Flora canaria > Ecosistemas
Canary Islands ecosystems
Despite its small size
(7,447 km²), the Canary Islands archipelago has a surprising ecological
diversity, which is the result of a combination of special environmental
conditions.
The high temperatures that correspond to its proximity to the tropics and the Sahara Desert are tempered by the influence of the ocean and the proximity of the cold Canary Current. In addition, the high elevation of the islands leads to significant temperature variations with altitude. The climate is also influenced by the winds, particularly the consistently strong north-easterly trade winds, whose humidity condenses in the mid-altitude areas of the north and north-east of the highest islands, forming extensive banks of fog commonly referred to as the ‘sea of clouds’.
These are located at approximately 600-1,800 m, with their upper limit coinciding with the circulation of higher winds, which are drier and warmer and generally prevent the clouds from rising. The sporadic occurrence of atmospheric disturbances from polar or equatorial areas temporarily modifies the pattern described above, giving way to calimas (masses of dust in suspension from the Sahara desert) or torrential rainfall, which can cause snowfall in the mountains.
In addition, the rugged terrain of the islands modifies local conditions, giving rise to a rich variety of microclimates. Furthermore, the different volcanic materials, under the combined action of climatic agents, give rise to a great diversity of soils.
The combination of all these factors determines the existence of highly varied habitats that are home to numerous plant and animal communities which, when interrelated, constitute the unique ecosystems of the Canary Islands, first outlined by the famous german scientist Alexander von Humboldt during his visit to the island of Tenerife in 1799 and which are currently defined by the following types of vegetation: cardonal-tabaibal, thermophilic forests, laurel forest, fayal-brezal, pine forest and retamar-codesar.
Cardonal-tabaibal
The Cardonal-tabaibal occupies an area located between 0-700 m in altitude, depending on the orientation of the different slopes, characterised by a high degree of sunshine, relatively high temperatures, with an annual average of 20º C, and low rainfall, around 100-350 mm per year.
These climatic conditions, together with the existence of infertile soils and eroded and rugged substrates, give rise to vegetation composed of succulent shrubs and scrub, reminiscent of those found in deserts. There is little variety of plant species, the most representative being the cardón (Euphorbia canariensis) and the tabaiba dulce (Euphorbia balsamifera). Alongside these, other xerophytic or semi-xerophytic species grow, many of them endemic, such as bejeques (Aeonium spp.), verode (Kleinia neriifolia), cardoncillos (Ceropegia ssp.), limonium (Limonium ssp.), Launaea arborescens, Periploca laevigata, Rumex lunaria, Plocama pendula, etc. In addition to some species introduced from America, such as prickly pears and agave.
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Bosques termófilos
The Canarian thermophilic forest is a well-defined formation that extends approximately between 200-500 m on the northern slope and up to 800 m on the southern slope. It can be considered a transition zone between the xerophytic scrublands of Cardonal-tabaibal and the tree formations of Laurisilva or Pinar. It occupies the so-called midlands, where the influence of the sea of clouds blocks out the sun for much of the year, temperatures are mild, around 16ºC, and annual rainfall is around 350-600 mm. All this allows the development of shrubs and trees adapted to light and moderate heat, with generally very intricate branches, together with a very varied undergrowth of shrubs and herbaceous plants.
This type of vegetation, of Mediterranean or North African origin, is characterised by the presence of a small group of tree species, among which the dragon tree (Dracaena draco), the Canary Island palm (Phoenix canariensis), the juniper (Juniperus canariensis), mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus), Atlantic pistachio (Pistacia atlantica) and wild olive (Olea guanchica), and a wide variety of herbaceous species, many of them endemic, such as rock mallow (Lavatera acerifolia), orobal (Withania aristata), buckthorn (Rhamnus crenulata), wild jasmine (Jasminum odoratissimum), granadillo (Hypericum canariense), etc.
Their potential distribution areas have been severely degraded by continuous human activity, and only a few examples remain of the former almost monospecific forest formations, such as palm groves, juniper groves, dragon tree groves and wild olive groves.
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Laurisilva
Laurisilva is a type of forest that is only found in a few regions of the world, with the Canary Islands being its most genuine and best-preserved example. It is a plant formation inherited from the Mediterranean forests of the Tertiary Period, characterised by the presence of large trees with laurel-like, lanceolate, leathery and glossy leaves, adapted to the warm and humid environment that forms under the almost permanent mists of the so-called sea of clouds.
