Platanorema creek, Koroneia-Volvi National Park

Environment

Environment

Affected by human activity

Affected by human activity

Agriculture

Agriculture

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Surrounding area

Platanorema creek, which forms the Skala ravine is approximately 5km long. It is part of the National Park: Koroneias-Volvis and the Birds Directive Sites (SPA): LIMNES KORONEIAS – VOLVIS, STENA RENTINAS KAI EVRYTERI PERIOCHI as cited in NATURA 2000 website.

It is located 50km away from Thessaloniki and has an easy hiking trail. Many feeding, nesting, breeding, wintering and refuge habitats for bird species are located in, along and close to the lake waters and gorges. Gorges consist an important habitat for birds of pray and flyway for migratory bird species.

In addition, the sites are important from the archaeological point of view, since there are historical monuments in the area. Thick forest covered the land along the sides of the streams and creeks.

Underwater landscape

The underwater landscape is mainly the same along the whole lenght of the stream. It diversifies at times, where there is another creek/waterfall joining, creating a bigger water body. The stream and its creeks are mainly consisting of brown mud, beige/mixed colour gravel and smaller gray stones.

Here and there bigger pieces of driftwood can be found along the shoreline. A lot of fallen leaves, either still floating or submerged created great hiding spots. Due to it being a whitewater stream, the visibility was poor at all times and once a person steps a foot in the creeks the visibility becomes almost nonexistant. Some parts of water riverbed consisted of stones that were covered in algae.

There was mainly one kind of fish, Barbus cyclolepis in different life stages, either from a small fry to a 15cm adult fish. Many different nymphs of different insects and water bugs were sighted along with small frogs and tadpoles of different species. Another amphibian which has never been seen there before was Lissotriton vulgaris – the European newt.

Aquatic vegetation, such as moss was sighted at places, where the stream had greater flow.

Fishes:

• Barbus cyclolepis (Cyprinidae)

Amphibian:

• Triturus vulgaris (Salamandridae)

Crustaceans:

• Potamon potamios (Potamidae)

Aquatic mosses:

• Fontinalis antipyretica (Fontinalaceae)

Threats to ecology

As it is a part of NATURA 2000 site there is extensive analysis on the threats to the ecology of the whole site.

The biggest threats are:

reduction or loss of specific habitat features, modification of cultivation practices, trapping, poisoning, poaching, eutrophication (natural), anthropogenic reduction of habitat connectivity, fragmentation, irrigation including (temporary) transition from dry to mesic or wet contitions due to irrigation, continuous urbanisation, death of animals or injury by collision, reduction of prey availability (inluding carcasses) and agricultural intensification.

Riparian zone

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many -