Balkan Endemics Research Articles

Verbascum matevskii (Scrophulariaceae), a new species from North Macedonia

Verbascum matevskii is described, and illustrated as species new to science from the northwestern part of Nort Macedonia. It is a distinct species, to some extent similar to the Balkan endemics V. davidoffii, V. durmitoreum and V. epixanthinum var. pindicolum, differing from each of them in several morphologic characteristics. The new species is endemic to the area south of Gostivar, where it occurs very scattered in various mesic habitats in the zone of beech forests. URL: https://www.upjs.sk/pracoviska/botanicka-zahrada/odborne-aktivity/contents-abstracts/

The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central Balkans

Wetland ecosystems are important habitats for the growth and survival of numerous terrestrial orchids in Europe. This study reviews the current knowledge on the orchids of wetland vegetation in the Central Balkans. The orchid flora was analyzed from taxonomic, phytogeographical, ecological and conservation aspects. The most important taxa include the two Balkan endemics (Dactylorhiza cordigera subsp. bosniaca and D. kalopissi subsp. macedonica) and the three subendemics of the Balkans and the Carpathians (Dactylorhiza cordigera subsp. cordigera, D. maculata subsp. transsilvanica and Gymnadenia frivaldii), as well as a considerable number of Central European, Eurasian and boreal orchid representatives. Several orchid taxa occurring in the wet meadows and fens of the Central Balkans have a southern limit of their distribution in this part of Europe, suggesting that wetlands are important refuges for them. In total, 33 orchid taxa were recorded in plant communities from five classes, 10 orders and 17 alliances. Most orchid taxa grow in the following wetland vegetation types: wet meadows (class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, order Molinietalia caeruleae, alliances Molinion caeruleae, Deschampsion cespitosae and Calthion palustris); fens (class Scheuchzerio palustris-Caricetea fuscae, order Caricetalia fuscae, alliance Caricion fuscae); tall-herb vegetation along mountain streams and springs (class Mulgedio-Aconitetea); marshes and herb-land vegetation of freshwater or brackish water bodies (class Phragmito-Magnocaricetea). This study highlights the importance of serpentine and silicate wetland vegetation types as important habitats for the survival of terrestrial orchids. In addition, detailed taxonomic, ecological and chorological studies of the wetland orchids of the Central Balkans need to be carried out in order to establish a successful plan for their conservation.

Essential oil composition of Pinus heldreichii Christ., P. peuce Griseb., and P. mugo Turra as a function of hydrodistillation time and evaluation of its antimicrobial activity

Pinus heldreichii and P. peuce are Balkan endemics, Tertiary relicts, while Pinus mugo is an edificator in the phytocenoses in the Alpine mountain range. The chemical profile and essential oil (EO) yield and composition of these three species as a function of distillation time (DT) was the subject of this study. The working hypothesis was that EO of P. heldreichii, P. peuce and P. mugo would produce EO with dissimilar composition and antimicrobial activity at different DT. The EO yields in the controls were 0.4% for P. heldreichii, 1.3% for P. peuce and 1.08% for P. mugo. During the first 0–15 min interval of the distillation, up to 70% of the total EO was extracted in P. heldreichii, 53.85% in P. peuce and 54.63% in P. mugo. Overall, the EO of the three species had relatively constant compositional profile at the different DTs, which contradicts the working hypothesis. Most of the quantitative differences in the main components were determined. The EO obtained from 0 to 15 min DT interval had the following major compounds: limonene (76.9%−77.0%) and α-pinene (12.47%−15.54%) in P. heldreichii; α-рinene (34.26–43.75%), limonene (19.2%−22.2%), and β-рinene (9.24%−11.48%) in P. peuce; and α-pinene (16.48%−17.84%), α-phellandrene (23.06–23.76%), and β-phellandrene (28.12%−28.79%) in P. mugo. The obtained results of EO from the three studied species are a prerequisite for obtaining EO with a certain, desired composition while reducing the distillation duration and saving energy and time. The tested EOs demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli.

