Eastern Congolian swamp forests
Eastern Congolian swamp forests | |
---|---|
Afrotropical | |
Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
Borders | List
|
Geography | |
Area | 92,315 km2 (35,643 sq mi) |
Country | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Coordinates | 0°42′S 18°12′E / .7°S 18.2°E |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | relatively stable |
Protected | 23,092 km2 (25%)[1] |
The Eastern Congolian swamp forests (
Setting
The swamp forest is flat, wet forest between 300–400 metres (980–1,310 ft) in elevation on the left bank of the Congo River, and spreading across a swathe of the Congo Basin, including some of the Congo's largest tributaries and the Stanley Falls area near Kisangani.[4]
Climate
The climate is tropical and humid, with little seasonal variation. Average annual rainfall exceeds 2000 mm.[4]
Flora
The forest is a mixture of habitats including wetlands and swamps, with drier forest and savanna slightly higher and flooded seasonally by the Congo and its tributaries.[4]
Fauna
The region has been insufficiently researched by zoologists but is known to be home to
Near-endemic mammals include Hutterer's brush-furred mouse (Lophuromys huttereri), Allen's striped bat (Chalinolobus alboguttatus), and Muton's soft-furred mouse (Praomys mutoni).[4]
These rainforests are rich in birdlife including the Congo sunbird (Cinnyris congensis), African river martin (Pseudochelidon eurystomina) and Congo martin (Riparia congica).[4]
Endemic amphibians and reptiles include a small frog (
Threats and conservation
The Congo River allows access to these forests with subsequent logging and poaching of wildlife, particularly of forest elephants.[4]
Protected areas
25.65% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include the huge
See also
- Congolian forests
- Flora of West-Central Tropical Africa
References
- ^ Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [1]
- ^ "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "Eastern Congolian swamp forests". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Eastern Congolian swamp forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- ^ "Eastern Congolian swamp forests". DOPA Explorer. Accessed 20 October 2021. [2]
External links
- "Eastern Congolian swamp forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- Eoearth.org: Salonga National Park
- Plexusowls.com: Detailed study of Salonga National Park
- Zoosociety.org: Bonobo conservation in Salonga National Park Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine