Lake Penne - loop

It is a collection of various environments mainly characterized by lacustrine habitats with riparian vegetation. The hygrophilous forest transitions to mesophilous and thermophilous forest with the presence of downy oak, hornbeam, hop hornbeam, and field maple, climbing the hills up to the cultivated areas dominated by olive trees and cereals. The wet environment is characterized by vegetation typical of wet areas such as great water dock, horsetail, bulrush, sedge, with typical tree species like willows and poplars. Among the shrubs, juniper, blackthorn, spindle tree, dogwood, and oriental hornbeam prevail. Among the 214 bird species recorded, some herons are present such as the grey heron, purple heron, and the black-crowned night heron, symbol of the Oasis, the little egret, various species of waders including the black-winged stilt and several species of ducks. The wolf has been repeatedly sighted in Collalto; among mammals are present the beech marten, the polecat, the badger, the fox, and numerous small mammals. The “Wolf & Hybrids Center” is a unique center of its kind in Italy, aimed at informing and raising awareness about the problem of hybridization for the conservation of the Apennine wolf.

Among amphibians and reptiles are found: the green frog, tree frog, crested newt, green lizard, whip snake, grass snake, and the Aesculapian snake. Numerous macroinvertebrates are found along the watercourses: mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies. The fish fauna is also rich.