Alps conifer and mixed forests
Berchtesgaden National Park
Location of the Alps conifer and mixed forests
Ecology
RealmPalearctic
Biometemperate coniferous forests
Borders
List
Geography
Area149,872 km2 (57,866 sq mi)
Countries
List
Conservation
Conservation statusVulnerable
Global 200European-Mediterranean montane mixed forest
Protected40,470 km² (27%)[1]

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.

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]

Flora

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.

Fauna

The 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

40,470 km², 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, Gruyère Pays-d'Enhault Regional Nature Park in Switzerland, Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany, and Kalkalpen National Park and Gesäuse National Park in Austria.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alps conifer and mixed forests.
  • "Alps conifer and mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.

References

  1. 1 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.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Alps conifer and mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
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