The direct and indirect impacts of climatic alterations on Mediterranean forest ecosystems in Greece are the subject of the study by Chrysopolitou et al. (2013). Greece is
projected to be among the most vulnerable countries to climate change in Europe. In this
context, the presented study of climate change effects on the appearance of fungal
pathogens and bark beetle populations as well as on woody vegetation composition could
be a valuable contribution to the development of adaptation measures in Mediterranean
forest ecosystems in general. The authors collected evidence for the link between alterations in temperature and precipitation regimes and the outbreaks of pathogens, which
jointly caused the dieback of tree species (especially conifer species), in four different
mountainous study areas in Greece. However, the impacts on tree species composition
have varied between the different study areas which in turn calls for the development of
regionalized adaptation measures within forest and conservation management and further
research on the underlying driving forces.