Primate Evolution and Iberian Peninsula’s Shifting Ecosystems
Primate Presence in the Iberian Peninsula
The study of plant and animal distribution suggests Europe isn’t ideal for primates, except for humans, who inhabit all continents. Hominids originated in Africa, with their arrival in Europe being relatively recent.
Adapting to European Ecosystems
African humans adapting to Europe faced significant changes:
- Transitioning from arboreal forest primates to living in non-tropical climates.
- The absence of non-human primates in Spanish oak, pine, or beech groves.
The Lost World: Pre-Quaternary Climate
Before the Quaternary period, the Earth’s climate was warmer and more humid. The Iberian Peninsula’s vegetation was more tropical. During the Miocene and Pliocene, temperate forests included Iberian oak, ash, hazel, and alder, alongside unique species not found today.
Ice Age in the Iberian Peninsula
The maximum glaciation occurred 21,000-17,000 years ago, causing a harsh climate across Europe. Sea levels dropped significantly, and the Iberian Peninsula’s average temperature decreased by 10-12°C. This shift was equivalent to moving the peninsula 2,000 km north or raising it over a mile above sea level.
Glacial Impact
- Mountain glaciers formed in the Pyrenees, Central System, Sierra Nevada, and other ranges, with ice thicknesses exceeding 400m.
- Sierra Nevada experienced the southernmost glaciation in Europe.
- Neanderthals did not experience the full extent of glaciation, unlike the Cro-Magnon.
Each glacial period dramatically altered the landscape, favoring mosses, lichens, and herbs over trees. Periglacial conditions, with permanently frozen ground, dominated the southern part of the continent.
Post-Glacial Vegetation
The Late Pleistocene saw the expansion of mixed deciduous forests, including oaks and cork trees, eventually transforming Iberia into a vast forest.
Current Spanish Vegetation
The Iberian Peninsula is potentially a forest. Before human intervention, it was almost entirely covered by trees. Humans cleared land for crops, livestock, and timber. The vegetation is divided into two major floristic regions:
- Euro-Siberian Region: Basque Cantabrian strip, Galicia, northern Portugal, and the Pyrenees.
- Mediterranean Region: The rest of the Iberian Peninsula.
Iberian Vegetation Zones
The division between dry and wet regions isn’t absolute:
- Oak forests are found along the Cantabrian coast.
- Deciduous forests exist in the Mediterranean region with sufficient moisture.
A more realistic division includes:
- Atlantic influence zone.
- Mediterranean zone.
- Extensive interior regions with intermediate characteristics.
Ecological Diversity
This ecological diversity allowed prehistoric hunters to find animals from various habitats in close proximity. The variety of grassland habitats makes it difficult to assign fossils from a single reservoir to a single environment, as herbivores often came from different communities and were brought together by predators or humans.