Panagiotis Dendrinos

Η υλοποίηση της ημερίδας «Σπήλαια και Καρστικές Περιοχές σε Κίνδυνο» ξεκίνησε με πρωτοβουλία του Ινστιτούτου Σπηλαιολογικών Ερευνών Ελλάδας και της Σπηλαιολογικής Ομοσπονδίας Ελλάδος και αμέσως υποστηρίχθηκε ποικιλοτρόπως από την Επιτροπή Γεωμορφολογίας και Περιβάλλοντος της Ελληνικής Γεωλογικής Εταιρείας και το Τμήμα Γεωγραφίας Χαροκοπείου Πανεπισ...

The role of animal host-associated microbiomes is becoming more apparent and defined for wild animals, especially for the species under conservation strategies. This study investigated the succession of fecal and skin bacterial microbiota of two rescued female Mediterranean monk seal ( Monachus monachus ) pups for most of their rehabilitation perio...

There is recent evidence of a significant increase in the range of the Monk Seal in Greece, which is one of the main reproductive areas of the European Mediterranean Monk Seal subpopulation (Adamantopoulou et al. 2022). In Türkiye a range expansion and an increase in sightings have also been documented (SAD-AFAG unpublished data September 2023), wh...

The role of animal host-associated microbiomes is becoming more apparent and defined for wild animals, especially for the species under conservation strategies. This study investigated the succession of fecal and skin bacterial microbiota of two rescued female Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) pups for most of their rehabilitation period....

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is one of the most endangered pinnipeds in the world, and is classified as “Endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Any additional knowledge about the species is invaluable to its effective conservation. In the present study, we deployed an autonomous underwater recorder i...

The Aegean Sea is one of the marine areas of our planet that has maintained its mystique throughout time. One of the species contributing to this mystique is the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). The species has inhabited the waters of the Aegean since classical times, a fact that was well-known to ancient Greeks. Unfortunately, gradual,...

The aim of the current study was the molecular identification of a parasitic mite found in the cardio-respiratory system of a sub-adult Mediterranean monk seal individual, that was found stranded in the area of Pagasitikos Gulf, Greece in 2019. The body of the seal was transferred to the Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Ichthyology for a post-mortem...

Disentangling the impact of Late Quaternary climate change from human activities can have crucial implications on the conservation of endangered species. We investigated the population genetics and demography of the Mediterranean monk seal ( Monachus monachus ), one of the world's most endangered marine mammals, through an unprecedented dataset enc...

Conservation actions for endangered species often require detailed data over large temporal and spatial scales, which are usually hard to obtain from traditional scientific surveys that operate at localized scales. In contrast to the terrestrial conservation world where citizen science has become nowadays a highly relevant and useful tool to overco...

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is classified as an endangered species by the IUCN, with a global population that does not exceed 800 individuals. There is limited understanding around the biology and health status of the species, rendering possible parasitic infections grave for its conservation efforts. The aim of the current stud...

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is classified as an endangered species by the IUCN, with a global population that does not exceed 800 individuals. There is limited understanding around the biology and health status of the species, rendering possible parasitic infections grave for its conservation efforts. The aim of the current stud...

Disentangling the impact of Late Quaternary climate change from human activities can have crucial implications on the conservation of endangered species. We investigated the population genetics and demography of the Mediterranean monk seal ( Monachus monachus ), one of the world's most endangered marine mammals, through an unprecedented dataset enc...

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is classified by the IUCN as "endan-gered," with a global population estimated to number fewer than 800 individuals. Our understanding of the biology and health status of the species is still limited, rendering every medical case a challenge for conservationists and veterinary clinicians. Although stu...

The aim of the current study was the molecular identification of a parasitic nematode found in the digestive system of a stranded Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) in the area of Pagasitikos Gulf in 2019.The body of the seal was transferred to the Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Ichthyology for a post-mortem examination. Analysis of the st...

