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Biodiversity and Conservation Biology of Coastal Transition Zones from Mediterranean to Desert Ecosystems: An Intercontinental Comparison

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Landscape Disturbance and Biodiversity in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 136))

Abstract

Comparative research on Mediterranean-type ecosystems over the past several decades has largely focused on evergreen, sclerophyllous vegetation. Little attention has been given to comparative research on ecological structure and community diversity in the coastal transitions from mediterranean climate zones to winter rainfall deserts. This has been a particularly important oversight by the MEDECOS research community, since the Mediterranean desert transition zones are potentially as diverse as their related “true” Mediterranean counterparts. These ecotonal areas appear to support a large diversity of plant taxa, many of which are endemic (e.g. Raven and Axelrod 1978; Shmida 1985; Cowling and HiltonTaylor, in press).

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Authors
  1. K. J. Esler
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  2. P. W. Rundel
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  3. R. M. Cowling
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of California (UCLA), 900 Veteran Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Philip W. Rundel

  2. Departamento de Ecología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile

    Gloria Montenegro  & Fabian M. Jaksic  & 

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Esler, K.J., Rundel, P.W., Cowling, R.M. (1998). Biodiversity and Conservation Biology of Coastal Transition Zones from Mediterranean to Desert Ecosystems: An Intercontinental Comparison. In: Rundel, P.W., Montenegro, G., Jaksic, F.M. (eds) Landscape Disturbance and Biodiversity in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems. Ecological Studies, vol 136. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03543-6_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03543-6_12

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