Central Andean dry puna

Last updated
Central Andean dry puna (NT1001)
Laguna Verde en Bolivia.jpg
Laguna Verde, Bolivia
Ecoregion NT1001.svg
Location in central South America
Ecology
Realm Neotropical
Biome montane grasslands and shrublands
Borders
Geography
Area307,430 km2 (118,700 sq mi)
Countries Argentina, Bolivia, Chile
Coordinates 21°00′00″S68°00′00″W / 21.0000°S 68.0000°W / -21.0000; -68.0000
Rivers Desaguadero River, Lauca River, Río Grande de Lipez,
Conservation
Conservation status Relatively stable/intact [1]
Protected15.3% [2]

The Central Andean dry puna (NT1001) is an ecoregion in the montane grasslands and shrublands biome, located in the Andean Altiplano (high plateau) in South America. It is a part of the Puna grassland. [1]

Contents

Setting

This ecoregion occupies the southwestern portion of the Altiplano and is located east of the Atacama Desert. [1]

Salt flats, locally known as Salares, are a characteristic feature of this ecoregion. Among the largest salares are Coipasa, Uyuni, Atacama, and Arizaro. Other major geographical features are the lakes Poopó and Coipasa, and the many volcanoes that tower over the altiplano, including Parinacota, Nevado Sajama, Tata Sabaya, Ollagüe, Licancabur, Lascar, Aracar, Socompa and Llullaillaco. In addition, numerous and colorful small lakes and ponds dot this region. There are seasonal as well as permanent, and have different degrees of salinity. [1]

In December 2023, scientists, for the first time, reported a recently discovered area on the current planet Earth, particularly in the territory of Puna de Atacama, which may be similar to ancient Earth, and the related environment of the first life forms on Earth - as well as - similar to possibly hospitable conditions on the planet Mars during earlier Martian times. [3]

Climate

This ecoregion has a dry climate ranging from cold steppe to cold desert.

Flora

Grasslands are dominated by species of the genera Stipa and Festuca . Typical high Andean wetlands are the Bofedales. These marshy areas are characterized by the presence of cushion bog vegetation. The Yareta grows in well-drained soils. [1]

Central Andean dry puna is home to Polylepis species, including the Polylepis tarapacana , which is the woody plant that grows at the highest elevations in the world. [1]

The genera Menonvillea, Nototriche, Pycnophyllum , and Werneria are characteristic of the dry puna. [1]

Fauna

Camelids, such as llamas, alpacas, & vicuñas, are found in this ecoregion. Other mammals include the cougar, Andean mountain cat, Andean fox, and the Andean hairy armadillo. [1]

Three of the flamingo species inhabit here. They are Andean flamingo, James's flamingo, and Chilean flamingo. Other remarkable birds are the Darwin's rhea, Andean condor, puna tinamou, puna teal, puna ibis & the Andean goose. [1]

Population and conservation

15.3% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Those include: [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andes</span> Mountain range in South America

The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is 8,900 km (5,530 mi) long, 200 to 700 km wide, and has an average height of about 4,000 m (13,123 ft). The Andes extend from north to south through seven South American countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salar de Uyuni</span> Salt flat in Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat, or playa, at over 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi) in area. It is in the Daniel Campos Province in Potosí in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes at an elevation of 3,656 m (11,995 ft) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altiplano</span> Large plateau in west-central South America

The Altiplano, Collao or Andean Plateau, in west-central South America, is the most extensive high plateau on Earth outside Tibet. The plateau is located at the latitude of the widest part of the north–south-trending Andes. The bulk of the Altiplano lies in Bolivia, but its northern parts lie in Peru, and its southwestern fringes lie in Chile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauca National Park</span> Wildlife park in northern Chile

Lauca National Park is in Chile's far north, in the Andean range. It encompasses an area of 1,379 km2 of altiplano and mountains, the latter consisting mainly of enormous volcanoes. Las Vicuñas National Reserve is its neighbour to the south. Both protected areas, along with Salar de Surire Natural Monument, form Lauca Biosphere Reserve. The park borders Sajama National Park in Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nevado Tres Cruces National Park</span> National park in the Atacama Region of Chile

Nevado Tres Cruces National Park is a national park in the Atacama Region of Chile, east of Copiapó. It includes Laguna Santa Rosa, Laguna del Negro Francisco, and a part of the Salar de Maricunga. The park is divided into two zones, the northern zone encompassing the southern portion of Salar de Maricunga and Laguna Santa Rosa, and the southern area the Laguna del Negro Francisco. The park is named after Nevado Tres Cruces, which dominates the landscape of the area. The park is managed by the Corporación Nacional Forestal, which offers two refuges in the area: one at the south of Negro Francisco Lagoon and other at the west of Santa Rosa Lagoon. The park is open from October to April.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puna grassland</span> Type of grassland in the central part of the high Andes

The puna grassland ecoregion, of the montane grasslands and shrublands biome, is found in the central Andes Mountains of South America. It is considered one of the eight Natural Regions in Peru, but extends south, across Chile, Bolivia, and western northwest Argentina. The term puna encompasses diverse ecosystems of the high Central Andes above 3200–3400 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llullaillaco National Park</span>

