Central Range montane rain forests

Last updated
Central Range montane rain forests
Mount Bosavi -rim of crater-14Oct2008.jpg
Mount Bosavi, Southern Highlands province, Papua New Guinea
Ecoregion AA0105.png
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecology
Realm Australasian realm
Biome tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders
Geography
Area172,365 km2 (66,550 sq mi)
Countries
Province Papua
Coordinates 4°52′S140°58′E / 4.87°S 140.96°E / -4.87; 140.96
Conservation
Conservation status Relatively stable/intact [1]
Protected14.3% [2]

The Central Range montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion on the island of New Guinea. The ecoregion covers the Central Range of the New Guinea Highlands, which extends along the spine of the island. The montane rain forests of the ecoregion are distinct from the surrounding lowland forests, and are home to many endemic plants and animals.

Contents

Geography

The ecoregion includes the montane rain forests of the Central Range, or Central Cordillera, between 1000 and 3000 metres elevation. The Central Range extends east and west across New Guinea, with the western portion of the range in Indonesia and the eastern portion in Papua New Guinea. The Central Range includes the Weyland Mountains at its western end, the Snow Mountains in Indonesia's Papua Province, the Star Mountains which span the Indonesia–Papua New Guinea border, and the Central and Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. [1] [3]

The Bird's Neck Isthmus is at the western end of the Central Range. The isthmus' relatively low elevation (160 metres) separates the montane flora and fauna of the Central Range from those of the highlands on the Bird's Head and Bomberai peninsulas to the west. [4]

Below 1000 metres, the montane forests transition to separate lowland forest ecoregions to the north, south, and west of the Central Range. The tree line is above 3000 metres elevation, above which are the high-elevation Central Range sub-alpine grasslands. [1]

Climate

The climate of the highlands is humid and tropical. Rainfall exceeds 2500 mm annually in most of the highlands, and can exceed 7000 mm annually in the wettest areas. Temperatures average 18º C in the highlands, generally decreasing with elevation. Frosts are rare below 2800 meters elevation. [5]

The region of heaviest rainfall is called the midaltitude fringe high rainfall zone, which extends along the south slope of the middle Central Range. It is characterized by continuously heavy rainfall, with more than 50 mm every week. The upper Ok Tedi watershed, on the south slope of the highlands near the boundary between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, is the wettest part of the highlands, with over 7000 mm of rainfall annually. [6]

Flora

There are three broad vegetation zones in the Central Range – lower montane forest, upper montane forest, and high mountain forest.

Lower montane forest extends from the lowland forest transition at approximately 1000 metres, up to 2,500 metres. Lower montane forest zone is characterized by trees in the beech family (Fagaceae) including Castanopsis acuminatissima and species of Lithocarpus , elaeocarps (Elaeocarpaceae), and laurels (Lauraceae). The conifers Araucaria cunninghamii var. papuana and Araucaria hunsteinii can form thick stands in some lower areas. [1]

Upper montane forest occurs above 1500 m and is characterized by various evergreen species of southern beech (Nothofagus), either in mixed stands with trees of other species or in pure stands, particularly on ridge crests and upper slopes. Mosses and other epiphytes cover the trees. [1] The Central Range has the greatest diversity of species from Nothfagus subgenus Brassospora. [7]

High mountain forest begins at approximately 2500 metres elevation, and extends to the tree line, in places extending to 3,900 m in the higher-elevation subalpine grasslands ecoregion. Characteristic trees are conifers – species of Podocarpus, Dacrycarpus, Dacridium, Papuacedrus, Araucaria , and Libocedrus – along with broadleaf trees in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). High mountain forest generally has a thin canopy, lower than the upper montane forests, and thick understory. [1]

Fauna

The ecoregion is home to 90 species of mammals, including marsupials, murid rodents, and bats. 44 species are endemic or near-endemic species whose ranges extend into neighboring ecoregions. [8]

A range of Australasian tropical marsupials are native to the ecoregion, including tree kangaroos. Endemic marsupials include the speckled dasyure (Neophascogale lorentzii), great-tailed triok (Dactylopsila megalura), Stein's cuscus (Phalanger vestitus), Telefomin cuscus (Phalanger matanim), Weyland ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus caroli), and Pygmy ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus mayeri). Near-endemic marsupial species include the red-bellied marsupial shrew (Phascolosorex doriae) black-tailed dasyure (Murexia melanurus), Macleay's dorcopsis (Dorcopsulus macleayi), mouse bandicoot (Microperoryctes murina), and Clara's echymipera (Echymipera clara). [8]

