Type of Soil in Mediterranean- 32°50'16.71"N 22°15'15.66"E

Leptosols, Cambisols, Regosols, Luvisols, Nitisols, Vertisols, Gypsisols, Calcisols are all types of soil found in the Mediterranean biome. 

Leptosols- Shallow soils over continuous rock

Cambisols- texture in the fine earth fraction of very fine sand, loamy very fine sand, or finerand soil structure or absence of rock structure in half or more of the volume of the fine earth

Regosols-  eroding landscapes, landscapes that are rejuvenating, or landscapes where erosion products are deposited mainly by gravitational forces.

Luvisols- Soils with an argic horizon, CEC ≥ 24 cmolc kg-1 clay, and base saturation ≥ 50%

 

Nitisols- high aggregate stability, mainly due to high iron content, which makes them not too vulnerable to erosion. The same high iron content is responsible for their high P-fixing capacity

 

Vertisols- occur mainly in low-lying, more or less level landscape positions where climates prevail with alternating wet-dry conditions.

Gypsisols- occur in the drier parts of the Mediterranean region, particularly in the eastern part  and North Africa. Locally they are also found in Spain.

Calcisols- calcium carbonate is present in the soil

Abiotic and Biotic Factors of the Mediterranean- 39°28'13.98"N 16°17'46.46"E

Abiotic Factors: hot, dry summers, cool-moist winters; thin, nutrient-poor soils; and periodic fires. Location: Primarily in coastal areas with Mediterranean climates. About 300 N and S of the equator.

Biotic Factors: Mostly low-lying shrubs and small trees, many plants have leathery leaves to resist water loss, many plant species have oils in leaves to help them resist fire...the fire will take out “weaker” plants that don’t belong. For animals, camouflage, to avoid predation. Food, many animals will change their diet as the season changes.

Plants in Mediterranean- 38°48'30.96"N 21°47'37.09"E

In the Mediterranean forests and shurblands, there are dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The different regions are very diverse. Mediterranean vegetation dominated by evergreen trees and sclerophyllous trees adapated to fire and to summer drought and cool moist winters.

Olive Tree (Olea europaea)
Olive trees are an evergreen tree or shurb. it rarely exceeds 50 feet. Its fruit is a small drupe that range from purple to green when harvested.




Cork Oak (Quercus suber)
This tree is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa. It is the primary source of cork for wine bottle corks. In Western Europe the Cork Oak forests are home to endangered species such as the Iberian Lynx.



Common grose (Ulex europea)
This palnt is an evergreen shrub in the family Fabaceae, native to western Europe. It has adapted so that the seeds are also adapted to germinate after slight scorching by fire.



California Lilac (Ceanothus)
This plant is a good source of nutrients for deer along the west cost. Plants in this genus are widely distributed and can be found on dry, sunny hillsides from coastal scrub lands. It was also used as a medicine for treating lymphatic disorders, ovarian cysts, fibroid tumors, and tonsillitis.




Holly-leaved Banksia (Banksia ilicifolia)
This plant is endemic endemic to southwest Western Australia and is generally encountered as a tree. It requires a sunny position and sandy well-drained soil to do well and  favors low-lying areas.

Animals In Mediterranean- 36° 6'40.74"N 31° 9'56.05"E

Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus)

The monk seal is a very rare type of seal found only on islands around Greece and Turkey and around the Aegean sea. They like to live in caves along coast line with entrances under water. Males are predominantly black while  females are more grey. The Mediterranean Monk Seal is endangered, with fewer than 600 individuals left. Due to the commercialization of the areas around the Mediterranean Sea, these animals are losing their habitat.



Mediterranean House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)


These geckos are nocturnal and insectivorous. They are approximately six inches long with large, lidless eyes and elliptical pupils. They are a tanish yellow with black spots and stirpes on the tail. They emit a distinctive, high-pitched call which is possilble a territorial message.




Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)

This animal is an endangered species now located mostly in Spain. They weigh an average of 28 pounds and are 33 to 43 inches as head and body length, with the tail being 4.7 to 12 inches. They prey on smaller animals, usually no bigger than a rabbit.

Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus)

The Barbary Macaque live in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco. They typically live 22 years and weigh up to 30 pounds. Although they are mostly herbivorous, eating roots and fruit, they also feed on insects. The mating season runs from November through March. After a gestation period of 147 to 192 days, typically one baby is born per female. Twins have occurred, but it is a rarity.

Kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei)







 This small voracious predator preys on spiders and other insects, small birds, lizards, and rodents. It lives underground in South Australia. It is also the only member of its genus.









Of the species mentioned above, several, such as the Monk Seal and the Iberian Lynx are endangered. For most of the endangered species in the Mediterranean biome, the reason for their decline is habitat destruction. Tourism and the expansion of cities is destroying the forests and shrub lands where many animals live.

Australian Mediterranean- 36° 0′ 0″ S, 139° 30′ 0″ E

Eucalyptus forests are found in the Southwestern forests of Australia. A mature Eucalyptus may take the form of a low shrub or a very large tree. The leaves are long and thin and are covered in oils. The flower colors range from white, cream, yellow, pink or red.

Mediterranean Forests 38° 11' 59.84" N 0° 37' 50.32" W

 Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub ecosystems are characterized by hot and dry summers, while winters tend to be cool and moist. Most precipitation arrives during these months. They are located around the Mediterranean Sea, several spots in Australia, and around San Francisco.



Map of Mediterranean Forests