| Southern Andean Yungas | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Ecoregion territory (in purple) | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Neotropical |
| Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 61,100 km2 (23,600 sq mi) |
| Countries | |
| Conservation | |
| Protected | 12.87% [1] |
The Southern Andean Yungas is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Yungas of southwestern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. [2]
The ecoregion occurs along the eastern slope of the Andes from southern Bolivia into northern Argentina, at elevations ranging from 800 to 3,000 metres (2,600 to 9,800 ft). In the lowlands to the east the Yungas transition to the semi-arid Dry Chaco. To the northwest they are bounded by the Bolivian montane dry forests, and by the high-elevation Central Andean puna and High Monte grasslands to the west. [2]
This ecoregion has a subtropical highland climate. The climate is influenced by trade winds from the east that bring up to 2,500 millimetres (98 in) of rain per year. [2] There is a dry season from April to October, and occasional snowfall at higher elevations during the winter months. [3]
Rainfall and temperature varies with elevation. In the foothill forests (400 to 900 meters elevation) average annual rainfall ranges from 550 to 1400 mm, with a mean of 820 mm. Mean annual temperature is 21.5 °C, with a mean maximum of 27.6 °C, and a mean minimum of 15.4 °C. In the montane forest belt between 900 and 1600 meters elevation, rainfall averages 1,100 to 2,300 mm annually, with a mean of 1,800 mm. Average annual rainfall in the upper montane forests, between 1,600 and 2,300 meters elevation, ranges from 800 to 1,400 mm, with a mean of 1100 mm. The montane forest and upper montane forest are cloud forests, where mist and cloud cover can contribute up to 100% additional vertical precipitation. Mean temperature in the montane and upper montane belts is 11.7 °C, with a mean maximum of 21.8◦C and a mean minimum of 8.8◦C. [3]
The Southern Andean Yungas consists of a mesic evergreen forest, with trees typically less than 15 metres (49 ft) tall.[ citation needed ]
The species composition of the forests varies with elevation and precipitation. The foothill forests are a transition between the Yungas and the semi-arid Dry Chaco of the lowlands. Trees are predominantly of the bean family (Leguminosae), and of tropical origin. Many trees are dry-season deciduous, particularly below 700 meters elevation. [3]
Montane forests (selva montaña) occur between 900 and 1600 meters elevation. Trees from families Leguminosae, Sapindaceae, Lauraceae, and Euphorbiaceae are prominent, along with species of Cordia from family Boraginaceae. Most are from families and genera of tropical origin. Allophylus edulis, Parapiptadenia excelsa, Blepharocalyx salicifolius , and Ocotea porphyria are present at all elevations, and are of greatest ecological importance between 1,300 and 1,500 meters elevation. [3] Myrtle forests occur between 1000 and 1400 meters elevation, dominated by trees from the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). In the myrtle forests the co-dominant trees are güili colorado ( Amomyrtella guilii ), which is endemic to the ecoregion, and güili blanco ( Myrcianthes pseudomato ). [4] [5]
Between 1500 and 1600 meters elevation there is a transition zone between the montane and upper montane forests. Upper montane forests (Bosque deciduo or bosque montaño) extend from 1,600 to 2,500 metres (5,200 to 8,200 ft). They are dominated by Andean alder ( Alnus acuminata ), the conifer Podocarpus parlatorei , and queñoa ( Polylepis australis ), along with Viburnum seemenii, Sambucus peruviana, Ilex argentina , and Juglans australis , and species of Eupatorium and Kaunia . Many trees are deciduous, and of Holarctic or Antarctic–Gondwanan origin. [2]
Above 2600 meters elevation, the forests transition to subalpine grassland and shrubland (pastizal de neblina), [5] of the Central Andean puna ecoregion.
Many tropical species find the southern limit of their range in this ecoregion. [2]
Mammals that may be found here include the red brocket (Mazama americana), gray brocket (Mazama gouazoupira), white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), collared peccary (Dicotyles tajacu), and South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris). [5] Cats include the jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), margay (Leopardus wiedii), and jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi). [2] Other carnivores include the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) and tayra (Eira barbara). The Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) is found in foothill forests in the transition to the Chaco. [5]
Characteristic birds of the ecoregion include the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), barred forest falcon (Micrastur ruficollis), band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata), blue-capped puffleg (Eriocnemis glaucopoides), Azara's spinetail (Synallaxis azarae), yellow-striped brushfinch (Atlapetes citrinellus), golden-crowned warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus), two-banded warbler (Myiothlypis bivittata), and Andean slaty thrush (Turdus nigriceps). [5] Birds endemic to this ecoregion include the red-faced guan (Penelope dabbenei), Tucumán amazon (Amazona tucumana), Rothschild's swift (Cypseloides rothschildi), and the rufous-throated dipper (Cinclus schulzi). [2]
Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus) is a seasonal migrant. [5]
Native amphibians include the toads Rhinella arenarum and Rhinella spinulosa . [5] The endangered La Banderita marsupial frog (Gastrotheca gracilis) inhabits the Southern Andean Yungas and adjacent Central Andean puna. [6] The critically endangered frog Telmatobius ceiorum is endemic to the Yungas of the Sierra del Aconquija. [7]
12.87% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include: [1]
The Sierras de Córdoba is a mountain range in central Argentina, located between the Pampas to the east and south and the Chaco to the north and east. Most of the range is located in Córdoba Province, except for the southwestern margin which is in San Luis Province.
