Climate zones by altitude
Encyclopedia
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Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
is influenced by several factors. Overall, the land has a Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The climate induces characteristic 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...
vegetation. Plant life immediately near the Mediterranean is in the Mediterranean Floristic region, while mountainous areas further from the sea supports the Sub-Mediterranean Floristic province.
An important factor in the local climate and ecology of the lands in the Mediterranean basin is the elevation: an increase of elevation by 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft) causes the average air temperature to drop by 5 °C (41 °F) and decreases the amount of water that can be held by the atmosphere by 30%. This decrease in temperature and increase in rainfall result in altitudinal zonation, where the land can be divided into life zones of similar climate and ecology, depending on elevation.
Mediterranean vegetation shows a variety of ecological adaptations to hot and dry summer conditions. As Mediterranean vegetation differ both in species and composition from temperate vegetation, ecologists use special terminology for the Mediterranean altitudinal zonation:
- Eu-mediterranean belt: 20- 16 °C (avg annual temperature)
- Sub-mediterranean belt: 15- 12 °C
- Hilly region: 11- 8 °C
- Mountainous belt: 7- 4 °C
- Alpine belt: 3- 0 °C
- Subnival belt: 0- minus 4 °C
Even within the Mediterranean Basin, differences in aridity alter the life zones as a function of elevation. For example, the wetter Maritime
Maritime Alps
The Maritime Alps are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between the French département Alpes-Maritimes and the Italian province of Cuneo. The Col de Tende separates them from the Ligurian Alps; the Maddalena Pass separates them from the Cottian Alps...
and Dinaric Alps
Dinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in Southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro....
have a North-Mediterranean zonation pattern, while the southern Apennine Mountains
Apennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
and the Spanish Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada (Spain)
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the region of provinces of Granada and Almería in Spain. It contains the highest point of continental Spain, Mulhacén at 3478 m above sea level....
have a moderate Eu-Mediterranean zonation pattern. Finally, the drier Atlas Mountains
Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert...
of Africa and Taurus Mountains
Taurus Mountains
Taurus Mountains are a mountain complex in southern Turkey, dividing the Mediterranean coastal region of southern Turkey from the central Anatolian Plateau. The system extends along a curve from Lake Eğirdir in the west to the upper reaches of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in the east...
of the Near East have a Xero-Mediterranean pattern.
Examples of each of these altitudinal zonation patterns is described below, by examining the climate and ecology of several locations around the Mediterranean Basin.
Dinaric Alps of the Balkan Peninsula
Orjen
Orjen is a Dinaric Mediterranean limestone mountain range in Montenegro-Bosnia and Herzegovina. At 1894 m , Zubački kabao is the highest peak in the subadriatic Dinarides. The massif of Orjen lies to the Northwest of Risan in Bay of Kotor...
range in the southeastern coastal Dinaric ranges
Dinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in Southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro....
of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Above 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) of elevation, the Orjen range lies in the Dinaric Mountains mixed forests
Dinaric Mountains mixed forests
The Dinaric Mountains mixed forests form a terrestrial ecoregion of Europe according to both the WWF and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the European Environment Agency. It belongs to the Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests Biome, and to the Palearctic ecozone.-Distribution:The...
ecoregion (as defined by the World Wildlife Fund). This ecoregion is known for its humidity, compared to other mountain ranges of the Mediterranean. Life zones in the Orjen range, with corresponding elevation ranges and indicator species
Indicator species
An indicator species is any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment. For example, a species may delineate an ecoregion or indicate an environmental condition such as a disease outbreak, pollution, species competition or climate change...
are:
- Eu-mediterranean (lower subtropical belt, ME=meridional) 0–400 m (0–1,312.3 ft), Holm OakHolm OakQuercus 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), Kermes Oak (Quercus coccifera), Olive treeOlive TreeThe Olive Tree was a denomination used for several successive centre-left Italian political coalitions from 1995 to 2007.The historical leader and ideologue of these coalitions was Romano Prodi, Professor of Economics and former leftist Christian Democrat, who invented the name and the symbol of...
(Olea europaea). More humid habitats show Bay LaurelBay LaurelThe bay laurel , also known as sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel tree, or simply laurel, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glossy leaves, native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of the bay leaf used in cooking...
