Apennine deciduous montane forests
| Apennine deciduous montane forests | |
|---|---|
European-Mediterranean montane mixed forest | |
| Protected | 7,403 km2 (46%)[2] |
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 (from 1000 mm in the southern mountains to 2500 mm in the north), combined with a temperate-cool climate. Because of climate change, the presence of silver fir (Abies alba), although still widespread, has been dramatically reduced in favour of beech.
Flora
The ecoregion has two major vegetation zones, montane forests and mountain meadows.
The beech forests are characterized by
There are also mixed stands of beech and silver fir (Abies alba), along with relict stands of Italian black pine (Pinus nigra var. italica) and relict stands of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris in the northern Apennines.[1][3]
The mountain summits are covered with alpine meadows and woody cushion shrublands. Cushion shrubs include
The ecoregion has a high number of plant species. The
Fauna
The endangered
The ecoregion is home to several endemic and limited-range amphibians, including the northern spectacled salamander, (Salamandrina perspicillata) Italian newt (Lissotriton italicus, Italian stream frog (Rana italica), and Italian fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra ssp. gigliolii).[1]
Protected areas
A 2017 assessment found that 7,403 km2, or 46%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. About 55% of the unprotected area is still forested.
External links
- "Apennine deciduous montane forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Apennine deciduous montane forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- ^ 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 "Italian sclerophyllous and semi-deciduous forests". Encyclopedia of Earth. Accessed 13 September 2020. [2]
- ^ Sillo, Roberta & Sanctis, Michele & Bruno, Franco & Attorre, Fabio. (2012). Vegetation and landscape of the Simbruini mountains (Central Apennines). Plant Sociology. 49. 3-64. 10.7338/pls2012491S1/01.