Evaluation of Theodorou Island as a habitat for the conservation of the Cretan wild goat (Capra aegagrus cretica Schinz 1938) and the impact of grazing on vegetation

The present study was carried at Theodorou island (68 ha) Crete, the national reserve for the conservation of the endangered Cretan wild goat. A big part of the habitat (39.9%) was devoid of vegetation. The main vegetation class was shrubs (74.5%) where forbs and grasses represented 24% and 1.5% respectively. The most dominant shrubs throughout the island were Pistacia lentiscus, Sarcopoterium spinosum, Thymus capitatus, Euphorbia dendroides, Calycotome villosa and Phlomis fruticosa. The diversity of the plant community (115 species) was estimated to be 3.9. Through the prolonged span of overgrazing, the plant community has been altered to a disclimax community dominated mainly by invader species. In comparison to the past, invaders were increased and decreasers were decreased indicating the retrogression of the plant community and the degradation of the habitat. The range condition of the habitat was slightly poor resulting in problematic survival of the wild goat. The total green biomass production of the whole island was estimated to be 120126 kg, 30 of this production was not edible. The carrying capacity of the island was estimated to be about 48 adult animals, 17 animals less than in 1973 indicating a visible "ungulate irruption".