Shrublands of Temperate Europe

Shrublands are largely represented in Europe being diversified into several types. They are found in primary stations, usually on shallow soil sites of rocky places and steep slopes, in which they were differentiated along history and evolution. However, the overwhelming majority of the currently existing shrublands are in secondary stations, as seral stages of forests, being favored by humans by means of the traditional land use systems, particularly extensive husbandry and farming. They often form hedgerows for fencing rural properties, most of them by spiny shrubs such as brambles, roses and blackthorns. This vegetation produces abundant organic matter and keeps the soil in good conditions of fertility. Shrublands also host a large number of small animals, particularly butterflies, and provide abundant fleshy fruits for seed dispersal which fodder many birds. The conservation of the reticulated hedgerows landscape, known as bocage, is a relevant issue for the preservation of the structural complexity and biodiversity of the terrestrial ecosystems in temperate Europe. The modern tendency towards more technological exploitation systems in some regions, parallel to the rural abandonment in others, is leading to the reduction of this habitat type all over Europe.