Cantabrian mixed forests: Difference between revisions
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|border2 = [[Northwest Iberian montane forests]] |
|border2 = [[Northwest Iberian montane forests]] |
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|border3 = [[Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests]] |
|border3 = [[Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests]] |
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|border4 = [[Southwest Iberian Mediterranean sclerophyllous and mixed forests]]|area = 95,158 |
|border4 = [[Southwest Iberian Mediterranean sclerophyllous and mixed forests]] |
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|area = 95,158 |
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|country1 = [[Spain]] |
|country1 = [[Spain]] |
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|country2 = [[France]] |
|country2 = [[France]] |
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|country3 = [[Portugal]] |
|country3 = [[Portugal]] |
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|state1 = [[Asturias]] |
|state1 = [[Asturias]] |
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|state2 = [[Basque Country]] |
|state2 = [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque Country]] |
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|state3 = [[Cantabria]] |
|state3 = [[Cantabria]] |
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|state4 = [[Castile and León]] |
|state4 = [[Castile and León]] |
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|protected = 9,294 km |
|protected = 9,294 km<sup>2</sup> (10 |
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|protected_ref = )<ref>Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/bix014]</ref> |
|protected_ref = )<ref name = Dinerstein>Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/bix014]</ref> |
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The '''Cantabrian mixed forests''' is a [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]] [[ecoregion]] in southwestern Europe. It extends along the coastal [[Cantabrian Mountains]] and [[Galician Massif]] of Northern Spain, extending south into northern [[Portugal]], and northwards through the westernmost [[Pyrenees]] to southwestern [[France]]. The ecoregion extends from the seacoast to the highest peaks of the Cantabrian Mountains. The highest peak is [[Torre Cerredo]] at 2,648 meters elevation. |
The '''Cantabrian mixed forests''' is a [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]] [[ecoregion]] in southwestern Europe. It extends along the coastal [[Cantabrian Mountains]] and [[Galician Massif]] of Northern [[Spain]], extending south into northern [[Portugal]], and northwards through the westernmost [[Pyrenees]] to southwestern [[France]]. The ecoregion extends from the seacoast to the highest peaks of the Cantabrian Mountains. The highest peak is [[Torre Cerredo]] at 2,648 meters elevation. |
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The ecoregion is transitional between the [[Mediterranean climate]] regions of Spain and Portugal and the more humid and temperate forests of Western Europe. The lowlands have mild temperate |
The ecoregion is transitional between the [[Mediterranean climate]] and [[Oceanic climate]] regions of Spain and Portugal and the more humid and temperate forests of Western Europe. The lowlands have mild temperate climates, while the high mountains experience cold winters. |
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==Flora== |
==Flora== |
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{{main|Flora of Cantabria}} |
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The ecoregion's |
The ecoregion's elevational range supports several plant communities. |
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The lowlands are characterized by broadleaf deciduous forests, with [[Quercus robur|English oak]] (''Quercus robur''), [[Castanea sativa|sweet chestnut]] (''Castanea sativa''), [[Fraxinus excelsior|European ash]] (''Fraxinus excelsior''), lindens (''[[Tilia platyphyllos]]'' and ''[[Tilia cordata]]''), [[Ulmus glabra|wych elm]] (''Ulmus glabra''), and maples (''[[Acer pseudoplatanus]]'' and ''[[Acer platanoides]]''). Characteristically Mediterranean evergreen trees and shrubs, including [[Quercus ilex|holm oak]] (''Quercus ilex''), [[Quercus suber|cork oak]] (''Quercus suber''), [[Laurus nobilis|sweet bay]] (''Laurus nobilis''), [[Arbutus unedo|strawberry tree]] (''Arbutus unedo''), and ''[[Rhamnus alaternus]]'', can be found in warm and well-drained areas like limestone outcrops. [[Pinus pinaster|Maritime pine]] (''Pinus pinaster'') is common on Atlantic coastal dunes in northern Portugal and western Galicia, and further inland on rocky dry slopes.<ref>{{WWF ecoregion|name=Cantabrian mixed forests|id=pa0406}}</ref> |
