| Southern Andean steppe | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Ecoregion territory (in purple) | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Neotropical |
| Biome | Montane grasslands and shrublands |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 178,200 km2 (68,800 sq mi) |
| Countries | |
| Conservation | |
| Protected | 21.165% [1] |
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.
This ecoregion is found from 3,500 to 5,000 metres (11,500 to 16,400 ft) in the north to 1,800 to 3,000 metres (5,900 to 9,800 ft) in the south. At higher elevations are found permanent snow, glaciers, and ice fields. At lower elevations, this ecoregion grades into Chilean matorral and Valdivian temperate forests to the west and High Monte to the east. To the north it transitions to the Central Andean dry puna and to the south the Patagonian steppe. [2]
This ecoregion has a cold desert climate, Köppen climate classification BWk. Precipitation falls mainly in winter.
The flora of this ecoregion is adapted to its cold, dry, and windy climate. Many of the plant genera have evolved endemic species. [2]
The plants on the western side of this ecoregion can be divided into three zones based on their growth forms and elevation. In the lower elevations, 2,000 to 2,700 metres (6,600 to 8,900 ft), grow large shrubs such as Chuquiraga oppositifolia and Nassauvia axillaris . In intermediate elevations, 2,700 to 3,300 metres (8,900 to 10,800 ft), grow small shrubs, tussock grasses, and cushions. These include Azorella madreporica , Laretia acaulis , and Stipa spp. In the highest elevations, extending to 3,900 metres (12,800 ft), grow small forbs, rosettes, and grasses such as Nassauvia lagascae , Oxalis erythrorhiza , Nassauvia pinnigera and Moschopsis leyboldii . [2]
The plants on the eastern side do not grow in distinct zones. In the lower elevations, 1,900 to 2,700 metres (6,200 to 8,900 ft), grow plants of the genera Stipa, Adesmia , Mulinum , Nassauvia , and Chuquiraga . Higher, from 2,700 to 3,300 metres (8,900 to 10,800 ft), are shrubs and cushion plants of Oxalis , Junellia , Adesmia, Laretia and Azorella . At the highest elevations, 3,300 to 4,500 metres (10,800 to 14,800 ft), grow Senecio , Nassauvia , Chaetanthera , Draba , Barneoudia , Leucheria , and Moschopsis . [2]
The fauna is similar to that of the Central Andean dry puna and the Patagonian steppe. Large mammals found here include the puma ( Puma concolor ), the Andean fox ( Lycalopex culpaeus ) and the vicuna ( Vicugna vicugna ) and guanaco ( Lama guanicoe ). [2]
This ecoregion's high elevations and harsh climate make it unsuitable for development or farming, so it has experienced little habitat loss. [2]
21.165% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. [1] Protected areas include:
Yareta or llareta is a velvety, chartreuse cushion plant in the family Apiaceae which is native to South America. It grows in the Puna grasslands of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and western Argentina at altitudes between 3,200 and 5,250 metres.
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.
Junín National Reserve is a protected area located in the region of Junín, Peru. One of its main purposes is to protect the ecosystem and biodiversity of Lake Junín and the surrounding Central Andean wet puna.
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.
The Central Andean dry puna (NT1001) is an ecoregion in the montane grasslands and shrublands biome, located in the Andean Altiplano in South America. It is a part of the Puna grassland.
The Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve is located in Sur Lípez Province. Situated in the far southwestern region of Bolivia, it is the country's most visited protected area. It is considered the most important protected area in terms of tourist influx in the Potosí Department.
San Guillermo National Park is a national park in Argentina, in the Iglesia Department of San Juan Province. It was established in 1998 and is part of the San Guillermo Biosphere Reserve. Elevations in the biosphere range from 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) to 6,380 metres (20,930 ft). Vegetation in the National Park and biosphere consists of barren desert, grasslands, and a few wetlands, all located in the high, arid Andes. The animals include vicuña, guanaco, culpeo fox, Andean mountain cat, cougar, and Andean condor.
The Peruvian Yungas comprise a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in Peru.
The Central Andean puna is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion in the Andes of southern Peru, Bolivia, and northern Chile and Argentina.
The Central Andean wet puna is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia.
Asana River is a waterway in the Moquegua Region of southern Peru. It is one of the tributaries of the Osmore River. The Asana archaeological site, occupied over the course of 8,000 years, is situated in a basin on the river's north bank. The Quellaveco mining project sought to divert the Asana for extractive waste material placement in its copper mining operations.
The Eastern Anatolian montane steppe is a temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregion. It is located in the Armenian Highlands, covering parts of eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, southern Georgia, and northwestern Iran.
The Patagonian grasslands (NT0804) is an ecoregion in the south of Argentina and Chile. The grasslands are home to diverse fauna, including several rare or endemic species of birds. There are few protected areas. The grasslands are threatened by overgrazing by sheep, which supply high-quality merino wool. Efforts are being made to develop sustainable grazing practices to avoid desertification.
The Santa Marta páramo (NT1007) is an ecoregion containing páramo vegetation above the treeline in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The isolated position of the range has allowed unique species to evolve. Some are related to those found in Central America and the Caribbean coastal areas, and some to species from the Andes. The habitat is relatively stable, but has been drastically changed from the original by long-term human activity.
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 Altai montane forest and forest steppe ecoregion covers patches of the subalpine forest belt on the Altai Mountains, crossing the border region where Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China meet. The region has high biodiversity, as it is located in transition zones between different ecoregions, altitudes, and climate zones. It is in the Palearctic realm, with a Cold semi-arid climate. It covers 35,199,998 km2 (13,590,795 sq mi).
The Gobi Lakes Valley desert steppe ecoregion covers the narrow, flat valley in southwestern Mongolia that lies between the Khangai Mountains, and the Gobi-Altai Mountains. The region is known as the "Valley of the Lakes" because runoff from the mountains collect in lakes that have no outlet to the sea. Although the valley is a semi-arid desert steppe, it has areas of wetlands near the lakes that are important habit for water birds.
Khangai Nuruu National Park stretches in a west-to-east band across the middle of the Khangai Mountains, with the eastern half following the upper Orkhon River valley. There are a variety of habitat types in the park: steppe, riparian forests, larch taiga, and alpine meadows.
Laguna de los Pozuelos Natural Monument is a nature preservation reserve located in the Jujuy province, in the Puna region, Argentina. It covers an area of 16,000 hectares and is at an altitude of 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) above sea level. It is part of the Puna Seca Central Andean Ecoregion. The reserve was created in 1980, under Provincial Law Nº 3,749/80, aiming to preserve the steppe environment and its lagoon, including the region's typical fauna.
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