Life zones of the Mediterranean region

The climate and ecology of land immediately surrounding the Mediterranean Sea is influenced by several factors. Overall, the land has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The climate induces characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation. Plant life immediately near the Mediterranean is in the Mediterranean Floristic region, while mountainous areas further from the sea supports the Sub-Mediterranean Floristic province.

Floristic regions of Europe
Main articles: Mediterranean Basin and Altitudinal zonation

An important factor in the local climate and ecology of the lands in the Mediterranean basin is the elevation: an increase of elevation by 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) causes the average air temperature to drop by 5 C/ 9 F and decreases the amount of water that can be held by the atmosphere by 30%. This decrease in temperature and increase in rainfall result in altitudinal zonation, where the land can be divided into life zones of similar climate and ecology, depending on elevation.

Mediterranean vegetation shows a variety of ecological adaptations to hot and dry summer conditions. As Mediterranean vegetation differ both in species and composition from temperate vegetation, ecologists use special terminology for the Mediterranean altitudinal zonation:

  • Eu-mediterranean belt: 20- 16 °C (avg annual temperature)
  • Sub-mediterranean belt: 15- 12 °C
  • Hilly region: 11- 8 °C
  • Mountainous belt: 7- 4 °C
  • Alpine belt: 3- 0 °C
  • Subnival belt: 0- minus 4 °C [1]

Even within the Mediterranean Basin, differences in aridity alter the life zones as a function of elevation. For example, the wetter Maritime and Dinaric Alps have a North-Mediterranean zonation pattern, while the southern Apennine Mountains and the Spanish Sierra Nevada have a moderate Eu-Mediterranean zonation pattern. Finally, the drier Atlas Mountains of Africa and Taurus Mountains of the Near East have a Xero-Mediterranean pattern.[2]

Examples of each of these altitudinal zonation patterns is described below, by examining the climate and ecology of several locations around the Mediterranean Basin.

Dinaric Alps of the Balkan Peninsula
Orjen vegetation profile. ME: meridional (subtropic belt); NE: nemoral (temperate zone); BO: boreal (taiga zone); AL: alpine (tundra zone).

An example of the wetter (or maritime) pattern comes from the Orjen range in the southeastern coastal Dinaric ranges of Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.[3][4]

Above 400 metres (1,300 ft) of elevation, the Orjen range lies in the Dinaric Mountains mixed forests ecoregion (as defined by the World Wildlife Fund).[4] This ecoregion is known for its humidity, compared to other mountain ranges of the Mediterranean.[4] Life zones in the Orjen range, with corresponding elevation ranges and indicator species are:

Climate

Examples of climate near the Orjen range include eu-mediterranean at the Podgorica Airport:

Climate data for Podgorica Airport, elevation 33 metres (108 ft), 42°21′34″N 19°15′07″E
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.9
(40.8)		 6.7
(44.1)		 9.9
(49.8)		 13.8
(56.8)		 18.8
(65.8)		 22.6
(72.7)		 25.7
(78.3)		 25.6
(78.1)		 21.4
(70.5)		 16.0
(60.8)		 10.7
(51.3)		 6.5
(43.7)		 15.2
(59.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 190
(7.5)		 169
(6.7)		 165
(6.5)		 147
(5.8)		 85
(3.3)		 66
(2.6)		 42
(1.7)		 66
(2.6)		 120
(4.7)		 159
(6.3)		 235
(9.3)		 199
(7.8)		 1,632
(64.3)
Source: [7]

and Crkvice in the supra-mediterranean belt:

Climate data for Crkvice, 940 m
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 4.9
(40.8)		 5.5
(41.9)		 8.1
(46.6)		 12.0
(53.6)		 16.8
(62.2)		 20.5
(68.9)		 23.8
(74.8)		 23.9
(75.0)		 20.3
(68.5)		 16.0
(60.8)		 10.4
(50.7)		 6.5
(43.7)		 14.1
(57.3)
Average low °C (°F) −3.2
(26.2)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 3.4
(38.1)		 7.3
(45.1)		 10.1
(50.2)		 12.4
(54.3)		 12.2
(54.0)		 9.6
(49.3)		 5.7
(42.3)		 2.0
(35.6)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 4.6
(40.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 584
(23.0)		 474
(18.7)		 507
(20.0)		 386
(15.2)		 204
(8.0)		 134
(5.3)		 74
(2.9)		 142
(5.6)		 256
(10.1)		 499
(19.6)		 720
(28.3)		 642
(25.3)		 4,622
(182)
Source: Hydrometeorologic Institute of Montenegro [8]

Note how the mean temperature near sea level is comparable to the high temperature at Crkvice, 940 meters higher.

