The Mediterranean forest it is a biome dominated by the tree biotype that develops in Mediterranean climate conditions. This climate is characterized by mild and rainy winters, dry summers (hot or temperate), warm autumns and variable springs..
Mediterranean ecosystems are home to approximately 10% of the world's flora. The plants that inhabit these forests are subjected to the stress generated by hot and dry summers and forest fires..
Many plant species develop different adaptations such as thick cork barks and stiff leaves (sclerophyllous plants).
There are 5 areas of the planet with a Mediterranean climate which are the Mediterranean Sea basin, California (USA), Chile, South Africa and Australia. However, in South Africa there is no forest formation, only that of shrubland (fynbos).
Different types of forest are found in the Mediterranean basin from low and medium Mediterranean forests to high forests. In some types of forests the angiosperms dominate, in other gymnosperms and there are also mixed.
In California the Mediterranean forest is the chaparral and coniferous forests in deep valleys. The chaparral has a low canopy up to 6-10 m high and an understory of herbs and shrubs.
In the southern hemisphere, the Chilean Mediterranean forest includes the so-called scrub, as well as sclerophyll forests of different developments. This region is dominated by shrubs and a low forest with a canopy of 6 to 15 m and shrubby understory..
The Mediterranean forests of Australia have a predominance of trees and shrubs of the genus Eucalyptus.
These Mediterranean ecosystems occur in very varied reliefs, from flat to mountainous. They are found in coastal plains, valleys, plateaus and mountains up to 1,000 meters above sea level..
In the Mediterranean forests of the northern hemisphere the dominant species are of the genus Quercus and coniferous species predominate Pinus and of Juniperus.
In the eastern Mediterranean, the cedar of Lebanon is emblematic, while in the Australian forests the eucalyptus trees dominate. Labiatae and ericaceae herbs and shrubs such as rosemary, myrtle, heather and rosemary are abundant in the undergrowth..
The fauna that inhabits the Mediterranean regions is very varied and in the Mediterranean basin are the fox, the Iberian lynx, the red squirrel and the wild boar. Likewise, the species of songbirds, cranes and storks are abundant..
In the Californian scrub the coyote and the Californian hare occur and in the Chilean the coypu or false otter, the degu and the culpeo fox. In the Australian Mediterranean region, marsupials predominate, such as the numbat, the chudchit and the woylie or long-tailed rat kangaroo..
The Mediterranean climate is characterized by the fact that the rains are distributed mainly in winter, spring and autumn. Average annual rainfall is between 350 and 900 mm per year (in Australia up to 1,500 mm). As for the temperature, the annual average ranges go between 13 and 19 ºC and a monthly average never lower than 10 ºC.
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The fundamental limitation in the Mediterranean climate are long, hot and dry summers and fire. Therefore, many plants have sclerophyllous leaves (rigid, with abundant mechanical tissue).
Mediterranean vegetation is associated with the influence of forest fires that occur periodically naturally or by human action. Its effects are varied and the object of multiple investigations and it has been indicated that in some species it facilitates germination.
Some adaptations of plants to fire are the presence of thick suberified bark (cork), underground propagation structures and hard leaves. An example of this is the cork oak (Quercus suber) from whose bark the natural cork is extracted.
The Mediterranean forest is formed by an arboreal stratum that ranges from 6 m to 70 m in height depending on the geographical area. The lowest canopy is in the Chilean scrub, being highest in the forests of the eastern Mediterranean basin.
The tallest trees are found in the deep valley forests of California, with the species Sequoia sempervirens (up to 70 m).
In the western Mediterranean the canopy tends to be intermediate, reaching 6 to 15 m. While in the Chilean scrub region it can reach up to 30 m in areas of higher humidity.
In most Mediterranean forests there is a single tree stratum and an understory of herbs and shrubs. Epiphytism does not occur and there are some climbing plants such as sarsaparilla (Smilax aspera) and ivy (Hedera helix).
