This volume comprises invited contributions on important aspects of plant--animal interactions in Mediterranean-type ecosystems, which was the subject of the Sixth International Conference on Mediterranean Climate Ecosystems held in Crete, Greece, from September 23 to 27, 1991.
The subject of plant--animal interactions is fundamental to the Mediterranean-type ecosystems and their rational managements.
All five regions of the world with a Mediterranean climate are represented: the Mediterranean basin sensu lato, California, Chile, South Africa, Australia. The book is divided into six parts. These six sections on plant--animal interactions reflect the major trends in the direction of research of the members of the International Society of Mediterranean Ecology (ISOMED).

Zusammenfassung
Contains contributions on plant-animal interactions in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. The five regions of the world with a Mediterranean climate are represented. The book is divided into six parts, which reflect trends in research of the International Society of Mediterranean Ecology.

Inhalt

Foreword. Preface; F. di Castri. Introduction; M. Arianoutsou, R.H. Groves. Historical Introduction. 1. Aristotle and Theophrastus on plant--animal interactions; C.A. Thanos. Community Structure. 2. Species richness of vascular plants and vertebrates in relation to canopy productivity; R.L. Specht. 3. Summergreenness, evergreenness and life history variation in Mediterranean blue tits; J. Blondel, P.C. Dias. 4. Community structure and species richness in the Mediterranean-type soil fauna; A. Legakis. 5. Bird diversity within and among Australian heathlands; M.L. Cody. 6. Plant community structure in southwestern Australia and aspects of herbivory, seed dispersal and pollination; D.T. Bell. Triangular Relationships. 7. Resource webs in Mediterranean-type climates; H.A. Mooney, R.J. Hobbs. 8. Triangular trophic relationships in Mediterranean-climate Western Australia; B.B. Lamont. Herbivory. 9. Has intensive grazing by domestic livestock degraded Mediterranean Basin rangelands? N.G. Seligman, A. Perevolotsky. 10. Resource availability and herbivory in Larrea tridentata; P.W. Rundel, M.R. Sharifi, A. Gonzalez-Coloma. 11. Effects of insect herbivory on plant architecture; R. Ginocchio, G. Montenegro. Pollination. 12. Pollination syndromes in the Mediterranean: generalizations and peculiarities; A. Dafni, C. O'Toole. 13. Red flowers and butterfly pollination in the Cape fynbos; S.D. Johnson, W.J. Bond. Seed Dispersal. 14. Modes of dispersal of seeds in the Cape fynbos; *E.J. Moll, B. McKenzie. 15. Why are there so many myrmecochorous species in the Cape fynbos? R.M. Cowling, S.M. Pierce, W.D. Stock, M. Cocks. Indexes - Systematic; Author; Subject.