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Ecuadorian dry forests
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Ecuadorian dry forests
The Ecuadorian dry forests (NT0214) is an ecoregion near the Pacific coast of the Ecuador. The habitat has been occupied by people for centuries and has been severely damaged by deforestation, overgrazing and hillside erosion due to unsustainable agriculture. Only 1% of the original forest remains. The patches of forest, mostly secondary growth, are fragmented. They are home to many endemic species at risk of extinction.
The Ecuadorian dry forests have an area of 2,123,790 hectares (5,248,000 acres). The ecoregion is mainly along the Pacific coast of central Ecuador to the north and west of Guayaquil, with a section to the east of Guayaquil. The western area is in the Cordillera de la Costa (Coastal Range) mountains. The western portion is bounded to the east by Western Ecuador moist forests. It adjoins South American Pacific mangroves along sections of the coast. The eastern portion is also bounded to the east by Western Ecuador moist forests, but to the west is bounded by Guayaquil flooded grasslands. Further south the similar Tumbes–Piura dry forests extend across the border with Peru.
The ecoregion covers land that slopes down from the western foothills of the Andes to the Pacific Ocean. The higher land receives more rain. The Köppen climate classification is "Aw": equatorial, dry winter. At a sample location at coordinates 1°15′S 80°15′W / 1.25°S 80.25°W average monthly temperatures ranged from 24.9 °C (76.8 °F) in June to 26.1 °C (79.0 °F) in February. Mean annual temperature was about 25.5 °C (77.9 °F).
The Ecuadorian dry forests are in the neotropical realm, in the tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests biome. The ecoregion is part of the Tumbes–Chocó–Magdalena biodiversity hotspot, one of 25 biogeographic regions globally that have with a significant reservoir of biodiversity under threat from humans. The ecoregion is part of the 103,000 square kilometres (40,000 sq mi) Tumbesian-Andean Valleys Dry Forests global ecoregion, which holds six terrestrial ecoregions: Tumbes–Piura dry forests, Ecuadorian dry forests, Patía Valley dry forests, Magdalena Valley dry forests, Cauca Valley dry forests and Marañón dry forests. The fauna and flora of the global ecoregion have high levels of endemism.
Floristic structure of tropical dry forests range from scrub, thorn, deciduous, to semi-evergreen. There are areas along the coast of cactus forest and arid scrub, unusual for the Pacific coast of the Americas. The duration of dry periods as well as mean annual precipitation have a significant impact on habitat suitability for specific taxa, resulting in various habitat types present. Both on the coast and inland there are trees adapted to the dry conditions that last for most of the year, such as acacia, jacaranda, mesquite, fig and cacti. 20% of the plant species are endemic.
Most plants shed their leaves during the dry season to reduce water loss, and stop photosynthesis. The Ceiba trichastandra has a green bark that lets it continue photosynthesis without leaves. This tree, which emerges from the canopy, has wood that rots easily and therefore has often been spared by loggers. Several species of kapok trees (Ceiba genus) grow thorns on their trunks when young for protection against animals seeking water, but discard the thorns as they mature. Other adaptations include a waxy layer on leaves to reduce evaporation, closing leaves at night to reduce the exposed area and storing water in thick roots or stems.
Most of the large mammals of the ecoregion still survive, despite the human pressure, although some are reduced to small populations. Surviving mammals probably include mantled howler (Alouatta palliata), white-fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons), jaguar (Panthera onca), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii), white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), red brocket (Mazama americana), lowland paca (Cuniculus paca) and Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata). Endangered reptiles include green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).
The dry forests are used by bird species adapted to dry conditions, as resting places for migrant birds, and as seasonal sources of fruit for birds from the adjoining montane forests. About 30% of the bird species in the Tumbes Region of coastal Ecuador and Peru, or 77 species, are endemic. Most of these mainly inhabit Ecuador. 22 species are thought to be globally at risk of extinction. Species found in the transitional forest on the Pacific slope of the Andes include grey-backed hawk (Pseudastur occidentalis), El Oro parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi), crowned woodnymph (Thalurania colombica), El Oro tapaculo (Scytalopus robbinsi), buffy tuftedcheek (Pseudocolaptes lawrencii) and ochraceous attila (Attila torridus).
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Ecuadorian dry forests
The Ecuadorian dry forests (NT0214) is an ecoregion near the Pacific coast of the Ecuador. The habitat has been occupied by people for centuries and has been severely damaged by deforestation, overgrazing and hillside erosion due to unsustainable agriculture. Only 1% of the original forest remains. The patches of forest, mostly secondary growth, are fragmented. They are home to many endemic species at risk of extinction.
The Ecuadorian dry forests have an area of 2,123,790 hectares (5,248,000 acres). The ecoregion is mainly along the Pacific coast of central Ecuador to the north and west of Guayaquil, with a section to the east of Guayaquil. The western area is in the Cordillera de la Costa (Coastal Range) mountains. The western portion is bounded to the east by Western Ecuador moist forests. It adjoins South American Pacific mangroves along sections of the coast. The eastern portion is also bounded to the east by Western Ecuador moist forests, but to the west is bounded by Guayaquil flooded grasslands. Further south the similar Tumbes–Piura dry forests extend across the border with Peru.
The ecoregion covers land that slopes down from the western foothills of the Andes to the Pacific Ocean. The higher land receives more rain. The Köppen climate classification is "Aw": equatorial, dry winter. At a sample location at coordinates 1°15′S 80°15′W / 1.25°S 80.25°W average monthly temperatures ranged from 24.9 °C (76.8 °F) in June to 26.1 °C (79.0 °F) in February. Mean annual temperature was about 25.5 °C (77.9 °F).
The Ecuadorian dry forests are in the neotropical realm, in the tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests biome. The ecoregion is part of the Tumbes–Chocó–Magdalena biodiversity hotspot, one of 25 biogeographic regions globally that have with a significant reservoir of biodiversity under threat from humans. The ecoregion is part of the 103,000 square kilometres (40,000 sq mi) Tumbesian-Andean Valleys Dry Forests global ecoregion, which holds six terrestrial ecoregions: Tumbes–Piura dry forests, Ecuadorian dry forests, Patía Valley dry forests, Magdalena Valley dry forests, Cauca Valley dry forests and Marañón dry forests. The fauna and flora of the global ecoregion have high levels of endemism.
Floristic structure of tropical dry forests range from scrub, thorn, deciduous, to semi-evergreen. There are areas along the coast of cactus forest and arid scrub, unusual for the Pacific coast of the Americas. The duration of dry periods as well as mean annual precipitation have a significant impact on habitat suitability for specific taxa, resulting in various habitat types present. Both on the coast and inland there are trees adapted to the dry conditions that last for most of the year, such as acacia, jacaranda, mesquite, fig and cacti. 20% of the plant species are endemic.
Most plants shed their leaves during the dry season to reduce water loss, and stop photosynthesis. The Ceiba trichastandra has a green bark that lets it continue photosynthesis without leaves. This tree, which emerges from the canopy, has wood that rots easily and therefore has often been spared by loggers. Several species of kapok trees (Ceiba genus) grow thorns on their trunks when young for protection against animals seeking water, but discard the thorns as they mature. Other adaptations include a waxy layer on leaves to reduce evaporation, closing leaves at night to reduce the exposed area and storing water in thick roots or stems.
Most of the large mammals of the ecoregion still survive, despite the human pressure, although some are reduced to small populations. Surviving mammals probably include mantled howler (Alouatta palliata), white-fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons), jaguar (Panthera onca), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii), white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), red brocket (Mazama americana), lowland paca (Cuniculus paca) and Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata). Endangered reptiles include green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).
The dry forests are used by bird species adapted to dry conditions, as resting places for migrant birds, and as seasonal sources of fruit for birds from the adjoining montane forests. About 30% of the bird species in the Tumbes Region of coastal Ecuador and Peru, or 77 species, are endemic. Most of these mainly inhabit Ecuador. 22 species are thought to be globally at risk of extinction. Species found in the transitional forest on the Pacific slope of the Andes include grey-backed hawk (Pseudastur occidentalis), El Oro parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi), crowned woodnymph (Thalurania colombica), El Oro tapaculo (Scytalopus robbinsi), buffy tuftedcheek (Pseudocolaptes lawrencii) and ochraceous attila (Attila torridus).
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