Three bat species – the Telefomin roundleaf bat (Hipposideros corynophyllus), New Guinea sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura furax), and small-toothed long-eared bat (Nyctophilus microdon) – are endemic. Near-endemic bat species include the Fly River roundleaf bat (Hipposideros muscinus), Greater Papuan pipistrelle (Pipistrellus collinus), Fly River trumpet-eared bat (Kerivoula muscina), Mantled mastiff bat (Otomops secundus), moss-forest blossom bat (Syconycteris hobbit), and Bulmer's fruit bat (Aproteles bulmerae). Bulmer's fruit bat is critically endangered. [8]

Endemic murid rodents include Paraleptomys wilhelmina, Hydromys habbema , lesser small-toothed rat (Macruromys elegans), Melomys fellowsi, Melomys lanosus, Coccymys albidens, Rattus giluwensis , and Pogonomys championi . Near-endemic and limited-range native murids include the large leptomys (Leptomys elegans), mottled-tailed shrew mouse (Pseudohydromys fuscus), eastern shrew mouse (Pseudohydromys murinus), Mayermys ellermani, Hydromys hussoni, Crossomys moncktoni, Xenuromys barbatus, Melomys lorentzii, Pogonomelomys mayeri, Pogonomelomys bruijni, Abeomelomys sevia, Rattus novaeguineae, Hyomys dammermani, Hydromys shawmayeri , Ernst Mayr's water rat (Leptomys ernstmayri), and Melomys gracilis . Three murids - the large leptomys, eastern shrew mouse, and lesser small-toothed rat – are critically endangered. [8]

348 bird species live in the ecoregion. 55 bird species are endemic or near endemic. Endemic bird species include the Papuan whipbird (Androphobus viridis), sooty shrike-thrush (Colluricincla umbrina), Snow Mountain munia (Lonchura montana), black-breasted munia (Lonchura teerinki), Archbold's bowerbird (Archboldia papuensis), short-tailed paradigalla (Paradigalla brevicauda), and King-of-Saxony bird-of-paradise (Pteridophora alberti). [1] The ecoregion, together with the Central Range sub-alpine grasslands, constitutes the Central Papuan Mountains endemic bird area. Some of the near-endemic birds also range into the sub-alpine grasslands, and/or into other New Guinea mountain ranges. [8] [9]

Butterfly centres of endemism in the ecoregion include the Weyland Range, with nine endemic species, and the Hagen-Sepik-Wahgi Divide, with five endemic species. [1]

Protected areas

14.3% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. They include: [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomon Islands rain forests</span>

The Solomon Islands rain forests are a terrestrial ecoregion covering the Solomon Islands archipelago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Highlands</span> Mountain range in Zimbabwe and Mozambique

The Eastern Highlands, also known as the Manica Highlands, is a mountain range on the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The Eastern Highlands extend north and south for about 300 kilometres (190 mi) through Zimbabwe's Manicaland Province and Mozambique's Manica Province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka montane rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka montane rain forests is an ecoregion found above 1,000 m in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Owing to their rich biodiversity, this region is considered to be a super-hotspot within endemic hotspots of global importance. These forests are cooler than lowland forests and therefore they have ideal conditions for growth of cloud forests. These forests classifications tropical sub montane forest, tropical sub-montane and tropical upper montane. Half of Sri Lanka's endemic flowering plants and 51 percent of the endemic vertebrates are restricted to these forests. More than 34 percent of Sri Lanka's endemic trees, shrubs, and herbs can only be found in this ecoregion. Twisted, stunted trees are a common sight in these forests, together with many varieties of orchids, mosses and ferns. The trees of montane rain forests grow to a height 10–15 meters, shorter than the lowland rain forest trees. These high altitude forests are the catchment area for most of Sri Lanka's major rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameroonian Highlands forests</span>

The Cameroonian Highlands forests, also known as the Cameroon Highlands forests, are a montane tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion located on the range of mountains that runs inland from the Gulf of Guinea and forms the border between Cameroon and Nigeria. This is an area of forest and grassland which has become more populous as land is cleared for agriculture.

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

The wildlife of Cameroon is composed of its flora and fauna. Bordering Nigeria, it is considered one of the wettest parts of Africa and records Africa's second highest concentration of biodiversity. To preserve its wildlife, Cameroon has more than 20 protected reserves comprising national parks, zoos, forest reserves and sanctuaries. The protected areas were first created in the northern region under the colonial administration in 1932; the first two reserves established were Mozogo Gokoro Reserve and the Bénoué Reserve, which was followed by the Waza Reserve on 24 March 1934. The coverage of reserves was initially about 4 percent of the country's area, rising to 12 percent; the administration proposes to cover 30 percent of the land area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Guinea Highlands</span> Natural region in New Guinea

The New Guinea Highlands, also known as the Central Range or Central Cordillera, is a long chain of mountain ranges on the island of New Guinea, including the island's tallest peak, Puncak Jaya, Indonesia, 16,024 ft (4,884 m), the highest mountain in Oceania. The range is home to many intermountain river valleys, many of which support thriving agricultural communities. The highlands run generally east-west the length of the island, which is divided politically between Indonesia in the west and Papua New Guinea in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomon Archipelago</span> A marine ecoregion of the Pacific Ocean

