Scandinavian coastal conifer forests

Coordinates: 60°33′N 05°32′E / 60.550°N 5.533°E / 60.550; 5.533
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Scandinavian coastal conifer forests
Temperate coniferous forests
BordersSarmatic mixed forests
Geography
Area19,400 km2 (7,500 sq mi)
CountryNorway
Coordinates60°33′N 05°32′E / 60.550°N 5.533°E / 60.550; 5.533
Conservation
Conservation statusCritical/Endangered

The Scandinavian coastal conifer forests or Norwegian coastal conifer forest is a

temperate coniferous forests biome, located along the coast of Norway. Within it are a number of small areas with botanical features and a local climate consistent with a temperate rainforest
.

Location and description

The Scandinavian coastal conifer forest is a

pine in coastal areas); in essence areas along the Norwegian coast where winters are fairly mild and where precipitation is sufficient and falls all year, usually with a peak in autumn and winter. It might include areas lacking naturally occurring conifer forests (as in Lofoten
, where the pine forest was cleared many centuries ago) and even islands and rocky headlands with little to no woodland or forest, as well as areas with mostly deciduous forest (aspen, silver birch and downy birch, elm, rowan, sycamore maple, hazel).

Some of Europe's largest sea bird colonies are located in this ecoregion, including Røst, Lovund and Runde.

The pine trees can be very old, up to 700 years in some areas in the north (Hinnøya).[3]

At somewhat higher elevations near the treeline in the Scandinavian Mountains is the Scandinavian montane birch forest and grasslands ecoregion. In some areas along valleys, this ecoregion meets the inland taiga belonging to the Scandinavian and Russian taiga ecoregion without mountain barriers. Examples of such valleys include the Rauma valley connecting Åndalsnes to Lesja and Dombås, and the Namdalen valley connecting the Nord-Trøndelag coast to the cold interior with connection into Sweden.[4] The ecoregion is naturally fragmented by fjords and mountains.

Oceanic climate

Climate zones Norway; green is oceanic climate (-3C (27F) isotherm coldest month dividing oceanic (green) from continental climate (dark blue).

This area has a

Alaska Panhandle to Yakutat and Seward.[5][6]

For the smaller area classified as rainforest, there are at least 200 days/year with measurable precipitation. The minimum annual precipitation given in the sources varies but is generally around 1400 mm. Some of the wettest areas in this ecoregion get more than 3000 mm annually, such as Brekke (3495 mm) near the mouth of Sognefjord, and even some areas much further north (Lurøy 3066 mm at 115 m ASL[7]).

Subregions and species

The lack of Spruce north of the Arctic circle (

hazel, juniper) in the lowlands and more typical boreal forest at higher altitudes. Several species reach their northernmost extent in this ecoregion (naturally occurring): Oak at Edøy and Ørland, yew at Molde, holly at Smøla, ash at Frosta, linden at Brønnøy, elm at Beiarn, hazel at Steigen, and pine has its northernmost forests in the world at Stabbursdalen National Park
.

The botanically richest areas - the coast north up to

Trondheimsfjord), although less diverse than the Oslofjord area due to migration barriers like fjords and mountains - are considered boreonemoral.[8] Some of the wettest areas in this region, where annual rainfall exceed 2000 mm or even 3000 mm, are sometimes considered boreonemoral temperate rainforest.[9]

Introduced species

The human footprint, although weaker than further south, has transformed much of the ecoregion. Lovøygården Old trading centre and Inn surrounded by introduced Sitka spruce, Dønna.

Introduced species include the Norway spruce, which has been planted for economic reasons in areas outside the natural range both on the southwestern coast and in the northernmost part of the ecoregion. Sitka spruce has also been planted extensively, especially near the outer seaboard, even north to Vesterålen and Harstad.

Sycamore maple was introduced to private gardens and church yards more than 150 years ago, and has spread profusely along the southwestern coast, along the central coast (Trøndelag) and, to a considerably lesser degree, north to Vesterålen.[10]
It is still most common near cities and villages, but seems certain to continue expansion along the coast and fjords.

There are many smaller introduced plants spreading, such as

American mink, originally escaped from fur farms, have colonized the whole country, and threaten sea bird colonies in some areas, but have not reached the outermost islands such as Røst, which have the largest sea bird colonies. The native otter seem to be dominant in areas with competition.[11]

Boreal rainforest

Grytdalen Nature Reserve in Orkland, among the largest nature reserves in Norway[12]

Within this long area is a smaller area classified as boreal rainforest based on botanical criteria. Much of the original forests have been destroyed, but a total of 250 forested areas, most of them not very large, have been classified as boreal rainforest. They are located from 63°20'N in Snillfjord in Sør-Trøndelag county and north along the coast to 66°N in Rana in Nordland county, but restricted to areas with high humidity; often shielded from the sun most of the day. Some inland locations are included; these are located in moist locations, often near waterfalls. This is the main area in Europe for boreal rainforest and Norway thus has a special responsibility for preservation.[13] This coastal forest is mostly found at the lower elevations (below 200 m).

Botanical criteria for boreal rainforest

Due to the long history of human settlement (millennia) with agriculture and more recently forestry management, only fragments remain of the original forest. The boreal rainforests are made up mostly of

endemic for this forest, or have their only location in Europe here (they are often found on the northwest coast of North America). Approximately 15 of the most rare or typical species of lichens have been named Trøndelagselementet (named after the Trøndelag region). Pseudocyphella crocata, Pannaria ahlneri and Erioderma padicellatum and Lobaria halli are examples of lichens.[14][15] More than 60 unique species of lichen and moss can be found in the area.[16]

There are two subtypes of this rainforest; the

Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) and Black Alder
(Alnus glutinosa) (the latter only in the southern part of the area).

Fauna

White-tailed sea eagle
population
In the last decades, the red deer has migrated further north along the coast and also further inland.

There are a large number of species of migrating birds in this ecoregion, as well as some that stay all year. Larger

european viper
can be seen south of the Arctic circle.

See also

Gallery

Photographs

External links

References

  1. ^ "Scandinavian coastal conifer forest". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  2. ^ World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001). "Scandinavian coastal conifer forest". WildWorld Ecoregion Profile. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08.
  3. ^ Forfjorddalen Nature Reserve Archived 2012-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ISBN 82-90408-26-9
    .
  5. ^ "Weather statistics for Slåtterøy fyr".
  6. ^ "Weather statistics for Kleiva".
  7. ^ "Weather statistics for Lurøy as a table - Last 13 months".
  8. ^ fao.org: Europe: ecological zones
  9. ^ University of Oslo/Blyttia 1998 - some similarities between the West Norwegian pine dominated forests and the Scottish pine forests
  10. ^ Sycamore maple invasive species along Norwegian coast and fjords
  11. ^ Mustela vison has spread throughout Norway
  12. ^ "Naturbase faktaark".
  13. ^ WWF.no:Norways rainforest
  14. ^ Panda.org:Norways forest heritage
  15. ^ forest.org. The vanishing old growth forest of Norway
  16. ^ Taigarescue.org pdf
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