Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems: Opportunities and Constraints for Studying the Function of Biodiversity

The Mediterranean Basin has played a prominent role in humanity’s biological and cultural evolution. From archaeological sites scattered throughout the region, and from the rich written records of historical times, we can trace our development from hunters and gatherers to a species able to reap the benefits of pastoralism, agriculture, and finally sophisticated technology — from harvesters of the wild to managers of our environment. People of the Mediterranean Region have, through the ages, been pioneers in the search for a balance between exploitation and conservation of natural resources. Their efforts have resulted in the domestication of livestock, the development of high-yield cereal grains, and the establishment of important cultivation techniques. The relatively benign winter-rainfall climate of post-Pleistocene times, and the rich diversity of terrestrial and marine biota, were both important factors in human social evolution.