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Plant Responses to Drought Under Climate Change in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems

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Global Change and Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 117))

Abstract

The vegetation of Mediterranean-type ecosystems has adapted to a marked seasonality characterized by a mildly cold and rainy winter and a hot dry summer. However, it is drought in the hot summer that has more dramatically influenced evolution and plant life. Because of the peculiar climatic conditions, Mediterranean-type ecosystems have a great diversity of plant life forms dominated by C3 drought avoiders, ranging from winter annuals to deep-rooted perennials or summer-deciduous shrubs. The lack of water in the warmer part of the year does not allow C4 plants to compete successfully under natural conditions, even though they may be highly productive in irrigated agriculture.

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Authors
  1. J. S. Pereira
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  2. M. M. Chaves
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    José M. Moreno

  2. Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 92182, San Diego, CA, USA

    Walter C. Oechel

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Pereira, J.S., Chaves, M.M. (1995). Plant Responses to Drought Under Climate Change in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems. In: Moreno, J.M., Oechel, W.C. (eds) Global Change and Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems. Ecological Studies, vol 117. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4186-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4186-7_7

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