Northern Triangle subtropical forests

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Ecoregion: Northern Triangle subtropical forests
Myitkyina, Myanmar (Burma) - panoramio (77).jpg
Mist hanging over mountains north of Myitkyina, Myanmar
Ecoregion IM0140.png
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecology
Realm Indomalayan
Biome Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders
Geography
Area53,872 km2 (20,800 sq mi)
Country Myanmar
Coordinates 27°45′N97°45′E / 27.75°N 97.75°E / 27.75; 97.75

The Northern Triangle subtropical forests ecoregion (WWF ID:IM0140) covers remote, mountainous terrain in the far north of Myanmar. Due to the regions isolation it is relatively untouched and unexplored by humans. Over 95% of the ecoregion is covered with closed evergreen forest, and importantly for conservation, these forests exist in large contiguous blocks. [1] As of the late 1990s, 140 mammal species were known to be in the region, and new species, such the Leaf muntjac discovered in 1997, are still being found. [2] [3] [1] [4]

Contents

Location and description

The ecoregion occupies roughly the middle third of Kachin State, the northernmost state of Myanmar. It is immediately south of the southeastern end of the greater Himalaya Mountains, but in lower mountains that range from 146 metres (479 ft) in the valley floors to a high point of 3,897 metres (12,785 ft). [1] The ecoregion features two large river valleys. The Hukawng Valley in the west is on the middle course of the Chindwin River. The eastern valley follows the parallel running of the Mali River and N'Mai River; these two rivers meet at the southern edge of the ecoregion to form the Irrawaddy River. This confluence area would have been greatly affected by the construction of the proposed Myitsone Dam, but the project has been suspended.

To the north and east, the ecoregion grades in the narrow bands of the Northern Triangle temperate forests and Nujiang Lancang Gorge alpine conifer and mixed forests ecoregions, respectively, where higher altitudes and cooler climate create more temperate forests. To the south are the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests and Northern Indochina subtropical forests ecoregions.

Climate

The climate of the ecoregion is Oceanic climate, subtropical highland variety (Köppen climate classification (Cwb)). This climate has cool summers and cool, but not cold, winters. It is usually associated with coastal areas in mid-latitudes, but is also experienced at higher altitudes inland. Temperatures and precipitation are relatively even throughout the year, with no month averaging below 0 °C (32 °F), and no month averaging above 22 °C (72 °F). [5] [6]

Flora and fauna

The ecoregion is a biodiversity hotspot, due to its location at the meeting zone of major floristic zones: Assam-Indian, Eastern Himalayan, Indo-Malayan, and Chinese. The remoteness, relatively low human population, and isolation have also contributed to the area's ecological preservation. Most of the area is covered in closed forest - 80% broadleaf evergreen and 15% needle-leaf evergreen.

Altitude zonation is important: below 2,400 meters Indo-Malayan species are dominant, while Indo-Himalayan are found mostly above. [2] Below 915 meters the forests are tropical rainforest trees of genus Magnoliaceae , Lauraceae , and Dipterocarpaceae , for the tree genera Magnolia and Michelia , the families Elaeocarpaceae and Elaeagnaceae, and the dominant species Cinnamomum cassia , Durio zibethinus , Artocarpus heterophyllus , Ficus benghalensis , Gnetum gnemon , Mangifera indica , Toona ciliata , Toona sinensis , Cocos nucifera , Tetrameles nudiflora , Quercus acutissima , Ginkgo biloba , Prunus serrulata , Camphora officinarum , Cathaya argyrophylla , Taiwania cryptomerioides , Cyathea spinulosa , Sassafras tzumu , Davidia involucrata , Metasequoia glyptostroboides , Glyptostrobus pensilis , Castanea mollissima , Quercus myrsinifolia , Quercus acuta , Quercus glauca , Machilus thunbergii , Tetracentron , Tsuga dumosa , Ulmus lanceifolia , Tectona grandis , Terminalia elliptica , Terminalia bellirica and Shorea robusta . Above 915 meters are trees of genus Fagaceae , and Meliaceae , and the dominant species Pinus roxburghii , Pinus hwangshanensis , Juniperus tibetica , Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata , Shorea robusta , Taxus sumatrana , Juglans regia , Acer campbellii , Alnus nepalensis , Betula alnoides , Betula utilis , Larix griffithii , Picea brachytyla , Larix gmelinii , Larix sibirica , Larix × czekanowskii , Betula dahurica , Betula pendula , Pinus koraiensis , Pinus sibirica , Pinus sylvestris , Picea obovata , Abies sibirica , Quercus acutissima , Quercus mongolica , Ginkgo biloba , Prunus serrulata , Prunus padus , Tilia amurensis , Salix babylonica , Acer palmatum , Populus tremula , Ulmus davidiana , Ulmus pumila , Pinus pumila , Haloxylon ammodendron , Elaeagnus angustifolia , Tamarix ramosissima , and Prunus sibirica plus some tree ferns and climbing palms. Trees in mature forests are typically draped in lianas. [4]

Over 140 species of mammals, and 370 species of birds are known in the ecoregion. The large un-fragmented forests are valuable for supporting large mammals, including the endangered Tiger Panthera tigris , the endangered Red panda Ailurus fulgens , the endangered Asian elephant Elephas maximus , and vulnerable Takin Budorcas taxicolor . [2]

Protected areas

Officially protected areas cover over 35% of the ecoregion, [1] including:

Villages

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Northern Triangle subtropical forests". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Northern Triangle subtropical forests". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  3. "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Northern Triangle subtropical forests". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  5. Kottek, M.; Grieser, J.; Beck, C.; Rudolf, B.; Rubel, F. (2006). "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  6. "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.