These plant formations can be angiosperm, gymnosperm or mixed forests. In the first case are the forests of Quercus while a representative of the gymnosperm forests are the cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani).
Among mixed Mediterranean forests, those with species of Quercus (angiosperm) and species of Pinus (gymnosperm).
In general, the soils are of low fertility although they reach better conditions in some more humid valleys. In areas of the Mediterranean basin the soils are deep and fertile, especially where there were forests of wild olive trees and carob trees..
The texture is variable, and Mediterranean forests can form on soils ranging from sandy loam to clay. The depth of the soil is also variable, with deeper soils found in plains and less in steep ones..
The Mediterranean Sea basin presents an important variety of forests, although the vast majority have a high degree of human intervention. This due to the thousands of years of human activity in these lands.
Some Mediterranean forests have been transformed into semi-natural systems, subjected to anthropic management. An example are the meadows of Spain and montados of Portugal, which are holm oak forests (Quercus ilex) and cork oaks (Quercus suber).
These forests have historically been managed for cattle raising by thinning them (removing some trees and shrubs). In this way, the entry of light for the development of pastures is facilitated and it has been transformed into an agrosilvopastoral system.
To the east of the Iberian Peninsula there are mixed forests such as the Aleppo pine forest (Pinus halepensis) and kermes oak (Quercus coccifera). In the eastern Mediterranean there are forests dominated by gymnosperms such as the Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani).
On the African coast, the variety of substrates and local climates generates various types of Mediterranean forests. There are holm oak forests, cork oak forests, carob forests (Ceratonia siliqua) and wild olive trees.
Another case is the thuya berberisca forests (Tetraclinis articulata), conifer endemic to North Africa from which the amber-like sandáraca resin is extracted.
The most widespread is the chaparral, which is a forest of small trees and tall shrubs. It is called chaparral as a reference to the oak that has a low biotype and with many branches.
This plant formation has an arboreal layer no higher than 10 m in height and a variable undergrowth of herbs and shrubs. In addition to the oak species, there is the encinillo (Quercus berberidifolia) of bush biotype.
In the deep and rainy valleys of this area, there are coniferous forests of the species Sequoia sempervirens.
The Chilean scrubland constitutes a 100 km wide strip that extends along the central part of the Chilean coast. It consists of shrubs and a low sclerophyllous forest, with a canopy of between 6 and 15 m and a shrubby understory.
In the region there are also patches of forests with species that reach heights of up to 30 m.
In some areas, a forest itself develops (predominance of the tree biotype), made up of various species of Eucalyptus, Casuarina and other genres.
However, an intermediate plant formation predominates between a forest and a tall shrubland called mallee where eucalyptus species predominate. The term mallee refers to plants that branch basally, but that reach heights from 4 m to 10 m.
In some cases there are large eucalyptus forests, such as those formed by the karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) up to 70 m high. Likewise, there are the jarrah forests that have a canopy of up to 40 m with a predominance of Eucalyptus marginata.
The forests of the Mediterranean Sea basin have a high degree of intervention by human activities. The areas transformed into pastures have preserved some elements of the original forest and others have been converted into farmland..
Other activities that have had a negative impact are urban planning and the construction of tourist infrastructure..
The Chilean scrubland has been severely affected by fires, mining, logging, landfills, urbanization, and air, water and soil pollution..
Only 5 regions of the world experience Mediterranean climate which takes its name from the Mediterranean Sea basin. The other areas are south-central and south-western Australia, the fynbos of southern Africa, the Chilean scrubland, and the Mediterranean region of California..
Forests occur only in 4 of these regions which are the Mediterranean Sea basin, California, Chile and Australia. The South African fynbos is a low shrub and herb plant formation.
The Mediterranean forest extends discontinuously along the coast of the European slope, from the Iberian Peninsula to the Middle East. On the African slope, it reaches its greatest development on the western coast, especially in Morocco with some enclaves in Tunisia and the Cyrenaica region.