The lowlands are characterized by broadleaf deciduous forests, with [[Quercus robur|English oak]] (''Quercus robur''), [[Castanea sativa|sweet chestnut]] (''Castanea sativa''), [[Fraxinus excelsior|European ash]] (''Fraxinus excelsior''), lindens (''[[Tilia platyphyllos]]'' and ''[[Tilia cordata]]''), [[Ulmus glabra|wych elm]] (''Ulmus glabra''), and maples (''[[Acer pseudoplatanus]]'' and ''[[Acer platanoides]]''). Characteristically Mediterranean evergreen trees and shrubs, including [[Quercus ilex|holm oak]] (''Quercus ilex''), [[Quercus suber|cork oak]] (''Quercus suber''), [[Laurus nobilis|sweet bay]] (''Laurus nobilis''), [[Arbutus unedo|strawberry tree]] (''Arbutus unedo''), and ''[[Rhamnus alaternus]]'', can be found in warm and well-drained areas like limestone outcrops. [[Pinus pinaster|Maritime pine]] (''Pinus pinaster'') is common on Atlantic coastal dunes in northern Portugal and western Galicia, and further inland on rocky dry slopes.<ref name = wwf>{{WWF ecoregion|name=Cantabrian mixed forests|id=pa0406}}</ref> |
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Middle- and upper-elevation forests are characterized by deciduous oaks (''[[Quercus petraea]]'' and ''[[Quercus pyrenaica]]''), with [[Fagus sylvatica|European beech]] (''Fagus sylvatica'') from the Cantabrian Mountains eastward into France. |
Middle- and upper-elevation forests are characterized by deciduous oaks (''[[Quercus petraea]]'' and ''[[Quercus pyrenaica]]''), with [[Fagus sylvatica|European beech]] (''Fagus sylvatica'') from the Cantabrian Mountains eastward into France. |
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Stands of [[Betula pubescens|white birch]] (''Betula pubescens'') appear below the [[timber line]]. Above the timber line (1800 meters), subalpine plant communities including low shrubs (including dwarf juniper and |
Stands of [[Betula pubescens|white birch]] (''Betula pubescens'') appear below the [[Tree line|timber line]]. Above the timber line (1800 meters), subalpine plant communities including low shrubs (including dwarf juniper and [[Calluna vulgaris|heather]]s), [[grasses]], [[peat bogs]], and rock outcrops cover the highest peaks.<ref name = wwf/> |
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==Fauna== |
==Fauna== |
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Large mammals include [[Cantabrian brown bear]] (''Ursus arctos''), [[chamois]] (''Rupicapra |
Large mammals include [[Cantabrian brown bear]] (''Ursus arctos''), [[Iberian wolf]] (''Canis lupus signatus''), [[Cantabrian chamois]] (''Rupicapra pyrenaica parva''), [[wild boar]] (''Sus scrofa''), [[red deer]] (''Cervus elaphus elaphus''), and [[roe deer]] (''Capreolus capreolus''). [[Feral horse]]s ''(Equus caballus)'' roam in Galicia's mountains. The [[broom hare]] (''Lepus castroviejoi'') is an [[endemism|endemic]] species to the Cantabrian Mountains. The reclusive [[Pyrenean desman]] (''Galemys pyrenaicus'') is a vulnerable small mammal that lives here and in the Pyrenees.<ref name = wwf/> |
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The Cantabrian brown bears number over 200 individuals, who live in the Cantabrian Mountains of southern Asturias and Cantabria and the adjacent portion of Castile and León. The brown bear population has increased in recent decades from fewer than 100 in the 1990s. The Cantabrian population is the larger of the two remaining brown bear populations in southwestern Europe; the other is in the Pyrenees.<ref>Trinidad Pérez, Javier Naves, José Fernando Vázquez, Alberto Fernández-Gil, Juan Seijas, Jesús Albornoz, Eloy Revilla, Miguel Delibes, and Ana Domínguez "Estimating the population size of the endangered Cantabrian brown bear through genetic sampling," ''Wildlife Biology'' 20(5), 300-309, (1 October 2014). https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00069</ref> |
