Shaping Life: The Geology of Mediterranean-Climate Ecosystems

The unique geology of Mediterranean-climate ecosystems strongly influenced the development of native plants such as Banksia baxteri.
The unique geology of Mediterranean-climate ecosystems strongly influenced the development of native plants such as Banksia baxteri. Image credit: Peggy L. Fiedler

The banksias of Australia and the coast redwoods of California are just two examples of the staggering biodiversity found in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems. This profusion of plant species owes its origins to the unique geological history of each region.

Shaping Life: The Geology of Mediterranean-Climate Ecosys­tems explains the starring role of geology in the evolution of species in California, Central Chile, the Western Cape of South Africa, South and Southwest Australia, and the Mediterranean Basin. The program is the second in a six-program video series about Mediterranean-climate regions produced by the UC Nat­ural Reserve Sys­tem and Uni­ver­sity of Cal­i­for­nia Tele­vi­sion.

The intro­duc­tory pro­gram, Lands of Two Seasons, offers an overview of the world’s Mediterranean-climate zones, point­ing out their sim­i­lar­i­ties, unique char­ac­ter­is­tics and impor­tance, while also illu­mi­nat­ing the fac­tors that threaten them. Sub­se­quent pro­grams on sub­jects rang­ing from biodiversity to ocean and atmos­pheric forces will explore what makes these envi­ron­ments so unusual and alluring.