Home›Species›Ecosystem›Mediterranean BasinEcosystemMediterranean BasinTemperate Forest and ShrublandReference and ClassificationVerifiedThe Mediterranean Basin ecosystem surrounds the Mediterranean Sea across southern Europe, North Africa and the Levant, and is the ecosystem that gave the Mediterranean climate type its name: hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, a pattern shared by only a handful of regions worldwide, including California's chaparral, central Chile, South Africa's Cape Fynbos and parts of southwestern Australia. It is recognized as one of the world's great biodiversity hotspots, holding tens of thousands of plant species, a large share of them found nowhere else, adapted to survive the long summer drought through hardened, often aromatic leaves, deep root systems and, in many cases, tolerance of periodic fire. Its characteristic vegetation, shaped by many thousands of years of grazing, cultivation and burning alongside the natural climate, ranges from evergreen sclerophyll forest to the dense shrubland known locally as maquis and the more open, low scrub called garrigue. Few regions on Earth have been so continuously shaped by human settlement and agriculture for so long, and the basin's wild landscapes today sit in close, often blurred proximity with olive groves, vineyards and grazing land that have themselves become part of the region's ecological character.FactsMediterranean BasinConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesTake a Related QuizComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsArea (sq km)Well-attested2,085,292 1Mediterranean BasinFilter Results30 entriesCommon GroupAllAmphipods (1)Asters And Composites (Asterales) (1)Cabbages And Mustards (Brassicales) (1)Citrus And Mahogany Relatives (Sapindales) (1)Cypresses And Junipers (Cupressaceae) (1)Gilled Mushrooms (Agarics) (2)Legumes (Fabales) (2)Lilies And Orchids (Liliales/Asparagales) (2)Mints, Nightshades And Allies (Lamiales/Solanales) (5)Other Flowering Plant Orders (1)Parsleys And Ivies (Apiales) (1)Passerines (Songbirds) (1)Pines (Pinaceae) (3)Roses And Relatives (Rosales) (1)Spiders (Araneae) (1)Spurges And Willows (Malpighiales) (1)Thalloid Liverworts (1)True Ferns (Polypodiopsida) (2)Turtles And Tortoises (Testudines) (1)TaxonomyAllAgaricales (1)Amanita (1)Apiaceae (1)Araneae (1)Asparagales (1)Asteraceae (1)Brassicaceae (1)Cedrus (2)Cupressaceae (1)Euphorbiaceae (1)Fabaceae (1)Lamiaceae (4)Lathyrus (1)Liliales (1)Malacostraca (1)Passeriformes (1)Phocidae (1)Pinopsida (1)Plantae (2)Plantaginaceae (1)Pteridophyta (2)Rosaceae (1)Rutaceae (1)Testudinidae (1)HabitatAllChaparral (1)Desert (3)Grassland (3)Hadal Zone (1)Marine (1)Savanna (1)Conservation StatusAllLeast Concern (9)Not Evaluated (11)Vulnerable (4)Everyday GroupAllAmphipods (1)Asters And Composites (Asterales) (1)Cabbages And Mustards (Brassicales) (1)Citrus And Mahogany Relatives (Sapindales) (1)Cypresses And Junipers (Cupressaceae) (1)Gilled Mushrooms (Agarics) (2)Legumes (Fabales) (2)Lilies And Orchids (Liliales/Asparagales) (2)Mints, Nightshades And Allies (Lamiales/Solanales) (5)Other Flowering Plant Orders (1)Parsleys And Ivies (Apiales) (1)Passerines (Songbirds) (1)Pines (Pinaceae) (3)Roses And Relatives (Rosales) (1)Spiders (Araneae) (1)Spurges And Willows (Malpighiales) (1)Thalloid Liverworts (1)True Ferns (Polypodiopsida) (2)Turtles And Tortoises (Testudines) (1)DietAllCarnivore (1)Detritivore or Scavenger (1)Herbivore (2)Parasitic (1)Photosynthetic Autotroph (23)Piscivore (1)System (Realm)AllFreshwater (2)Marine (4)Terrestrial (28)Relationship to PeopleAllAgricultural or Structural Pest (1)Domesticated (2)Farmed or Commercially Raised (3)Hunted or Fished (1)Invasive or Introduced Species (11)Kept as Pets (1)Used in Traditional Medicine (8)Living or ExtinctAllYes (17)Where It LivesAllAfghanistan (2)Africa (8)Albania (13)Algeria (13)Andorra (2)Angola (3)Antigua and Barbuda (1)Argentina (4)Armenia (5)Australia (12)Austria (11)Azerbaijan (1)Bahamas (1)Bahrain (1)Bangladesh (2)Barbados (1)Beijing (1)Belarus (4)Belgium (16)Belize (1)Benin (1)Bhutan (1)Bolivia (3)Bosnia and Herzegovina (4)Botswana (2)Brazil (11)Brunei (1)Bulgaria (12)Burkina Faso (1)Burundi (2)Cambodia (2)Canada (6)Central African Republic (1)Chad (1)Chile (3)China (1)Colombia (9)Comoros (1)Costa Rica (2)Cote d'Ivoire (1)Croatia (6)Cuba (2)Cyprus (10)Czechia (5)Democratic Republic of the Congo (1)Denmark (11)Dominican Republic (2)East Africa (2)Ecuador (2)El Salvador (2)Eritrea (2)Eswatini (2)Ethiopia (3)Europe (1)Fiji (1)Finland (3)France (20)Fujian (1)Georgia (4)Germany (11)Greece (15)Guangdong (1)Guatemala (2)Guinea (1)Guyana (1)Haiti (1)Honduras (1)Hungary (6)Iceland (2)India (8)Iran (8)Iraq (4)Ireland (11)Italy (15)Jamaica (1)Japan (3)Jordan (1)Kazakhstan (1)Kenya (2)Kyrgyzstan (1)Laos (1)Latvia (1)Lesotho (3)Libya (10)Luxembourg (3)Madagascar (1)Malawi (1)Malta (2)Mauritius (1)Mexico (3)Mongolia (1)Morocco (13)Myanmar (2)Nauru (1)Nepal (1)Netherlands (7)New Zealand (2)Nicaragua (1)North America (17)Norway (16)Pakistan (2)Palestine (6)Peru (5)Philippines (1)Poland (6)Portugal (15)Qatar (1)Romania (5)Russia (2)Rwanda (2)Saudi Arabia (1)Serbia (1)Slovakia (3)Slovenia (2)South Africa (3)South America (1)South Asia (1)Spain (17)Sri Lanka (2)Sweden (9)Switzerland (12)Taiwan (5)Tanzania (1)Thailand (2)Tibet (1)Tunisia (11)Uganda (1)Ukraine (9)United Arab Emirates (1)United Kingdom (6)United States (14)Uruguay (3)Vanuatu (1)Venezuela (3)Vietnam (3)Yemen (2)Zambia (1)Zimbabwe (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 30Aleppo PineMediterranean BasinAmphipodMediterranean BasinCastor Bean (Ricinus communis)Mediterranean BasinCedar of LebanonMediterranean BasinCedrus LibaniMediterranean BasinCentury PlantMediterranean BasinCrescent-cup LiverwortMediterranean BasinCretan BrakeMediterranean BasinDeath CapMediterranean BasinEryngium maritimumMediterranean BasinGarden Pea (Pisum sativum)Mediterranean BasinGladiolus communisMediterranean BasinGlebionis segetumMediterranean BasinHouse SparrowMediterranean BasinHuntsman SpiderMediterranean BasinItalian CypressMediterranean BasinKing Trumpet MushroomMediterranean BasinLaurus nobilisMediterranean BasinLavender (Lavandula angustifolia)Mediterranean BasinMarjoramMediterranean BasinMediterranean Monk SealMediterranean BasinPeaMediterranean BasinPotentilla rectaMediterranean BasinRhamphospermum arvenseMediterranean BasinRuta graveolensMediterranean BasinSage (Salvia officinalis)Mediterranean BasinSnapdragonMediterranean BasinSoft Shield-fernMediterranean BasinTestudo HermanniMediterranean BasinTeucrium fruticansMediterranean BasinConnectionsDemonstratesDrought, Natural Phenomena Well-attested The climate of the Mediterranean Basin is defined by long, reliably dry summers, a seasonal drought pattern distinct from the wet winters of the region.Source Encyclopaedia Britannicatier 1Wildfire, Natural Phenomena Well-attested Source Encyclopaedia Britannicatier 1HostsAleppo Pine, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Aleppo PineAdditional Source Mediterranean Basin (Wikipedia)Article texttier 2Amphipod, Species Well-attested Source Amphipoda (Wikipedia)tier 2Castor Bean (Ricinus communis), Species Well-attested Source Ricinus (Wikipedia)Cedar of Lebanon, Species Well-attested Source Cedrus libani, WikipediaCedrus Libani, Species Well-attested Source Cedrus libani, WikipediaCentury Plant, Species Well-attested Source Agave americana (Wikipedia)Crescent-cup Liverwort, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: LunulariaCretan Brake, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Pteris creticatier 2Death Cap, Species Well-attested Source Amanita phalloides (Wikipedia)Eryngium maritimum, Species Well-attested Source Eryngium maritimum (Wikipedia)Garden Pea (Pisum sativum), Species Well-attested Source Pea (Wikipedia)Gladiolus communis, Species Well-attested Source Gladiolus communis (Wikipedia)Glebionis segetum, Species Well-attested Source Glebionis segetum (Wikipedia)House Sparrow, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: House Sparrowtier 2Huntsman Spider, Species Well-attested Source Huntsman spider, WikipediaItalian Cypress, Species Well-attested Source Italian Cypress (Wikipedia)King Trumpet Mushroom, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Pleurotus eryngiitier 2Laurus nobilis, Species Well-attested Source Laurus nobilis (Wikipedia)Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Species Well-attested Source Lavandula angustifolia (Wikipedia)Marjoram, Species Well-attested Source Marjoram (Wikipedia)Mediterranean Monk Seal, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Aleppo PineAdditional Source Mediterranean Basin (Wikipedia)Article texttier 2Pea, Species Well-attested Source Pea (Wikipedia)Potentilla recta, Species Well-attested Source Potentilla recta (Wikipedia)Rhamphospermum arvense, Species Well-attested Source Rhamphospermum arvense (Wikipedia)Ruta graveolens, Species Well-attested Source Ruta graveolens (Wikipedia)Sage (Salvia officinalis), Species Well-attested Source Salvia officinalis (Wikipedia)Snapdragon, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Antirrhinumtier 2Soft Shield-fern, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Polystichum setiferumtier 2Testudo Hermanni, Species Well-attested Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Testudo hermanniTeucrium fruticans, Species Well-attested Source Teucrium fruticans (Wikipedia)In BiomeChaparral, Biomes Well-attested Source World Wildlife FundIn the Other AtlasesFound InAlgeriaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.CroatiaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.EgyptAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.FranceAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.GreeceAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.ItalyAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.LibyaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.MoroccoAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.SpainAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.TunisiaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.TurkeyAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.Sources1. Mediterranean Basin (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaWikipedia summary, lead paragraphIn biogeography, the Mediterranean basin, also known as the Mediterranean region or sometimes Mediterranea, is the region of lands around the Mediterranean Sea that mostly have a Mediterranean climate, with mild to cool, rainy winters and warm to hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation.Wikipedia, Mediterranean basin, lead section, area/biodiversity-hotspot sentenceThe Mediterranean basin has an area of 2,085,292 km2, of which only 98,009 km2 remains undisturbed.Hosts: Mediterranean Monk Seal, Article textEndangered mammals of the Mediterranean basin include the Mediterranean monk seal, the Barbary macaque, and the Iberian lynx.Hosts: Aleppo Pine, Article textAmong the endemic species prominent in the Mediterranean vegetation are the Aleppo pine, stone pine, Mediterranean cypress, bay laurel, Oriental sweetgum, holm oak, kermes oak, strawberry tree, Greek strawberry tree, mastic, terebinth, common myrtle, oleander, Acanthus mollis and Vitex agnus-castus.View the SourceWorld Wildlife FundWorld Wildlife FundIn Biome: ChaparralView the SourceEncyclopaedia Britannicatier 1Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.Demonstrates: WildfireDemonstrates: DroughtView the SourceWikipedia: House Sparrowtier 2WikipediaHosts: House Sparrow, Wikipedia intro: "markings. One of 28 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and a large part of Asia. Its intention..."View the SourceCedrus libani, WikipediaHosts: Cedar of Lebanon, Wikipedia intro: "pecies of large conifer in the pine family, Pinaceae, and is native to the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. Known for its longevity, height, and du..."Hosts: Cedrus Libani, Wikipedia intro: "pecies of large conifer in the pine family, Pinaceae, and is native to the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. Known for its longevity, height, and du..."View the SourceItalian Cypress (Wikipedia)Hosts: Italian Cypress, Wikipedia intro: "ies of cypress native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Iran. It is widespread throughout the Mediterranean basin and has become endemic in similar dry su..."View the SourceHuntsman spider, WikipediaHosts: Huntsman Spider, LeadQuote, Hosts: Huntsman Spider, LeadMore than a thousand Sparassidae species occur in most warm, temperate to tropical regions of the world, including much of Australia, Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean Basin, and the Americas.View the SourceAmanita phalloides (Wikipedia)Hosts: Death Cap, Distribution and habitatQuote, Hosts: Death Cap, Distribution and habitatIt is found from the southern coastal regions of Scandinavia in the north, to Ireland in the west, east to Poland and western Russia, and south throughout the Balkans, in Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal in the Mediterranean basin, and in Morocco and Algeria in north Africa.View the SourceAmphipoda (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaHosts: Amphipod, EcologyQuote, Hosts: Amphipod, EcologyAround 750 species in 160 genera and 30 families are troglobitic and live in caves, and are found in almost all suitable habitats, but with their centres of diversity in the Mediterranean Basin, southeastern North America and the Caribbean.View the SourceLavandula angustifolia (Wikipedia)Hosts: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), LeadQuote, Hosts: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), LeadLavandula angustifolia, formerly L. officinalis, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to the Mediterranean basin.View the SourceWikipedia: Pleurotus eryngiitier 2WikipediaHosts: King Trumpet Mushroom, Distribution and habitatQuote, Hosts: King Trumpet Mushroom, Distribution and habitatIts natural range extends from the Atlantic Ocean through the Mediterranean Basin (including North Africa) and Central Europe into Western Asia and India.View the SourceAgave americana (Wikipedia)Hosts: Century Plant, LeadQuote, Hosts: Century Plant, LeadThis plant is widely cultivated worldwide for its ornamental value and has become naturalized in various regions, including Southern California, the West Indies, South America, the Mediterranean Basin, Africa, the Canary Islands, India, China, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia.View the SourceWikipedia: Antirrhinumtier 2WikipediaHosts: Snapdragon, CircumscriptionQuote, Hosts: Snapdragon, CircumscriptionBy contrast the narrow circumscription (sensu stricto) confines the genus to the monophyletic Old World perennial species with a diploid chromosome number of 16, distributed in the Mediterranean basin, approximately 25 species, following the phylogenetic analysis of Vargas et al. (2004) suggesting they are a distinct group.View the SourceRhamphospermum arvense (Wikipedia)Hosts: Rhamphospermum arvense, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Rhamphospermum arvense, DistributionA native of the Mediterranean basin, from temperate regions of North Africa, Europe and parts of Asia.View the SourcePotentilla recta (Wikipedia)Hosts: Potentilla recta, LeadQuote, Hosts: Potentilla recta, LeadThe plant probably originated in the Mediterranean Basin.View the SourcePea (Wikipedia)Hosts: Pea, Distribution and habitatThe wild pea is restricted to the Mediterranean Basin and the Near East.Hosts: Garden Pea (Pisum sativum), Distribution and habitatThe wild pea is restricted to the Mediterranean Basin and the Near East.View the SourceRicinus (Wikipedia)Hosts: Castor Bean (Ricinus communis), Distribution and habitatQuote, Hosts: Castor Bean (Ricinus communis), Distribution and habitatAlthough R. communis is indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa, and India, today it is widespread throughout tropical regions.View the SourceLaurus nobilis (Wikipedia)Hosts: Laurus nobilis, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Laurus nobilis, DistributionIt is native