Plant growth strategies in evergreen-sclerophyllous shrublands (Maquis) in central Greece

A synchronic method was applied in order to investigate the growth process of the dominant woody plants in an undisturbed Mediterranean evergreen-sclerophyllous ecosystem in central Greece. Cover (%), biomass and leaf area data of Arbutus unedo, Erica arborea, Quercus coccifera and Phyllyrea latifolia over a period of 30 years are provided. The investigation of growth by means of the Richards function revealed two plant groups, following two different growth strategies: A ‘fast growth’ strategy, followed by A. unedo and E. arborea and a ‘slow growth’ strategy followed by Q. coccifera and P. latifolia. Furthermore, a succession pattern was described in which the fast growing initial dominants are being replaced by the slow growing plants. Two succession scenaria are proposed as alternative plant responses to grazing and fires, which are the major anthropogenic impacts in the mediterranean environment.