Aravalli West Thorn Scrub Forests

Last updated

Aravalli West Thorn Scrub Forests
Wheat Fields in Sialkot.jpg
Crop fields in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan
Ecoregion IM1303.svg
Map of the Northwestern thorn scrub forests ecoregion
Ecology
Realm Indomalayan
Biome deserts and xeric shrublands
Borders
Geography
Area486,906 km2 (187,995 sq mi)
Countries
states of India & provinces of Pakistan
Conservation
Conservation status critical/endangered
Protected20,150 km2 (4%) [1]

The Aravalli West Thorn Scrub Forests, formerly known as Northwestern thorn scrub forests, is a xeric shrubland ecoregion of Pakistan and Northern India, stretching along the border lowlands and hills between the two countries. Once covered in deciduous forest, this ecoregion has been degraded through agriculture and the extraction of timber so that it currently has a scanty covering of thorny scrub dominated by such trees as Acacia senegal , Acacia leucophloea and Prosopis cineraria . Where the soils are particularly saline, there are patches of semi-desert. A number of mammals are found in this habitat, including about four hundred species of bird. Some small areas are protected but the collection of firewood and the conversion of the land to subsistence farming continues. [2] [3]

Contents

Location and description

The ecoregion encircles the Thar Desert and Indus Valley Desert ecoregions. It stretches along the border lowlands and hills between India and Pakistan and includes: the western half of Gujarat (excluding the mountain of Girnar), and extending through Rajasthan, where it is bounded on the southeast by the Aravalli Range; most of Haryana and Punjab states of India as well as the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, extending to the foothills of the Himalayas; in Pakistan, most of Punjab province, extending into easternmost Northwest Frontier and Baluchistan provinces and western Sindh.

This ecoregion, together with the Thar Desert and Indus Valley Desert ecoregions, form Miklos Udvardy's "Thar Desert" Biogeographic province. [4]

Climate

The climate of the ecoregion consists of Hot semi-arid (Köppen climate classification (BSh)) and Arid (Köppen climate classification (BWh)) climates. This climate is characteristic of steppes, grasslands, and forests. The temperature includes, hot summers and cool or dry winters. Precipitation averages 500–600 mm/year with heavy rainfalls and evening thunderstorms with the possibility of cloudbursts and flash floods in the monsoon season, late July–August. This being said, it only receives enough rainfall to support scrub. It does not receive enough rainfall to feature in the humid subtropical climate.

Flora

The thorn scrub forests are thought to be tropical dry forests that have been degraded through intensive agriculture and grazing into stunted and open thorn scrub, dominated by trees such as Senegalia senegal and Acacia leucophloea , as well as Prosopis cineraria , Capparis zeylanica , Ziziphus spina-christi , Olea europaea , Balanites aegyptiaca , Cupressus sempervirens , Vachellia tortilis , Phoenix canariensis , Phoenix dactylifera , Salix alba , Populus nigra , Quercus coccifera , Pinus nigra , Ceratonia siliqua , Arbutus unedo , Erica arborea , Juglans regia , Laurus nobilis , Vachellia flava , Senegalia senegal , Pinus halepensis , Aerva javanica , Prunus amygdalus , Corylus avellana , Cinnamomum cassia , Durio zibethinus , Artocarpus heterophyllus , Ficus benghalensis , Gnetum gnemon , Mangifera indica , , Toona ciliata , Toona sinensis , Cocos nucifera , Tetrameles nudiflora , Ginkgo biloba , Shorea robusta , Prunus serrulata , Camphora officinarum , Quercus acutissima , Tsuga dumosa , Ulmus lanceifolia , Terminalia tomentosa , Terminalia belerica , Tetrameles nudiflora , Tectona grandis , Quercus glauca, Acer palmatum, Sassafras tzumu, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Glyptostrobus pensilis, Castanea mollissima, Quercus myrsinifolia, Quercus acuta, Machilus thunbergii, Tetracentron, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Emmenopterys henryi, Eucommia ulmoides , Balanites roxburghii , Capparis decidua , Cordia sinensis , Tamarix aphylla , Ziziphus nummularia , Ziziphus jujuba and species of Salvadora , Gymnosporia , Grewia, and Gardenia . However the region also contains patches of semi-desert where the soil is particularly saline. [5] [6]

