Mediterranean-Type Ecosystem
5
Table U. Climatic and soil characteristics of eight Greek phryganic formations (Diamantopoulos et al. 1994)
Characteristics
Sites of Aegean Islands
Sites of continental areas
Climatic parameters
Mean annual air temperature (OC)
19.1
18.7
18.1
18.3
18.2
17.6
17.6
17.1
Mean winter air temperature (0C)
13.5
12.8
12.7
12.0
10.6
10.3
10.7
10.9
Mean summer air temperature (0C)
25.1
25.2
23.9
25.4
26.9
25.6
25.0
25.7
Annual rainfall (mm)
502
656
397
586
416
638 1181
475
Winter rainfall (mm)
273
340
215
311
172
31
541
147
Summer rainfall (mm)
4
9
7
9
23
14
27
53
Water deficit during summer (mm)
320
289
322
283
387
260
237
323
Duration of water deficit (days)
150
90
180
120
120
90
90
120
Aridity index
48.8
37.2
56.6
41.3
57.0
38.0
31.2
48.1
Soil parameters
Sand (%)
35
14
49
35
31
14
45
56
Silt (%)
17
14
14
20
37
24
24
16
Clay(%)
48
72
37
45
32
62
31
28
Loss on ignition (%)
10.2
11.3
8.2
14.7
12.7
20.7
11.4
12.4
Soil moisture content (%)
3.1
2.9
2.6
2.9
2.8
3.2
3.3
2.0
Available water capacity (%)
60
69
62
64
55
40
80
58
pH 0:1 soil:water)
7.6
6.8
8.0
7.6
7.9
7.5
7.0
8.1
Conductivity (Ilmhos)
800
933
162
110
300
120
102
154
Total N (%)
0.21
0.21
0.28
0.34
0.43
0.34
0.39
0.36
Organic C (%)
2.1
2.0
1.4
1.0
3.1
1.6
1.7
1.6
C/N
10
10
5
3
7
5
4
5
Organic matter (%)
3.67
3.45
2.70
1.79
5.30
2.82
2.83
2.47
Extractable P
0.020 0.006 0.043 0.011 0.050 0.016 0.024 0.048
mer ranges from 237 to 387 mm and lasts 3 to 6 months. It is also worth
noting that soils are comparatively rich in nitrogen, poor in organic matter,
and almost deprived of extractable phosphorus.
In general, the soils in Mediterranean areas are shallow and the soil profile
distorted. Outcropping parent rock usually forms massive blocks. For
instance, in a maquis ecosystem on Naxos island, outcropping parent rock
covers about 10-20% of soil surface, while surface rocks cover some 20-40%
more (Matsakis et al. 1992). The existence of surface rocks in degraded Mediterranean areas is very important for smoothing erosion phenomena. In
addition, soil fauna protected beneath surface rocks initiates recolonisation
of burnt areas of Mediterranean vegetation (Sgardelis et al. 1995). The depth
of the organic layers ranges from 0-5 em, while the depth of the mineral rocky
soils is 0.5 to 1 m (Fig. 1.4). The patchy humus layer is thin (between 0 and
5 em), and the rock content of the soil profiles is high, usually exceeding 60%.
Active carbonate is abundant throughout or in parts of the soil profile, and
5
Table U. Climatic and soil characteristics of eight Greek phryganic formations (Diamantopoulos et al. 1994)
Characteristics
Sites of Aegean Islands
Sites of continental areas
Climatic parameters
Mean annual air temperature (OC)
19.1
18.7
18.1
18.3
18.2
17.6
17.6
17.1
Mean winter air temperature (0C)
13.5
12.8
12.7
12.0
10.6
10.3
10.7
10.9
Mean summer air temperature (0C)
25.1
25.2
23.9
25.4
26.9
25.6
25.0
25.7
Annual rainfall (mm)
502
656
397
586
416
638 1181
475
Winter rainfall (mm)
273
340
215
311
172
31
541
147
Summer rainfall (mm)
4
9
7
9
23
14
27
53
Water deficit during summer (mm)
320
289
322
283
387
260
237
323
Duration of water deficit (days)
150
90
180
120
120
90
90
120
Aridity index
48.8
37.2
56.6
41.3
57.0
38.0
31.2
48.1
Soil parameters
Sand (%)
35
14
49
35
31
14
45
56
Silt (%)
17
14
14
20
37
24
24
16
Clay(%)
48
72
37
45
32
62
31
28
Loss on ignition (%)
10.2
11.3
8.2
14.7
12.7
20.7
11.4
12.4
Soil moisture content (%)
3.1
2.9
2.6
2.9
2.8
3.2
3.3
2.0
Available water capacity (%)
60
69
62
64
55
40
80
58
pH 0:1 soil:water)
7.6
6.8
8.0
7.6
7.9
7.5
7.0
8.1
Conductivity (Ilmhos)
800
933
162
110
300
120
102
154
Total N (%)
0.21
0.21
0.28
0.34
0.43
0.34
0.39
0.36
Organic C (%)
2.1
2.0
1.4
1.0
3.1
1.6
1.7
1.6
C/N
10
10
5
3
7
5
4
5
Organic matter (%)
3.67
3.45
2.70
1.79
5.30
2.82
2.83
2.47
Extractable P
0.020 0.006 0.043 0.011 0.050 0.016 0.024 0.048
mer ranges from 237 to 387 mm and lasts 3 to 6 months. It is also worth
noting that soils are comparatively rich in nitrogen, poor in organic matter,
and almost deprived of extractable phosphorus.
In general, the soils in Mediterranean areas are shallow and the soil profile
distorted. Outcropping parent rock usually forms massive blocks. For
instance, in a maquis ecosystem on Naxos island, outcropping parent rock
covers about 10-20% of soil surface, while surface rocks cover some 20-40%
more (Matsakis et al. 1992). The existence of surface rocks in degraded Mediterranean areas is very important for smoothing erosion phenomena. In
addition, soil fauna protected beneath surface rocks initiates recolonisation
of burnt areas of Mediterranean vegetation (Sgardelis et al. 1995). The depth
of the organic layers ranges from 0-5 em, while the depth of the mineral rocky
soils is 0.5 to 1 m (Fig. 1.4). The patchy humus layer is thin (between 0 and
5 em), and the rock content of the soil profiles is high, usually exceeding 60%.
Active carbonate is abundant throughout or in parts of the soil profile, and