Παρουσίαση Θαλάσσιας Χλωρίδας και Πανίδας-Κρήτης

1. Flora and Fauna
ERASMUS+ KΑ2

2. Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean , although a sea of small extent compared to other
seas in the world ocean, is a deep sea with many coasts and major islands
such as:
Cyprus, Crete, Euboea, Rhodes, Lesbos, Chios, Kefalonia and Corfu
in the eastern Mediterranean.
It is one of the richest, in terms of numbers of animals and plants that
live in its waters. This is due to the geological history and the variety of
physicochemical conditions.

3. THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT
so different from the land…

4. THE WEALTH OF CRETAN
BOTTOM..
The natural wealth of Crete is not exhausted in the mountains and
gorges, the rare habitats and beaches. It goes even deeper.
Literally!
The seabed of the island hides another, magical world, where colors
rages, fishes are masters of camouflage, corals (yes, we have corals in
Crete!) forming improbable formats, octopus lurking lazily in their hiding
places, the eels emerge from the most unlikely places and the nuns? move
in herds! Of course this is not all: molluscs, crustaceans, anemones, small
and large fishes, Sea grass meadows, endemic species, tropical
"immigrants" ,who slipped in the Mediterranean after the opening of the
Suez Canal, and more live here!.
The fake coral Μyriapora truncata
The largest collection of color
contrasts ...

5. MEADOWS OF SEA GRASS…
The forests of the sea
…It is in terms of evolution a
superior marine plants with important
ecological role, as a rich marine
fauna and flora is developed.
They offer natural oxygen for
reproduction and growth of many
marine organisms. In the depths of
the meadows of Sea grass
the network of roots retain the
sediment of the seabed, while the
high density of the leaves absorbs
lots of energy of waves and limit
beach erosion.
Where ever there is Sea
grass the sea is
certainly clean
Sea grass is not
seaweed ...
…and what is it;

6. Sea grass Oceanic..
The planet of Mediterranean Sea
They are immersed in
seawater. They have roots,
stems, leaves, even flowers and
fruits. Their leaves may reach
1 meter length and their color
is green.But, as the leaves
grow older it becomes dark
brown and falls from the plant,
while new ones are reborn. The
fallen leaves will be taken by
the waves and washed onto
the sandy shore. So actually
these are the brown ‘’ribbons’’
we often find onto the
beaches..

7. ... And what about algae?
Algae are evolutionarily inferior
water plants which have no roots,
stems, leaves, flowers and fruits.
These ..
If Sea grass is not
algae…
…then which are
algae?
…Stay on rocks, other algae and
even on living organisms ?…
Swing… Err in water………
There are…

8. ..the basis of the food chain .. The perfect display for the excellent quality of sea water.
Our country is home to more than 600 different species of algae , which were developed in
the Greek seabed, precisely because of the lack of major hot spots. Algae are also very
common in coastal waters. Those who love diving from the rocks or love swimming with
masks on rocky shores definitely will have seen them. They are those small plants, usually
of brownish color, which sometimes looks like small shrubs. Their size is small in Greece,
usually not exceeding 20 - 30 centimeters.
"Rodymenia" red-brown algae,
the salad of the sea
in the western part of Crete…
Cystoseira
Small trees or
shrubs that have
hard texture. In
Greece these
species are very
common in
shallow depths
(0-1 meter).
"Alga or sycamore umbrella"
Useful indicator of clean sea .
"Kelp"
Loves light
and prefers shallow
depths until 20m. Looks like the form
of ventalias- funnel and belongs
to brown algae.
"Brown algae"
Loves the luminous life of sea...
"Red algae"
in shaded areas of the seabed.

