Eastern Arc forests

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Eastern Arc forests
Udzungwa Mountains-2.jpg
Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania
Eastern Arc Mountains sheme (2).jpg
Map of the Eastern Arc Mountains
Ecology
Realm Afrotropical
Biome tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders Eastern miombo woodlands, Northern Acacia–Commiphora bushlands and thickets, Northern Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forest mosaic, and Southern Acacia–Commiphora bushlands and thickets
Geography
Area23,800 km2 (9,200 sq mi)
Countries Kenya and Tanzania
Elevation800 - 2635 metres
Coordinates 8°36′S35°30′E / 8.6°S 35.5°E / -8.6; 35.5 Coordinates: 8°36′S35°30′E / 8.6°S 35.5°E / -8.6; 35.5
Conservation
Conservation status critical/endangered
Global 200 yes
Protected20.31% [1]

The Eastern Arc forests is a montane tropical moist forest ecoregion of eastern Africa. The ecoregion comprises several separate highland areas above 800 meters in Kenya, and (mostly) Tanzania. [2] [1] [3]

Contents

Setting

The Eastern Arc forests extend across a total of 23,800 km2 (9,200 sq. mi.) of mountainous landscape from the Taita Hills on Kenya-Tanzania border through central Tanzania to the Udzungwa Mountains in the southwest. The ecoregion includes numerous mountain blocks separated by lowland areas. The mountain form a broad arc curving to the northwest and southwest, and include the Taita Hills, North and South Pare Mountains, East and West Usambara Mountains, Nguu Mountains, North and South Nguru Mountains, Ukaguru Mountains, Uluguru Mountains, Rubeho Mountains, Uvidunda Mountains, and Udzungwa Mountains. The ecoregion includes two outlying mountains, the Mahenge Mountains south of the Udzungwas and Malundwe Mountain in Mikumi National Park. [4]

At lower elevations, the mountain forests are mostly surrounded by Miombo woodlands. The southeastern-facing slopes, which receive more moisture-laden winds off the Indian Ocean, are home to transitional forests from 250 to 350 meters elevation up to 800 meters elevation. These transitional forests more closely resemble the lowland coastal forests to the east, and are considered part of the Northern Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forest mosaic ecoregion. [5]

To the southwest, the Makambako Gap, a region of Miombo woodland, separate the Eastern Arc forests from the Southern Rift montane forest–grassland mosaic ecoregion in Tanzania's Southern Highlands.

Flora

The main plant communities are upper montane forests (2635–1800 m), lower montane forests (1250–1800 m) and submontane forests (800–1250 m). The upper montane forests are dwarfed and lichen-covered at the highest elevations. The ecoregion also includes areas of high-elevation grassland, heathland, and bamboo forest. [6]

The forests are home to many endemic species including over 800 plants, and are the original homeland of the African violet (Saintpaulia) and the Busy Lizzie (Impatiens).

Fauna

The ecoregion is rich in wildlife with many endemic species of birds, and some mammals, while endemic amphibians include five species of reed frogs ( Hyperolius ), two species of forest treefrogs ( Leptopelis ), five tree toads ( Nectophrynoides ), four species of Microhylidae, and five Caeciliidae. Endemic reptiles include ten species of chameleons (seven Chamaeleo and three Rhampholeon ), three worm snakes ( Typhlops ), and six Colubridae snakes. Invertebrates show very high levels of endemism too. Furthermore, study of the wildlife on these isolated hills is important for research into evolutionary pathways.

Threats and conservation

These wet hillsides are highly populated with farming communities and most forest has been lost, especially on the lower slopes.

Protected areas

20.31% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. The largest protected area is Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Other protected areas include Mkomazi National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Amani Nature Forest Reserve, Chome Nature Forest Reserve, Nilo Nature Forest Reserve, Mkingu Nature Forest Reserve, and Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve. [1] There are also protected areas around a number of reservoirs, as this region is central to Tanzania's water supply.

