Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 6.3
Oro-Mediterranean formations in the northwestern Lefka Ori (photo by the author)
Mediterranean (oro-Mediterranean and alti-Mediterranean zones) are prickly scrub
or spiny cushion-shaped dwarf shrubs (Figure 6.3). Dwarf shrublands are known to
occur in the Mediterranean and the Irano-Turanian regions, as well as the South
American Andes. These formations, also known as hedgehog heath or cushion
heath shrubs, are one of the most characteristic vegetation types of the mountains
of Italy, Spain, Greece and northern Africa (Quezel, 1981c; White, 1983). They
represent a climax formation that reflects the environmental conditions. The term
used to describe these formations is
pelouse ecorchee
(Zaffran, 1990). They have
three characteristics:
dominance of spiny chamaephytes in cushions;
presence of bare ground between the tufted species;
presence of a moderate pasture for sheep or wild goats.
In the Lefka Ori of Crete, the dominant species include
Berberis cretica
L. and
Eu-
phorbia acanthothamnos,
with
Juniperus oxycedrus
L. ssp.
oxycedrus
or commu-
nities of spiny cushion-shaped dwarf shrubs such as
Acantholimon androsaceum
(Jaub. & Spach) Boiss.,
Astragalus angustifolius
Lam. and
Satureja spinosa
L.
(Vogiatzakis. 2000). In Morocco the zone corresponds to the climatic climax be-
tween the treeline and 3900 m and includes species such as
Alyssum spinosum, Ame-
lanchier ovalis, Berberis hispanica
and
Prunus prostrata
(White, 1983). Above the
alti-Mediterranean zone an additional zone may be present; this cryo-Mediterranean