9. These algae grow up in
large quantities in
polluted ports, piers,
near conduits that
removes effluents?,
covering all the surface
of the rocks in very
shallow depths- usually in
the point where the
waves are crashing.
The lettuce Ulva
that…….warns
Attention!!
….further up…..
The reason that makes it so
special is that it is edible and
eaten mainly from the residents
of Western Crete, who hunt it?.
The result is that it’ s population
is being reduced more and more
and it is becoming extinct. We
meet the Polysiphonia Algae on
rocks in shallow waters and local
people names it “ The salad of
the sea”.
Polysiphonia Algae..
a special kind of
algae in the
West of Crete ..
Caulerpa racemosa,
Algae..alien
Τhe algae alien, has been located in many submarine
areas of the Greek space and “migrated” from tropical
areas to the Mediterranean basin. It threatens the
Greek seas, as it is behaving as an invasion which leads to
biological pollution of the marine ecosystem. It covers
the flora of the area and as a result the food of the
herbivorous marine organizations and fishes is reduced
and subsequently it changes the composition of the
habitats which are the refuge for many marine
organisms.

10. The ¾ of the earth are covered by water, by big water masses. Sweet and mainly salted
water. Rivers, lakes, seas, oceans.. A fantastic and rich variety of plants and animals, from
tiny to huge organisms have evolved, adjusted, living in the land and in the sea and are
characterized from important similarities and differences.
The coastal zone, a transition zone from the land area, to the water and in deed to the
salted water, is an area worth studying, It is particularly rich. Every single organism plant
or animal, small or big, has it’ s own position due to its environment, its necessities, its
adaptations.
So, both Sea grass and algae are necessary for conservation of the life in the sea ( and not
only because the oxygen they release is being used from other organizations), and their
role is corresponding to them at the forests of the land for the overland wormwood
animals.
So Sea grass is considered today both from European Union and Greek legislation as a
protected species and have already started efforts mapping it in Greece.
THE EARTH ………..IS A WATER
WORLD

11. MARINE FAUNA
The diversity with the many and rocked coasts of inhabited and
uninhabited islands and islets of Greek seas creates favorable
conditions for establishment and reproduction of many species of
marine fauna.

12. Sponges hold an important
position in the aquatic
ecosystem, mainly due to
the enormous importance of
the disinfection of water,
the live filters as they are
called, and for providing
shelter and support for a
variety of organizations.
Their shape is
characterized by
asymmetry, with main
feature of the porous
structure of the skeleton.
The sponges need hard
substrate (rocky bottom) to
attach and filter water to
feed.
SPONGES

13. Cnidarians are producing poison which
they use in order to kill small sea
animals. Jellyfishes, sea anemones
etc….belong here
CNIDARIANS… be careful!!!
“jellyfish “ marine
invertebrates
(Cnidarians), plank tonic
organisms. Usually
roaming at the surface of
the warm seas and
carried away by winds
and currents.
Sea Anemone (Anemonia viridis)
As beautiful as it is, it can be
proved dangerous if someone
is found closer to the legal
limit. The sea anemone is the
number one enemy of the
summer holidays .. It is found
in small deep till 20 m. in areas
of direct sunlight. Its
tentacles have, depending on
the lighting, different colors.
Although it can be moved,
most of the time it is
attached to rocks

14. ANNELIDS
Annelids spreads its
impressive fan .
We meet them attached to
rocky substrates of the
seabed at depths of 40 to
200 m.

15. MOLLUSKS
The Mollusks are one of the most populous
phyla of animals, perhaps the greatest
after arthropods. In order to be fed they
use a special tongue, like rasp. Most
mollusks are living in the sea. Some are
buried in the sand of the seabed or stuck
on rocks, such as barnacles and oysters,
while others, such as cuttlefish and
octopuses are swimming freely and are
skilled predators.
Yes it shines!
This cuttlefish features
luminescent
cells in the skin that
produce light by
chemical processes.
"Ilex» Todarodes
sagittatus, it’ s ugly
doubles.?...
….of “squid” Loligo.
«Octopus» Octopus
vulgaris, is considered
one of the smarter
invertebrates.
are living near the
coasts at rocked
bottoms.
Cuttlefish..
Greek “shells”, small
treasures of Greek seas ...
"Gloss" ..... so shiny ... that you think
it’s handmade!

16. ECHINODERMS
Urchin, is living on rocky substrates, up to 30 meters
deep, which are usually covered with shells from
shellfish or algae which are it’ s food. Eaten and due
to intensive fishing, its populations have decreased
significantly.
Red starfish, Echinaster sepositus, a
common species in the Mediterranean
sea. It is modest and stands out easily
from the striking orange-red color.

