Legumes in the fire-prone Mediterranean regions: An example from GreeceArianoutsou M, Thanos CAINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
6 (2): 77-82 JUN 1996
Document type: Article
Language: English
Abstract:Mediterranean climate ecosystems of the Mediterranean rim are rich in legumes, both as woody shrubs of the late successional stages and as short-lived, pioneer herbaceous plants. In a survey of the floras of numerous geographic regions of Greece, legumes in Mediterranean parts are found to contribute considerably more (11-16% of the total number of species) than in non-Mediterranean regions (6-8%). Legume presence is also notable in other Mediterranean-type ecosystems of the world; nevertheless most leguminous taxa of the Mediterranean basin are herbs in contrast to a significant contribution of shrubs in California and Chile. Due to their long-lived soil banks of hard coated seeds herbaceous legumes are usually among the early post-fire colonizers in the Mediterranean and may play a significant role in the succession of fire-prone communities.
Author Keywords:Mediterranean ecosystems, Greece, leguminosae, ecological success
KeyWords Plus:VEGETATION, FLORA, AREA
Addresses:Arianoutsou M, UNIV ATHENS,FAC SCI,SCH BIOL,DEPT SYSTEMAT & ECOL,ATHENS 15784,GREECE
Publisher:INT ASSOC WILDLAND FIRE, FAIRFIELD
IDS Number:VG988
ISSN:1049-8001
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