Photosynthetic Adaptive Strategies in Evergreen and Semi-Deciduous Species of Mediterranean Maquis During Winter

Mediterranean-type ecosystems are characterised by a particular temperature and rainfall regime that limits plant growth in both summer and winter seasons. Mediterranean plant community is very heterogeneous and include many evergreen and semi-deciduous species that present a complex mixture of elements, some deriving from in situ evolution, others having colonized the area from adjacent regions in different periods in the past. The result of this evolution is that the Mediterranean maquis species are well adapted to environmental stress conditions and successfully overcome them. In this chapter we explore the adaptation strategies of some evergreen and semi-deciduous species of Mediterranean maquis species useful to overcome environmental constraints.