Mediterranean forest: characteristics, flora and fauna

He Mediterranean forest It is one of the Types of forests that there are and that is very characteristic of areas with Mediterranean temperate climatewith high temperatures, great differences between stations and abundant rains in spring and winter (very low the rest of the year, and then it is an arid climate). Here you can learn more about what is the temperate climate Mediterranean.

This forest is very characteristic of the Mediterranean Sea basin, although it is also found in other areas of the world, such as California or Chile. He Mediterranean forest is semicaducifolio (that is, it has perennial and deciduous leaf plants), presenting a large number of marcessient species, or species whose leaves die in winter but are subject to the trunk for a while. This type of vegetation takes advantage of the available water, and supports the rest of the organisms.

Next, let’s see the Main characteristics of the Mediterranean forest:

• As we have already mentioned, the Mediterranean forest is adapted to long periods of drought with occasional rainfall. It is therefore that vegetation is xerophilicthat is, it is adapted to the lack of water. Within these adaptations, it is common to find very lignified stems and leaves with little surface, which prevent the loss of unnecessary water. Some plants are pyrophilesthat is, they are adapted to suffering fires, since they are frequent in these areas. For example, the cork oaks have thick bark that protect the interior of the trunk, and the jaras cover their seeds from receptacles that exploit with heat, thus contributing to their dispersion. We recommend you read about xerophyte plants: what are, characteristics and examples.
• They are low productivity ecosystems, due to lack of water. However, they house a large number of animal species: the animals herbivores Like field mice, rabbits, roese and wild boars, which in turn serve as the basis for Carnivorous animalsas a large number of raptors, both daytime and nocturnal, and medium and large mammals, such as foxes and wolves.
• It is in close coexistence with other ecosystems, such as the pastures, where we can find typical species of the Mediterranean forest surrounded by herbaceous species, or riverbank ecosystems, which form corridors along the water channels.
• They are characterized by having quite thin soils, in which we find the mother rock at a shallow depth. Because of this, they are especially Vulnerable to desertificationsince in the absence of vegetation, abundant rains concentrated in short periods are able to drag a significant proportion of the soil. Learn more about desertification, its definition, causes and consequences.
• Due to anthropic action they are ecosystems with a High degree of fragmentationwhich hinders the genetic exchange of species.

In this section we will see some Mediterranean forest plants. We have to distinguish tree species, which form the forest canopy (or upper), and shrub and herbaceous species, which make up the undergrowth or the lower part.

Mediterranean forest trees

As for trees in the Mediterranean forest we find:

• Gender Quercus: In this genre we find the holm oaks (Quercus ilex), the coronornoques (Quercus suber) or the oaks (Quercus Robur). The holm oaks produce the well -known acorns.
• Gender Pinus: In this subpart we find various species of pine trees, such as pine pine (Pinus Pinea) or black pine (Pinus Nigra) or the wild pine (Pinus Silvestris). They are characterized by having acicle -shaped leaves, which lose very little water. They are gymnosperms plants.

Herbaceous and shrub plants of the Mediterranean forest

Regarding species of shrub and herbaceous plantswe find some larger bearing plants, such as jaras (Cistus) and broom (Broom), or shrubs of the genre Juniperus (Juniperus communis, Juniperus oxycedrus…), as smaller bushes, such as thymes (Thymus), pilgrims (Rosmarinus), lavenders (Lavandula), Cracks (ONOPORDUM) … Depending on the time of the year, we can also find fennel, subject, olex … in short, there is a great diversity of plants.

As to Fauna or animals of the Mediterranean forestthen we describe some of the most significant species:

• Flies, grasshoppers, butterflies, wasps …: The Mediterranean forest houses a spectacular amount of species of insects from different taxa, which vary in abundance depending on the time of the year.
• Fieldmouse: They are rodents that, due to their versatility, are present in a large number of ecosystems. They are preferably herbivores, although they can eat small insects.
• Rabbits and hares: Rabbits and hares belong to the order of the lagomorphs and are very abundant in the areas of Mediterranean forest and other interior parts.
• Jabalis: Their modified tooth pieces allow them to look for tubers and roots on the forest floor.
• Deer and roess: They feed on hard shrub species. They give rise to some spectacular phenomena, such as the so -called “Berrea”.
• Delings and carabos: These night -folds are specially adapted to hunt mice and other small animals.
• Milanos and Águilas: Milanos and Eagles are a good example of daytime raptures. These black raptors can feed other species.
• Foxes: The foxes are very versatile, and have a reddish fur and a very characteristic long tail.
• Lobos: These large mammals have been on the verge of extinction in many areas. However, due to different conservation programs they are slowly increasing in number. If you want to inform you better, we recommend this other ecology article about why the Iberian wolf is in danger of extinction.

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