It is the most complex ecosystem in the Canary Islands, consisting of a dense canopy of large trees that barely let any light through, with an undergrowth of herbaceous plants, ferns, lichens, mosses and fungi. It occupies exclusively a strip of the northern slopes of the higher islands, between 400 and 1,200 metres above sea level, with low levels of sunshine, an average temperature of 14ºC, and annual rainfall of between 800 and 1,400 mm, distributed very evenly throughout the year.
The main tree species in the laurel forest are laurel (Laurus novocanariensis), barbusano (Apollonias barbujana), viñatigo (Persea indica), palo blanco (Picconia excelsa) and tilo (Ocotea foetens). The shrub layer includes species such as follao (Viburnum rigidum), reina de monte (Ixanthus viscosus), capitana (Phyllis nobla), cresta de gallo (Isoplexis canariensis) and flor de mayo (Pericallis appendiculata), which, together with large ferns such as píjara (Woodwardia radicans), with fronds up to more than 2 m long, contribute to enriching the lower strata. Also noteworthy is the presence of some vines such as gibalbera (Semele androgyna), Canary Island ivy (Hedera canariensis), bicácaro (Canarina canariensis) and sarsaparilla (Smilax canariensis), which climb up the damp trunks until they reach the light in the treetops.
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Fayal-brezal
The Fayal-brezal is a forest similar to the laurel forest but adapted to colder, xerophytic areas exposed to the wind, replacing it in degraded areas. It is found at altitudes between 400 and 1,700 metres, with moderate sunlight and an average annual temperature of around 17-18ºC.
The vegetation is poorer in tree species and with very sparse undergrowth. It consists mainly of fayas (Morella faya), heather (Erica arborea), acebiños (Ilex canariensis) and laurels (Laurus novocanariensis).
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Pinar
The Canary Island pine forest is a uniform woodland formation where the only tree species is the Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis), which is located above the Fayal -heath on the northern slope and the Cardonal-tabaibal or thermophilic forest on the southern slope, occupying a band that ranges from 700-800 m to 2,400 m in altitude.
Its climate is characterised by cold winters and very hot summers, rainfall is not very abundant, and the degree of insolation is very high. It is only found on the islands of Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria.
It forms dense, extensive forests of Canary Island pine, with very poor undergrowth, dominated by heather (Erica arborea) and faya (Myrica faya) in the more humid areas, and rockroses (Cistus symphytifolius), thyme (Micromeria spp.), broom (Chamaecytisus proliferus), broom (Teline microphylla) and broom (Adenocarpus foliolosus) in the driest areas.
Its original distribution areas have been greatly reduced by the intensive exploitation of the Canary Island pine over the centuries, one of the species best adapted to the complicated terrain of the Canary Islands and most resistant to fire.
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Retamar-codesar
The Retamar-codesar is an ecosystem that develops on the islands of Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria at altitudes above 2,000 metres. The climate is marked by seasonal contrasts, with very cold winters, frequent snowfall and frost, and very hot summers.
The vegetation has adapted to these conditions, adopting different strategies that protect it from the harsh environmental conditions.
The dominant species are Spartocytisus supranubius and Adenocarpus viscosus. Alongside these, a large number of species grow, many of them endemic, such as Descurainia bourgeauana, Argyranthemum tenerifae, Erysimum scoparium and Echium wildpretii.
On the island of Tenerife, very few plants live above this summit scrub, such as the Teide violet, and some communities of lichens, mosses and fungi, adapted to the very strong solar radiation and the intense water and temperature fluctuations.
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Hay que tener en cuenta que la delimitación entre los diferentes sustratos no es rígida, de modo que la vegetación predominante en uno u otro no se interrumpe de forma brusca, y que algunas especies viven en más de uno de ellos.
Además, existen dos hábitats particulares en los que se encuentra una flora propia y muy interesante. Una es la zona más cercana al mar, donde se desarrolla la Vegetación costera asociada a dunas, playas arenosas y costas pedregosas. Y otra la Vegetación rupícola, que es propia de cantiles, acantilados, escarpes y paredones de fuerte pendiente.