Sierra Nevada of Spain

The Sierra Nevada of central Spain is an example of eu-mediterranean zonation arising from moderate aridity. The Sierra Nevada lie in the Iberian conifer forests ecoregion, which contain conifers above 1,900 metres (6,200 ft) elevation, with mixed oak woodland below.[9] The base of the mountains have a continental Mediterranean climate, which gets progressively cooler as the elevation increases:

  • Thermomediterranean zone (Lowland); under 700 metres (2,300 ft) elevation. Summers are hot here and winters almost nonexistent. This zone is mostly used for agriculture, but studies say Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), Common Juniper (Juniperus communis), (Aristolochia baetica) and Mediterranean Smilax or Common Smilax (Smilax aspera) would normally grow here. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Purret (Ulex parviflorus) and Gum Rockrose (Cistus ladanifer) are present on poor soils or after forest fires.[10][11][12]
  • Mesomediterranean zone (Submontane) 700 to 1,300 metres (2,300 to 4,300 ft) elevation. The summers are here still hot but frosts are normal in the winters. In this zone Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), wild Olive (Olea europaea) and Mediterranean Smilax or Common Smilax (Smilax aspera) grow. Poor sandy soils have few species with the Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), the Common Junipers, (Juniperus communis), Daphne gnidium and Etruscan honeysuckle (Lonicera etrusca).
  • Supramediterranean zone (Mid-Montane) 1,300 to 1,900 metres (4,300 to 6,200 ft) elevation. The summers are here temperate and frosts and snow are frequent in winter. Quercus pyrenaica predominates, Portuguese Oak (Quercus faginea) and maple appear too; these three species make up the forest. More frequent are the Sessile Oaks (Quercus petraea) between 1,300 and 1,750 m. The Sessile Oaks are dominated by the Holm Oaks (Quercus ilex) and, depending on soil and altitude, by bushes as Common Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus), barberry (Berberis hispanica), (Daphne gnidium), Butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus) and Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) over basic soils.
  • Oromediterranean zone (Subalpine) 1,900 to 2,700 metres (6,200 to 8,900 ft) elevation. In this zone, coniferous plants and sparse Juniperus thurifera appear. The vegetation is composed by trees and bushes (Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Savin Juniper (Juniperus sabina), Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica, Prunus ramburii) and other bushes (Vella spinosa, Erinacea anthyllis, Bupleurum spinosum). On better soils the Common Juniper, Juniperus communis and Cytisus appears, forming communities with Arenaria imbricata, Festuca indigesta. The endemic flora is present too: Genista versicolor, Arenaria pungens, Potentilla nevadensis.
  • Cryo-oromediterranean zone (Alpine); 2,600 to 2,800 metres (8,500 to 9,200 ft) elevation. Ligneous plants can not grow here because of the seasonal dryness typical of the Mediterranean climate and the presence of snow for more than 8 months. The vegetation has similarities to the Arctic tundra, with the Mat-grass (Nardus stricta) as the most common species.

Climate

Almería, near sea level, is an example of a Thermo-mediterranean climate, among the warmest locations on the European continent:

