities have gathered both national and global attention and, as a result, there is adequate knowledge for the detection of vulnerable points in case of a damage event. Sports facilities are a special case either as a subunit of a greater educational structure or as independent entity. Occasionally, danger management plans for sports facilities are included in the broader plan design of educational infrastructures. However, sports facilities present specific features which should be taken under consideration in strategic design including the heterogeneity of their exploitation and the related human resources. The increased duration and intensity of fatigue and mental alertness viii result in a decrease of attention and self-concentration and, thus, should the athlete face a sudden disaster event, his/her response would not be appropriate. The purpose of this thesis is the evaluation of operation readiness of NKUA’s sports facilities in case of natural disasters. Sports and swimming facilities of NKUA’s student residence, and the structures in NKUA’s School of Physical Science in Dafni were examined. In this case, the expertised trainer provided evidence for danger detection based on individual approach. Furthermore, vulnerable points of potential danger were searched in case of earthquake or fire. Observations included several drawbacks in the above-mentioned points, starting with information deficiency for the required actions in cases of danger. There was neither attached evacuation instructions nor information for usage of safety means. Regarding the escape exits, numerous problems were identified, from simple ones like lack of marking, to problems of greater magnitude like obstacles in the exit points, locked doors, and deficiency in firefighting means. The suggested measures include: Attachment of outline presenting all the escape routes. Recording and repair of all the dangerous points. Panic bars and marking should added at the exit points. Furthermore, obstacles should be removed. Establishment of automated fire detection system with alarming signals. Addition of firefighting means in all the structures. Creation of safety stations with various tools including axes, crowbars, sand bottles and shovels. Before the usage of the facilities, trainees should be informed for all the safety measures and means in cases of danger. The enactment of alertness exercises in case of earthquake or fire. All the suggested interventions should be included in a broader attempt including all the facilities of NKUA

Island biology and morphological divergence of the Skyros wall lizard Podarcis gaigeae: a combined role for local selection and genetic drift on color morph frequency divergence?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patterns of spatial variation in discrete phenotypic traits can be used to draw inferences about the adaptive significance of traits and evolutionary processes, especially when compared to patterns of neutral genetic variation. Population divergence in adaptive traits such as color morphs can be influenced by both local ecology and stochastic factors such as genetic drift or founder events. Here, we use quantitative color measurements of males and females of Skyros wall lizard, <it>Podarcis gaigeae</it>, to demonstrate that this species is polymorphic with respect to throat color, and the morphs form discrete phenotypic clusters with limited overlap between categories. We use divergence in throat color morph frequencies and compare that to neutral genetic variation to infer the evolutionary processes acting on islet- and mainland populations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Geographically close islet- and mainland populations of the Skyros wall lizard exhibit strong divergence in throat color morph frequencies. Population variation in throat color morph frequencies between islets was higher than that between mainland populations, and the effective population sizes on the islets were small (N_e:s < 100). Population divergence (F_ST) for throat color morph frequencies fell within the neutral F_ST-distribution estimated from microsatellite markers, and genetic drift could thus not be rejected as an explanation for the pattern. Moreover, for both comparisons among mainland-mainland population pairs and between mainland-islet population pairs, morph frequency divergence was significantly correlated with neutral divergence, further pointing to some role for genetic drift in divergence also at the phenotypic level of throat color morphs.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Genetic drift could not be rejected as an explanation for the pattern of population divergence in morph frequencies. In spite of an expected stabilising selection, throat color frequencies diverged in the islet populations. These results suggest that there is an interaction between selection and genetic drift causing divergence even at a phenotypic level in these small, subdivided populations.</p

New data on the distribution and population density of the African Chameleon, Chamaeleo africanus and the Common Chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon in Greece

