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Habitat, Fauna and Flora > Habitat

The Reserve has a pronounced diversity of natural habitats ranging from Oak forests to herbaceous Grasslands, from riparian environments rich in hygrophilous vegetation with formations of Poplar (Populus spp.), Willow (Salix spp.), Ash (Fraxinus spp.), Maple (Acer spp.), etc. to rocky habitats. This diversity is determined by the wide altitudinal range (from 650/700 meters to 1,341 m a.s.l. of the highest peak, Mount Croce Mancina) and the different geomorphologies present: in the central-northern part, clay-arenaceous sediments with regular profiles predominate; in the southern portion, the presence of conglomerates and limestone rocks with rugged and steep profiles, such as Pizzo Spirito, Pizzo Daniele and Pizzo Galera.

Downy oak forests

These are forests dominated by Quercus virgiliana, Q. dalechampii, Q. pubescens, which are associated in the shrub layer with Cytisus villosus, Erica arborea.

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Steppe grasslands

It groups xerophilous grasslands that are quite variable in physiognomy and structure: from small-sized grasslands dominated by various annual grass species to medium-sized perennial grasslands dominated by Hyparrhenia hirta.

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Cerrete

These are deciduous oak forests dominated by Quercus cerris (with which Quercus dalechampii, Q. virgiliana, Acer campestre and Acer pseudoplatanus are associated), related to upland environments with an acid-responsive substrate, on sandstones and shales.

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Beech forests

The Malabotta beech forest is defined as extrazonal: while on the Nebrodi it is found at altitudes generally above 1,200 m, within the Reserve it is localized in the valley floor due to better edaphic, environmental conditions and greater water availability, reaching a lower limit of 900 m.

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Copyright: A. Crisafulli - R. Picone

Boschi a roverella

Querceti a roverella dell’Italia meridionale e Sicilia
COD: 91AA*

Descrizione – Si tratta di boschi a dominanza di Quercus virgiliana, Q. dalechampii, Q. pubescens, a cui si associano nello strato arbustivo Cytisus villosus, Erica arborea. Altre specie rinvenibili in tale habitat sono: Ostrya carpinifolia, Coronilla emerus, Asparagus acutifolius, Crataegus monogyna, Epipactis helleborine, Hedera helix, Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii.

Praterie steppiche

Percorsi substeppici di graminacee e piante annue dei Thero-Brachypodietea
Classe: 6220*

Descrizione – Raggruppa praterie xerofile piuttosto variabili per fisionomia e struttura: da quelle di piccola taglia a dominanza di varie specie di graminacee annuali a quelle perenni di taglia media a dominanza di Hyparrhenia hirta. Le praterie sub-stepppiche, rappresentate prevalentemente da vegetazione erbacea annuale, comprendono alcune Poaceae componenti il corteggio floristico come Brachypodium distachyum; sono frequenti anche talune Fabaceae (Scorpiurus muricatus, Coronilla scorpioides, Trifolium campestre, Medicago sp.pl.) e altre specie, come Reichardia picroides, Hypochoeris achyrophorus, Linum strictum, ecc.

Cerrete

Cerrete dell’Italia meridionale e Sicilia
COD: 91M0

Descrizione – Si tratta di boschi a querce caducifoglie con dominanza di Quercus cerris (a cui si associano Quercus dalechampii, Q. virgiliana, Acer campestre e Acer pseudoplatanus), legati ad ambienti montani con un substrato a reazione acida, su arenarie e su scisti. Nello strato erbaceo si possono rinvenire Cyclamen hederifolium, Cyclamen repandum, Cytisus scoparius, Dactylorhiza romana, Doronicum orientale, Geranium versicolor, Ostrya carpinifolia, Arrhenatherum nebrodense, Ruscus aculeatus. Di particolare rilevanza biogeografica risultano: Paeonia mascula subsp. russoi, Aristolochia lutea, Fritillaria messanensis, Anemone apennina; tra le endemiche sono da citare: Luzula sicula, Tanacetum siculum, Teucrium siculum, Thalictrum calabricum. L’associazione di riferimento della cerreta presente nella Riserva è Arrhenathero nebrodensis – Quercetum cerridis. La cerreta si avvicenda con la faggeta nei tratti a maggiore aridità edafica, come per esempio lungo i crinali (Monte Croce Mancina, Monte Cerreto).