(Laurus nobilis) and OleanderOleanderNerium oleander is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, toxic in all its parts. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Nerium. It is most commonly known as oleander, from its superficial resemblance to the unrelated olive Olea, but has many other...
(Nerium oleander) formations. - Supra-mediterranean (upper subtropical belt) 400–1100 m (1,312.3–3,608.9 ft), Macedonian OakMacedonian OakQuercus trojana, the Macedonian Oak is an oak in the turkey oak section Quercus sect. Cerris. It is native to southeast Europe and southwest Asia, from southern Italy east across the southern Balkans to western Turkey, growing at low to moderate altitudes , in dry...
(Quercus trojana) and Oriental Hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis); above Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris) and Hungarian OakHungarian OakQuercus frainetto , the Hungarian Oak or Italian Oak, is a species of oak, native to southeastern Europe and Turkey; it is classified in Quercus sect...
or Italian Oak (Quercus frainetto). With more humidity: Forests of Sweet ChestnutSweet ChestnutCastanea 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), Downy Oak or Pubescent Oak (Quercus pubescens) and European Hophornbeam (OstryaOstryaOstrya 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...
carpinifolia Scop.). - Oro-mediterranean (temperate zone, NE= Nemoral) 1100–1450 m (3,608.9–4,757.2 ft), Forest of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica) over calcareous soil. Dinaric calcareous block fir forest; European Silver Fir (Abies alba).
- Alti-mediterranean (taiga zone, BO= Boreal); 1450–1700 m (4,757.2–5,577.4 ft), European BeechEuropean BeechFagus sylvatica, the European Beech or Common Beech, is a deciduous tree belonging to the beech family Fagaceae.-Natural range:...
(Fagus sylvatica), Bosnian PineBosnian PineThe Bosnian Pine is a species of pine native to Bosnia but is also found in the mountains of southeastern Europe, in southwestern Bulgaria, Bosnia, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, northern Greece , and locally in southern Italy ,...
(Pinus heldreichii), Greek Maple (Acer heldreichii) at the Tree line. The less humid regions have JuniperJuniperJunipers 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...
(and for example: Iris orjeniiIris orjeniiIris orjenii, the Orjen Iris, is a rare species of iris found in Montenegro and Hercegovina on the karst landscape of Mt. Orjen. It grows in the wild on grassy slopes at 1500 to 1700 meters, in sunny or semi-shaded locations within Bosnian Pine communities...
, ViolaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
chelmea) over Sesleria robusta grasses. - Cry-omediterranean (tundra zone, AL= Alpine); 1700–1900 m (5,577.4–6,233.6 ft), XerophyteXerophyteA xerophyte or xerophytic organism is a plant which has adapted to survive in an environment that lacks water, such as a desert. Xerophytic plants may have adapted shapes and forms or internal functions that reduce their water loss or store water during long periods of dryness...
s. Trifolium, Narcissus, Gentiana nivalis, DrabaDrabaDraba is a large genus of cruciferous plants, commonly known as whitlow-grasses. There are over 400 species:*Draba abajoensis Windham & Al-Shehbaz*Draba × abiskoensis O.E.Schulz*Draba × abiskojokkensis O.E.Schulz...
hoppeanae, Androsace alpinaAndrosace alpinaAlpine Rock-Jasmine or Androsace alpina is an alpine plant, endemic to the Alps.-Distribution:In the wild, Androsace alpina grows on silicaceous substrates, particularly granite, and is one of the few plants in the Alps to grow above 4000 metres, including near the summit of the Matterhorn...
.
Climate
Examples of climate near the Orjen range include eu-mediterranean at the Podgorica AirportPodgorica Airport
Podgorica Airport is an international airport located south of Podgorica, Montenegro. It is the main hub for Montenegro Airlines....
:
and Crkvice
Crkvice
Crkvice is a village on Orjen mountain in Montenegro and is the wettest place in Europe. The average annual precipitation for the period 1931-1960 was 4927 mm and for 1961-1990 4631 mm...
in the supra-mediterranean belt:
Note how the mean temperature near sea level is comparable to the high temperature at Crkvice, 940 meters higher.
