The Mediterranean Basin and Its Historical State

The Mediterranean Basin and Its Historical State

As seen above, the Mediterranean is home to many people surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. (http://www.icpdr.org/main/sites/default/files/images/dw/dw0603/p16_1.jpg)

The Mediterranean Basin is one of five places in the entire world with a Mediterranean ecosystem. It is a regional ecosystem located around the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This encompasses Southern Europe and Northern Africa. It has many varying elevations due to its low coastline and high altitude mountain ranges. (http://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa1218) The ecosystem of the Mediterranean Basin is characterized by the following four characteristics. The first characteristic that distinguishes the Mediterranean Basin is its jagged coastlines along the Mediterranean Sea and relatively new mountain ranges. The second characteristic is the well-known dry and hot summers and wet and cool winters. The third characteristic is the especially high diversity of plant and animals. And finally, the fourth characteristic is the long history of exploitation of the unique forests of the Mediterranean Basin. This regional ecosystem supports high diversity in both plants and animals. This region is unique because it is home to 25,00 plant species, of which, half of them are endemic to the region. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112700003832)

Map of the Mediterranean Basin showing the varying elevations of the region. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Mediterranean_Relief.jpg)

Historically, there have been various forms of over-exploitation by humans and their herds of animal that have damaged forests around the Mediterranean Basin. There has also been a pattern of poor forest management and forest fires, due to this region being especially prone to forest fires. The forests that do remain are altered woods that are managed by humans. These forests usually relate to the stages of regressive succession of the forest. Since ancient times, the forests of the Mediterranean Basin have a pattern of long term manipulation with the spread of tree species such as:  Pinus pinea, Cupressus sempervirens, Castanea sativa, and Quercus suber. Many tree species recolonized the Mediterranean Basin after the end of glacial ages around 15,000-10,000 years ago. These tree species include the Holarctic and Eurasion tree species. Like many other regions around the world, non-idiginous species of trees have been introduced in the past centuries. In the last century specifically, these invasive trees include:  hybrid poplars, eucalypts, radiata pine and various cypresses. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112700003832)

Map showing the area of Mediterranean forrest and woodlands. (http://www.grabovrat.com/mapsViews/figMapsViews/MB0C.jpg)

Unfortunately, during the climatic changes of the Pleistocene era, the number of mammal species greatly declined in the Mediterranean Basin. This was especially true to for large animals. However, after the mass migration of people to southern Europe from Asia, the number of animal species increased quickly. In spite of this, after the strong human presence and impact of the Neolithic age, many animal species went extinct. As it is now, there are 200 species of mammals in the region and a quarter of them are endemic to the Mediterranean Basin. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112700003832)

Picture of Mediterranean forrest. (http://awsassets.panda.org/img/gtte66_croatia_109866_394992.jpg)

        The Mediterranean Basin has been significantly impacted by the presence of humans throughout its long history. Humans moved to Europe around 50,000-40,000 years ago. The Mediterranean Basin has also gone through many different warm and glacial period. The Wisconsin glaciation was the most recent glacial period and it spanned from around 21,000 years ago to 12,000 years ago. It was then followed by a warm period called the Holocene climatic optimum. Agriculture and the domestication of animals had a hug impact on the historic state of the Mediterranean Basin. This began as early in Europe in the 9^th millennium BCE and spread to the Mediterranean Basin. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Basin)