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]
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.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alps conifer and mixed forests.
"Alps conifer and mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
Referencesedit
^ abEric 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]
^ abcd"Alps conifer and mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
February 16, 2024
alps, conifer, mixed, forests, temperate, broadleaf, mixed, forests, ecoregion, central, europe, extends, along, alps, mountains, through, portions, france, italy, switzerland, germany, liechtenstein, austria, slovenia, ecoregion, extends, from, lower, slopes,. 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 Alps conifer and mixed forestsBerchtesgaden National ParkLocation of the Alps conifer and mixed forestsEcologyRealmPalearcticBiometemperate coniferous forestsBordersList Dinaric Mountains mixed forestsItalian sclerophyllous and semi deciduous forestsNortheast Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forestsPannonian mixed forestsPo Basin mixed forestsWestern European broadleaf forestsGeographyArea149 872 km2 57 866 sq mi CountriesList AustriaFranceGermanyItalyLiechtensteinSloveniaSwitzerlandConservationConservation statusVulnerableGlobal 200European Mediterranean montane mixed forestProtected40 470 km 27 1 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 Contents 1 Flora 2 Fauna 3 Protected areas 4 External links 5 ReferencesFlora editThe 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 editThe 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 edit40 470 km 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 Gruyere Pays d Enhault Regional Nature Park in Switzerland Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany and Kalkalpen National Park and Gesause National Park in Austria External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alps conifer and mixed forests Alps conifer and mixed forests Terrestrial Ecoregions World Wildlife Fund References edit 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 d Alps conifer and mixed forests Terrestrial Ecoregions World Wildlife Fund Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alps conifer and mixed forests amp oldid 1155977115, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
