Europe’s biodiversity – biogeographical regions and seas : Biogeographical regions in Europe: The Mediterranean biogeographical region – long influence from cultivation, high pressure from tourists, species rich, warm and drying
The Mediterranean biogeographical region and the Mediterranean Sea constitute a frontier zone between Europe, Asia and Africa in terms of climate and species. The climate is warm with hot summers and mild winters. Arid and desert conditions are increasing and water will become more and more scarce. Soils are low in humus, and the erosion risk is great in most areas. The number of indigenous species is still the highest in Europe, the wider Mediterranean area being one of the two hotspots for species in Europe. There is also a high number of endemics as well as wild ancestors to cultivated plants. The cultural influence on nature is the longest in Europe, but rural areas are increasingly being depopulated and abandoned. More than 35 % of the tourists visits in Europe take place in the region, exerting heavy pressure on land and coasts, water and nature resources. Formerly widespread dry grasslands and traditional agro-forestry with dehesa and montados are decreasing, the areas turned to intensive agriculture or abandonned to scrub formation. The intensive agriculture, vegetable growing and the large citrus orchards require intensive irrigation. The region is the olive oil, fruit and nut production region of Europe. Though there is only around 25% forest cover trees are a dominant feature in the landscape (incl. orchards, olive groves etc.). Oaks are important, natural old forests are scarce. Sclerophyllous (evergreen) trees, shrubs and dwarfshrubs are characteristic, many with aromatic oil contents. There are few lakes and bogs, the area covered by mires is reduced. However, some of Europe’s most important wetlands for birds migrating between Europe and Africa are found both in eastern and western parts. Wolf and wildcat have spread, but the Iberian lynx is close to extinction.
- Σύντομος Τίτλος: Europe’s biodiversity – biogeographical regions and seas : Biogeographical regions in Europe: The Mediterranean biogeographical region
- Ψηφιακό Αρχείο: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/report_2002_0524_154909/resolveuid/47d6c1dbb05f097fd546609b83c10e93
- Εκδότης: EEA
- Δημιουργός: European Environment Agency
- Πηγή: https://www.eea.europa.eu
- Ιστότοπος: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/report_2002_0524_154909/resolveuid/47d6c1dbb05f097fd546609b83c10e93
- Γλώσσα: Αγγλική
- Άδεια Χρήσης: Ελεύθερη χρήση/διανομή (public domain - open access)
- Έτος: 2002
- Βιβλιογραφία: European Environment Agency. 2002. Europe’s biodiversity – biogeographical regions and seas : Biogeographical regions in Europe: The Mediterranean biogeographical region – long influence from cultivation, high pressure from tourists, species rich, warm and drying. ΕΕΑ