The high temperatures that correspond to its proximity to the tropics and the Sahara Desert are tempered by the influence of the ocean and the proximity of the cold Canary Current. In addition, the high elevation of the islands leads to significant temperature variations with altitude. The climate is also influenced by the winds, particularly the consistently strong north-easterly trade winds, whose humidity condenses in the mid-altitude areas of the north and north-east of the highest islands, forming extensive banks of fog commonly referred to as the ‘sea of clouds’.
These are located at approximately 600-1,800 m, with their upper limit coinciding with the circulation of higher winds, which are drier and warmer and generally prevent the clouds from rising. The sporadic occurrence of atmospheric disturbances from polar or equatorial areas temporarily modifies the pattern described above, giving way to calimas (masses of dust in suspension from the Sahara desert) or torrential rainfall, which can cause snowfall in the mountains.
In addition, the rugged terrain of the islands modifies local conditions, giving rise to a rich variety of microclimates. Furthermore, the different volcanic materials, under the combined action of climatic agents, give rise to a great diversity of soils.
The combination of all these factors determines the existence of highly varied habitats that are home to numerous plant and animal communities which, when interrelated, constitute the unique ecosystems of the Canary Islands, first outlined by the famous german scientist Alexander von Humboldt during his visit to the island of Tenerife in 1799 and which are currently defined by the following types of vegetation: cardonal-tabaibal, thermophilic forests, laurel forest, fayal-brezal, pine forest and retamar-codesar.
Cardonal-tabaibal
The Cardonal-tabaibal occupies an area located between 0-700 m in altitude, depending on the orientation of the different slopes, characterised by a high degree of sunshine, relatively high temperatures, with an annual average of 20º C, and low rainfall, around 100-350 mm per year.
These climatic conditions, together with the existence of infertile soils and eroded and rugged substrates, give rise to vegetation composed of succulent shrubs and scrub, reminiscent of those found in deserts. There is little variety of plant species, the most representative being the cardón (Euphorbia canariensis) and the tabaiba dulce (Euphorbia balsamifera). Alongside these, other xerophytic or semi-xerophytic species grow, many of them endemic, such as bejeques (Aeonium spp.), verode (Kleinia neriifolia), cardoncillos (Ceropegia ssp.), limonium (Limonium ssp.), Launaea arborescens, Periploca laevigata, Rumex lunaria, Plocama pendula, etc. In addition to some species introduced from America, such as prickly pears and agave.
Saber más...
Bosques termófilos
The Canarian thermophilic forest is a well-defined formation that extends approximately between 200-500 m on the northern slope and up to 800 m on the southern slope. It can be considered a transition zone between the xerophytic scrublands of Cardonal-tabaibal and the tree formations of Laurisilva or Pinar. It occupies the so-called midlands, where the influence of the sea of clouds blocks out the sun for much of the year, temperatures are mild, around 16ºC, and annual rainfall is around 350-600 mm. All this allows the development of shrubs and trees adapted to light and moderate heat, with generally very intricate branches, together with a very varied undergrowth of shrubs and herbaceous plants.
This type of vegetation, of Mediterranean or North African origin, is characterised by the presence of a small group of tree species, among which the dragon tree (Dracaena draco), the Canary Island palm (Phoenix canariensis), the juniper (Juniperus canariensis), mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus), Atlantic pistachio (Pistacia atlantica) and wild olive (Olea guanchica), and a wide variety of herbaceous species, many of them endemic, such as rock mallow (Lavatera acerifolia), orobal (Withania aristata), buckthorn (Rhamnus crenulata), wild jasmine (Jasminum odoratissimum), granadillo (Hypericum canariense), etc.
Their potential distribution areas have been severely degraded by continuous human activity, and only a few examples remain of the former almost monospecific forest formations, such as palm groves, juniper groves, dragon tree groves and wild olive groves.
Saber más...
Laurisilva
Laurisilva is a type of forest that is only found in a few regions of the world, with the Canary Islands being its most genuine and best-preserved example. It is a plant formation inherited from the Mediterranean forests of the Tertiary Period, characterised by the presence of large trees with laurel-like, lanceolate, leathery and glossy leaves, adapted to the warm and humid environment that forms under the almost permanent mists of the so-called sea of clouds.
