The representation of the subalpine grassland vegetation of Pieria Mts in the annual pollen deposits
The vegetation of the subalpine grasslands of the Pieria Mts. was classified with the Braun- Blanquet method during the period 1999-2000. Data on the annual pollen deposits are being collected since 1996 with the use of Tauber pollen traps in order to find a pattern of relation with the surrounding vegetation. The presence of a taxon in the pollen assemblage is defined by factors like its mode of pollination, the amount of pollen produced, the number of individuals of that taxon, their closeness to the pollen traps, etc. The vegetation of the subalpine grasslands of the Pieria Mts. is dominated by Gramineae and Juniperus communis ssp. nana. These anemogamous taxa are the most abundant in the pollen deposits. On the contrary entomogamous taxa, like the dwarf shrubs Vaccinum myrtilus and Brucenthalia spicufolia, which have a notable occurrence around the pollen traps are either underrepresented or absent from the pollen deposits. Moreover, pine pollen constitutes a significant part of the pollen assemblage which is expected since this taxon is the major element of the forest vegetation in the area.
Plant forms in three vegetation types with heavy grazing pressure in eastern Crete
Grazing affects significantly the appearance and the dominance of plant species with specific life and growth form. In areas that are heavily grazed, thorny, hairy and/or oily plant species are usually present. The objective of this study was to investigate the life and the growth forms as well as other functional traits in three different vegetation types (kermes oak forest with dense canopy, kermes oak forest with moderate canopy and phrygana vegetation) in the area of Katharo plateau (Lasithi prefecture, Crete) where heavy grazing occurs. The research was conducted in May 2007 with relevés according to the Braun-Blanquet method in every vegetation type. In all the vegetation types therophytes were dominant compared to the hemicryptophytes. This is probably due to the heavy grazing, which occurs even in the understorey of the close canopy forests and is responsible for the limited appearance of hemicryptophytes and phanerophytes.
The legal status of animal husbandry in the protected areas of Greece
Extensive animal husbandry is one of the main land uses in protected areas in Greece and as such is subjected to general and special laws and regulations. In this work the legal framework for extensive animal husbandry in the Greek protected areas established with Law 1650/86 was reviewed. From the currently issued 13 Presentenial Degrees or Common Ministerial Decisions that were examined, extensive animal husbandry was found to be treated as complying with the conservation objectives of the protected areas. In several cases the establishing acts order for a special management plan. Extensive animal husbandry is generally treated as a typical economic activity of the rural areas, while often its special contribution to the achievement of conservation objectives is also acknowledged.
Effects of cattle grazing on avifauna of the Axios river delta
This paper deals with the cattle grazing effects on breeding avifauna of the Axios river delta. Study area was the riparian and coastal rangelands to the east of the river course. Twenty nine plots were established in distances from 0 to 1000 m (every 250 m) away from 5 cattle stables. In these plots, the number of passerine birds which bred during the 1998 breeding season were counted. Rangelands are characterized by pathogenic soils with high salinity, where halophytic vegetation dominates. Soil conditions are the main factor that determine vegetation, while cattle grazing is mostly light to moderate and affects vegetation only secondarily. For one of the ground-nesting passerine species, the calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra), the number of pairs increased as we moved away from the stables. This species is protected by law. In general, the passerine birds that breed in rangelands of Greek wetlands include species protected by law and/ or species with declining populations at the European level and should be taken into account in planning of the management of these areas.
The need of grazing management for the conservation of biodiversity and landscape at Parnona’s ecological park and Mousto’s wetland
The Ecological Park of “Mountain Parnonas and Moustos wetland” is a Region of Ecodevelopment that includes 3 regions of the European network NATURA 2000. The most important areas of the park, with the exception of the wetland, are regions with rare flora endemic species but also with interesting avifauna, which can be characterized as shrublands. The abandonment of livestock husbandry in these regions, may lead to lower biodiversity. The conservation of species and their habitats in the region is associated with pasture management. The study for pasture management should take into account and as a goal in parallel, the conservation of biodiversity and the landscape structure.