Sierra Nevada of Spain
The Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada (Spain)
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the region of provinces of Granada and Almería in Spain. It contains the highest point of continental Spain, Mulhacén at 3478 m above sea level....
of central Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
is an example of eu-mediterranean zonation arising from moderate aridity. The Sierra Nevada lie in the Iberian conifer forests ecoregion, which contain conifers above 1900 metres (6,233.6 ft) elevation, with mixed oak woodland below. The base of the mountains have a continental Mediterranean climate, which gets progressively cooler as the elevation increases:
- Thermomediterranean zone (Lowland); under 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) elevation. Summers are hot here and winters almost nonexistent. This zone is mostly used for agriculture, but studies say Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), Common Juniper (Juniperus communisJuniperus communisJuniperus communis, the Common Juniper, is a species in the genus Juniperus, in the family Cupressaceae. It has the largest range of any woody plant, throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic south in mountains to around 30°N latitude in North America, Europe and Asia.-...
), (AristolochiaAristolochiaAristolochia is a large plant genus with over 500 species. Collectively known as birthworts, pipevines or Dutchman's pipes, they are the namesake of the family . They are widespread and occur in the most diverse climates. Some species, like A. utriformis and A...
baetica) and Mediterranean Smilax or Common Smilax (SmilaxSmilaxSmilax is a genus of about 300-350 species, found in temperate zones, tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found , while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico...
aspera) would normally grow here. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Pourret (Ulex parviflorus) and Gum Rockrose (Cistus ladanifer) are present on poor soils or after forest fires. - Mesomediterranean zone (Submontane) 700 to 1300 m (2,296.6 to 4,265.1 ft) elevation. The summers are here still hot but frosts are normal in the winters. In this zone Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), wild OliveOliveThe olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
(Olea europaea) and Mediterranean SmilaxSmilaxSmilax is a genus of about 300-350 species, found in temperate zones, tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found , while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico...
or Common Smilax (Smilax aspera) grow. Poor sandy soils have few species with the Holm OakHolm OakQuercus 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), the Common Junipers, (Juniperus communisJuniperus communisJuniperus communis, the Common Juniper, is a species in the genus Juniperus, in the family Cupressaceae. It has the largest range of any woody plant, throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic south in mountains to around 30°N latitude in North America, Europe and Asia.-...
), Daphne gnidium and Etruscan honeysuckle (Lonicera etrusca). - Supramediterranean zone (Mid-Montane) 1300 to 1900 m (4,265.1 to 6,233.6 ft) elevation. The summers are here temperate and frosts and snow are frequent in winter. Quercus pyrenaica predominates, Portuguese Oak (Quercus faginea) and mapleMapleAcer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
appear too; these three species make up the forestForestA forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
. More frequent are the Sessile OakSessile OakQuercus petraea , the Sessile Oak, also known as the Durmast Oak, is a species of oak native to most of Europe, and into Anatolia.-Description:...
s (Quercus petraea) between 1,300 and 1,750 m. The Sessile Oaks are dominated by the Holm OakHolm OakQuercus 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...
s (Quercus ilex) and, depending on soil and altitude, by bushes as Common Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus), barberry (Berberis hispanica), (DaphneDaphneDaphne was a female minor nature deity. Pursued by Apollo, she fled and was chased. Daphne begged the gods for help, who then transformed her into Laurel.-Overview:...
gnidium), Butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus) and Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) over basic soils. - Oromediterranean zone (Subalpine) 1900 to 2700 m (6,233.6 to 8,858.3 ft) elevation. In this zone, coniferous plants and sparse Juniperus thuriferaJuniperus thuriferaJuniperus thurifera is a species of juniper native to the mountains of the western Mediterranean region, from southern France across eastern and central Spain to Morocco and locally in northern Algeria....
appear. The vegetation is composed by trees and bushes (Scots PineScots PinePinus sylvestris, commonly known as the Scots Pine, is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Scotland, Ireland and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as well inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia...
