Abstract
This chapter starts with the physiogeographical structure of Europe, its borders, areas, and locations. Some parts of Macaronesia (Madeira, Canary Islands, Azorean islands) are added. The geology, orography, and soils are described in the summary. A detailed physiogeographical organization describes ten areas of Northern Europe, Western and Central Europe, Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Macaronesia. They each are subdivided in different physiogeographical regions and provinces. Geographical location, landmass distribution, and topography determine the climatic patterns of Europe. Five main thermal zones can be distinguished from north to south: arctic, boreal, temperate, submeridional, and meridional. The climatic classification of Europe is the basis for the phytogeographical division of Europe. It includes floristic zones and regional subdivisions. At the end the Late-Glacial and Holocene vegetation history of Europe is summarized.
References
Acosta J, Uchupi E, Muñoz A, Herranz P, Palomo C, Ballesteros M, ZEE Working Group (2005) Geologic evolution of the Canarian Islands of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and La Gomera and comparison of landslides at these islands with those at Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro. Mar Geophys Res 24:1–40
Afonso L (1988) Geografia de Canarias, 2nd edn. Interinsular Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Andersen BG, Borns HW Jr (1994) The ice age world. Scandinavian University Press, Oslo, 2089p
Axelrod DI (1975) Evolution and biogeography of Madrean-Tethyan Sclerophyll vegetation. Ann Mo Bot Gard 62:280–334
Bazha SN, Gunin PD, Danzhalova EV, Drobyshev YI, Prishcepa AV (2012) Pastoral degradation of steppe ecosystems in Central Mongolia. In: Werger MJA, van Staalduinen MA (eds) Eurasian steppes. Ecological problems and livelihoods in a changing world. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 289–319
Bramwell D, Bramwell ZI (1974) Wild flowers of the Canary Islands. Stanley Thornes Ltd, Surrey, 332p
Carracedo JC, Day S, Guillou H, Rodríguez Badiola E, Canas JA, Pérez Torrado FJ (1998) Hotspot volcanism close to a passive continental margin: the Canary Islands. Geol Mag 135:591–604
Crawford RMN (2000) Ecological hazards of oceanic environments. New Phytol 147:257–281
Cronk QCB (1992) Relict floras of Atlantic islands: patterns assessed. Biol J Linn Soc 46:91–103
Cropper TE, Hanna E (2013) An analysis of the climate of Macaronesia, 1865–2012. Int J Climatol 34:604–622
D’Odorico P, Bhattachan A, Davis KF, Ravi S, Runyan CW (2013) Global desertification: drivers and feedbacks. Adv Water Resour 51:326–344
Del Arco Aguilar M-J, González-González R, Garzón-Machado V, Pizarro-Hernández B (2010) Actual and potential natural vegetation on the Canary Islands and its conservation status. Biodivers Conserv 19:3089–3140
Del Arco Aquilar M-J, Rodríguez Delgado O (2018) Vegetation of the Canary Islands. Plant and vegetation, vol 16. Springer International Publishing AG part of Springer Nature, Cham, 429 p
Dias E, Mendes C, Melo C, Pereira D, Elias R (2005) Azores Central Islands vegetation and flora field guide. Quercetea 7:123–173
Fernández-Palacios JM, De Nascimento L, Otto R, Delgado JD, Garcia-del-Rey E, Arévalo JR, Whittaker RJ (2011) A reconstruction of Palaeo-Macaronesia, with particular reference to the long-term biogeography of the Atlantic island laurel forests. J Biogeogr 38:226–246
FID (ed) (1971) Regionalisation of Europe. La Haye (Fédération internationale de documentation)
Geldmacher J, Van den Bogaard P, Hoernle K (2000) The 40Ar/39Ar age dating of the Madeira archipelago and hotspot track. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 1(2):26
Harris MF, Finger FG, Teweles S (1962) Diurnal variation of wind, pressure, and temperature in the troposphere and stratosphere over the Azores. J Atmos Sci 19(2):136–149
Hübl E, Niklfeld H (1973) Über die regionale Differenzierung von Flora und Vegetation in den österreichischen Alpen. Acta bot Acad Sci Hung 19:147–164
