Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests

The Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests is an ecoregion in the lands around the Aegean Sea. The ecoregion covers most of mainland Greece, the Greek Aegean Islands (except for Crete), the western coast of Turkey, the southern Vardar and Struma river valleys in North Macedonia, and the extreme south-western corner of Bulgaria.[2]

Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests
Map of the ecoregion
Ecology
RealmPalearctic
BiomeMediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
Borders
Geography
Area126,377 km2 (48,794 sq mi)
CountriesGreece, Turkey, North Macedonia and Bulgaria
Conservation
Conservation statuscritical/endangered
Protected23,189 km² (18%)[1]

The ecoregion has a Mediterranean climate, and is in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.

Flora

The predominant plant communities are maquis, low shrublands, and pine forests.

Maquis is woody shrubland characterized by low trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Maquis species include strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) Arbutus andrachne, sweet bay (Laurus nobilis), olive (Olea europaea), carob (Ceratonia siliqua), Erica arborea, and Spartium junceum. Maquis includes many aromatic plants, particularly species in the mint family (Lamiaceae).[3]

Low shrublands, known in Greek as phrygana, are characterized by low aromatic shrubs and herbs, including Euphorbia acanthothamnos, Thymus capitatus, and species of Ballota, Cistus, Helichrysum, Phlomis, and Salvia. Phrygana is common on limestone (calcareous) soils, and in areas subject to frequent fires and heavy grazing.[4][5]

Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) and holm oak (Quercus ilex) are found in maquis, and also form oak woodlands.

Forests of Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) occur in Anatolia, and forests of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) are found in central Greece and the Peloponnese.

Protected areas

As of 2017, 23,189 km², or 18%, of the ecoregion was in protected areas.[6] Protected areas include Otea, Parnassus, Parnitha, and Sounion national parks in Greece, and Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta, Marmaris, and Spil Dağı national parks in Turkey.

References
  1. 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. "Ecoregions of Bulgaria". Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  3. "Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  4. Filippi, Olivier (2019). Bringing the Mediterranean into your Garden". Filbert Press, 2019.
  5. "F7.3 Eastern Mediterranean spiny heath (phrygana)" European Red List of Habitats - Heathland Habitat Group, 05/01/2016.
  6. 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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