– Flora and vegetation of Karpathos – Local plant endemism and phytogeographical peculiarities

Presentation on theme: "– Flora and vegetation of Karpathos – Local plant endemism and phytogeographical peculiarities"— Presentation transcript:

1 Phytogeographical classification of the Aegean Islands (afterRechinger 1948)

2 – Flora and vegetation of Karpathos – Local plant endemism and phytogeographical peculiarities
There is sufficient geological evidence that Karpathos has been isolated as an island at least since 5 million years. In this period a number of plant species evolved which are actually confined in distribution to their area of speciation, so-called endemic plants, not occurring elsewhere in the world.

3 Species evolution driven by isolation: The case of annual Campanula in the S Aegean.
Carlström in Willdenowia 15:

4 – Flora and vegetation of Karpathos – Local plant endemism and phytogeographical peculiarities
Some plant species have exclusively survived on the islands of the Karpathos group, sheltered by insular isolation against competition of aggressive species from adjacent areas. This happened during the Ice Ages (i.e. the geological period called the Pleistocene) when the level of the Mediterranean Sea was lowered for approximately 120 m and most of the present W and E Aegean islands became connected to their adjacent mainlands making immigration of continental species possible. In Karpathos, like in Kriti, old relict plant species could survive under insular isolation, being protected then from competition of aggressive continental invaders.

5 Lowering of the sealevel in the Aegean for c
Lowering of the sealevel in the Aegean for c. 120 m during the Pleistocene “Continentalisation“ of the East Aegean Islands Continued insular isolation of the Karpathos group (after Greuter 1970)

6 Rechinger‘s „Cycladian window“ (from Runemark 1969)

7 Centaurea raphanina, a facultative chasmophyte of calcareous rocks
[Karpathos, Arkassa, 1984]

8 Distribution of Centaurea raphanina in the Aegean, substantiating „Rechinger‘s line“
Runemark 1969

9 „ Rechinger´s line “ Flora Europaea, 1. Tutin & al. 1964

10 – Flora and vegetation of Karpathos – List of endemics on Karpathos, Saria, and Kasos:
Campanula carpatha Campanula pinatzii Carthamus rechingeri Dianthus fruticosus subsp. carpathus Erysimum candicum subsp. carpathum Limonium carpathum Nigella carpatha Ophrys aegaea Ophrys helios Origanum vetteri Phlomis pichleri Ricotia isatoides Silene ammophila subsp. carpatha Silene insularis Teucrium gracile

11 – Flora and vegetation of Karpathos – List of endemics on Karpathos, Saria, and Kasos:
Campanula carpatha Campanula pinatzii Carthamus rechingeri Dianthus fruticosus subsp. carpathus Erysimum candicum subsp. carpathum Limonium carpathum Nigella carpatha Ophrys aegaea Ophrys helios Origanum vetteri Phlomis pichleri Ricotia isatoides Silene ammophila subsp. carpatha Silene insularis Teucrium gracile

12 Pinatzi‘s bellflower (Campanula pinatzii), endemic to the island of Karpathos
[Karpathos, Spoa, 1984]