(Pinus sylvestris), Savin Juniper (Juniperus sabina), Juniperus communisJuniperus communisJuniperus communis, the Common Juniper, is a species in the genus Juniperus, in the family Cupressaceae. It has the largest range of any woody plant, throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic south in mountains to around 30°N latitude in North America, Europe and Asia.-...
subsp. hemisphaerica, Prunus ramburiiPrunus ramburiiPrunus ramburii is a species of plant in the Rosaceae family. It is endemic to Spain. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Vivero, J.L. et al. 1998. . Downloaded on 23 August 2007....
) and other bushes (Vella spinosa, Erinacea anthyllis, Bupleurum spinosum). On better soils the Common Juniper, Juniperus communisJuniperus communisJuniperus communis, the Common Juniper, is a species in the genus Juniperus, in the family Cupressaceae. It has the largest range of any woody plant, throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic south in mountains to around 30°N latitude in North America, Europe and Asia.-...
and CytisusCytisusCytisus is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae.-Selected species:* Cytisus arboreus DC.* Cytisus ardoini E.Fourn.* Cytisus baeticus Steud....
appears, forming communities with Arenaria imbricata, Festuca indigesta. The endemic flora is present too: Genista versicolor, Arenaria pungens, Potentilla nevadensis. - Cryo-oromediterranean zone (Alpine); 2600 to 2800 m (8,530.2 to 9,186.4 ft) elevation. Ligneous plantsWoody plantA woody plant is a plant that uses wood as its structural tissue. These are typically perennial plants whose stems and larger roots are reinforced with wood produced adjacent to the vascular tissues. The main stem, larger branches, and roots of these plants are usually covered by a layer of...
can not grow here because of the seasonal dryness typical of the Mediterranean climate and the presence of snow for more than 8 months. The vegetation has similarities to the Arctic tundraTundraIn physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
, with the Mat-grass (Nardus stricta) as the most common species.
Climate
AlmeríaAlmería
Almería is a city in Andalusia, Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the province of the same name.-Toponym:Tradition says that the name Almería stems from the Arabic المرية Al-Mariyya: "The Mirror", comparing it to "The Mirror of the Sea"...
, near sea level, is an example of a continental Mediterranean climate:
Prado Llano, in the Albergue Juvenil of Cordoba has an oromediterranean climate because it is approximately 2500 metres (8,202.1 ft) higher:
Corsica
The mountains of CorsicaCorsica
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....
are in the Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests
Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests
The Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion, in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub Biome, are on the island of Corsica. The ecoregion includes the high-altitude regions of Corsica's mountain ranges.-Setting:...
ecoregion, with a pattern of forest zones that are strongly dependent on altitude (due to the increase in moisture):
- Thermomediterranean vegetation belt, 150 metres (492.1 ft) (south) and 100 metres (328.1 ft)(north); Pistacia lentiscus shrubs and dense mediterranean coastal scrub (maquis) with Quercus ilex, PhillyreaPhillyreaPhillyrea is a genus of two species of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, the Canary Islands and Madeira....
, Myrtus communis and wild olive (Olea europea var. sylvestris).
- Mesomediterranean vegetation belt, up to 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) (northern slopes) and 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) (southern slopes); Erica arborea, Arbutus unedo and Quercus ilex. Forests include Quercus suber, Pinus pinaster, Quercus pubescens and Castanea sativa too.
- Supramediterranean vegetation belt, 500 – up to 900–1000 m (2,952.8–3,280.8 ft) (northern slopes), or 800–1000 m (2,624.7–3,280.8 ft) to 1200–1350 m (3,937–4,429.1 ft) (southern slopes); Erica arborea, Quercus ilex, Quercus petraea, Pinus nigra ssp. laricio, AlmusAlmusAlmus is a town and a district of Tokat Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. The mayor is Hasan Hüseyin Arıkan ....
cordata, Ilex aquifolium, Taxus baccataTaxus baccataTaxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may be now known as the English yew, or European yew.-Description:It is a small-...
and OstryaOstryaOstrya 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...
carpinifolia. - Montane vegetation belt, 900–1000 m (2,952.8–3,280.8 ft) to 1600 metres (5,249.3 ft) (northern slopes) and 1300 to 1800 m (4,265.1 to 5,905.5 ft) (southern slopes); forests of Pinus nigra ssp. laricio, Fagus sylvatica and Abies alba. Quercus ilex, Quercus pubescens, Pinus pinaster, Castanea sativa and Erica arborea not present anymore.
