Introduction to the Mediterranean Island Landscapes

Vogiatzakis, Ioannis Ν.; Mannion, Antoinette M.; Pungetti, Gloria

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-5064-0_1

Cited by 25 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Crete, an Eastern Mediterranean island, is the largest island of Greece and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean basin. Of an elongated shape, it has a diversified terrain, but it is predominantly mountainous, with three mountain massifs higher than 2000 m. Its topographic and climatic variability have created a wide range of habitats, which in combination with the island’s long isolation have resulted into high rates of plant endemism [1, 2]. The massifs of the island, in particular, host many endemic taxa [3], more than Mt Olympus, the highest mountain of Greece [4, 5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemic plants of Crete in electronic trade and wildlife tourism: current patterns and implications for conservation

Menteli

Krigas²,

Avramakis

et al. 2019

J of Biol Res-Thessaloniki

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BackgroundThe island of Crete is a biodiversity hotspot having 223 endemic vascular taxa (species and subspecies) as a result of its long isolation and the wide range of habitats it includes. We explore trends and patterns in the electronic trade of these unique genetic resources and in their involvement in wildlife tourism, the ways these two activities are performed and the associated potential threats on the plants’ wild populations, and we also identify priority taxa requiring special attention. The main part of the study was conducted in 2016–2017 using English as a search language; an additional search was conducted in 2019 using German and French.ResultsWe found e-commerce for 28 (13%) endemic taxa. These are traded by 65 nurseries from 14 countries, the UK primarily. Among the traded plants, 16 face extinction risk and/or are under protection status. Prices vary largely for the same taxon and form of sale. Lamiaceae is the family with the highest number of e-traded taxa, Tulipa bakeri is the most traded species, and the living plant is the commonest form of sale. Thirty-seven endemic taxa are advertised in the websites of travel agencies involved in wildlife tourism. Tulipa doerfleri is the most frequently encountered taxon in these websites, whereas Lamiaceae, Liliaceae and Orchidaceae are similarly represented. The additional search showed a very rapid increase in the e-trade of the Cretan endemis.ConclusionThe two examined markets are similar in that geophytes play a prominent role and Lamiaceae rank first among the represented plant families, but differ in several aspects: only 22.6% of the taxa detected are common in both, obedience to rules exhibited by travel agencies is not usually the case with nurseries, and potential threats to wild populations are estimated as considerably higher for the traded plants. Sixteen endemic taxa of Crete were identified as requiring special attention.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemic plants of Crete in electronic trade and wildlife tourism: current patterns and implications for conservation

Menteli

Krigas²,

Avramakis

et al. 2019

J of Biol Res-Thessaloniki

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“…The Mediterranean Basin, with more than 5,000 islands and islets, is a global biodiversity hotspot with high species richness and endemism (Vogiatzakis, Mannion, & Pungetti, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The biogeography of diet diversity of barn owls on Mediterranean islands

Janžekovič

Klenovšek

2020

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim: Following the classical MacArthur-Wilson island equilibrium model of species richness, we hypothesize that island size and isolation affect prey composition and diet diversity of predators on islands. We used the barn owl as a model predatory organism that is known for feeding and habitat flexibility and explored the patterns of its diet on Mediterranean islands in relation to the island biogeography and human population density. Location: Mediterranean Islands. Taxon: Barn owl (Tyto alba) and its prey. Methods: Data on taxonomic composition of the barn owl diet were obtained from pellets (Adriatic island of Korčula) and from published studies performed on 18 Mediterranean islands. For each island, diet diversity indices were calculated and correlated with island area, linear distance from the mainland, human population size and density, and geospatial trends. Results: Murinae mice and rats were the dominant prey. The proportion of birds and reptiles consumed was 5 and 18 times higher, respectively, than in Europe in general. Diet diversity correlated with island size, but not island isolation. Island size was also a good predicator of the proportions of the vertebrate prey. Human population density and longitude had no effect on diet diversity. Main conclusions: Diet diversity of the barn owl on Mediterranean islands only partly followed the island biogeography theory. Diet diversity was greater on the larger Mediterranean islands. However, a more diverse diet did not mean a higher number of taxa, but a wider range of abundant and evenly represented taxa. The smaller the islands, the more birds and reptiles were consumed, compared to higher proportions of mammals on the larger islands. These findings support the idea of barn owls' feeding flexibility and opportunistic predator behaviour. Despite the barn owl being a synanthropic bird, urbanization had no influence on its diet diversity. Also island isolation had no significant effect.

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“…Islands can be key observational sites for investigating the public health implications of such a tight coexistence between host and vector and for defining urban and landscape planning strategies to reduce human exposure to pathogens while preserving habitats. Studies have shown that Mediterranean islands feature a series of continuous and often competing interactions among natural and anthropogenic processes [ 10 ]. In recent years, tourism development has affected most small Mediterranean islands [ 11 ], thereby increasing the flow of people and goods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Aedes Albopictus and Culex Pipiens along an Urban-Natural Gradient in the Ventotene Island, Italy

Manica

Riello

Scagnolari

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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The distribution of mosquitos and their corresponding hosts is critical in public health to determine the risk of transmission for vector-borne diseases. In this pilot study conducted in the small Mediterranean island of Ventotene, a known stopover site for migratory birds, the spatio-temporal distribution of two major mosquito vectors is analyzed from the natural to urban environment. The results show that Aedes albopictus aggregates mostly near areas with a human presence and the urban landscape, while Culex pipiens is more spatio-temporally spread, as it can also be found in wilder and less anthropized areas where the availability of human hosts is limited. Culex pipiens is also active earlier in the year. From a microgeographical perspective, our results confirm the anthropophilic spatial distribution of Ae. Albopictus, while suggesting that the circulation of bird zoonosis, such as West Nile, could be favored by the Cx. pipiens distribution. The results highlight the different ecology of the vectors and the interplay with their hosts, even at a small scale. The current evidence may help in forecasting the risk of pathogen transmission and surveillance planning.

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Introduction to the Mediterranean Island Landscapes

Cited by 25 publications

References 11 publications

Endemic plants of Crete in electronic trade and wildlife tourism: current patterns and implications for conservation

Endemic plants of Crete in electronic trade and wildlife tourism: current patterns and implications for conservation

The biogeography of diet diversity of barn owls on Mediterranean islands

Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Aedes Albopictus and Culex Pipiens along an Urban-Natural Gradient in the Ventotene Island, Italy

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