The Cantabrian brown bears number over 200 individuals, who live in the Cantabrian Mountains of southern Asturias and Cantabria and the adjacent portion of Castile and León. The brown bear population has increased in recent decades from fewer than 100 in the 1990s. The Cantabrian population is the larger of the two remaining brown bear populations in southwestern Europe; the other is in the Pyrenees.<ref>Trinidad Pérez, Javier Naves, José Fernando Vázquez, Alberto Fernández-Gil, Juan Seijas, Jesús Albornoz, Eloy Revilla, Miguel Delibes, and Ana Domínguez "Estimating the population size of the endangered Cantabrian brown bear through genetic sampling," ''Wildlife Biology'' 20(5), 300-309, (1 October 2014). https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00069</ref> |
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The [[Cantabrian capercaillie]] (''Tetrao urogallus cantabricus'') is an endangered subspecies of grouse. Its population and range are declining from habitat destruction, human disturbance, and over-hunting. |
The [[Cantabrian capercaillie]] (''Tetrao urogallus cantabricus'') is an endangered subspecies of grouse. Its population and range are declining from [[habitat destruction]], human disturbance, and over-hunting. |
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==Protected areas== |
==Protected areas== |
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9,294 |
9,294 km<sup>2</sup> (10%) of the ecoregion is in [[protected area]]s. Another 23% is forested and outside protected areas.<ref name = Dinerstein/> Protected areas include [[Picos de Europa National Park]] (661.2 km<sup>2</sup>),<ref>"Picos De Europa". ''Protected Planet''. Accessed 6 May 2020. [https://www.protectedplanet.net/picos-de-europa-nacional-park]{{Dead link|date=June 2021|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> [[Somiedo Natural Park|Somiedo]] (289.8 km<sup>2</sup>), [[Redes Natural Park|Redes]], (376.98 km<sup>2</sup>), [[Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias Natural Park|Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias]] (576.34 km<sup>2</sup>), [[Natural Park Montaña Palentina|Fuentes Carrionas y Fuente Cobre - Montaña Palentina]] (781.41 km<sup>2</sup>), [[Ponga Natural Park|Ponga]] (205.06 km<sup>2</sup>), [[Fragas do Eume]] (91.49 km<sup>2</sup>), and [[Aiako harria]] (68.95 km<sup>2</sup>) natural parks in Spain,<ref>[https://www.protectedplanet.net/search?q=spain "Spain". ''Protected Planet''. Accessed 6 May 2020]</ref> and [[Peneda-Gerês National Park]] (695.92 km<sup>2</sup>)<ref>[https://www.protectedplanet.net/860 "Peneda-Gerês". ''Protected Planet''. Accessed 6 May 2020]</ref> in Portugal. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{commons |
{{commons category|Cantabrian mixed forests}} |
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*{{WWF ecoregion|name=Cantabrian mixed forests|id=pa0406}} |
*{{WWF ecoregion|name=Cantabrian mixed forests|id=pa0406}} |
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[[Category:Ecoregions of Portugal]] |
[[Category:Ecoregions of Portugal]] |
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[[Category:Ecoregions of Spain]] |
[[Category:Ecoregions of Spain]] |
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[[Category:Montane forests]] |
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[[Category:Palearctic ecoregions]] |
[[Category:Palearctic ecoregions]] |
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[[Category:Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]] |
[[Category:Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]] |
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Revision as of 08:17, 30 March 2024
| Cantabrian mixed forests | |
|---|---|
 Forest in Cantabria | |
 Location of the Cantabrian mixed forests | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | temperate broadleaf and mixed forests |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 95,158 km2 (36,741 sq mi) |
| Countries | |
| Autonomous communities of Spain | |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | vulnerable |
| Protected | 9,294 km2 (10%)[1] |
The Cantabrian mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in southwestern Europe. It extends along the coastal Cantabrian Mountains and Galician Massif of Northern Spain, extending south into northern Portugal, and northwards through the westernmost Pyrenees to southwestern France. The ecoregion extends from the seacoast to the highest peaks of the Cantabrian Mountains. The highest peak is Torre Cerredo at 2,648 meters elevation.
