| Σχόλιο για τις αξίες |
The site has already been characterized as an E.C. Important Bird Area and there is no doubt that as a wetland it presents a combination of several important habitats and species keeping in mind that the whole of S. Peloponnisos, and especially the coasts, are characterized as dry rocky areas. Those areas of the present site play an important role in the conservation of the sites biodiversity. Some fish, reptilian and mammalian taxa (listed in section 3.2) are mentioned in Annex II of the Directive 92/43/E.E.C. Based on Economidis (pers. comm.) the fish taxon Phoxinellus spp. is represented by the valid Greek species Pseudophoximus s. stymphalicus, a threatened Greek species according to the Greek Red Data Book. Many Other Important Species (section 3.3) have been recorded from this site, a fact that illustrates the diversity of the sites faunistic diversity. The water shrew Neomys anomalus, the bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus and the jackal Canis aureus, are mentioned in the Greek Red Data Book under the threat categories "Insufficiently Known", "Endangered" and "Vulnerable", respectively (motivation A). Also, the lizards Algyroides moreoticus, Lacerta graeca, Podarcis peloponnesiaca are Greek endemics. The first is distributed in Peloponnisos and the islands of Ithaki, Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Strofades, while the other taxa are found only in Peloponnisos (motivation B). Except Canis aureus, all the remaining taxa are protected by the Bern Convention, therefore, receiving motivation C. All taxa have been listed in rthe Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981 and so justify motivation D (the exceptions are Ophisaurus apodus, Vipera ammodytes, C. aureus and Martes foina). The toad Bufo viridis, the frog Hyla arborea and the water snake Natrix tessellata are mentioned by the CORINE-Biotopes Project's handbook, a fact which constitutes an additional reason for allocating motivation D to these animals. Likewise, one species deserves motivation D for the additional reason of being Balkan endemic; this is the colubrid snake Coluber gemonensis. Finally, additional reasons for allocating motivation D is given for Ophiomorus punctatissimus whith a very limited distribution area in Greece which is also the westernmost part of the species' whole distribution range. This site is also of great importance as a station for migratory birds and therefore considered as an EC Important Bird Area. Waterfowl and birds of prey threatened in Greece have been recorded there (e.g. Egretta alba, Ardea purpurea, Plegadis falcinellus, Circus aeruginosus, Hieraaetus pennatus, Falco spp., etc.). The invertebrate species listed in section 3.3 with motivation C are protected by the Bern Convention.The invertebrate species listed in sections 3.3 with motivation D are protected by the Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981. Pieris ergane is also included in the "Listing of biotopes in Europe according to their significance for invertebrates". |
