Human activities are causing species extinctions at a rate and magnitude rivaling those of past geologic extinction events.
Exploring mediterranean-type ecosystems - the Mediterranean Basin, California, Chile, Australia, and South Africa - this volume addresses the question whether biological diversity plays a significant role in the functioning of natural ecosystems, and to what extent that diversity can be reduced without causing system malfunction. Comparative studies in ecosystems that are similar in certain respects, but differ in others, offer considerable scope for gaining new insights into the links between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

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1 Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems: Opportunities and Constraints for Studying the Function of Biodiversity.- 1.1 Focus on Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems.- 1.2 Definitions.- 1.3 Why Study Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function?.- 1.4 Linking Diversity and Ecosystem Function.- 1.5 Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems: Similarities and Differences Between Regions.- 1.5.1 Climate.- 1.5.2 Soils.- 1.5.3 Vegetation.- 1.5.4 Human Transformation.- 1.6 History of Research on Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems.- 1.7 Opportunities for Studying Links Between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in MTEs.- References.- 2 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in the Mediterranean Basin: Human and Non-Human Determinants.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Geography, Climate and Habitat Diversity.- 2.2.1 Geography.- 2.2.2 Climate.- 2.2.3 Habitat Diversity.- 2.3 Patterns of Mediterranean Diversities in Relation to Space and Time.- 2.3.1 Flora and Vegetation.- 2.3.2 Vertebrates.- 2.4 The Historical Load and Mediterranean Adaptations.- 2.4.1 Life History Traits of Mediterranean Plants: Historical Effects or Adaptations?.- 2.4.2 Intraspecific Variation.- 2.4.3 Tests of Convergence Between Bird Communities of Mediterranean Regions of France, Chile and California.- 2.5 Humans and the Mediterranean Biota.- 2.5.1 Fire.- 2.5.2 Deforestation.- 2.5.3 Land-Use Patterns.- 2.5.4 The Case of the Disappearing Black Truffles.- 2.5.5 Differences in Human Pressures, North and South.- 2.6 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function at the Community Level.- 2.6.1 Disturbances as Key Events in Community Dynamics: a Case Study of Post-Fire Succession.- 2.6.2 Regeneration Traits.- 2.6.3 Changing Tree Cover: Oaks, Pines and Soil Fertility.- 2.6.4 Aromatic Compounds and Insect Pollinators.- 2.6.5 Extinctions and Invasions.- 2.7 Functional Groups and Redundancy.- 2.7.1 Legumes, Grasses and Possible Interactions among Them.- 2.7.2 Avian Frugivores and Bird-Dispersed Plants in Mediterranean Shrublands.- 2.7.3 Species Equivalence and Density Compensation.- 2.7.4 Earthworms: Keystone Species at Risk.- 2.7.5 The Spatial Dynamics of Predatory Ants.- 2.8 Ecological and Evolutionary Consequences of Patchiness.- 2.9 The Future.- 2.9.1 Regional and Global Changes.- 2.9.2 Restoration, Rehabilitation and Reallocation.- 2.9.3 Positive Feedback Switches in Mediterranean Ecosystems.- References.- 3 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Mediterranean-Climate California.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Patterns and Determinants of Diversity.- 3.2.1 Historical Determinants of Floristic Diversity.- 3.2.2 Historical Determinants of Vertebrate Diversity.- 3.2.3 Present Patterns of Plant Diversity.- 3.2.4 Present Patterns of Insect Diversity.- 3.2.5 Present Patterns of Vertebrate Diversity.- 3.2.6 Diversity Patterns of Fungi.- 3.2.7 Patterns of Genetic Diversity.- 3.2.8 Effect of Wildfire Frequency on Landscape Diversity.- 3.2.9 Effect of Alien Species' Invasions on Native Flora and Fauna.- 3.2.10 Effect of Habitat Fragmentation on Patterns of Diversity.- 3.3 Biodiversity and Community Structure and Function.- 3.3.1 Plant Linkages with Other Trophic Levels: Oaks as a Case History.- 3.3.2 Vertebrate Communities.- 3.3.3 Invertebrate Communities.