Understanding behavioral ontogeny is important for the successful conservation of endangered marine mammals. This is particularly the case for phocid seals, as during the early stages of their life they must acquire, largely independently, essential survival skills. We studied the maternal behavior and early behavioral ontogeny of the Mediterranean...

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is a flagship species for marine conservation, but important aspects of its life history remain unknown. Concerns over imminent extinction motivated a nuclear DNA study of the species in its largest continuous subpopulation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Despite recent evidence of partial subpopula...

• Small‐scale fisheries may pose a serious threat to the conservation of marine mammals. At the same time various factors have led to the decline of small‐scale fisheries, often making them unsustainable. Current rates of biodiversity loss and the reduction of fish stocks and fisheries dictate a thorough understanding of fisheries‐related issues an...

The Aegean and Ionian Seas in Greece host currently the largest population of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). The species is the only pinniped of the Mediterranean Sea that uses marine caves (monk seal shelters) with specific morphological characteristics for resting and pupping. The existence of such marine caves is of...

With fewer than 700 individuals remaining (approx. 350 in Greece), the Mediterranean monk seal is classified as "Endangered" by the IUCN and rescue and rehabilitation of orphan pups has been identified as a conservation priority. The purpose of the present study is to present the rehabilitation program for Mediterranean monk seal pups in Greece and...

Once widespread throughout the Black and Mediterranean Seas and the coasts of north Africa, the Endangered Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus has disappeared throughout most of its original range. In Cyprus evidence suggests that the species became effectively extinct at the end of the 20th century. Following an increase of seal sightings ar...

Mixed species groups (MSG) occur among different mammalian species, ranging from related species to species belonging to different orders. MSG may enhance foraging and predator avoidance, or provide social benefits. These advantages, however, may not be equally distributed between the participating species. Although the habitat of Mediterranean com...

The National Marine Park of Alonissos, Northern Sporades (NMPANS) is the largest Marine Protected Area in Greece (2220 km2). In the summers (June – September) of 2013–2015 and 2017–2018, we conducted boat-based surveys to study the poorly-known cetaceans of the NMPANS. Across 79 survey days and 2565 km of navigation, we encountered four species: co...

Mediterranean monk seals (MMS) are among the most endangered marine mammals on Earth. We screened mitochondrial variability (control region [CR1] and mitogenomes) of the species through a 180‐yr timeframe and extended by 20% (n = 205) the number of samples from a previous investigation, including historical specimens from 1833 to 1975. Although we...

The effective conservation of marine biodiversity through an integrated ecosystem-based management approach requires a sound knowledge of the spatial distribution of habitats and species. Although costly in terms of time and resources, acquiring such information is essential for the development of rigorous management plans and the meaningful priori...

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is considered Endangered by the IUCN, and is the most endangered pinniped in the world. Increasing our knowledge of this species is crucial in order to further our understanding of its social behaviour, but also to develop new methods to monitor and protect it. In many species, acoustic communication pl...

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. The biggest sub-population of the species survives in Greece, where understanding the effects of pollution on the survival of the species has been identified as a national research and conservation priority. From 1990 to 2013 we collected tiss...

According to the Aichi Biodiverity Target 11 set by the Convention on Biological Diversity, states are committed to protect 10% of marine coastal areas by 2020. In line with this, the ultimate goal of the MARISCA project is to propose a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for the conservation of all important and vulnerable habitats and specie...

The M editerranean monk seal M onachus monachus is the most endangered seal species. In this review we summarize the status, ecology, and behaviour of the M editerranean monk seal, and identify the main threats that currently affect the species and the conservation priorities for securing its survival. Once abundant throughout the B lack S ea and M...

A striking example of climate‐mediated range shifts in marine systems is the intrusion of tropical species into temperate areas world‐wide, but we know very little about the ecological consequences of these range expansions. In the Mediterranean Sea, the range expansion of tropical rabbitfishes that first entered the basin via the Suez Canal provid...

Understanding the ecology and behaviour of endangered species is essential for developing effective management and conservation strategies. We used stable isotope analysis to investigate the foraging behaviour of critically endangered Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) in Greece. We measured carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (expressed a...

