Assessment of Two Adjacent Mountainous Riparian Areas along Nestos River Tributaries of Greece
The riparian areas of the Mediterranean are unique but face many pressures from anthropogenic and climate change impacts. They have very rich and diverse plant communities as a result of the dynamic fluvio-geomorphologic conditions of the Mediterranean streams. In this study, the riparian areas of t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/9/1284 |
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| author | George N. Zaimes Valasia Iakovoglou Dimitrios Syropoulos Dimitrios Kaltsas Dimitrios Avtzis |
| author_facet | George N. Zaimes Valasia Iakovoglou Dimitrios Syropoulos Dimitrios Kaltsas Dimitrios Avtzis |
| author_sort | George N. Zaimes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The riparian areas of the Mediterranean are unique but face many pressures from anthropogenic and climate change impacts. They have very rich and diverse plant communities as a result of the dynamic fluvio-geomorphologic conditions of the Mediterranean streams. In this study, the riparian areas of two adjacent mountainous tributaries (Arkoudorema and Vathirema) of the Nestos River were studied. To assess the condition of riparian areas holistically, diverse measurements are required. This is why fluvio-geomorphologic (in the field and with GIS), vegetation (surveys and visual protocols) and ground-dwelling insect (pitfall traps and indices) measurements were taken along an elevational gradient. The results of all three methodologies draw to similar conclusions, with Vathirema sub-watershed riparian areas being in better condition than Arkoudoreama. This was expected, since Vathirema has less anthropogenic pressures. In addition, the riparian areas in higher elevations were in better condition for the same reason. To implement integrated water resources management plans, fluvio-geomorphologic and biological (e.g., vegetation and insects) datasets are required to provide a holistic view on the watershed and riparian area conditions. For the studied sub-watersheds, we recommend these measurements to continue, to record the current anthropogenic pressures and based on this information to suggest best management practices that will secure long-term sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:39:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-494a7fa2c1a64bbe9ebf16947db502d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:39:30Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-494a7fa2c1a64bbe9ebf16947db502d62023-11-22T13:08:51ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-09-01129128410.3390/f12091284Assessment of Two Adjacent Mountainous Riparian Areas along Nestos River Tributaries of GreeceGeorge N. Zaimes0Valasia Iakovoglou1Dimitrios Syropoulos2Dimitrios Kaltsas3Dimitrios Avtzis4UNESCO Chair Con-E-Ect, Department of Forest and Natural Environment Science, International Hellenic University, 1st km Drama-Mikrohoriou, 66100 Drama, GreeceUNESCO Chair Con-E-Ect, Department of Forest and Natural Environment Science, International Hellenic University, 1st km Drama-Mikrohoriou, 66100 Drama, GreeceMinistry of Rural Development and Food, 65404 Kavala, GreeceResearcher, Don Daleziou 45, 38221 Volos, GreeceForest Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 57006 Thessaloniki, GreeceThe riparian areas of the Mediterranean are unique but face many pressures from anthropogenic and climate change impacts. They have very rich and diverse plant communities as a result of the dynamic fluvio-geomorphologic conditions of the Mediterranean streams. In this study, the riparian areas of two adjacent mountainous tributaries (Arkoudorema and Vathirema) of the Nestos River were studied. To assess the condition of riparian areas holistically, diverse measurements are required. This is why fluvio-geomorphologic (in the field and with GIS), vegetation (surveys and visual protocols) and ground-dwelling insect (pitfall traps and indices) measurements were taken along an elevational gradient. The results of all three methodologies draw to similar conclusions, with Vathirema sub-watershed riparian areas being in better condition than Arkoudoreama. This was expected, since Vathirema has less anthropogenic pressures. In addition, the riparian areas in higher elevations were in better condition for the same reason. To implement integrated water resources management plans, fluvio-geomorphologic and biological (e.g., vegetation and insects) datasets are required to provide a holistic view on the watershed and riparian area conditions. For the studied sub-watersheds, we recommend these measurements to continue, to record the current anthropogenic pressures and based on this information to suggest best management practices that will secure long-term sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/9/1284visual protocolsfluvial geomorphologyground-dwelling insectsdiversity indicesriparian areasmountainous regions |
| spellingShingle | George N. Zaimes Valasia Iakovoglou Dimitrios Syropoulos Dimitrios Kaltsas Dimitrios Avtzis Assessment of Two Adjacent Mountainous Riparian Areas along Nestos River Tributaries of Greece Forests visual protocols fluvial geomorphology ground-dwelling insects diversity indices riparian areas mountainous regions |
| title | Assessment of Two Adjacent Mountainous Riparian Areas along Nestos River Tributaries of Greece |
| title_full | Assessment of Two Adjacent Mountainous Riparian Areas along Nestos River Tributaries of Greece |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Two Adjacent Mountainous Riparian Areas along Nestos River Tributaries of Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Two Adjacent Mountainous Riparian Areas along Nestos River Tributaries of Greece |
| title_short | Assessment of Two Adjacent Mountainous Riparian Areas along Nestos River Tributaries of Greece |
| title_sort | assessment of two adjacent mountainous riparian areas along nestos river tributaries of greece |
| topic | visual protocols fluvial geomorphology ground-dwelling insects diversity indices riparian areas mountainous regions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/9/1284 |
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