- 3.4 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function.- 3.4.1 The Annual Grassland Ecosystem.- 3.4.2 The Chaparral Ecosystem.- 3.5 Conclusions.- 3.6 Future Research Needs.- References.- 4 Functional Approaches to Biodiversity in the Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems of Central Chile.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Biodiversity in Chile.- 4.2.1 Vascular Plants.- 4.2.2 Mammals.- 4.2.3 Birds.- 4.2.4 Reptils and Amphibians.- 4.2.5 Invertebrates.- 4.3 Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems in Central Chile.- 4.4 The Role of Diversity in Ecosystem Function.- 4.5 Plant Species Diversity and Growth-Form Diversity.- 4.6 Environmental Resources as a Factor in Diversity.- 4.6.1 Soil Moisture Resources.- 4.6.2 Nutrient Availability.- 4.6.3 Fire Frequency and Biodiversity.- 4.7 Storage of Species Diversity.- 4.8 Biodiversity in Vertebrate Predator/Prey Systems.- 4.9 Production of Honey at the Community Level.- 4.9.1 Species Representation in Pollen Load Samples.- 4.10 Impact of Changes in Climate and Land-Use on Biodiversity.- 4.11 Conclusions.- References.- 5 Function of Biodiversity in the Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems of Southwestern Australia.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems in Australia.- 5.2.1 Physical Characteristics.- 5.2.2 Vegetation Patterns.- 5.2.3 Floristic Patterns.- 5.2.4 Faunal Richness.- 5.2.5 Landscape Patterns.- 5.2.6 Response to Disturbance.- 5.2.7 Response to Environmental Constraints.- 5.2.8 Human Transformation.- 5.3 Ecosystem Function of Biodiversity.- 5.3.1 Environmental Change and the Loss of Megafauna.- 5.3.2 A Comparison of Natural and Agricultural Systems.- 5.3.3 Loss of Multiple Ecosystem Components: Mistletoes in Eucalypt Woodlands.- 5.3.4 Complex Interactions: Cockatoos, Banksias and Grubs, and Marsupials and Mycorrhizae.- 5.3.5 Ecosystem Processes.- 5.3.6 Functional Groups: Useful or Not?.- 5.3.7 Keystone Species: Banksia prionotes as a Keystone Plant.- 5.4 Research Opportunities.- 5.4.1 Removal of a Functional Group: Jarrah Forest Fire Regimes.- 5.4.2 Removal of a Functional Group: Effects of Phytophthora cinnamomi.- 5.4.3 Additions of Species / Functional Groups in Mine Site Rehabilitation.- 5.4.4 Addition and Removal of Species / Functional Groups: Fragmentation and Revegetation in Agricultural Areas.- 5.4.5 Comparisons Between Species-Rich and Species-Poor Native Plant Communities.- 5.5 Conclusions.- References.- 6 Links between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in the Cape Floristic Region.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.1.1 The Link Between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function.- 6.1.2 Defining Biodiversity, Ecosystem Function and Scales of Measurement.- 6.1.3 Opportunities at the Cape.- 6.2 Geography of the Region.- 6.3 Patterns of Biodiversity in the Cape Floristic Region.- 6.3.1 Broad-Scale Patterns of Biodiversity.- 6.3.2 Patterns and Determinants of Diversity: Plant Species and Functional Groups.- 6.3.3 Patterns and Determinants of Diversity: Animal Species and Functional Groups.- 6.4 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: Community-Level Perspectives.- 6.4.1 Plant Growth Forms as Functional Groups.- 6.4.2 Regeneration Traits of Plants.- 6.4.3 An Ecophysiological Approach to Functional Grouping in Plants.- 6.4.4 Empty Functional Groups.- 6.4.5 Animal Communities.- 6.4.6 Keystone Taxa.- 6.5 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: Landscape-Level Perspectives.- 6.5.1 Within Formations.- 6.5.2 Between Formations.- 6.6 The Ecology of Formation Shifts.- 6.6.1 Forest-Fynbos.- 6.6.2 Fynbos-Renosterveld.- 6.6.3 Fynbos-Grassland.- 6.6.4 Fynbos-Alien Trees.- 6.6.5 Formation Shifts and Ecosystem Function.- 6.7 Conclusions.- References.- 7 Ecosystem Function of Biodiversity: Can We Learn From the Collective Experience of MTE Research?.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems as a Focus.- 7.3 Diversity and System Function: a Distillation of MTE Thinking.- 7.3.1 Similarities and Differences in Approach.- 7.4 The Way Ahead.- 7.4.1 Continuing the Search for a New Paradigm.- References.- Taxonomic Index.