Biodiversity of freshwater macroinvertebrates on Gökçeada Island (North Aegean Sea, Turkey)

Island ecosystems have attracted the attention of scientists since the early days of science because of their formation and biodiversity. Despite their abundant freshwater resources, data on freshwater diversity of Gökçeada are incomplete, especially for macroinvertebrates. This study was conducted in a wide range of freshwater ecosystems on Gökçeada between May 2016 and September 2018. Sampling of macroinvertebrates was performed using a hand net from 34 pre-selected sampling sites on the island. A total of 78 aquatic macroinvertebrate taxa were found, 46 of which are new records for the island. The most common species during the study were Gammarus komareki and Bythinella gokceadaensis with a frequency of 25.93%, followed by Tubifex tubifex, Gammarus sp. and Caenis sp. with a frequency of 22.22%. Endemic and invasive species on the island were assessed according to their presence and frequency values. Based on the results of the current study and previous data, it can be concluded that Gökçeada is characterized by a remarkable species diversity compared to aquatic macroinvertebrates on other Aegean islands.

A place based analysis of stakeholders’ advancing sustainability in remote and isolated communities: The case of North Aegean Islands

During the pandemic crisis, the study of sustainability in remote and isolated communities requires holistic approaches in a multi-dimensional context. To understand remote communities within their natural and constructed environments as dynamic ecosystems, we need to take into account different levels of research and analysis, types of structures, areas of human activity, and actors. It is of particular importance to identify and distinguish the different types of stakeholders who interact in these domains, as well as the dynamics among them, taking into consideration limitations and opportunities set by natural and constructed environments. We reconstruct traditional views and key pillars of sustainable development based on an extensive literature review of relative cases worldwide, to develop a conceptual framework, and to guide research on sustainability in remote and isolated island communities. Thus, this paper is focused on human activities and the wellbeing of remote communities, aiming to propose a “place-based” typology of stakeholders. Byinvestigating the cases of the Greek remote islands’ communities (North Aegean), we critically discuss this evolving conceptual framework, identifying a multi-layered approach in stakeholder analysis that pertains to the civil society that emerged as a key actor. Building on Giddings’ et al [1] anthropocentric view, we synthesize and enrich human activity and wellbeing with several factors, such as natural environment, critical infrastructure, regulatory frame, remoteness, connectivity, cohesiveness, equity, eco-efficiency as well as stakeholders’ multi-identity.

Water resources planning under climate and economic changes in Skiathos island, Aegean

Small Aegean islands are facing complicated pressures of different natures. Their physically limited water resources are invoked to cover the increasing needs of the local population, combined with the seasonal water demand peaks due to tourists. This often leads to aquifers’ overexploitation and seawater intrusion, deteriorating the water quality. Water scarcity may also occur due to inadequate infrastructure, limited investments and human resources for proper management. This study uses the example of Skiathos island, which faces all the above challenges. The water supply network and the city's demand are simulated through WEAP software, in an attempt to address the major drivers for future water management. A long-term water demand forecast is performed under scenarios of climate change (based on ensemble means of RCP simulations), and water pricing (based on the recommendations of European legislation). Other pressures (i.e., operation of new hotels) and measures (i.e., desalinization unit, network and reservoir works) that were already considered by the local authorities, are discussed. Overall, the findings aim to sensitize and motivate local policymakers to construct databases, start monitoring, include more factors in the decision-making process, and avoid overexploitation for the sake of non-sustainable development norms.

Planning of Aegean Archipelago Interconnections to the Continental Power System of Greece

This paper presents the results of a thorough planning investigation carried out by the Transmission System Operator (TSO) and the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) in Greece in order to study the interconnections of the Aegean Islands with the mainland power system. The feasibility of interconnecting islands is based on the need for a reliable power supply to isolated and autonomous islands, reducing the operating costs of the power generation system through the withdrawal of high-cost oil-fired generating units, and the further ability to increase renewable energy source (RES) penetration in the country’s energy mix, according to directions imposed by the National Energy and Climate Plan. Among the alternative topologies and interconnection technologies considered, the final selection of the interconnection scheme selected for inclusion in the development plans of TSO and DNO was based on their detailed comparative evaluation, considering financial and other technical criteria.

A modelling approach to the investigation of the effects of the Minoan supervolcanic eruption on Aegian sand fly diversity

The late Bronze Age eruption of the Thera volcano was among the largest eruptions of the Holocene era. This catastrophic event might perish all organisms from the ancient Santorini and could seriously impact the sand fly fauna of the Aegean islands. To investigate these effects, the survival possibility of the sand fly fauna in the Santorini islands and the biogeographic investigation of the sand fly fauna of eleven Aegean islands were conducted. It was found that only the south and east slopes of the massifs of Thira could provide refuge for sand fly populations. The expression-based heat map of the Jaccard coefficient matrix data showed that the Santorini islands and their neighbouring Anafi, Folegandros had clearly different z-score patterns compared to the other islands. It could be a late sign of the devastating effect of the Minoan eruption and/or the consequence of the distance of these islands from the mainland. Neither the glacial seashore patterns nor the geographic-climatic conditions can explain the present sand fly fauna of the Aegean Archipelago. If the sand fly populations of ancient Santorini survived the Minoan cataclysm, it could indicate that the environmental tolerance and the resilience of the sand fly populations can be high, and local geological and geomorphological conditions can play a greater role in the survival of sand fly species than previously assumed.

