ACTION A.4. Study of population dynamics of the priority plant species Veronica oetaea* DELIVERABLE A.4.3. Monitoring protocol for Veronica oetaea

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1 NATIONAL AND KAODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS SCHOOL OF SCIENCE FACULTY OF BIOLOGY DEARTMENT OF BOTANY Conservation of priority forests and forest openings in "Ethnikos Drymos Oitis" and "Oros Kallidromo" of Sterea Ellada LIFE11 NAT/GR/ ForOpenForests ACTION A.4. Study of population dynamics of the priority plant species Veronica oetaea* DELIVERABLE A.4.3. Monitoring protocol for Veronica oetaea inelopi Delipetrou, Ilias Dimitriadis, Kyriacos Georghiou ATHENS DECEMBER 2015

2 ΔΘΝΙΚΟ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΠΟΓΙΣΡΙΑΚΟ ΠΑΝΔΠΙΣΗΜΙΟ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ ΧΟΛΗ ΘΔΣΙΚΩΝ ΔΠΙΣΗΜΩΝ ΣΜΗΜΑ ΒΙΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΣΟΜΔΑ ΒΟΣΑΝΙΚΗ Διατήρηςη δαςών και ανοιγμάτων προτεραιότητασ ςτον "Εθνικό Δρυμό Οίτησ" και ςτο "Όροσ Καλλίδρομο" τησ τερεάσ Ελλάδασ LIFE11 NAT/GR/ ForOpenForests ΔΡΑΗ A.4. Μελζτη τησ δυναμικήσ των πληθυςμών του είδουσ προτεραιότητασ Veronica oetaea* ΠΑΡΑΔΟΣΕΟ A.4.3. Πρωτόκολλο παρακολούθηςησ τησ Veronica oetaea Πηνελόπη Δεληπζτρου, Ηλίασ Δημητριάδησ, Κυριάκοσ Γεωργίου roposed reference: Delipetrou., Dimitriadis I., Georghiou K Monitoring protocol for Veronica oetaea. Deliverable A.4.3. for the project LIFE11 NAT/GR/ ForOpenForests. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - HSN, 10 p.

3 Table of Contents SUMMARY... 4 ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ Monitoring oblectives and parameters for Veronica oetaea Monitoring protocol Literature

4 SUMMARY The monitoring objectives for Veronica oetaea within the project ForOpenForests are: Assessment of the results of conservations actions C.1, C.2, and C.4 (action D.1). Assessment of the conservation status of the species and the long term results of the conservation actions (after-life monitoring). The main monitoring parameters for assessing the conservation status of a species according to the requirements of Directive 92/43/EEC are: distribution and range, population (size, demography, dynamics), habitat, and conservation potential (pressures and threats). The same parameters can be used as indicators of the success of the conservation actions. In the case of Veronica oeataea, due to the dwarf size and specialisation of the plant, its distribution pattern in the ponds, the very large number of individuals, and the significant variation of population size and spatial distribution, it is proposed to monitor annualy: resence of the species in the ponds of Livadies, Greveno, and Alykaina as well as in the pond of Louka after the first seeding for the establishment of the species. opulation size and spatial distribution according to the scheme followed in action A.4 (Deliverable A4.1). Habitat and conservation potential according to the scheme followed in action A.3 (Deliverable A3.1). ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ Οι αντικειμενικοί ςτόχοι τησ παρακολοφθηςησ τησ Veronica oetaea ςτο πλαίςιο του ζργου ForOpenForests είναι: Εκτίμηςη των αποτελεςμάτων των δράςεων διατήρηςησ C.1, C.2, και C.4 (δράςη D.1). Εκτίμηςη τησ κατάςταςησ διατήρηςησ του είδουσ και των μακροπρόθεςμων αποτελεςμάτων των δράςεων διατήρηςησ (παρακολοφθηςη μετά το LIFE). Οι κφριεσ παράμετροι παρακολοφθηςησ για την εκτίμηςη τησ κατάςταςησ διατήρηςησ ενόσ είδουσ ςφμφωνα με τισ απαιτήςεισ τησ Οδηγίασ 92/43/ΕΟΚ είναι: κατανομή και εφροσ εξάπλωςησ, πληθυςμόσ (μζγεθοσ, δημογραφία, δυναμική), ενδιαίτημα και προοπτικζσ διατήρηςησ (πιζςεισ και απειλζσ). Οι ίδιεσ παράμετροι μπορεί να χρηςιμοποιηθοφν και ωσ δείκτεσ για την εκτίμηςη τησ επιτυχίασ των δράςεων διατήρηςησ. την περίπτωςη τησ Veronica oetaea, λόγω του πολφ μικροφ μεγζθουσ και τησ εξειδίκευςησ του φυτοφ, του προτφπου κατανομήσ του ςτα λιμνία, του πολφ μεγάλου αριθμοφ ατόμων, και τησ ςημαντικήσ διακφμανςησ του μεγζθουσ του πληθυςμοφ και τησ χωρικήσ κατανομήσ, προτείνεται να παρακολουθοφνται ετήςια: Παρουςία του είδουσ ςτα λιμνία Λιβαδιζσ, Γρεβενό και Αλφκαινα, καθώσ και ςτο λιμνίο Λοφκα μετά την πρώτη ςπορά για την εγκατάςταςη του είδουσ. Mζγεθοσ και χωρική κατανομή του πληθυςμοφ με τη μεθοδολογία που ακολουθήθηκε ςτη Δράςη Α.4 (Παραδοτζο Α.4.1). Ενδιαίτημα και προοπτικζσ διατήρηςησ με τη μεθοδολογία που ακολουθήθηκε ςτη Δράςη Α.3 (Παραδοτζο Α.3.1). 4

