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Dr. Vasilios Liordos
Department of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, P.O. Box 172, 66100 Drama, Greece

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0 Environmental Monitoring
0 Ornithology
0 Population Dynamics
0 Spatial Ecology
0 Biological Invasions

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Journal article
Published: 14 August 2021 in Science of The Total Environment
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Patch, matrix and human-induced disturbance variables are important in determining the structure of urban bird communities. Although green spaces in urban core areas are usually small and disturbed, they can be important for local bird diversity. Because such areas are often overlooked, their study is critical for successfully incorporating biodiversity conservation in urban planning. Furthermore, comparing bird communities from different biogeographical areas would help identify generalizable patterns and propose common management actions. We compared the structure of breeding season bird assemblages of managed small public green spaces in the urban core areas of two similar-sized European cities, Kavala (Greece) and Rovaniemi (Finland), and studied the influence of environmental variables on community structure. Species composition differed between the cities. Abundance and evenness were higher in Kavala, while richness and diversity did not differ between the cities. Abundance did not respond in a general way to the same variables in the two cities. It increased with decreasing shrub cover and distance from the city center and with increasing midday noise and ground cover in Kavala, but increased with increasing distance from the city center and decreased with increasing car traffic and midday noise in Rovaniemi. This might be explained by the lower abundance of bird dwellers in Rovaniemi. Primarily gray cover, but also other variables, at both the patch and matrix levels (e.g., noise, car traffic, distance from the city center), negatively affected richness, evenness and diversity in both cities. Green space size was positively correlated with richness and diversity in Kavala, but not in Rovaniemi, possibly due to the smaller size variation in Rovaniemi. Results emphasized that increasing gray cover is harmful for birds in small-sized green spaces in urban core areas. However, urban managers should note that not all bird community metrics responded in similar ways to same environmental variables.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos; Jukka Jokimäki; Marja-Liisa Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki; Evangelos Valsamidis; Vasileios J. Kontsiotis. Patch, matrix and disturbance variables negatively influence bird community structure in small-sized managed green spaces located in urban core areas. Science of The Total Environment 2021, 801, 149617 .

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Jukka Jokimäki, Marja-Liisa Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki, Evangelos Valsamidis, Vasileios J. Kontsiotis. Patch, matrix and disturbance variables negatively influence bird community structure in small-sized managed green spaces located in urban core areas. Science of The Total Environment. 2021; 801 ():149617.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Jukka Jokimäki; Marja-Liisa Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki; Evangelos Valsamidis; Vasileios J. Kontsiotis. 2021. "Patch, matrix and disturbance variables negatively influence bird community structure in small-sized managed green spaces located in urban core areas." Science of The Total Environment 801, no. : 149617.

Journal article
Published: 22 July 2021 in Earth
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Value orientations can predict attitudes and possibly behaviors. Wildlife value orientations (WVOs) are useful constructs for predicting differences in attitudes among segments of the public towards issues in the wildlife domain. We carried out face-to-face interviews with a representative sample of the Greek population (n = 2392) to investigate two basic WVOs, domination and mutualism and the four WVO types that result from their combination: traditionalist (high domination, low mutualism), mutualist (high mutualism, low domination), distanced (low mutualism, low domination) and pluralist (high mutualism, high domination), and how they relate to sociodemographics. Based on basic WVOs, the Greek population was predominantly mutualism-oriented. The analysis of WVO types also revealed that mutualists were the most abundant (41.0%) followed by the distanced (31.1%). Traditionalists (17.9%) and pluralists (10.0%) occupied smaller proportions of the population. Younger individuals were more mutualist-oriented, while older individuals (>35 years old) were more traditionalist and distanced-oriented. Females were more mutualist than males, the latter being more traditionalist. Those with higher education were more mutualist and less traditionalist and distanced than those with lower education. Pet owners were more mutualist and less distanced than non-pet owners. WVO types did not vary with current residence. The produced knowledge would inform about differences in WVOs among segments of the public and would be therefore useful for implementing successful wildlife conservation and management plans.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios Kontsiotis; Ioanna Eleftheriadou; Stylianos Telidis; Archimidis Triantafyllidis. Wildlife Value Orientations and Demographics in Greece. Earth 2021, 2, 457 -467.

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Vasileios Kontsiotis, Ioanna Eleftheriadou, Stylianos Telidis, Archimidis Triantafyllidis. Wildlife Value Orientations and Demographics in Greece. Earth. 2021; 2 (3):457-467.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios Kontsiotis; Ioanna Eleftheriadou; Stylianos Telidis; Archimidis Triantafyllidis. 2021. "Wildlife Value Orientations and Demographics in Greece." Earth 2, no. 3: 457-467.

