Deliverable No 3.2.3.: Research on Correlation between Bats and Mosquitoes In the frame of project: “Sustainable bats conservation in the cross border area” 1846 BatsConserve Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 2017 Deliverable 3.2.3. Research on Correlation between Bats and Mosquitoes Project co-funded by the European Union and National Funds of the participating countries *The contents of this publication are sole responsibility of project partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union, the participating countries, the Managing Authority and the Joint Secretariat. AREA OF RESEARCH GENERAL INFORMATION Nestos River is one of the most important rivers in Greece. Its sources located in Rila Mountain in southern Bulgaria between the mountain ranges of Aigas and Rhodopi. Its total length is 243 km of which about 130 km flow through Greece. Climatic conditions, the basin of the area and the presence of water have created suitable conditions for the development of different species of biotopes with significant biodiversity, hosting numerous plant and fauna species. The area of research concerns the Nestos valley, which covers over a million acres and is protected by the European Natura 2000 Network, as a Special Protection Area (SPA) with the site code “GR1140008”, concerning central Rhodope mountain range. In addition, the research area includes the protected site of Nestos river, designated as a Special Area of Conservation with the code “GR1120004” as well as Aesthetic Forest with the code “GR1120005”. The organizations that are responsible for the site management are the Forest Service of Xanthi and the body management of Rhodope mountain range, while 39.000 acres of its total area are Wildlife Refuge (Aetorachi/Paranesti), 22.000 acres consists of the forest complex of Karyofyto, 9.030 acres are also Wildlife Refuge (Tsanaktere/Karyofyto), 5.500 acres of the total area were designated as a Natural Monument (Virgin Forest of Central Rhodope), 5.500 acres are Biogenetic Reserve (European Council) and 5.690 acres of its total area are designated as a Special Protection Area with the site code “GR1140008”. The northern part of the region is a virgin forest of national and European importance, while the southeast part is a forest with Fagus sylvatica (Beech), Abies alba (White Fir) and Picea abies (Spruce). The area is extremely important for large mammals and predators and is the only place in Greece for endangered species like Tetrao urogallus (capercaillie) and perhaps the Tetrastes bonasia (hazel grouse). Numerous bats such as Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Nyctalus noctula, Tadarida teniotis and various species of Myotis and Pipistrellus have also been recorded. In addition, there is a wide variety of woodpeckers, while the very rare Lynx lynx probably lives in the area. Reptiles of the area include Vipera Berus (Astritis) which is also rare in Greece. The wildlife is seriously threatened by hunting and poaching, although hunting is officially forbidden in most places of the wider area. At the same time, there is intense forest exploitation and intensive grazing. Deliverable 3.2.3. Research on Correlation between Bats and Mosquitoes Project co-funded by the European Union and National Funds of the participating countries *The contents of this publication are sole responsibility of project partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union, the participating countries, the Managing Authority and the Joint Secretariat. MARONIA Maronia is a village of Rhodopi Prefecture, located 29 km southeast of Komotini. It is located near the homonymous ancient city and belongs to the municipality of Maronia-Sapes which is based in Sapes. The most important ecological features of the area include the Maronia-Makris rift and the Maronia Cave. The cave is approximately 350m long and 15-20m wide while being protected as an archaeological site. It is closed to the public and is only available for scientific research. Inside the cave there are stalactites and stalagmites as well as rare fauna, concerning 10 out of the 300 European bat species. Archaeological excavations have revealed ceramic objects indicating that the cave was inhabited during the Neolithic period. The phosphorus-rich droppings of bats (bat guano) were the object of a commercial transaction by the inhabitants of the wider region until the WWII. In the area of Marmaritsa the rift (Maronia-Makris Rift) has a direction of 110-120 ° and a slope of 60-70 ° southwest, a visible elevation of 5m and the rest is submerged in the sea. The sampling sites selected in the wider region had slopes of 5-15% and 35-40%, with west and south to southwest exposure (in only one occasion the exposure was W-NW) with sandy to loamy and shallow to moderately deep and cool soils (in only one occasion soil was very shallow and dry). The subsoil vegetation consisted of plant species such as Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromus sterilis, Cichorium intybus, Dactylis glomerata, Poa sp., Rosa canina, Rubus canescens, Erica