Biogeography of Mediterranean Invasions

This book is an initiative of a subcommittee of SCOPE (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment).

R. H. Groves (Edited by), F. Di Castri (Edited by)

9780521063906, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 5 June 2008

504 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.9 cm, 0.732 kg

"Collectively, the chapters in this book offer an excellent comprehensive overview of invasions in the five mediterranean regions by vascular plants, birds, and mammals....an excellent summary of material on a regionalized and identifiable, albeit geographically widespread ecosystem....will serve as an essential reference for libraries and should be in the possession of anyone who deals with the ecology of invasions or the flora and fauna of any of the meditterranean regions." J. Whitfield Gibbons, Environmental Management

The Mediterranean Basin, California, Chile, the western Cape of South Africa and southern Australia share a Mediterranean climate characterized by cool wet winters and hot dry summers. These five regions have differing patterns of human settlement but similarities in natural vegetation and some faunal assemblages. The similarities are being enhanced by an increasing level of biotic exchange between the regions as time passes since European settlement in each region. This unique documentation of the introduced floras and faunas in these five regions of Mediterranean climate both increases our understanding of the ecology of biological invasions, and points the way to more effective management of the biota of these regions. This book is an initiative of a subcommittee of SCOPE (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment) which realized that the integrity of many natural ecosystems was being threatened by the ingress of invasive species.

Preface
Part I. Introduction: 1. An ecological overview of the five regions with a mediterranean climate F. di Castri
Part II. Historical Background: 2. The palaeohistory of the Mediterranean biota Z. Naveh and J.-L. Vernet
3. Human impact on the biota of mediterranean-climate regions of Chile and California H. Aschmann
4. Central Chile: how do introduced plants and animals fit into the landscape? E. R. Fuentes
5. Historical background of invasions in the mediterranean region of southern Africa H. J. Deacon
6. A short history of biological invasions of Australia R. H. Groves
Part III. Biogeography of Taxa: IIIa. Higher Plants: 7. Invasive plants of the Mediterranean Basin E. Le Floc'h
8. Invasive vascular plants of California M. Rejmanek, C. D. Thomsen and I. D. Peters
9. Introduction of plants into the mediterranean-type climate area of Chile G. Montenegro, S. Teillier, P. Arce and V. Poblete
10. Introduced plants of the fynbos biome of South Africa M. J. Wells
11. Invasive plants of southern Australia P. M. Kloot
12. Life cycles of some Mediterranean invasive plants I. Olivieri, P.-H. Gouyon and J.-M. Prosperi
13. Invasion processes as related to succession and disturbance J. Lepart and M. Debussche
14. Is fire an agent favouring plant invasions? L. Trabaud
15. Plant invasion and soil seed banks: control by water and nutrients R. L. Specht and H. T. Clifford
16. Invasion by annual brome grasses: a case study challenging the homoclime approach to invasions J. Roy, M. L. Navas and L. Sonié
IIIb. Mammals: 17. Patterns of Pleistocene turnover, current distribution and speciation among Mediterranean mammals G. Cheylan
18. Introduced mammals in California W. Z. Lidicker Jr
19. Ecology of a successful invader: the European rabbit in central Chile F. M. Jaksic and E. R. Fuentes
20. Mammals introduced to the mediterranean region of South Africa R. C. Bigalke and D. Pepler
21. Mammals introduced to southern Australia T. D. Redhead, G. R. Singleton, K. Myers and B. J. Coman
IIIc. Birds: 22. Invasions and range modifications of birds in the Mediterranean Basin J. Blondel
23. Invasions in the mediterranean avifaunas of California and Chile F. Vuilleumier
24. Birds introduced to the fynbos biome of South Africa R. K. Brooke and W. R. Siegfried
25. Species of introduced birds in mediterranean Australia J. L. Long and P. R. Mawson
Part IV. Applied Aspects of Mediterranean Invasions: 26. Weed invasion in agricultural areas J. L. Guillerm
27. Plant invasions in the rangelands of the isoclimatic mediterranean zone H. N. Le Houérou
28. Forest plantations and invasions in the mediterranean zones of Australia and South Africa L. D. Pryor
29. The importation of mediterranean-adapted dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from the northern hemisphere to other parts of the world A. A. Kirk and J.-P. Lumaret
Part V. Overview: 30. The biogeography of mediterranean plant invasions R. H. Groves
31. The biogeography of mediterranean animal invasions F. di Castri
Index of scientific names
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Biogeography [RGM]