Journal article
Published: 02 June 2021 in Sustainability
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Knowing the ecological requirements of bird species is essential for their successful conservation. We studied the niche characteristics of birds in managed small-sized green spaces in the urban core areas of southern (Kavala, Greece) and northern Europe (Rovaniemi, Finland), during the breeding season, based on a set of 16 environmental variables and using Outlying Mean Index, a multivariate ordination technique. Overall, 26 bird species in Kavala and 15 in Rovaniemi were recorded in more than 5% of the green spaces and were used in detailed analyses. In both areas, bird species occupied different niches of varying marginality and breadth, indicating varying responses to urban environmental conditions. Birds showed high specialization in niche position, with 12 species in Kavala (46.2%) and six species in Rovaniemi (40.0%) having marginal niches. Niche breadth was narrower in Rovaniemi than in Kavala. Species in both communities were more strongly associated either with large green spaces located further away from the city center and having a high vegetation cover (urban adapters; e.g., Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris), Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)) or with green spaces located closer to the city center and having high gray area cover and anthropogenic disturbance level (urban exploiters; e.g., Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)). The eleven species that were common to both study areas similarly used the environmental variables and had similar niches, indicating that birds respond similarly to urbanization irrespective of latitude. Sixteen species in Kavala and eleven species in Rovaniemi were identified as conservation priority species, based on their niche specialization level and conservation status. The management actions proposed for the conservation of priority species will also benefit other species with similar ecological requirements and ultimately help maintain diverse bird communities in small-sized green spaces in urban core areas.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos; Jukka Jokimäki; Marja-Liisa Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki; Evangelos Valsamidis; Vasileios Kontsiotis. Niche Analysis and Conservation of Bird Species Using Urban Core Areas. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6327 .

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Jukka Jokimäki, Marja-Liisa Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki, Evangelos Valsamidis, Vasileios Kontsiotis. Niche Analysis and Conservation of Bird Species Using Urban Core Areas. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):6327.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Jukka Jokimäki; Marja-Liisa Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki; Evangelos Valsamidis; Vasileios Kontsiotis. 2021. "Niche Analysis and Conservation of Bird Species Using Urban Core Areas." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 6327.

Journal article
Published: 18 October 2020 in Avian Research
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Background Small coastal wetlands are vital sites for wintering waterbirds. Identifying important habitats is critical for managing waterbirds effectively. The Vourkari inlet is a small coastal wetland located near the capital Athens, within the most urbanized and industrialized area of Greece. We aimed at identifying the most important habitats for waterbirds at the Vourkari inlet during winter. Methods Data about habitat use and availability were collected for 14 waterbird species and for seven habitat classes. Habitat selection (Manly’s selection ratio), overlap indices (Pianka’s niche overlap index) and null models were calculated. Results All the studied waterbird species selected available habitats nonrandomly. Shallow waters (0–2 m), were used by 13 waterbirds and selected by five waterbirds. Pools and channels were used and selected by 10 species. Mud was used by nine species and selected by six species. Mud with rocky substrate was used by nine species and selected by eight species. Medium (2–4 m) and deep (4–6 m) open water habitats were used by seven species and selected by four species. Halophytic vegetation was used by six species and selected by two species. Several habitats were selected by nationally important populations: mudflat habitats (i.e., mud, mud with rocky substrate and pools and channels) by Common Redshanks (Tringa totanus), halophytic vegetation by Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta), shallow waters by Common Shelducks (Tadorna tadorna) and medium and deep waters by Sandwich Terns (Thalasseus sandvicencis), whilst shallow waters and mudflat habitats were preferred by a possibly internationally important population of Mediterranean Gulls (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus). Although overlap in habitat use between species was generally low, null models indicated habitat sharing and a lack of competition. Conclusions Waterbirds coexisted in the absence of competition for habitats at Vourkari, where they mostly used and preferred shallow water and mudflats. Small coastal wetlands are numerous, both in Greece and worldwide, therefore our findings would be useful as a basis for comparisons, both temporal at the inlet and spatial with other sites, that would help assess the importance of habitats and improve management strategies to benefit waterbirds, especially in areas with similar Mediterranean-type habitats and climate.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios J. Kontsiotis. Identifying important habitats for waterbird conservation at a Greek Regional Nature Park. Avian Research 2020, 11, 1 -13.

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Vasileios J. Kontsiotis. Identifying important habitats for waterbird conservation at a Greek Regional Nature Park. Avian Research. 2020; 11 (1):1-13.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios J. Kontsiotis. 2020. "Identifying important habitats for waterbird conservation at a Greek Regional Nature Park." Avian Research 11, no. 1: 1-13.