The Solomon Archipelago is a terrestrial ecoregion and marine ecoregion in the Pacific Ocean. It includes the tropical ocean waters surrounding most of the Solomon Islands archipelago, and includes Bougainville Island and Buka Island of Papua New Guinea and their surrounding waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banda Sea Islands moist deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in Banda Sea, Indonesia

The Banda Sea Islands moist deciduous forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Indonesia. The ecoregion includes several island groups in the southwestern Banda Sea, including the Tanimbar Islands, Kai Islands, and the Barat Daya Islands except for Wetar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Range sub-alpine grasslands</span> Ecoregion in New Guinea

The Central Range sub-alpine grasslands is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion on the island of New Guinea. The ecoregion covers the highest-elevation portions of the New Guinea Highlands, which extend along the spine of the island. The high elevations support rare tropical sub-alpine and alpine habitats, including many endemic plants and animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huon Peninsula montane rain forests</span> Forest ecoregion in New Guinea

The Huon Peninsula montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in New Guinea. The ecoregion covers the mountains of northeastern New Guinea's Huon Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East African montane forests</span>

The East African montane forests is a montane tropical moist forest ecoregion of eastern Africa. The ecoregion comprises several separate areas above 2000 meters in the mountains of South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nimba Range</span> Southern extent of the Guinea highlands

The Nimba Range forms part of the southern extent of the Guinea Highlands. The highest peak is Mount Richard-Molard on the border of Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea, at 1,752 m (5,748 ft). "Mount Nimba" may refer either to Mount Richard-Molard or to the entire range. Other peaks include Grand Rochers at 1,694 m (5,558 ft), Mont Sempéré at 1,682 m (5,518 ft), Mont Piérré Richaud at 1,670 m (5,480 ft), Mont Tô at 1,675 m (5,495 ft), and Mont LeClerc 1,577 m (5,174 ft), all of them are located in Guinea. Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve of Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire covers significant portions of the Nimba Range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vogelkop–Aru lowland rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Indonesia

The Vogelkop–Aru lowland rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Indonesia. The ecoregion covers the peninsular lowlands of western New Guinea, along with the Aru Islands and other nearby islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vogelkop montane rain forests</span> Ecoregion in New Guinea

The Vogelkop montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in western New Guinea. The ecoregion covers the mountains of western New Guinea's Bird's Head and Bomberai peninsulas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Britain–New Ireland montane rain forests</span>

The New Britain–New Ireland montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Papua New Guinea. The ecoregion includes the mountain rain forests on the islands of New Britain and New Ireland, which lie northeast of New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern New Guinea montane rain forests</span> Ecoregion in New Guinea

The Northern New Guinea montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in northern New Guinea. The ecoregion covers several separate mountain ranges lying north of New Guinea's Central Range and south of the Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southeastern Papuan rain forests</span>

The Southeastern Papuan rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in southeastern New Guinea. The ecoregion covers the mountainous center and coastal lowlands of the Papuan Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern New Guinea lowland rain forests</span> Ecoregion in New Guinea

The Southern New Guinea lowland rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in southeastern New Guinea. The ecoregion covers portions of New Guinea's southern lowlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern New Guinea freshwater swamp forests</span> Ecoregion in New Guinea

The Southern New Guinea freshwater swamp forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in southern New Guinea. The ecoregion includes the extensive swamp forests of southern and western New Guinea.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Central Range montane rain forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  2. 1 2 "Central Range montane rain forests". DOPA Explorer. Accessed 9 July 2021.
  3. "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  4. Jared Diamond, K. David Bishop, Richard Sneider "An avifaunal double suture zone at the Bird's Neck Isthmus of New Guinea," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 131(3), 435-458, (10 October 2019).
  5. Michael L. Prentice and Geoffrey S. Hope (2006) Climate of Papua, in The Ecology of Papua, Marshall, A. J. and Beehler, B. M., eds. pp.177-195. Periplus Editions, 2006.
  6. Hyndman, D. C., & Menzies, J. I. (1990). Rain Forests of the Ok Tedi Headwaters, New Guinea: An Ecological Analysis. Journal of Biogeography, 17(3), 241–273. https://doi.org/10.2307/2845122
  7. Read, Jennifer and Geoffrey S. Hope (1996). "Ecology of Nothofagus forests of New Guinea and New Caledonia." in The Ecology and Biogeography of Nothofagus Forests, Veblen, Thomas T, Robert S. Hill, and Jennifer Read, eds. Yale University Press, March 27, 1996.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  9. "Central Papuan Mountains". Birdlife International. Accessed 4 August 2021.