Fragmentation patterns and protection of montane forest in the Cantabrian range (NW Spain)

摘要: We analysed the composition and configuration patterns of forested landscape in Cantabrian range (NW Spain) determining how different forest communities are currently affected by long-term fragmentation process. also evaluated regional reserve network relation to heterogeneity at level. The current scenario is characterised low habitat cover (22%) a fragment size distribution strongly skewed towards small values (<10 ha). Forest classes differ size, internal heterogeneity, shape, dispersion isolation. Beech forests were less fragmented than other types, being dominant class terms surface occurrence. Fragmentation was heavier occurring agriculture-suitable areas (i.e. valley bottoms, southern exposures), such as ash-maple oak forests, well second-growth developed after tree-line deforestation for pastures holly rowan forests). Asturias region covers preferentially bigger isolated fragments. This consequence protection biased beech detriment an adequate representativeness most some them with high ecological value. Future expansion should be based on information, promote both well-conserved, less-fragmented inclusion under-represented target types.