CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Gruenendieck, Emily |
|---|---|
| Title | Olive Fruit Fly Dynamics on Samos: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Temperature and Altitude Dependence |
| Summary | The olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) remains the most significant pest affecting olive cultivation globally, with its population dynamics closely linked to climatic and environmental factors. This study analyses an eight-year dataset (2017–2024) collected from a network of climate data loggers and 399 McPhail traps across Samos Island in Greece. The research identifies distinct temporal population trends, revealing a seasonal bimodal distribution with a first peak in early July and a second, higher peak in late September. High temperature, measured by the hours with a temperature above 32°C, was a key factor influencing population dynamics, with higher heat stress leading to fewer olive fruit flies. Between July and September, significantly fewer flies were observed at low altitudes (0–200 m), while the highest population numbers progressively shifted from high (>400 m) to mid (200–400 m) and eventually low elevations in October, possibly suggesting a population movement across altitudes. Further analysis of four areas of the island (Marathokampos, Karlovasi, Agios Konstantinos/Kokkari, Pythagoreio) used Kriging interpolation to reveal regional differences in seasonal population dynamics, notably marked by a North-South divide of the island, likely related to regional temperature differences. Considering the impacts of climate change, the findings suggest that the population patterns will shift towards higher altitudes and the northern regions of Samos. By adopting a landscape-level approach, this study contributes to a better understanding of localised olive fruit fly dynamics, which can be a starting point for improving the monitoring system and informing more sustainable pest management strategies. |
| Supervisor | Kizos, Thanasis |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/gruenendieck_emily.pdf |
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