The invertebrates of Antiparos, Tsimintiri and Despotiko in the Cyclades, Greece

Sampling event Specimen
Latest version published by GBIF Secretariat on Dec 5, 2025 GBIF Secretariat
Publication date:
5 December 2025
Published by:
GBIF Secretariat
License:
CC0 1.0

Download the latest version of this resource data as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) or the resource metadata as EML or RTF:

Data as a DwC-A file download 110 records in English (18 KB) - Update frequency: not planned
Metadata as an EML file download in English (29 KB)
Metadata as an RTF file download in English (14 KB)

Description

This resource details the occurrence data of invertebrates within Antiparos, Tsimintiri and Despotiko during May - June 2024. Invertebrates were sampled using Sangria wine-baited pitfall traps, with the exception of Gastropoda which were sampled using one minute timed searches in a 2m squared quadrat. Pitfall traps were left active for three days and specimens were collected and preserved in 95% ethanol. 

Data Records

The data in this sampling event resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 110 records.

1 extension data tables also exist. An extension record supplies extra information about a core record. The number of records in each extension data table is illustrated below.

Event (core)
110
Occurrence 
450

This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.

Versions

The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.

How to cite

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

Poole J., Smith, J., Hesselberg, T. and Georgiadis, C. (2024). The invertebrates of Antiparos, Tsimintiri and Despotiko in the Cyclades, Greece. Version 1.0. TGBIF Secretariat. jp_2024 dataset. https://ipt.gbif.org/resource?r=jp_2024&v=1.0

Rights

Researchers should respect the following rights statement:

The publisher and rights holder of this work is GBIF Secretariat. To the extent possible under law, the publisher has waived all rights to these data and has dedicated them to the Public Domain (CC0 1.0). Users may copy, modify, distribute and use the work, including for commercial purposes, without restriction.

GBIF Registration

This resource has not been registered with GBIF

Keywords

samplingEvent; Occurrence; metadata; Specimen

Contacts

Jennifer Poole
  • Metadata Provider ●
  • Originator ●
  • Point Of Contact
  • Postgraduate student
University of Exeter
  • University of Exeter
EX4 4PY Exeter
Devon
GB
Thomas Hesselberg
  • Point Of Contact
  • Head of Programmes (STEM and Joint Programmes) & Departmental Lecturer in Biological Sciences
University of Oxford
  • Rewley House, 1 Wellington Square
OX1 2JA Oxford
Oxfordshire
GB
Christos Georgiadis
  • Metadata Provider
  • Zoologist, Entomologist, Curator ZMUA
Zoology Museum of the University of Athens
  • Room #26, Section of Zoology – Marine Biology & Zoology Museum, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
15784 Zografou
Athens
GR
  • +30 210 727 4484

Geographic Coverage

Three islands from the Cyclades within the Aegean archipelago were surveyed: Antiparos, Tsimintiri and Despotiko. 200m squared areas were chosen to determine the area for the random placement of the pitfall traps and quadrats. These include two areas in Despotiko - the archaeological site and just outside the site (north-eastern part of the island); the central area of Tsimintiri; and two areas in the south-western part of Antiparos.

Bounding Coordinates South West [36.964, 25.002], North East [36.993, 25.04]

Taxonomic Coverage

A total of 1147 specimens (excluding Formicidae which were sampled by presence/absence) belonging to 14 invertebrate orders were collected from pitfall traps across Antiparos, Tsimintiri and Despotiko. Of these, specimens from the order Stylommatophora (60) and the Tenebrionidae (708) and Cerambycidae (14) families from the order Coleoptera were identified to species level. Formicidae and Mutillidae specimens were also curated and identified to species level and curated.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca, Arthropoda
Class Insecta, Collembola, Gastropoda, Arachnida
Order Coleoptera, Diptera, Blattodea, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Pseudoscorpiones, Archaeognatha, Araneae, Stylommatophora, Orthoptera, Isopoda, Lepidoptera
Family Mutillidae, Ptinidae, Geomitridae, Cucujidae, Cryptophagidae, Helicidae, Carabidae, Scarabidae, Dermestidae, Curculionidae, Cerambycidae, Tenebrionidae, Clausiliidae, Hygromiidae, Elateridae, Formicidae