Journal article
Published: 05 June 2020 in Science of The Total Environment
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Urbanization is ever-increasing worldwide and urban green spaces and their associated wildlife are becoming critically important for human well-being. Understanding public preferences for urban wildlife would allow urban planners and managers for designing successful management plans. 600 Greek urban residents were asked to rate their frequency of encounters, likeability and desirability to encounter more often 30 urban wildlife taxa. Factor analysis identified three groups varying in degree of encounters, likeability and desirability. The most likeable species were also the most desirable (butterfly, songbird, duck, tortoise, squirrel, feral pigeon, hedgehog, heron, little owl). Structural models revealed that likeability was the most significant and positive predictor of desirability, in all identified species desirability groups: desirable, undesirable and indifferent. Participation in environmental lifestyle and conservation actions and support of animal welfare were generally positive predictors of encounters, likeability and desirability in all identified groups. Age was a significant negative predictor of encounters in the desirable and undesirable groups, of likeability in the desirable group and of desirability in the indifferent group. Females liked more than males the desirable species, and less than males the undesirable and indifferent species, encountered more often than males the undesirable and indifferent species, and wished to encounter less often the undesirable species. More educated participants liked the indifferent species more than those less educated, while the former also wished to encounter the undesirable species more often than the latter. Pet owners encountered all species more often than non-pet owners, liked more the indifferent species and wished to encounter more often the desirable species than non-pet owners. Our findings revealed public preferences for wildlife species in urban green spaces. This information would be valuable for managing urban wildlife for the benefit of both people and wildlife, in the study area and elsewhere, especially in areas where similar species occur.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos; Evangelia Foutsa; Vasileios J. Kontsiotis. Differences in encounters, likeability and desirability of wildlife species among residents of a Greek city. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 739, 139892 .

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Evangelia Foutsa, Vasileios J. Kontsiotis. Differences in encounters, likeability and desirability of wildlife species among residents of a Greek city. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 739 ():139892.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Evangelia Foutsa; Vasileios J. Kontsiotis. 2020. "Differences in encounters, likeability and desirability of wildlife species among residents of a Greek city." Science of The Total Environment 739, no. : 139892.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2020 in Ecological Processes
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Background Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have historically been interacting with human societies, thus being an important component of socio-ecological systems. In Greece, farmers and hunters have been increasingly complaining about predation of red foxes on livestock and game, and the recurrence of rabies incidents has raised concerns about human and animal health. Understanding public preferences about management is necessary for successful wildlife management. This study aimed at investigating the preferences of north Greece residents for managing the negative impacts of red foxes and also at understanding variation between stakeholder groups: farmers, hunters, farmers-hunters, and the general public. Data were collected from on-site face-to-face surveys (n = 746), between March and May 2017. Respondents were asked to rate their acceptability of management strategies under three impact scenarios: red foxes attack livestock, reduce game, and carry rabies. Results Stakeholders preferred nonlethal management strategies, with generally high consensus, both between and within groups. Fencing and compensation were the most acceptable strategies for protecting livestock and vaccination and the removal of sick animals for eliminating rabies. Acceptability and consensus for lethal strategies were lower, with hunting being the most acceptable lethal strategy for hunters, especially when foxes threatened game or carried rabies. Doing nothing was becoming more unacceptable and lethal control more acceptable with increasing severity of the impacts, i.e., livestock and game predation versus rabies transmission. Conclusions Variation in the acceptability of and consensus for management strategies was considerable among scenarios, and both between and within stakeholder groups. Research implications could be used as a guide for reaching consensus for proper management strategies during the conservation conflict management process in the study area. As similar studies are scarce, findings might also prove useful elsewhere, especially in the northern hemisphere where native populations do occur. Findings about managing rabid red foxes would be particularly useful for countries where rabies has not been eliminated, particularly for neighboring Balkan and Asia Minor countries. Findings about managing red fox impacts on livestock and game would be most useful for European countries and especially Mediterranean countries with social and ecological conditions similar to Greece.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios J. Kontsiotis; Foteini Emmanouilidou. Understanding stakeholder preferences for managing red foxes in different situations. Ecological Processes 2020, 9, 1 -14.

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Vasileios J. Kontsiotis, Foteini Emmanouilidou. Understanding stakeholder preferences for managing red foxes in different situations. Ecological Processes. 2020; 9 (1):1-14.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios J. Kontsiotis; Foteini Emmanouilidou. 2020. "Understanding stakeholder preferences for managing red foxes in different situations." Ecological Processes 9, no. 1: 1-14.

