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Hauptverfasser: Zevgolis, Yiannis G, Kamatsos, Efstratios, Christopoulos, Apostolos, Valeta, Christina, Rekouti, Eleni, Xagoraris, Christos, Mitsainas, George P, Lymberakis, Petros, Youlatos, Dionisios, Dimitrakopoulos, Panayiotis G
Format: Artículo científico
Sprache:en
Veröffentlicht: Biology 2025
Online-Zugang:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41463449/
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author Zevgolis, Yiannis G
Kamatsos, Efstratios
Christopoulos, Apostolos
Valeta, Christina
Rekouti, Eleni
Xagoraris, Christos
Mitsainas, George P
Lymberakis, Petros
Youlatos, Dionisios
Dimitrakopoulos, Panayiotis G
author_facet Zevgolis, Yiannis G
Kamatsos, Efstratios
Christopoulos, Apostolos
Valeta, Christina
Rekouti, Eleni
Xagoraris, Christos
Mitsainas, George P
Lymberakis, Petros
Youlatos, Dionisios
Dimitrakopoulos, Panayiotis G
Zevgolis, Yiannis G
Kamatsos, Efstratios
Christopoulos, Apostolos
Valeta, Christina
Rekouti, Eleni
Xagoraris, Christos
Mitsainas, George P
Lymberakis, Petros
Youlatos, Dionisios
Dimitrakopoulos, Panayiotis G
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents A Squirrel's Guide to the Olive Galaxy: Tree-Level Determinants of Den-Site Selection in the Persian Squirrel within Traditional Mediterranean Olive Groves. Zevgolis, Yiannis G Kamatsos, Efstratios Christopoulos, Apostolos Valeta, Christina Rekouti, Eleni Xagoraris, Christos Mitsainas, George P Lymberakis, Petros Youlatos, Dionisios Dimitrakopoulos, Panayiotis G Traditional centennial olive groves represent ecologically valuable agroecosystems that support both biodiversity and cultural heritage across Mediterranean landscapes. On Lesvos Island, Greece, which marks the westernmost limit of the Persian squirrel () distribution, these centennial olive trees serve as essential nesting resources for this regionally Vulnerable species. However, the tree-level mechanisms determining den-site suitability remain insufficiently understood. We examined 288 centennial olive trees, including 36 with confirmed dens, integrating structural, physiological, and thermal metrics to identify the attributes influencing den occupancy. Our results showed that squirrels consistently selected older and taller olives with broad crowns and high photosynthetic activity, indicating a preference for vigorous, architecturally complex trees that provide stable microclimatic conditions. Infrared thermography revealed that occupied trees exhibited lower trunk temperature asymmetries and stronger thermal buffering capacity, highlighting the role of microclimatic stability in den-site selection. Overall, our findings show that den-site selection in is shaped by the interplay of structural maturity, physiological performance, and thermal coherence. By linking tree function to den-site suitability, our work advances a mechanistic understanding of microhabitat selection and emphasizes the importance of centennial olive trees as biophysical refugia within traditional Mediterranean agroecosystems.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_41463449
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2025
publisher Biology
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle A Squirrel's Guide to the Olive Galaxy: Tree-Level Determinants of Den-Site Selection in the Persian Squirrel within Traditional Mediterranean Olive Groves.
Zevgolis, Yiannis G
Kamatsos, Efstratios
Christopoulos, Apostolos
Valeta, Christina
Rekouti, Eleni
Xagoraris, Christos
Mitsainas, George P
Lymberakis, Petros
Youlatos, Dionisios
Dimitrakopoulos, Panayiotis G
A Squirrel's Guide to the Olive Galaxy: Tree-Level Determinants of Den-Site Selection in the Persian Squirrel within Traditional Mediterranean Olive Groves. Zevgolis, Yiannis G Kamatsos, Efstratios Christopoulos, Apostolos Valeta, Christina Rekouti, Eleni Xagoraris, Christos Mitsainas, George P Lymberakis, Petros Youlatos, Dionisios Dimitrakopoulos, Panayiotis G Traditional centennial olive groves represent ecologically valuable agroecosystems that support both biodiversity and cultural heritage across Mediterranean landscapes. On Lesvos Island, Greece, which marks the westernmost limit of the Persian squirrel () distribution, these centennial olive trees serve as essential nesting resources for this regionally Vulnerable species. However, the tree-level mechanisms determining den-site suitability remain insufficiently understood. We examined 288 centennial olive trees, including 36 with confirmed dens, integrating structural, physiological, and thermal metrics to identify the attributes influencing den occupancy. Our results showed that squirrels consistently selected older and taller olives with broad crowns and high photosynthetic activity, indicating a preference for vigorous, architecturally complex trees that provide stable microclimatic conditions. Infrared thermography revealed that occupied trees exhibited lower trunk temperature asymmetries and stronger thermal buffering capacity, highlighting the role of microclimatic stability in den-site selection. Overall, our findings show that den-site selection in is shaped by the interplay of structural maturity, physiological performance, and thermal coherence. By linking tree function to den-site suitability, our work advances a mechanistic understanding of microhabitat selection and emphasizes the importance of centennial olive trees as biophysical refugia within traditional Mediterranean agroecosystems.
title A Squirrel's Guide to the Olive Galaxy: Tree-Level Determinants of Den-Site Selection in the Persian Squirrel within Traditional Mediterranean Olive Groves.
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41463449/