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Western Ecuador moist forests
The Western Ecuador Moist Forests (NT0178), also known as the Pacific Forest of Ecuador, is an ecoregion in the plains and western foothills of the Andes of southern Colombia and Ecuador. At one time this region contained dense forests with highly diverse flora and fauna, and many endemic species. Most of the original habitat has now been destroyed, and the ecoregion is one of the most threatened in the world.
The Western Ecuador moist forests ecoregion covers land to the west of the Andes in Ecuador and southern Colombia. In the northwest and the extreme southwest the ecoregion extends to the Pacific Ocean. The ecoregion is bounded on the north by the Patía River. It extends through the provinces of Esmeraldas, Manabí and Guayas, reaching the Gulf of Guayaquil in the south, and the foothills on the Andes in the east. It varies in width from 100 to 200 kilometres (62 to 124 mi). It has an area of 34,108 square kilometres (13,169 sq mi).
In the extreme north the ecoregion transitions into the Chocó–Darién moist forests ecoregion. To the east it transitions into the Northwestern Andean montane forests. Along the Pacific coast in some areas there are sections of South American Pacific mangroves, and in others there are sections of Ecuadorian dry forests. In the south the ecoregion merges into Guayaquil flooded grasslands.
The ecoregion covers the coastal plain and reaches into the foothills of the Andes to the east up to an elevation of about 800 metres (2,600 ft). The region has had strong volcanic activity, with volcanic rocks found throughout the region, alternating with marine sediments from the Tertiary era (65 million to 2.6 million years ago). The soils are fertile, particularly in the north-central area, which covers volcanic ash and lapilli.
The ecoregion receives high rainfall with no significant dry season. Average annual rainfall is highest in the north, with over 7,000 millimetres (280 in) and in some areas over 8,000 millimetres (310 in). In the south annual rainfall averages 2,000 millimetres (79 in), and in all areas exceeds 1,000 millimetres (39 in). Average annual temperatures vary from 23 to 27 °C (73 to 81 °F), with little change throughout the year.
At a sample location at coordinates 0°15′S 79°45′W / 0.25°S 79.75°W the Köppen climate classification is Am (equatorial; monsoonal). Mean temperatures range from 23.8 °C (74.8 °F) in July to 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in April. Total yearly rainfall is about 2,100 millimetres (83 in). Monthly rainfall ranges from 33 millimetres (1.3 in) in August to 376.6 millimetres (14.83 in) in February.
The ecoregion is in the neotropical realm, in the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome. The forests have many endemic species of plants and animals found only locally on mountain ridges or narrow strips of land.
Natural fragmentation of the western moist forests has resulted in rapid evolution of new endemic species. Around 10,000 species of plants have been reported, of which about 2,500 are endemic. The forest has a dense canopy that exceeds 30 metres (98 ft) in height, and has many lianas and epiphytes, including many endemic species. Epiphytes of the Araceae and Cyclanthaceae families are abundant on the lower trunks of the trees. There are also mosses, lichens, ferns and palms in the dense understory. 1,250 species of plants in 136 families have been found in a single area of 100 hectares (250 acres). According to a 1990 report, 122 new orchid species had recently been identified. 43 of the species are endemic.
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Western Ecuador moist forests
The Western Ecuador Moist Forests (NT0178), also known as the Pacific Forest of Ecuador, is an ecoregion in the plains and western foothills of the Andes of southern Colombia and Ecuador. At one time this region contained dense forests with highly diverse flora and fauna, and many endemic species. Most of the original habitat has now been destroyed, and the ecoregion is one of the most threatened in the world.
The Western Ecuador moist forests ecoregion covers land to the west of the Andes in Ecuador and southern Colombia. In the northwest and the extreme southwest the ecoregion extends to the Pacific Ocean. The ecoregion is bounded on the north by the Patía River. It extends through the provinces of Esmeraldas, Manabí and Guayas, reaching the Gulf of Guayaquil in the south, and the foothills on the Andes in the east. It varies in width from 100 to 200 kilometres (62 to 124 mi). It has an area of 34,108 square kilometres (13,169 sq mi).
In the extreme north the ecoregion transitions into the Chocó–Darién moist forests ecoregion. To the east it transitions into the Northwestern Andean montane forests. Along the Pacific coast in some areas there are sections of South American Pacific mangroves, and in others there are sections of Ecuadorian dry forests. In the south the ecoregion merges into Guayaquil flooded grasslands.
The ecoregion covers the coastal plain and reaches into the foothills of the Andes to the east up to an elevation of about 800 metres (2,600 ft). The region has had strong volcanic activity, with volcanic rocks found throughout the region, alternating with marine sediments from the Tertiary era (65 million to 2.6 million years ago). The soils are fertile, particularly in the north-central area, which covers volcanic ash and lapilli.
The ecoregion receives high rainfall with no significant dry season. Average annual rainfall is highest in the north, with over 7,000 millimetres (280 in) and in some areas over 8,000 millimetres (310 in). In the south annual rainfall averages 2,000 millimetres (79 in), and in all areas exceeds 1,000 millimetres (39 in). Average annual temperatures vary from 23 to 27 °C (73 to 81 °F), with little change throughout the year.
At a sample location at coordinates 0°15′S 79°45′W / 0.25°S 79.75°W the Köppen climate classification is Am (equatorial; monsoonal). Mean temperatures range from 23.8 °C (74.8 °F) in July to 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in April. Total yearly rainfall is about 2,100 millimetres (83 in). Monthly rainfall ranges from 33 millimetres (1.3 in) in August to 376.6 millimetres (14.83 in) in February.
The ecoregion is in the neotropical realm, in the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome. The forests have many endemic species of plants and animals found only locally on mountain ridges or narrow strips of land.
Natural fragmentation of the western moist forests has resulted in rapid evolution of new endemic species. Around 10,000 species of plants have been reported, of which about 2,500 are endemic. The forest has a dense canopy that exceeds 30 metres (98 ft) in height, and has many lianas and epiphytes, including many endemic species. Epiphytes of the Araceae and Cyclanthaceae families are abundant on the lower trunks of the trees. There are also mosses, lichens, ferns and palms in the dense understory. 1,250 species of plants in 136 families have been found in a single area of 100 hectares (250 acres). According to a 1990 report, 122 new orchid species had recently been identified. 43 of the species are endemic.