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is the most endangered Pinniped in the world and little is known about its exposure to pollutants, particularly to heavy metals. In the present study, the heavy metal burden of the species in livers and kidneys was recorded in 15 stranded animals found in Greece (2000 - 2012), and possible adverse eff...

The Mediterranean Sea, both for its geo-morphological characteristics and the very high human activity around its coasts and in its water, can be considered as a "sink" for many environmental contaminants, such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are a large class of molecules with condensed benzene rings and the most toxic family of h...

The Mediterranean monk seal is one of the most endangered and least understood marine mammals on the planet. Fewer than 600 individuals are estimated to survive, the majority of which at remote and inaccessible locations in Greece. Following the discovery in 2008 at the island of Gyaros of one of the most important populations of the species, we se...

Our study demonstrates that setting conservation targets for each Mediterranean ecoregion, can lead to outcomes more comprehensive in the representation of the Mediterranean biodiversity overcoming the great variability in availability of biodiversity and socioeconomic data among countries.

Our study demonstrates that setting conservation targets for each Mediterranean ecoregion, can lead to outcomes more comprehensive in the representation of the Mediterranean biodiversity overcoming the great variability in availability of biodiversity and socioeconomic data among countries.

Spatial priorities for the conservation of three key Mediterranean habitats, i.e. seagrass Posidonia oceanica meadows, coralligenous formations, and marine caves, were determined through a systematic planning approach. Available information on the distribution of these habitats across the entire Mediterranean Sea was compiled to produce basin-scale...

Following a dramatic decline in the previous cen-tury, the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus, Hermann, 1779) has become one of the most critically endangered mammals in the world (International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN], 2010). Once abundant throughout the entire Black and Mediterranean Seas and the Atlantic coasts and island...

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is considered to be nowadays one of the most critically endangered marine mammals on earth. Fewer than 600 individuals of the species are thought to survive-the main part of the population, estimated to number 250-300 individuals, is found in Greece, and identifying and effectively protecting all rema...

Mediterranean monk seals Monachus monachus are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with <600 individuals split into 3 isolated sub-populations, the largest in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Canine teeth collected during the last 2 decades from 45 dead monk seals inhabiting Greek waters were processed for age estimation. Ages w...

Relationships between pairs of species groups. (DOCX)

List of taxa encountered during our quantitative surveys. Fish trophic groups: AP = Apex Predators, CA = Carnivores, Pl = Planktivores, He = Herbivores. (DOCX)

List and geographic coordinates of sampling sites. (DOCX)

Cumulative human impact source data and analysis. (DOC)

Historical exploitation of the Mediterranean Sea and the absence of rigorous baselines makes it difficult to evaluate the current health of the marine ecosystems and the efficacy of conservation actions at the ecosystem level. Here we establish the first current baseline and gradient of ecosystem structure of nearshore rocky reefs at the Mediterran...

Pinnipeds (the carnivorans in the families Otariidae, Odobenidae, and Phocidae) are mammals that spend their lives in both terrestrial and aquatic envi-ronments; thoroughly studying activity patterns in both environments is essential to fully understand their biology and consequently to define effective management and conservation actions (Harwood...

It is important that all aspects of the life history and behavior of Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) are documented to ensure effective man-agement and conservation of this critically endan-gered species. Little is known about either airborne or underwater vocalizations for this species. Field research and rehabilitation of Mediterrane...

The National Marine Park of Alonissos, Northern Sporades (NMPANS) in Greece is one of the few areas worldwide dedicated to the protection of the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). The impacts of the establishment of this protected area on the local monk seal population have been thoroughly docu-mented for the last 20...

Stomach contents were collected from 27 monk seal carcasses between 1997 and 2008 from different areas along the Greek coast. This sample included nine animals that had been deliberately killed and five accidental deaths due to fisheries interactions. Stomachs from monk seals of both sexes, including adults and subadults, were analysed. A total of...