Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Vegetation of the Iberian Peninsula pp 323–366Cite as

The Pyrenees

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Plant and Vegetation ((PAVE,volume 12))

Abstract

The Pyrenees is a large mountain system stretching over the Iberian isthmus, and thus encompassing three distinct vegetation regions: medio-European, Mediterranean and Alpine. It includes contrasting landscapes in accordance with this large-scale pattern and also with smaller scales related to continentality, bedrock type, landform and ancient anthropic land use. The northern side and the western edge of the Pyrenees are formed of short valleys with steep slopes. Being strongly influenced by Atlantic winds, these areas experience rainy bioclimates across the elevation gradient. Therefore, the vegetation is set according to the altitudinal zonation model found in other medio-European mountains. This starts with a submontane belt supporting mixed deciduous forests, acidophilous oakwoods and heaths, which at 900–1000 m gives way to the montane belt, best characterized by beech forests, and by fir forests, heaths and meadows.

The Iberian side of the Pyrenees extends southwards over secondary ranges—known as the pre-Pyrenees—and internal depressions, and shows a more complex zonation, since it changes from Mediterranean to montane and then to alpine landscapes. This transition is sharper in the central part of the Iberian side, where the submontane belt combines dominant units related to marcescent oakwoods with sclerophyllous oakwoods and xerophilous scrubland on steeper rocky landforms. From 1100 to 1300 m upwards, the montane belt still expresses some continental Mediterranean influence such as bearing widespread Scots pinewoods together with meso-xerophilous grassland and box scrub. Beech and fir forests and other mesophilous units are secluded on moister slopes.

High mountain landscapes develop from 1600 to 1800 m up to the highest summits (peaking at 3404 m with Aneto), with less pronounced differences between the main north and south sides. The potential treeline ecotone, found at 2200–2450 m, makes the transition between the subalpine and the alpine belts; the former bearing forests of mountain pine and related vegetation units, the latter formed by contrasting vegetation mosaics where rock units become dominant towards the highest elevations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   229.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aeschimann D, Rasolofo N, Theurillat J-P (2011) Analyse de la flore des Alpes. 2: biodiversité et chorologie. Candollea 66(2):225–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ameztegui A, Coll L, Brotons L, Ninot JM (2016) Land-use legacies rather than climate change are driving the recent upward shift of the mountain tree line in the Pyrenees. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 25(3):263–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batllori E, Blanco-Moreno JM, Ninot JM, Gutiérrez E, Carrillo E (2009) Vegetation patterns at the alpine treeline ecotone: the influence of tree cover on abrupt changes in species composition of alpine communities. J Veg Sci 20:814–825

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benito JL (2006) Vegetación del Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido (Sobrarbe, Pirineo central aragonés). Consejo de Protección de la Naturaleza de Aragón, Zaragoza

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolòs O (1983) La vegetació del Montseny. Diputació de Barcelona, Servei de Parcs Naturals. Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolòs O, Vigo J, Carreras J (2004) Mapa de la vegetació potencial de Catalunya 1:250.000. I.E.C. & Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun-Blanquet J (1948) La végétation alpine des Pyreneés Orientales. Mon Est Est Pir e Inst Esp Edaf Ecol Fisiol Veg 9:1–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Camarero JJ, Bigler C, Linares JC, Gil-Pelegrín E (2011) Synergistic effects of past historical logging and drought on the decline of Pyrenean silver fir forests. For Ecol Manag 262:759–769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carreras J, Carrillo E, Masalles RM, Ninot JM, Soriano I, Vigo J (1996) Delimitation of the supra-forest zone in the Catalan Pyrenees. Bull Soc Linn Provence 47:27–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrillo E, Ninot J M (1992) Flora i vegetació de les valls d’Espot i de Boí. Arxius Sec. Cièn. 99(1 & 2):1–474 & 1–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Dupias G (1985) Végétation des Pyrénées : notice détaillée de la partie pyrénéenne des feuilles 69 Bayonne – 70 Tarbes – 71 Toulouse – 72 Carcassonne – 76 Luz – 77 Foix – 78 Perpignan. Service de la carte de végétation de la France, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Dupias G, Montserrat P, Izard M (1983) Carte de la Végétation de la France. Feuille n° 76 – Luz. 1: 200.000. C. N. R. S, Toulouse

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferré A, Ninot JM, Batllori E, Carreras J, Carrillo E, Monje X, Vigo J (2013) From vegetation mapping to a prediction for landscape evolution in the Catalan Pyrenees. Colloq Phytosociologiques 29:227–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Gacia E, Ballesteros E, Camarero L, Delgado O, Palau A, Riera JL, Catalán J (1994) Macrophytes from lakes in the eastern Pyrenees: community composition and ordination in relation to environmental factors. Freshw Biol 32:73–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García MB, Gómez D (2007) Flora del Pirineo Aragonés. Patrones espaciales de biodiversidad y su relevancia para la conservación. Pirineos 162:71–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Ruiz JM, Lasanta T, Ruiz-Flano P, Ortigosa L, White S, González C, Martí C (1996) Land-use changes and sustainable development in mountain areas: a case study in the Spanish Pyrenees. Landsc Ecol 11(5):267–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaussen H (1964) Carte de Végétation de la France. N° 77 Foix. 1: 200.000. C.N.R.S, Toulouse

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfried M et al (2012) Continent-wide response of mountain vegetation to climate change. Nat Clim Chang 2:111–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grau O, Ninot JM, Ferré A, Font X, Grytnes J-A (2012) Altitudinal species richness patterns of vascular plants in the south-eastern Pyrenees and nearby mountains of Catalonia. Plant Ecol Divers 5(1):115–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gruber M (1978) La végétation des Pyrénées ariégeoises et catalanes occidentales. Thèse, Fac. Sc. Techn. St. Jerôme. Université Aix-Marseille, III.

