Threats and biodiversity in the mediterranean biome

Abstract

Aim Global conservation assessments recognize the mediterranean biome as a priority for the conservation of the world's biodiversity. To better direct future conservation efforts in the biome, an improved understanding of the location, magnitude and trend of key threats and their relationship with species of conservation importance is needed.Location Mediterranean‐climate regions in California‐Baja California, Chile, South Africa, Australia and the Mediterranean Basin.Methods We undertook a systematic, pan‐regional assessment of threats in the mediterranean biome including human population density, urban area and agriculture. To realize the full implications of these threats on mediterranean biodiversity, we examined their relationship with species of conservation concern: threatened mammals at the global scale and threatened plants at the subecoregional scale in California, USA.Results Across the biome, population density and urban area increased by 13% and agriculture by 1% between 1990 and 2000. Both population density and urban area were greatest in California‐Baja California and least in Australia while, in contrast, agriculture was greatest in Australia and least in California‐Baja California. In all regions lowlands were most affected by the threats analysed, with the exception of population density in the Chilean matorral. Threatened species richness had a significant positive correlation with population density at global and subecoregional scales, while threatened species were found to increase with the amount of urban area and decrease as the amount of natural area and unfragmented core area increased.Main conclusions Threats to mediterranean biodiversity have increased from 1990 to 2000, although patterns vary both across and within the five regions. The need for future conservation efforts is further underlined by the positive correlation between species of conservation concern and the increase in population density over the last decade. Challenges to reducing threats extend beyond those analysed to include human–environmental interactions and their synergistic effects, such as urbanization and invasive species and wildfires.

Insights and Opportunities Offered by a Rapid Ecosystem Service Assessment in Promoting a Conservation Agenda in an Urban Biodiversity Hotspot

“…The City of Cape Town is located on the southwestern tip of southern Africa and is situated in the Cape Floristic Region, a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot (Mittermeier et al 2005) and conservation priority (Underwood et al 2009). The city occupies about 2460 km², has a population of 3.7 million people, and includes 19 national terrestrial vegetation types, containing an estimated 3250 plant species, of which 190 are endemic (Rebelo et al 2011, Holmes et al 2012.…”

Climate change, wine, and conservation

“…Temperature and moisture regimes are among the primary elements of terroir (10,11), with growing season temperature being particularly important in delimiting regions suitable for growing wine grapes (Vitis vinifera). Mediterranean climate regions (warm and dry summers; cool and wet winters) are particularly suitable for viticulture (4), while at the same time having high levels of biodiversity, endemism, and habitat loss, making them global biodiversity hotspots (12)(13)(14). Climate change has the potential to drive changes in viticulture that will impact Mediterranean ecosystems and to threaten native habitats in areas of expanding suitability (15).…”

Response of Soil Bacterial Community Structure to Land-use Conversion of Natural Forests in Maoershan National Forest Park, China

“…Furthermore, there was a minor difference between the agricultural soil from AL-4 (soybean) and AL-5 (maize), which may be correlated to their crop species. Some studies suggested plant species to be one of major factors influencing the microbial community structure (Calderon et al, 2001;Deangelis et al, 2009;Mendes et al, 2011;Underwood et al, 2009). However, Kielak et al (2008 reported that plant species have only a minor influence on the soil bacterial community composition.…”