Reproduction in the Archipelago of the Aegean 1920–2016: Long-Term Trends and Recent Upturns

Little is known about the reproductive behavior of the population in insular Greece because of the lack of reliable and unintermittent time series of vital statistics. By applying methods used in historical demography and by indirectly estimating demographic indexes from census returns we try to overcome data scarcity. Substantial differences were found between the islands and mainland Greece. Differences were also found between different groups of islands, with the North Aegean being more conservative as far as the procreative ethics are concerned. Out of wedlock childbearing is less common in North Aegean islands than in Dodecanese or in the Cyclades.

Venizelos

This book is about the life and times of Eleftherios Venizelos, one of the greatest political leaders of Greece in the twentieth century. It covers first his upbringing, education, and political apprenticeship in Ottoman Crete. Venizelos played a major part in the Cretan struggle for Union with Greece. He worked under Prince George of Greece, High Commissioner of the Powers, when Crete became an autonomous regime, and broke with him in the uprising at Therisso which moved Crete a step nearer to Union. Venizelos moved to Greece in 1910, resolved a political crisis provoked by a military uprising, and became prime minister. He founded his own liberal party, and introduced a new constitution and major reforms of Greece's political, economic, and social affairs. He negotiated an alliance with Bulgaria and Serbia and in 1912-13 these Balkan allies attacked the Turks in Macedonia, Thrace and Epirus and were victorious. The territory and population of Greece was almost doubled as a result. These wars, in the second of which Greece and Serbia defeated former ally Bulgaria, won great gains for Greece including Salonika, but left multiple issues unresolved including the fate of the Aegean islands and a naval arms race with Turkey. But these problems were sidelined on the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. Venizelos's career will be explored further in a second volume taking the story on from 1914 to his death in 1936.

Peacemaking in London

This chapter outlines the issues for decision in December 1912-early 1913, at the peace conferences for which Sir Edward Grey had offered London as venue. These were, for Venizelos 1) the future of Salonika, 2) the fate of the Aegean islands, still claimed by Turkey, and 3) Albania/Northern Epirus. The chapter describes the division of the negotiations into two, one between the Balkan allies and Turkey, the second a conference of ambassadors to deal with other issues including the Aegean islands and Albania/Northern Epirus. Streit, Skouloudis, Metaxas and Danglis took part in the London talks, but Venizelos would not include Ion Dragoumis, who opposed Venizelos's conciliatory policy towards Bulgaria and hopes of a Balkan federation.

What Next for Greece?

Success in war, including gains in territory and population, left big problems for Greece of reconstruction, economic recovery, refugee settlement, exploitation of the New Lands. The influx of Muslims from Macedonia to Asia Minor led Turkey to respond by dumping Christians from the Asia Minor littoral at Salonika and on the Aegean coast. This seriously further upset Greece's relations with Turkey. The linked problems of Northern Epirus/Albania and the Aegean islands was resolved painfully for Greece by the Great Powers, which obliged Greece to withdraw from Albania. The islands remained in Greek hands, but still claimed by Turkey. In the face of this, a naval arms race developed between Turkey and Greece, both making procurements designed to secure superiority in the Aegean. Thus a series of problems were building up for Venizelos. Direct negotiations with Turkey did not succeed. War seemed probable. Venizelos was travelling to Brussels for direct talks with the Grand Vizier on the range of issues, including a possible exchange of Christian and Muslim populations, when the Grand Duke was assassinated in Sarajevo, and Venizelos felt obliged to return to Athens to deal with the serious issues raised by the July crisis and the outbreak of the Great War.

The Greeks Advance

The chapter starts with an assessment of the balance of forces. Greece had local superiority over the Ottoman forces, as did Serbia and Bulgaria in their respective theatres. The Turkish armies were weakened by events in Yemen, by the war against Italy, and most of all by the need to fight on three or more fronts. The Greek army under Crown Prince Constantine moved forward northward encountering little resistance at first. Aegean islands were liberated by the Greek fleet, which also blocked the Turkish fleet in the Dardanelles, preventing them from resupplying their forces in Macedonia and Thrace. Tension developed between Venizelos and Constantine over the direction and speed of the Greek advance, when it became clear that the Bulgarians aimed to occupy Salonika. The city was the key for Venizelos, who urged Constantine to greater speed. The Greek army entered the city first, with the Bulgarians close behind, a recipe for continuing tension between the two allies, threatening inter-allied war.