Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests
The Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests is an ecoregion in the lands around the Aegean Sea. The ecoregion covers most of mainland Greece, the Greek Aegean Islands, the western coast of Turkey, the southern Vardar and Struma river valleys in North Macedonia, and the extreme south-western corner of Bulgaria.
The ecoregion has a Mediterranean climate, and is in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.Flora
The predominant plant communities are maquis, low shrublands, and pine forests.
Maquis is woody shrubland characterized by low trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Maquis species include strawberry tree Arbutus andrachne, sweet bay, olive, carob, Erica arborea, and Spartium junceum. Maquis includes many aromatic plants, particularly species in the mint family.
Low shrublands, known in Greek as phrygana, are characterized by low aromatic shrubs and herbs, including Euphorbia acanthothamnos, Thymus capitatus, and species of Ballota, Cistus, Helichrysum, Phlomis, and Salvia. Phrygana is common on limestone soils, and in areas subject to frequent fires and heavy grazing.
Kermes oak and holm oak are found in maquis, and also form oak woodlands.
Forests of Turkish pine occur in Anatolia, and forests of Aleppo pine are found in central Greece and the Peloponnese.As of 2017, 23,189 km², or 18%, of the ecoregion was in protected areas. Protected areas include Otea, Parnassus, Parnitha, and Sounion national parks in Greece, and Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta, Marmaris, and Spil Dağı national parks in Turkey.
