F98: Cantabrian-Euscaldian beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), partly with Betula pubescens subsp. celtiberica and Quercus petraea, with Luzula sylvatica subsp. henriquesii, Saxifraga hirsuta, Saxifraga spathularis

CountrySpain
Province Cantabrian mountains (Asturia, Cantabria, Basque country), western Pyrenees; France
References

Braun-Blanquet 1967b; Díaz González & Fernández Prieto 1987; Díaz González & Fernández Prieto 1994a; Fernández Prieto & Vázquez 1985(1987); García González 1990; Hernandez Hernandez 1987; Ladero Alvarez, Díaz González, Penas Merino, Rivas-Martínez & Valle Gutierrez 1987; Loidi Arregui 1983a; Loidi Arregui 1983b; Loidi Arregui 1987; Lôpez Pacheco 1988; Lôpez Pacheco & Puente García 1987; Navarro Aranda 1982; Penas Merino, García González & Herrero Cembranos 1995; Perez Morales 1987; Rivas-Martínez 1962; Rivas-Martínez 1964; Rivas-Martínez 1973; Rivas-Martínez 1975; Rivas-Martínez 1983; Rivas-Martínez 1987; Rivas-Martínez, Bascones, Díaz González, Fernández-González & Loidi Arregui 1991a; Rivas-Martínez, Bascones, Díaz González, Fernández-González & Loidi Arregui 1991b; Rivas-Martínez, Díaz González, Fernández Prieto, Loidi Arregui & Penas Merino 1984; Tüxen & Oberdorfer 1958

Remarks

CONIF
BLD
BLE
SCL
LEG
ZONPALM
ARBFERN
D-HERB
M-HERB
AZONAL WOODY
AZONAL NON-WOODY
AQUATIC
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
Sum of taxa
CONIF
0.00
BLD
3.70
BLE
1.50
SCL
1.80
LEG
1.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
6.00
M-HERB
11.90
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
2.10
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Percentage of zonal taxa
CONIF
0.00
BLD
14.29
BLE
5.79
SCL
6.95
LEG
3.86
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
23.17
M-HERB
45.95
Percentage of zonal woody angiosperms
BLD
46.25
BLE
18.75
SCL
22.50
LEG
12.50
ZONPALM
0.00
Sum of all taxa28.00
Sum of zonal taxa25.90
Sum of zonal woody angiosperms8.00
Sum of % SCL + LEG35.00
Sum of % D-HERB + M-HERB (ZONAL HERB)69.11

Vegetation types

No vegetation types.

EuroVegMap information

Title

Cantabrian-Euscaldian beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), partly with Betula pubescens subsp. celtiberica and Quercus petraea, with Luzula sylvatica subsp. henriquesii, Saxifraga hirsuta, Saxifraga spathularis

Geographical distribution

Country/territory
Spain: Cantabrian mountains (Asturia, Cantabria, Basque country), western Pyrenees; France: Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Basque country)
area covered
6440 km²
area frequency
16 polygons .

Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)

a) Blechno spicant-Fagetum sylvaticae (Tüxen & Oberdorfer 1958) Rivas-Martínez 1962 (= Blechno-Fagetum ibericum Tüxen & Oberdorfer 1958, Saxifrago spathularis-Fagetum (Tüxen & Oberdorfer 1958) Rivas-Martínez 1975, Luzulo henriquesii-Fagetum Rivas-Martínez et al. 1984); b) Saxifrago hirsutae-Fagetum sylvaticae Braun-Blanquet 1967.

Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)

a) Acidic-soil, mesophytic, orocantabrian tall beech forests with scattered Betula pubescens subsp. celtiberica and Quercus petraea. Herb layer with Luzula sylvatica subsp. henriquesii, Saxifraga spathularis, S. hirsuta, Crepis lampsanoides, Vaccinium myrtillus.b) Montane Cantabro-Atlantic beech forests as a western vicariant; tall beech forests with an undergrowth of acidophilous grasses such as Luzula sylvatica subsp. sylvatica, Deschampsia flexuosa and dwarf shrubs (Vaccinium myrtillus, Erica vagans).

