Fire in Mediterranean Ecosystems

Exploring the role of fire in each of the five Mediterranean-type climate ecosystems, this book offers a unique view of the evolution of fire-adapted traits and the role of fire in shaping Earth's ecosystems. Analyzing these geographically separate but ecologically convergent ecosystems provides key tools for understanding fire regime diversity and its role in the assembly and evolutionary convergence of ecosystems. Topics covered include regional patterns, the ecological role of wildfires, the evolution of species within those systems, and the ways in which societies have adapted to living in fire-prone environments. Outlining complex processes clearly and methodically, the discussion challenges the belief that climate and soils alone can explain the global distribution and assembly of plant communities. An ideal research tool for graduates and researchers, this study provides valuable insights into fire management and the requirements for regionally tailored approaches to fire management across the globe.Part I. Introduction: 1. Mediterranean-type climate (MTC) ecosystems and fire; 2. Fire and the fire regime framework; 3. Fire related plant traits; Part II. Regional Patterns: 4. Fire in the Mediterranean basin; 5. Fire in California; 6. Fire in Chile; 7. Fire in the Cape region of South Africa; 8. Fire in southern Australia; Part III. Comparative Ecology, Evolution and Management: 9. Fire-adaptive trait evolution; 10. Fire and the origins of Mediterranean-type vegetation; 11. Plant diversity and fire; 12. Alien species and fire; 13. Fire management of Mediterranean landscapes; 14. Climate, fire and geology in the convergence of Mediterranean-type climate ecosystems; References; Index.