Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert
Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert | |
---|---|
Afrotropic | |
Biome | Deserts and xeric shrublands |
Geography | |
Area | 82,900 km2 (32,000 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | critical/endangered |
The Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert, also known as the Southwestern Arabian coastal xeric scrub, is desert ecoregion on the southern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, which experiences thick fogs where visibility may be reduced to 10 metres (33 ft). It is classed as an Afrotropical fog desert[1]
Location and description
This ecosystem exists on a strip along the western and eastern coasts of Arabia. It follows the coast of
Flora and fauna
Although it rarely rains, the fog provides moisture sufficient to nurture a great deal of grassland, shrubs and thick woodland. There are over 60 local species of plant. This coastal strip is of particular importance because further inland where the fog does not have an influence, most of the Arabian Peninsula is desert.
Vegetation varies progressively away from the coast which features dense woodland of
The many mammals found here include the
Threats and preservation
The main threat to this ecosystem is
, the fruit basket of Saudi Arabia.Protected areas in Oman include the controversial
See also
References
- ^ World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001). "Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert". WildWorld Ecoregion Profile. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08.
- ^ "Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
External links