Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
Gallery forests are an ecosystem in danger due to the hand of man. The need to exploit them arises from their location near rivers, lagoons and valleys, rich and perfect areas for cultivation. Hence, many forests of this type have been relegated to being a narrow strip that borders the banks of rivers, lakes and other aquifers.
In this Green Ecologist article we are going to teach you a little more about what is the gallery forest, its flora and fauna, as well as his training, among more interesting details.
What is a gallery forest
The gallery forest, also known as ribera or soto forest, is a deciduous wooded mass that is arranged following the course of the water. We can find them both in rivers, lakes and even near the coast.
Its most characteristic point is that it is mainly composed of a hydrophilic vegetation, that is, by plants that have a greater dependence on water for optimal growth. In the same way, the soil of these forests has a very rich substrate and an increasingly less stable compaction the closer we get to the water. Its vegetation is adapted to the periodic floods that can occur in this type of terrain, offering stability to the beds of rivers and lakes.
This type of ecosystem is very characteristic of the Mediterranean climate, whose function is both to preserve the humidity and water of the natural areas, and to offer refuge to the local fauna that is protected from the high temperatures during the summer and from the cooler in winter.
Gallery forest flora
As we move away from the water, the flora changes its arrangement favoring the growth of both trees and shrubs. In this way, we will find species in places where the depth of the groundwater is around 2 meters. Here are species of the gallery forest flora What:
- Alnus glutinosa or alder.
- Salix alba or white willow.
- Sambucus nigra or elderberry.
- Populus alba or poplar.
- Fraxinus ansgutifolia spp. or ash.
- Robinia pseudoacacia or robin.
- Acer negundo or necond.
As a note, in the gallery forests of Europe we can find, at 3 meters of water table depth, the Ulmus minor or elm. Elms are one of the most characteristic species of the Mediterranean riparian forests, as are some varieties of willows.
Other species planted by man such as poplars are also found in this area. The most planted is the Populus x canadensis, used for logging. In a more isolated way, although also present in the current Mediterranean gallery forests, we will find the Platanus x hispánica, which, thanks to the rapid rooting of its seeds, grows without difficulty and without the help of man. This species is also widely used in avenues of large cities, due to its height and resistance.
Regarding the types of bushes that are usually found in riparian forests, these are the most common:
- Tamayes: Tamarix canariensis Y African tamarix.
- Willows: Salix eleagnos and Salix cinerea ssp. Oleifolia.
- Crataegus monogyna or hawthorn.
- Cornus sanguine or conerjo.
- Brambles: Rubus ulmifolius and Rubus caesius.
- Hedera helix or ivy.
In the same way, in the herbaceous stratum there are species such as Euphorbia amygdaloides, the Brachypodium sylvaticum Y Humulus lupulus, well known by beer lovers, as it is the flavoring plant used during the fermentation process.
However, due to both human exploitation and climate change, many gallery forests have been replaced by simple reed beds. Here we will find plants such as the reed or Phragmites australis and the cane or Arundo donax, which is native to Asia.
Gallery forest fauna
Gallery forests have an ecosystem rich in fruits and small invertebrates, which, added to the shrub species that offer shelter and their proximity to water, makes them the perfect home for many animal species.
Between the gallery forest animals stand out the birds, which feed on fruits as well as small invertebrates and fish. Common species within these ecosystems are:
- The weaverRemiz pendulinus).
- The oriole (Oriolus oriolus).
- The royal whistlePicus viridis).
- The tordal warblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus).
- The bastard nightingaleCettia cetti).
- The hammerNycticorax nycticorax).
- The little egretEgretta garzetta).
- The cormorantPhalacrocorax carbo).
- The bee-eater (Merops apiaster).
We also found amphibians and reptiles. From frogs and toads, to small snakes and turtles, plus freshwater fish typical, such as the river vogue (Chondostroma polylepis) and the chunk (Squalius pyrenaicus), but we can also find other species depending on the area in question. There are also some species of crayfish. Finally, regarding the mammals some species such as water rats, otters and even foxes are common in gallery forests.
If you want to read more articles similar to Gallery forest: what is it, flora and fauna, we recommend that you enter our Ecosystems category.
