Mediterranean woodlands and forests
| Mediterranean woodlands and forests | |
|---|---|
 Map of the Mediterranean woodlands and forests | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub |
| Borders | List |
| Geography | |
| Area | 356,366 km2 (137,594 sq mi) |
| Countries | |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | critical/endangered |
| Protected | 28,451 km2 (8%)[1] |
The Mediterranean woodlands and forests is an ecoregion in the coastal plains, hills, and mountains bordering the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean in North Africa. It has a Mediterranean climate, and is in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.
Geography
The Mediterranean woodlands and forests occupy an area of 357,900 square kilometers (138,200 sq mi) in
Two coastal enclaves lie further east along the Mediterranean Sea: one along the southeastern Tunisian shore of the
The Mediterranean woodlands and forests are bounded on the south by the drier
The Mediterranean forests and woodlands surrounds the
Flora
The natural vegetation consists of forests, woodlands, and shrublands. The five chief plant communities are:
- Xeric pine forests and woodlands: The xeric pine forests are found mainly in the drier interior, near the transition to the maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) and xeric junipers (Juniperus phoenicea and Juniperus oxycedrus). The forests and woodlands have an understory of shrubs, including Cistus, Genista, and rosemary, which also form pockets of shrubland.[2]
- Berber thuya forests and woodlands: These forests and woodlands are found in the milder lowlands of northern Morocco, western coastal Algeria, and pockets in the coastal mountains in northwestern coppice woodlands. The understory is chiefly of shrubs.[2]
- Cork oak woodlands: are found in low and medium elevations with mild winters and relatively high rainfall (600 to 800 mm), often on soils formed over laurustinus (Viburnum tinus), hairy broom (Cytisus villosus), and common myrtle (Myrtus communis).[2]
- Holm oak and kermes oak forests and woodlands: forests, woodlands, and shrublands of kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) are the most widespread plant community, found from the coast to the mountains on a variety of climates and soils. Holm oak forests formerly found in lowland areas with deep and humid soils have mostly been displaced by agriculture.[2]
- Wild olive and carob woodlands and maquis: open woodlands of wild
Arbutus pavarii is endemic to the Jebel Akhdar in Cyrenaica.[4]
Fauna
The Mediterranean woodlands and forests were once home to several large mammals. Most now have a limited range, and a few are extinct. The
The ecoregion has 120 native bird species. They include the
History, conservation, and current threats
This ecoregion is densely settled, and much transformed by agriculture, grazing, fire, and timber cutting and firewood gathering. It is home to several large cities, including
Protected areas
A 2017 assessment found that 28,451 km2, or 8%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas.
External links
Media related to Mediterranean woodlands and forests at Wikimedia Commons
- "Mediterranean woodlands and 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 d e f g h i j k l "Northern Africa: Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ^ C.Michael Hogan. 2011. Alboran Sea. eds. P.Saundry & C.J.Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC Archived October 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Blondel, Jacques, James Aronson, Jean-Yves Bodiou, Gilles Boeuf (2010) The Mediterranean Region: Biological Diversity in Space and Time. OUP Oxford, Jan 28, 2010.