Volume: 5, 2026
5th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: OL003
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL5.OL003
Published online: 22 April 2026
The dynamics of Mediterranean ecosystems: a history of humans and nature
João Carvalho
Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal
Corresponding author: jlcarvalho@ua.pt
Mediterranean-type ecosystems, or climates, occur in five regions of the globe: California, Chile, the Mediterranean Basin, Western Australia, and Western South Africa. Here, the dynamics of ecological processes are shaped by climate, topography, geology, human activities, and fire. In this presentation, I will focus on the Mediterranean Basin, where humans and nature have interacted for thousands of years. The Mediterranean Basin, like the other regions, is a true biodiversity hotspot, rich in endemic fauna and flora. This fact, combined with the complexity of this ecosystem and the multicausal processes that govern it, has attracted the attention of researchers from diverse fields, including ecology and evolution, geology, and archaeology. Currently, human pressure is intensifying, while periods of aridity and extreme events are becoming more frequent. Rural exodus and land abandonment are realities that favor the emergence of intensive monocultures in place of traditional practices. At the same time, the rural exodus is often seen as an opportunity for ecological restoration and policy rethinking. These threats interact and are likely to continue, which pose several challenges to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning. I will introduce the past and present of these highly diverse ecosystems. I will highlight ongoing projects that bring together ecology, history, and technology to better understand the environmental factors shaping the dynamics of Mediterranean regions. I will also address the opportunities these recent transformations present for research, biodiversity, and the conservation of natural resources.
Keywords: biodiversity hotspot, conservation threats, ecological processes, ecosystem functioning, Mediterranean basin
How to cite
Carvalho J., 2026. The dynamics of Mediterranean ecosystems: a history of humans and nature. In: 5th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL5.OL003