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The Mediterranean Sea has the highest accumulation of microplastics in the world. Although numerous studies about microplastic’s abundance and distribution have been conducted, the majority sampled surface waters. Especially for the Eastern Mediterranean, there is no information concerning the deeper strata. This study fills this gap by studying the microplastic spatial and temporal distribution along the coasts of Cyprus, utilizing zooplankton samples collected from the entire 0–50 m depth layer. The average microplastics’ abundance was 41.31 ± 22.41 items/m3 indicating that the Eastern Mediterranean seems to be much more polluted than the western basin. The fibers outnumbered the abundance of the fragments by a factor of ten. Most fibers were sized between 0.5 and 1.0 mm, and 81.24% were transparent. The average area of the fragments was ≤0.05 mm2, and most of them were hard-rounded (53.38%). The microplastics to zooplankton ratio ranged between 0.021 and 0.241. A positive correlation was found between the abundance of microplastics and the total zooplankton, especially the copepods. Studies of microplastics in zooplankton samples taken from the water column are expected to provide better insights into the role of these pollutants in marine ecosystems.
Grigoria Vasilopoulou; George Kehayias; Demetris Kletou; Periklis Kleitou; Vassilios Triantafyllidis; Anastasios Zotos; Konstantinos Antoniadis; Maria Rousou; Vassilis Papadopoulos; Polina Polykarpou; George Tsiamis. Microplastics Investigation Using Zooplankton Samples from the Coasts of Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean). Water 2021, 13, 2272 .
AMA StyleGrigoria Vasilopoulou, George Kehayias, Demetris Kletou, Periklis Kleitou, Vassilios Triantafyllidis, Anastasios Zotos, Konstantinos Antoniadis, Maria Rousou, Vassilis Papadopoulos, Polina Polykarpou, George Tsiamis. Microplastics Investigation Using Zooplankton Samples from the Coasts of Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean). Water. 2021; 13 (16):2272.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGrigoria Vasilopoulou; George Kehayias; Demetris Kletou; Periklis Kleitou; Vassilios Triantafyllidis; Anastasios Zotos; Konstantinos Antoniadis; Maria Rousou; Vassilis Papadopoulos; Polina Polykarpou; George Tsiamis. 2021. "Microplastics Investigation Using Zooplankton Samples from the Coasts of Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean)." Water 13, no. 16: 2272.
Within the ecosystem services framework, cultural ecosystem services (CES) have rarely been applied in state-wide surveys of protected area networks. Through a review of available data and online research, we present 22 potential proxy indicators of non-material benefits people may obtain from nature in Natura sites in Greece. Despite the limitations due to data scarcity, this first distance-based study screens a recently expanded protected area system (446 Natura sites) providing steps towards an initial CES capacity review, site prioritization and data gap screening. Results identify hot spot Natura sites for CES values and wider areas of importance for the supply of CES. Additionally, a risk analysis mapping exercise explores the potential risk of conflict in the Natura sites, due to proposed wind farm developments. Α number of sites that may suffer serious degradation of CES values due to the large number of proposed wind turbines within these protected areas is identified, with 26% of Greece’s Natura sites showing serious and high risk of degradation of their aesthetic values. Screening-level survey exercises such as these may play an important role in advancing conservation effectiveness by increasing the appreciation of the multiple benefits provided by Natura protected areas. Based on this review, we propose recommendations through an adaptive approach to CES inventory and research initiatives in the protected area network.
Vassiliki Vlami; Ioannis Kokkoris; Stamatis Zogaris; George Kehayias; Panayotis Dimopoulos. Cultural Ecosystem Services in the Natura 2000 Network: Introducing Proxy Indicators and Conflict Risk in Greece. Land 2020, 10, 4 .
AMA StyleVassiliki Vlami, Ioannis Kokkoris, Stamatis Zogaris, George Kehayias, Panayotis Dimopoulos. Cultural Ecosystem Services in the Natura 2000 Network: Introducing Proxy Indicators and Conflict Risk in Greece. Land. 2020; 10 (1):4.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVassiliki Vlami; Ioannis Kokkoris; Stamatis Zogaris; George Kehayias; Panayotis Dimopoulos. 2020. "Cultural Ecosystem Services in the Natura 2000 Network: Introducing Proxy Indicators and Conflict Risk in Greece." Land 10, no. 1: 4.
Industrial wind farms are being developed within many protected areas, such as in EU Natura 2000 sites; this includes proposals on small Mediterranean islands, such as Samothraki in Greece. Scarce wild land areas on islands may be particularly vulnerable to landscape-scale degradation; this may have serious negative societal impacts. Samothraki’s resident perceptions were surveyed in the wake of such a proposal, in June 2018. Of 98 respondents, 48% reported they were against the wind farm plan, while 22% did not take sides. We compare for-and-against sub-group perceptions of the proposed wind farm with potential impacts on the landscape and explore residents’ opinions on ecosystem services and environmental pressures and threats. Conflict over the wind farm was prevalent; residents most frequently reported that the proposal threatens aesthetic and landscape qualities. Aesthetic qualities were also the second highest ranked ecosystem services, after freshwater provision. However, other threats, such as livestock overgrazing, top residents’ opinion of major environmental problems on the island. The questionnaire survey used provides a scoping assessment, which may assist in identifying "conflict hotspots" for wind farm development. A critical review of wind farm planning in protected areas is presented in light of insights gained from this survey and other relevant studies.