Novi podaci o rasprostranjenosti i gustoći populacije običnog kameleona Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758) i afričkog kameleona Chamaeleo africanus Laurenti, 1768 su iznešeni. Podaci za C. chamaeleon su sakupljani na otoku Samos (Egejsko more), a za C. africanus na JZ Peloponezu. Sakupljanje podataka je trajalo od 1998. do 2014. Afrički kameleon je unešena vrsta u Grčkoj, prisutna na području Gialova Pylos i vrlo vjerojatno je unešena davno, jer su kameleoni često uzimani za ljubimce, pogotovo od monarha (Bodson, 1984). Nova vrsta običnog kameleona je otkrivena u Atici pred nekoliko mjeseci. Afrički kameleon se proširio na zapadni Peloponez, gdje tvori bar dvije nove populacije. To je vjerojatno zbog lokalne translokacije od strane ljudi. Gustoća populacije afričkog kameleona se kretala od 0,44 (2014.) do 401,30 (1999.) jedinki/ha, a za običnog od 0,83 (2001.) do 53,33 (1998.) jed./ha. Srednja gustoća populacije u Pylosu je bila 9,69 jed./ha (procijenjeno bez ekstremne vrijednosti od 401,30 jed./ha) za afričkog, odnosno na Samosu 5,26 jed./ha za običnog kameleona. Nije pronađena statistički značajna razlika u omjeru spolova za obje vrste. Statistički značajna razlika između brojnosti juvenilnih i odraslih jedinki je uočena samo kod afričkih, s time da su juvenilne jedinke bile brojnije (60,7 % populacije).New data on the distribution and the population density of the Common Chameleon Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758) and the African Chameleon Chamaeleo africanus Laurenti, 1768 are reported from Greece. The data for the Common Chameleon was collected from Samos Island (Aegean Sea) and for the African Chameleon from the SW Peloponnese. The period of the data collection is from 1998 till 2014. The African Chameleon is an allochthonous species for Greece and its presence in the area of Gialova Pylos is likely due to its introduction in historical times, because chameleons were often used in the past as pets by people and kings (Bodson, 1984). Some months ago a new population of the Common Chameleon was discovered in Attica. The distribution of the African Chameleon has expanded in the western Peloponnese with at least two new populations. This expansion is due to the local translocation of the species by humans. The population density of the African Chameleon ranged from 0.44 (in 2014) to 401.30 (in 1999) individuals/ha, while for the Common Chameleon ranged from 0.83 (in 2001) to 53,33 ind/ha (in 1998). The mean population density of the African Chameleon in Pylos was 9.69 ind/ha (estimated without the extreme value of 401.30), while that of the Common Chameleon in Samos was 5.26 ind/ha. No statistically significant difference was found in the sex ratio for either chameleon species. Only in the African Chameleon we did find a statistically significant difference between juvenile and adult numbers, as juveniles were more numerous (60.7% of the population)

Anatomical and physiological changes associated with a recent dietary shift in the lizard Podarcis sicula

ABSTRACT Dietary shifts have played a major role in the evolution of many vertebrates. The idea that the evolution of herbivory is physiologically constrained in squamates is challenged by a number of observations that suggest that at least some lizards can overcome the putative physiological difficulties of herbivory on evolutionary and even ecological timescales. We compared a number of morphological and physiological traits purportedly associated with plant consumption between two island populations of the lacertid lizard Podarcis sicula. Previous studies revealed considerable differences in the amount of plant material consumed between those populations. We continued the investigation of this study system and explored the degree of divergence in morphology (dentition, gut morphology), digestive performance (gut passage time, digestive efficiency), and ecology (endosymbiont density). In addition, we also performed a preliminary analysis of the plasticity of some of these modifications. Our results confirm and expand earlier findings concerning divergence in the morphology of feeding structures between two island populations of P. sicula lizards. In addition to the differences in skull dimensions and the prevalence of cecal valves previously reported, these two recently diverged populations also differ in aspects of their dentition (teeth width) and the lengths of the stomach and small intestine. The plasticity experiment suggests that at least some of the changes associated with a dietary shift toward a higher proportion of plant material may be plastic. Our results also show that these morphological changes effectively translate into differences in digestive performance: the population with the longer digestive tract exhibits longer gut passage time and improved digestive efficiency

Sex does not affect tail autotomy in lacertid lizards

Caudal autotomy is one of the most effective and widespread defensive mechanisms among lizards. When predators grasp the tail, lizards are able to shed it from the point of the attack and further. Numerous factors have been reported to affect tail-shedding performance such as temperature, age, predation pressure, intraspecific competition etc. Interestingly, the impact of sex on tail loss remains greatly understudied. Here, we analyzed tail autotomy performance, simulated in the lab, in 12 species of lacertid lizards belonging to five genera (Algyroides, Anatololacerta, Hellenolacerta, Ophisops, Podarcis). Our aim was to investigate whether sex affects caudal autotomy and/or the duration of post-autotomic tail movement. We failed to detect any effect of sex on tail loss in the species examined. Also, we did not find any sexual impact on the duration of tail movement after autotomy, with a single exception. Our findings suggest that autotomy serves as a defensive tactic equally in both sexes and is used in the same extent.