The ecoregion is transitional between the Mediterranean climate and Oceanic climate regions of Spain and Portugal and the more humid and temperate forests of Western Europe. The lowlands have mild temperate climates, while the high mountains experience cold winters.
Flora
The ecoregion's elevational range supports several plant communities.
The lowlands are characterized by broadleaf deciduous forests, with English oak (Quercus robur), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior), lindens (Tilia platyphyllos and Tilia cordata), wych elm (Ulmus glabra), and maples (Acer pseudoplatanus and Acer platanoides). Characteristically Mediterranean evergreen trees and shrubs, including holm oak (Quercus ilex), cork oak (Quercus suber), sweet bay (Laurus nobilis), strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), and Rhamnus alaternus, can be found in warm and well-drained areas like limestone outcrops. Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) is common on Atlantic coastal dunes in northern Portugal and western Galicia, and further inland on rocky dry slopes.[2]
Middle- and upper-elevation forests are characterized by deciduous oaks (Quercus petraea and Quercus pyrenaica), with European beech (Fagus sylvatica) from the Cantabrian Mountains eastward into France.
Stands of white birch (Betula pubescens) appear below the timber line. Above the timber line (1800 meters), subalpine plant communities including low shrubs (including dwarf juniper and heathers), grasses, peat bogs, and rock outcrops cover the highest peaks.[2]
Fauna
Large mammals include Cantabrian brown bear (Ursus arctos), Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus), Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva), wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Feral horses (Equus caballus) roam in Galicia's mountains. The broom hare (Lepus castroviejoi) is an endemic species to the Cantabrian Mountains. The reclusive Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is a vulnerable small mammal that lives here and in the Pyrenees.[2]
The Cantabrian brown bears number over 200 individuals, who live in the Cantabrian Mountains of southern Asturias and Cantabria and the adjacent portion of Castile and León. The brown bear population has increased in recent decades from fewer than 100 in the 1990s. The Cantabrian population is the larger of the two remaining brown bear populations in southwestern Europe; the other is in the Pyrenees.[3]
The Cantabrian capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus cantabricus) is an endangered subspecies of grouse. Its population and range are declining from habitat destruction, human disturbance, and over-hunting.
Protected areas
9,294 km2 (10%) of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Another 23% is forested and outside protected areas.[1] Protected areas include Picos de Europa National Park (661.2 km2),[4] Somiedo (289.8 km2), Redes, (376.98 km2), Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias (576.34 km2), Fuentes Carrionas y Fuente Cobre - Montaña Palentina (781.41 km2), Ponga (205.06 km2), Fragas do Eume (91.49 km2), and Aiako harria (68.95 km2) natural parks in Spain,[5] and Peneda-Gerês National Park (695.92 km2)[6] in Portugal.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cantabrian mixed forests.
- "Cantabrian mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
References
- ^ a b Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [1]
- ^ a b c "Cantabrian mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- ^ Trinidad Pérez, Javier Naves, José Fernando Vázquez, Alberto Fernández-Gil, Juan Seijas, Jesús Albornoz, Eloy Revilla, Miguel Delibes, and Ana Domínguez "Estimating the population size of the endangered Cantabrian brown bear through genetic sampling," Wildlife Biology 20(5), 300-309, (1 October 2014). https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00069
- ^ "Picos De Europa". Protected Planet. Accessed 6 May 2020. [2][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Spain". Protected Planet. Accessed 6 May 2020
- ^ "Peneda-Gerês". Protected Planet. Accessed 6 May 2020