Effect of farming practices on natural vegetation and avifauna in olive groves

Olive grove is the most important tree cultivation in Greece. It plays a vital role in environment protection as it offers the chance of better utilization of lands depended on rainfall. This study presents the results of a research contacted at Nies and Pteleos areas of Magnesia prefecture, in central Greece during the period May-June and September 2007. The study refers to the comparison between conventional and organic olive groves as regards the plant diversity (herbaceous and woody plants) and the avifauna diversity. In both types of olive groves of the total study area 56 species of herbaceous plants, 17 species of woody plants and 24 species of breeding birds were recorded. The Shannon diversity index for the herbaceous plants was higher in the organic olive groves (Nies – Pteleos), while the diversity (Shannon index) of the woody species was found higher in the conventional and sprayed olive groves (Nies). The Shannon diversity index of breeding bird species was higher in the conventional olive groves at Pteleos. The highest density of the breeding birds was found in the conventional olive-groves at Nies.