Vassiliki Vlami; Jan Danek; Stamatis Zogaris; Eirini Gallou; Ioannis P. Kokkoris; George Kehayias; Panayotis Dimopoulos. Residents’ Views on Landscape and Ecosystem Services during a Wind Farm Proposal in an Island Protected Area. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2442 .
AMA StyleVassiliki Vlami, Jan Danek, Stamatis Zogaris, Eirini Gallou, Ioannis P. Kokkoris, George Kehayias, Panayotis Dimopoulos. Residents’ Views on Landscape and Ecosystem Services during a Wind Farm Proposal in an Island Protected Area. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (6):2442.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVassiliki Vlami; Jan Danek; Stamatis Zogaris; Eirini Gallou; Ioannis P. Kokkoris; George Kehayias; Panayotis Dimopoulos. 2020. "Residents’ Views on Landscape and Ecosystem Services during a Wind Farm Proposal in an Island Protected Area." Sustainability 12, no. 6: 2442.
We introduce a field survey method to assess the conservation condition of landscapes. Using a popular rapid assessment format, this study defines observable “stressed states” identified through the use of general metrics to gauge landscape degradation. Fifteen metrics within six thematic categories were selected through a literature review and extensive field trials. Field tests on the Greek island of Samothraki show a strong correlation between a single expert’s scores and five assessor’s scores at 35 landscape sites. Only three of the metrics did not maintain a high consistency among assessors; however, this is explained by the difficulty of interpreting certain anthropogenic stressors (such as livestock grazing) in Mediterranean semi-natural landscapes with culturally-modified vegetation patterns. The protocol and proposed index, with five conservation condition classes, identified areas of excellent and good quality, and reliably distinguished the most degraded landscape conditions on the island. Uncertainties and difficulties of the index are investigated, and further research and validation are proposed. The protocol effectively goes beyond a traditional visual aesthetic assessment; it can be used both by experts and non-scientists as a conservation-relevant multi-disciplinary procedure to support a holistic landscape diagnosis. The combination of an on-site experiential survey and its simple integrative format may be useful as a screening-level index, and for promoting local participation, landscape literacy and educational initiatives.
Vassiliki Vlami; Stamatis Zogaris; Hakan Djuma; Ioannis Kokkoris; George Kehayias; Panayotis Dimopoulos. A Field Method for Landscape Conservation Surveying: The Landscape Assessment Protocol (LAP). Sustainability 2019, 11, 2019 .
AMA StyleVassiliki Vlami, Stamatis Zogaris, Hakan Djuma, Ioannis Kokkoris, George Kehayias, Panayotis Dimopoulos. A Field Method for Landscape Conservation Surveying: The Landscape Assessment Protocol (LAP). Sustainability. 2019; 11 (7):2019.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVassiliki Vlami; Stamatis Zogaris; Hakan Djuma; Ioannis Kokkoris; George Kehayias; Panayotis Dimopoulos. 2019. "A Field Method for Landscape Conservation Surveying: The Landscape Assessment Protocol (LAP)." Sustainability 11, no. 7: 2019.
Etoliko, an anoxic semi-enclosed basin, is part of a complex wetland in Western Greece extremely rich in biodiversity. It covers an area of 1,700 ha with an atypical orientation that has been formed tectonically. In order to identify the main factors influencing the bacterial profile at the Etoliko basin, 48 samples were collected, representing seasonal variation at four sampling stations. Physico-chemical analysis of the samples indicates the presence of three layers in the Etoliko basin: (1) low-density surface layer, (2) a layer with a steep density gradient, and (3) dense water below a depth of 20 m. A permanent halocline, whose thickness is varying seasonally, has been identified in the Etoliko basin water column, while the spatiotemporal salinity distribution was highly affected by the basin’s interaction with the nearby Messolonghi lagoon. The anoxic zone extends from 20 m below the surface to the bottom of the Etoliko basin in summer, while the bottom layer was hypoxic during winter. Bacterial populations were analyzed by Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA). Bacterial richness and diversity were calculated and compared across samples. Hierarchical analysis showed that ARISA clustered the surface water samples according to seasonal variation, while sediment and near-to-bottom water samples appear to be stable and to cluster together. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) indicates that bacterial composition depends on dissolved oxygen and salinity. Increase in salinity of the ecosystem leads to a significant reduction of the microbial diversity.
Athina Chamalaki; Areti Gianni; George Kehayias; Ierotheos Zacharias; George Tsiamis; Kostas Bourtzis. Bacterial diversity and hydrography of Etoliko, an anoxic semi-enclosed coastal basin in Western Greece. Annals of Microbiology 2013, 64, 661 -670.
AMA StyleAthina Chamalaki, Areti Gianni, George Kehayias, Ierotheos Zacharias, George Tsiamis, Kostas Bourtzis. Bacterial diversity and hydrography of Etoliko, an anoxic semi-enclosed coastal basin in Western Greece. Annals of Microbiology. 2013; 64 (2):661-670.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAthina Chamalaki; Areti Gianni; George Kehayias; Ierotheos Zacharias; George Tsiamis; Kostas Bourtzis. 2013. "Bacterial diversity and hydrography of Etoliko, an anoxic semi-enclosed coastal basin in Western Greece." Annals of Microbiology 64, no. 2: 661-670.