Original paper
Vegetación atlántica bajo clima mediterráneo: un caso en el noroeste ibérico
Amigo, J.; Romero, M. I.
Phytocoenologia Band 22 Heft 4 (1994), p. 583 - 603
32 references
published: Dec 5, 1994
DOI: 10.1127/phyto/22/1994/583
ArtNo. ESP024002204005, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
We studied the higher vegetation of the Lemos Valley (Lugo Province, Galicia, northwest Spain); until now, this area has been considered part of the Mediterranean phytoclimatic region. Having reviewed the accepted definition of Mediterranean climate, we calculated (both for the Lemos Valley and the rest of Galicia) those indices commonly used to estimate the degree to which a given area comes under this definition. The values obtained indicate that parts of Atlantic Galicia have some Mediterranean climatic characteristics. We list the phytosociological associations found in the study area and, on the basis of their general distribution, discuss the extent to which these associations reflect Eurosiberian or Mediterranean conditions. We also briefly describe the woodland and scrub communities present in Galicia, as a basis for discussion of the biogeographical implications of the distribution of such communities within the study area. We propose modifications to threshold values commonly used to define Mediterranean climate, and suggest that the concept of continentality must be taken into account in order to provide an adequate climatic classification of the northwest iberian peninsula. Finally, we analyse the syntaxonomic limits between two climax woodland associations, one dominated by Quercus robur and the other by Q. pyrenaica, whose geographical convergence in the Lemos Valley has been a principal cause of the erroneus biogeographical classification of this area.
Keywords
biogeographical boundaries • climatic indices • higher vegetation • woodland • scrub • Quercus robur • Quercus pyrenaica • Iberian peninsula