Ecological diversity and resilience of Mediterranean vegetation to disturbance

In the Mediterranean region, plant communities are highly diverse with high total and local species richness, and a high spatial heterogeneity. They are also highly resilient to disturbance, which has been related to their evolutionary history of disturbance, and conceptually, although without formal proof, to their high ecological diversity. These ideas take on a new importance in the context of global change. In order to predict potential effects of future land use change, mechanisms underlying the resilience of ecosystems need to be understood. However, a review of the recent literature shows that confusion abounds as to the nature and measurement of resilience. In this paper we present a brief conceptual and methodological clarification and propose avenues for the analysis of mechanisms underlying the relationships between diversity and resilience, using Mediterranean ecosystems as an example.

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