Comparing floristic diversity of different sclerophyllous shrub formations in an islet of Eastern Aegean sea
It is well documented that phryganic ecosystems, which are common components of the Mediterranean vegetation, are characterized by high floristic diversity. The main objective of the present study was to compare three different sclerophyllous shrub formations 1) Sacropoterium spinosum 2) Cistus creticus and 3) Cistus creticus in abandoned terraces, in terms of floristic diversity. The research was conducted in Enoussa isle which is located northeastern of Chios island, in May 2013. Plant cover and species composition were measured in five transects in each community, while α floristic diversity indices were determined. Additionally, Morisita similarity index was calculated in order for the comparison of the three vegetation types. No significant differences were detected among the three vegetation types regarding the floristic diversity indices. Morisita index provide evidence of high similarity between the two Cistus types, while these two types had low similarity with the Sacropoterium spinosum formation.
Response of quantitative plant traits to vegetation succession in Mediterranean rangeland ecosystems
The aim of this paper was to assess quantitative plant traits response to vegetation succession in Mediterranean rangeland ecosystems. Four vegetation types, with four replicates each, representing sequential stages of secondary succession in Mediterranean rangeland ecosystems were studied in the Lagadas county of Thessaloniki, N. Greece: abandoned arable field, grassland, open shrubland and dense shrubland. Ten quantitative plant functional traits were measured for the most abundant species of each plot. Furthermore, species frequency was measured on the herbaceous layer in order to aggregate plant functional traits to community level. At the community level, leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf carbon concentration (LCC) and vegetative and reproductive plant height (VPH, RPH) increased with vegetation succession. On the contrary, specific leaf area (SLA) decreased. Stem dry matter content (StDMC), leaf phosphorus concentration (LPC) and onset of flowering had a unimodal response. It was concluded that weighted quantitative plant traits of the dominant species in grassland communities respond with certain patterns to vegetation succession after grazing extensification or banning.
Effect of irrigation of mother plants on reproductive characteristics of the species Lotus corniculatus L.
In the current study we investigated the effect of irrigation of mother plants on some reproductive characteristics of the species Lotus corniculatus L. Mother plants that were not irrigated produced a smaller number of seeds per pod, compared to irrigated plants, without, however, showing significant differences in the mean seed weight. Seeds of both categories of plants achieved significantly higher germination percentages, after chemical scarification with sulfuric acid, compared to the control. There were not significant differences, both in germination and in the mean time of plantlets emergence, between the two seed categories. However, significant differences in the conductivity test were observed, in which the seeds of irrigated plants achieved higher values. Seeds of irrigated plants had significantly higher germination percentages in the field compared to the non irrigated ones. Nevertheless, there were not significant differences in the plantlets survival between the plantlets produced from the two seed categories, while significant differences, both in above and below ground biomass of the plantlets produced from the two seed categories were observed.
Alternative uses of plant species in rangeland ecosystems on Mt. Chelmos
The very rich flora of Mt Chelmos comprises many taxa with medicinal and aromatic properties. There is a total of 1500 plant species in the 14 habitat types of Mt. Chelmos, while many of them are endemic. This study constitutes an inventory of plant species that are dominant in rangeland ecosystems of Mt. Chelmos and reports on their alternative uses. Most of the recorded taxa have medicinal uses (e.g. Adiantum capillum-veneris, Asplenium ceterach, Coridothymus capitatus, Equisetum spp., Lactuca serriola, Mentha longifolia), some are used or could be used as edible (e.g. Asparagus acutifolius, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Cichorium intybus) or as ornamental (e.g. Anthoxanthum odoratum, Campanula versicolor, Cyclamen spp).
Assessment of post-fire vegetation restoration rate of maquis in relation to secondary succession stage
The aim of this study was to estimate the vegetation restoration rate in the Mediterranean evergreen shrublands according to the vegetation succession stage, three years after fire, of 2007. The research was carried out in burned Mediterranean evergreen shrublands of the prefectures of Ileia and Lakonia. The ground cover and the composition of vegetation, the annual production of herb and shrub species vegetation and the total annual height of the dominant shrub species were measured, in the end of the growing season the 3rd year after fire. The results have shown that in Mediterranean evergreen shrublands three years after fire, the vegetation of the burned areas is on the last stages of secondary succession in a dynamic of evolution towards complete restoration. The grazing of these areas, 3 years after fire, according to their grazing capacity will contribute to their conservation in a good range condition.