Thirty-two new and noteworthy floristic records from north-eastern Greece.

BackgroundThe vascular flora of Greece comprises no less than 6,705 vascular plant taxa (species and subspecies, including established aliens) in an area of 131,957 km2. The phytogeographic region of north-east Greece (NE), an area characterised by physiographic diversity, is the richest floristic region in Greece, yet it remains less-explored compared to other regions.New informationWe present an annotated inventory of 32 vascular plant taxa collected predominantly from the East Macedonia and Thrace Regions (Makedonia and Thraki, NE Greece), following fieldwork that took place between 2013 and 2021. In our results, we identify seven new additions to the Greek flora (Aethionemasaxatilesubsp.rhodopaeum, Anthericumramosum, Asteramellus, Euphorbiacarniolica, Hesperismatronalissubsp.matronalis, Saponariastranjensis and Silenefetlerii) and 25 new records to the regional Greek flora consisting of mostly rare Balkan endemics of a restricted distribution and presumable conservation priorities. Taxonomic comments are added, where necessary. IUCN threat categories are assigned to certain taxa. Our investigation highlights the importance of the Balkan border areas as a source of new floristic elements for single countries and points to the importance of range-restricted taxa, in addition to single-country endemics, to address plants with a narrow distribution pattern.

First Survey of the Vascular and Cryptogam Flora on Bulgaria's Ancient Mounds.

This work represents the first study of the floristic diversity on Bulgaria’s ancient mounds. The objective of this research was to assess the importance of the mounds for the preservation of the native vascular and cryptogam flora. Our sampling design included 111 ancient mounds distributed throughout the country. We recorded a total of 1059 vascular plants, 58 bryophytes and 61 lichen taxa. Despite their small area, the mounds were shown to preserve nearly a quarter of the Bulgarian flora. The vegetation cover on the mounds included 61% perennials indicating a long-term persistence and stability. The majority (98%) of the established vascular plants were native species. Although the conservation significance of the vascular plant species were not common, we recorded 2 critically endangered, 9 endangered and 14 Balkan endemics during the present study. The lichen Arthopyrenia salicis was recorded for the first time in Bulgaria and a new locality of the rare bryophyte Ceratodon conicus was discovered. The established compositional difference between plots from the northern and southern slopes of the mounds (88.95%) is a testament to the high local habitat diversity. The prevalence of species characteristic for Festuco-Brometea suggests that the mounds preserve fragments of native grasslands and steppes. The variation in cover of agricultural and other human modified areas in the mounds’ immediate surroundings did not substantially affect their species richness. We argue that the ancient mounds should be taken into consideration in future green space planning.

Endemic plants in the flora of Shutman (Sharri Mountain), Kosovo – an analysis of phytogeographical elements and life forms

This paper aims to present the diversity of endemic plants in the Shutman area and an analysis of chorological groups and life forms. The flora of Shutman comprises 31 endemic plant species. Among them, there are 20 Balkan endemics, 1 stenoendemic and 5 sub-endemic species. They belong to 20 genera and 13 families. The richest among the endemics are families Asteraceae and Caryophyllaceae, both with 4 species. All endemics are herbaceous perennials. Hemicryptophytes dominate among life forms, accounting for 58.06%. Most of the species are Balkan floristic elements (20 species or 64.52%), followed by Southeast European and South European floristic elements, both with 3 taxa (9.68%). A total of 27 species have national or international conservation status. Reporting of Ranunculus degenii Kümmerle & Jav. for the first time in Shutman makes this area the second distribution record of this plant in Kosovo.

Greek Tulips: Worldwide Electronic Trade over the Internet, Global Ex Situ Conservation and Current Sustainable Exploitation Challenges.

From an ornamental viewpoint, tulips are famous clonally propagated crops. This research focuses on 15 wild-growing Greek tulip species including 11 range-restricted species, i.e., six Greek endemics and five Balkan or Aegean endemics and subendemics, among which seven are currently threatened with extinction (two Critically Endangered, three Endangered and two Vulnerable). An overview of the global electronic trade over the internet is presented herein for these valuable phytogenetic resources in an attempt to define the extent of their commercialization (25 nurseries in three countries, mainly bulb trade at various prices) with concomitant conservation implications. In the frame of the repatriation initiatives launched, their global ex situ conservation is overviewed according to the PlantSearch facility of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (materials from 15 species stored in 41 botanic gardens of 14 countries). The results of this study on the Greek tulips showed that there are both well-established value chains and gaps in the market regarding the “botanical tulips”; revealed the compromised effectiveness of ex situ conservation for the majority of them; raised conservation concerns related to authorized access to these wild phytogenetic resources; and indicated that their future utilization should comply with the provision of national and international legislation. All these are envisaged and discussed within the framework of the newly launched research project TULIPS.GR which aims to be the pilot establishment of a national collection regarding all Greek tulips (currently holding 38 accessions of 13 species, including almost all of the threatened ones). The project’s scope is to enable the creation of a sustainable value chain for the Greek tulips with authorized collections, sustainable conservation schemes, production of DNA barcoded propagation material, species-specific propagation and cultivation protocols, mycorrhizal investigations, field studies, applying innovative precise soil/foliar fertigation, and investigation of the postharvest treatment of fresh cut flowers, promoting networking and synergies with producers and associations in Greece and abroad.

High genetic and morphological diversification of the Euphorbia verrucosa alliance (Euphorbiaceae) in the Balkan and Iberian peninsulas

AbstractWe explored the diversification of the southern European Euphorbia verrucosa alliance applying molecular (amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting [AFLP], sequencing of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer), karyological (relative genome size estimations, chromosome counts) and morphometric methods. The AFLP data inferred four main phylogenetic lineages corresponding to western‐southern Balkan E. montenegrina, central Balkan E. serpentini, northern Balkan‐central European‐north Italian E. verrucosa and Iberian‐southern French E. flavicoma. Genetic diversification is strongest within the Iberian and the Balkan peninsulas, suggesting Pleistocene persistence of the species in different micro‐refugia. In contrast, weak genetic structure in E. verrucosa suggests Holocene (after last glacial maximum) expansion to central and western Europe, likely from a northern Balkan refugium. Karyological data provide evidence for tetraploidisation events in E. flavicoma and E. montenegrina, but not in E. verrucosa and E. serpentini. By integrating phylogenetic data with multivariate morphometric analyses, we propose a new taxonomic treatment for this group, mainly by recognising the Balkan endemics E. montenegrina and E. serpentini as independent species and by redefining the distributions of E. flavicoma and E. verrucosa. Our study underlines the importance of the Balkan and Iberian peninsulas as major Pleistocene refugia.

Pseudomaquises in SW Bulgaria as a habitat for the ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

A lack of sufficient data about ground beetles in maquis and maquis-like habitats in the whole Mediterranean region prompted this study. It brings new data to the knowledge of Carabidae species from Balkan pseudomaquis habitats in Bulgaria and reveals some patterns of species composition from zoogeographic and ecological points of view. Fieldwork was carried out in the period 5 April 2002 – 11 January 2004. A total of 305 specimens from 52 species were found, including two Balkan endemics and one Tertiary relict. These species belong to 23 genera and 12 tribes. Dromius quadrimaculatus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Harpalus fuscicornis Ménétriés, 1832 are new for the Bulgarian Struma Valley. Another 13 species are new for the Pirin Mountains. The richest tribe was Harpalini (21 species), followed by Carabini (6 species), Amarini and Sphodrini (5 species each). The most species-rich genus was Harpalus (13 species). Zoogeographical analysis showed that Euroasiatic and Mediterranean complexes were most prevalent. Xerothermic conditions in the habitats studied were also confirmed by the prevalence of the mesoxerophilous carabids. These habitats occur only locally in Bulgaria and support specific carabid assemblages. Knowledge about their diversity could be a keystone for the conservation of all target species living in these limited areas and encompassed by the adjacent Natura 2000 zones.

