Caucasus mixed forests
The Caucasus mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in the Caucasus Mountains, as well as the adjacent Lesser Caucasus range and the eastern end of the Pontic Mountains.
Geography
The ecoregion covers an area of, extending across portions of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia, and Turkey. The main Caucasus chain, known as the Greater Caucasus, run from northwest to southeast, extending from north of the Black Sea eastwards to the Caspian Sea. The Caucasus forms the traditional border between Europe and Asia. The highest point in the Caucasus is Mount Elbrus. The ecoregion also includes the Lesser Caucasus or Anti-Caucasus range, which lies south of the Caucasus, as well as the eastern end of the Pontic Mountains, which extends along the southern shore of the Black Sea.Climate
The climate is temperate to continental, and varies with elevation. Average annual rainfall is generally higher in the western portion of the ecoregion, ranging from 1500 to 2000 mm in the western ranges along the Black Sea, to 600 to 1000 mm at the eastern and southern portions of the range.Flora
The ecoregion's plant communities vary with elevation.Temperate mixed forests extend from 400 to 2200 meters elevation, covering about 70% of the ecoregion's area. Broadleaf trees are predominant at lower elevations, transitioning to conifer-dominated forests at higher elevations.
Between 400 and 1000 meters elevation, Georgian oak, European hornbeam, Quercus robur, Quercus petraea, Picea abies, Abies alba, Alnus glutinosa, Fagus sylvatica, Taxus baccata, Acer pseudoplatanus, Malus sylvestris, Viburnum lantana, Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia cordata, Aesculus hippocastanum, Rhamnus cathartica, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus minor, Populus alba, Pinus sylvestris, Betula pendula, Populus tremula, and Corylus avellana, are the dominant trees, along with sweet chestnut in the more humid western mountains. Oriental beech, Picea abies, Abies alba, Alnus glutinosa, Fagus sylvatica, Taxus baccata, Pinus sylvestris, Betula pendula, Populus tremula, Juniperus communis, and Corylus avellana is dominant between 1000 and 1500 meters elevation, with Caucasian oak dominant in drier areas.
Conifers become dominant above 1500 meters elevation, including Nordmann fir, Caucasian spruce, and Caucasian pine. Dwarf forests occur near the treeline at 1800 to 2000 meters elevation, mostly of birches in more humid areas, and oriental oak and Caucasian pine in drier areas.
Subalpine grasslands occur from 1800 to 2500 meters elevation, and alpine meadows from 2500 to 3000 meters, interspersed with thickets of Rhododendron caucasicum between 2000 and 2800 meters, and areas of rock scree. Sub-nival plants and lichens grow from 3000 to 4000 meters elevation.
Fauna
Large hoofed mammals include the East Caucasian tur, West Caucasian tur, Caucasian chamois, mouflon, Caspian red deer, and wild goat. The East Caucasian Tur and West Caucasian Tur are endemic to the eastern and western portions of the Caucasus Mountains, respectively. Large mammal predators include the Eurasian brown bear, wolf, and Caucasus leopard.The ecoregion is home to the raptors golden eagle and lammergeier. Other resident birds include the Caucasian grouse, Caucasian snowcock, great rosefinch, and Güldenstädt's redstart. Native water birds include the gadwall, whooper swan, common pochard, greater scaup, common goldeneye, and Dalmatian pelican.