Atlantic forest • The Atlantic forest ecosystem is found in regions with an Atlantic climate in the northern half of the peninsula. • It consists mainly of deciduous trees, especially beech and oak. Other species include birch and ash. Under the trees, shrubs, ferns and moss grow. • The fauna includes rare species, such as the Iberian brown bear and the capercaillie. Deer, wild boars and many types of woodpeckers also live here. Mediterranean forest • In regions with a Mediterranean climate, the summers are warm and dry and winters are cool and wet. • The vegetation consists of forests of evergreen trees with small, leathery leaves. The main species is the holm oak. The cork oak, the Valencian oak and the Aleppo pine also grow here. A variety of shrubs are found here, such as the wild olive, rockrose and strawberry tree. • Endemic animal species live here, such as the Spanish imperial eagle and the Iberian lynx. Others include the rabbit, the red-legged partridge and the ocellated lizard. Ocellated lizard Red-legged partridge Holm oak Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido High mountain or alpine • Alpine areas have very cold winters and dry summers. In winter the ground is covered in snow and ice. The highest mountains are always covered in snow and sometimes have glaciers. However, these are beginning to melt. • In the high mountains there are no trees. Shrubs and many herbaceous plants often form meadows. • Many alpine animals have to hibernate or migrate to lower areas in winter. They include the chamois, the Iberian wild goat and the golden eagle. Chamois Ecosystems in Spain Deer Great spotted woodpecker 212
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