Plant species richness and composition of a habitat island within Lake Kastoria and comparison with those of a true island within the protected Pamvotis lake (NW Greece).

Lake Kastoria is one of the potentially “ancient” Balkan lakes that has a great environmental importance and ecological value, attracts high touristic interest and is under various anthropogenic pressures. It belongs to a Natura 2000 Special Protection Area and a Site of Community Interest. The city of Kastoria is located at the western part of the lake and just next to it, towards the centre of the lake, is a peninsula, a habitat island. In the framework of research concerning the flora of lake islands of Greece, one of the main objectives of the present study is to fill a gap concerning plant species richness of the habitat island within the protected Lake Kastoria, which is surrounded by the lake except for its north-western part where the border of the city of Kastoria is located. Floristic analysis of the habitat island of Lake Kastoria is in large measure accounted, concerning chorology with emphasis on Balkan endemics (8.7%), life forms, by hemicryptophytes (36.1%), therophytes (33.2%), phanerophytes (16.4%) and geophytes (10.9%) and, for habitats, by taxa preferring agricultural and ruderal ones (53.3%). Another objective is to compare its floristic composition to the one of the island within the protected urban Lake Pamvotis - one of the very few lake islands in Greece - focusing on the influence of urbanisation. The α- and β- diversity are measured in order to reveal floristic differences. Beta diversity partitioning in turnover and nestedness showed that the β-diversity is mostly expressed as compositional turnover. The role of the society in combination with long-term programmes for the study of plant species richness, functional diversity and patterns of species assemblages over time are necessary for the effective management and protection of protected areas, including lake insular areas.

Contribution to the knowledge on the flora of Mt. Luboten, Sharri Mts., Kosovo

With the aim of improving the floristic knowledge of Kosovo, here we present an inventory of the plant taxa recorded and collected between the March 2015 and September 2019, in the mountain massif of Luboten, Sharri Mts., SE Kosovo. Field surveys were conducted repeatedly for four years, on each vegetation season. With this work we aimed to provide detailed data concerning the vascular flora richness and distributional patterns. Floristic samples were studied in all representative habitats and sites, concerning climate, exposition, altitude and bedrock composition. This research led to the identification of a total 853 plant taxa of vascular plants, belonging to 354 genera and 93 families. Among these taxa, 82 are Balkan endemics and 53 are included into the Red Book of Vascular Flora of Kosovo. Out of them, 4 are critically endangered, 16 endangered, 3 vulnerable, 8 near threatened and 22 least concern. On the basis of the available floristic literature, 2 plant taxa are found to be new for Kosovo: Bromopsis cappadocica subsp. cappadocica and Pilosella macrotricha. At a national scale, we have found new distribution records for 17 taxa and additionally for 2 plant taxa: Ranunculus fontanus and Sesleria wettsteinii, conservation suggestions are provided. All natural habitats were classified according to EUNIS and their floristic richness is herein provided. Furthermore, the corresponding EUNIS habitat(s) for each taxon of where it was recorded to be growing are also indicated.

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used in Central Macedonia, Greece

