Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory
An integral part of Department of Environment, the Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory (BCL) was officially established in 1994. BCL’s role is twofold; a) to study ecological processes related to global change dynamics, to understand mechanisms controlling the generation and maintenance of biodiversity and b) to develop regional sustainable development cases, methodologies, protocols and techniques.
The quantity and quality of BCL’s work is second to none in Greece as measured by several useful ‘performance indicators’. BCL has succeeded, after only a few years of operation, to develop several international cooperation programmes and to participate in forefront research in Europe, competitively funded by the European Union: as an example, the BIODEPTH project has been applauded as a landmark study in ecology, and BCL was nominated together with its partners among the seven finalists for the European Science Award, The Descartes Prize 2001.
Teaching and Research Members
- Andreas Y. Troumbis, Professor of Ecology
- Triantaphyllos Akriotis, Assistant Professor
- Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos, Professor
- Konstantinos Theodorou, Assistant Professor
- Yiannis G. Matsinos, Professor
Research Associates
- George Adamidis, Assistant Professor
- Nikolaos Fyllas, Assistant Professor
- Alexandros Galanidis, Post-doctorate researcher
- Eleni Galinou, Post-doctorate researcher
- Giorgos Kokkoris, Associate Professor
- Yiannis G. Zevgolis, Post-doctorate researcher
Ph.D. candidates
- Evdoxia Bintsi-Frantzi
- Efstathia Mantzari
- Christodoulos Sazeidis
- Stelios Zannetos
Laboratory Teaching Staff
- Niki Georgi
- Erifylli Zafeiriou
Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory is located on the 2nd floor of Building Xenia B of the Department of Environment and has adequate equipment of instrumental analysis of physical, chemical and biological environmental parameters.
Laboratory equipment
- Carbon/Nitrogen/Sulphur Analyzer (LECO)
- Nitrogen Kjeldahl analyzer
- Double beam UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
- Ultrapure Water system (Millipore)
- Oven
- Centrifuge
- Laboratory Grinder
- Refrigerators, freezers
Field equipment
- Portable photosynthesis system LICOR
- Automated Soil CO2 Flux System
- Portable area meter
- Plant canopy analyzer (Photosynthetic active radiation and leaf area meter measures)
- Chlorophyll content meter
- Thermal camera
- Weather stations
- Sward stick
- Soil samplers
- Vortis’ insect suction sampler
- Bird watching equipment (e.g. binoculars, telescopes)
- Bird ringing equipment
- Trap for small mammals
The Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory (BCL) has participated and participates in a series of research projects of basic and applied research funded by international and national bodies. BCL has acquired an extensive network of partnerships with major institutions in Europe and Greece.
Management of Mediterranean Pine Forest for Optimizing carbon and water balance under climate change – PineOptim (2024-2025), H.F.R.I., “Basic Research Financing (Horizontal support of all Sciences)” under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0¨ funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. |
Projecting the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems in Greece – An integrated forest vulnerability and mitigation framework, (2023-2025), Τhe Green Fund, Funding Programme: ‘Natural Environment and Innovative Actions 2023’. Priority Axis 3: ‘Research and Implementation’. |
Report on the regulation and delimitation of anthropogenic activities on the beaches of the Kotichi-Strofylia Wetland National Park of (Kalogria, Bouka, Kentros, Falari, Brinia, Kounoupelaki, Gianniskari) and the beaches of Bouka Elaia, Giannitsochori, Kaiafas and Kalo Nero based on the carrying capacity, (2021-2023). Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA) – “Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development Operational Programme (YMEPERAA)” (NSRF 2014-2020). |
Monitoring of Dormouse on the new areas of responsibility of the Protected Areas Management Directorate (Sector A), (2022-2023), Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency |
Monitoring of Coypu (Myocastor coypus) on the new areas of responsibility of the Protected Areas Management Directorate (Sector A), (2022-2023), Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency |
Study of acute and chronic physiological and behavioral response of small mammals in stressful stimuli, using non-invasive methods in field sampling conditions (2020-2021, Operational Programme “Education and Lifelong Learning” (NSRF) – 2014-2020) |
Carbon fluxes across a post-fire chronosequence in Pinus brutia Ten forests.(2020-2021, Operational Programme “Education and Lifelong Learning” (NSRF) – 2014-2020) |
An integrative framework for the study of alien flora (2020-2021, Operational Programme “Education and Lifelong Learning” (NSRF) – 2014-2020) |
HRAKLEITOS II (Study of the genetic structure of sheep breed of Lesvos: 2011-2013), Ministry of Education / EU (NSRF 2007-2013) |
HRAKLEITOS II (Serpentine ecology: ecosystem processes, plant functional traits and nickel accumulation and tolerance in the serpentine endemic Ni-hyperaccumulator Alyssum lesbiacum: 2011-2013), Ministry of Education / EU (NSRF 2007-2013) |
SCALES (Securing the Conservation of biodiversity across Administrative Levels and spatial, temporal, and Ecological Scales: FP7 IP Project 2009-2014) |
BIOBUS (Biodiversity Resources for Innovative Business Development: 2006-2008) |
PENED 2003 (Methods and Tools in management of the rural environment: 2005-2008), GSRT. |
NAIAS (North Aegean Innovative Actions & Support: 2002-2004) |
BIOPLATFORM (Thematic Network for Biodiversity Research Strategy: 2002-2005) |
EPIDEMIE (Effect of biological invasions in Mediterranean island ecosystems: 2000-2004) |
AVEC (Vulnerability of ecosystems to global change: 2001-2005) |
SMERNA (Strategic Mentoring Initiative for the Region of North Aegean: 2004-2005) |
BIO-FORUM (Social Conflict on Biodiversity 2000-2004) |
RITTS / INA (Innovation in the North Aegean: 2000-2002) |
RICAMARE (Concerted Action for the Mediterranean in global change research: 1998-2002) |
EMPOST-NET (Social Network Partners for Sustainability: 1997-2000) |
ECOWET (Economic and ecological assessment of wetlands: 1996-1999) |
BIODEPTH (Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: 1996-1998) |
- Troumbis, A. Y., Gaganis, C. M., & Sideropoulos, H. (2023). Probabilistic wildfire risk assessment and modernization transitions: the case of Greece. Fire, 6(4), 158.
- Troumbis, A. Y., & Iosifidis, S. (2020). A decade of Google Trends-based Conservation culturomics research: A critical evaluation of an evolving epistemology. Biological Conservation, 248, 108647.
- Puppe, D., Dimitrakopoulos, P. G., & Lu, B. (2023). Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Naturally and Experimentally Assembled Communities. Biology, 12(6), 835.
- Michelaki, C., Fyllas, N. M., Galanidis, A., Aloupi, M., Evangelou, E., Arianoutsou, M., & Dimitrakopoulos, P. G. (2020). Adaptive flammability syndromes in thermo-Mediterranean vegetation, captured by alternative resource-use strategies. Science of the Total Environment, 718, 137437.
- Dimitrakopoulos, P. G., Koukoulas, S., Michelaki, C., & Galanidis, A. (2022). Anthropogenic and environmental determinants of alien plant species spatial distribution on an island scale. Science of the Total Environment, 805, 150314.
- Zevgolis Y.G., Zannetos S.P., Akriotis T. (2022), Physiological response of a wild rodent to experimental manipulations in its natural environment using infrared thermography. Hystrix the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 33(1): 80–91
- Zevgolis Y.G., Alsamail M.A., Akriotis T., Dimitrakopoulos P.G., Troumbis A.Y. (2022), Detecting, quantifying, and mapping urban trees’ structural defects using infrared thermography: Implications for tree risk assessment and management, Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, Volume 75, 127691, ISSN 1618-8667
- Zevgolis Y.G., Sazeides C.I., Zannetos S.P, Grammenou V., Fyllas N.M., Akriotis T., Dimitrakopoulos P.G., Troumbis A.Y. (2022), Investigating the effect of resin collection and detecting fungal infection in resin-tapped and non-tapped pine trees, using minimally invasive and non-invasive diagnostics, Forest Ecology and Management, Volume 524, 120498, ISSN 0378-1127
- Zannetos S.P., Zevgolis Y.G., Christopoulos A., Akriotis T. (2022), Assessing habitat suitability of the Persian squirrel in the island of Lesvos, Greece, Hystrix the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 33(2):193-197
- Koufaki, T., Barboutis, C., & Theodorou, K. (2024). Differential Impact of Climate and Land Use Change on Habitat Suitability of Migrant Passerines According to Habitat Preferences. Anthropocene, 100447.
- Fyllas, N. M., Koufaki, T., Sazeides, C. I., Spyroglou, G., & Theodorou, K. (2022). Potential impacts of climate change on the habitat suitability of the dominant tree species in Greece. Plants, 11(12), 1616.
- Tsaligopoulos, A., & Matsinos, Y. G. (2022). Approaching Quietness as an Urban Sustainability Opportunity. Environments, 9, 12.
- Tsaligopoulos, A., Kyvelou, S., Votsi, N. E., Karapostoli, A., Economou, C., & Matsinos, Y. G. (2021). Revisiting the concept of quietness in the urban environment—Towards ecosystems’ health and human well-being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 3151.