Part 2: Biomes & Ecosystems
Biomes
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/0/7/16071158/5772269.jpg?408)
France is made up of approximately four main biomes:
- Temperate Broadleaf Forest (most of France)
- Mediterranean (coastal south-east France)
- Alpine Tundra (Pyrenees)
- Mountain Forest (Pyrenees)
France's southeastern side is a relatively mountainous region -- the French Alps are located in this area. The rest of French terrain is mainly flat plains and gently sloping hills, these features being located in the north and west. The northern and middle areas of France are home to forests of beech and oak, as well as to other species of trees -- such as willow, poplar, birch, and pine. The southern areas of France contain pine forests and several species of oak, while towards the Mediterranean are olive trees, several species of vine, fig trees, mulberry trees, and maquis bushes, among other plants.
France is home to quite a variety of faunae despite its small size. These are distributed in select biomes and ecosystems throughout the country, which will be discussed in greater detail further on. One point of interest is that France is inhabited by quite a lot of mammilian species, a lot of which are not found in other European countries. France sustains the following animals and more:
- small mammals like otters, badgers, rats, mice, hares, rabbits, red squirrels, and the genet
- large mammals like wolves, bears, deer, horses, goats, ibex, chamois, and wild boar
- aquatic creatures like dolphin, jellyfish, grass snakes, and the wall lizard
- insects like the hornet and the praying mantis
I, however, have chosen to focus on the alpine marmot and the lynx, as both are inhabitors of mountainous regions. See these fascinating animals below:
- small mammals like otters, badgers, rats, mice, hares, rabbits, red squirrels, and the genet
- large mammals like wolves, bears, deer, horses, goats, ibex, chamois, and wild boar
- aquatic creatures like dolphin, jellyfish, grass snakes, and the wall lizard
- insects like the hornet and the praying mantis
I, however, have chosen to focus on the alpine marmot and the lynx, as both are inhabitors of mountainous regions. See these fascinating animals below:
The Alps, like the rest of France, are a diverse ecosystem and are home to many different species of both flora and fauna. These organisms interact with their environment to create an environment quite unique to France.