Central Range sub-alpine grasslands
Central Range sub-alpine grasslands | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Australasian realm |
Biome | montane grasslands and shrublands |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Area | 172,365 km2 (66,550 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Province | Papua |
Coordinates | 4°06′S 138°08′E / 4.1°S 138.14°E |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | Relatively stable/intact[1] |
Protected | 40.25%[2] |
The Central Range sub-alpine grasslands is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion on the island of New Guinea. The ecoregion covers the highest-elevation portions of the New Guinea Highlands, which extend along the spine of the island. The high elevations support rare tropical sub-alpine and alpine habitats, including many endemic plants and animals. [3] [4]
Geography
The ecoregion includes isolated areas above 3000 metres elevation in the Central Range, or Central Cordillera, of New Guinea, and some outliers in the mountains of the
Below 3000 metres elevation, the sub-alpine grasslands transition to montane rain forests - the Central Range montane rain forests along most of the Central Range, the Southeastern Papuan rain forests in the southeast (Owen Stanley Range), and the Huon Peninsula montane rain forests on the Huon Peninsula.
Flora
Plant communities in the ecoregion include sub-alpine grasslands, shrublands, heathlands, and alpine grasslands.
High mountain forests lie below the tree line, made up of conifers – species of
Sub-alpine communities include shrubby heaths of Rhododendron, Vaccinium, Coprosma, Myrsine, and Saurauia at the forest edges, savannas of tree ferns (Cyathea spp.) above grasses, bogs, and grasslands. Low shrublands and Deschampsia tussock grasslands occur immediately below the alpine zone.[1]
Alpine communities occur above 4000 metres and are composed of compact herbs, including species of
Fauna
Only ten mammals are native to the ecoregion. These include three marsupials (
There are 84 native bird species in the ecoregion. Four species are strictly endemic – the
Another 20 limited-range bird species inhabit the ecoregion and the adjacent lower-elevation montane forests. These limited-range species include the
Protected areas
40.25% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. These include
External links
- "Central range sub-alpine grasslands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- Central Range sub-alpine grasslands (DOPA Explorer)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Central Range sub-alpine grasslands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- ^ a b "Central Range sub-alpine grasslands". DOPA Explorer. Accessed 9 July 2021. [1]
- ^ "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "Central Range sub-alpine grasslands". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 20, 2021.