Forecasted stability of Mediterranean evergreen species considering global changes

Plant communities of the Mediterranean climate Regions are exposed tohigh temperatures, high radiation and water stress during summer, theyare dominated by evergreen sclerophyllous species and drought semideciduous species. To define the adaptive strategies, anatomical andmorphological leaf traits of Quercus ilex L., Phillyrea latifolia L.(typical evergreen sclerophyllous species) and Cistus incanus L., (adrought semi deciduous species), growing in the Mediterranean maquisalong Pome's coast line (Italy) were analysed. The typical evergreensclerophyllous species have long leaf life span (from 1 to 4 years),steeper leaf inclination (average 56 degrees), higher specific leaf mass(average 21.3 mg cm(-2)) and the highest leaf thickness (average 324mum). The semi deciduous species have a lower leaf life span (from 4 to8 months), a lower leaf inclination (44 degrees +/- 13 degrees), a lowerspecific leaf mass (14.7 +/-1.5 mg cm(-2)) and a lower leaf thickness(244 +/- 15 mum). The more xeromorphyc species (Q. ilex and P.latifolia) may be at a competitive advantage considering the forecastedair temperature increase in the Mediterranean basin. Increasing droughtstress may in fact determine a shortening of leaf life span that mayprove to be critical for C. incanus. Knowledge of plant response tostress factors is important in the perspective of climatic changes.