The Coastal Levantine Area

Abstract

The Coastal Levantine area is a very diverse territory situated between the Cap de Creus and the Cap de la Nau. The wide variety of environments and ecological conditions that occur in this area determine its great diversity and richness from the vegetation point of view. Forest composition depends mainly on climatic factors, geomorphology and soil features, and are currently dominated by evergreen sclerophyllous (Quercus ilex, Q. rotundifolia, Q. suber), conifer (Pinus halepensis, P. pinaster, P. pinea, P. salzmannii, P. sylvestris), and deciduous (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea) and semi-deciduous (Quercus faginea, Q. canariensis, Q. pubescens, Q. pyrenaica) species in inland areas with heavier rainfall or humidity. As a result of land use and human disturbances, shrubby vegetation, scrub, grasslands, along with thermophilic natural or reforested pine forests, are the most widespread vegetation formations, especially at lower altitudes. Scrub formations spread on both siliceous and calcareous substrates, particularly those that grow on thermophile calcareous ones are species-rich communities with numerous endemic plants. Coastal vegetation, including dunes, marshes, salt-marshes and cliffs, is well represented, with slight variations in some parameters, like salt concentration, water availability, soil features, etc., responsible for the floristic composition of the communities growing in these environments. As in the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, vegetation, especially forests and coastal areas, is affected by a long-standing tradition of human use and transformations (fires, massive urbanisation, grazing, felling, etc.), and well-structured formations currently have become quite scarce.