Skip to main content
Fig. 7 | BMC Ecology

Fig. 7

From: BMC ecology image competition 2017: the winning images

Fig. 7

Winner, Landscape ecology and ecosystems: Las Cañadas del Teide. “Micro-habitat on the north-facing caldera slopes at 2100 m altitude in ‘Las Cañadas del Teide’ on Tenerife Island, Spain. Shown here is a rare mixture of the Canary pine (Pinus canariensis) and the flowering endemic Teide bugloss (Echium wildpretii), amongst other plants, such as the rosallilo de cumbre (Pterocephalus lasiospermus). The unique geological environment and geomorphological development created a specific micro-habitat, perfectly suitable for both the Canary pine trees invading from outside the caldera depression and the ‘Tower of Jewels’ or ‘Red bugloss’, a rare species fully adapted to survive in this harsh terrain. The micro-habitat is formed by coarse rock fall deposits, piling up at the foot of the >3 million years old basaltic cliffs, creating local scree slopes. Locally, fine-grained sub-horizontal soil patches form behind larger fallen blocks, as the result of fine-scale surface runoff and sediment transport and deposition, which, in combination with mechanical and chemical weathering, release sufficient nutrients from the basaltic parent material to sustain this unique vegetation cover. Signs of forest fire, especially on the pine trees, emphasize the vulnerability and dynamic nature of this ecologically fragile (micro-)ecosystem.” Attribution: Harry Seijmonsbergen

Back to article page