Fauna

Despite the large scale forest clearance large mammals still remain in the ecoregion including leopard and their prey such as chinkara (Gazella bennettii) and the threatened species chousingha (Tetracerus quadricornis), and blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra). The scrubland is also home to another large cat, the caracal, which preys on mice, birds, and reptiles. There are two endemic mammals, both bats: Triaenops persicus and the small mouse-tailed bat (Rhinopoma muscatellum).

There are more than 400 species of birds in the region including the endemic rufous-vented grass babbler (Laticilla burnesii), the near-endemic white-winged tit (Parus nuchalis) and the threatened great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) and lesser florican (Eupodotis indica).

Threats and preservation

Over 90% of the ecoregion has been converted to human use, and the remaining habitat is highly fragmented. There are many protected areas but they are very small and unconnected and even these are liable to invasion for firewood collecting and clearance for planting. However the traditions of the Bishnoi community based in this region extend protection to some wildlife, especially the blackbuck and the tree.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thar Desert</span> Arid region in India and Pakistan

The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is an arid region in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent that covers an area of 200,000 km2 (77,000 sq mi) in India and Pakistan. It is the world's 18th-largest desert, and the world's 9th-largest hot subtropical desert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Deccan dry evergreen forests</span> Ecoregion of India

The East Deccan dry evergreen forests is an ecoregion of southeastern India. The ecoregion includes the coastal region behind the Coromandel Coast on the Bay of Bengal, between the Eastern Ghats and the sea. It covers eastern Tamil Nadu, part of Puducherry and south eastern Andhra Pradesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in India

The South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests is a tropical dry forest ecoregion in southern India. The ecoregion lies in the southernmost portion of the Deccan Plateau, and includes the southernmost portion of the Eastern Ghats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in India

The Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests is a mostly arid ecoregion in northwestern India that stretches over 103,100 sq mi (267,000 km2) across Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The dry deciduous forests in the region are dominated by teak, and thorny trees and scrub in drier areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in northern India

The Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion of northern India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion of India

The Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests, presently known as East Deccan moist deciduous forests, is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion in east-central India. The ecoregion covers an area of 341,100 square kilometers (131,700 sq mi), extending across portions of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern dry deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion of India

The Northern dry deciduous forests, presently known as the North Deccan dry deciduous forests, is a tropical dry broadleaf forest ecoregion of east-central India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion of India and Bangladesh

The Lower Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion of Bangladesh and India. The ecoregion covers an area of 254,100 square kilometres (98,100 sq mi), comprising most of Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura, and extending into adjacent states of Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and a tiny part of Assam, as well as adjacent western Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in India

The Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests are a tropical dry forest ecoregion of central India. The ecoregion lies mostly in Madhya Pradesh state, but extends into portions of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deccan thorn scrub forests</span> Ecoregion of India and Sri Lanka

The Deccan thorn scrub forests are a xeric shrubland ecoregion of south India and northern Sri Lanka. Historically this area was covered by tropical dry deciduous forest, but this only remains in isolated fragments. The vegetation now consists of mainly of southern tropical thorn scrub type forests. These consist of open woodland with thorny trees with short trunks and low, branching crowns; spiny and xerophytic shrubs; and dry grassland. This is the habitat of the great Indian bustard and blackbuck, though these and other animals are declining in numbers; this area was at one time home to large numbers of elephants and tigers. Almost 350 species of bird have been recorded here. The remaining natural habitat is threatened by overgrazing and invasive weeds, but there are a number of small protected areas which provide a haven for the wildlife. Trees in these forests have adapted to not require much water.

