Floristic diversity of the marsh of Metamorphosi Sotiros in Municipality of Karditsa

Agricultural lands, rangelands, settlements, and narrow stripes of riparian vegetation alongside the river Pinios are the dominant land cover types of the lowlands of Thessaly region. The areas and microsites that are still hosting primary ecological elements are very few. The study area is the marsh of “Metamorfosi Sotiros” (Prefecture of Karditsa) that hosts five Natura 2000 habitat types.With respect to their use, three vegetation types are distinguished: 1) grasslands, 2) reedbeds, and 3) a mixed (intermediate) type with terrestrial vegetation. The objectives of the study were to indicate the levels of floristic diversity, in a comparative manner, of these land use types, and to explore the structural components of floristic diversity by using a series of diversity indices. It was found that the grassland sustains the highest species abundance, while the mixed type sustains the highest species richness. The need to include this specific area under the protection status of the Natura 2000 network -is further discussed.