In addition undergraduate and postgraduate students preparing their theses are supporting research activities.
Τμήμα Ωκεανογραφίας και Θαλασσίων Βιοεπιστημών
- +30 22510 36800
- secr-marine@aegean.gr
ECOLOGY AND SYSTEM DYNAMICS
Οικολογία και Δυναμική Συστημάτων
Research is carried out on ecological processes of the coastal zone by applying modern data processing methods including simulation models, artificial intelligence algorithms and specialized statistical methodologies. These approaches are either theoretical using model data, or based on experimental and field data.
The main research topics are related to:
- Community structure and assembly rules
- Analysis of trophic networks and dynamics of marine populations and communities, and interactions with the abiotic environment
- Ecological quality assessment based on changes in community structure
- Dynamics of phytoplankton blooms including Harmful Algal Blooms
- Ecology and integrated management of the coastal zone
The research team includes members of the academic staff of the Department of Marine Sciences:
| Professor |
|---|
|
GEORGE TSIRTSIS |
| Associate Professor |
|---|
|
JOHN MYRITZIS |
| Associate Professor |
|---|
|
GIORGOS KOKKORIS |
| Postdoctoral researchers |
|---|
|
VASSILIS KOLOVOYIANNIS ANDRONIKI TAMVAKI KORALIA TZANI CHRYSANTHI KALLONIATI |
| PhD students |
|---|
|
ANNA TSOUKALA KLEANTHIS PATSIDIS ATHANASIA SAKAVARA, ANDREAS MASOURAS |
Infrastructure
The research work is mainly carried out in two laboratories:
Infrastructure:
- Culture chamber and infrastructure (culture bottles, chemostats, peristaltic pumps) for experimentation on phytoplankton ecology.
The laboratory devices for experiments include:
- High Pressure Liquid Chromatography device (HPLC)
- Inverted microscopes
- Spectrophotometers
- Fluorometers
The field devices include:
- Portable flourometer TURNER
- Seabird CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth) device
- Current meters
- Plankton nets
The laboratory infrastructure includes computers of high processing power for simulations, as well as the appropriate software for data processing and presentation of results.
Research projects
ECOGENE | The relative role of niche and neutral mechanisms in controlling phytoplankton genetic and morphological diversity.
| Coordinator: | Funding: |
|---|---|
|
G. Tsirtsis |
Greek General Secretariat of Research and Technology in the framework of the Action of Excellence (Aristeia II) |
'Development of Decision Support System for the integrated management of islands under the influence of the climate changes' in the framework of Action 6 'Development of an integrated research project on insularity' of the project 'Multi-insularity-University of the Aegean as a key-factor for the economic and social development of the Aegean'. Period: March 2013-December 2014.
| Coordinator: |
|---|
|
G. Tsirtsis |
'Preparation of a research project for processing, documentation and evaluation of insular policies'. Period: December 2012-December 2014.
| Coordinator: | Funding: |
|---|---|
|
G. Tsirtsis |
General Secretariat of the Aegean and Insular Policies |
'Design of a Network of Marine Protected Areas in Cyclades, Aegean Archipelago, Greece'. Period: 2007-2009.
| Coordinator: | Funding: |
|---|---|
|
G.D. Kokkoris |
Prefecture of Cyclades |
'DITTY | Development of an Information Technology Tool for the Management of European Southern Lagoons under the influence of river-basin runoff'.
| Coordinator: | Funding: |
|---|---|
|
G. Tsirtsis, for the Greek part |
General Research Directorate of the European Union |
'Monitoring of water and shellfish species quality of Kalloni, Gera and Moudros gulfs of the Prefecture of Lesvos'. Period: 2001-2007
| Coordinator: | Funding: |
|---|---|
|
G. Tsirtsis |
Prefecture of Lesvos |
Educational Activities
- First International Summer School on ‘Ecological Data Analysis-ECODAR’, Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece, 1-6 July 2013.
- First Summer School on ‘Mathematical Modelling in the Marine Sciences’, Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece, 4-17 July 2005.
