About Ponto-Sarmatian forest vegetation with Downy Oak Danube Delta
The ponto-sarmatian forest vegetation with downy oak is a type of habitat specific for the areas with sand dunes. This type of habitat can be found in the Letea and Caraorman areas.
There is no uniform growth of this type of vegetation due to the fact that it is conditioned by the level of phreatic water.
Inside the Letea Forrest, the groups of downy oaks are called ‘hașmace’ and are located in the areas between the sand dunes.
The ponto-sarmatian forest vegetation with downy oak features a series of vines or lianas, which give the forest an exotic look. The most important species of liana found here is the Greek liana. This species can reach a length of 25 to 30 m.
The secondary level of the forest consists of shrubs. Underneath it there is a specific herbaceous vegetation and in some areas there can be found even orchids.
These forests offer a stable habitat for a series of mammals, such as deer, wild boars and jackals (this species is new in the Danube’s Delta).
This type of forest offers support for the entomological fauna and alongside the downy oak, it also contains a series of poplar species.
These forest are extremely rare in the Danube’s Delta, but they can be found in a more broad area in the Babadag Forest.