GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF PERSIAN SQUIRREL (SCIURUS ANOMALUS) IN THE GREEK ISLAND OF LESBOS

摘要

The ecology of the Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) was established on the east Aegean island of Lesbos. In this paper with the program GIS, the island of Lesbos was divided in 460 cells, each cell is 2X2km. Then using GPS we took points from 89 locations which we put in our GIS map of the island. (Decimal coordinates). The presence of the squirrel was based on direct visual observations (the green dots on the map), indirect observations is the remains of consumed acorns and almonds or many witness that they were taken from locals (pink dots on the map) and we have the blue dots which represents the suitable habitats for the Persian squirrel, taking under consideration their preferences. Habitat change was observed, which caused mainly from the fruition of specific trees which Persian squirrel prefers. Also with corine 2000 that we have in our GIS map we digitized some pieces of land which is suitable for Persian squirrel habitats, such us olive groves and mixed forests, so in that way we could compare that pieces with the dots and find in which habitats the squirrels are more likely to find. Several squirrels found dead on the roads, it's a fact that there is habitat loss and fragmentation which threats the Persian's squirrel population.