Autumn Colors In The Mixed Forests Of Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, Spanish Pyrenees Stock Photo

Temperate deciduous or temperate broad-leaf forests are dominated by trees that lose their leaves each year. They are found in areas with warm moist summers and cool winters. Examples of typical trees in the Northern Hemisphere`s deciduous forests include oak, maple, beech and elm, while in the Southern Hemisphere, trees of the genus Nothofagus dominate this type of forest. The diversity of tree species is higher in regions where the winter is milder, and also in mountainous regions that provide an array of soil types and microclimates. The Pyrenees, a mountain system that bridges Central and Mediterranean Europe contains high levels of biodiversity and many endemic species. Of the 3,500 species of plants found in this ecoregion, about 200 are endemic. Endangered fauna includes the brown bear Ursus arctos and the lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus. Although there are still pristine areas of habitat, logging operations, winter resorts, and dams pose a major threat to this unique ecoregion.