Al Hajar montane woodlands

Last updated
Al Hajar montane woodlands
Jebel Shams, Jabal Shams, Oman (Unsplash).jpg
Jebel Shams in Oman
Al Hajar mountain woodlands map.png
Map of the ecoregion
Ecology
Realm Afrotropical
Biome temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands
Borders Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert
Geography
Area25,604 km2 (9,886 sq mi)
Countries
Conservation
Conservation status Critical/endangered [1]
Protected1.27% [2]

Al Hajar montane woodlands is a temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands ecoregion in the Hajar Mountains of the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, which extends across portions of Oman and the U.A.E. [1]

Contents

Geography

The ecoregion includes the upper elevations of the Hajar Mountains. The mountains form an arc from northwest to southeast through portions of Oman and the U.A.E., extending over 500 kilometres (310 miles) in length. The mountains run parallel to the coast of the Gulf of Oman, with the Al Batinah Region in the coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. [1]

Al Hajar al Gharbi, or the Western Hajar, extend from the Musandam Peninsula at the northeastern tip of Arabia, through the eastern UAE and northern Oman. Al Hajar ash Sharqi, or the Eastern Hajar, extends eastwards towards Ras al Hadd, the easternmost point in Oman and Arabia. The Sama'il Gap separates the eastern and western portions of the range. The limestone massifs of Jebel Shams (2,997 m (9,833 ft)) and Jebel Akhdar (2,980 m (9,780 ft)), located just west of the Sumail Gap, are the highest peaks in the range. The highest peak in the eastern Hajar is 2,152 metres (7,060 feet). [1]

The mountains are composed mostly of Cretaceous limestone, together with outcrops of metamorphic and igneous rocks, including grey-brown ophiolites. [1] The Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert ecoregion surrounds the montane woodlands at lower elevations.

Climate

The ecoregion has a semi-arid temperate climate, transitioning to subtropical at lower elevations. The coolest months are December through March, when the mountains receive thunderstorms, rain, hailstorms and occasional snow, particularly at higher elevations. April to September are warmer, with occasional rainstorms brought by the Indian Ocean monsoons. [1]

Flora

The natural vegetation types include shrubland and open woodland and the flora varies with elevation and underlying geology.

Open woodlands with Olea europaea , Sideroxylon mascatense and Dodonaea viscosa extend from 1,100 to 2,500 metres elevation. Ziziphus spina-christi, Prosopis cineraria, Vachellia tortilis and Ficus salicifolia and other species of fig are found in seasonal watercourses (wadis). Euphorbia larica predominates on steep slopes, along with Vachellia tortilis, V. gerrardii and Periploca aphylla.

Montane woodlands occur on the high peaks between 2,100 and 3,000 metres elevation. Juniperus seravschanica [3] is the characteristic tree, sometimes mixed with Olea europaea. [1]

On the Musandam Peninsula, semi-evergreen woodlands above 1,300 metres elevation were formerly dominated by Sideroxylon mascatense , but now Dodonaea viscosa is predominant in the degraded woodlands. Between 1,800 and 2,000 metres elevation, Prunus arabica forms woodlands with Ephedra pachyclada and a dense ground layer of the shrub Artemisia sieberi. [4]

Ceratonia oreothauma ssp. oreothauma is an endemic subspecies of the tree found only in a single valley on Jebel Aswad in the eastern Hajar. The other subspecies occurs in Somalia. [5]

Endemic and near-endemic species include Herniaria maskatensis, Pteropyrum scoparium, Rumex limoniastrum, Dionysia mira, Tephrosia haussknechtii, Searsia aucheri, Polygala mascatensis, Convolvulus ulicinus, Teucrium mascatense, Verbascum akdarense, Iphiona horrida , [6] Schweinfurthia imbricata , [7] and Ziziphus hajarensis . [8] Wider-ranging native species include Limonium axillare, Ochradiscus aucheri, Sideroxylon mascatense, Convolvulus virgatus, Salvia macilenta, Viola cinerea, Cometes surattensis , Capparis spinosa var. mucronifolia, Cleome rupicola, Ebenus stellata, Taverniera glabra, Barleria aucheriana , and Pluchea arabica . Many species are shared with the South Iran Nubo–Sindian desert and semi-desert ecoregion to the north across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. [6]

