Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests

The Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests is a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion located in northern Anatolia, Turkey.

Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests
Altındere Valley National Park
Map of the ecoregion in Turkey
Ecology
Realm	Palearctic
Biome	Temperate coniferous forests
Borders	List Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests Caucasus mixed forests Eastern Anatolian deciduous forests Central Anatolian deciduous forests Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests
Geography
Area	101,410 km2 (39,150 sq mi)
Country	Turkey
Conservation
Conservation status	Critical/endangered

Geography

The ecoregion covers an area of 101,410 square kilometres (39,150 sq mi). It covers portions of the Pontic Mountains, which extend east and west across Northern Anatolia parallel to the southern coast of the Black Sea. The ecoregion lies between humid Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests, which cover the northern slope of the mountains and the Black Sea coast, and the drier forests, woodlands, and steppes of the Anatolian interior. The peaks are seldom higher than 2000 meters in the western and central mountains, and over 3000 meters in the Kaçkar Mountains in the northeast.

Climate

The climate is transitional between the humid and moderate Black Sea coast, and the drier and more continental Anatolian interior. Average annual rainfall varies from 500 to 1,000 mm. In the western and central portions of the ecoregion, winter is the rainiest season, and in the east spring is the rainiest season.

Flora

The ecoregion's forests are mostly conifers, with deciduous broadleaf trees.

In the western portion of the northern ranges, Turkish fir (Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani, syn. Abies bornmuelleriana) is predominant, mixed with oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), or both. Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) is predominant in the northeast, along with Caucasian fir (Abies nordmanniana).

The southern ranges have a drier and more continental climate, and pines are the dominant trees. Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana) is more common in the west, and Scots pine in the east. Deciduous broadleaf trees are part of the southern forest, including species of oak (Quercus), maple (Acer), and Sorbus.

Open scrublands and small forest patches of juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus and Juniperus communis) and birch (Betula spp.) occur at high altitudes.

Fauna

Large mammal predators include the brown bear (Ursus arctos) and gray wolf (Canis lupus). Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) roam the west, and Anatolian chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra asiatica) and wild goat (Capra aegagrus) are found in the east.

Protected areas

Protected areas include Kaçkar National Park, Altındere Valley National Park, Mount Ilgaz National Park, Yedigöller National Park, Soğuksu National Park, Yozgat Pine Grove National Park, Örümcek Gümüşhane Nature Reserve, Akdogan and Ruzgarlar Nature Reserve, Kale Bolu Hazelnut Nature Reserve, Kökez Bolu Nature Reserve, and Sülüklügöl Bolu Nature Reserve.

External links

• "Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.