Research article
Published: 01 January 2020 in Wildlife Research
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ContextWild boars (Sus scrofa) and European badgers (Meles meles) have been increasingly implicated in crop damage in Greece. The species’ increasing presence on agricultural land has also raised concern about disease transmission to livestock and humans. Greece does not have any plans for the management of these situations, because they have only recently emerged. Understanding public preferences for management strategies is necessary for the successful implementation of management plans. AimsTo survey residents of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, north-eastern Greece, to understand variation between stakeholder groups in preferences for the management of wild boars and European badgers in different scenarios. MethodsData were collected from on-site face-to-face surveys (n=585), between September and November 2017. Respondents, assigned to one of general public, farmers, hunters and farmer-hunter groups, were asked to rate their acceptability of wild boar and European badger management strategies under four conflict scenarios: wild boars and European badgers raid crops and transfer disease. Key resultsStakeholders preferred less invasive strategies for the management of crop raiders, although they accepted lethal control in the more severe disease-transmission scenarios. Potential for conflict was higher for non-lethal control in the crop-raiding scenarios and for lethal control in the disease-transmission scenarios. Farmers and farmer-hunters were the groups more strongly supporting management strategies in all scenarios. Hunters were more reluctant to accept the reduction in numbers of a game species (i.e. the wild boar) than of a non-game species (i.e. the European badger). ConclusionsVariation in the acceptability of and consensus for wild boar and European badger management strategies was considerable, both among and within groups. ImplicationsFindings are a critical guide for the design of a conflict-management process aimed at reaching consensus for proper management strategies. This would allow for the successful management of human conflicts over wildlife.

ACS Style

Vasileios J. Kontsiotis; Georgios Vadikolios; Vasilios Liordos. Acceptability and consensus for the management of game and non-game crop raiders. Wildlife Research 2020, 47, 296 .

AMA Style

Vasileios J. Kontsiotis, Georgios Vadikolios, Vasilios Liordos. Acceptability and consensus for the management of game and non-game crop raiders. Wildlife Research. 2020; 47 (4):296.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasileios J. Kontsiotis; Georgios Vadikolios; Vasilios Liordos. 2020. "Acceptability and consensus for the management of game and non-game crop raiders." Wildlife Research 47, no. 4: 296.

Journal article
Published: 16 August 2019 in Western North American Naturalist
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The protection of riparian zones is critical for biodiversity conservation. The exclusion of human activities and invasive nonnative fish species have been used as measures to protect vulnerable native fish populations in Bonita Creek, Graham County, Arizona. The abundance of 5 native fish species, during 2005–2016, and mesohabitat proportions, during 2011–2016, were estimated at 4 sites to assess the effectiveness of these conservation measures. Interannual variation in numbers was high for all the species, with the speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) being the most abundant. The speckled dace significantly increased at one of the sites; the Sonora sucker (Catostomus insignis) significantly decreased at 2 sites; and the longfin dace (Agosia chrysogaster), the desert sucker (Catostomus clarkii), and the Gila chub (Gila intermedia) populations did not display any significant trend. Correlations between fish abundance and mesohabitat proportions were highly variable but mostly nonsignificant. These results suggested that conservation efforts contributed to the stabilization of native fish populations. However, current trends and especially the partial decline of the Sonora sucker emphasized the need for further monitoring and research that would allow managers to better understand fish population dynamics and ecology and ultimately achieve the full recovery and conservation of native fish populations and their habitats.

ACS Style

George N. Zaimes; David Arthun; Vasilios Liordos. Population Trends of the Native Fish Assemblage in Bonita Creek, Arizona, USA. Western North American Naturalist 2019, 79, 394 -402.

AMA Style

George N. Zaimes, David Arthun, Vasilios Liordos. Population Trends of the Native Fish Assemblage in Bonita Creek, Arizona, USA. Western North American Naturalist. 2019; 79 (3):394-402.

Chicago/Turabian Style

George N. Zaimes; David Arthun; Vasilios Liordos. 2019. "Population Trends of the Native Fish Assemblage in Bonita Creek, Arizona, USA." Western North American Naturalist 79, no. 3: 394-402.

Articles
Published: 27 May 2019 in Human Dimensions of Wildlife
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Understanding public preferences is necessary for managing conservation conflicts. We used a face-to-face survey of 514 Greek residents to investigate preferences for managing damage to fish stocks by the endangered Eurasian otter. Similarities in acceptability and consensus were higher between the general public and recreational fishers, and lower between these groups and commercial fishers. Commercial fishers were proponents of management interventions, whereas the general public and recreational fishers were neutral. Compensation was preferred by all stakeholders, but fencing was favored only by commercial fishers. More invasive approaches were largely rejected, whereas increased factual knowledge about otter biology, taxonomy, and conservation increased the acceptability of noninvasive approaches. These findings could be used for informing the process of managing conflict between otter conservation and fisher interests aiming to achieve the long-term protection of otter populations and mitigating their potential impacts on fisheries and livelihoods.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios Kontsiotis; Charalambos Nevolianis; Christina Emmanouela Nikolopoulou. Stakeholder preferences and consensus associated with managing an endangered aquatic predator: the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). Human Dimensions of Wildlife 2019, 24, 446 -462.

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Vasileios Kontsiotis, Charalambos Nevolianis, Christina Emmanouela Nikolopoulou. Stakeholder preferences and consensus associated with managing an endangered aquatic predator: the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). Human Dimensions of Wildlife. 2019; 24 (5):446-462.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios Kontsiotis; Charalambos Nevolianis; Christina Emmanouela Nikolopoulou. 2019. "Stakeholder preferences and consensus associated with managing an endangered aquatic predator: the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)." Human Dimensions of Wildlife 24, no. 5: 446-462.

Journal article
Published: 15 January 2019 in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
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As rates of urbanization are increasing, knowledge of the ecology of bird communities and how they vary in transition zones between natural and urban areas would provide critical data to help enhance bird diversity. The organization and differentiation of breeding bird communities were studied in the peri-urban forest, forest ecotone and urban greenspaces of a small coastal Mediterranean city (Kavala, Greece). A total of 49 species, 12 threatened within Europe, were observed; 32 in urban greenspaces, 42 in the ecotone and 39 in the peri-urban forest. Overall abundance was higher and evenness lower in the city than the ecotone and the forest. Species richness was lower in the city than the ecotone. Ordination indicated significant differentiation among communities, with similarity being higher between the forest and the ecotone and lower between the city and the forest. Indicator species analysis determined 14 indicator species; 5 of urban greenspaces (urban dwellers), 1 of the forest ecotone (urban avoider), 1 of the peri-urban forest (avoider), 2 of the city and the ecotone (dwellers/utilizers) and 5 of the forest and the ecotone (avoiders). Urban dwellers accounted for 68% of the total abundance of urban greenspaces, however homogenization was counterbalanced by the influx of forest species (urban utilizers). Results revealed the diversity, structure and important associations of urban and peri-urban bird communities. Urban plans should incorporate measures to provide suitable breeding habitat to both threatened urban dwellers and forest species to enhance their populations, thus increasing biodiversity and promoting the well-being of urban residents.

ACS Style

Vasileios J. Kontsiotis; Evangelos Valsamidis; Vasilios Liordos. Organization and differentiation of breeding bird communities across a forested to urban landscape. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2019, 38, 242 -250.

AMA Style

Vasileios J. Kontsiotis, Evangelos Valsamidis, Vasilios Liordos. Organization and differentiation of breeding bird communities across a forested to urban landscape. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 2019; 38 ():242-250.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasileios J. Kontsiotis; Evangelos Valsamidis; Vasilios Liordos. 2019. "Organization and differentiation of breeding bird communities across a forested to urban landscape." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 38, no. : 242-250.

Journal article
Published: 18 August 2018 in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
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Knowledge of habitat preferences is critical for understanding the needs of and interactions among sympatric avian species and for implementing successful management and conservation projects. The common buzzard, western marsh harrier, hen harrier and black kite are the commonest raptors of Greece during the non-breeding season. Therefore, the availability, use and selection of cover types by these foraging raptors were recorded in the Evros Delta, Greece, along a 40-km x 1-km road transect, using the road transect method. A total of 14 surveys (2–4 a month) were conducted during the non-breeding season, from November 2002 to March 2003. Eight cover types were identified within the transect, with agricultural land being the most abundant, followed by saltmarshes, freshwater marshes and lagoons. Each raptor species was more likely to use one or more cover types more than expected and other types less than expected. Overlap in cover type use was higher between common buzzards, western marsh harriers and black kites, and lower between these species and hen harriers. Common buzzards more strongly selected freshwater marshes, rivers and canals, grassland and reedbeds as foraging habitats. Foraging western marsh harriers more strongly selected reedbeds, freshwater marshes and saltpans, hen harriers mostly preferred grassland and saltmarshes, whereas black kites showed a strong selection for rivers and canals, freshwater marshes and reedbeds. Analysis revealed preferences, similarities and differences in habitat use and selection among four diurnal medium-sized raptors across the Evros Delta. Particularities in habitat preferences by raptors suggested that they were adapted to the available features in this area. This study provided important information on the foraging behavior of raptor species that could help assess the importance of certain sites and habitats and improve management strategies to benefit birds.

ACS Style

Ekaterini Bobola; Vassilis Goutner; Vasilios Liordos; Ekarerini Bobola. Foraging habitat selection and differentiation among coexisting raptors across an estuarine landscape (Evros Delta, northern Greece). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 2018, 213, 108 -114.

AMA Style

Ekaterini Bobola, Vassilis Goutner, Vasilios Liordos, Ekarerini Bobola. Foraging habitat selection and differentiation among coexisting raptors across an estuarine landscape (Evros Delta, northern Greece). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 2018; 213 ():108-114.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ekaterini Bobola; Vassilis Goutner; Vasilios Liordos; Ekarerini Bobola. 2018. "Foraging habitat selection and differentiation among coexisting raptors across an estuarine landscape (Evros Delta, northern Greece)." Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 213, no. : 108-114.

Journal article
Published: 15 June 2018 in Mammalia
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European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus) have been recently recognized as serious crop pests on Lemnos Island, Greece. With an aim to understand the population dynamics, rabbit reproduction was studied in relation to environmental and intrinsic factors, by a postmortem examination of 273 adults (162 males, 111 females), collected from February 2007 to January 2008. Reproductive activity peaked in the spring and was higher in agricultural than in phryganic habitats for females [pregnant: agricultural 74.5%, phryganic 54.0%, p=0.041; average number of implanted embryos: agricultural 5.56±0.21 standard error (SE), phryganic 4.07±0.21 SE, p=0.0002], but not for males (fertile: agricultural 38.8%, phryganic 31.2%, p=0.308). Classification tree models included explanatory variables with monthly time lags to detect important effects. The male reproductive status (i.e. proportion fertile) was favored by a low maximum temperature in the sampling month (14.2% crude protein, CP), good body condition and low mean temperature (86.8%) at conception. Vegetation quality higher than 10.9% CP resulted in a medium to high number of implanted embryos (2 months time lag), further determined by a high vegetation cover (>90.8%; 2 months time lag) and a low population density (−1). The results identified temperature and habitat quality as prime drivers of reproduction, and ultimately population dynamics. Such information could prove useful for successful rabbit management on Lemnos and other similar areas.

ACS Style

Vasileios Kontsiotis; Panteleimon Xofis; Vasilios Liordos; Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis. Effects of environmental and intrinsic factors on the reproduction of insular European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus Linnaeus 1758). Mammalia 2018, 83, 134 -143.

AMA Style

Vasileios Kontsiotis, Panteleimon Xofis, Vasilios Liordos, Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis. Effects of environmental and intrinsic factors on the reproduction of insular European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus Linnaeus 1758). Mammalia. 2018; 83 (2):134-143.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasileios Kontsiotis; Panteleimon Xofis; Vasilios Liordos; Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis. 2018. "Effects of environmental and intrinsic factors on the reproduction of insular European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus Linnaeus 1758)." Mammalia 83, no. 2: 134-143.

Journal article
Published: 01 April 2018 in Science of The Total Environment
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Snakes are controversial animals, therefore a better understanding of public attitudes is critical for their effective protection and future survival. The attitudes towards snakes of 951 adults in Greece were investigated in personal interviews. Factor analysis revealed a dual mode of attitudes: respondents were highly intolerant of snakes, while they supported their conservation at the same time. Respondents had high knowledge about the behavior of snakes, medium knowledge of their biology and were strongly affected by folklore. Structural models revealed that tolerance was a positive mediator of conservation. Knowledge about snake behavior and biology was positively correlated with attitudes towards snakes. Moralistic and naturalistic attitudes were positively, and dominionistic attitudes negatively, correlated with snake tolerance and conservation attitudes. Younger, more educated people were more snake-tolerant than older, less educated people. Females were less snake-tolerant and more conservation-oriented than males. These findings increased the understanding of human attitudes towards snakes and helped identify factors critical for their conservation. As such they could be used to design environmental education programs incorporating both information-based and experiential activities that will improve attitudes, behaviors and, eventually, the chances for the survival of these uncharismatic animals.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios Kontsiotis; Spyridon Kokoris; Michaela Pimenidou. The two faces of Janus, or the dual mode of public attitudes towards snakes. Science of The Total Environment 2018, 621, 670 -678.

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Vasileios Kontsiotis, Spyridon Kokoris, Michaela Pimenidou. The two faces of Janus, or the dual mode of public attitudes towards snakes. Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 621 ():670-678.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios Kontsiotis; Spyridon Kokoris; Michaela Pimenidou. 2018. "The two faces of Janus, or the dual mode of public attitudes towards snakes." Science of The Total Environment 621, no. : 670-678.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2017 in Science of The Total Environment
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It is critical for managers to understand how attitudes and demography affect public's preferences for species protection for designing successful conservation projects. 1080 adults in Greece were asked to rate pictures of 12 endangered species on aesthetic and negativistic attitudes, and intention to support their conservation. Factor analysis identified a group of animals for which respondents indicated high levels of support for their conservation (red deer, loggerhead sea turtle, brown bear, common pheasant, European ground squirrel, glossy ibis) and a group of animals for which respondents indicated low levels of support (black vulture, great white shark, fire-bellied toad, western barbastelle, Cretan tube web spider, Milos viper). The species that received the highest support were also rated as the most attractive and safest, excluding the fearsome brown bear. Structural models revealed that aesthetic, moralistic and negativistic attitudes were the stronger predictors of support. Aesthetic and moralistic attitudes were positively, and negativistic attitudes negatively, correlated with support for conservation in both groups. Consumptive users scored lower in aesthetics and were less supportive of protection in the high support group, while nonconsumptive users showed the opposite trend. Respondents residing in urban areas deemed animals of high support more attractive and less fearsome and were more supportive of conservation than rural residents in both groups. Females of higher education viewed animals of low support as fearsome, however they supported their conservation. Our study identified popular species that can be used as flagship species to facilitate the implementation of conservation projects. The results of this study could also be used to design a communication and outreach campaign to raise awareness about the ecosystem value of less attractive species.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios Kontsiotis; Magdalini Anastasiadou; Efstathios Karavasias. Effects of attitudes and demography on public support for endangered species conservation. Science of The Total Environment 2017, 595, 25 -34.

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Vasileios Kontsiotis, Magdalini Anastasiadou, Efstathios Karavasias. Effects of attitudes and demography on public support for endangered species conservation. Science of The Total Environment. 2017; 595 ():25-34.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios Kontsiotis; Magdalini Anastasiadou; Efstathios Karavasias. 2017. "Effects of attitudes and demography on public support for endangered species conservation." Science of The Total Environment 595, no. : 25-34.

Journal article
Published: 19 April 2017 in Mammalia
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European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are prolific herbivores, affecting natural and agricultural ecosystems. We installed 10 experimental units, each consisting of two fenced plots, one excluding all herbivores and one allowing rabbit access only, to estimate the impact of rabbit grazing in three vegetation types occurring in two dominant habitat types on Lemnos Island, Greece. Plant productivity was significantly higher in barley crops than on both fallow land and Mediterranean scrublands. Rabbit grazing caused significant reduction of productivity in barley crops and Mediterranean scrublands, but not on fallow land. Selective feeding and seasonal food availability may have shaped patterns of rabbit impact.

ACS Style

Vasileios J. Kontsiotis; Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis; Vasilios Liordos. Impact of European wild rabbits foraging in different habitat and vegetation types in an insular environment. Mammalia 2017, 82, 193 -196.

AMA Style

Vasileios J. Kontsiotis, Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis, Vasilios Liordos. Impact of European wild rabbits foraging in different habitat and vegetation types in an insular environment. Mammalia. 2017; 82 (2):193-196.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasileios J. Kontsiotis; Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis; Vasilios Liordos. 2017. "Impact of European wild rabbits foraging in different habitat and vegetation types in an insular environment." Mammalia 82, no. 2: 193-196.

Journal article
Published: 01 February 2017 in Science of The Total Environment
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Wildlife management seeks to minimise public controversy for successful application of wildlife control methods. Human dimensions research in wildlife seeks a better understanding of public preferences for effective human-wildlife conflict resolution. In face to face interviews, 630 adults in Greece were asked to rate on a 5-point Likert-like scale their acceptance of 3 management methods, i.e., do nothing, non-lethal control, and lethal control, in the context of 5 human-wildlife conflict scenarios: 1) corvids damage crops; 2) starlings damage crops; 3) starlings foul urban structures; 4) coypus damage crops; and 5) coypus transfer disease. Univariate GLMs determined occupation, hunting membership and their interaction as the stronger predictors of public acceptance, generating 4 stakeholder groups: the general public, farmers, hunters, and farmers-hunters. Differences in acceptance and consensus among stakeholder groups were assessed using the Potential for Conflict Index (PCI). All 4 stakeholder groups agreed that doing nothing was unacceptable and non-lethal control acceptable in all 5 scenarios, with generally high consensus within and between groups. The lethal control method was more controversial and became increasingly more acceptable as the severity of scenarios was increased and between non-native and native species. Lethal control was unacceptable for the general public in all scenarios. Farmers accepted lethal methods in the corvids and starlings scenarios, were neutral in the coypus damage crops scenario, whereas they accepted lethal control when coypus transfer disease. Hunters' opinion was neutral in the corvids, starlings and coypus damage crops and starlings foul urban structures scenarios, but they accepted lethal methods in the coypus transfer disease scenario. Farmers-hunters considered lethal control acceptable in all 5 scenarios. Implications from this study could be used for designing a socio-ecological approach which incorporates wildlife management with public interests. The studied species have a wide distribution, therefore present findings might also prove useful elsewhere.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios Kontsiotis; Marina Georgari; Kerasia Baltzi; Ioanna Baltzi. Public acceptance of management methods under different human–wildlife conflict scenarios. Science of The Total Environment 2017, 579, 685 -693.