Dominant and most frequent species in different layers

Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica predominating, admixed in (a) Betula pubescens subsp. celtiberica, Sorbus aucuparia, Quercus petraea
Shrub layer
Ilex aquifolium
Lianas
---
Herb layer
Calluna vulgaris, Erica vagans, Vaccinium myrtillus, Athyrium filix-femina, Blechnum spicant, Deschampsia flexuosa, Erythronium dens-canis, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Euphorbia hyberna, Luzula sylvatica subsp. henriquesii, Luzula sylvatica subsp. sylvatica, Oxalis acetosella, Pteridium aquilinum, Ranunculus nemorosus, Saxifraga hirsuta, Saxifraga spathularis, Saxifraga x polita, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Viola reichenbachiana, Crepis lampsanoides, Anemone nemorosa, Carex pilulifera
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Leucobryum glaucum, Polytrichum formosum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Thuidium tamariscinum

Diagnostically important species

Fagus sylvatica, Ilex aquifolium; a) Betula pubescens subsp. celtiberica, Saxifraga spathularis, Saxifraga hirsuta, Blechnum spicant, Luzula sylvatica subsp. henriquesii, Crepis lampsanoides, Stellaria holostea; b) Saxifraga hirsuta, Blechnum spicant, Luzula sylvatica subsp. sylvatica, Vaccinium myrtillus, Erica vagans

Ecological variants

France: various forms depending on location, trophy and moisture.Spain: Orocantabrian acidophilous beech forests:-scilletosum lilio-hyacinthi: on deep and nutrient-rich soils of valley bottoms and mountain bases;-coryletosum avellanae: on deep moist soils with Corylus avellana and Fraxinus excelsior that transform to streamside oak-ash forests.

Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)

Three subassociations (vicariants):-fagetosum sylvaticae: typical subassociation in the Cantabrian-Basque section;-scilletosum lilio-hyacinthi in eastern Basque with demanding species such as Scilla lilio-hyacinthus, Galium odoratum;-luzuletosum pilosae in the region of Roncevalles with the differential-species Luzula pilosa and Veronica montana.

Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)

Rock communities of the Asplenietalia billotii-obovati; stream concurrent oak-ash forests.

Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)

subalpine and oroMediterranean scrubs (C25, C26), soil-acidic mixed oak forests (F14, F15, F24, F25), mixed oak-ash forests (F33), species-rich beech and fir-beech forests (F138), downy oak forests (G41), Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia-forests (J11), open Juniperus thurifera woodlands (K28).

Land use, substitute communities

forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Depending on degradation: broom scrub with Genista florida, Genista obtusiramea, Cytisus cantabricus, Erica arborea, Pteridium aquilinum, Erica australis, Daboecia cantabrica, Ulex gallii, Genista tridentata and Linaria triornithophora (Cytiso cantabrici-Genistetum obtusirameae, Cytiso cantabrici-Genistetum polygaliphyllae and Cytiso scoparii-Genistetum polygaliphyllae); fern-rich dwarf-shrub heaths with Erica arborea and ample Pteridium aquilinum, but poor in broom shrubs (Pteridio aquilini-Ericetum arboreae). Dwarf-shrub heaths on podzoles that are rich in Calluna vulgaris, Daboecia cantabrica, Vaccinium myrtillus, Erica vagans, Erica cinerea and Ulex gallii (Daboecenion cantabricae: Daboecio cantabricae-Ulicetum cantabrici; Halimio alyssoidis-Ulicetum gallii and Daboecio cantabricae-Ericetum aragonensis). Fringe communities of the Melampyro pratensis-Holcetea mollis.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures with Brachypodium pinnatum subsp. rupestre (Genistello-Agrostienion), pastures with Helictotrichon sulcatum, Carex asturica, Galium saxatile (Merendero pyrenaicae-Cynosuretum cristati), pastures with Danthonia decumbens, Polygala vulgaris, Galium saxatile (Jasiono laevis-Danthonietum decumbentis); meadows of the Malvo moschatae-Arrhenatheretum elatioris; shortgrass meadows with Agrostis capillaris and Festuca nigrescens subsp. microphylla (Violion caninae).
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Hardly present.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Cirsion richteriano-chodati.

Site conditions of the mapping unit

Landscape type, geomorphology
Uplands and high mountains
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
montane-altimontane;
a) 500-1500 m, b) (600) 800-1800 m
Geology (bedrock)
granite, slate, sandstone, flysch; (Cretaceous, Jurassic, Triassic; Devonian, Carboniferous, Ordovician, Cambrian)
Soil conditions
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
oligitrophic brown soils with mull-like mor or dysmull-like mor; volcanic soils (andosols); ferrum-humus podzole; (stony humic and dystric cambisols; chromic luvisols; orthic podzols)
soil texture
loamy, clayey, sandy
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry
soil reaction
strongly to moderately acidic
soil fertility
oligotrophic, oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
V(VI), X
average annual temperature
6-12 EC
average annual precipitation
600 to >1600 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
14-18 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
-2 to 3 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
Humid to hyperhumid.

