Irrawaddy dry forests

Last updated
Irrawaddy dry forests
Bagan, Myanmar, Bagan plains.jpg
Irrawaddy dry forests in Bagan
Ecoregion IM0205.png
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecology
Realm Indomalayan realm
Biome tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests
Borders
Geography
Area34,988 km2 (13,509 sq mi)
Country Myanmar
Administrative divisions
Conservation
Conservation status Critical/endangered
Protected167 km² (>1%) [1]

The Irrawaddy dry forests is a tropical dry broadleaf forest ecoregion in central Myanmar. The ecoregion occupies portions of the Irrawaddy, Sittaung, and Salween river basins, in areas with less than 800 mm of annual rainfall.

Contents

Geography

The Irrawaddy dry forests occupy an area of 34,988 km². The ecoregion consists of several enclaves in the basins of Irrawaddy, upper Sittaung, and lower Salween rivers. The dry forests are bounded by the Irrawaddy moist deciduous forests. [2]

Flora

Dry mixed deciduous forest, also called Than Dahat forest, is predominantly teak (Tectona hamiltoniana), with Terminalia oliveri, Senegalia catechu , and Bauhinia racemosa . [3] [4]

Dry deciduous dipterocarp forest, known as Indaing, is an open-canopied woodland with an understory of herbs and grasses. Dipterocarps are predominant, including Dipterocarpus tuberculatus, Shorea siamensis, Shorea obtusa , and Shorea oblongifolia . Trees in the pea family (Fabaceae) are also present, including species of Afzelia, Pterocarpus, Dalbergia, Xylia , and Sindora . [5] High Indaing is woodland with trees up to 20 meters high. Low Indaing is made up of high shrubs and low trees, and is often the result of repeated cutting and burning of high Indaing. [6]

Fauna

The ecoregion is home several medium-sized and small mammals, including Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), Eld's deer (Cervus eldi), sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), Indian hog deer (Hyelaphus porcinus), Indian jackal (Canis aureus indicus), rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), and jungle cat (Felis chaus). Larger mammals, including Indian elephant and tiger, have been extirpated from the ecoregion. [7]

The Popa langur (Trachypithecus popa) is endemic to the ecoregion. The critically endangered species is limited 200 to 250 individuals in four isolated populations, including Mount Popa. [8]

Protected areas

A 2017 assessment found that only 167 km², or less than 1%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Another 9% is forested but outside of protected areas. [9] Protected areas in the ecoregion include Popa Mountain National Park and Lawkananda Wildlife Sanctuary.

Related Research Articles

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

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in India

The North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of southwestern India.

<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">Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests</span>

The Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests is a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion which occupies the lower hillsides of the mountainous border region joining India, Bangladesh, and Burma (Myanmar). The ecoregion covers an area of 135,600 square kilometres (52,400 sq mi). Located where the biotas of the Indian Subcontinent and Indochina meet, and in the transition between subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests are home to great biodiversity. The WWF rates the ecoregion as "Globally Outstanding" in biological distinctiveness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halmahera rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Halmahera, Indonesia

The Halmahera rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Indonesia. The ecoregion includes the island of Halmahera and neighboring islands, including Bacan, Morotai, the Obi Islands, Ternate, Tidore, Gebe, and many smaller islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timor and Wetar deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in Indonesia and East Timor

The Timor and Wetar deciduous forests is a tropical dry forest ecoregion in Indonesia and East Timor. The ecoregion includes the islands of Timor, Wetar, Rote, Savu, and adjacent smaller islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenasserim–South Thailand semi-evergreen rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Southeast Asia

The Tenasserim–South Thailand semi-evergreen rain forests are a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Southeast Asia. The ecoregion extends north–south along the Kra Isthmus. It includes lowland forests along the coasts, and montane forests in the Tenasserim Hills and Bilauktaung range, which form the mountainous spine of the isthmus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulu Muda Forest</span>

The Greater Ulu Muda Forest Complex (GUMFC) is a large expanse of lowland dipterocarp forest in Baling and Sik Districts, Kedah, Malaysia, on the border with Thailand. The area has high biodiversity thanks to relatively low rates of poaching and human intrusion. A number of endangered species are known to be present in the GUMFC. The forest is in the Peninsular Malaysian rain forests ecoregion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peninsular Malaysian rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Southeast Asia

The Peninsular Malaysian rain forests is an ecoregion on Malay Peninsula and adjacent islands. It is in the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irrawaddy moist deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in Myanmar

The Irrawaddy moist deciduous forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in central Myanmar. The ecoregion occupies the central basin of the Irrawaddy River and the lower basin of the Salween River. The ecoregion is characterized by forests of tall trees which drop their leaves in the dry season. Most of the ecoregion's forests have been converted to agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayah–Karen montane rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Southeast Asia

The Kayah–Karen montane rain forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in Myanmar and Thailand. The montane rain forests cover several connected mountain ranges, including the Dawna Range, Karen Hills, Thanon Thong Chai Range, Daen Lao Range, and Khun Tan Range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myanmar coastal rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Myanmar

The Myanmar coastal rain forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in Myanmar. The ecoregion occupies Myanmar's coastal lowlands along the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chao Phraya lowland moist deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in Central Thailand

The Chao Phraya lowland moist deciduous forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in Thailand. The ecoregion occupies the coastal lowlands along the Gulf of Thailand lying east and west of the Chao Phraya River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulawesi lowland rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Sulawesi, Indonesia

The Sulawesi lowland rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Indonesia. The ecoregion includes the lowlands of Sulawesi and neighboring islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulawesi montane rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Sulawesi, Indonesia

The Sulawesi montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Indonesia. It includes the highlands of Sulawesi.

<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. 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. Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  3. Htun, Naing & Mizoue, Nobuya & Yoshida, Shigejiro. (2011). Classifying tropical deciduous vegetation: a comparison of multiple approaches in Popa Mountain Park, Myanmar. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 32. 8935-8948. 10.1080/01431161.2010.531779.
  4. Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  5. Ghazoul, Jaboury (2016). Dipterocarp Biology, Ecology, and Conservation. Oxford University Press, Aug 25, 2016.
  6. Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  7. Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  8. Briggs, Helen (2020). "Newly discovered primate 'already facing extinction'". BBC News. 11 November 2020. Accessed 11 November 2020.
  9. 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.