Differences Between the Allometric Rules Governing Two Formica lugubris Zetterstedt, 1838 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Ants Populations in Northern Greece

Radiocarbon dates obtained for the coastal hilltop settlement of Aghios Antonios Potos in south Thasos are statistically treated to define the absolute chronology for the start and the end of the various habitation and cultural phases at the site. The location was first occupied during the Final Neolithic (FN) between 3800 and 3600 BC, extending this much contested phase to the lowest up to now record for Thasos and the northern Greece. The site is continuously inhabited from Early Bronze Age I until the early Late Bronze Age (LBA; 1363 BC) when it was abandoned. Comparison with other sites in Thasos and particularly with the inland site of Kastri Theologos showed that the first occupation at Aghios Antonios came soon after the abandonment of Kastri in the beginning of the 4th millennium. In fact, after the decline and abandonment of Aghios Antonios in the LBA, the site of Kastri was reinhabited, leading to the hypothesis that part of the coastal population moved inland. The presumed chronological sequence of alternate habitation between the two settlements may evoke explanations for sociocultural and/or environmental dynamics behind population movements in prehistoric Thasos. A major conclusion of the project is that the 4th millennium occupation gap attested in many sites of Greece, especially in the north, is probably bridged in south Thasos, when the data from all sites are taken together. The mobility of people in Final Neolithic south Thasos may explain the general phenomenon of limited occupational sequences in the FN of north Greece.

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Delimiting morphological and volumetric elements of cave surveys as analogues for paleokarst reservoir modelling – A case study from the Maaras cave system, northern Greece

Marine and Petroleum Geology ◽

10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2021.105091 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 129 ◽

pp. 105091

Author(s):

Bjarte Lønøy ◽

Christos Pennos ◽

Jan Tveranger ◽

Ilias Fikos ◽

George Vargemezis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Northern Greece ◽

Reservoir Modelling ◽

Cave System

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First-Time Source Apportionment Analysis of Deposited Particulate Matter from a Moss Biomonitoring Study in Northern Greece

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12020208 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 208 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chrysoula Betsou ◽

Evangelia Diapouli ◽

Evdoxia Tsakiri ◽

Lambrini Papadopoulou ◽

Marina Frontasyeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Source Apportionment ◽

Power Plants ◽

Soil Dust ◽

Northern Greece ◽

Mining Operations ◽

Moss Species ◽

Elemental Concentrations ◽

Pmf Model ◽

Moss Biomonitoring ◽

High Concentrations

Moss biomonitoring is a widely used technique for monitoring the accumulation of trace elements in airborne pollution. A total of one hundred and five samples, mainly of the Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. moss species, were collected from the Northern Greece during the 2015/2016 European ICP Vegetation (International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops) moss survey, which also included samples from the metalipherous area of Skouries. They were analyzed by means of neutron activation analysis, and the elemental concentrations were determined. A positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was applied to the results obtained for source apportionment. According to the PMF model, five sources were identified: soil dust, aged sea salt, road dust, lignite power plants, and a Mn-rich source. The soil dust source contributed the most to almost all samples (46% of elemental concentrations, on average). Two areas with significant impact from anthropogenic activities were identified. In West Macedonia, the emissions from a lignite power plant complex located in the area have caused high concentrations of Ni, V, Cr, and Co. The second most impacted area was Skouries, where mining activities and vehicular traffic (probably related to the mining operations) led to high concentrations of Mn, Ni, V, Co, Sb, and Cr.

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Virus Surveys in Olive Orchards in Greece Identify Olive Virus T, a Novel Member of the Genus Tepovirus

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10050574 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 574

Author(s):

Evanthia Xylogianni ◽

Paolo Margaria ◽

Dennis Knierim ◽

Kyriaki Sareli ◽

Stephan Winter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Leaf Roll ◽

Virus Infections ◽

Northern Greece ◽

Coat Protein Region ◽

Cherry Leaf Roll Virus ◽

Leaf Yellowing ◽

Olive Trees ◽

Olive Varieties ◽

Viral Sequences

Field surveys were conducted in Greek olive orchards from 2017 to 2020 to collect information on the sanitary status of the trees. Using a high-throughput sequencing approach, viral sequences were identified in total RNA extracts from several trees and assembled to reconstruct the complete genomes of two isolates of a new viral species of the genus Tepovirus (Betaflexiviridae), for which the name olive virus T (OlVT) is proposed. A reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay was developed which detected OlVT in samples collected in olive growing regions in Central and Northern Greece, showing a virus prevalence of 4.4% in the olive trees screened. Sequences of amplified fragments from the movement–coat protein region of OlVT isolates varied from 75.64% to 99.35%. Three olive varieties (Koroneiki, Arbequina and Frantoio) were infected with OlVT via grafting to confirm a graft-transmissible agent, but virus infections remained latent. In addition, cucumber mosaic virus, olive leaf yellowing-associated virus and cherry leaf roll virus were identified.

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Fertilization and Shading Trials to Promote Pinus nigra Seedlings’ Nursery Growth under the Climate Change Demands

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13063563 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 3563

Author(s):

Marianthi Tsakaldimi ◽

Panagiota Giannaki ◽

Vladan Ivetić ◽

Nikoleta Kapsali ◽

Petros Ganatsas

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Block Design ◽

Pinus Nigra ◽

Fertilization Rate ◽

Early Growth ◽

Climate Scenarios ◽

Northern Greece ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Below Ground ◽

High Fertilization

Pinus nigra is one of the most widely used tree species for reforestation within its geographical distribution, as well as being a potential substitute for other tree species in Central Europe under future climate scenarios. P. nigra is transplanted into the field as two-year or three-year old seedlings because of its relatively low growth rate in the nursery. This study investigated the effects of fertilization programs and shading on P. nigra seedlings, aiming to accelerate early growth, and thus to reduce the nursery rearing time. The experiment (a completely randomized block design) was conducted in an open-air nursery by sowing seeds from Grevena, Northern Greece, in Quick pots filled with peat and perlite in a 2:1 ratio. The seedlings were subjected to two levels of fertilization—5 and 10 g L−1 NPK (30-10-10)—and two shading levels: 50% and 70%. At the ends of the first and second nursery growing season, we recorded the seedlings’ above- and below-ground morphology and biomass data. The results show that the application of all of the treatments produced seedlings which met the targeted quality standards for outplanting. However, the combination of a high fertilization rate and low shading level resulted in seedlings of a higher morphological quality, which is often considered to be an indicator for a successful seedling establishment in the field.

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