Huntley BJ, Birks HJB (1983) An atlas of past and present pollen maps for Europe. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 667p
Hurka H, Friesen N, Bernhardt K-G, Neuffer B, Smirnov S, Schmakov A, Blattner F (2019) The Eurasian steppe belt. Status quo, origin and evolutionary history. Turczaninowia, 2019.23.3: 000-000
Jäger EJ (2003) Phytogeographical classification of Europe. In: Map of the national vegetation of Europe. BfN, Bonn, pp 79–86
Kondracki J, Bohn U (2003) Climatic classification of Europe. In: Map of the national vegetation of Europe. BfN, Bonn, pp 75–78
Kondracki J, Schlüter H (2003) Physicogegraphical classification of Europe. In: Map of the national vegetation of Europe. BfN, Bonn, pp 66–74
Kosmas C, Danalatos NG, López-Bermúdez F, Romero Díaz MA (2002) The effect of land use on soil erosion and land degradation under Mediterranean conditions. In: Geeson NA, Brandt CJ, Thornes JB (eds) Mediterranean desertification: a mosaic of processes and responses. Wiley, Chichester, pp 57–71
Lang G (1994) Quartiäre Vegetationsgeschichte Europa. Methoden und Ergebnisse. G. Fischer, Jena, 462p
Lang G, Rybniček K, Rybničkova E (2003) Late-glacial and Holocene vegetation history of Europe. In: Map of the natural vegetation of Europe. BfN, Bonn, pp 87–104
Meusel H, Jäger E (1992) Vergleichende Chorologie der Zentraleuropäischen Flora. Text Bd. 3. G. Fischer, Jena, 333p
Millána MM, Estrelaa MJ, Sanza MJ, Mantillaa E, Martína M, Pastora F, Salvadora R, Vallejoa R, Alonsob L, Gangoitib G, Ilardiab JL, Navazob M, Albizuric A, Artíñanod B, Cicciolie P, Kallosf G, Carvalhog RA, Andrésh D, Hoffi A, Werhahnj J, Seufertk G, Versinok B (2005) Climatic feedbacks and desertification: the Mediterranean model. J Clim, Boston 18:684–701
Park G (2015) Die Geologie Europas. wbg Academic, Darmstadt, 200p
Pfadenhauer J, Klötzli F (2014) Vegetation der Erde. Grundlagen, Ökologie, Verbreitung. Springer Spektrum, Heidelberg, 645p
Press JR, Short MJ (2016) Flora of Madeira. Pelagic Publishing, London, 574p
Sainz Ollero H, van Staalduinen MA (2012) Iberian Steppes. In: Werger MJA, van Staalduinen MA (eds) Eurasian steppes. Ecological problems and livelihoods in a changing world. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 273–286
Schäfer H (2002) Flora of the Azores. Margraf Verlag, Weikersheim, 264p
Smelansky IE, Tishkov AA (2012) The steppe biome in Russia: ecosystem services, conservation status, and actual challenges. In: Werger MJA, van Staalduinen MA (eds) Eurasian steppes. Ecological problems and livelihoods in a changing world. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 45–102
Sziemer P (2000) Ein kurze Naturgeschichte Madeiras. Ribeiro, Funchal, 288p
Thornes JB (2002) The evolving context of Mediterranean desertification. In: Geeson NA, Brandt CJ, Thornes JB (eds) Mediterranean desertification: a mosaic of processes and responses. Wiley, Chichester, pp 5–12
Walter H, Lieth H (1967) Klimadiagramm – Weltatlas, 3rd edn. G. Fischer, Jena
Walter H, Harnickell E, Müller-Dombois D (1975) Klimadiagramme – Karten der einzelnen Kontinente und ökologische Klimagliederung der Erde. In: Walters H (ed) Vegetationsmonographien der einzelnen Großräume, vol X. G. Fischer, Stuttgart, pp 1–36
Wirthmann A (1970) Zur Klimageomorphologie von Madeira und anderen Atlantikinseln. In: Karlsruher Geographische Hefte, Nr 2., Geographisches Institut der Universität, Karlsruhe
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Bernhardt, KG. (2019). Mammal Habitats in Europe: Geology, Vegetation, and Climate. In: Hackländer, K., Zachos, F. (eds) Handbook of the Mammals of Europe. Handbook of the Mammals of Europe. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65038-8_2-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65038-8_2-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-65038-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-65038-8
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences