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| Identifier |
000374916 |
| Title |
Στοιχεία οικολογίας χερσαίων γαστερόποδων κατά μήκος του υψομετρικού κλινούς σε δύο ορεινούς όγκους της Κρήτης / Γεωργαντής Παναγιώτης. |
| Alternative Title |
Ecology of land gastropods, along an elevation gradient in two mountains of Crete |
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Author
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Γεωργαντής, Παναγιώτης
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Thesis advisor
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Μυλωνάς, Μωυσής
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Reviewer
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Πουλακάκης, Νικόλαος
Βαρδινογιάννη, Κατερίνα
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| Abstract |
The study of different ecological aspects along an altitudinal gradient has become a hotspot of biological research in the last years. The purpose of this study is to study the changes in species richness and faunal composition of terrestrial molluscs and their activity patterns along an altitudinal gradient on two mountains of Crete (Lefka Ori and Dikti). Four stations have been set up, on each mountain. Each station was visited monthly from August 2008 to June 2009 collecting land snails and observing the activity of each species. On each station we installed data loggers for temperature and humidity throughout our study.
From the results of our study we observe a gradual decline of species richness as we move higher on Lefka Ori mt. This declination is being attributed to the adversity of environmental condition being observed on highlands. On the other hand on Dikti mt. a mid-domain increase of species richness has been observed. This is due to the strong human impact on the middle altitude station (nearby cultivations) and to the protection they offer from extreme weather conditions.
Gradual increase of the endemism has been noted as we move higher on both mountains. The same pattern has been noticed in all the studies carried out in Greece. MDS analysis depending on their faunal composition has grouped our stations in three clusters. A group of lower stations, characterized by lowland Mediterranean species - a second one with the mid-domain stations and a transitional faunal character and finally a third one with the higher stations.
In lowlands the activity level observation indicate winter months as the most active. In highlands this trend changes and we have a small increase in active species during late autumn and another on during early spring. More species are active during low temperatures seems to create the conditions for more species to activate (but not less than 5 οC). Also the increase of humidity creates the same effect.
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| Language |
Greek |
| Subject |
Altitude |
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Κρήτη |
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Υψόμετρο |
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Χερσαία γαστερόποδα |
| Issue date |
2012-07-20 |
| Collection
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School/Department--School of Sciences and Engineering--Department of Biology--Post-graduate theses
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Type of Work--Post-graduate theses
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| Views |
308 |
Στοιχεία οικολογίας χερσαίων γαστερόποδων κατά μήκος του υψομετρικού κλινούς σε δύο ορεινούς όγκους της Κρήτης / Γεωργαντής Παναγιώτης.