5 1. Monitoring objectives and parameters for Veronica oetaea Veronica oetaea is an annual dwarf plant species restricted to the vernal pools (habitat 3170*) of Mt Oiti. It occurs only in three small high altitude ponds, named Livadies, Greveno and Alykaina. Thus it is a specialised and stenoendemic species. Monitoring of Veronica oetaea within the project ForOpenForests has two main objectives: Αssessment of the results of the conservation measures of actions C1 (fencing of the perimeter of the ponds), C2 (enhancement of the population of the species by establishment at the pond of Louka), and C3 (additional fencing to preclude grazing at part of the ponds) on the population of the species. This corresponds to monitoring within the LIFE project in the frame of action D.1. Assessment the conservation status of the species including the long-term results of the conservation actions C1, C2, and C3. This corresponds to after-life monitoring. The main monitoring parameters for assessing the conservation status of a species in terms of the Directive 92/43/EEC and the relevant reporting (Article 17) by member states are (Evans & Arvela 2011): i. Distribution and range of the species (expressed in 10x10 grid and also in smaller grids or areas as appropriate). ii. opulation of the species (including population size, reproduction, and fluctuations). iii. Habitat of the species (occupied and available habitat, special structures of the habitat). iv. Conservation potential (as assessed by the impacts of threats and pressures on the three first parameters). The above parameters were used during the base study of the dynamics of the species' population (action A.4) and can also be used as indicators of the success of the conservation measures within the LIFE project. The significant interannual variation in population size, density and spatial distribution observed in 2013 and 2014 (action A.4) poses difficulties in assessing the results of conservation actions in the short term. Monitoring should be intensive and long term in order to produce reliable results. On that count, the application of the surveying methodology used in Action A.4 will be advantageous since there will be direct comparison with the existing data. In addition, coupling with meteorological data is important in order to assess at least part of the variation of the monitored parameters due to stochastic events. Distribution and range Distribution is defined as the number of grid cells where a species occurs and range is an envelope including these cells. Both parameters are assessed using an appropriate grid for the species as well as the obligatory 10x10 grid. Veronica oetaea is present in only 3 small ponds all of them included in the same 10x10 cell and without any suitable habitat for the species in between. In this case the 10x10 grid has little meaning in monitoring as it cannot detect 5