Postautotomy tail activity in the Balearic lizard, Podarcis lilfordi

Actividad postautonomía de la cola de la lagartija Balear (Podarcis lilfordi).Caudal autotomy is an effective antipredator strategy widespread among lizards. The shed tail thrashesvigorously for long periods to distract the predator and facilitate the lizard s escape. This movement is maintainedby energy supplied by the anaerobic conversion of glycogen into lactate. It has been suggested that lactate accumulation serves as an index for the vigor of tailthrashing. We made three predictions: (1) tail loss frequency should be higher under heavier predation regime, (2) the duration of postautotomy tail movement should be extended in populations under heavy predation pressure as an adaptation to the higher risk and the increased need fordefense, and (3) as result, lactate in these tail tissues should be concentrated at higher levels. To eliminate the impact ofphylogeny and environmental factors on the interpretation of our result, we focused exclusively on one species, theBalearic lizard (Podarcis lilfordi). We studied three populations under different predation pressure but sharing the same climatic conditions. We found no differences among the studied populations either in postautotomy duration of tail movement or in levels of final lactate accumulation while autotomy frequency was higher where predationpressure was more intense. ?ail loss effectiveness is directly influenced by the level of predation, while secondaryfeatures of the trait appear to remain independent from theimpact of environment

THE ECOLOGY OF THE LIZARD PODARCIS ERHARDII (BEDRIAGA, 1882) (SAURIA: LACERTIDAE) IN A TYPICAL INSULAR ECOSYSTEM ON NAXOS ISL.

THIS THESIS IS INTENDED TO SEARCH THE ECOLOGY OF THE LIZARD PODARIS ERHARDI IN A TYPICAL INSULA ECOSYSTEM IN THE NAXOS ISL. (AEGEAN). DATA ON THE DENSITY AND BIOMASS HABITAT SELECTION, THERMAL ECOLOGY, FEEDING ECOLOGY PREDATORS AND REPRODUCTION OF THE POPULATION ARE GIVEN.Σ'ΑΥΤΗ ΤΗΝ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ ΔΙΝΟΝΤΑΙ ΑΝΑΛΥΤΙΚΑ ΣΤΟΙΧΕΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΟΙΚΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΤΗΣ P.ARHARDI,ΣΕ ΕΝΑ ΤΥΠΙΚΟ ΝΗΣΙΩΤΙΚΟ ΟΙΚΟΣΥΣΤΗΜΑ. Η ΣΑΥΡΑ ΠΡΟΣΕΓΓΙΖΕΤΑΙ ΩΣ: 1. ΠΥΚΝΟΤΗΤΑ-ΒΙΟΜΑΔΑ 2. ΘΕΡΜΙΚΗ ΟΙΚΟΛΟΓΙΑ 3. ΚΑΤΑΝΟΜΗ ΣΤΟ ΧΩΡΟ 4. ΤΡΟΦΙΚΗ ΟΙΚΟΛΟΓΙΑ 5. ΑΝΑΠΑΡΑΓΩΓΗ 6. ΘΗΡΕΥΤΕ

Correction: Chovalopoulou et al. Skeletal Sex Estimation Methods Based on the Athens Collection. <i>Forensic Sci.</i> 2022, <i>2</i>, 715–724

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...

The castaway: characteristic islet features affect the ecology of the most isolated European lizard

The ecological importance of islet endemics are in the front line of conservation efforts and thus the good knowledge of their biology is required. Podarcis levendis is a lacertid lizard, endemic to two rocky islets in the Cretan Sea, Greece, that was raised to specific level in 2008 and since then no data on its biology are available. Here we present the first ecological information on the species, focusing on population density, tail autotomy and feeding preferences. We recorded regenerated and damaged tails in the field and estimated population density with the transect method. We also dissected museum specimens and analyzed their stomach content. Regenerated tails were common and reached a considerable 71%. The latter finding could be attributed to the intense intraspecific competition due to high population density but also to the seasonal predation pressure by migratory birds. The diet of P. levendis coincides with that of other insular congenerics, including high percentages of plant material