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Mediterranean Biome

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Mediterranean Biome Mediterranean Biome Mediterranean Biome § 30° to 40° N and S latitude on the west sides of continents “ § Just poleward of the subtropical deserts on the western The similarity of form and functional continental edges. response of the vegetation to the rigorous mediterranean environment is therefore a striking example of evolutionary convergence, and has resulted in a high degree of endemism within the regional floras" (Archibold, 1995) Mediterranean Biome Mediterranean Biome § subtropical dry and warm air in summer, cold currents § the Mediterranean biome is sandwiched § in winter, as subtropical highs retreat toward equator, they between deserts and temperate rainforests experience maritime airmasses and cyclonic storms from polar on west sides of continents - experience front both but in alternating seasons Biome types on west side of Chile Desert Mediterranean Mediterranean Desert Temperate rainforest 'winter-rain and summer dry' 1 Mediterranean Biome Mediterranean Floristic Regions § Californian § Capensic (South African) Vancouver - approaching temperate rainforest § Mediterranean § Australian (slight summer dry § Chilean period) Pasadena - classic Mediterranean climate (6 months rain, 6 months dry) San Diego - shift to more desert conditions (reduced winter rain) Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Vegetation § Californian § Capensic (South African) § the Mediterranean Biome and its vegetation is closely linked with fire ecology § Mediterranean § Australian § Chilean What do these sound like? Wines! Santa Barbara chapparal Santa Barbara fire 1977 § 40 yr cycle - South Africa § 10-25 yr - Mediterranean § 10-13 yr - Australia Vitis vinifera - wine grape Adenostoma (chamise, Rosaceae) California 2 Mediterranean Vegetation Mediterranean Vegetation § the Mediterranean Biome and its vegetation is closely linked § heavy bark, shoots from base roots or lignotubers with fire ecology Arbutus - Europe Santa Barbara fire 1977 Westmont College fire Nov 2008 Arbutus (madrone-Ericaceae) Westmont College Jan 2009 Arctostaphylos (manzanita) & chamise 3 months after fire 3 months after fire Mediterranean Vegetation Mediterranean Vegetation § serotinous cones or seed coats § Mediterranean vegetation dominated by evergreen trees and sclerophyllous trees adapted to fire and to summer drought and cool moist winters Ceanothus - California lilac Pinus halepensis - Mediterranean Banksia (Proteaceae) - Australia Quercus engelmanii - mesa oak 3 Mediterranean Vegetation Mediterranean Vegetation § Mediterranean vegetation § the “holly” leaf (= ilicifolia) - evergreen, tough, leathery, with also characterized by annuals spine tips – convergent sclerophyll adaptation to the and perennial geophytes Mediterranean climate Rhamnus ilicifolia Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) (Rhamnaceae) - Holly - Mediterranean California Banksia ilicifolia Northern Baja California Central Valley, California (Proteaceae) - Australia Mediterranean Vegetation Mediterranean Vegetation Mahonia aquifolium (Berberidaceae) - Alchornea California, Oregon illicifolia (Euphorbiaceae) - Australia Berberis ilicifolia (Berberidaceae) - Chile Quercus ilex (Fagaceae) - Mediterranean Graptophyllum ilicifolium Prunus ilicifolium (Rosaceae) - (Acanthaceae) - Australia California 4 Convergence between Chile and California Convergence between Chile and California Cryptocarya alba (Lauraceae) - Chile Lithraea caustica (Anacardiaceae) - Chile Rhus ovata (Anacardiaceae) CA Quercus agrifolia (Fagaceae) CA Convergence between Chile and California Mediterranean Floristic Regions § Mediterranean - most original woodland now gone § maquis: dense shrub formations § garrique: open heath and aromatic shrubs “heath” vegetation Satureja gilliesii (Lamiaceae) - Chile Adenostoma fasciculatum Greece Southern France (Rosaceae) CA 5 Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § Mediterranean § Mediterranean Olea (Oleaceae) - olive Ilex Arbutus (Ericaceae) - strawberry trees (Aquifoliaceae) - holly Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § Mediterranean § Mediterranean Quercus ilex - Holm’s oak Cedrus atlantica - Atlas cedar Quercus suber - cork oak Cedrus libani - cedar of Lebanon 6 Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § Mediterranean § Mediterranean Cytisus (Fabaceae) - broom Ulex europea (Fabaceae) - Common gorse Erica arborea (Ericaceae) - Cistis (Cistaceae) - Iberian Peninsula eastern Mediterranean Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § Mediterranean § South Africa § veld: shrubby vegetation § fynbos: heath Phlomis fruticosa Artemisia arborescens Ophrys (Orchidaceae) - (Lamiaceae) Jerusalem sage (Asteraceae) - bee orchid wormwood 7 Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § South Africa - high degree of endemism § South Africa Large radiation of Erica - heather (blueberry family) Protea - Proteaceae Erica versicolor Erica cerinthoides Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § South Africa Large radiation of Restionaceae § South Africa Large radiation of lilioid monocots - a southern hemisphere (geophytes) graminoid family Iridaceae - iris family Lapeirousia Moraea - Peacock Lily Elegia cuspidata Askidiosperma Geissorhiza 8 Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § South Africa Large radiation of Pelargonium § Australia - mallee (heathy vegetation on nutrient poor soil) (Geraniaceae) Sir Joseph Banks & Banksia (Proteaceae) Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § Australia - high degree of endemism § Australia - high degree of endemism Astroloma - endemic Large radiation of Myrtaceae genus in (myrtle family) - most genera Ericaceae endemic Correa (Australian fuchsia) - endemic genus in Petrophile linearis - endemic Rutaceae Melaleuca alternifolia Callistemon citrinus genus in Proteaceae 9 Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § Australia - high degree of endemism § California - chapparal (shrub/tree & heath vegetation) Eucalyptus wandoo heath sclerophyll Large radiation of Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions • 795 genera and 4452 species § California - chapparal (shrub/tree & heath vegetation) • endemism: 52 genera (6.5%) and 2124 species (47.7%) • CFP flora = central and eastern North America flora (>10X in size) Ceanothus (California lilac) & Adenostoma (chamise) 10 Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § California - chapparal (shrub/tree & heath vegetation) § California - chapparal (shrub/tree & heath vegetation) Arbutus menziesii (Ericaceae) - madrone Layia - tidy tips Eschscholzia- Epilobium Clarkia Asteraceae poppy Onagraceae Onagraceae Papaveraceae Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Floristic Regions § Chile - matorral § Chile - matorral Lithraea caustica (Anacardiaceae) Cryptocarya alba (Lauraceae) Colletia armata (Rhamnaceae) Ephedra andina 11 Mediterranean Floristic Regions Mediterranean Biome Weeds § Chile - matorral Aizoaceae (ice plants - Carpobrotus, etc.) native to South Africa Jubaea chilensis - chilean wine palm Big Sur, California San Francisco Bay, California Mediterranean Biome Weeds Eucalytpus melliodora native to America's Largest Weed Australia - one of a 100 species of Eucalyptus has its defenders, Australia’s 600 native species but today, 150 years after these imported into California "wonder trees" were first brought to coastal California, their dark side is coming to light. bluegum 12 .
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