This work provides the ethnobotanical data concerning the traditional use of medicinal plants in Macedonia region (Northern Greece), which has, up to now, been poorly investigated. The aim of the present study was to collect, analyze, and evaluate information on the use of medicinal plants among different population groups living in Central Macedonia. The study was carried out in the area of two small cities, Edessa and Naoussa, and nearby villages. The ethnobotanical data were gathered through extensive and semistructured interviews. The informants belonged to different population groups living in the study areas and were involved, at least partially, in agriculture. Together with detailed reports on each species, data were also summarized by some indices, such as Fidelity Level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (Fic). A group of 96 informants was interviewed and 87 plant taxa with medicinal uses were cited. Medicinal plants are used to treat a wide range of diseases, in particular ailments of the respiratory tract and skin disorders. The importance of the traditional use of plants to cure and prevent common and some uncommon diseases had been highlighted. About 55% of medicinal plants mentioned by the informants had been previously reported to be sold in Thessaloniki herbal market as traditional remedies. Medicinal uses of some endemic taxa had been reported, e.g., Satureja montana subsp. macedonica, a member of the S. montana group restricted to Northern Central Greece, Origanum dictamnus, an endemic species of Crete, and six Balkan endemics, i.e., Achillea holosericea, Digitalis lanata, Helleborus odorus subsp. cyclophyllus, Sideritis scardica, Thymus sibthorpii, and Verbascum longifolium. Several differences in Traditional Ethnobotanical Knowledge (TEK) were observed in relation to social and cultural components of the population. Only 7 species (Crataegus monogyna, Hypericum perforatum, Matricaria chamomilla, Rosa canina, Sambucus nigra, Sideritis scardica, and Tilia platyphyllos) were commonly reported by all population groups, whereas 30 out of 87 taxa (34%) were exclusively mentioned by a single group. All groups are incorporated in the local society and do not identify themselves as members of different ethnic groups, although they try to preserve their distinctiveness by keeping their traditions and dialects. Nevertheless, our data show that the knowledge regarding the medicinal plant use was rarely accompanied by preservation of linguistic diversity concerning the plant names. This work contributes to improve the knowledge on the traditional use of plants in the folk medicine of a region like Central Macedonia where different population groups live together, partially maintaining their traditions. A part of data of this paper has been presented as posted at 112° Congress of Italian Botanical Society (IPSC), Parma 20-23 September 2017.

The Balkan endemics Moehringia Jankae Griseb. ex Janka and Moehringia Grisebachii Janka in Bulgaria

The aim of the study is to establish the current distribution оf Balkan endemics Moehringia jankae Griseb. ex Janka and Moehringia grisebachii Janka in Bulgaria. The routing method was used. All areas which the species inhabit according to literary sources were visited. Established were 12 populations of M. jankae and 32 populations of M. grisebachii. All established populations of M. jankae were from the Eastern Balkan Range on the territory of Sinite Kamani Natural Park. Three of the registered populations of M. grisebachii were from North-Eastern Bulgaria (Shumen region, near village Madara). Thirteen were from Sredna Gora Mts (nine on the territory of village Rozovets, two between village Rozovets and Bratan peak, two on peak Orlite and one between peak Orlite and the megalith Popova turla, rock formation along the road from village Rozovets to the rock formation Pravite kamani, the rock formation Pravite kamani, rock formations west of the megalith Pravite kamani, and one above village Pesnopoy in the area Usoykata). Nineteen were from the Eastern Balkan Range on the territory of Sinite Kamani Natural Park. Each population was assessed and the factors with negative influence were indicated.

TAXONOMY AND ECOLOGY OF PHYTOCOENOTIC DIVERSITY OF THE GROMIŽELJ WETLAND AS A SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE

<p>The research of the Gromiželj wetland flora as a special nature reserve includes the diversities of algae, lichens, mosses, ferns and seedlings. The Gromiželj wetland represents a lowland peat with the total area of 831 ha where 67.39 ha have the first degree protection and 763.61 ha the second degree protection. A special geomorphological structure of this lowland peat causes the diversity of a large number of plant species, particularly species that are the Balkan endemics and glacial relicts. 36 species of algae, 3 types of lichen, 8 species of mosses, 6 species of ferns and 240 species of seedlings have been identified in the wetland.</p>

Conservation assessment of the endemic plants from Kosovo

Abstract Sixteen endemic plant taxa were selected from Kosovo, according to the IUCN standards and for each taxon the risk assessment and threat category has been assigned. The taxa were compared with their previous status from fifteen years ago. From sixteen plant taxa, which were included in this work, four are Balkan endemics, whereas, eight of them are local endemics and four of the taxa are stenoendemics. Six of the taxa are grown exclusively on serpentine soils, five of them on limestone substrate, four of them in carbonate substrate, yet only one in silicate substrate. The work has been done based on the standard working methodologies of the IUCN (Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria – Version 8.1). The most threatened plant taxa is Solenanthus krasniqii – which after its observance has only 20 mature individuals. As a result of the wild collection of the medicinal and aromatic plants, from the local population, Sideritis scardica is about to be completely go extinct. The aim of this study was to assess the state of endemics in the threats possessed to them during the previous times, present and predicting the trends for the upcoming years.