The Yungas is a bioregion of a narrow band of forest along the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains from Peru and Bolivia, and extends into Northwest Argentina at the slope of the Andes pre-cordillera. It is a transitional zone between the Andean highlands and the eastern forests. Like the surrounding areas, the Yungas belong to the Neotropical realm; the climate is rainy, humid, and warm.
Aconquija National Park, formerly known as Campo de los Alisos National Park, is a federal protected area in Tucumán Province, Argentina. Established on 9 August 1995, it houses a representative sample of the Southern Andean Yungas montane forest biodiversity in good state of conservation.
The Argentine Northwest is a geographic and historical region of Argentina composed of the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, La Rioja, Salta, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán.
The Rio Abiseo National Park is located in the San Martín department of Peru. UNESCO pronounced it as Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1990. The park is home to many species of flora and fauna, as well as the location of over 30 pre-Columbian archaeological sites. Since 1986, the park has not been open to tourism due to the fragile nature of both the natural and archaeological environment.
Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco, commonly known as Quebracho blanco, kebrako, or white quebracho, is a South American tree species, native to Brazil, northern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It must not be confused with other species also known as quebracho, but belonging to the genus Schinopsis.
When the Spanish arrived, they divided Peru into three main regions: the coastal region, that is bounded by the Pacific Ocean; the highlands, that is located on the Andean Heights, and the jungle, that is located on the Amazonian Jungle. But Javier Pulgar Vidal, a geographer who studied the biogeographic reality of the Peruvian territory for a long time, proposed the creation of eight Natural Regions. In 1941, he presented his thesis "Las Ocho Regiones Naturales del Perú" at the III General Assembly of the Pan-American Institute of Geography and History.
The puna grassland ecoregion, of the montane grasslands and shrublands biome, is found in the central Andes Mountains of South America. It is considered one of the eight Natural Regions in Peru, but extends south, across Chile, Bolivia, and western northwest Argentina. The term puna encompasses diverse ecosystems of the high Central Andes above 3200–3400 m.
Gastrotheca gracilis, commonly known as the La Banderita marsupial frog, is a species of frog in the family Hemiphractidae. It is found in northwestern Argentina and possibly Bolivia.
Tariquía Flora and Fauna National Reserve is a protected area in the Tarija Department, Bolivia, situated in the Aniceto Arce Province, Burnet O'Connor Province, Gran Chaco Province and José María Avilés Province. It protects part of the Central Andean puna, Southern Andean Yungas, and Bolivian montane dry forests ecoregions.
The Southern Andean steppe is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion occurring along the border of Chile and Argentina in the high elevations of the southern Andes mountain range.
The Central Andean wet puna is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia.
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.
The Cordillera Central páramo (NT1004) is an ecoregion containing páramo vegetation above the treeline in the Andes mountain range of northern Peru and southern Ecuador. Due to its isolation there are high levels of endemism. Despite many human settlements and some destruction of habitat by agriculture and mining, the ecoregion is relatively intact.
The Bolivian montane dry forests (NT0206) is an ecoregion in Bolivia on the eastern side of the Andes. It is a transitional habitat between the puna grasslands higher up to the west and the Chaco scrub to the east. The habitat is under severe stress from a growing human population.
The Northwestern Andean montane forests (NT0145) is an ecoregion on the Andes mountains in the west of Colombia and Ecuador. Both flora and fauna are highly diverse due to effect of ice ages when the warmer climate zones were separated and the cooler ones combined, and interglacial periods when the reverse occurred. Because the environment is hospitable to humans, the habitat has been drastically modified by farming and grazing since the Pre-Columbian era.
The Eastern Cordillera Real montane forests (NT0121) is an ecoregion in the eastern range of the Andes of southern Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru. The ecoregion covers the eastern slopes of the Andes, and includes montane forest that rises from the Amazonian rain forest, with cloud forest and elfin forest at higher elevations. It is rich in species, including many endemics. It is threatened by logging and conversion for pasturage and subsistence agriculture.
The High Monte is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion in Argentina.
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