About this Research Topic
The conservation of biological diversity involves a strategy that considers the ecological requirements of several species. The regions with a Mediterranean climate are the most remarkable biodiversity hotspots. This extraordinary concentration of plant diversity has inspired conservation biologists to investigate methods of mitigating the expected loss of biodiversity in these regions. In recent decades, landscape and land ecosystem changes have accelerated, particularly in the Mediterranean regions. Considering the rapid decline in biodiversity, it is necessary to use measurement tools to quantify the extent and evolution of the process. For example, according to the Habitat Directive (92/43/ECC), efforts to conserve biodiversity in the European Union have always centered on identifying protected areas for the conservation of species and habitats.
Several predominantly human-caused threats (such as urbanization, habitat fragmentation, biological invasions, etc.) are recognized as the leading causes of biodiversity loss. Therefore, it is essential to do additional research on monitoring and evaluating the conservation status of flora, vegetation, and habitats by improving monitoring techniques and enhancing the definitions of reference states and conservation status metrics.
This Research Topic aims to bring together various perspectives on plant species, plant communities and ecosystems to emphasize their ecological value. This will include researches providing knowledge of ecology, biogeography, taxonomy, and conservation status of threatened species distributed in the Mediterranean-climate regions. In addition, the Research Topic will include studies of plant communities that characterize fragile habitats.
We welcome multidisciplinary contributions and original research that cover:
• Taxonomical and biogeographical analysis of Mediterranean flora.
• Ecological and phytosociological investigations about the plant diversity.
• Threats to the conservation of vascular plants and their ecosystems.
• Habitat characterization and monitoring in environments with a Mediterranean climate.
• Conservation activities (e.g., in situ and ex-situ conservation methods) for endangered species in Mediterranean regions.
• Studies for assessing the conservation status of habitats and species in data-poor territories.
• Studies about urban forests both addressing climate change and restoring biodiversity.
• Landscape history and paleoecology; eg. changing fire regimes, land abandonment, changing agricultural practices, management of cultural landscapes
Several predominantly human-caused threats (such as urbanization, habitat fragmentation, biological invasions, etc.) are recognized as the leading causes of biodiversity loss. Therefore, it is essential to do additional research on monitoring and evaluating the conservation status of flora, vegetation, and habitats by improving monitoring techniques and enhancing the definitions of reference states and conservation status metrics.
This Research Topic aims to bring together various perspectives on plant species, plant communities and ecosystems to emphasize their ecological value. This will include researches providing knowledge of ecology, biogeography, taxonomy, and conservation status of threatened species distributed in the Mediterranean-climate regions. In addition, the Research Topic will include studies of plant communities that characterize fragile habitats.
We welcome multidisciplinary contributions and original research that cover:
• Taxonomical and biogeographical analysis of Mediterranean flora.
• Ecological and phytosociological investigations about the plant diversity.
• Threats to the conservation of vascular plants and their ecosystems.
• Habitat characterization and monitoring in environments with a Mediterranean climate.
• Conservation activities (e.g., in situ and ex-situ conservation methods) for endangered species in Mediterranean regions.
• Studies for assessing the conservation status of habitats and species in data-poor territories.
• Studies about urban forests both addressing climate change and restoring biodiversity.
• Landscape history and paleoecology; eg. changing fire regimes, land abandonment, changing agricultural practices, management of cultural landscapes
Keywords: plant conservation, vegetation conservation, taxonomy, ecology, habitat, Mediterranean, Europe, IUCN, phytosociology, plant community, biological invasion, urban forests, biodiversity monitoring
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