Balkan endemic plants in Central Serbia and Kosovo regions: distribution patterns, ecological characteristics, and centres of diversity

The aim of the present study is to determine the exact number of the Balkan endemic taxa at specific and subspecific rank in the Central Serbia and Kosovo regions, as well as their distribution, and to perform a chorological and ecological analysis of this flora. Detailed and long-term field studies confirmed the presence of 492 Balkan endemic species and subspecies in the investigated area. The most important contributors at family rank in the Balkan endemic flora are Asteraceae, Caryophyllaceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, and Lamiaceae, with Hieracium, Dianthus, Centaurea, and Silene being the genera with the highest number of endemic taxa. In the chorological and life form spectra of the Balkan endemics, taxa from South European and Central European mountainous chorological groups and hemicryptophytes and chamaephytes are the most abundant. The presence of endemic plants in 11 geographical provinces in Central Serbia and Kosovo regions was also analyzed and cluster analysis was used to classify the geographical provinces according to their floristic similarities. The final analyses of distribution and magnitude of endemism include summary mapping of all the endemic taxa at 10 × 10-km Universal Transverse Mercator maps. High-mountainous areas of Mts Prokletije and Mts Sar-Planina are distinctive centres of richness and diversity of the Balkan endemic flora in Central Serbia and Kosovo regions. Most endemics were recorded on limestone and at 1500–2000 m a.s.l. Vegetation classes Asplenietea trichomanes, Festuco-Brometea, Elyno-Seslerietea, and Erico-Pinetea are the richest in endemic taxa. A catalogue of the Balkan endemic taxa in Central Serbia and Kosovo regions, with their threatened and legally protected status, is also presented. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 176, 173–202.

The native flora of Mountain Panachaikon (Peloponnese, Greece): new records and diversity.

BackgroundThis study presents the native flora of Mountain Panachaikon (N.W. Peloponnese, Greece), after extensive field work (from ~700 to 1900 m) and critical literature review.ResultsThe vascular native flora of Mt. Panachaikon comprises 757 taxa, 95 of which are Greek endemics, 79 are Balkan endemics, while 229 taxa are reported here for the first time. The known distribution of the Greek endemics Alyssum montanum subsp. montanum var. graecum, Carum heldreichii, Cirsium heldreichii, Genista milii, Minuartia eurytanica and Seseli parnassicum is expanded, being reported for the first time for the floristic region of Peloponnese, and the number of the known populations of the Near Threatened Gymnospermium altaicum subsp. peloponnesiacum is increased.ConclusionsThe study area appears to have the second highest endemism and the highest one in W. Greece, compared with other mountains of N. Peloponnese and Sterea Ellada, while 22.10% of the endemics are protected and/or evaluated as Near Threatened to Endangered. It also exhibits a rather high proportion of Balkan endemics, in relation to its geographic location, and some genuine arctic-alpine taxa. These indicate that Mt. Panachaikon can be rendered as a plant diversity hotspot in the Peloponnese.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2241-5793-21-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Allopolyploid origin of the Balkan endemic Ranunculus wettsteinii (Ranunculaceae) inferred from nuclear and plastid DNA sequences

The Balkan Peninsula, characterized by high rates of endemism, is recognised as one of the most diverse and species-rich areas of Europe. However, little is known about the origin of Balkan endemics. The present study addresses the phylogenetic position of the Balkan endemic Ranunculus wettsteinii, as well as its taxonomic status and relationship with the widespread R. parnassiifolius, based on nuclear DNA (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) and plastid regions (rpl32-trnL, rps16-trnQ, trnK-matK and ycf6-psbM). Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses revealed a well-supported clade formed by accessions of R. wettsteinii. Furthermore, our phylogenetic and network analyses supported previous hypotheses of a likely allopolyploid origin for R. wettsteinii between R. montenegrinus and R. parnassiifolius, with the latter as the maternal parent.