Faggete

Faggeti degli Appennini con Taxus e Ilex
COD: 9210*

Descrizione – L’habitat prioritario 9210* comprende boschi di faggio con Agrifoglio nello strato arboreo e arbustivo. Nel sottobosco sono frequenti diverse geofite primaverili come Anemone apennina, Symphytum gussonei e numerose orchidee (Epipactis helleborine, E. microphylla, E. meridionalis, Neottia nidus-avis). La Faggeta di Malabotta è definita extrazonale: mentre sui Nebrodi la si rinviene a quote generalmente superiori a 1200 m, all’interno della Riserva si localizza nel fondovalle per le migliori condizioni edafiche, ambientali e per la maggiore disponibilità idrica, raggiungendo un limite inferiore dei 900 m.

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La Riserva Naturale Orientata del Bosco di Malabotta è, prima di tutto, una Riserva Naturale protetta, curata ed a tua disposizione tutto l’anno: vivila e rispettala.

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The Malabotta Forest Oriented Nature Reserve is, first and foremost, a protected Nature Reserve, cared for and available to you all year round: experience it and respect it.

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Copyright: Nicola Bombaci

Downy oak forests

Oak forests of southern Italy and Sicily
COD: 91AA*

Description – These are forests dominated by Quercus virgiliana, Q. dalechampii, Q. pubescens, which are associated in the shrub layer with Cytisus villosus, Erica arborea. Other species found in this habitat are: Ostrya carpinifolia, Coronilla emerus, Asparagus acutifolius, Crataegus monogyna, Epipactis helleborine, Hedera helix, Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii.

Copyright: Marco Scuderi

Steppe grasslands

Substeppe pathways of grasses and annual plants of the Thero-Brachypodietea
Class: 6220*

Description – Grouping of xerophilous grasslands that are quite variable in physiognomy and structure: from small-sized grasslands dominated by various annual grass species to medium-sized perennial grasslands dominated by Hyparrhenia hirta. The sub-steppe grasslands, mainly represented by annual herbaceous vegetation, include some Poaceae components of the floristic assemblage such as Brachypodium distachyum; some Fabaceae (Scorpiurus muricatus, Coronilla scorpioides, Trifolium campestre, Medicago sp.pl.) and other species, such as Reichardia picroides, Hypochoeris achyrophorus, Linum strictum, etc., are also frequent.

Copyright: Marco Scuderi

Cerrete

Cerrete of southern Italy and Sicily
COD: 91M0

Description – These are deciduous oak forests dominated by Quercus cerris (with which Quercus dalechampii, Q. virgiliana, Acer campestre and Acer pseudoplatanus are associated), related to upland environments with an acid-responsive substrate, on sandstones and shales. In the herbaceous layer, Cyclamen hederifolium, Cyclamen repandum, Cytisus scoparius, Dactylorhiza romana, Doronicum orientale, Geranium versicolor, Ostrya carpinifolia, Arrhenatherum nebrodense, Ruscus aculeatus can be found.  Of particular biogeographical significance are: Paeonia mascula subsp. russoi, Aristolochia lutea, Fritillaria messanensis, Anemone apennina; endemics include Luzula sicula, Tanacetum siculum, Teucrium siculum, Thalictrum calabricum. The reference association of the cerreta present in the Reserve is Arrhenathero nebrodensis – Quercetum cerridis. Cerreta alternates with beech forest in the tracts of higher edaphic aridity, such as along the ridges (Monte Croce Mancina, Monte Cerreto).

Copyright: Marco Scuderi

Beech forests

Apennine beech forests with Taxus and Ilex
COD: 9210*

Description – Priority habitat 9210* includes beech forests with Holly in the tree and shrub layer. Several spring geophytes such as Anemone apennina, Symphytum gussonei and numerous orchids (Epipactis helleborine, E. microphylla, E. meridionalis, Neottia nidus-avis) are common in the undergrowth. The Malabotta beech forest is defined as extrazonal: while on the Nebrodi it is found at altitudes generally above 1,200 m, within the Reserve it is localized in the valley floor due to better edaphic, environmental conditions and greater water availability, reaching a lower limit of 900 m.