In this region, the Mediterranean climate extends into the Caucasus to Afghanistan and central Asia.
In North America, Mediterranean forests are found on the Pacific coast in southern California (United States) and in Baja California (Mexico). While in South America they are located in the central area of Chile, on the Pacific coast.
Here Mediterranean forests develop in the extreme southeast and in the extreme southwest.
The Mediterranean forest develops in flat reliefs, slightly steep to mountainous. From coastal plains, through valleys and plateaus to elevations of 1,500 meters above sea level.
In the Mediterranean forests the species of Quercus, such as holm oakQuercus ilex) and oak (Quercus coccifer). Likewise, the cork oak is present (Quercus suber) and holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia).
The holm oak is the most characteristic species of the western Mediterranean and the most widespread in the Iberian Peninsula. Other species are legumes such as the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), and anacardiaceae such as the mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) and the terebinto or cornicabra (Pistacia terebinthus).
The cork oak forests of the Iberian Peninsula are the most extensive in the Mediterranean and are distributed from the coast up to 1,500 meters above sea level. In these grow other species of trees such as laurel (Laurus nobilis), Ilex aquifolium Y Myrtus communis.
On the African coast there are species of Quercus that inhabit the European coastQ. suber, Q. ilex, Q. coccifer) and wild olive trees (European wave, Olea maroccana). Other trees of importance are the thuya berberisca (Tetraclinis articulata) and terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus).
The pine forests of Pinus halepensis they constitute the southernmost type of Mediterranean forest. They extend over more than 10,000 km² in North Africa (8,550 km² in Algeria, 2,965 km² in Tunisia and 650 km² in Morocco).
In areas with a Mediterranean climate, the Cedrus libani and in the regions of continental climate is the Pinus nigra. In the forests dominated by the cedar of Lebanon there are other species such as Abies cilicica, Juniperus foetidissima and the terebinth of the eastPistacia palaestina).
Angiosperms include oaks (Quercus cerris, Q. libani, Q. trojan, Q. petraea, Q. macrolepis). Another group of representative trees are the maples (Acer hyrcanum, A. platonoides, A. campestre Y A. monspessulanum).
In the understory there are herbs and shrubs, with species such as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and the romerilla (Cistus albidus). A typical shrub of the Mediterranean forest is also the boxwood (Buxus sempervirens).
Other shrubs of holm oak and oak forests are the myrtle (Myrtus communis), the mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) and white heather (Erica arborea). These forests are also inhabited by one of the only two species of European palm, the palm heart (Chamaerops humilis).
Among the herbs are the globularia (Globularia alypum), with large bluish globe-shaped flowers and jarilla species (Helianthemum spp). There are also some climbing plants such as sarsaparilla (Smilax aspera), ivy (Hedera helix) Y Pilgrim blonde.
The most representative is the chaparral with species of low trees and tall shrubs such as Quercus agrifolia, Quercus dumosa Y Quercus wislizeni. Likewise, you can find Adenostoma sparsifolium and almost 60 species of the genus Arctostaphylos (manzanitas)
In these oak forests are other species such as Malosma laurina (3-5 m high) and Rhamnus californica (2-5 m).
The variability of the biotype of many of these species is high as is the case of Cercocarpus betuloides. This rosacea that can be a small bush of 1 m to a small tree of 9 m in height depending on the environmental conditions where it develops.
There is a great abundance of endemic species (95%) that have affinities with the tropics, Antarctica and the Andes.
The scrub itself is a low forest combined with a bush, 4-8 m high, with semi-arid characteristics. Various species of cacti grow in it (Ex .: Echinopsis chiloensis), legumes and other groups typical of dry areas.
In the Chilean scrub there are several threatened plant species and some in danger of extinction such as Adiantum gertrudis, Hazelnut bustillosii Y Beilschmiedia berteroana.
This is the home of the Chilean carob tree (Prosopis chilensis), the liter (Lithrea caustica), hawthorn (Acacia dig) and the maitén (Maytenus boaria). There are also shrubs such as the colliguay (Colliguaja odorifera) and broom (Retanilla ephedra).
