| Περιγραφή Τόπου |
The marine site surrounding Kalogeri islets, largely consists of the habitat type 1170: shallow reefs (0-20m) with extensive and healthy Cystoseira spp communities, with the occasional presence of calcareous red algae (cf. Lithophyllum sp.). This area also comprises scattered submarine caverns and caves (Habitat Type 8330) which support various sciaphilic communities and species. Almost 97% of the habitat type is covered by extended Coralligenous communities, which are not as yet classified under ANEX I. According to the new Fisheries Regulation (EC 1967/2006): "coralligenous habitat means an area where the seabed is characterized by the dominant presence of a specific biological community named "coralligenous", or where such community has existed and is in need of restoration action. Coralligenous is a collective term for a very complex biogenic structure given by the continuous overlapping over a pre-existent rocky or hard substratum of calcareous strata mainly deriving from the building activity of encrusting calcareous coralline red algae and animal organisms as Porifera, Ascidians, Cnidarians (horny corals, seafans, etc.), Bryozoans, Serpulids, Annelids, together with other limestone-fixers organisms".\nAll the above mentioned biological elements are particularly abundant in this area with healthy populations of high representativity. More specifically, the coralligenous communities of Kalogeri Site consist of:\ni) deep (20-120m) gorgonian reefs, with dense and generally healthy populations of the octocorallian Eunicella cavolinii\nii) deep (120-200m) Ma?rl beds of free-living Red Algae (Corallinacea) \n\nAccording to the "DRAFT REFERENCE CLASSIFICATION OF MARINE HABITAT TYPES FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION" [UNEP(OCA)/MED IG.12/5, 20 September 1999], aiming at identifying marine habitats in further scientific detail, the aforementioned habitats can also be classified as follows:\n\nI. INFRALITTORAL- MEDIOLITTORAL\nHARD BEDS AND ROCKS\nBiocenosis of the lower mediolittoral rock\n- Association with Lithophyllum tortuosum\n\nBiocenosis of infralittoral algae\n- Overgrazed facies with encrusting algae and sea urchins\n- Association with Corallina elongata and Herposiphonia secunda\n- Association with Sargassum vulgare\n- Association with Cystoseira compressa\n- Facies and Associations of Coralligenous biocenosis (in enclave)\n\nII. CIRCALITTORAL\n\nHARD BEDS AND ROCKS\nCoralligenous biocenosis\n- Facies with Eunicella cavolinii\nSANDS\nBiocenosis of the coastal detritic bottom\n- Association with rhodolithes\n- Ma?rl Facies (Lithothamnion corallioides and Phymatholithon calcareum)\n\nFurther on, although Posidonia oceanica debris was detected at this site, the presence of living meadows is not yet confirmed. However, considering the large distance of Kalogeri islets from other coastal areas, there is a high probability that this priority Habitat Type (1120*) is also present in the area. |