manipuliflora, E. arborea, Platango sp. Hypericum triquetrifolium, Urtica dioica etc. Some of the main forest species were Quercus coccifera, Vitex agnus-castus, Cercis siliquastrum, Quercus ilex, Platanus orientalis, Phillyrea latifolia, Populus nigra, Paliurus spina-cristi, Arbutus andrachne, Fraxinus angustifolia. ILIOPETRA (KOJA ORMAN) Iliopetra is a village in the municipality of Topiros and is administratively part of the prefecture of Xanthi. Geographically, it is in the wider area of the valley that forms the Nestos Delta and within walking distance (3 km) of the Koja Orman Forest or Great Forest which is a natural landscape of invaluable ecological value and beauty. It was once one of the largest riparian forests of Europe, since the "50s there had been recorded 74,000 acres. However, in 1946, 54,000 acres were out of it and given to farmers for cultivation, leaving a small part, which the Forest Service of Kavala is trying to preserve by fencing perimeter stretches of land and prohibiting any human activity. The vegetation is dominated by willows, alders, oaks, elms, factions and creepers (hops, ivy, etc.), while there are several abandoned plantations of Populus xcanadensis and Robinia pseudoacacia. Several species of wildlife are recording such as wild boars, jackals, foxes, deers, hares, badgers and the only wild pheasant population of kolchikos pheasant in Europe. In addition, from February Deliverable 3.2.3. Research on Correlation between Bats and Mosquitoes Project co-funded by the European Union and National Funds of the participating countries *The contents of this publication are sole responsibility of project partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union, the participating countries, the Managing Authority and the Joint Secretariat. to April, as well as summer period, Koja Orman is an ideal pasture for bees. The Forest Service in an area of about 15,000 acres cultivated poplars, targeting both in timber production and in the regeneration of the natural riparian forest. Concerning main forest species, the most common are Populus alba, Populus nigra, Melia azedarach (It is known as the most valuable wood in Europe and is the subject of global forest and botanical interest), Ulmus minor, Quercus robur, Acer tataricum, Acer campestre, Alnus glutinosa, Clematis vitalba. THESAURUS DAM The Thesaurus Dam, on the river Nestos, has been built 13 kilometers near Paranesti Drama and at an altitude of 320 m. It is a tall dam (totaling 175 meters-one of Europe's tallest) with impenetrable core of clay and with a useful capacity of 656 million cubic meters of water. The dam started working in 1997 by PPC (Public Power Corporation). It is a multi-purpose pumping-dredging project that meets the irrigation needs of neighboring areas while providing them with flood protection. In addition to reusing the water released from the Treasure Dam, it is possible to pump water from the artificial lake of Platanovrisi to that of the Treasure, a process usually repeated every 24 hours during the night, using excess load (demand). In addition, an important fact is the achievement of a transnational agreement with the Bulgarian side on the effective functioning of the dam system. With this agreement, the Bulgarian side undertook to allow at least 29% of the river water to drain into Greek territory. As a result of the above dam (Thesaurus) is the creation of an artificial lake (Thesaurus Lake), which is monitored by the Special Secretariat of Water - National Water Monitoring Network under water code GR001200030050H and is protected, as well as its wider area of the Nestos Valley by the Natura 2000 network, under the code “GR1140008”. Αs regards flora at the sampling sites, main forest species were Ostrya carpinifolia, Carpinus betulus, Vitex agnus-castus, Paliurus spina-christi, Quercus coccifera, Platanus orientalis, Pinus brutia, Salix sp. etc., as well as other species of the floristic composition like Bromus sterilis, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Geranium sp. Urtica dioica, Euphorbia sp. Galium heldreichi, Dactylis glomerata, Saponaria officinalis etc. STAUROUPOLI Stauroupoli is the ancient city of Dios. It has been named since 1920 and is located 20 km away from Xanthi, at an altidute of 130 m. It is the largest and most important village in the Nestos Valley. The wider area of the Strait of Nestos, in which Stavroupoli geographically belongs, has been designated as Special Protection Area (SPA) under the code “GR1120004” and as aesthetic forest under the code “GR1120005”. It is a broad undisturbed natural area of great ecological value which consists of many types of ecosystems, while it is an extremely important area for predatory Deliverable 3.2.3. Research on Correlation between Bats and Mosquitoes Project co-funded by the European Union and National Funds of the participating countries *The contents of this publication are sole responsibility of project partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union, the participating countries, the Managing Authority and the Joint Secretariat.