Molecular cytogenetics of Bellevalia (Hyacinthaceae) species occurring in Greece

Eight taxa of the genus Bellevalia (Hyacinthaceae) occurring in Greece, all with basic chromosome number x = 4, were cytologically studied using classical and molecular-cytogenetic techniques [fluorochrome banding with chromomycin A3, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using probes of 18S–5.8S–26S and 5S ribosomal RNA genes]. Two of the examined taxa are endemic, i.e., B. brevipedicellata and B. sitiaca, both restricted to the Island of Kriti. B. hyacinthoides and B. edirnensis are Balkan endemics, and the four remaining taxa, i.e., B. dubia subsp. boissieri, B. trifoliata, B. romana, and B. ciliata, are more widely distributed Mediterranean elements. Genome size, estimated by flow cytometry, ranged from 18.59 to 53.38 pg. The results of fluorochrome banding and FISH are reported for the first time for the genus Bellevalia. Despite the morphological similarity of the chromosome complement, which is in accordance with the general “basic” Bellevalia karyotype formula, the karyotypes of the studied species are clearly distinguished by the number and position of GC-rich bands and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) loci, revealing clear interspecific differentiation among the taxa. Additionally, examination of the polyploid species B. sitiaca and B. edirnensis and populations of B. hyacinthoides and B. ciliata with different ploidy levels permits discussion about the origin of polyploids and the taxonomic relationships among the taxa.

The spider fauna of the Aladjagiola wetland complex (Nestos Delta, north-east Greece): a reflection of a unique zoogeographical transition zone in Europe

In order to increase our arachnological knowledge of Greece, and in particular north-east Greece, an investigation of the arachnofauna of the Aladjagiola wetland complex was conducted from April to July 2008. The study area is part of the Nestos Delta in north-east Greece, and comprises an area of approximately 20 km2. Spiders were collected from 28 sites using pitfall traps. In all, 6694 specimens were sampled, including 206 species from 31 families. Altogether, 30 and 74 species were new to the districts of Greece and Macedonia, respectively. A number of faunistically interesting species were recorded during the study: Brachythele denieri (Simon, 1916), Camillina metellus (Roewer, 1928), Zelotes cingarus (O.P.-Cambridge, 1874), Zodarion blagoevi Bosmans, 2009, Zodarion epirense Brignoli, 1984, Zodarion hauseri Brignoli, 1985, and Zodarion pirini Drensky, 1921, are Balkan endemics; Tegenaria angustipalpis Levy, 1996 and Titanoeca turkmenia Wunderlich, 1995 were newly discovered in Europe. Widespread elements represented the largest share of the species inventory, although chorological analysis indicated that the study area, as well as the whole north-eastern part of Greece, is a reflection of a transition zone from the European fauna towards the Mediterranean and eastern (or Ponto–Anatolian) elements. Taken in combination, these affect the local fauna. The Balkan endemics, although small in number of species, further underline the unique identity of the area. Based on comparisons with data sets from the country's southernmost island, i.e. Crete, Greece can be regarded as a zoogeographical gradient. Hereby, Aladjagiola represents the northern edge, with European and Anatolian elements dominating the species inventory, and Crete represents the southern edge, with widespread but also endemic Mediterranean and eastern elements creating a more local and insular zoogeographical character. In conclusion, Greece cannot be viewed as a uniform zoogeographical unit, but rather as a mosaic of various regional zoogeographical patterns. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102, 217–233.