In the undergrowth the arrosetadas grasses of Andean origin such as the puya (Berteronian puja) and cardón (Puya chilensis).
In some more humid areas of the Chilean scrub ecoregion there are patches of forests that reach higher canopy height. A representative species is the queule or hualhual (Gomortega keule), an aromatic evergreen tree up to 15 m tall and edible fruits.
Likewise, you can get the pitao (Pitavia punctata), 15 m evergreen tree and ruil (Nothofagus alessandrii) which is deciduous and reaches up to 30 m in height. Palm groves of the Chilean palm or can-can (Jubaea chilensis), up to 30 m with edible fruits.
The forests of the Australian Mediterranean area are dominated by species of the genus Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae). Among them are the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), the marri (Eucalyptus calophylla) and the wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo).
In the mallee there are species like Eucalyptus albopurpurea, E. angustissimto, E. socialis Y E. dumosa.
Among the birds there are pigeons like the wood (Columba palumbus) and birds of prey such as the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and scops owl (Otus scops). Other characteristic birds are woodpeckers like Dendrocopos major.
Mediterranean forests are important winter enclaves for thousands of cranes (Grus grus). They are also breeding areas for hundreds of white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and the black stork (Ciconia nigra) in danger of extinction.
Mammals include the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and the fox (Vulpes vulpes). Likewise, the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and wild boar (Sus scrofa).
On the African slope grows the common jackal (Canis aureus), the caracal (Caracal caracal) and the polecat ferret (Mustela putorius). Other species are the Barbary leopards (Panthera pardus panthera), Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) and Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia).
Carnivores such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos) and the gray wolf (Canis lupus), the Lynx (Lynx lynx) and the caracal (Caracal caracal). The Anatolian leopard (Panthera pardus subsp. tullian), which is a critically endangered species.
Among the herbivorous mammals, the wild goat (Capra aegagrus) and fallow deer (Lady lady).
In these ecosystems lives the California hare (Lepus californicus), the coyote (Canis latrans) and mule deer or mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).
The gray wolfCanis lupus) was characteristic of the area, but disappeared mainly due to hunting. A few years ago a young male was sighted in the Californian Chaparral region, which could indicate a possible recolonization.
In these areas there is a great diversity of birds such as the thrush (Turdus falcklandii), the queltehue (Vanellus chilensis) and the loica (Sturnella loyca). Likewise the black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus), tagua (Fulica armillata) and owls like the pequén (Athene cunicularia).
Mammals include the nutria or coypu (Myocastor coypus), the degu (Octodon degus) and the culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus). While among the lizards the weeping lizard stands out (Liolaemus chiliensis) endemic to Chile and Argentina.
The Australian fauna in general is very particular and the same happens with the Mediterranean forest of this region of the planet. There are various species of marsupials such as the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) that feeds on termites and the chudchit (Dasyurus geoffroii).
Other marsupials that inhabit these forests are the woylie or long-tailed rat kangaroo (Bettongia penicillata) and the pygmy possum (Cercartetus concinnus).
It is a climate with cool or mild winters, dry summers (hot or temperate), warm autumns, and variable springs. Mediterranean climate regions generally occur in the western part of the continents, where they are influenced by cold marine currents..
There are two unfavorable periods a year that are winter and hot and dry summer.
In the western Mediterranean there are annual average temperatures that oscillate between 13 ºC and 19 ºC, and the average minimum temperature oscillates between 1 ºC and 10 ºC. In the extreme west, the influence of cold currents from the high seas tends to further moderate temperatures..
The precipitations are distributed in autumn, winter and spring, varying in the different regions of Mediterranean climate. In the African Mediterranean the average annual rainfall is between 350 and 800 mm and on the Iberian coast between 450 and 900 mm.
On the other hand, in the Australian Mediterranean forests the precipitation ranges from 635 mm to 1,500 mm per year.
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