Climate data for Almería (airport 21m) 1981-2010
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 24.4
(75.9)		 25.2
(77.4)		 32.4
(90.3)		 34.2
(93.6)		 34.2
(93.6)		 40.8
(105.4)		 41.2
(106.2)		 41.1
(106.0)		 37.6
(99.7)		 34.4
(93.9)		 29.0
(84.2)		 27.7
(81.9)		 41.2
(106.2)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 18.8
(65.8)		 19.4
(66.9)		 21.3
(70.3)		 23.1
(73.6)		 26.0
(78.8)		 30.2
(86.4)		 32.8
(91.0)		 33.0
(91.4)		 31.1
(88.0)		 26.6
(79.9)		 22.9
(73.2)		 19.3
(66.7)		 33.4
(92.1)
Average high °C (°F) 16.9
(62.4)		 17.6
(63.7)		 19.6
(67.3)		 21.4
(70.5)		 24.1
(75.4)		 27.9
(82.2)		 30.5
(86.9)		 31.0
(87.8)		 28.4
(83.1)		 24.5
(76.1)		 20.5
(68.9)		 17.9
(64.2)		 23.4
(74.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.6
(54.7)		 13.3
(55.9)		 15.1
(59.2)		 17.0
(62.6)		 19.7
(67.5)		 23.5
(74.3)		 26.1
(79.0)		 26.7
(80.1)		 24.2
(75.6)		 20.4
(68.7)		 16.4
(61.5)		 13.8
(56.8)		 19.1
(66.4)
Average low °C (°F) 8.3
(46.9)		 9.0
(48.2)		 10.6
(51.1)		 12.5
(54.5)		 15.3
(59.5)		 18.9
(66.0)		 21.7
(71.1)		 22.4
(72.3)		 20.0
(68.0)		 16.3
(61.3)		 12.3
(54.1)		 9.6
(49.3)		 14.7
(58.5)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 5.9
(42.6)		 6.5
(43.7)		 8.1
(46.6)		 10.5
(50.9)		 12.0
(53.6)		 15.7
(60.3)		 19.3
(66.7)		 20.0
(68.0)		 17.2
(63.0)		 13.5
(56.3)		 10.6
(51.1)		 7.6
(45.7)		 5.9
(42.6)
Record low °C (°F) 0.1
(32.2)		 1.0
(33.8)		 1.0
(33.8)		 6.0
(42.8)		 8.4
(47.1)		 10.4
(50.7)		 12.0
(53.6)		 14.8
(58.6)		 10.1
(50.2)		 1.6
(34.9)		 3.1
(37.6)		 2.0
(35.6)		 0.1
(32.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 24
(0.9)		 25
(1.0)		 16
(0.6)		 17
(0.7)		 12
(0.5)		 5
(0.2)		 1
(0.0)		 1
(0.0)		 14
(0.6)		 27
(1.1)		 28
(1.1)		 30
(1.2)		 200
(7.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 2.9 2.9 2.6 2.6 1.9 0.6 0.3 0.3 1.5 2.8 3.6 3.3 25.4
Average relative humidity (%) 67 67 65 62 63 61 60 63 65 68 67 67 65
Mean monthly sunshine hours 194 191 232 261 297 325 342 315 256 218 183 178 2,994
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[13]

Prado Llano, in the Albergue Juvenil of Cordoba has an oromediterranean climate because it is approximately 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) higher:

Climate data for Prado Llano, elevation 2,507 metres (8,225 ft), 37°05′00″N 03°23′00″W
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 0.3
(32.5)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 0.6
(33.1)		 3.2
(37.8)		 4.6
(40.3)		 14.2
(57.6)		 21.6
(70.9)		 19.8
(67.6)		 14.2
(57.6)		 10.4
(50.7)		 3.5
(38.3)		 2.6
(36.7)		 7.8
(46.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.9
(26.8)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 0.9
(33.6)		 9.9
(49.8)		 16.6
(61.9)		 15.2
(59.4)		 9.9
(49.8)		 6.3
(43.3)		 0.1
(32.2)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 3.9
(39.0)
Average low °C (°F) −6.1
(21.0)		 −7.9
(17.8)		 −7.5
(18.5)		 −4.3
(24.3)		 −2.9
(26.8)		 5.6
(42.1)		 11.9
(53.4)		 10.6
(51.1)		 5.7
(42.3)		 2.2
(36.0)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 −4.0
(24.8)		 0.0
(32.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 86.7
(3.41)		 91.2
(3.59)		 78.8
(3.10)		 53.8
(2.12)		 53.6
(2.11)		 29.7
(1.17)		 6.1
(0.24)		 11.7
(0.46)		 33.7
(1.33)		 69.0
(2.72)		 85.2
(3.35)		 93.1
(3.67)		 692
(27.2)
Source: Phytosociological Research Center[14]

Corsica

The mountains of Corsica are in the Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion,[15] with a pattern of forest zones that are strongly dependent on altitude (due to the increase in moisture):

