General rightsCopyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policyThe University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact openaccess@ed.ac.uk providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. AbstractThe sustainability and the effects of human pressures on Omalos Mediterranean Temporary Pond (MTP), Chanea, Greece was assessed. The caesium-137 ( 137 Cs) technique was used in order to identify alleged unplanned anthropogenic interference (excavation) in the studied area. It was found that about one third of the ponds bed surface material had been removed and disposed of on the northeast edge, confirming unplanned excavations that took place in the MTP area some years ago. Nonetheless, five years after the excavation, the MTP's ecosystem (flora and fauna) had recovered, which reflect that these small ecosystems are resilient to direct human pressures, like excavations. Moreover with the 137 Cs technique it was possible to identify the historical water level of Omalos MTP, when the fallouts of the Chernobyl accident reached this area, in May of 1986. Therefore, the 137 Cs technique can be useful in the identification of the historical water level of small MTPs and other fragile ephemeral water bodies. Applications include the verification and validation of hydrological models.

Sustainable management of protected areas requires good knowledge of the entire system. Complicated natural systems require for their management the use of digital information systems,