Orchid species distribution in rangelands of Epirus, Greece
The orchid family (Orchidaceae L.) is one of the richest plant families in the world, including at least 24,000 species and subspecies. In Greece the number exceeds 200 taxa, while the endemics are 50 or more. These numbers often change, as new species are described or others considered until recently as endemics in Greece, are recorded in neighbouring countries. This research carried out at various rangeland types of Epirus region. A total of 58 species and subspecies were identified. The majority of taxa belong to the genera Ophrys and Orchis. The results revealed that the highest number of taxa (37) exists in forest openings and silvopastoral systems especially of oak trees, followed by 25 taxa in grasslands and 22 taxa in open shrublands (evergreen broadleaved species). The lower orchid richness, 17 taxa, was found in the phryganic ecosystems. As a conclusion, rangeland ecosystems of Epirus are significantly rich in orchids and their conservation, especially in oak silvopastoral systems, seems to be of particular importance for the maintenance of orchid diversity.
1Directorate of Agricultural Affairs of Epirus, Decentralized Administration of Epirus – Western Macedonia, P.O.Box 1290, 454 45 Ioannina, Greece, 2Department of Floriculture & Landscape Architecture, Epirus Institute of Technology, 471 00 Arta, Greece, 3Department of Agricultural Economics, Region of Epirus, 45110 Ioannina, Greece, 4Department of Landscape Architecture, Kavala Institute of Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, 661 00 Drama, Greece, 5 Laboratory of Rangeland Ecology, Aristotle University, P.O.Box 286, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
Λέξεις Κλειδιά:Epirus, orchids, rangeland types, oak silvopastoral systems
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Βιβλίο:Dry Grasslands of Europe: Grazing and Ecosystem Services, Proceedings of 9th European Dry Grassland Meeting (EDGM) Prespa, Greece, 19-23 May 2012 © 2013 HELLENIC RANGE AND PASTURE SOCIETY (HERPAS) Edited by: Vrahnakis M., A.P. Kyriazopoulos, D. Chouvardas and G. Fotiadis