Quercus suber occurs in mesomediterranean vegetation belts

Climate
Climate data for Ajaccio, 9 m
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 13
(56)		 13
(56)		 14
(58)		 17
(62)		 21
(69)		 24
(75)		 27
(81)		 28
(82)		 26
(78)		 22
(71)		 17
(63)		 14
(58)		 19
(67)
Daily mean °C (°F) 8.1
(46.6)		 8.8
(47.8)		 10.1
(50.2)		 12.3
(54.1)		 15.9
(60.6)		 19.5
(67.1)		 22.3
(72.1)		 22.3
(72.1)		 19.9
(67.8)		 16.5
(61.7)		 12.2
(54.0)		 9.1
(48.4)		 14.8
(58.6)
Average low °C (°F) 4
(39)		 4
(40)		 6
(42)		 7
(45)		 11
(51)		 14
(57)		 17
(62)		 17
(63)		 15
(59)		 12
(53)		 8
(46)		 5
(41)		 10
(50)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 74
(2.9)		 64
(2.5)		 61
(2.4)		 53
(2.1)		 41
(1.6)		 23
(0.9)		 7.6
(0.3)		 15
(0.6)		 43
(1.7)		 86
(3.4)		 100
(4)		 84
(3.3)		 660
(26.1)
Source: weatherbase.com[20]

See also

Literature
  1. Lakusic (1975). "Priodni sistem geobiocenoza na planinama Dinaridima". God. Biol. Inst. Univ. Saraj. 28: 175–191.
  2. Horvat, Ivo; Glavač, Vjekoslav; Ellenberg, Heinz (1974). Vegetation Südosteuropas. München: Urban & Fischer. ISBN 978-3-437-30168-1.
  3. Grebenscikov, Oleg S. (1960). "The Vegetation of the Kotor Bay Seabord (Montenegro, Yugoslavia) and some comparative studies with the Caucasian seaboard of the Black Sea". Bjull Mskovsk. Obsc. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol. Moscow. 65: 99–108.
  4. "Dinaric Mountains mixed forest". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  5. Cikovac, Pavle (2002). Sociology and ecology of Silver Fir forests on Mt. Orjen. Montenegro: LMU Munich, Department of Geography.
  6. Antonic, O.; Lovric, A.Z. (1996). "Numerical Analysis of Vegetation Complexes and Community Diversity of Major Coastal Dinaric Mountains". Journal of Vegetation Science. 7 (1): 73–80. doi:10.2307/3236418. JSTOR 3236418.
  7. Klimadiagramme.de
  8. "Climate of Crkvice (1960-1991)". Hydrometeorologic Institute of Montenegro. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  9. "Iberian conifer forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  10. Pérez Raya, Francisco; Molero Mesa, Joaquín; Valle Tendero, Francisco (1992). Parque Natural de Sierra Nevada. Paisaje, fauna, flora, itinerarios. Ed. Rueda. Madrid. ISBN 84-7207-067-0.
  11. Prieto Fernández, Pablo. Flora de la Tundra de Sierra Nevada. Ed. Universidad de Granada. ISBN 84-600-1810-5.
  12. del Castillo, Aurelio; del Castillo, Antonio (2003). Sierra Nevada: Guía de Montaña. Ed. Penibética. ISBN 84-932022-3-1.
  13. "Valores Climatológicos Normales. Almeria & Almeria / Aeropuerto".
  14. "Datos climátológicos de Sierra Nevada (1975-1989): Phytosociological Research Center". Phytosociological Research Center. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  15. "Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  16. Mayer, Hannes (1988). Die Wälder Korsikas. Wanderungen durch ein Waldparadies. Stuttgart, New York: Gustav Fischer Verlag. p. 79. ISBN 3-437-30586-7.
  17. Reille, M.; Gamisans, J.; de Beaulieu, J.-L.; Andrieu, V. (1997). "The late-glacial at Lac de Creno (Corsica, France): a key site in the western Mediterranean basin". New Phytologist. 135 (3): 547–559. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.1997.00683.x. JSTOR 2559059.
  18. Reille, M.; Gamisans, J.; Andrieu-Ponel, V.; de Beaulieu, J.-L. (February 1999). "The Holocene at Lac de Creno, Corsica, France: A Key Site for the Whole Island". New Phytologist. 141 (2): 291–307. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.1999.00343.x. JSTOR 2588561.
  19. Gamisans, J. (1991). La végétation de la Corse. Genève: Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Suisse.
  20. "Ajaccio, France". Weatherbase.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.