Mediterranean ecosystems

Abstract

The mediterranean ecosystems are dominated by evergreen shrubs and sclerophyll trees which have adapted to the distinctive climatic regime of summer drought and cool moist winters. Such climatic conditions occur in five widely disjunct regions along the subtropical western margins of the continents between 30 ° and 40 ° latitude (Figure 5.1). The total land area occupied by the mediterranean plant formations is only about 1.8 million km²: more than half of this is found in a discontinuous belt around the Mediterranean Sea in southern Europe, the Levant and North Africa, and throughout the Mediterranean islands. Much of the woodland in these heavily populated regions has now been replaced by dense scrub formations known locally as ‘maquis’, or by the more open heathy ‘garrique’ comprised of shorter aromatic shrubs, such as lavender (Lavandula pedunculata) and thyme (Thymus mastichina). Intensive grazing by goats has created desert-like steppes in many areas and severe erosion problems have occurred on the rugged hillsides.