Importance for nature protection

Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
No details
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
Degradation of the forest by timber harvesting and grazing, clear cutting, afforestation with rapidly growing species.
required measures for protection and restitution
Prevention of forest fires, control of grazing intensity, strict protection of representative semi-natural stands.

Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection

of the natural vegetation
Spain: Piedraluengas, Riaño, Muniellos, Somiedo, central and northern Basque country.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
---

Most important references (author, year)

Braun-Blanquet 1967b; Díaz González & Fernández Prieto 1987; Díaz González & Fernández Prieto 1994a; Fernández Prieto & Vázquez 1985(1987); García González 1990; Hernandez Hernandez 1987; Ladero Alvarez, Díaz González, Penas Merino, Rivas-Martínez & Valle Gutierrez 1987; Loidi Arregui 1983a; Loidi Arregui 1983b; Loidi Arregui 1987; Lôpez Pacheco 1988; Lôpez Pacheco & Puente García 1987; Navarro Aranda 1982; Penas Merino, García González & Herrero Cembranos 1995; Perez Morales 1987; Rivas-Martínez 1962; Rivas-Martínez 1964; Rivas-Martínez 1973; Rivas-Martínez 1975; Rivas-Martínez 1983; Rivas-Martínez 1987; Rivas-Martínez, Bascones, Díaz González, Fernández-González & Loidi Arregui 1991a; Rivas-Martínez, Bascones, Díaz González, Fernández-González & Loidi Arregui 1991b; Rivas-Martínez, Díaz González, Fernández Prieto, Loidi Arregui & Penas Merino 1984; Tüxen & Oberdorfer 1958

Compiled by

V. Voggenreiter based on documents by Rivas-Martínez; J. Loidi; A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos, completed by C. Hettwer based on documents by J.-C. Rameau

© Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN)
Texts were extracted from the EuroVegMap application with permission from the authors.

Taxons

Taxon
CONIF
BLD
BLE
SCL
LEG
ZONPALM
ARBFERN
D-HERB
M-HERB
AZONAL WOODY
AZONAL NON-WOODY
AQUATIC
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
Taxon
Anemone nemorosa
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.70
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.30
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Athyrium filix-femina
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
1.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Betula pubescens subsp. celtiberica
CONIF
0.00
BLD
1.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Blechnum spicant
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
1.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Calluna vulgaris
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.50
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.50
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Carex pilulifera
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.60
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.40
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Crepis lampsanoides
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.30
M-HERB
0.70
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Deschampsia flexuosa (AVENELLA FLEXUOSA)
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.70
M-HERB
0.30
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Erica vagans
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.60
SCL
0.20
LEG
0.20
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Erythronium dens-canis
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.60
M-HERB
0.40
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Euphorbia amygdaloides
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.80
M-HERB
0.20
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Euphorbia hyberna
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.60
M-HERB
0.40
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Fagus sylvatica
CONIF
0.00
BLD
1.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Ilex aquifolium
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
1.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Luzula sylvatica subsp. henriquesii
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.50
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.50
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Luzula sylvatica subsp. sylvatica
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.50
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.50
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Oxalis acetosella
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.60
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.40
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Pteridium aquilinum
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
1.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Quercus petraea
CONIF
0.00
BLD
1.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Ranunculus nemorosus
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.40
M-HERB
0.60
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Saxifraga hirsuta
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.20
M-HERB
0.80
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Saxifraga spathularis
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.70
M-HERB
0.30
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Saxifraga x polita
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.50
M-HERB
0.50
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Sorbus aucuparia
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.70
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.30
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Vaccinium myrtillus
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.40
SCL
0.30
LEG
0.30
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
0.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Veronica chamaedrys
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.60
M-HERB
0.40
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Veronica officinalis
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.60
M-HERB
0.40
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00
Taxon
Viola reichenbachiana
CONIF
0.00
BLD
0.00
BLE
0.00
SCL
0.00
LEG
0.00
ZONPALM
0.00
ARBFERN
0.00
D-HERB
0.00
M-HERB
1.00
AZONAL WOODY
0.00
AZONAL NON-WOODY
0.00
AQUATIC
0.00
PROBLEMATIC TAXA
0.00

Building of the IPR-vegetation analysis website and database was supported by the grant projects GA ČR (Grant Agency of the Czech Republic) No. P210/10/0124 and 18-25057S.