6 important changes in the distribution of the species (i.e., the loss of a whole pond). According to the guidelines for assessing species' distribution and range (Evans & Arvela 2011), in this case range can be considered equal to the distribution of the species and expressed as the total area of the ponds. Thus, the current range of the species is 0.09 km 2. In the case of Vernoca oetaea on Oiti, the assessment of distribution and range requires only the confimation of the presence of the specie at the known localities of Livadies, Greveno, and Alykaina and in Louka where population enhancement will take place. opulation In general, population assessment requires knowledge of population size and demography (reproduction, mortality, age structure) and of the trends of these parameters (population dynamics). In the case of Veronica oetaea, which is an annual species, age structure does not apply. Also, reproduction (i.e. comparative production of flowers and seeds) and mortality (i.e. number of plants which die before setting seed) are impossible to assess in situ due to the very small size of the plant and the minute seedlings. Thus, population size is the only estimation applicable in the case of Veronica oetaea. This estimation could be coupled with the study of the soil seed bank which is however quite time and energy consuming and can be difficult to apply in the long run (i.e., in after-life monitoring). However, the production of viable seeds can be easily checked by collection and germination tests. The unit for estimation of the population size is the adult individuals (flowering plants). Direct counts of the total number of plants are not possible due to the very large size of the population. The proposed method for the assessment of the population size is the direct count of individuals at systematically placed plots. This is a non-probabilistic method theoretically not allowing the reliable estimation of the total number of plants. However, the large number of plots improves the reliability of the method and the systematic scheme allows the assessment of the spatial distribution of the species in the ponds. Besides, the random selection of plots would require an even larger and not cost effective number of plots due to the non normal and non random (oisson) distribution of the plant. Habitat Habitat monitoring for plant species is usually performed by monitoring of the plant community and of certain special structures related to the microhabitat of the plant. Veronica oetaea is specialised to high altitude temporary ponds with maximum depth cm flooded in winter and drying up in summer. Thus, habitat monitoring should include monitoring of the plant communities of temporary ponds (as in Action A.3) and of the hydrogeochemical parameters including the hygroperiod and depth of the ponds. The size of the occupied habitat and habitat availability coincide with the distribution of habitat 3170* at the high altitudes of Mt. Oiti. Conservation potential 6

7 ressures (current in the past 10 years) and threats (projected in the future) acting on the population and habitat of the species generally include natural or anthropogenic habitat degradation or loss and disastrous events as well as impacts of interspecific relationships such as competition, invasion or predation and of endogenous factors. The main pressures and threats identified at the ponds of Oiti are grazing (Alykaina, Louka) and trampling (Louka). 2. Monitoring protocol Distribution and range Method: Timing: Identification of Veronica oetaea by simple observation. Confirmation of its presence at the ponds of Livadies, Greveno, and Alykaina. Checking of its presence in the pond of Louka after the first seeding of the plant. Annually, in early and late June. Equipment: Camera. Man-days: One day for all ponds. May be combined with population size monitoring. opulation size and spatial distribution Method: Methodology as in Deliverable A.4.1. Setting of permanent transects at distances of 2 m throughout the area of each pond (use of the transects established in Actions A.3 and A.4). In the ponds of Livadies, Greveno and Alykaina, population counts at 50x50 cm plots systematically placed within the 1x1 m plots of action A3 in each 2x2 cell. At the pond of Louka, additional transects will be established (transects every 2.5 m instead of every 5 m) and measurements will be made at 50x50 cm plots systematically placed within all the 1x1 plots of the grid. Counts either by photos at the plots with large numbers of plants or by counting the individuals at the plots with small numbers of plants. The images will be connected with the software tgui and the plants of each image counted with the software imagej. After the application of restoration interventions at Louka, collection of seeds from 10 randomly selected plants and seed germination testing for at least two years. Timing: Annually, in early or late June depending on the meteorological conditions and the pond. Checking of the ponds every 15 days starting in late May is advisable. In general, counts at Alykaina and Louka should be performed 15 days earlier than counts in Livadies and Greveno. 7

8 Equipment: Camera with adequate pixel size (e.g. 3600x2400) equipped with precision lens, camera tripod preferably 1.5 m and adaptable, wooden frame 50x50 cm, measuring tapes at least 50 m, printed protocol (Table 1) and stationery. Man-days: Two people for 4 or 5 days, depending on the weather conditions. Habitat and Conservation otential Method: Timing: Methodology as in Deliverable A.3.1., also specified in Deliverable A.3.3 and as in Deliverable A.2.2. ressures and threats also added in the printed protocol (Table 1). As in Deliverable A.3.1., also specified in Deliverable A.3.3. Equipment: As in Deliverable A.3.1., also specified in Deliverable A.3.3. Man-days: Two people for 5 or 6 days, depending on the weather conditions. 8

9 Table 1. rotocol for counts of Veronica oetaea. Transect No T ond name Author ressures/threats Date Notes lot No m from start No individuals resence in 2x2 cell Notes 9

10 3. Literature Evans D., Arvela M Assessment and reporting under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive - Explanatory Notes & Guidelines for the period Final Draft. European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity, p