Bec d'Allier and Loire, France Photograph by © WWF-Canon/Hartmut JUNGIUS   Palaearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests   190,100 square miles (492,300 square kilometers) -- about twice the size of Oregon Critical/Endangered

· The Hub of Western Europe
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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The Hub of Western Europe

The Western European Broadleaf Forests have been used intensively by humans for hundreds of years. Many large cities are found here, and the fertile lowland countryside is mostly agricultural land now. Still, this ecoregion maintains healthy bird populations. Most of the larger mammals, however, are in decline and have been extirpated from many areas.

Special Features

Warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean dominates this inland ecoregion. Small mountains (no higher than 5,000 feet [1,500 m]), hills, and valleys are found throughout the area. Yearly temperatures are steady, precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, and frosts occur for one to three months. Forests of oak and beech grow well in this climate and characteristically dominate the rolling terrain, but mixed broadleaf and coniferous forests are also present.

	Little brown bats (genus Myotis) live in almost all parts of the world. Their widespread distribution is second only to that of humans. Unfortunately, the four Myotis species that live in this ecoregion are decreasing. These and most other bats that live in temperate climates rely on insects for food.

Wild Side

If you were to walk along one of the many streams in this ecoregion, you might happen upon shells of endangered Spengler’s freshwater mussels or freshwater pearl mussels. You also might see a European mink as it quickly moves through the damp shoreline vegetation. Endangered snakes such as Orsini’s viper and the dark-colored cryptic meadow viper slither around the area. Insects and fish dominate the list of vulnerable animals in this ecoregion, including the Crucian carp, southern damselfly, river lamprey, and European wood ant. Squacco herons, little bitterns, and purple herons eat fish and invertebrates along rivers and streams in the summer. Lesser white-fronted geese, northern pintails, and mute swans can be found near lake edges feeding off the lake bottom. Stoats (also known as ermine or short-tailed weasels) and pine martens hunt for bird eggs and small mammals in the lush conifer and broadleaf forests. Interspersed in this landscape mosaic are open meadows with colorful wildflowers, terrestrial orchids, and other plants.

Cause for Concern

Throughout this ecoregion, the landscape is dominated by urbanization and agriculture, including vineyards and other monocultural plantings. Most streams have been altered for use in irrigation, and many valleys are flooded by dams constructed for increasing power and water supplies.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.