Mary T. Kalin Arroyo

Convergence in the mediterranean floras in central Chile and California: insights from comparative biogeography

A growing body of empirical evidence shows that mediterranean climate areas, with their long dry summers and winter rainfall, support high species richness, a rich array of life forms, and high levels of endemism (Goldblatt 1978; Raven and Axelrod 1978; Hopper 1979; 1992; Naveh and Whittaker 1979; Bond and Goldblatt 1984; Lamont et al. 1984; Pate et al. 1984; Pignatti and Pignatti 1985; Westoby 1988; Cowling et al. 1989; 1992; Greuter 1991; Keeley 1991; Arroyo and Uslar 1993; Arroyo et al. 1993a). These features have been variously ascribed to the peculiar mode of origin of mediterranean floras (Raven and Axelrod 1978; Raven 1988), the transitional position of mediterranean vegetation between cool-temperate and dry-tropical types (di Castri 1990), strong temporal fluctuations in precipitation, determining spatial and temporal patchiness (Zedier 1990), and low-nutrient soils (Westoby 1988).

Changing lenses to assess biodiversity: patterns of species richness in sub-Antarctic plants and implications for global conservation

Article discussing patterns of species richness in sub-Antarctic plants and implications for global conservation.