Llullaillaco National Park is a national park of Chile, 275 km southeast of Antofagasta in the Andes. It lies between the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Domeyko and the international border with Argentina. In the park there are several important mountains that culminate at the summit of Llullaillaco volcano. The park also is characterized by extensive semi-desert plains interspersed by Quebradas. A part of the Inca road system is found in Río Frío area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Flamencos National Reserve</span> Nature reserve in Chile

Los Flamencos National Reserve is a nature reserve located in the commune of San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta Region of northern Chile. The reserve covers a total area of 740 square kilometres (290 sq mi) in the Central Andean dry puna ecoregion and consists of seven separate sections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sajama National Park</span>

Sajama National Park is a national park located in the Oruro Department, Bolivia. It borders Lauca National Park in Chile. The park is home to the indigenous Aymara people, whose influential ancient culture can be seen in various aspects throughout the park. The park hosts many cultural and ecological sites, and is a hub of ecotourism. Many different indigenous plants and animals are exclusive to this area; therefore its continued conservation is of great ecological importance. Management of the park operates under a co-administrative approach, with local people and park conservationists engaging in a constant dialogue regarding park upkeep and policy.

Las Vicuñas National Reserve is a national reserve located in the Parinacota Province, Arica y Parinacota Region, Chile. The reserve lies immediately south of Lauca National Park and in its southern portion is contiguous to Salar de Surire Natural Monument, all of which form Lauca Biosphere Reserve. The major peaks are Arintika and Pukintika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atacama Desert</span> Desert in South America

The Atacama Desert is a desert plateau located on the Pacific coast of South America, in the north of Chile. Stretching over a 1,600 km (990 mi) strip of land west of the Andes Mountains, it covers an area of 105,000 km2 (41,000 sq mi), which increases to 128,000 km2 (49,000 sq mi) if the barren lower slopes of the Andes are included.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve</span> Reserve in Potosí, Bolivia

The Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve is located in Sur Lípez Province. Situated in the far southwestern region of Bolivia, it is the country's most visited protected area. It is considered the most important protected area in terms of tourist influx in the Potosí Department.

Salar de Pedernales is a large salt flat in the Atacama Region of Chile. It lies east of the Cordillera Domeyko at an elevation of 3,370 metres (11,060 ft). The salt flat has an irregular shape and consists mostly of gypsum and rock salt, with an area of 0.6 square kilometres (0.23 sq mi)-1.1 square kilometres (0.42 sq mi) covered by open water. During the late Pleistocene, the climate was wetter and thus open water covered a much larger area of Salar de Pedernales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Andean steppe</span>

The Southern Andean steppe is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion occurring along the border of Chile and Argentina in the high elevations of the southern Andes mountain range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Andean puna</span>

The Central Andean puna is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion in the Andes of southern Peru, Bolivia, and northern Chile and Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Andean wet puna</span>

The Central Andean wet puna is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Tauca</span> Former lake, Pleisto- Holocene glacial lake, 72,600–7200 BP in Andes, South America

Lake Tauca is a former lake in the Altiplano of Bolivia. It is also known as Lake Pocoyu for its constituent lakes: Lake Poopó, Salar de Coipasa and Salar de Uyuni. The lake covered large parts of the southern Altiplano between the Eastern Cordillera and the Western Cordillera, covering an estimated 48,000 to 80,000 square kilometres of the basins of present-day Lake Poopó and the Salars of Uyuni, Coipasa and adjacent basins. Water levels varied, possibly reaching 3,800 metres (12,500 ft) in altitude. The lake was saline. The lake received water from Lake Titicaca, but whether this contributed most of Tauca's water or only a small amount is controversial; the quantity was sufficient to influence the local climate and depress the underlying terrain with its weight. Diatoms, plants and animals developed in the lake, sometimes forming reef knolls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llullaillaco</span> Dormant stratovolcano at the border of Argentina and Chile

Llullaillaco is a dormant stratovolcano at the border of Argentina and Chile. It lies in the Puna de Atacama, a region of tall volcanic peaks on a high plateau close to the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places in the world. It is the second highest active volcano in the world after Ojos del Salado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nevado Sajama</span> Extinct volcano in Bolivia

Nevado Sajama is an extinct volcano and the highest peak in Bolivia. The mountain is located in Sajama Province, in Oruro Department. It is situated in Sajama National Park and is a composite volcano consisting of a stratovolcano on top of several lava domes. It is not clear when it erupted last but it may have been during the Pleistocene or Holocene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salar de Aguas Calientes IV</span> Salt pan in Chile

Salar de Aguas Calientes IV is a salt pan in Chile. It is adjacent to the Llullaillaco National Park and is within the Central Andean dry puna ecoregion. Its drainage basin area is 536 km2 (207 sq mi).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Central Andean dry puna". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  2. 1 2 Central Andean dry puna. DOPA Explorer. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  3. Strain, Daniel (6 December 2023). "Deep within an inhospitable desert, a window to first life on Earth". University of Colorado . Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.