Temporal Coverage

Start Date / End Date 2024-05-27 / 2024-06-18

Project Data

Invertebrates are important for ecosystem function and despite their importance, there are still knowledge gaps in some species distributions. This project aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the invertebrate fauna across Antiparos, Despotiko and Tsimintiri, as part of a broader comparative assessment investigate island biogeography patterns across these islands. The islets of Despotiko and Tsimintiri in the Cyclades, Greece are uninhabited and are of archaeological importance. However, they have not received much attention with regards to biodiversity. A total of 1147 specimens (excluding Formicidae which were sampled by presence/absence) belonging to 14 invertebrate orders were collected from pitfall traps across Antiparos, Tsimintiri and Despotiko. Greater taxonomic depth was reached for various beetle families, ants and snails. Overall, this project provides a foundation of data for future studies on these islands.

Title The invertebrate fauna of Antiparos, Tsimintiri and Despotiko in the Cyclades, Greece
Identifier jp_2024
Funding This project was partially funded by Jersey International Centre of Advanced Studies, University of Exeter.
Study Area Description Three islands in the Cyclades in the central Aegean Sea were surveyed: Antiparos, Tsimintiri and Despotiko. The climate is typical Mediterranean climate. It is hot and dry in the summer, and these islands are also exposed to Meltemi/Etesian winds which are strong, dry, northerly winds that are present between May and September. Overall, the environment is xeric and grazed. Surveying of ground invertebrates took place from May-June 2024.
Design Description As the aim of the project was to conduct a comparative assessment of ground invertebrate communities across the study islands, baited pitfall trapping and timed-searches for invertebrates not likely to enter pitfall traps (e.g. snails) were conducted. Inter-island distances are short and the islands were recently connected as one land mass so it is predicted that they would have similar community composition. However, the area of each island is markedly different and therefore species-area patterns may be at play. This project also carried out statistical analysis comparing island richness and area to see if it follows the general pattern of a larger area encompassing greater species richness.

The personnel involved in the project:

Jennifer Poole
  • Author

Sampling Methods

Invertebrate sampling was conducted within five 200 x 200m areas across the three islands chosen based on accessibility: two areas in Despotiko, two in Antiparos and one in Tsimintiri were. 10 pitfall traps were randomly positioned within each area at least 50m apart were active for three nights. Randomisation was conducted using QGIS random point generator. Pitfall traps were dug as close to the coordinates specified. These traps consisted of transparent plastic cups (12 oz) which were baited with Sangria wine. Cups were dug ensuring the rim was flush with the ground. The position of the cups was also paired with the positioning of 2 x 2m quadrats for 1 minute timed hand-searches of snail shells.

Study Extent Three islands (Antiparos, Despotiko and Tsimintiri) in the central Aegean Sea, Cyclades, Greece were surveyed in May-June 2024.
Quality Control Pitfall traps were randomly placed to avoid bias and positioned at least 50m apart to ensure each sample was independent. The traps were also standardised in size, duration active and amount of bait. The same recorder was used to carry out timed searches for snails to avoid variation in recorder detection. Identification of specimens to species level were identified through careful examination under a stereomicroscope with use of dichotomous keys and trained taxonomists in their field.

Method step description:

  1. Determination of 200 x 200m areas were determined based on accessibility to survey the area. Points were then generated 50m apart to determine the location of the pitfall traps. Each trap was made with 12 oz cups with lids inverted and a 3m diameter hole cut to act as the filter. Water and detergent were mixed as the killing agent. 120 ml of Sangria wine was used as bait halfway up the cup, attached with a cocktail stick. Surrounding rocks were used as a cover, leaving 2cm gap from the ground. 2 x 2m quadrats were then positioned with the pitfall trap as close to the centre of the quadrat as possible. 1 minute timed hand-searches for snail shells were then conducted within the quadrat area. Three nights after traps were laid out, the samples were collected and immediately preserved in 95% ethanol and identified at a later date.

Collection Data

Collection Name Invertebrates of Antiparos, Tsimintiri and Despotiko
Collection Identifier JP_2024
Specimen preservation methods Alcohol,  Pinned
Curatorial Units Between 1 and 3 boxes

Additional Metadata

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Getting Started
Purpose
Maintenance Description Unless there are errors, there are no plans to update the resource.
Alternative Identifiers https://ipt.gbif.org/resource?r=jp_2024