flora and fauna

The Astroni's wood is the last evidence of an ancient woody covering. Although it has undergone changes throughout the centuries, it represents a location of naturalistic importance.
 
The main characteristic of this area is a phenomenon called "inversione vegetazionale", in other words on the bottom of the crater there is a prevalence of a deciduous mixed wood, composed by arboreous essences present in hilly areas and in low mountain, while the evergreen Mediterranean vegetation predominates along the inner slopes and on the top of the crater. The irregular distribution is caused by the constant supply of water in the ground, thanks to the presence of a superficial tablewater that feeds three lakes, and the consequent establishment of a peculiar microclimate, characterized by a high environmental humidity, produced by the strong evapotraspiration (evaporation of the lakes and of the ground + traspiration of the green coat) that stagnate the whole year in the inner of the crater.

The woody surface is characterized by the presence of plants, that grow wild or have been introduced by human beings in the last 150 years, such as: bay-oak, red american oak, hornbeam, black carpine, carpinella, orniello, maple and elm. Along the slopes and the inner ranges, the climate becomes dry for the lower supply of water in the ground and for the lower humidity in the air. Since they are more tollerant with aridity evergreen plants (holm-oak, myrtle, cistus, strawberry-three, fillirea, laurel) can grow.
In the thick of the wood there are some bushes of holly, the unique evidence of this species in the Flegrei Fields. 
 

Now there are only autochthonous species integrated in the different habitats situated in the Reserve. In the lake areas it is important the nest-building of the tarabusino and moretta tabaccata. The Astroni are the only location of nidification of moretta tabaccata in Campania. In addition there are amphibians and reptiles, such as the green frog, the quick frog, the natrix, and commons birds, such as the coot, the dabchick, the wild duck and the water-hen.
 
Moreover the damp area is very important for peregrin birds such as: the red heron, the duck-hawk, the kingfisher, the teal and the garganey. The forestal habitat gives hospitality to several species like: the jay, the ring-dove, the blackbird, the robin and to diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey such as: the tawny owl, the kestrel, the sparrow-hawk and the buzzard. The major red woodpecker is the symbol of the Reserve. It is also relevant the nidification of a couple of peregrines, that takes place every year since 1997.

There are mammals such as: the fox, the weasel, the beech-marten, the dormouse, the mole and the mustiolo etrusco (the smaller mammals of Europe) and other species of small rodents. The Reserve is very important for peregrin birds, a true oasis, situated in the inner of a degraded area, along one of the main course that every year millions of birds holds