Dissertation committee:
Αναπλ. Καθηγητής ΕΚΠΑ Παρίσης Παυλάκης (Επιβλέπων), Καθηγητής ΕΚΠΑ Γεώργιος Θεοδώρου, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής ΕΚΠΑ Μιχαήλ Δερμιτζάκης
Summary:
A review of the Greek Pleistocene avifaunas is presented. The dissertation
focuses on the study of avian fossil material from two important Greek
Pleistocene sites; Charkadio Cave at Tilos Island and Vraona doline in Attica.
The objectives of the study are the taxonomic classification of the material,
the reconstruction of taphonomic processes and the palaeoecological
reconstruction of the palaeoavifaunas.
Several excavation periods at Charkadio cave, until 2001, resulted in the
discovery of three hundred and seventy five avian skeletal elements. The
taxonomic analysis of the above material led to the identification of twenty
four different avian taxa. Fifteen of them were identified to species level,
four to species confer, three to genus level, two to the family level, while
some specimens were identified only to class level (Table 3.1). Excavations
held at Vraona doline resulted in unearthing four hundred and seventy three
avian skeletal elements. The taxonomic classification was based on the complete
avifaunal sample and resulted in the identification of nine new bird species
and the revision of two bird species. In total twenty five different avian
taxa were identified. Eighteen were identified to species level, five to
species confer, one to the genus level, and finally some specimens were
identified to class level (Table 3.2).
The taphonomic study of the material in both sites revealed that natural,
non-biotic factors were the main agent in the accumulation of the specimens.
Human involvement in the accumulation of the palaeoavifauna is not documented
either in the relative abundance of different skeletal elements, or in the
presence of more immediate evidence, such as cut marks or burn marks on the
bird bones.
The palaeoecological reconstruction of the continental habitats of Tilos Island
based on the palaeoavifauna, indicates, for the time of its deposition, the
dominance of different climatic conditions than the ones currently observed.
Bird species that today live in the colder Eurasian climatic zones were
identified, as well as species that were dependant on constant sources of fresh
water, open forest environments and areas of dense mixed forest. The study of
the ecological traits of the palaeoavifauna of Vraona doline, leads to the
conclusion that open, steppe- like environments dominated the area at the time
of the deposition of the specimens. Small areas of dense forest were also
present in Vraona, as well as a swamp, or a river delta environment.
The Greek Pleistocene avifaunas are characterized by high species diversity,
with varied ecological adaptations. The palaeoavifaunas include different
species from the ones currently observed in Greece, reflecting the climatic
changes taking place in southern Europe during the period of the Ice Ages.
Keywords:
Palaeontology, Aves, Pleistocene, Palaeoecology, Taphonomy
