Biogeography, land snails and incomplete data sets: the case of three island groups in the Aegean Sea

Abstract

This research aimed to study the land snails of three island groups (Skyros, Astypalaia, Kalymnos) in the Aegean Sea and the biogeographical patterns arising, with reference to the other Aegean islands. A total of 91 species was found on the 37 islands surveyed, with 89 being extant. For the majority of the islands the malacofauna is reported for the first time. Similarity indices, chorotypes and nestedness were studied for each of the island groups. The islands belonging to the same island group were clustered together, exhibiting a quite delimited malacofauna. The Mediterranean and Palaearctic elements dominate, with the Aegean element increasing in the Astypalaia group. The three island groups, despite their different geological histories and the different level of the present-day geographical isolation, have been formed quite recently in geological time. This ''recent'' formation of the groups results in islands, especially the small ones, which still behave as parts of a continuous land mass. In the context of the new results from the present work, the completeness of the knowledge of the terrestrial malacofauna of the Aegean islands is discussed, and the caution needed for drawing general biogeographical conclusions based on the available data is emphasized.

Seasonal patterns of activity of Scolopendra cretica and S. cingulata (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha) in East Mediterranean maquis ecosystem

“…However, the fact that microhabitat preference was temporally consistent at all sites and did not affect the activity of the two studied scolopendromorph species suggests that activity of the two scolopendrids is probably due to intrinsic factors and less influenced by the abiotic factors. This evidence reinforces our notion that S. cretica and S. cingulata have a long history in the east Mediterranean area (Simaiakis et al 2012), resulting in a considerable relaxation period at least for S. cretica (see also Triantis et al 2008 andTrichas et al 2008), during which S. cretica remained isolated in Crete for about 5.5 Ma (Simaiakis and Mylonas 2008) and S. cingulata in a wider area that cause congruent ecological demands. Lewis (1972) stated that "centipedes of the family Scolopendridae have attracted little attention from ecologists and little work has been done on their life histories".…”

“…Most of the existing data concern the systematic and faunistic studies (Poulakakis et al 2006;Parmakelis et al 2006;Triantis et al 2008). However, there are some works conducted in the eastern Mediterranean region dealing with the seasonal variation and temporal patterns of activity of millipedes (Iatrou and Stamou 1989), beetles (Trihas and Legakis 1991), scorpions (Kaltsas et al 2006(Kaltsas et al , 2009, oribatid mites and springtails (Stamou et al 1993), as well as other arthropods (Pantis et al 1988).…”

Community variation of spiders, beetles and isopods in three small island groups of the Aegean Sea: the interplay between history and ecology

“…Thus, as previously shown for its malacofauna by Triantis et al . (), the major determinants of its species diversity may be environmental heterogeneity and passive sampling. This can explain the high species turnover of gnaphosid communities within Kalymnos island group.…”

Contribution to the flora of the South Aegean Volcanic Arc: Anafi Island (Kiklades, Greece)

“…Its rather high level of endemism is due to its palaeogeographical history, as Chalki, contrary to the majority of the east Aegean islands (Parmakelis & al. 2006;Triantis & al. 2008), has been isolated from the adjacent mainland (Asia Minor) for the last 0.8 My (Perissoratis & Conispoliatis 2003).…”