Peninsular Malaysian rain forests | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Indomalayan |
Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Area | 124,564 km2 (48,094 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | Vulnerable |
Protected | 20,113 km2 (16%) [1] |
The Peninsular Malaysian rain forests [2] is an ecoregion on the Malay Peninsula and adjacent islands. It is in the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome.
The ecoregion covers most of the southern Malay Peninsula in Malaysia and southern Thailand, and extends southwards to Singapore, the Riau Archipelago, and Lingga Islands, and east to the Anamba Islands.
The peninsula is fringed with mangroves, including the Indochina mangroves on the eastern shore, and the Myanmar coast mangroves on the western shore. The ecologically distinct Peninsular Malaysian peat swamp forests ecoregion are found in waterlogged lowlands on the east and west sides of the peninsula. The Titiwangsa Mountains form the mountainous backbone of the peninsula, and the range's higher elevations are home to the Peninsular Malaysian montane rain forests ecoregion.
The predominant trees are dipterocarps, including species of Anisoptera, Dipterocarpus, Dryobalanops, Hopea , and Shorea . The forests are home to over 15,000 tree species, and trees of the families Burseraceae and Sapotaceae are also common. Trees form a canopy 24-36 meters high, with emergent trees rising up 45 meters or more. The tallest emergent is Koompassia excelsa , known as tualang, which can grow more than 76 meters high. [3]
The ecoregion home to 195 mammal species, including several large and endangered species – Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), gaur (Bos gaurus), tiger (Panthera tigris), Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), and clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). [4] The Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) once inhabited the forests, but Malaysia's last rhinoceroses died in 2019, and the species' few remaining members survive only in Sumatra. [5]
A 2017 assessment found that 20,113 km2, or 16%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. [6] Protected areas in the ecoregion include Endau Rompin National Park (1191.59 km²), Endau-Kota Tinggi (West) Wildlife Reserve (805.49 km²), Endau-Kota Tinggi (East) Wildlife Reserve (106.5 km²), Krau Wildlife Reserve (623.96 km²), Mersin Wildlife Reserve (74.13 km²), and Ulu Muda Wildlife Reserve (1152.57 km²). Taman Negara National Park (4524.54 km²) and Royal Belum State Park (2072.0 km²) include portions of the ecoregion along with portions of the Peninsular Malaysian montane rain forests. [7] [8]
The Malay Peninsula is located in Mainland Southeast Asia. The landmass runs approximately north–south, and at its terminus, it is the southernmost point of the Asian continental mainland. The area contains Peninsular Malaysia, Southern Thailand, and the southernmost tip of Myanmar (Kawthaung). The island country of Singapore also has historical and cultural ties with the region.
The North Western Ghats montane rain forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of southwestern Indian peninsula. It covers an area of 30,900 square kilometers (11,900 sq mi), extending down the spine of the Western Ghauts range, from southernmost Gujarat through Damaon, Maharashtra, Goa & Karnataka. The montane rain forests are found above 1000 meters elevation, and are surrounded at lower elevations by the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests.
The Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests is a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion which occupies the lower hillsides of the mountainous border region joining Bangladesh, China's Yunnan Province, India, and Myanmar. The ecoregion covers an area of 135,600 square kilometres (52,400 sq mi). Located where the biotas of the Indian Subcontinent and the Indochinese Peninsula 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Sumatran tropical pine forests is a tropical coniferous forest ecoregion on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
The Tenasserim–South Thailand semi-evergreen rain forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion on Mainland Southeast Asia. The ecoregion extends north–south along the Kra Isthmus. It includes lowland forests along the coasts, and montane forests on the Tenasserim Hills and Bilauktaung range, which form the mountainous spine of the isthmus.
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.
The Peninsular Malaysian montane rain forests is an ecoregion on the Malay Peninsula. It occupies the mountainous spine of the peninsula in Malaysia and southernmost Thailand. It is in the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome.
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.
The Kayah–Karen montane rain forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion on Mainland Southeast Asia. The montane rain forests cover several connected mountain ranges, including the Daen Lao Range, the Dawna Range, the Karen Hills, the Khun Tan Range, and the Thanon Thong Chai Range.
The Myanmar coastal rain forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion on Mainland Southeast Asia. The ecoregion occupies Myanmar's coastal lowlands along the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
The Sulawesi lowland rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Indonesia. The ecoregion includes the lowlands of Sulawesi and neighboring islands.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.