to the Mediterranean region and is used as bay leaf for seasoning in cooking.View the SourceRuta graveolens (Wikipedia)Hosts: Ruta graveolens, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Ruta graveolens, DistributionIt is native to the Mediterranean.View the SourceSalvia officinalis (Wikipedia)Hosts: Sage (Salvia officinalis), DistributionQuote, Hosts: Sage (Salvia officinalis), DistributionIt is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and native to the Mediterranean region, though it has been naturalized in many places throughout the world.View the SourceTeucrium fruticans (Wikipedia)Hosts: Teucrium fruticans, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Teucrium fruticans, DistributionTeucrium fruticans (common name tree germander or shrubby germander) is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to the western and central Mediterranean.View the SourceWikipedia: LunulariaHosts: Crescent-cup Liverwort, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Crescent-cup Liverwort, DistributionIt occurs commonly in western Europe, and is native to the Mediterranean region, where the morphological forms from sexual reproduction are more frequently found there.View the SourceGlebionis segetum (Wikipedia)Hosts: Glebionis segetum, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Glebionis segetum, DistributionChrysanthemum segetum) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, probably native only to the eastern Mediterranean region but now naturalized in western and northern Europe as well as China and parts of North America.View the SourceGladiolus communis (Wikipedia)Hosts: Gladiolus communis, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Gladiolus communis, DistributionGladiolus communis, the eastern gladiolus, or common corn-flag, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, native to temperate northern Africa, western Asia and southern Europe, from the Mediterranean to the Caucasus, and widely naturalised in frost-free locations elsewhere, such as coastal parts of the southwestern British Isles.View the SourceWikipedia: Polystichum setiferumtier 2WikipediaHosts: Soft Shield-fern, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Soft Shield-fern, Distributionis most abundant in Ireland, southwestern Great Britain, western France and northwest Iberia, where it benefits from the combination of mild winters and moist summers, but also occurs more locally north to northern Scotland and east to the Crimea and Turkey; in the Mediterranean it usually grows at high altitudes.View the SourceEryngium maritimum (Wikipedia)Hosts: Eryngium maritimum, LeadQuote, Hosts: Eryngium maritimum, LeadEryngium maritimum, also called the sea holly, sea eryngo, or sea eryngium, is a perennial species of flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae, native to the coasts of most of Europe and the Mediterranean.View the SourceWikipedia: Pteris creticatier 2WikipediaHosts: Cretan Brake, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Cretan Brake, Distributioncretica is native in an area from the Mediterranean to tropical Asia, in Africa, in Madagascar and on the Atlantic islands.View the SourceMarjoram (Wikipedia)Hosts: Marjoram, HistoryQuote, Hosts: Marjoram, HistoryMarjoram is indigenous to Cyprus, the Mediterranean, Turkey, Western Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Levant, and was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans as a symbol of happiness.View the SourceAnimal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Testudo hermanniAnimal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyHosts: Testudo Hermanni, Geographic RangeQuote, Hosts: Testudo Hermanni, Geographic RangeHermann’s tortoises, are found along the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in western Europe, ranging from Romania and Greece to southern Spain.View the SourceTake a Related QuizWetlands, Reefs and Deltas: New EcosystemsCovers this kind of entry.Comments (0)No comments yet. 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