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THE MAIELLA NATIONAL PARK - Coggle Diagram
THE MAIELLA NATIONAL PARK
1.Overview of Maiella National Park
✦ Location: Abruzzo, central Italy
✦ Landscape: Deep valleys, canyons, high plateaus, + 40 peaks above 2,000 m
✦ Highest Peak: Monte Amaro (2,793 m)
✦ Climate: From temperate foothills to harsh alpine zones
✦ UNESCO Global Geopark: Famous for fossils, karst caves, ancient hermitages
✦ Cultural Heritage: Shepherd routes (transhumance) and stone settlements
2.Alpine & Subalpine Flora
✦ Vegetation Zone: Above 1,800–2,000 m
✦ Conditions: Strong winds, intense cold, rocky slopes
✦ Endemic Plants:
• Androsace mathildae (Maiella rock jasmine)
• Adonis distorta
• Aquilegia magellensis
✦ Adaptations:
• Cushion-shaped plants to retain heat
• Short stems to resist wind
• Roots anchored in rock cracks
✦ Landscape: Scree fields, cliffs, alpine grasslands
3.Forest Ecosystems
✦ Dominant Forest Type: Beech woods, among the richest in Italy
✦ Lower Altitudes (below 1,200 m):
• Oak ★ Hornbeam ★ Chestnut ★ Maple ★ Ash
✦ Higher Altitudes:
• Pure beech forests
• Silver fir in humid valleys
✦ Forest Floor: Ferns, fungi, mosses, woodland flowers
✦ Role: Carbon storage, wildlife habitat, ecological corridors
5.Large Mammals
✦ Apennine Wolf (Symbol of the Park):
• Lives in remote forested and rocky areas
• Key predator maintaining ecosystem balance
✦ Apennine Chamois:
• Successfully reintroduced
• Lives on cliffs and alpine meadows
✦ Other Mammals:
• Red deer ★ Roe deer ★ Wildcat
• Badger ★ Porcupine ★ Fox ★ Marten
✦ Importance:
• Keystone species
• Indicators of habitat quality
4.Herbaceous & Aromatic Plants
✦ Medicinal Herbs:
• Wild thyme (antiseptic)
• Oregano (aromatic & antibacterial)
• Savory (digestive)
✦ Flower Diversity:
• Alpine gentians (bright blue)
• Numerous orchids in meadows
✦ Importance:
• Supports pollinators
• Traditional herbal medicine
✦ Seasonality:
• Peak bloom from late spring to early summer
6.Birds of Prey
✦ Golden Eagle:
• Nests on remote cliffs
• Hunts large areas of alpine terrain
✦ Other Raptors:
• Peregrine falcon (fastest bird)
• Lanner falcon
• Eagle owl (Europe’s largest owl)
• Kestrel ★ Sparrowhawk
✦ Habitats: Rocky walls, gorges, forest edges
✦ Role: Top predators regulating small mammal populations
7.Reptiles & Amphibians
✦ Reptiles:
• Italian wall lizard
• Green lizard
• Aesculapian snake
• Smooth snake
✦ Amphibians:
• Fire salamander
• Alpine newt
• Toads and frogs in streams and ponds
✦ Importance:
• Control insect populations
• Sensitive indicators of environmental quality
8.Insects & Pollinators
✦ Butterflies:
• Apollo butterfly
• Blues, fritillaries, and alpine endemics
✦ Pollinators:
• Bees ★ Bumblebees ★ Hoverflies
✦ High-Altitude Specialists:
• Cold-adapted beetles and moths
✦ Ecological Role:
• Pollination of alpine plants
• Food source for birds and small mammals
9.Conservation Importance
✦ Biodiversity Hotspot: Endemic plants + rare animals
✦ Active Conservation Projects:
• Wolf and chamois monitoring
• Forest restoration
• Alpine habitat protection
✦ Research Area:
• Climate change
• Geology and fossils
• Wildlife behavior
✦ Cultural Preservation:
• Shepherd traditions
• Historic hermitages
✦ Goal: Protect fragile mountain ecosystems for future generations