Related Research Articles

The Nguru Mountains are a mountain range in Morogoro Region, Tanzania, Africa. The Nguru Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. The mountains are predominantly covered with rainforest, home to 83 species of birds and African violets. There are a number of forest reserves in the mountains.

Udzungwa Mountains Mountain range in south-central Tanzania

The Udzungwa Mountains are a mountain range in south-central Tanzania. The mountains are mostly within Iringa Region, south of Tanzania's capital Dodoma. The Udzungwa Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and are home to a biodiverse community of flora and fauna with large numbers of endemic species.

The Uluguru mountains are a mountain range in eastern Tanzania, named after the Luguru tribe. The main portion of the Uluguru mountains is a ridge running roughly north-south and rising to 2,630 metres (8,600 ft) altitude at its highest point. On the main Uluguru range, 50 villages touch the forest boundary and over 151,000 people are found within the mountain area, often at increasing densities at higher altitudes up to the forest boundary.

Eastern Arc Mountains Mountain range in Kenya and Tanzania

The Eastern Arc Mountains is a chain of mountains found in Kenya and Tanzania. The chain runs from northeast to southwest, with the Taita Hills being in Kenya and the other ranges being in Tanzania. They are delimited on the southwest by the fault complex represented by the Makambako Gap that separates them from the Kipengere Range. To the northeast, they are delimited by more recent volcanism represented by Mount Kilimanjaro. The chain is considered a Tentative World Heritage Site.

Eastern miombo woodlands

The Eastern miombo woodlands (AT0706) are an ecoregion of grassland and woodland in northern Mozambique, southern Tanzania, and southeastern Malawi.

South Malawi montane forest–grassland mosaic

The South Malawi montane forest-grassland mosaic is an ecoregion of Malawi.

Southern Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forest mosaic Tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of eastern Africa

The Southern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic, also known as the Southern Swahili coastal forests and woodlands, is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of eastern Africa. It is a southern variation of Northern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic. The ecoregion supports habitats of forest, savanna and swamps. The southern portion of the ecoregion is not as well studied due to the 1977-1992 civil war in Mozambique.

The Southern Highlands is a highland region in southwestern Tanzania, at the northern end of Lake Malawi. The highlands include portions of Mbeya, Njombe, Rukwa, Ruvuma, and Songwe regions, bordering Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. Mbeya is the largest city in the highlands.

East African montane forests

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.

Northern Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forest mosaic

Northern Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forest mosaic, also known as the Northern Swahili coastal forests and woodlands, is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of coastal East Africa. The ecoregion includes a variety of habitats, including forest, savanna and swamps.

The Rubeho Mountains are a mountain range in central Tanzania. The mountains in Dodoma and Morogoro regions, southeast of Tanzania's capital Dodoma. The Rubeho Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and are home to a biodiverse community of flora and fauna with large numbers of endemic species.

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

The Northern Acacia–Commiphora 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.

Southern miombo woodlands

The Southern miombo woodlands is a tropical grasslands and woodlands ecoregion extending across portions of Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The Ukaguru Mountains are a mountain range in central Tanzania. The mountains are in Morogoro region, east of Tanzania's capital Dodoma. The mountains are named for the Kaguru people. The Ukaguru Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and are home to a biodiverse community of flora and fauna with large numbers of endemic species.

The Nguu Mountains are a mountain range in Tanga Region of Tanzania. The Nguu Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. The mountains are covered in woodland, grassland, and forest.

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

The Somali Acacia–Commiphora 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.

Malundwe Mountain, also known as Malundwe Hill, is a mountain in Tanzania. It is located in Mikumi National Park in Morogoro Region.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Eastern Arc forests". DOPA Explorer. Accessed 22 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Eastern Arc forests". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Eastern Arc Forests". WWF ecoregion profile. Accessed 18 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "Northern Zanzibar-Inhambane Coastal Forest Mosaic". WWF ecoregion profile. Accessed 18 September 2019.
  6. ↑ "Eastern Arc Forests". WWF ecoregion profile. Accessed 18 September 2019.
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