The Pyrenees is a mountain range located in parts of southwest Europe, not to be confused with the ever-so-popular dog breed of the same name. These pristine mountains form a natural and treacherous border between France and Spain, which are the two main countries in which they are located, though they also cross through Andorra. The Pyrenees are in turn divided into the French and Spanish Pyrenees, or as the countries themselves call them, Pyrénées and Pirineos respectively. The Pyrenees belong to the alpine tundra biome, which means that they are characterized by extremely high altitudes, very cold temperatures, a short growing season and a limited amount of wildlife. But that doesn’t mean the Pyrenees aren’t biologically diverse; according to the World Wildlife Fund, the Pyrenees have “high levels of biodiversity” (Regato)and about 200 endemic species. One interesting thing about the vegetation of the Pyrenees is that it mixes pine with deciduous types of trees, forming it’s own unique sort of forestry. The forest itself varies depending on the area of the Pyrenees in question, with a greater level of diversity occuring in the Spanish portion.
Historically, the Pyrenees has been mostly untouched due to the difficulty of reaching it, much less effecting it. However, there are some differences still from the past to present day. A study done by the United States Geological Survey has found that up until the 19th century, the Pyrenees was mostly occupied by glaciers. During the Ice Age, these glaciers “left widespread erosion” (Oge) and helped to shape the terrain. These have since receded drastically, losing some 40% of their volume since the 19th century. The Pyrenees also had a much higher level of floristic diversity some 200 years ago, as shown in another study done by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme. These studies and others have helped us recreate a more lush and diverse version of the Pyrenees by using satellite imagery as well as data obtained from pollen and charcoal taken from the area.
(Arroyo)
As with any sort of beautiful, natural area, there are human effects that threaten to destroy the purity of the area. One of the aspects of the Pyrenees that has come under attack is it’s wildlife. The bearded vulture is one of many threatened species that make their home in the Pyrenees, belonging to the French areas specifically. This bird has a difficult time reproducing, and so finds the relatively quiet and removed areas of the French Pyrenees to be a good area to proliferate. However, this solace is threatened by human activity. Hunting and controlled burning in the vulture’s breeding area causes the vulture to leave it’s progeny behind, which “may engender thermoregulatory problems for the embryo or young nestling” (Arroyo et al. 281). The nestlings have a higher chance of infant death, and so the vulture’s reproduction rates get lower with every progressing year. If something isn’t done for these vultures soon, they will soon be as extinct as the Pyrenean Ibex.
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The Pyrenean ibex caused quite a splash before it eventually became extinct in 2000. This large goat was endemic to the Pyrenees and the areas surrounding it. Due to overhunting and competition with cows, sheep and other similar creatures, the ibex’s numbers slowly depleted until there were only a few species left. One of these, named Cecilia, was used in an experiment attempting to clone her DNA and reintroduce the ibex into the mountain range. Unfortunately, she died and the experiment was unsuccessful. This ibex’s untimely demise is another example of how humans are negatively effecting the fauna of the Pyrenees, to the most exreme extent. A study done by the Muse'um National d'Histoire Naturelle has shown several other terrestrial animal species disappearing from the Pyrenees, with the continental lynx being the most prominent and most desired for reintroduction.
Humans are also influencing the vegetation of the Pyrenees. The Pyrenees is covered with lush trees, with an extensive variety of tree types. These include Mediterranean types, deciduous mixed forest types and pine forests. This diversity is threatened by human activities, however, with the tree lines being “widely affected by local anthropogenic activities” (Batllori, and Gutiérrez 1275). Because of disturbances from humans along the tree line, trees are dying and the diversity is diminishing every year. In the last 50 years, or since humans have been interacting with the forests of the Pyrenees, the life spans of trees have been declining as well. The forests are being encroached upon by ski runs built in the mountains, and some trees are being logged or cut down in order for roads to be constructed. This in turn has caused forest fragmentation to begin at the edges of the Pyrenees forests, which could devastate the natural landscape and kill many plant species.
(Galop)
But not all human activity in the Pyrenees is detrimental. Grazing patterns of domestic animals that humans have introduced in a sustainable manner have actually helped to increase the floristic diversity in the Pyrenees, the loss of which is “related to the variability or the decline in grazing activities” (Galop et al. 55). This grazing has encouraged diversity by removing trees and allowing smaller plants to grow in their place. But since grazing in these areas has diminished, the trees have once again taken over these areas again and lowered the diversity. Also, soil erosion that was propagated by the grazing had actually enriched it. But because of the fragile balance between the renewal of plants and the animals’ patterns, this erosion has now given way to infertile soil, which cannot reintroduce nutrients without the grazing itself.
The future of the Pyrenees is not entirely clear. But if the fragmentation persists, it is certain that the biodiversity of the area will be adversely effected, especially if the many endemic species are harmed. The soil will in turn continue to erode and become infertile, and will aid the cycle of plants dying out. The upper regions of forest will probably remain protected because of their precarious position, but will be isolated from other natural habitats by the fragmentation line, and will only consist of a fraction of their original beauty.
So how should we move forward in our treatment of this beautiful, pristine area? For once, there is a straightforward way to treat this ecosystem, as we’ve already found the solution. The grazing patterns maintained in the early 1920s should be reestablished, as they are sustainable and supply a viable option for humans to coexist with the ecosystem. The logging operations and ski resorts, however, should either be closed down or should start using more conservative measures; deforestation needs to be stopped in these areas in order to preserve the Pyrenees’ natural beauty. Also, hunting in these areas needs to be stopped, because of the threats it presents to the many endemic species that make their home in the mountains. The Pyrenees are not yet past the point of return to their original beauty; this is probably due to the fact that they are so hard to reach. But we humans will find a way where there is one to besmirch it, and so we must be careful to leave these beautiful mountains alone.
Works Cited
Arroyo, Beatriz, and Martine Razin. "Effect of human activities on bearded vulture behaviour and breeding success in the French Pyrenees." Biological Conservation. Elsevier, n.d. Web. 29 Nov 2012.
Batllori, Enric, and Emilia Gutiérrez. "Regional tree line dynamics in response to global change in the Pyrenees." Journal of Ecology. British Ecological Society, n.d. Web. 1 Dec 2012.
De Beaufort, Francois, Herve Maurin, and Patrick Haffner. "Terrestrial Mammal Fauna and Threatened Species in France." Hystrix. Muse'um National d'Histoire Naturelle. Web. 1 Dec 2012.
Galop, Didier, T. Houet, and et al. "Grazing activities and biodiversity history in the Pyrenees: New insights on high altitude ecosystems in the framework of a Human-Environment Observatory." Science Highlights: Integrative Paleoscience. PAGES, n.d. Web. 1 Dec 2012.
Herrero, J. & Pérez, J.M. 2008. Capra pyrenaica. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>.
Ogé, Frédéric. "Pyrenees." Encyclopaedia Britannica. N.p.. Web. 29 Nov 2012.
Regato, Pedro. "Southwest Europe: In the Pyrenees Mountains of Spain, France, and Andorra ." World Wildlife Fund. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov 2012.
