Alps conifer and mixed forests

Last updated
Alps conifer and mixed forests
Herbst am Watzmann.jpg
Ecoregion PA0501.svg
Location of the Alps conifer and mixed forests
Ecology
Realm Palearctic
Biome temperate coniferous forests
Borders
Geography
Area149,872 km2 (57,866 sq mi)
Countries
Conservation
Conservation status Vulnerable
Global 200 European-Mediterranean montane mixed forest
Protected40,470 km2 (27%) [1]

The Alps conifer and mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in central Europe. It extends along the Alps mountains through portions of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia. The ecoregion extends from the lower slopes of the Alps to its peaks, which include Mont Blanc, at 4,809 m (15,778 ft) the highest peak in the Alps.

Contents

The Alps forests are at the transition between the Mediterranean climate regions of southern Europe and the more humid and temperate Euro-Siberian region of western, central, and northern Europe. [2]

Flora

The ecoregion's altitudinal range, and its central location between Europe's climatic regions, support a variety of plant communities and species. The ecoregion has 4,500 native vascular plant species, including 400 endemic species. [2]

The forests on the lower slopes are mostly deciduous broadleaf trees, including the oaks Quercus robur, Quercus petraea , Quercus pubescens . Broadleaf sclerophyllous evergreen trees are found in southern valleys adjacent to Mediterranean-climate regions. [2]

Montane forests include a mix of conifers Norway spruce (Picea abies), Silver fir (Abies alba), and mountain pine (Pinus mugo), with the broadleaf deciduous European beech (Fagus sylvatica), aspen (Populus tremula), silver birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens). In more continental-climate parts of the range, European larch (Larix decidua), arolla pine (Pinus cembra), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) replace Pinus mugo. Scots pine and Pinus mugo can form a hybrid pine Pinus × rhaetica. Black pine (Pinus nigra) occurs on some south facing slopes in the eastern part of the range.

Subalpine and alpine plant communities including heath and alpine tundra occur above the timberline, and include many endemic species.

Fauna

The Alps are home to 80 species of mammals. Large mammals include Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos), Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), wolf (Canis lupus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

The Alps are home to 200 species of birds, including lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus crassirostris) and rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta). [2]

Protected areas

40,470 km2, or 27%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. One-third of the unprotected area is still forested. [1] Protected areas include Ecrins National Park, Mercantour National Park, Vanoise National Park, and Queyras Regional Nature Park in France, Gran Paradiso National Park and Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park in Italy, Gruyère Pays-d'Enhault Regional Nature Park in Switzerland, Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany, and Kalkalpen National Park and Gesäuse National Park in Austria.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests</span> Ecoregion on the island of Corsica

The Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion, in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, are on the island of Corsica. The ecoregion includes the high-elevation areas of Corsica's mountainous interior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in Northern Anatolia, Turkey

The Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests is a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion located in northern Anatolia, Turkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caucasus mixed forests</span> Ecoregion

The Caucasus mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in the Caucasus Mountains, as well as the adjacent Lesser Caucasus range and the eastern end of the Pontic Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mediterranean conifer and mixed forests</span>

Mediterranean conifer and mixed forests is an ecoregion, in the temperate coniferous forest biome, which occupies the high mountain ranges of North Africa. The term is also a botanically recognized plant association in the African and Mediterranean literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Apennine mixed montane forests</span> Ecoregion in Italy

The South Apennine mixed montane forests is an ecoregion in the southern Apennine Mountains of southern Italy and Sicily. It has a Mediterranean climate, and is in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dinaric Mountains mixed forests</span> Terrestrial ecoregion in Southeastern Europe

The Dinaric Mountains mixed forests are a terrestrial ecoregion of the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome in Southeastern Europe, according to both the WWF and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the European Environment Agency. It also is in the Palearctic realm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests</span>

The Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests is a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of the middle and upper elevations of the western Middle Himalayas of Nepal, India, and Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apennine deciduous montane forests</span> Ecoregion in Italy

The Apennine deciduous montane forests are a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. The development of these forests is ensured by the high rainfall in the Apennines, combined with a temperate-cool climate. Because of climate change, the presence of silver fir, although still widespread, has been dramatically reduced in favour of beech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern forest–boreal transition</span> Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest ecoregion in Canada and the United States

The eastern forest–boreal transition is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion of North America, mostly in eastern Canada. It is a transitional zone or region between the predominantly coniferous Boreal Forest and the mostly deciduous broadleaf forest region further south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life zones of central Europe</span>

Central Europe contains several life zones, depending on location and elevation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buila-Vânturarița National Park</span>

The Buila-Vânturarița National Park is a protected area situated in Romania, in the central-northern part of Vâlcea County, in the administrative territory of the localities Costești, Bărbătești, and Băile Olănești.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Great Lakes forests</span> Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest ecoregion in Canada and the United States

The Western Great Lakes forests is a terrestrial ecoregion as defined by the World Wildlife Fund. It is within the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome of North America. It is found in northern areas of the United States' states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and in southern areas of the Canadian province of Manitoba and northwestern areas of the province of Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests</span> Ecoregion in Southwestern Anatolia, Turkey

The Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests is an ecoregion located in southwestern Anatolia, Turkey. It has a Mediterranean climate, and is part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pannonian mixed forests</span>

The Pannonian mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in Europe. It covers an area of 307,720 km2 in all of Hungary, most of Slovakia, about half of Croatia and Slovenia, around a third of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, and Serbia, and minor parts of Austria, Czech Republic, and Ukraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carpathian montane conifer forests</span> Terrestrial ecoregion in eastern Europe

The Carpathian montane conifer forests, also known as Carpathian montane forests, is a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion in the Carpathian Mountains of the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cantabrian mixed forests</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeastern Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forests</span> Ecoregion in Southern Europe

The Northeastern Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forests is a Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregion in southwestern Europe. It occupies the Mediterranean coastal region of northeastern Spain, Southern France, the Balearic Islands and a small part of Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iberian conifer forests</span>

The Iberian conifer forests is a Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregion in southwestern Europe. It includes the mountain forests of southern and central Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Korean deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in Korea

The Central Korea deciduous forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion on the Korean Peninsula, covering portions of South Korea and North Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests</span>

The Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in southwestern Europe. It extends along the Pyrenees mountains which run east and west along the border between France and Spain, and includes all Andorra. The ecoregion extends from the lower slopes of the Pyrenees to its highest peaks, which include Aneto, Posets, and Vignemale.

References

  1. 1 2 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.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Alps conifer and mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.