Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the students:
(i) will understand the main evolutionary processes that contributed to the formation and diversity of the Greek Flora, (ii) will be familiar with the floristic peculiarities of the phytogeographical regions of Greece, (iii) will be aware of the legal framework for the protection of the Greek Flora, (iv) will be capable of carrying out field work and appropriately use the collected data.
Course Content (Syllabus)
1. LECTURES
Factors contributing to the diversity of the Greek Flora. Influence of the glaciations in shaping the Greek Flora. Migrations routes. Speciation in Greece. Endemism. Floristic regions and their peculiarities.Threatened plant species. Protected areas and legal framework for the protection of the Greek Flora.
2. PRACTICALS
Bioclimate - Ombrothermal diagrammes. Chorology, life-forms. Chorological and life-form spectra.
3. FIELD TRIPS
Three daily excursions in the Balkan Botanical Garden of Kroussia and in two sites of the NATURA 2000 Network, aiming at (i) getting familiar with the purposes and functions of a Botanical Garden, and (ii) recording the plant species in characteristic ecotypes of the two NATURA 2000 sites, defining their life-forms in situ and construction and comparison of the respective spectra.