Publications
Roelke, D.L., S.E. Cagle, R.M.W. Muhl, A. Sakavara and G. Tsirtsis, 2019. Resource fluctuation patterns influence emergent properties of phytoplankton assemblages and their resistance to harmful algal blooms. Marine and Freshwater Research, https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18386
Smeti, E., D.L. Roelke, G. Tsirtsis and S. Spatharis, 2018. Species extinctions strengthen the relationship between biodiversity and resource use efficiency. Ecological Modelling, 384, 75-86.
Tamvakis, A., C.N. Anagnostopoulos, G. Tsirtsis, A.D. Niros and S. Spatharis, 2018. Optimized classification predictions with a new index combining machine learning algorithms. International Journal on Artificial Intelligence Tools, 27(3), 1850012.
Tsoukala, A., I. Spilanis, I. Banos-Gonzalez, J. Martinez-Fernandez, M.A. Esteve-Selma and G. Tsirtsis, 2018. An exercise in decision support modelling for islands: a case study for a ‘typical’ Mediterranean island. Island Studies Journal, 13(2), 185-202.
Sakavara, A., G. Tsirtsis, D.L. Roelke, R. Mancy and S. Spatharis, 2018. Lumpy species coexistence arises robustly i fluctuating resource environments. PNAS, 115(4), 738-743.
Tamvakis, A., S. Spatharis, V. Trygonis, J. Myritzis and G. Tsirtsis, 2014. Optimizing biodiversity prediction from abiotic parameters. Environmental Modelling and Software, 53, 112-120.
Tamvakis, A., Spatharis, S., Trygonis, V., Miritzis, J., Tsirtsis, G. 2013. Optimizing biodiversity prediction from abiotic parameters. Environmental Modelling & Software (accepted).
Spatharis, S., Tsirtsis, G. 2013. Zipf-Mandelbrot model behavior in marine eutrophication: Two way fitting on field and simulated phytoplankton assemblages. Hydrobiologia 714(1), 191-199.
Giakoumi, S., Kokkoris, G.D. 2013. Effects of habitat and substrate complexity on shallow sublittoral fish assemblages in the Cyclades Archipelago, North-Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Mediterranean Marine Science 14, 58-68.
Kolovoyiannis, V., Τsirtsis, G. 2013. Downscaling the marine modelling effort: Development, application and assessment of a 3D ecosystem model implemented in a small coastal area. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 126, 44-60.
Spyropoulou, A., Spatharis, S., Papantoniou, G., Tsirtsis, G. 2013. Potential response of a semi-arid ecosystem to climate change. Hydrobiologia 705, 87-99.
Tamvakis, A., Miritzis, J., Tsirtsis, G., Spyropoulou, A., Spatharis, S. 2012. Effects of meteorological forcing on coastal eutrophication: Modeling with model trees, Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 115, 210-217.
Giakoumi, S., Cebrian, E., Kokkoris, G.D., Ballesteros, E., Sala, E. 2012. The structure of shallow rocky sublittoral communities in the Cyclades, Eastern Mediterranean: Relationships between fish, sea urchins and macroalgae. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Sciences 109, 1-10.
Spatharis, S., Roelke, D.L. Dimitrakopoulos, P.G., Kokkoris, G.D. 2011. Analyzing the (mis)behavior of Shannon index in eutrophication studies using field and simulated phytoplankton assemblages. Ecological Indicators 11, 697-703.
Giakoumi, S., Grantham, H.S., Kokkoris, G.D., Possingham H.P. 2011. Designing an efficient network of marine reserves in the Mediterranean sea with limited socio-economic data. Biological Conservation 144, 753-763.
Tsirtsis, G., Spatharis, S. 2011. Simulating the structure of natural phytoplankton assemblages: Descriptive vs. mechanistic approaches. Ecological Modelling 222, 1922-1928.
Spatharis, S., Orfanidis, S., Panayotidis, P., Tsirtsis, G. 2011. Assembly processes in upper subtidal macroalgae: The effect of wave exposure. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 91(2), 298-305.
Spatharis, S., Tsirtsis, G. 2010. Ecological quality scales based on phytoplankton for the implementation of Water Framework Directive in Eastern Mediterranean. Ecological Indicators 10(4), 840-847.
