Ecoregion in Italy
The South Apennine mixed montane forests is an ecoregion in the southern Apennine Mountains of southern Italy and Sicily. It has a Mediterranean climate, and is in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome. 
This ecoregion is restricted to the high mountain massifs of the regions of Basilicata, Calabria and the island of Sicily.
Climate.
The climate of the ecoregion changes with altitude. The lower mountain slopes have a warm and sub-humid climate, with an average annual temperature of 14 to 17º C. High elevations are cooler and more humid, with annual average temperatures of 9 to 13º C and over 2000 mm of precipitation annually. The mountain summits in southern Calabria and northeastern Sicily are frequently covered in dense fog. Winters at high elevation are cold, with abundant snowfall.
Flora.
The ecoregion's wide altitudinal range results in several forest zones.
Lowest elevations.
At lowest elevations the forests are characterized by the sclerophyllous evergreen holm oak ("Quercus ilex") and cork oak ("Quercus suber"), coniferous stone pine ("Pinus pinea"), and the deciduous trees "Quercus pubescens", "Fraxinus ornus", and "Ostrya carpinifolia".
Medium elevations.
At medium elevations the mixed deciduous forests of "Quercus cerris", "Quercus pubescens", "Quercus frainetto", sweet chestnut ("Castanea sativa"), and "Ostrya carpinifolia" predominate.
High elevations.
At high elevation altitudes there is a north-south slopes gradient of plant communities:
Fauna.
Large mammals include roe deer ("Capreolus capreolus"), European wildcat ("Felis silvestris"), and crested porcupine ("Hystrix cristata"). The Italian wolf ("Canis lupus italicus") lives in the peninsular portion of the ecoregion, and Sila and Pollino national parks are home to Italy's largest wolf population. Wolves are absent from Sicily.
Sicily's forests are home to the Sicilian shrew ("Crocidura sicula"), which is endemic to Sicily and Malta.
Protected areas.
A 2017 assessment found that 6,008 km2, or 46%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include Aspromonte National Park, Sila National Park, and Pollino National Park, Appennino Lucano - Val d'Agri - Lagonegrese National Park, and Monte Piacentini Regional Park, Nebrodi Park, and Etna Park.
References.
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