Fauna

The Arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari) is endemic to the region. Other large mammals occur in small numbers, including the Mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella), particularly in the Wadi Sareen Reserve, Arabian wolf (Canis lupus arabs), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and Arabian wildcat (Felis lybica lybica). [1]

Five species of lizards are endemic to the mountains – Emirati leaf-toed gecko (Asaccus caudivolvulus), Gallagher's gecko (Asaccus gallagheri), Oman rock gecko (Pristurus celerrimus), Jayakar lizard (Omanosaura jayakari) and Blue-tailed lizard (Omanosaura cyanura). Asaccus montanus, Asaccus platyrhynchus and Pristurus gallagheri are lizards endemic to Oman which live in the mountains. [1]

71 bird species have been recorded around the Jebel Akdar, including 28 residents and 41 migrants. Resident birds include lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotus), Arabian partridge (Alectoris melanocephala), sand partridge (Ammoperdix heyi), pallid scops owl (Otus brucei), hooded wheatear (Oenanthe monacha) and Hume's wheatear (Oenanthe alboniger). [1]

Conservation and threats

The ecoregion is threatened by overgrazing from camels, goats and feral donkeys. Overgrazing has limited the ability of the Ceratonia woodlands and juniper woodlands below 2,400 metres to regenerate. [1]

Protected areas

1.27% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include Hatta Protected Area , 28 km2 (11 sq mi), in the United Arab Emirates, and Al Sareen Nature Reserve, 780.49 km2 (301.35 sq mi), and Al Jabal Al Akhdar Scenic Reserve, 296 km2 (114 sq mi), in Oman. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Oman</span> Geographical features of Oman

Oman is a country on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula, situated in Southwest Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The coast of Oman was an important part in the Omani empire and sultanate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of the United Arab Emirates</span> List of the United Arab Emirates geographical features

The United Arab Emirates is situated in the Middle East and southwest Asia, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia; it is at a strategic location along the northern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil. The UAE lies between 22°50′ and 26° north latitude and between 51° and 56°25′ east longitude. It shares a 19 km (12 mi) border with Qatar on the northwest, a 530 km (330 mi) border with Saudi Arabia on the west, south, and southeast, and a 450 km (280 mi) border with Oman on the southeast and northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jebel Akhdar (Oman)</span> Peak in the Hajar Mountains range

The Jebel Akhdar or Al Jabal Al Akhdar is one of the Hajar Mountains in Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate of Oman. It rises to a height of 2,980 m (9,780 ft) and encompasses the Saiq Plateau at 2,000 m above sea level. Jebel Akhdar is famous for its labyrinth of wadis and terraced orchards, where pomegranates, apricots and roses grow in abundance due to its mild Mediterranean climate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musandam Peninsula</span> Place

The Musandam Peninsula, locally known as Ruus Al Jibal, is a peninsula that forms the northwestern point of the Arabian Peninsula. It is located to the south of the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. It is inhabited by the Shihuh tribe and is mainly governed by Oman as the Musandam Governorate with certain parts governed by the United Arab Emirates, including Ras Al Khaimah and parts of Dibba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arabian tahr</span> Species of mammal

The Arabian tahr is a species of tahr native to eastern Arabia. Until recently, it was placed in the genus Hemitragus, but genetic evidence supports its removal to a separate monotypic genus, Arabitragus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert</span>

The Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert is a coastal ecoregion on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in Oman and the United Arab Emirates at the northeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. The climate is hot and dry, with gravelly plains and savanna with thorny acacia trees inland from the coast. Along the coast there are mixture of habitats that include mangrove swamps, lagoons and mudflats. The mangrove areas are dominated by Avicennia marina and the savanna by Prosopis cineraria and Vachellia tortilis. Masirah Island is an important breeding area for the loggerhead sea turtle and other sea turtles also occur here, as well as a great variety of birds, some resident and some migratory. There are some protected areas, but in general the habitats have been degraded by the grazing of livestock, especially camels and goats; they are also at risk from oil spills, off-road driving and poaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hajar Mountains</span> Mountain range in Oman and the UAE

The Hajar Mountains are one of the highest mountain range in the Arabian Peninsula, shared between northern Oman and eastern United Arab Emirates. Also known as "Oman Mountains", they separate the low coastal plain of Oman from the high desert plateau, and lie 50–100 km (31–62 mi) inland from the Gulf of Oman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of the United Arab Emirates</span>

The wildlife of the United Arab Emirates is the flora and fauna of the country on the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula and the southern end of the Persian Gulf. The country offers a variety of habitats for wildlife including the coast, offshore islands, mangrove areas, mudflats, salt pans, sand and gravel plains, sand dunes, mountain slopes, wadis and rocky summits. Because the terrain is so varied, it supports a greater number of species of plants and animals than might have been expected in this relatively small country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Oman</span>

The wildlife of Oman is the flora and fauna of this country in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, with coasts on the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The climate is hot and dry, apart from the southeastern coast, and the country offers a variety of habitats for wildlife including mountains, valleys, deserts, coastal plains and sea coasts.

