Iberian Peninsula Vegetation and Climate Zones

Moorland and Field Vegetation

The heath vegetation consists of dense shrubs, ranging from low height to four meters. This heath is classified as a form of deciduous forest degradation. Meadows occupy large tracts of the oceanic landscape, characterized by abundant herbaceous vegetation and grasslands.

Mediterranean Climate Ecosystems

Evergreen Forests

These forests consist of medium-height trees with non-rectilinear trunks, thick, rough bark, and branches that create globular crowns. These provide significant shade to the soil, alleviating sunstroke and evaporation. The oak is the most characteristic tree of the Mediterranean climate; it is drought-resistant and adapted to all soil types, found primarily in Sierra Morena, Extremadura, and the Sierra de Guadarrama. The cork oak requires mild winters, moisture, and siliceous soil, concentrating in southwestern Andalusia.

Mediterranean Scrub Formations

These formations are not climax communities but the result of forest degradation caused by human activity. There are three primary types:

• Macchia: A dense shrubbery integrated with sclerophyllous shrubs.
• Garriga: Formed by low-height shrubs and bushes that leave the rocky ground exposed.
• Estepa: Found in the southeast peninsula and the Ebro Valley, consisting of low grass interspersed with thorny bushes.

Mountain Climate Zones

Alpine Mountain Regions

Represented by the Pyrenees, these regions are divided into three distinct floors:

1. Subalpine (1200–2400 m): Features natural conifers, such as fir forests mixed with beech. The undergrowth consists of shrubs like rhododendron and blueberry.
2. Alpine (2400–3000 m): Dominated by fields with a short growing period, featuring many areas of bare rock and scree slopes.
3. Snowy Floor (Above 3000 m): Characterized by flat topography where snow remains year-round and vegetation is nonexistent.

Other Peninsular Mountains

The remaining peninsular mountains lack the subalpine conifer floor. They transition directly to the supra-forest floor, which is formed by small shrubs, followed by meadows at higher elevations.