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Patagonian grasslands
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Patagonian grasslands
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 Patagonian grasslands extend across eastern Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, and cover part of Santa Cruz Province just north of the Strait of Magellan up to the Gallegos River. They also include the Falkland Islands. To the north the grasslands adjoin the Patagonian steppe ecoregion. To the west they adjoin the Magellanic subpolar forests ecoregion.
The ecoregion in South America is divided into a northern mainland section and southern Tierra del Fuego Island section by the Strait of Magellan. The grasslands cover terrain of low mountains, plateaus and plains. The soils are rich, with high levels of organic material. Average annual rainfall is 300 to 400 millimetres (12 to 16 in). Mean temperatures in the far south of Tierra del Fuego are 5.4 °C (41.7 °F), but temperatures may fall below −20 °C (−4 °F).
The ecoregion holds important wetlands including the Tero marsh and lagoons, Rio Pelque marsh, Lago Argentino, Puerto Bandera lagoons, Lake Viedma, Meseta del Tobiana lagoons and Escarchados lagoons. In the coastal region important wetlands include Río Santa Cruz, Monte León, Río Coig, Ría Gallegos, Cabo Vígenes, Bahía San Sebastián, Río Grande, Mitre Peninsula, Beagle Canal and Isla of the Estados.
The Patagonian Grasslands are in the Neotropical realm, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome.
The northern part of the ecoregion is covered by tundra grasslands. In the center there are high latitude Andean meadows and in the far south there are deciduous thickets. On the Falkland Islands there are swamp forests.
The vegetation is mostly grass-steppe with scattered shrubs. Species include Festuca pallescens, Senecio patagonicus and Plantago maritima. Species found in saline soils near the sea include Atriplex reichei and Lepidophyllum cupressiforme. Common genera include Adesmia, Anarthrophyllum, Berberis, Chuquiraga, Lycium, Mulinum, Schinus and Verbena. The dominant species in the steppe of Tierra del Fuego is the perennial grass Festuca gracillima. Other grasses include Poa atropidiformis, Trisetum species and Hordeum comosum. The most common plant in the valley floors and plains is Hordeum comosum, interspersed with Alopecurus antarticus, Phleum conmutatus, Poa pratensis and Agrosti species.
The region holds very diverse fauna. Mammals include Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum), southern viscacha (Lagidium viscacia), Wolffsohn's viscacha (Lagidium wolffsohni), Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus), Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus humboldtii), cougar (Puma concolor), Falkland Islands wolf (Dusicyon australis) and guanaco (Lama guanicoe). Threatened species include Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum), guanaco, South American gray fox (Lycalopex griseus) and South American fur seal (Arctophoca australis).
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Patagonian grasslands
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 Patagonian grasslands extend across eastern Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, and cover part of Santa Cruz Province just north of the Strait of Magellan up to the Gallegos River. They also include the Falkland Islands. To the north the grasslands adjoin the Patagonian steppe ecoregion. To the west they adjoin the Magellanic subpolar forests ecoregion.
The ecoregion in South America is divided into a northern mainland section and southern Tierra del Fuego Island section by the Strait of Magellan. The grasslands cover terrain of low mountains, plateaus and plains. The soils are rich, with high levels of organic material. Average annual rainfall is 300 to 400 millimetres (12 to 16 in). Mean temperatures in the far south of Tierra del Fuego are 5.4 °C (41.7 °F), but temperatures may fall below −20 °C (−4 °F).
The ecoregion holds important wetlands including the Tero marsh and lagoons, Rio Pelque marsh, Lago Argentino, Puerto Bandera lagoons, Lake Viedma, Meseta del Tobiana lagoons and Escarchados lagoons. In the coastal region important wetlands include Río Santa Cruz, Monte León, Río Coig, Ría Gallegos, Cabo Vígenes, Bahía San Sebastián, Río Grande, Mitre Peninsula, Beagle Canal and Isla of the Estados.
The Patagonian Grasslands are in the Neotropical realm, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome.
The northern part of the ecoregion is covered by tundra grasslands. In the center there are high latitude Andean meadows and in the far south there are deciduous thickets. On the Falkland Islands there are swamp forests.
The vegetation is mostly grass-steppe with scattered shrubs. Species include Festuca pallescens, Senecio patagonicus and Plantago maritima. Species found in saline soils near the sea include Atriplex reichei and Lepidophyllum cupressiforme. Common genera include Adesmia, Anarthrophyllum, Berberis, Chuquiraga, Lycium, Mulinum, Schinus and Verbena. The dominant species in the steppe of Tierra del Fuego is the perennial grass Festuca gracillima. Other grasses include Poa atropidiformis, Trisetum species and Hordeum comosum. The most common plant in the valley floors and plains is Hordeum comosum, interspersed with Alopecurus antarticus, Phleum conmutatus, Poa pratensis and Agrosti species.
The region holds very diverse fauna. Mammals include Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum), southern viscacha (Lagidium viscacia), Wolffsohn's viscacha (Lagidium wolffsohni), Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus), Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus humboldtii), cougar (Puma concolor), Falkland Islands wolf (Dusicyon australis) and guanaco (Lama guanicoe). Threatened species include Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum), guanaco, South American gray fox (Lycalopex griseus) and South American fur seal (Arctophoca australis).
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