Northeastern Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forests

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 and Southern France, and the Balearic Islands.

Northeastern Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forests
Pine forest in Xàbia
Location of the ecoregion (in purple)
Ecology
RealmPalearctic
BiomeMediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
Borders
Geography
Area89,397 km2 (34,516 sq mi)
CountriesFrance, Spain, and Monaco
autonomous communities of spainBalearic Islands, Catalonia, and Valencian Community
Conservation
Conservation statusCritical/endangered[1]
Protected35,864 km² (40%)[2]

Geography

The ecoregion extends along the Mediterranean coastal region of northeastern Spain, including the coastal Valencian and Catalonian regions and the Balearic Islands, and the coastal Languedoc and Provence regions of southeastern France. It includes coastal plains, hills, and mountains.

Climate

The ecoregion has a Mediterranean climate. The ecoregion has hot and dry summers, and mild temperate and rainy winters. Average annual temperature ranges from 10 to 17º C. The coldest winter temperatures average 5 to 10º C. Average annual rainfall varies from 350 to 800 mm. Interior Spain to the west has a more continental Mediterranean climate with colder winters. Central France to the north has a more humid, temperate, and continental climate, with rainier summers and colder winters.[1]

Flora

The plant communities of the ecoregion are varied, and include forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands.

Broadleaf forests are principally of oaks, including evergreen holm oak (Quercus ilex) and cork oak (Quercus suber), and deciduous oaks – Quercus pubescens in southern france, and Quercus faginea in mainland Spain, together with Quercus canariensis in northern Catalonia's coastal mountains. Oak forests on the Balearic Islands.[1]

Mixed forests of oaks and stone pine (Pinus pinea) grow on rocky silicaceous coastal mountain slopes. Forests of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) grow on sandstone-derived soils in some coastal mountains. Mixed forests of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) and holly oak (Quercus coccifera) are found on soils derived from limestone and marl.[1]

High shrublands, known as maquis or mattoral, are common. They are composed of low trees and woody shrubs, with an understory of herbs and grasses. Dominant maquis/matorral trees are wild olive (Olea europaea) and carob (Ceratonia siliqua).

Low shrubland, known as garrigue, grows on dry rocky slopes, often near the seacoast. Garrigue is characterized by low aromatic and medicinal shrubs, along with herbs and grasses. Maquis of stone pines and the shrubs Juniperus phoenicea, Pistacia lentiscus, Myrtus communis, and Chamaerops humilis grow on stabilized coastal dunes.[1]

The ecoregion has wetlands, particularly in the Rhone and Ebro deltas. Freshwater and semi-saline wetlands are characterized by Agropyron spp., Puccinellia spp., and Juncus maritimus. Saline wetlands are dominated by Salicornia herbacea and Arthrocnemum fruticosum.[1]

Fauna

The Camargue (Rhone Delta) and Ebro Delta are important habitats for water birds.[1]

Protected areas

35,864 km², or 40%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas.[2] Protected areas include:

  • "Northeastern Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.

References
  1. "Northeastern Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  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.
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