- Cryo-oromediterranean vegetation belt, 1700–1800 m (5,577.4–5,905.5 ft) to 2200 metres (7,217.8 ft) (only southern slopes); above the upper Tree line (Pinus nigra ssp. laricio goes up to 1800 metres (5,905.5 ft)), dwarfed bushes of GenistaGenistaGenista is a genus of legumes which includes many species of broom. Many of these brooms are notorious as noxious weeds.Species include:*Genista aetnensis - Mount Etna broom*Genista anglica - petty whin, needle furze*Genista canariensis...
lobelii var. lobelioides, AstragalusAstragalusAstragalus is a large genus of about 3,000 species of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
sirinicus ssp. genargenteus, AnthyllisAnthyllisAnthyllis is a genus of plants in the family Fabaceae. This genus contains both herbaceous and shrubby species and is distributed in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The most widespread and familiar species is Kidney Vetch Anthyllis is a genus of plants in the family Fabaceae. This genus...
hemanniae, ThymusThymusThe thymus is a specialized organ of the immune system. The thymus produces and "educates" T-lymphocytes , which are critical cells of the adaptive immune system....
herbabarona, BerberisBerberisBerberis , the barberries or pepperidge bushes, is a genus of about 450-500 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs from 1-5 m tall with thorny shoots, native to the temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America. They are closely related to the genus...
aetnensis and Juniperus communisJuniperus communisJuniperus communis, the Common Juniper, is a species in the genus Juniperus, in the family Cupressaceae. It has the largest range of any woody plant, throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic south in mountains to around 30°N latitude in North America, Europe and Asia.-...
ssp. alpina. - Subalpine vegetation belt, 1400–1600 m (4,593.2–5,249.3 ft) to 2100 metres (6,889.8 ft) (only northern slopes); Alnus viridis ssp. suaveolens, Acer pseudoplatanus, Sorbus aucupariaSorbus aucupariaSorbus aucuparia , is a species of the genus Sorbus, native to most of Europe except for the far south, and northern Asia...
ssp. praemorsa. - Alpine vegetation belt, above 2100 metres (6,889.8 ft); sparse vegetation.
- Indicator plantIndicator plant- Definition :Since a plant species or plant community acts as a measure of environmental conditions, it is referred to as biological indicators/bioindicators/phytoindicators...
s: Rock Speedwell (VeronicaVeronica (plant)Veronica is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Plantaginaceae, with about 500 species; it was formerly classified in the family Scrophulariaceae...
fruticans), PotentillaPotentillaPotentilla is the genus of typical cinquefoils, containing about 500 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbs in the rose family Rosaceae. They are generally Holarctic in distribution, though some may even be found in montane biomes of the New Guinea Highlands...
crassinervia, ArmeriaArmeriaArmeria is the botanical name for a genus of flowering plants. These plants are sometimes known as "thrift" or as the "sea pinks" as they are often found on coastlines...
pusilla, CerastiumCerastiumCerastium is a genus of annual, winter annual, or perennial plants belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. The around 100 species are commonly called Mouse-ear chickweed; different species are found nearly worldwide but the greatest concentration is mainly from the northern temperate areas of the...
thomasii, PhyteumaPhyteumaPhyteuma is a genus of about 40-45 species of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae, native to Europe and western Asia. The common name is Rampion. Rampion features prominently in some versions of the fairy tale Rapunzel...
serratum, StachysStachysStachys is one of the largest genera in the flowering plant family Lamiaceae. Estimates of the number of species in the genus vary from about 300, to about 450. The type species for the genus is Stachys sylvatica. Stachys is in the subfamily Lamioideae...
corsica e Helichrysum frigidum.
Climate
See also
- Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classificationThe Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
- Altitudinal zonationAltitudinal zonationAltitudinal zonation in mountainous regions describes the natural layering of ecosystems that occurs at distinct altitudes due to varying environmental conditions. Temperature, humidity, soil composition, and solar radiation are important factors in determining altitudinal zones, which consequently...
- BiomeBiomeBiomes 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...
- List of terrestrial ecoregions (WWF)