Primpas I, Tsirtsis G. Karydis M. and Kokkoris G.D. 2010. Principal component analysis: Development of a multivariate index for assessing eutrophication according to the European water framework directive. Ecological Indicators 10, 178-183.
Spatharis, S., Dolapsakis, N.P., Economou-Amilli, A., Tsirtsis, G., Danielidis, D.B. 2009. Dynamics of potentially harmful microalgae in a confined Mediterranean gulf-Assessing the risk of bloom formation. Harmful Algae 8, 736-743.
Spatharis S., Mouillot, D., Tsirtsis, G., Do Chi, T., Danielidis, D. 2009. A niche-based modeling approach to phytoplankton community assembly rules. Oecologia 159(1), 171-180.
Tsirtsis G., Spatharis, S., Sampatakaki, A., Spyropoulou, A. 2008. Thresholds of terrestrial nutrient loading for the development of eutrophication episodes in a coastal embayment in the Aegean Sea. Transitional Water Bulletin 3, 25-37.
Spatharis, S., Mouillot, D., Danielidis, D., Karydis, M., Do Chi, T., Tsirtsis, G. 2008. Influence of terrestrial runoff on phytoplankton species richness-biomass relationships: a double stress hypothesis. Journal of Marine Biology and Ecology 362, 55-62.
Christianou, M., Kokkoris, G.D. 2008. Complexity does not affect stability in feasible model communities. Journal of Theoretical Biology 253, 162-169.
Spatharis, S., Danielidis, D., Tsirtsis, G. 2007. Recurrent Pseudonitzschia calliantha (Bacillariophyceae) and A. insuetum (Dinophyceae) winter blooms induced by agricultural run-off. Harmful Algae 6, 811-822.
Spatharis, S., Tsirtsis, G., Danielidis, D., Do Chi, T., Mouillot, D. 2007. Effects of pulsed nutrient inputs on phytoplankton assemblage structure and blooms in an enclosed coastal area. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 73, 807-815.
Leach, P.G.L., Miritzis, J. 2006. Analytic behaviour of Competition among Three Species. Journal of Nonlinear Mathematical Physics 13(4), 535-548.
Leach, P.G.L., Miritzis, J. 2004. Competing Species, Integrability and Stability. Journal of Nonlinear Mathematical Physics 11(1), 123-133.
Jansen, V.A.A., Kokkoris, G.D. 2003. Complexity and stability revisited. Ecology Letters 6, 498-502.
PhD Theses Supervision
Spatharis, Sofie, 2007. Dynamics of the development and spreading of phytoplankton blooms originating from anthropogenic activities in the coastal zone. PhD. Thesis in the framework of Franco-Hellenic cooperation Cotutelle between Univesities of the Aegean and Montpellier 2. Supervisor: G. Tsirtsis.
Giakoumi, Sylvaine. 2010. Design of a network of marine reserves based on the principles of systematic design for nature protection: The case of Cyclades Archipelago. Supervisor: G.D. Kokkoris.
Kolovoyiannis, Vassilios, 2013. Development and application of a coupled hydrodynamic-ecological simulation model of high resolution in a coastal ecosystem. Supervisor: G. Tsirtsis.
Tamvaki, Androniki, (2014). Optimization of algorithms of artificial intelligence in marine ecology. Supervisor: J. Myritzis.
Smeti, Evaggelia, (2015). Fragmentation and reconnection in aquatic ecosystems: Effects on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Supervisor: G.D. Kokkoris.
Spyropoulou, Alexandra, (2015). Trends of change in dynamics of coastal systems under the influence of climate changes. Supervisor: G. Tsirtsis.
Tsoukala, Anna, (in progress). Islands as dynamic systems: Decision support for sustainable growth understanding of socio-ecological processes. Supervisor: G. Tsirtsis
Sakavara, Athanasia (in progress). The paradox of plankton: Regulating factors. Supervisor: G. Tsirtsis
Masouras, Andreas (in progress). Effects of climate changes on the quality, diversity and productivity of riverine systems, based on the analysis of benthic diatoms. Supervisor: G. Tsirtsis
Scientific cooperation
- Local and Regional Authorities
- Greek and European Institutes of Higher Education
- Hellenic Center of Marine Research (HCMR)
- Fisheries Research Institute (FRI)