World Biomes

Mediterranean biome

Climate

• In the winter the Mediterranean climate, is mild and moist, but not rainy. During the summer it is very hot and dry. The temperature is usually mild but it can get very hot or nearly freezing. The temperature range is between 0° and 20° C.

• This biome only gets about 250-500 mm of rain all year, and most of it comes in the winter. Because of the long period of dryness in the summer, only plants with hard leaves can survive, such as scrub oaks, chamiso shrubs, pines, cork and olive trees. Many leaves are also hairy so they can collect the moisture out of the air and use it.

Distribution of biome

• Mediterranean biome exists in a mid-latitude climate and lie in a belt of prevailing westerly winds. This is why it tends to be on the west sides of continents.

• Mediterranean biome can be found from 30° to 50° N and 30° to 40° S latitudes. The Mediterranean climate occurs in central and southern coast of California; the coast areas of the Mediterranean Sea; coastal western and southern Australia; the Chilean coast in South America, and the Cape Town region of South Africa.

Distribution

SoilMediterranean soils are generally deficient in humus, not so much because of sparse vegetation cover as because of the slowness of the chemical processes that convert the vegetable matter to humus. Low rainfall, occurring when temperatures are lowest, retards chemical weathering. The uneven surface relief of the regions where these soils occur also makes it difficult for mature soils to develop.

Plants I• Shrubs and low growing vegetation are the main

components of this biome. In some areas the growth extends to larger trees and hard leaf forests, as well as aromatic plants. The vegetation must be hardy and drought resistant and will include evergreens, cacti, olive and fruit trees, and cork oak, among others. Small hard needles are an asset in this environment, as well as plants with small leathery leafs. Aromatic plants and herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano do well in this biome. These aromatics do contain highly flammable oils which could contribute to forest fires.

Plants II

• Plants have adapted by storing water through thick bark or waxy coverings, and by growing thorns to prevent animals from eating them. Adaptations also include regeneration after fire.

Olive tree

Cork oak

Rosemary

Lebanon cedar

King protea

Animals

• Animals have adapted to this sparse and rough terrain by becoming agile climbers, foraging over larger areas, and varying their diet to include the often scrubby brush lands.

Aardwolf

Porcupine

Cactus mouse

California trasher

California striped racer Snake

Dormouse Spanish Imperial eagle

Wild goat

Pudu

Australian bush-turkey

Cape sugarbird

People

• Mediterranean regions have long been impacted by humans especially through the use of fire and the grazing of livestock. The Mediterranean proper was formerly forested with live oaks, pines, cedars, wild carob and wild olive.

• A main concern associated with Mediterranean biome is the large human populations that live in and around this biome.