Mediterranean <i>Acacia–Argania</i> dry woodlands

The Mediterranean Acacia–Argania dry woodlands and succulent thickets is a Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregion in North Africa centered mainly on Morocco but also including northwestern Western Sahara and the eastern Canary Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Saharan steppe and woodlands</span> South Sahara desert ecoregion

The South Saharan steppe and woodlands, also known as the South Sahara desert, is a deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregion of northern Africa. This band is a transitional region between the Sahara's very arid center to the north, and the wetter Sahelian Acacia savanna ecoregion to the south. In pre-modern times, the grasslands were grazed by migratory gazelles and other ungulates after the rainfalls. More recently, over-grazing by domestic livestock have degraded the territory. Despite the name of the ecoregion, there are few 'woodlands' in the area; those that exist are generally acacia and shrubs along rivers and in wadis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illyrian deciduous forests</span> Terrestrial ecoregion of Europe

The Illyrian deciduous forests is a terrestrial ecoregion in southern Europe, which extends along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It belongs to the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, and is in the Palearctic realm.

<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">West Sudanian savanna</span> Tropical savanna ecoregion across Western Africa

The West Sudanian savanna is a tropical savanna ecoregion that extends across West Africa.

Northern <i>Acacia</i>–<i>Commiphora</i> bushlands and thickets

The Northern AcaciaCommiphora bushlands and thickets are a tropical grasslands, savannas and shrublands ecoregion in eastern Africa. The ecoregion is mostly located in Kenya, extending north into southeastern South Sudan, northeastern Uganda and southwestern Ethiopia and south into Tanzania along the Kenya-Tanzania border.

Somali <i>Acacia</i>–<i>Commiphora</i> bushlands and thickets

The Somali AcaciaCommiphora bushlands and thickets is a semi-arid tropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregion in the Horn of Africa. It is home to diverse communities of plants and animals, including several endemic species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe</span> Ecoregion in western Asia

The Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe is a deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregion in western Asia. It lies in the lowlands west of the Caspian Sea, and covers portions of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Iran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paropamisus xeric woodlands</span> Ecoregion in Afghanistan and Tajikistan

The Paropamisus xeric woodlands ecoregion covers the portion of northeastern Afghanistan north of the central mountain range and the Hindu Kush Mountains. The name is derived from the Old Persian name for the region, Parupraesanna. While there are low canopy woodlands in the northeast of the ecorgegion, most of the territory is desert or xeric (dry) scrubland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baluchistan xeric woodlands</span> Ecoregion in Pakistan and Afghanistan

The Baluchistan xeric woodlands ecoregion covers the middle elevations of a series of mountain ranges of western Pakistan and northeastern Afghanistan, reaching 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) from the Arabian Sea in the south to the Hindu Kush Mountains and the Himalayas in the north. The characteristic vegetation is xeric (dry) woodlands of shrubs and herbaceous cover. The region has rich biodiversity but relatively few endemic species.

References

  1. Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b.
  2. Dinerstein, Eric; Olson, David; Joshi, Anup; Vynne, Carly; Burgess, Neil D.; Wikramanayake, Eric; Hahn, Nathan; Palminteri, Suzanne; Hedao, Prashant; Noss, Reed; Hansen, Matt (June 2017). "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm". BioScience. 67 (6): 534–545. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix014. ISSN   0006-3568. PMC   5451287 . PMID   28608869.
  3. Wikramanayake, Eric. "Aravalli West Thorn Scrub Forests". oneearth.org. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  4. "Northwestern thorn scrub forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  5. Champion, H. G., and S. K. Seth. 1968. A revised survey of the forest types of India. Government of India Press
  6. Puri, G.S., Gupta, R.K., and Meher-Homji, V.M.P.S. 1989. Forest Ecology Volume 2. New Delhi, India: Oxford & IBH Publishing Company