Month: July 2020

The Field Team of MOm visited the broader area of Andros and the sea caves used by the Mediterranean monk seal at Andros, Tinos and Gyaros islands and cleaned, among others, one of the most polluted sea caves, located at Mantilou islet. The islet of Mandilou is on one of the main pathways of marine litter transport in the Aegean Sea which passes Kafireas Straits transporting marine litter originating mainly from North Aegean. As a result, the sea cave of the islet is particularly exposed to pollution. Researchers who visited the cave collected nets, crabs, tree trunks and plastics, covering entirely its beach, making it unsuitable for seals and especially dangerous for those using it. Marine litter could injure the seals and even trap them. The collected marine litter was…

Kaireios Library initiates the operation of the Botanical Garden that was created as part of the LIFE Andros Park project at Agadaki Estate. At the same time, a photograph exhibition is organized on the species and the habitat the project is trying to protect and promote. Agadaki Estate is located in Apatouria and includes a stone Tower built in the 18th century, a traditional olive mill, as well as an orchard of about eight acres that has two natural springs. It was the residence of the Andrian family Tzortzi or Agadaki. Kaireios Library has recently restored the Tower and the olive mill. The Botanical Garden hosts 150 species of Andros’ native plants planted on the terraces of the Estate and in various locations depending on their requirements. The first terrace…

Research concerning the diversity of macrofungi in Andros started approximately 25 years ago; however, it was the LIFE "Andros Park" project which provided the framework allowing intensification of pertinent studies in forests and stands of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) on the island. In total, 106 mushroom species associated with alders (by either forming specialized symbiotic relationships with the trees, or by growing on wood and litter residues) were recorded. It is noteworthy that 21 of these species constitute new national records, and many other are reported for the first time on this particular host-plant. The initial idea of inventorying the mushrooms of Andros belongs to the founder of the Kaireios Library, the late Dimitrios I. Polemis, who encouraged Elias Polemis to start working on this subject back in 1993. Soon…