17. ARTHROPODS
Their body has many microscopic
pores. Living under the water
surface, adherent on rocks.
“ Lobster ”, it’ s characteristic is the two long antennae. It’ s length
typically ranges from 25 to 30 cm., while it’ s color is reddish-brown
with many yellow spots .. During the day, it’s hiding in crevices or
holes while at night time it’s coming for feeding. It is living at the
bottom of the seas, particularly preferring rocks.
LOBSTER, the Aegean Star
“Shrimp”
we find it in small sizes, it has
orange color and lives in deep
waters. But when they want to
breed they come into shallow
waters.

18. FAUNA of the Greek and Cretan seas
Σάλπα (Sarpa salpa)
Μουρμούρα
(Lithognathus
mormyrus)
Φαγγρί (Pagrus pagrus)
Λαβράκι
(Dicentrarchus
labrax
Τσιπούρα (Sparus auratus)
Σμέρνα (Muraena helena)Τόνος (Thunnus thynnus)
Συναγρίδα (Dentex dentex)Μυλοκόπι
(Croaker)
Λυθρίνι (Pagellus erythrinus)
Κυνηγός
(Sphyraena
sphyraena)
Γλώσσα (Solea
solea)

19. Μπακαλιάρος (Cod)
Μπαρμπούνι (Mullus
surmuletus) Ροφός (Epinephelus
marginatus)
Μουγγρί (Conger conger)
Μαγιάτικο (Seriola dumerili)
Παλαμίδα (Sarda sarda)
Ζαργάνα (Belone
belone belone),
Σαλάχι
(Skates)
Γοφάρι, Temnodom
saltator, strong and
fierce fish
Σκουμπρί or Κολιός
(Scomber japonicus)

20. Αθερίνα (Atherina hepsetus),
when is polished, usually sleeps.
Γόπα (Boops boops)
Κέφαλος (Mugil cephalus)
The lonely Χάνος
(Serranus cabrilla)
Δράκαινα (Trachinus
draco), the poisonous
Σκορπιός
(Scorpaena notata)
Καλογριά (Chromis
chromis)
Μελανούρι (Oblada
melanura)
Σαργός (Diplodus sargus sargus)
Σπάρος (Diplodus annularis)

21. MARINE REPTILES
Caretta Caretta turtle
The turtle Caretta caretta is one of the
seven species of marine turtles that exist
worldwide. Of these only three are visiting
the Mediterranean. The loggerhead is the
only species of Mediterranean sea turtles
that also breeds in Greece. In Crete such
places are found in Chania, Rethimno,
Mesara and in Petras (on area) in Sitia.

22. MARINE MAMMALS
travelling with the angels of the sea
«Σταχτοδέλφινο» (Grampus
griseus), the dolphin with the
white scarifications..
All dolphins have a sonar system which
helps them to orient, identify their
food and communicate. A
communication with codes that anyone
could easily imagine for a marine
mammal. The Greek seas are privileged
to host four species of dolphins ...
«Ρινοδέλφινο», (Tursiops truncatus) the
playful, funny acrobat.
«Ζωνοδέλφινο» (Stenella
coeruleoalba), it took it’ s
name from the line that starts
from the eye and reaches the
belly.

23. CETACEANS
The rest members of the company…
On Greek beaches, of course,
residents are not only dolphins
but and other cetaceans, which
we would like to introduce to you..
Φυσητήρας, (Physeter macrocephalus) with
the biggest brain in the animal kingdom
«Πτεροφάλαινα» ,( Balaenoptera
physalus) the fasten? blackfish, some
of them have been observed in the
deep waters of southern Crete.
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus
monachus)
is living in Greece. She is using long whiskers
over her mouth as sense organs. Instead of
external ears she has small acoustic holes.

24. A sea that balances our life itself,
quietly but decisively.
The clear blue Greek waters hides a
world of magic, mystery, with
untold beauty, with its own laws
and values.
Greece…. covered in blue

25. 1ο Δημοτικό σχολείο Σητείας
1st Primary School of Sitia
DECEMBER 2015