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Vasileios Kontsiotis, Marina Georgari, Kerasia Baltzi, Ioanna Baltzi. Public acceptance of management methods under different human–wildlife conflict scenarios. Science of The Total Environment. 2017; 579 ():685-693.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Vasileios Kontsiotis; Marina Georgari; Kerasia Baltzi; Ioanna Baltzi. 2017. "Public acceptance of management methods under different human–wildlife conflict scenarios." Science of The Total Environment 579, no. : 685-693.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2017 in The European Zoological Journal
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ACS Style

S. Braziotis; V. Liordos; Dimitrios Bakaloudis; V. Goutner; M. A. Papakosta; C. G. Vlachos. Patterns of postnatal growth in a small falcon, the lesser kestrel Falco naumanni (Fleischer, 1818) (Aves: Falconidae). The European Zoological Journal 2017, 84, 277 -285.

AMA Style

S. Braziotis, V. Liordos, Dimitrios Bakaloudis, V. Goutner, M. A. Papakosta, C. G. Vlachos. Patterns of postnatal growth in a small falcon, the lesser kestrel Falco naumanni (Fleischer, 1818) (Aves: Falconidae). The European Zoological Journal. 2017; 84 (1):277-285.

Chicago/Turabian Style

S. Braziotis; V. Liordos; Dimitrios Bakaloudis; V. Goutner; M. A. Papakosta; C. G. Vlachos. 2017. "Patterns of postnatal growth in a small falcon, the lesser kestrel Falco naumanni (Fleischer, 1818) (Aves: Falconidae)." The European Zoological Journal 84, no. 1: 277-285.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2015 in Waterbirds
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Vasilios Liordos; Alan W. Lauder. Factors Affecting Nest Success of Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) Nesting in Association with Black-Headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) at Loch Leven, Scotland. Waterbirds 2015, 38, 208 -213.

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos, Alan W. Lauder. Factors Affecting Nest Success of Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) Nesting in Association with Black-Headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) at Loch Leven, Scotland. Waterbirds. 2015; 38 (2):208-213.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos; Alan W. Lauder. 2015. "Factors Affecting Nest Success of Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) Nesting in Association with Black-Headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) at Loch Leven, Scotland." Waterbirds 38, no. 2: 208-213.

Journal article
Published: 25 September 2014 in Zoology and Ecology
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ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos. Sociodemographic analysis of hunters’ preferences: a Greek Hunting Club perspective. Zoology and Ecology 2014, 24, 389 -396.

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos. Sociodemographic analysis of hunters’ preferences: a Greek Hunting Club perspective. Zoology and Ecology. 2014; 24 (4):389-396.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos. 2014. "Sociodemographic analysis of hunters’ preferences: a Greek Hunting Club perspective." Zoology and Ecology 24, no. 4: 389-396.

Journal article
Published: 23 May 2014 in European Journal of Wildlife Research
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The membership trends and attitudes of a Greek hunting community, the Megara Hunting Club, were determined through the analysis of 408 questionnaires. The number of hunting licences increased from 2003 to 2008, decreasing thereafter, mostly because a proportion of hunters holding a national licence quit hunting. This was in agreement with the onset of the national debt crisis and the concurrent decrease of the gross domestic product. Factor analysis revealed that hunters rather agreed that a ‘systemic’ (mean score 3.48) and rather disagreed that a ‘legal’ (2.59) factor negatively affected the practice of hunting, while they agreed that a ‘game status’ factor (4.06) was important. In particular, they contended that improved hunting administration and stakeholder collaboration are needed (systemic dimension), and game populations have declined due to anthropogenic activities such as illegal hunting, pollution, habitat loss and climate change (game status dimension). Findings suggest that, in the light of the ongoing economic crisis, immediate action should be taken toward the retention of hunters and protection and enhancement of game, through the application of appropriate policy and management measures.

ACS Style

Vasilios Liordos. Membership trends and attitudes of a Greek hunting community. European Journal of Wildlife Research 2014, 60, 821 -826.

AMA Style

Vasilios Liordos. Membership trends and attitudes of a Greek hunting community. European Journal of Wildlife Research. 2014; 60 (5):821-826.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vasilios Liordos. 2014. "Membership trends and attitudes of a Greek hunting community." European Journal of Wildlife Research 60, no. 5: 821-826.