Asaccus arnoldi is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. It, along with all other species in the genus Asaccus, is endemic to the Hajar Mountains of northern Oman.

<i>Asaccus gallagheri</i> Species of lizard

Asaccus gallagheri, also known commonly as Gallagher's gecko or Gallagher's leaf-toed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula and occurs in Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Asaccus margaritae, or Margarita's leaf-toed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. It is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula and occurs in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. It was first described in 2016.

Asaccus montanus, also known as the mountain leaf-toed gecko is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. It is endemic to Oman.

<i>Pristurus gallagheri</i> Species of lizard

Pristurus gallagheri, also known as Gallagher's rock gecko or Wadi Kharrar rock gecko , is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae found in Oman.

<i>Omanosaura cyanura</i> Species of lizard

Omanosaura cyanura, the blue-tailed lizard or blue-tailed Oman lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is found in Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali montane xeric woodlands</span>

The Somali montane xeric shrublands is a desert and xeric scrubland ecoregion in Somalia. The ecoregion lies in the rugged Karkaar Mountains, which run parallel and close to Somalia's northern coast on the Gulf of Aden, and follows coast from Cape Guardafui south to Eyl on the Arabian Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Iran Nubo–Sindian desert and semi-desert</span>

The South Iran Nubo–Sindian desert and semi-desert ecoregion covers the northern coastal plain of the Persian Gulf and the inland desert hills south of the Zagros Mountains of Iran. The region also has extensions reaching into southeastern Iraq, and eastward into southwestern Pakistan. The region is one of hot sand deserts, shrubland, and open thorn woodlands inland. Mangrove forests and swamps are found along the coast.

<i>Juniperus seravschanica</i> Species of conifer

Juniperus seravschanica is a species of juniper. Common names include Pashtun juniper.

<i>Sideroxylon mascatense</i> Species of flowering plant

Sideroxylon mascatense is a species of flowering plant in the family Sapotaceae.

<i>Euphorbia larica</i> Species of flowering plant

Euphorbia larica is a semi-succulent shrub or subshrub native to southern Iran and the south-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. In the United Arab Emirates it is commonly known as isbaq.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Al Hajar montane woodlands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  2. 1 2 "Al Hajar montane woodlands". DOPA Explorer. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  3. Adams, R.P., Al-Farsi, A. & Schwarzbach, A.E. (2014). Confirmation of the southern-most population of Juniperus seravschanica in Oman by DNA sequencing of nrDNA and four cpDNA regions Phytologia 96: 218-224.
  4. Kürschner H. (1998) Biogeography and Introduction to Vegetation. In: Ghazanfar S.A., Fisher M. (eds) Vegetation of the Arabian Peninsula. Geobotany, vol 25. Springer, Dordrecht. doi : 10.1007/978-94-017-3637-4_4
  5. Hillcoat, D., G. Lewis, and B. Verdcourt. "A New Species of Ceratonia (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) from Arabia and the Somali Republic." Kew Bulletin 35, no. 2 (1980): 261-71. Accessed December 4, 2020. doi : 10.2307/4114570.
  6. 1 2 Takhtajan, A. L. (1986). Floristic Regions of the World. University of California Press, Berkeley. QK 101.T313 1986 ISBN 0-520-04027-9
  7. Sanjay Gairola, Tamer Mahmoud, Hatem A. Shabana & Gary R. Feulner (2021) Distribution and ecology of the Hajar Mountain endemic Schweinfurthia imbricata in the United Arab Emirates, Botany Letters, 168:4, 512-516, DOI: 10.1080/23818107.2021.1905058
  8. Darrin W. Duling, Ghazanfar, S. A., & Hew D. V. Prendergast. (1998). A New Species of Ziziphus Mill. (Rhamnaceae) from Oman. Kew Bulletin, 53(3), 733–739. https://doi.org/10.2307/4110494