Ecosystem shift in Mediterranean ecosystems

Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs) may be among the most affected by global climate change due to an increase in droughts and fires. Although the vegetation found in MTEs is highly adapted to these major disturbances, their compound effects can lead to loss of resilience and ecosystem shifts.

Mechanisms behind MTEs resilience under interacting disturbance regimes are not well understood. The EU-funded project RESCRI filled this knowledge gap by evaluating ecological mechanisms governing systems behaviour and the occurrence of alternative states in MTEs under compound regimes of fire and drought.

Further information: Ecosystem shift in Mediterranean ecosystems