Ancient dominance of theQuercus calliprinos ‐ Pistacia palaestinaassociation in mediterranean Israel

Abstract

Abstract. The natural Mediterranean maquis and forest vegetation of Israel is commonly considered to be composed mainly of four, roughly equal components: Pinus halepensis, deciduous oak, evergreen oak, and Ceratonia ‐ Pistacia communities. They represent the past climax and subclimax of this region. Evidence accumulated from pollen analysis and wood remnant research in geological and archaeological excavations, as well as from written historical sources, shows that this view is wrong: the ancient vegetation in this area was dominated by Quercus calliprinos.

Saproxylic beetle assemblages in the Mediterranean region: Impact of forest management on richness and structure

“…Beetle assemblages of later successional stages also differ in species composition from assemblages found in young stands. This is particularly true in oak woodlands, as Q. calliprinos-dominated woodlands are very likely the true ancient vegetation in the Mediterranean parts of Israel (Liphschitz and Biger, 1990). Q. calliprinos individuals can become 10-15 m tall, indicating that 5-6 m tall trees as studied here are certainly not the maximum (Zohary, 1960;Westphal et al, 2009).…”

“…Sclerophyllous forests consisting mainly of evergreen oaks are the characteristic vegetation type in the Mediterranean climate zone (Zohary, 1960;Liphschitz and Biger, 1990;Qué zel, 2004). The whole Mediterranean region, but particularly the eastern part, is among the regions where human pressure on the landscape was exceedingly high in the past (Naveh and Dan, 1973).…”

The “Mediterranean Forest”: A Perspective for Vegetation History Reconstruction

“…Pistacia is discontinuous and peaks in coincidence with Fraxinus ornus or Phillyrea (Bottema and Sarpaki, 2003). Forests with Q. calliprinos as the dominant tree in association with Pistacia palaestina were widespread in the Mediterranean area of Israel from 6000 BP to 400 BP (Liphschitz and Biger, 1990). A mild early Holocene in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin is supported by the record of Pistacia pollen in terrestrial sites and marine cores (Rossignol-Strick, 1999).…”

At the interface of historical and present-day ecology: ground beetles in woodlands and open habitats in Upper Galilee (Israel)

“…Except for some very small stands surrounding sacred places, the natural arboreal vegetation has been almost completely transformed or destroyed, and now mostly forms steppe-like, intensively grazed habitats (so-called 'batha') and arable fields (e.g. LIPHSCHITZ & BIGER 1990). In correlation with population density, phases of intensive land use, accompanied by the destruction of large woodland areas, alternated with phases of less intensive land use (cf.…”