    Google Scholar 

  • Körner C, Paulsen J (2004) A world-wide study of high altitude treeline temperatures. J Biogeogr 31:713–732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lluent A, Anadon-Rosell A, Ninot JM, Grau O, Carrillo E (2013) Phenology and seed setting success of snowbed plant species in contrasting snowmelt regimes in the Central Pyrenees. Flora 208:220–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loidi J, Báscones JC (1995) Memoria del mapa de series de vegetación de Navarra, E. 1:200.000. Gobierno de Navarra, Pamplona

    Google Scholar 

  • Loidi J, Campos JA, Herrera M, Biurrun I, García-Mijangos I, García-Baquero G (2015) Eco-geographical factors affecting richness and phylogenetic diversity patterns of high-mountain flora in the Iberian Peninsula. Alp Bot 125(2):137–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melendo M, Giménez E, Cano E, Gómez-Mercado F, Valle F (2003) The endemic flora in the south of the Iberian Peninsula: taxonomic composition, biological spectrum, pollination, reproductive mode and dispersal. Flora 198:260–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monje X (2004) Estudio mediante sistemas de información geográfica (GIS) de la evolución de la vegetación natural en Cataluña. Aproximación al caso del Valle del Freser durante el periodo 1956–2000. Acta Bot Barcin 49:421–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Nègre R (1969) La végétation du Bassin de l’One (Pyrénées centrales), deuxième note: les pelouses. Portug Acta Biol 10(1–4):1–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Ninot JM, Carrillo E, Font X, Carreras J, Ferré A, Masalles RM, Soriano I, Vigo J (2007) Altitude zonation in the Pyrenees. A geobotanic interpretation. Phytocoenologia 37:371–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ninot JM, Ferré A, Grau O, Font X, Pérez-Haase A, Carrillo E (2013a) Environmental drivers and plant species diversity in the Catalan and Andorran Pyrenees. Lazaroa 34:89–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ninot JM, Grau O, Carrillo E, Guàrdia R, Lluent A, Illa E (2013b) Functional plant traits and species assemblage in Pyrenean snowbeds. Folia Geobot 48:23–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orengo HA, Palet JM, Ejarque A, Miras H, Riera S (2014) Shifting occupation dynamics in the Madriu–Perafita–Claror valleys (Andorra) from the early Neolithic to the Chalcolithic: the onset of high mountain cultural landscapes. Quat Int 353:140–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pèlachs A, Julià R, Pérez-Obiol R, Soriano JM, Bal MC, Cunill R, Catalán J (2011) Potential influence of bond events on mid-Holocene climate and vegetation in southern Pyrenees as assessed from Burg lake LOI and pollen records. The Holocene 21(1):95–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Haase A (2016) Patrons estructurals, ecològics i biogeogràfics en vegetació de molleres i de torberes d’esfagnes. PhD thesis, University of Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Haase A, Carrillo E, Batriu E, Ninot JM (2012) Diversitat de comunitats vegetals a les molleres de la Vall d’Aran (Pirineus centrals). Acta Bot Barc 53:61–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martínez S (1968) Estudio fitosociológico de los bosques y matorrales pirenaicos del piso subalpino. Publ Inst Biol Aplicada Barcelona 44:5–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martínez S (1969) Las comunidades de los ventisqueros (Salicetea herbaceae) del Pirineo central. Vegetatio 17:232–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martínez S, Báscones JC, Díaz González TE, Fernández-González F, Loidi J (1991) La vegetación del Pirineo Occidental y Navarra. Itinera Geobotanica 5:5–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martínez S et al (2007) Mapa de series, geoseries y geopermaseries de vegetación de España (Memoria del mapa de vegetación potencial de España). Parte I. Itinera Geobotanica 17:5–435

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martínez S et al (2011) Mapa de series, geoseries y geopermaseries de vegetación de España (Memoria del mapa de vegetación potencial de España). Parte II. Itinera Geobotanica 18:5–800

    Google Scholar 

  • Vigo J (1979) Les forêts de conifères des Pyrénées catalans. Essai de révision phytocénologique. Documents Phytosociologiques N.S. 4:929–941

    Google Scholar 

  • Vigo J (1996) El poblament vegetal de la Vall de Ribes: 19–442. Les comunitats vegetals i el paisatge. Mapa de vegetació 1: 50.000. Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Villar L, Sesé JA, Ferrández JV (1997–2001) Atlas de la flora del Pirineo aragonés, 2 vols. Instituto de Estudios Altoaragoneses & Cons. Protec. Nat. Aragón, Zaragoza

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Research on Biodiversity (IRBio) & Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Josep M. Ninot, Empar Carrillo & Albert Ferré

Authors
  1. Josep M. Ninot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Empar Carrillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Albert Ferré
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Josep M. Ninot .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain

    Javier Loidi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ninot, J.M., Carrillo, E., Ferré, A. (2017). The Pyrenees. In: Loidi, J. (eds) The Vegetation of the Iberian Peninsula. Plant and Vegetation, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54784-8_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation