Effects of episodic rain events on mediterranean climate ecosystems

Using data from California and Western Australia, the authors show how extreme rainfall events can produce significant ecosystem, community and population changes, outlining the nature of episodic events in relation to various time scales, then examining the effects of unusually low and unusually high rainfall events on mediterranean type ecosystems. Drought is often associated with mortality, and links with fire effects become more apparent. High rainfall effects are linked with El Nino, snow in montane environments, landslides/erosion, and changes in river and estuarine conditions. Species distributions may often reflect extreme rather than mean climatic conditions. -P.J.Jarvis