Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
are a number of affinities with non-Mediterranean areas (Krystufek and Griffiths,
1999). Mammals in the northern part of the Basin are of Euro-Siberian origin, such
as deer and bear, while in the southern part they are predominantly of Palaearctic
origin with a large number of Afro-tropical or Saharo-Sahelian species (Blondel
et al.,
2010). In the Pyrenees alone there are about 64 mammal species including
the brown bear (
Ursus arctos
). Other disjunct populations of the brown bear persist
in the mountains of the Hellenids (e.g. Pindos) and the Apennines (Temple and Cut-
telod, 2009). A few viable populations of the Iberian lynx (
Lynx pardina)
are found
in the mountains of southwest Spain (Sierra Morena and Montes de Toledo). The
present status of the lynx in Greece remains uncertain despite reports of sightings
from the north Pindos and Voras mountains, whereas there is probably illegal in-
troduction of lynx to the Apennines (Blasi
et al.,
2005). Few observations of jackal
in Greece above 1000 m have been recorded (Giannatos
et al.,
2005). The deserts
of the Judean Hills, the Negev (Israel) and Sinai (Egypt) host the few leopards
of the Middle Eastern subspecies (
Panthera pardus jarvisi
), while the Anatolian
leopard (
Panthera pardus tulliana
) persists in the western Taurus (Temple and Cut-
telod, 2009). Barbary sheep (
Ammotragus lervia)
are dispersed in scattered groups
in all chains of the Atlas Mountains, while the globally threatened Cuvier's gazelle
(
Gazella cuvieri
) remains in three disjunct areas: the northern Middle Atlas, west-
ern High Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountains (Loggers
et al.,
1992). Other mammals
recorded in the High Atlas include the Barbary macaque and hyena (Davis
et al.,
1994). Mount Lebanon hosts some large carnivores including the golden jackal,
wolf, jungle cat and red fox. The forests provide a haven for numerous species, such
as the badger, porcupine, squirrel, wild boar, hedgehog, toad, snakes and lizards
(Temple and Cuttelod, 2009).
Mediterranean mountains are also home to several endemic species and sub-
species of large herbivores, most of which are rare or endangered. The mouflon
(
Ovis orientalis
), ancestor of the domestic sheep, is represented by a number of
subspecies present in forest areas of Sardinia, Corsica, Cyprus and Turkey, while
chamois species are found in central Italy and eastern Anatolia. Several ibex species
find refuge on high mountains and rocky outcrops of the Basin including the Nu-
bian ibex (Egypt, Israel, Jordan), the Spanish ibex (Spanish sierras), the Bezoar
ibex (Taurus and Anti-Taurus) and the Cretan ibex (Crete) (Davis
et al.,
1994).
In addition, endangered amphibians and reptiles such as the Pyrenean frog (
Rana
pyrenaica
) and Aran Rock lizard (
Iberolacerta aranica
) (Cox
et al.,
2006) are
also present.
As with plants, mountains throughout the Mediterranean region have provided
refuges for many invertebrates. As a result endemics might account for 15-20%
of the total insect fauna in areas like the Atlas, Rif, Pyrenees and Taurus massifs
(Blondel
et al.,
2010). High concentrations of endemic butterfly species are found
in the Middle and High Atlas Mountains of Morocco (Thomas and Mallorie, 1985),
for example species of the families Pieridae and Hesperiidae, while in some cases
evolutionary divergence of butterfly species is favoured by the three-dimensionality
of the mountain terrain, as in the case of the genus
Erebia
(Blondel
et al.,
2010).
