Plant species diversity in the Mount Falakro grasslands of the Natura 2000 network
Plant diversity of Falakro mountainous grasslands has a special interest. This is the reason that it was included in Natura 2000 network. Plant diversity was measured during spring, summer and autumn of 2003. The Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Physical planning and Public Works funded the research in the framework of Protection of Environment and Sustainable Development. Measurements were taken in 47 plots, distributed all over the mountainous grasslands, with an area of 25m2. The abundance of species was assessed and the Shannon-Wienner index was estimated. The data analysis showed that plant diversity in spring was very low. Even lower diversity and locally limited appeared in autumn. On the contrary, high diversity was recorded during summer, without being significantly different among various sites.
Inventory, classification and floristic composition of the wetland habitats of mount Grammos pseudoalpine pastures
The pseudoalpine pastoral ecosystems are complex and diverse habitats whose form and type are determined by environmental parameters such as relief, the geological substrate and the soil moisture. In locations of the above zone where the substrate is not drained, e.g. depressions, flat land on compact ground or close to the exit of natural springs, wetland habitats are formed. These habitats are usually of limited extend and the water level appears slightly lower or higher from the ground surface.The pseudoalpine wetlands (small ponds, seasonal lakes or marshes and rarely fens) are significant factors that increase the biodiversity of the pseudoalpine ecosystems because they sustain a specific flora of hydrophilous species and provide biotopes for the breeding of fauna species (amphibians-reptiles). Finally, they are of great importance in livestock production because they supply drinking water for the animals during the summer period. In the present study, a first inventory of the pseudoalpine wetlands of Grammos was carried out and preliminary data are presented, concerning the location, the extend, the floristic composition and the classification according to the 92/43 directive of the most important between them. This information may contribute to the knowledge of biodiversity of the pseudoalpine pastoral ecosystems in mount Grammos and provide the basis for a sustainable management.
Native livestock breeds as management tool of cultural landscapes
Τhere is global effort recent years for recognition, protection and promotion of both natural and cultural heritage. Greece has to show not only the ancient monuments and the remarkable variety of natural landscapes, but a great national heritage as well, which is the native livestock breeds. Rare breeds, which constituted important factors for the configuration of the Greek cultural landscapes for many centuries, contributed to the survival and prosperity of the societies and which have been ornamental component of masterpieces of the Greek art. Each breed survives and produce, as much as possible, into the environment in which it has been created and evolved through the natural selection. Combining landscape policy and land uses with the appropriate silvopastoral planning, extensive livestock husbandry can be practiced, based on flexible, runt, tough, self-sufficient and adapted Greek breeds, to upgrade the abandoned pastoral ecosystems increasing biodiversity, to manage cultural landscapes and to develop agrotourism as well. Interaction between cultural landscapes and the native livestock breeds could constitute subject for scientific research and serve educational and ethnological purposes as well. Native breeds could be a management tool of the cultural landscapes.
The vegetation of mountainous rangeland areas at Mount Mitsikeli
Low anthropogenic timberline at Mount Mitsikeli allows the development of rangelands consisting mainly of woody sub-alpine vegetation in a considerable extent. This type of vegetation was studied using 15 sample plots (relevés) that were carried out during NATURE 2000 prοject. The research area belongs to Daphno – Festucetalia Quézel 1964 order, of Daphno – Festucetea Quézel 1964 class. Regarding the dominant taxa, three communities were distinguished and described. The first one is characterized by the presence of sparse Juniperus oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus thickets and occupies most of the research area. The appearance of scattered Juniperus foetidissima trees characterizes the second community that has the physiognomy of a parkland and a distribution that is limited in the northern part of the region. Finally, the dwarf-shrub community of Astragalus angustifolius occupies the upper part of the research area. This last community is developed in a significant area along the ridge.
Microclimatic profile of herbaceous cover in a grazed Morus alba silvopastoral system
The research was conducted at Scholari village of Thessaloniki in Greece. The objective of the research was to study the change of microclimatic parameters of the herbaceous understory vegetation in a Morus alba silvopastoral system under moderate grazing. The experimental area was separated into six plots, which were fenced in order to exclude the uncontrolled grazing. Three of them were randomly assigned to be grazed while the other three remained ungrazed. In all plots the woody fodder species Morus alba were planted. Half of the plots were ploughed and seeded with Trifolium subterraneum cv. Mt Barker while the other half remained with natural herbaceous vegetation.Τhe microclimatic parameters measured were: the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) (μmol/m2/sec) and the enthalpy (KJ/gr). The vapor pressure deficit (VPD) was calculated. The results show that moderate grazing did affect the microclimatic profile of herbaceous vegetation by increasing significantly the vapor pressure deficit, the photon flux density and the enthalpy of bioclimate.
