The Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion, in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub

Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub

Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, defined by the World Wildlife Fund, characterized by dry summers and rainy winters. Summers are typically hot in low-lying inland locations but can be cool near some seas, as near San Francisco, which have a sea of cool waters...

 Biome

Biome

Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems. Some parts of the earth have more or less the same kind of abiotic and biotic factors spread over a...

, are on the island of Corsica

Corsica

Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....

. The ecoregion includes the high-altitude regions of Corsica's mountain ranges.

Setting

The ecoregion covers an area of 3600 square kilometres (1,390 sq mi), approximately 40% of the area of the island. The montane forests are surrounded at lower elevations by the Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests

Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests

The Thyrrenian-Adriatic Sclerophyllous and Mixed Forests Ecoregion, in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub Biome, is in southern Italy, Sicily, Corsica, and the Dalmatian Islands.-Major forest zones:...

. The highest elevations in the ecoregion are Monte Cinto

Monte Cinto

Monte Cinto is the highest mountain on the island of Corsica, a région of France. Its altitude is 2,706 m and so is its prominence, making it one of the most prominent peaks in Europe....

 (2,710 m) and Monte Rotondo (2,625 m).

Flora

The ecoregion is home to several distinct forest communities, which vary with elevation and exposure.

Lower elevations are occupied by forests of evergreen sclerophyll oaks, including Holm Oak

Holm Oak

Quercus ilex, the Holm Oak or Holly Oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It takes its name from holm, an ancient name for holly...

 (Quercus ilex) and Cork Oak

Cork Oak

Quercus suber, commonly called the Cork Oak, is a medium-sized, evergreen oak tree in the section Quercus sect. Cerris. It is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses, such as cork flooring. It is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa.It grows to up to 20 m,...

 (Q. suber).

Middle elevations are predominantly forests of Maritime Pine

Maritime Pine

Pinus pinaster, the Maritime Pine, is a pine native to the western and southwestern Mediterranean region. The pejorative name 'pinaster' is derived from pinus + aster, translating as 'a poor imitation of a pine' Pinus pinaster, the Maritime Pine, is a pine native to the western and southwestern...

 (Pinus pinaster) interspersed with forests of mixed broadleaf deciduous trees, including Downy oak

Downy Oak

Quercus pubescens, the Downy Oak or Pubescent Oak, is an oak in the white oak section of the genus, Quercus sect. Quercus. It is native to southern Europe and southwest Asia, from northern Spain east to the Crimea and the Caucasus. It is also found in France and parts of central...

 (Q. pubescens), Sessile Oak

Sessile Oak

Quercus petraea , the Sessile Oak, also known as the Durmast Oak, is a species of oak native to most of Europe, and into Anatolia.-Description:...

 (Q. petraea), European Hop-Hornbeam

Ostrya

Ostrya is a genus of eight to ten small deciduous trees belonging to the birch family Betulaceae. Its common name is Hophornbeam in American English and Hop-hornbeam in British English. It may also be called ironwood, a name shared with a number of other plants.The genus is native in southern...

 (Ostrya carpinifolia), Italian Alder

Italian Alder

Alnus cordata is an alder native to southern Italy and Corsica.It is a medium-sized tree growing to 17–25 m tall , with a trunk up to 70–100 cm diameter...

 (Alnus cordata) and Sweet Chestnut

Sweet Chestnut

Castanea sativa is a species of the flowering plant family Fagaceae, the tree and its edible seeds are referred to by several common names such Sweet Chestnut or Marron. Originally native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, it is now widely dispersed throughout Europe and parts of Asia, such as...

 (Castanea sativa).

At the higher elevations, forests of Corsican Pine (Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii var. corsicana) predominate on the warmer south-facing slopes, while Silver Fir

Silver Fir

Abies alba, commonly known as the European silver fir, is a fir native to the mountains of Europe, from the Pyrenees north to Normandy, east to the Alps and the Carpathians, and south to southern Italy and northern Serbia.-Description:...

 (Abies alba) and European Beech

European Beech

Fagus sylvatica, the European Beech or Common Beech, is a deciduous tree belonging to the beech family Fagaceae.-Natural range:...

 (Fagus sylvatica) predominate on the cooler north-facing slopes. The highest elevations are subalpine shrublands, with Green Alder

Green Alder

Alnus viridis is an alder with a wide range across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere.-Description:It is a large shrub or small tree 3–12 m tall with smooth grey bark even in old age. The leaves are shiny green, ovoid, 3–8 cm long and 2–6 cm broad...

 (Alnus viridis) juniper

Juniper

Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...

 (Juniperus communis subsp. alpina), Sycamore Maple

Sycamore Maple

Acer pseudoplatanus, the sycamore maple, is a species of maple native to central Europe and southwestern Asia, from France east to Ukraine, and south in mountains to northern Spain, northern Turkey, and the Caucasus. It is not related to other trees called sycamore or plane tree in the Platanus...

 (Acer pseudoplatanus), and stands of Silver Birch

Silver Birch

Betula pendula is a widespread European birch, though in southern Europe it is only found at higher altitudes. Its range extends into southwest Asia in the mountains of northern Turkey and the Caucasus...

(Betula pendula).

External links

• (World Wildlife Fund) - Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests