Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems

1 Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems: Opportunities and Constraints for Studying the Function of Biodiversity.- 1.1 Focus on Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems.- 1.2 Definitions.- 1.3 Why Study Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function?.- 1.4 Linking Diversity and Ecosystem Function.- 1.5 Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems: Similarities and Differences Between Regions.- 1.5.1 Climate.- 1.5.2 Soils.- 1.5.3 Vegetation.- 1.5.4 Human Transformation.- 1.6 History of Research on Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems.- 1.7 Opportunities for Studying Links Between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in MTEs.- References.- 2 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in the Mediterranean Basin: Human and Non-Human Determinants.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Geography, Climate and Habitat Diversity.- 2.2.1 Geography.- 2.2.2 Climate.- 2.2.3 Habitat Diversity.- 2.3 Patterns of Mediterranean Diversities in Relation to Space and Time.- 2.3.1 Flora and Vegetation.- 2.3.2 Vertebrates.- 2.4 The Historical Load and Mediterranean Adaptations.- 2.4.1 Life History Traits of Mediterranean Plants: Historical Effects or Adaptations?.- 2.4.2 Intraspecific Variation.- 2.4.3 Tests of Convergence Between Bird Communities of Mediterranean Regions of France, Chile and California.- 2.5 Humans and the Mediterranean Biota.- 2.5.1 Fire.- 2.5.2 Deforestation.- 2.5.3 Land-Use Patterns.- 2.5.4 The Case of the Disappearing Black Truffles.- 2.5.5 Differences in Human Pressures, North and South.- 2.6 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function at the Community Level.- 2.6.1 Disturbances as Key Events in Community Dynamics: a Case Study of Post-Fire Succession.- 2.6.2 Regeneration Traits.- 2.6.3 Changing Tree Cover: Oaks, Pines and Soil Fertility.- 2.6.4 Aromatic Compounds and Insect Pollinators.- 2.6.5 Extinctions and Invasions.- 2.7 Functional Groups and Redundancy.- 2.7.1 Legumes, Grasses and Possible Interactions among Them.- 2.7.2 Avian Frugivores and Bird-Dispersed Plants in Mediterranean Shrublands.- 2.7.3 Species Equivalence and Density Compensation.- 2.7.4 Earthworms: Keystone Species at Risk.- 2.7.5 The Spatial Dynamics of Predatory Ants.- 2.8 Ecological and Evolutionary Consequences of Patchiness.- 2.9 The Future.- 2.9.1 Regional and Global Changes.- 2.9.2 Restoration, Rehabilitation and Reallocation.- 2.9.3 Positive Feedback Switches in Mediterranean Ecosystems.- References.- 3 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Mediterranean-Climate California.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Patterns and Determinants of Diversity.- 3.2.1 Historical Determinants of Floristic Diversity.- 3.2.2 Historical Determinants of Vertebrate Diversity.- 3.2.3 Present Patterns of Plant Diversity.- 3.2.4 Present Patterns of Insect Diversity.- 3.2.5 Present Patterns of Vertebrate Diversity.- 3.2.6 Diversity Patterns of Fungi.- 3.2.7 Patterns of Genetic Diversity.- 3.2.8 Effect of Wildfire Frequency on Landscape Diversity.- 3.2.9 Effect of Alien Species’ Invasions on Native Flora and Fauna.- 3.2.10 Effect of Habitat Fragmentation on Patterns of Diversity.- 3.3 Biodiversity and Community Structure and Function.- 3.3.1 Plant Linkages with Other Trophic Levels: Oaks as a Case History.- 3.3.2 Vertebrate Communities.- 3.3.3 Invertebrate Communities.- 3.4 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function.- 3.4.1 The Annual Grassland Ecosystem.- 3.4.2 The Chaparral Ecosystem.- 3.5 Conclusions.- 3.6 Future Research Needs.- References.- 4 Functional Approaches to Biodiversity in the Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems of Central Chile.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Biodiversity in Chile.- 4.2.1 Vascular Plants.- 4.2.2 Mammals.- 4.2.3 Birds.- 4.2.4 Reptils and Amphibians.- 4.2.5 Invertebrates.- 4.3 Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems in Central Chile.- 4.4 The Role of Diversity in Ecosystem Function.- 4.5 Plant Species Diversity and Growth-Form Diversity.- 4.6 Environmental Resources as a Factor in Diversity.- 4.6.1 Soil Moisture Resources.- 4.6.2 Nutrient Availability.- 4.6.3 Fire Frequency and Biodiversity.- 4.7 Storage of Species Diversity.- 4.8 Biodiversity in Vertebrate Predator/Prey Systems.- 4.9 Production of Honey at the Community Level.- 4.9.1 Species Representation in Pollen Load Samples.- 4.10 Impact of Changes in Climate and Land-Use on Biodiversity.- 4.11 Conclusions.- References.- 5 Function of Biodiversity in the Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems of Southwestern Australia.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems in Australia.- 5.2.1 Physical Characteristics.- 5.2.2 Vegetation Patterns.- 5.2.3 Floristic Patterns.- 5.2.4 Faunal Richness.- 5.2.5 Landscape Patterns.- 5.2.6 Response to Disturbance.- 5.2.7 Response to Environmental Constraints.- 5.2.8 Human Transformation.- 5.3 Ecosystem Function of Biodiversity.- 5.3.1 Environmental Change and the Loss of Megafauna.- 5.3.2 A Comparison of Natural and Agricultural Systems.- 5.3.3 Loss of Multiple Ecosystem Components: Mistletoes in Eucalypt Woodlands.- 5.3.4 Complex Interactions: Cockatoos, Banksias and Grubs, and Marsupials and Mycorrhizae.- 5.3.5 Ecosystem Processes.- 5.3.6 Functional Groups: Useful or Not?.- 5.3.7 Keystone Species: Banksia prionotes as a Keystone Plant.- 5.4 Research Opportunities.- 5.4.1 Removal of a Functional Group: Jarrah Forest Fire Regimes.- 5.4.2 Removal of a Functional Group: Effects of Phytophthora cinnamomi.- 5.4.3 Additions of Species / Functional Groups in Mine Site Rehabilitation.- 5.4.4 Addition and Removal of Species / Functional Groups: Fragmentation and Revegetation in Agricultural Areas.- 5.4.5 Comparisons Between Species-Rich and Species-Poor Native Plant Communities.- 5.5 Conclusions.- References.- 6 Links between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in the Cape Floristic Region.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.1.1 The Link Between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function.- 6.1.2 Defining Biodiversity, Ecosystem Function and Scales of Measurement.- 6.1.3 Opportunities at the Cape.- 6.2 Geography of the Region.- 6.3 Patterns of Biodiversity in the Cape Floristic Region.- 6.3.1 Broad-Scale Patterns of Biodiversity.- 6.3.2 Patterns and Determinants of Diversity: Plant Species and Functional Groups.- 6.3.3 Patterns and Determinants of Diversity: Animal Species and Functional Groups.- 6.4 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: Community-Level Perspectives.- 6.4.1 Plant Growth Forms as Functional Groups.- 6.4.2 Regeneration Traits of Plants.- 6.4.3 An Ecophysiological Approach to Functional Grouping in Plants.- 6.4.4 Empty Functional Groups.- 6.4.5 Animal Communities.- 6.4.6 Keystone Taxa.- 6.5 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: Landscape-Level Perspectives.- 6.5.1 Within Formations.- 6.5.2 Between Formations.- 6.6 The Ecology of Formation Shifts.- 6.6.1 Forest-Fynbos.- 6.6.2 Fynbos-Renosterveld.- 6.6.3 Fynbos-Grassland.- 6.6.4 Fynbos-Alien Trees.- 6.6.5 Formation Shifts and Ecosystem Function.- 6.7 Conclusions.- References.- 7 Ecosystem Function of Biodiversity: Can We Learn From the Collective Experience of MTE Research?.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems as a Focus.- 7.3 Diversity and System Function: a Distillation of MTE Thinking.- 7.3.1 Similarities and Differences in Approach.- 7.4 The Way Ahead.- 7.4.1 Continuing the Search for a New Paradigm.- References.- Taxonomic Index.