It is the most complex ecosystem in the Canary Islands, consisting of a dense canopy of large trees that barely let any light through, with an undergrowth of herbaceous plants, ferns, lichens, mosses and fungi. It occupies exclusively a strip of the northern slopes of the higher islands, between 400 and 1,200 metres above sea level, with low levels of sunshine, an average temperature of 14ºC, and annual rainfall of between 800 and 1,400 mm, distributed very evenly throughout the year.
The main tree species in the laurel forest are laurel (Laurus novocanariensis), barbusano (Apollonias barbujana), viñatigo (Persea indica), palo blanco (Picconia excelsa) and tilo (Ocotea foetens). The shrub layer includes species such as follao (Viburnum rigidum), reina de monte (Ixanthus viscosus), capitana (Phyllis nobla), cresta de gallo (Isoplexis canariensis) and flor de mayo (Pericallis appendiculata), which, together with large ferns such as píjara (Woodwardia radicans), with fronds up to more than 2 m long, contribute to enriching the lower strata. Also noteworthy is the presence of some vines such as gibalbera (Semele androgyna), Canary Island ivy (Hedera canariensis), bicácaro (Canarina canariensis) and sarsaparilla (Smilax canariensis), which climb up the damp trunks until they reach the light in the treetops.
Saber más...
Fayal-brezal
The Fayal-brezal is a forest similar to the laurel forest but adapted to colder, xerophytic areas exposed to the wind, replacing it in degraded areas. It is found at altitudes between 400 and 1,700 metres, with moderate sunlight and an average annual temperature of around 17-18ºC.
The vegetation is poorer in tree species and with very sparse undergrowth. It consists mainly of fayas (Morella faya), heather (Erica arborea), acebiños (Ilex canariensis) and laurels (Laurus novocanariensis).
Saber más...
Pinar
The Canary Island pine forest is a uniform woodland formation where the only tree species is the Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis), which is located above the Fayal -heath on the northern slope and the Cardonal-tabaibal or thermophilic forest on the southern slope, occupying a band that ranges from 700-800 m to 2,400 m in altitude.
Its climate is characterised by cold winters and very hot summers, rainfall is not very abundant, and the degree of insolation is very high. It is only found on the islands of Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria.
It forms dense, extensive forests of Canary Island pine, with very poor undergrowth, dominated by heather (Erica arborea) and faya (Myrica faya) in the more humid areas, and rockroses (Cistus symphytifolius), thyme (Micromeria spp.), broom (Chamaecytisus proliferus), broom (Teline microphylla) and broom (Adenocarpus foliolosus) in the driest areas.
Its original distribution areas have been greatly reduced by the intensive exploitation of the Canary Island pine over the centuries, one of the species best adapted to the complicated terrain of the Canary Islands and most resistant to fire.
Saber más...
Retamar-codesar
The Retamar-codesar is an ecosystem that develops on the islands of Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria at altitudes above 2,000 metres. The climate is marked by seasonal contrasts, with very cold winters, frequent snowfall and frost, and very hot summers.
The vegetation has adapted to these conditions, adopting different strategies that protect it from the harsh environmental conditions.
The dominant species are Spartocytisus supranubius and Adenocarpus viscosus. Alongside these, a large number of species grow, many of them endemic, such as Descurainia bourgeauana, Argyranthemum tenerifae, Erysimum scoparium and Echium wildpretii.
On the island of Tenerife, very few plants live above this summit scrub, such as the Teide violet, and some communities of lichens, mosses and fungi, adapted to the very strong solar radiation and the intense water and temperature fluctuations.
Saber más...
Hay que tener en cuenta que la delimitación entre los diferentes sustratos no es rígida, de modo que la vegetación predominante en uno u otro no se interrumpe de forma brusca, y que algunas especies viven en más de uno de ellos.
Además, existen dos hábitats particulares en los que se encuentra una flora propia y muy interesante. Una es la zona más cercana al mar, donde se desarrolla la Vegetación costera asociada a dunas, playas arenosas y costas pedregosas. Y otra la Vegetación rupícola, que es propia de cantiles, acantilados, escarpes y paredones de fuerte pendiente.
Cardonal-tabaibal
Bosques-termófilos
Laurisilva
Fayal-brezal
Pinar
Retamar-codesar
Vegetación costera
Vegetación rupícola